Could DeSantis save lives with migrant move? Is MAGA driving GOP? Letters, Sept. 25, 2022

Do the math: Costco project a prime example of an old adage about figures

Figures don't lie, but liars do figure. That famous quote attributed to Mark Twain from over 100 years ago rings as clear today as it did back then.

In both Stuart and Martin counties, our comprehensive plans are under attack in a high stakes battle of finance and politics fought over large-scale development. It is seemingly impossible to withstand the constant barrage of manipulation and deception. The adage money never sleeps accurately describes the influence and pressure put on our community to over-develop what we have.

One example of “liars’ math” is the Costco project. The Kanner CPUD development is comprised of several parcels of land combined into one application, the sum of which is 49 acres. The Costco building being the largest on the property. The apartments will take up 15 acres of the land, but the math used to calculate the density of housing uses all 49 acres. That manipulation of numbers is an advantage for developers to maximize the amount of rentable square footage they can achieve, making PUD’s the preferable zoning.

Finding locales that will grant this land use designation and vacant parcels of land in those areas is a challenge for developers. This is a big money arena that only a few have the resources and knowledge to play in. You can understand why those involved want so desperately to see it happen. It's like sitting on oil and waiting to drill. The owner of the land, the developers, and the city all benefit big from the approval while the rest of us must deal with the consequences.

Let's see if our newly elected city commissioners call out the blatant deception in the density calculations made for PUDs.

Nick Gulotta, Stuart

Martin County will benefit from the 'Rural Lifestyle' amendment

Aggressively addressing Martin County’s long-term growth is becoming more important with ever increasing development pressures which could destroy our county’s exceptional, desirable character. Therefore it’s imperative that significant acreage, such as the proposed Loxa-Lucie ecosystem which connects in permanent preservation headwaters of the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, be placed in conservation as soon as possible. A good step toward that end occurred with the recent approval of the Rural Lifestyle/Atlantic Fields amendment. This enactment will provide funding and an initial step in a road map toward a comprehensive smart growth plan to address future land use.

Martin County is fortunate to have affluent areas which contribute out of proportion to the county’s tax base. For example, Jupiter Island has 0.3% of the residents but  provides 13% of the revenue! Atlantic Fields, about half the size, should add about 6-7% while requiring little County service. Much of that largesse should be devoted to preservation and specifically to Loxa-Lucie.

Commissioners Smith, Jenkins, and Hetherington should be commended for approving the Rural Lifestyle amendment. In particular, Commissioner Hetherington should not be unduly criticized for her decision once she had thoroughly assessed all the facts.

Martin County will be better off as a result.

Bob Gordon, Hobe Sound 

'It takes courage to go against the grain' comes to mind post-meeting

Yes, Stacey Hetherington took a stand on the Rural Lifestyle Application. It takes courage to go against the grain, judging from the number of opposing petitioners who attended the recent Martin County commissioners’ meeting.

Believe she was not sure what to do until that very moment. But, because she approved the proposal, she was crucified. Although perhaps in the long term, opposing environmental groups and others is wrong. Perhaps she thought the state will control home rule in the near future limiting our input or the Residential Capacity Report will force us (which I believe is very possible) to move the Urban Boundary and what would be the best way forward. Again, perhaps to have established a development with a high bar that others would be challenged to meet and still see an acceptable return on investment reducing the chance of urban sprawl?

Perhaps, we should stop and take a deep breath and review the current myopic approach to "just say no," to anything pertaining to the Urban Boundary and look longer term. It might not be convenient in terms of timing but perhaps it is a start via Rural Lifestyle, keeping potentially a lot of acreage as open terrain. At least, while we still have some ability to make changes.

Perhaps Ms. Hetherington saw this potential as well.

Paul Laura, Jensen Beach

Thanks to leaders for helping empower children, adults with disabilities

Christmas came early for ARC of Martin County and the Arc of St. Lucie County. With the help of some key legislators, our not-for-profit organization was able to secure $750,000 for two WAIBLE (Women’s Accessible Intensive Behavioral Living Environment) homes.

These homes are for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need long-term care that can provide intensive behavioral programming within a structured home environment. The state funding for the WAIBLE Program we received will go toward modifying two homes currently owned by ARC, hiring, training, and certifying behavior professionals, and purchasing vehicles used to transport residents as required.

Advocates for the Rights of the Challenged, is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. Our mission is important, and our needs are great.

Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, who serves Fort Pierce residents in District 84, was instrumental in helping us secure these funds. Rep. Trabulsy has worked as a trustee for the United Way of St. Lucie County and with Habitat for Humanity, two great organizations with a mission to serve communities and give back in a big way.

I want to thank Rep. Trabulsy and Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls for their generous support and the support of the Legislative Budget Committee. We are extremely grateful for state leaders who use tax dollars wisely to help residents less fortunate. They understand we cannot abandon some of society’s most vulnerable citizens.

With this state funding, a group of women will now have a place to live, in a safe and structured environment where ARC can properly care for them and provide the support and assistance that will help them achieve their fullest potential.

Thank you to these state leaders for their efforts in this endeavor and for their service to Florida.

Keith W. Muniz is president and CEO of ARC of Martin County and Arc of St. Lucie County.

DeSantis might save lives by sending poor migrants to wealthier areas

By winning the Revolutionary War back in 1776, we ousted a monarchy here in the US and established a republic form of government based upon the most well-thought out and well-constructed constitution in the world. To this day, no equal exists. Time has since changed the British Empire, from which we escaped. Currently members of that commonwealth are quietly breaking away from British control and establishing their own government. 1997 marked for many the end of the British Empire. Many former colonies joined the Commonwealth of Nations.

Unfortunately, many economists posit the observation that the United States is on the march to oligarchy. They point out that the worsening inequality and social stratification — two main characteristics of a wealth-based oligarchy — are embedded into our structure.

Two political scientists (Gilens and Page in 2014) outlined the fact that Congress passes laws which benefit the wealthiest 10% more often that the poorest 50%. And we know between 1979 and 2005, the incomes of the top 1% rose by 400%

How best to speed up the progress toward oligarchy but to open the border to masses of poor, unskilled, uneducated millions? This merely shores up the distinction between rich and poor and reduces the middle class. Perhaps Gov. Ron DeSantis' act of sending some of the tired, poor, sick, hungry immigrants to wealthier environs will point out the error of ignoring and/or violation of U.S. immigration laws, that our forefathers adhered to. He may be saving them from death, drug cartels, rape, drowning, etc. which is the fate of many at our southern border.

Audrey Taggart, Hobe Sound

Current GOP seems driven by MAGA movement, not democratic principles

Historically the Republican Party conservatively stood for democratic principles. No more. The Republican Party is now dominated by a MAGA-driven insurgent movement against our government in an unbridled pursuit of political power and dominance. This insurgency is most visibly led by the pretentious strongman Donald Trump — with Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbott, and too many others — actively seeking power to impose their values on others and develop sycophants.

In 2012, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency published an informative document titled “Guide to the Analysis of Insurgency”, which cites:

• Insurgency is a political-military struggle to subvert or displace government.

• Insurgents seek to:

- undercut government

- obtain support of the population – potentially via fear and intimidation

- provoke government abuses that solidify supporter loyalty

- undermine international support for the government

- create a group identity that separates the group from the national identity or

that of the ruling elite, establishing an “us versus them” conflict.

These CIA characterizations appear applicable to the Republican Party — now dominated by an actor pretending to be a strongman.

Too many Republicans will not condemn the assault on law enforcement and the Republic at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Republicans actively threaten government employees who simply do their job, among them the FBI, the DOJ, election workers, and even the National Archives.

Republicans oppose a woman's right to choose. Many Republicans also question Americans' right to contraception and the right to marry the person of their choice.

MAGA followers embrace the Big Lie of a stolen 2020 election. Republicans seek to make voting harder and allow election results to be overturned by partisan Republican politicians — apparently ready to accept the death of our democracy.

For our nation to remain free and democratic, MAGA candidates must be not be elected.

Michael Walther, Vero Beach

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Could DeSantis save lives with migrant move? Letters, Sept. 25, 2022