Misguided DeSantis prioritizes migrant flights over Florida’s artists and musicians | Opinion

Arts in retreat

For President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, art and democracy were two sides of the same coin. Kennedy wrote: “Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color.” They believed artists were as important as scientists, politicians and business people.

Evidently, Gov. Ron DeSantis does not share that world view. He stripped his budget and left many wonderful dancers, musicians and other artists without the funds to continue inspiring us. Of course, he will fund his private military force and immigrant flights out of Florida. How truly sad and tragic.

Those of us who attend dance and music concerts, plays, operas and other cultural events must continue to do what we can to support the arts.

Peter M. Brooke,

Doral

Big problems

I only watched five to 10 minutes of the June 27 presidential debate. Those are minutes I can’t get back.

My family group chat, where I received the play-by-play, only reinforced what I already knew: our country is in deep trouble.

Josie Gulliksen,

North Miami

Debatable debate

What does President Biden’s debate performance really matter?

This is a race between a president whose administration does what it’s supposed to do reasonably well and a challenger who is a convicted criminal and whose agenda is to put Biden in jail and pardon the January 6 convicts. The choice is clear to anyone whose head is not in the sand.

Moral worth and financial probity once were American values. How did we get to the point where a buffoon who has neither was elected president and risks being again?

Werner Grob,

Key Biscayne

Back to basics?

In a recent Miami Herald article about activists protesting the defunding of “traditional” public schools, a parent asked why the Miami-Dade School Board and lawmakers hadn’t addressed the deterioration of his neighborhood school. Of course, there’s no simple answer; things don’t happen overnight.

From our state’s Department of Education to the local school board, elected representatives are the decision-makers. Those decisions have an impact.

Republican governors have been in charge in Florida for 26 years. Their political platforms all favored private school vouchers and charter schools, under the guise of “parental choice.” Charter schools are private entities paid with our taxes. They can sue a school district, as happened recently in Broward County, resulting in further taxpayer expense for court costs. Voucher programs subsidize religious and private schools, also putting our tax dollars in the hands of private decision-makers.

Lately, the enactment of unwarranted legislation such as “Don’t say gay,” has seeded much mistrust in public schools and teachers. Devised “culture wars,” set on the battlefield of “traditional” public schools, have done serious damage.

Should we be surprised then, when the Broward School Board recently asked its superintendent to develop a plan to convince more parents to place their children in public schools?

Esther De Varona,

Coral Gables

By design

A democratic patriot in President Biden’s position, who professes to fear a second Donald Trump presidency, would step aside in favor of another candidate who can articulate what Biden is meaning to say but simply cannot. An effective orator and debater should be able to manhandle Trump, whose game really isn’t all that sharp.

Such a person must be given an opportunity by the kingmakers in the Democratic Party, who consistently back legacy candidates over the younger, potentially transformative rising stars. Fewer impassioned and focus group-tested speeches are needed.

Keeping it simple is all the modern electorate can digest before switching to another “look, butterfly!” distraction.

Christopher Marlowe,

Miami Springs

Summer fun

When we reminisce on our childhood, many of our memories are a result of how we spent our summer breaks. Camp in particular holds a special place because it allows children to fulfill dreams, engage in diverse experiences, interact with a broad spectrum of peers and mentors and establish friendships that last a lifetime.

YMCA of South Florida is focused on delivering a collaborative atmosphere where children can try something new without fear of failure. Kids are encouraged to participate in activities and attain new heights in their personal development. Field trips are omnipresent in the Y’s summer schedule, with exciting and educational destinations, appealing to many interests. The Y also offers summer camp programs in community schools with a deeper focus on learning and preventing the “summer slide.”

As parents, it’s imperative we provide our kids every opportunity to grow and develop. Summer camp plays a pivotal part in that process.

Tara Montenaro,

chief operating officer,

YMCA of South Florida,

Fort Lauderdale

Background check

The grandson of a friend of mine made a good observation: if Donald Trump, a convicted felon, can run for president of the United States, then the question on job applications asking if one is a convicted felon should be removed.

Because so many so-called Americans favor putting this convict back in the White House, it is only fair that everyone has the same right and privilege.

Gertha P. Whitehead,

Opa-Locka

Endless loop

Donald Trump may have sounded stronger and more positive in the June 27 presidential debate, but we must remember that he has continuously repeated the same lies so many times they just flow easily off his crooked tongue.

Priscilla Fregger Adler,

Cutler Bay

Managing growth

As a resident of Miami Beach and the Town of Surfside for the last 63 years, I’ve watched our communities grow — Miami Beach like a weed, Surfside more slowly. Miami Beach’s philosophy has been to build, build and then build some more. Surfside’s has been to control growth and focus on quality of life. These differing philosophies and their outcomes have been stark. The Beach has almost destroyed its quality of life for permanent residents. Surfside has enhanced it.

Miami Beach’s mayor is not to blame for the past. While he recently lamented the city’s over-development and traffic, his ideas to address both will not result in any meaningful benefit to residents. The city’s building binge will continue unabated.

The voting history of most of Miami Beach’s past leaders have sealed the fate of its residents. There will be no smart growth nor a stop to over-development, only worsening gridlock, a worsening level of service for residents and worsening overcrowding.

Surfside, on the other hand, hasn’t allowed leadership to sell out its residents. Our residents have a well-earned reputation for loud debates because they are intent on maintaining quality of life at all costs. They have a selfish desire to not build to the sky, but rather to simply improve what they have — for themselves, their families and their loved ones.

Beach residents have seemingly not yet grasped that there is a limit to how many people can be crammed into a fixed area. They should upgrade the homes and units they have and focus solely on the people already living there.

Never trust anyone who promises to stop over-development because it’s a meaningless, undefined term politicians love to use. Over-development, to a developer, has quite a different meaning to a resident who must sit in traffic for an hour just to go to the grocery store.

I sincerely wish Miami Beach residents and those in other municipalities find some way to take their cities back from connected developers.

Charles W. Burkett,

mayor,

Town of Surfside

Knock it off

Herald Sports columnist Greg Cote’s June 26 opinion, “Epic rise as Florida Panthers win first Stanley Cup,” was an insult to all hockey fans in North America. He trashed Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, calling him overrated because he has yet to win a Stanley Cup.

Using that as criteria to be great, how does Cote rate former Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino, who never won a Super Bowl?

Cote owes McDavid an apology. If not, he should remove Marino from the pedestal he put him on.

Stu Blumberg,

North Bay Village