To the editor:
“It’s great that Ocala is showing growth. But the county government is giving too much away for the growth. They seem to be falling behind with the infrastructure. Our roads are becoming over-crowed and everywhere you look, a new home is being built to just sit empty. Our roads are showing wear and nothing is being done without a complaint to the county. Why can’t they keep enough people to do the repairs or who are willing to give an honest day’s work to keep up? Ocala is being destroyed just like what has happened to Clermont and surrounding areas with overgrowth. There is way too much greed, and not insight, being put forward in our growth. The reason we came to Ocala was for its natural beauty, which is being destroyed. Let’s not become another Lake or Orange county. Let Marion County keep it’s beauty and history. Learn from the mistakes others have made.” – Steve Marrow, Summerfield
“Ocala is building too fast and the infrastructure isn’t working well enough to continue to grow this fast. Roads, schools and just too many farms closed down to build homes. My commute now takes 20 minutes longer on State Road 200 just getting to I-75. Need to slow down before we have people leave the area and become a rundown town without any people.” – Martin Smith, Ocala
“The rapid and excessive growth of Marion County is ruining our town. It is no longer safe to drive on SR 200, especially during peak hours. We have inadequate lighting on many intersections, especially SW 60th/200 near the CVS and no crosswalk at Cherrywood Publix intersections. The road appears to have been designed by a drunken sailor. Left, right then leaning. Our commissioners need booted out since they do not listen to the constituents. We need green arrows for turns on all lights on SR 200 near the mall. Nobody signals anymore and we are all forced to U-turn because of palm trees in the center of SR 200. If it was like this 22 years ago, I would have never moved here. And where are the police enforcing speeding laws? Nowhere to be found. I dread leaving my house to get on the road. Not the Horse Capital anymore, the house Capital.” – Sherry Barrett, Ocala