DeSantis administration’s plan to build golf courses at state parks is absurd | Opinion

Parks wrecked?

For the DeSantis administration to pave paradise and put up golf courses, sports courts and hotels on our state parks is absurd. It’s yet another example of how the state keeps thumbing its nose at Floridians, who voted overwhelmingly to preserve conservation land for future generations.

In 2014, 75% of voters approved the Water & Land Conservation Amendment to the Florida Constitution. Since then, Earthjustice has been in court fighting to ensure the state spends the money as voters directed: that a portion of taxes already collected on real estate sales — about $750 million per year total — go toward buying and managing conservation land.

Instead of spending the money as directed, each year the legislature has used accounting gimmicks and spent that money for agency overhead and other expenses, including computers, monitors, DirectTV service, insurance premiums, agricultural equipment and, in one case, 1,000 ball caps for agricultural operators.

This latest proposal to trash our state parks should be abandoned. The state should keep its promise to voters: buy more conservation land and not destroy our state parks.

Tania Galloni,

managing attorney,

Florida Office of Earthjustice,

Tallahassee

Living life

I go about my daily life in the United States. When I travel overseas (usually to Third World countries), I am reminded of how privileged it is to be on the elderly side. Total strangers will see me approaching wet, tiled steps and run over to offer a hand, putting aside where they were headed, to patiently accompany me safely to the top. Men, women and children will give up their seats without being asked. Security guards will escort me to the seniors’ only line and find a chair if it appears that I am weary.

I enter a fast food establishment and the line is 20-deep, but then all the patrons call out to go to the head of the line, even though it means they will have to wait an extra five minutes. There are many more examples which I won’t cite. My point, however, is that aging is the natural progression of life and it’s not a thing to be vilified.

Yes, one does show signs of slowing down, but with aging also comes experience, wisdom, patience, tolerance, understanding, compassion and strength. As one gentleman said when I offered to step aside to let others pass, “Just keep going lady, we’re all going to get there one day.”

Betsy Sharp,

Miami

Editor’s note: This letter was republished to correct an editing error.

Correcting the kids

Debating school vouchers is fine, but let’s also debate important issues such as curriculum, security and teachers’ salaries. However, the most important issue in public schools is discipline.

The authority to discipline students should be returned to the teachers and school principals. I do not know when and who is responsible for taking it away. Give teachers authority and public schools will thrive.

Guillermo A. Martinez,

Coral Gables

Safety first

For the Florida Legislature to convene a special session to address the so-called condo crisis is absurd. The real crisis was addressed two years ago, when 98 lives were tragically lost in a dangerously unsafe condominium.

In the wake of this disaster, Floridians were shocked to learn that outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, many condominiums had never been inspected, regardless of age. The situation at Champlain Towers in the Town of Surfside, where $15 million in emergency repairs were needed but only $706,000 was available, underscored the dire need for change.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators acted decisively, instituting laws that mandate inspections and repairs for buildings over 30 years old, along with mandatory reserve funds. This was the only responsible course of action.

Debating the specific causes of the building collapse misses the point — the true cause was a lack of funds. Had the money been available when the need for repairs was first identified in 2018, the tragedy could have been avoided.

The new laws ensure that such a disaster never happens again. Florida must stand firm in its commitment to safety, even if it means some financial hardship for condominium owners.

Eric Glazer,

Fort Lauderdale

Civil rights

The Aug. 7 letter, “Landmark act,” by Angela Primiano, chair of the Florida Commission on Human Relations, celebrated the 1964 Civil Rights Act and reminded me how far America has progressed — and regressed — since then.

The Act passed the U.S. Senate with 46 Democrats and 27 Republicans in support. Twenty-one of the 27 “No” votes came from Southern Democrats — an extinct species today. Republican senators in Kansas, Kentucky and Nebraska voted in favor.

Both Florida senators and 11 of 12 Florida congressmen voted against the Act. Claude Pepper, of Miami, was the only member of the Florida delegation who supported civil rights for Black Americans.

The 2024 election will determine if 1964 was past or prologue in Florida.

James Wilson,

Plantation

On a shoestring

I shook my head while reading the proposed improvements for Miami International Airport.

I have an idea: call the mechanics and tell them to fix the frozen elevators and non-moving escalators. It’s pathetic watching senior citizens and wheelchair-bound passengers trying to navigate the steps.

Also, what about placing a basic sign on the wall for international arrival passengers?

When I arrived I saw nothing, no “Welcome to the USA.” I was embarrassed for my country.

Peg Evans,

Biscayne Park

Let’s get serious

The 2024 presidential candidates — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — must get serious. Americans want each candidate to provide clear detailed plans, with detailed policies and resolutions addressing America’s never-ending challenges. This includes a teetering economy, immigration, inflation, expanding wars, crime, terrorism and more.

This is all occurring while America is facing a huge national debt which is threatening our national security and our nation’s credit rating.

Americans have been burned enough to know that the candidates’ general promises of freebies and fantasies are not believable; it is insulting to our intelligence.

America needs serious, authentic candidates with serious solutions.

Fleta Stamen,

Miami

Storm shenanigans

Did you know that your taxpayer dollars, $480 million of them, are being squandered instead of helping uninsured Floridians living in storm-ravaged homes?

Rebuild Florida is a partnership between the Florida Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Storms have always been big business, but these funds are being misappropriated in plain sight.

This “rescue program” is in free fall, without accountability. Outlandish “records fees” block any valid inquiries. The State Attorney’s Office has been asked to conduct an investigation. A class action lawsuit seems inevitable.

Some abandoned recipients were delayed until they died, while current holdouts are being encouraged to withdraw. The few “lucky” recipients of repaired/replaced units returned to homes that should never have passed inspection. Complicit parties verify work that was not completed, while grant recipients are powerless to address the shoddy (and downright dangerous) workmanship.

I qualified for the program after Hurricane Irma in 2019 and I know Rebuild Florida delivers nightmares instead of dreams. Contrary to claims, many are still waiting. Formal complaints go unanswered year after year.

You know it’s serious when it merits a support group due to abuse, lies and gaslighting. It’s the peak of hurricane season. Does Gov. DeSantis know we have a problem?

Wendy Miller-Aguiar,

Davie