Friday's letters: More trees in Sarasota, partisan Ping-Pong, protecting marriage equality

We need more trees in Sarasota

To combat climate change, cities around the world are planting trees to provide shade, lower temperatures and contribute to cleaner air.

For example, Medellin, Columbia, was able to lower temperatures by 5.5 degrees with a green canopy.

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Meanwhile, Miami, which has a similar climate to Sarasota, has planted 40,000 trees this year – and it is accelerating that program to help with flood management, climate control and quality of life.

Where is Sarasota?

Jane Lyons, Sarasota

Partisan Ping-Pong is out of control

I feel like a Ping-Pong ball being hit from the left by the Democrats – and from the right by the Republicans.

In order to navigate through the political rhetoric and disinformation, I am constantly researching to find the facts. You simply can't believe the pundits, nor many biased TV and newspaper reporters.

Unfortunately, Big Money will likely win the game with its constant barrage of TV ads and mailers.

Choosing the right candidates to vote for takes time – the key is to eliminate the extremes of both parties and support the moderate candidates who are willing to compromise.

Be diligent and do your homework.

I will be glad when the November election is over, and I can go back to normal living.

As Charles Dickens wrote in "A Tale of Two Cities": “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . . "

Marvin Glusman, Sarasota

Act now to protect marriage equality

Fifty years ago, when my husband Elliott and I met, we didn’t think we would live long enough to see same-sex couples win the freedom to marry under the law. Now, weeks after celebrating our 50th anniversary, we are worried that we could see this hard-won freedom rescinded during our lifetimes.

After all, buried in the Supreme Court's June ruling on abortion was a statement by Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote that the court should reconsider the decision granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry.

When we read that line, Elliott and I imagined how cutting it would feel to have this happy right ripped away.

It would be especially shocking because Americans are largely in consensus on this issue: numerous polls, both across the nation and in Florida, have shown that large majorities support marriage rights.

I hope that Justice Thomas’ wish never comes true. But it would be reckless to do nothing right now, especially when a simple antidote exists.

The U.S. Senate should pass the Respect for Marriage Act to cement the protections that same-sex couples deserve – and to remove the threat of the Supreme Court taking away marriage equality.

I want to see the next generation of gay and lesbian couples celebrate their 50th anniversaries without worry and fear for their futures.

Clark West, Lakewood Ranch

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota needs more trees, act now to protect marriage equality