Several more readers submitted letters to Ocala-News.com to share their thoughts on the rapid growth and abundance of traffic in Ocala/Marion County.
“It is good that you share your opinion but do not waste your energy. Growth is inevitable in this city and in every other city in Florida. There are many people who are moving to this state, and logically it is necessary to make improvements. Crime is not going to get better here or in any small town. This is part of the adaptation,” says Ocala resident Val Clerici.
“This is my second letter regarding growth in Marion County. What is wrong with our commissioners? People are tired of the growth because the county can’t keep up. I was born here in 1944 and it was a great place to live, but now we have more crime, more accidents, and it’s like mayhem out there. We don’t want to become another Orlando or worse. Please rethink what you are doing,” says Sandra Norcrosa, Ocklawaha resident.
“I agree with a recent letter. I just moved here from St. Petersburg, and Ocala and Crystal River are grossly congested. What happened to the vegetation?” says new Marion County resident Constance Gravelle.
“Traffic is horrible. I moved here 18 years ago and it was nice. Beautiful horse farms. Now there are very few horse farms and it’s not safe to be on the roads. State Road 200 is horrible. They act like they are on the Audibon in Germany where there is no speed limit. Weaving in and out of traffic and on their cellphones, drifting across the lines, etc. No respect for other drivers. I, too, am leaving within the next 1 or 2 years. It is getting more like Orlando with drugs, gangs, and shootings. It just isn’t safe anymore. They should omit Horse Capital of the World because it isn’t anymore. It is a real shame because it was a beautiful place 18 years ago. There is too much traffic for our roads. They weren’t built for all this traffic. Sorry, just my opinion and others around me. Commissioners need to stop granting permits for all these housing developments or fix the roads to handle it,” says Faye Ward, Ocala resident.