Letters to the Editor submitted by local residents of Ocala and surrounding areas. Submissions from users of Ocala-News.com to express their opinions on topical issues and events in Ocala, Marion County, and surrounding areas.
"Think about us natives and those who have lived here for decades. We hate all of this growth. We didn't ask for this. We were happy before all these people moved here" - A Native Ocalan says the city is becoming more like Orlando, Tampa, and St. Petersburg.
"To all the letter writers complaining about traffic, infrastructure, and development: You may feel better after submitting your thoughts, but it's unlikely your complaint will be read by anyone who actually votes on a development agreement" - An Ocklawaha resident says those who want to share their thoughts should do so at city and county meetings.
"Ocala needs more shopping and restaurants on the southwest side, and apartments. We, the regular Floridians, don't have the kind of money that these people have coming from New York and California" - An Ocala resident says the city needs more development, especially in its southwest corridor.
"People from Florida can hardly live here because of the rapid growth, the constant increase in population, and the tearing down of beautiful farms and land for car washes and homes that are not really worth 300+ thousand dollars. To be able to afford to live here I would have to make 20+ an hour. And an employer is hardly ever going to pay that" - A 37-year Ocala resident shares her thoughts on the affordability of living in Ocala.
"Time to start removing those "Horse Capital of the World" signs in Ocala. Thanks to our illustrious county officials and commissioners, we can consider renaming Ocala: 'The Gas Station, Car Wash, Storage Facility, Traffic, & Ugly Apartment Building Capital of the world.'" - An Ocala resident shares her opinions on development.
"I came here 19 years ago to enjoy something special in the country setting that was Ocala. Not knowing of course that the commission was willing to allow anything and everything to be developed without concern for preserving the uniqueness that was Ocala" - An Ocala resident says nothing is being done to improve infrastructure and preserve nature.
"The county can't keep up with road repairs and traffic now. Traffic accidents have increased and so has car insurance. I was born here in 1944 and it was a small, beautiful community. Now, we are turning into a mini Orlando" - Residents shared their opinions about development in light of a recent letter.
"We moved here 21 years ago. It was wonderful...Now, the roads are worse than up north...The beautiful horse farms are disappearing, 200 looks like one big shopping mall, and car washes and gas stations are everywhere you look" - An Ocala resident shares her thoughts.
"I sold my home to downsize. I was faced with no option when looking for housing besides apartments that were not affordable" - A disabled resident who has worked in Ocala for two decades says she can't find an affordable place to live.
"I am upset my child is late to school weekly and that they are left standing at a very busy spot of a highway in the dark, but I also understand that there is only so much that can be done" - An Ocala mother says she believes Marion school bus drivers are doing the best they can and are still coming up short. What are your thoughts?
"I do not feel threatened, as some seem to be, by the apartments. I am so glad the doors to Ocala and On Top of The World were not closed to us when we came here in 2001, and I am happy to welcome new folks to our end of town," - A 23-year resident of On Top of the World says she welcomes new apartments and development.
"I moved up here 8 years ago from St. Pete to get away from concrete jungles to only see it happening up here. What was once a quiet place to live is now overrun with traffic, apartments and houses filling our once pristine countryside," - An Ocala resident shares her thoughts on development.
"Accidents will be more prevalent causing our insurance rates to sore! Delays for emergency vehicles will suffer and deaths will be caused by these delays...Especially at OTOW! An adult retirement community will be mostly effected as our way of life will be forever changed" - A resident of one of Ocala's 55+ communities shares his opinion on development in southwest Ocala.
Ocala-News.com receives dozens of letters to the editor every week. Unlike other publications, we do our best to publish as many as we can and share your voice. Here's a collection of all the letters we didn't get to publish.
"The school board, lacking adequate transportation for our children, is now putting our children in danger and not communicating with parents. Because they don't have enough drivers, we get the phone call every day for the last 6 months that our children have to sit at the bus stop for an extra 45 minutes to an hour" - A Fort McCoy parent shares an opinion about bus transportation in the county.
"My husband always keeps a decent space between us and the car ahead while waiting for a light. This action saved us when a car from the lane to the right was struck and thrown into us, slamming us towards the car in front of us. Had we not had that safety space, it could’ve been worse." - An Orange Lake resident responds to another letter that was critical of excessive space between vehicles at stoplights. Do you have an opinion on the matter?
"I am fed up with the people who decide to stop excessive car lengths behind another car at red lights. Most everyone is sitting on their cell phone, not paying attention," - A Belleview driver shares his thoughts in a letter to the editor.
"We need a big mall, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Ross. We also need a Planet Fitness by us, a YMCA, a Sam's Club, and an Aldi," two residents of southeast Ocala say they'd like to see more businesses pop up in that area of the city. What are your thoughts?
An Ocala resident hopes a Michigan-based pizza and "grinder" chain will someday expand into Marion County. Are there any restaurants from the Midwest that you'd like to see expand into the area?
"It's a sad day for older folks and some younger, who really enjoy sitting down in the morning with a cup of coffee and a newspaper" - Roger Francisco shares his thoughts in light of the Ocala StarBanner moving to postal delivery. What are your thoughts?
"In the northeast Ocala area, we have been through five episodes of boil water notices in the span of 38 days. The water system here is 45 years old. Maybe it's in need of replacement" - An Ocala resident shares her experience with her utility provider. Share your comments here or send us a letter to the editor.
A man who drives a commercial vehicle described County Road 484 between I-75 and Marion Oaks as "treacherous," saying the lanes "need to be repainted as soon as possible."
"In reference to the deputy that caused the death of a bicyclist. The only consequence of his gross infraction of the law is a speeding ticket. He had no lights or siren, was going almost double the speed limit and was not responding to an emergency call" - An Ocala resident shares his thoughts on a recent verdict.
"Although I live in The Villages, if I want a great dining experience, I usually drive to Ocala" - A resident of The Villages who wrote in to name a few of her favorite places to eat in Ocala says she loves the city and its restaurants. What are your favorite places to eat in Ocala?
