BUSINESS PEOPLE: JMX Brands CEO is named 2022 Top Entrepreneur

Curly or not, let students share stories

We all can learn a few things from Zander Moricz. The “curly hair” euphemism in his Pine View commencement speech May 22 brilliantly outlined life in Florida for young adults who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Florida politicians fully embrace our First Amendment rights, unless your ideology conflicts with theirs. I even agree with parts of House Bill 1557. You know best when or if it is appropriate to discuss sexual orientation with your kindergartner.

Teachers barely have time to use the restroom, so thank goodness our legislators used their time to step in and police problems that do not exist.

But take heart. If your child is bullied because they have two moms or two dads, or are perceived as different, parents can rely on Florida Statute 1006.147 to protect them. But only if the bullying is “chronic and persistent” as defined by the statute.

Wouldn’t it be much simpler if students like Zander were free to exercise their First Amendment right to talk about their life experiences? Not to be viewed as political fodder, but as sharing their personal journey to promote tolerance.

Something children should be learning in kindergarten, in support of other children with curly hair.

Jayne Giroux, Sarasota

Complex offers rentals for service workers

There is now a statewide program aimed at helping middle class families in certain occupations to purchase their first home (“Helping with home ownership,” May 25).  The program designates a category of professional workers, such as first responders and teachers, as “Hometown Heroes.”

Also desperately needed, however, is affordable or attainable rental housing for a broader definition of Hometown Hero, those low-paid workers who keep our service-based economy in business but whose jobs do not require licenses or certifications.

We must find below-market rental solutions for our hotel service workers, lower-level hospital and school employees, and other vital workers who can no longer afford to live in Sarasota.

Happily, there is a model for such assistance nearing completion. It is called Lofts on Lemon, a development in downtown Sarasota that defines a much broader category of workers as qualifying for housing assistance. 

Lofts on Lemon is being built as housing for Hometown Heroes with maximum allowable income limits as low as $60,500 for one person and up to $100,200 for six people to qualify for one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

According to the publicity, rents will range from $1,539 to $2,127.

More affordable housing for this expanded definition of Hometown Heroes is desperately needed in Sarasota County.

For more information about Lofts on Lemon, go to https://ndcassetmanagement.com/property/lofts-on-lemon.

Marie Keeney, Sarasota

A decade later, another Sandy Hook

As I watched the horrific news unfold May 24 from Uvalde, Texas, I was taken back to the sickening moment in 2012 when I first heard about the murder of 20 first-graders and six school employees in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

I grew up a stone’s throw from Sandy Hook in Easton, Connecticut.  At the time I said, “Well, at least this unspeakable act will finally lead to some action in Congress to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.”

Here we are 10 years later, and nothing has changed. How stupidly naive I was to think the murder of little children would trump the profits of gun manufacturers or the campaign money that flows into the coffers of those in Congress (mostly Republicans) from the National Rifle Association.

Shame on all of them.  And shame on anyone who votes to keep those lawmakers in office. You all have blood on your hands.

I am disgusted and ready to move out of a state about to approve a law allowing “concealed carry guns without a permit,” similar to the gun laws in Texas.

Linda Crosskey, Englewood

Ukraine must sue Russia for reparations

It is imperative that Ukraine sue Russia in the World Court for damages and reparations. This case should have begun Feb. 25th and be continuing.

The court’s decision will provide the legal basis for Europe and the United States, plus aligned countries, to seize Russian assets and turn them over to an arm of the court as partial compensation for the losses, pain and suffering Russia has inflicted on Ukraine.

Since, after three months, it is plain that these assets will not be sufficient in themselves to pay the required reparations, all of the freedom-loving nations of the world should slap a 30% tariff on all trade to and from Russia and Belarus.

This tariff should remain in place until reparations are completed, with interest (even if it takes Russia generations to pay).

Rolf H. Parta, Bradenton

READER BOX

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Share your thoughts with us at editor.letters@heraldtribune.com. The maximum length allowed, as always, is 200 words.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: JMX Brands CEO Top Entrepreneur, new partner at law firm