Letters: If Bay Bluffs Park is so beloved, where are the volunteers willing to save it?

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Volunteers can save Bay Bluffs

In the picture attached to the Jim Little article concerning the closure of the Bay Bluffs boardwalk there is a sign that states, “Closed for Maintenance.” More correctly it should state, “Closed for Lack of Maintenance.”

It is shame that the boardwalk has been allowed to fall into such disrepair. I understand the issue in finding a funding source for the more than $1 million price tag to rectify the problem. So here is a novel idea, use a volunteer labor force.

If the park is so beloved, as stated by Mr. Little, sufficient volunteers could be found. City and county engineers, who are on the payroll, along with volunteer engineers from the community, could do the design work, which would eliminate that portion of the repair and replace cost. There are plenty of organizations in the area, and individuals off the street, who could provide a volunteer labor force for the actual construction.

These actions will reduce the money required to just the cost of materials. I am sure that there are other organizations in our community that would be willing to chip in some money for materials, thus reducing the cost further.

Volunteers do wonderful activities in the community. For example, Habitat for Humanity and beach cleanups. Certainly, they would step up for this project. So, I challenge Mayor D.C. Reeves to work through any legal hurdles to open this project to the community, and the people of the community to step up and make this happen.

Jeff Neely, Pensacola

Readers don't hold back: Letters: If you’re looking for ‘extremists’, look no further than Biden and the Democrats

We need divine election intervention

If ever the pot called the kettle black, it’s “Biden: Trump aims to destroy nation” (News Journal, Sept. 20). Biden’s already “done a job” on our beloved America. He doesn’t give a hoot about America or Americans!

Some Democrats probably love America. More or most of them hate America according to Mark Levin, host of Life, Liberty, and Levin on Saturday and Sunday Fox News.

He authored “The Democrats Hate America.” The contents thereof document it, no surprise to many. It’s just a sad, sad, situation bringing many to tears! Biden slams Trump ignoring Trump’s accomplishments, too many to enumerate!

Who will be Trump’s running mate? I hope it’s that powerhouse, Kristi Noem, North Dakota’s governor. She invited all the candidates to a rally on Sept. 8. Only Trump showed up. I listened to it on my Ipad. It was exhilarating. Her guts and enthusiasm were impressive.

God forbid Kamala Harris were ever president, a possibility because of Biden’s age, energy, and gaffes. It’ll be exciting to see who wins in 2024. I can’t wait, hoping God will intervene! Many believe he did in 2016. The Bible – the greatest book ever written, never to be superseded – declares God promotes and removes.

God bless us all as only he can.

Chrys Holley, Milton

RV parks have advantages

I do not own, nor have I ever owned an RV, but I have visited the RV park at Pensacola Beach and been impressed by how nice it is. It is certainly not an eyesore.

Not mentioned in the Sept. 29 article is the fact that RV owners have the option of moving their “homes” when a hurricane is threatening, as opposed to house and condo owners who can only hope and pray their property will survive.

When an RV park is tastefully done, it actually offers that obvious advantage over “permanent” housing. If standards for proposed RV parks are both stringent and reasonable, it appears to me that RV parks are more advantageous.

Such standards could include limiting how long a particular RV owner can rent a space thus opening up RV spaces for others who also wish to “vacay” at a beautiful beach locale.

Darrell Griffin, Pensacola

Hear from our readers: Letters: Nothing Christian about Trump, and nothing Christ-like about supporting him

Find way to get IRA assistance

The state of Florida declined to receive federal assistance and funding from the IRA, and residents feel left out.

The Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits and monies to help residents reduce energy expenses. The IRA also provides incentives and training for vendors and suppliers on major home improvement services.

I am a 72-year-old retiree living on a fixed income, living out my life in a small cottage that was built in 1938. My home isn’t insulated, has single pane windows, is heated with gas, and my A/C is more than 25 years old.

There are many Gulf Coast residents living in similar circumstances that truly need to apply for IRA programs. The vendors and service providers in Northwest Florida would greatly benefit from the IRA sell-through as well.

I don’t have sufficient income to purchase or finance new heat pump, induction stove, insulation, and windows. For residents like me who don’t have the income to qualify for tax credits, only direct financial support will help.

I am suggesting that there could be a ‘regional clearing house’ that would allow residents to receive IRA funds. Maybe the city of Pensacola, the largest key city in Northwest Florida, would apply for IRA pass through grants.

Leaders in Pensacola and Northwest Florida have a unique opportunity to help all coastal citizens gain access to IRA programs and monies. Let’s find ways to help all of us!

Robert Teague, Pensacola

Trump out to steal election

Cassidy Hutchinson, former assistant to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, is right when she says, “Donald Trump is the most grave threat we will face to our democracy in our lifetime, and potentially in American history.”

Donald Trump is a wannabe autocrat. He tried to steal the last presidential election and he will try to steal the next one, too, if he wins the Republican nomination. He has no shame, and he will do whatever it takes to steal the 2024 election.

Anyone supporting/voting for Donald Trump is supporting/voting for the overthrow of the United States government. Those who would support/vote for Trump should think long and hard about the consequences of another Trump presidency.

Presley Harper, Pensacola

Veteran students should be heard

After this former veteran job training student submitted a complaint through the veteran’s benefits administration about the quality and mechanical conditions of the equipment assigned for students to operate while attending job training in which several of us - including other veterans - had noticed mechanical issues with the equipment being used that was also many decades old, I received a reply from the veteran’s administration that they had assigned the host state approving agency to conduct a review in which the state, the same people who approved the class in question, was of course unable to substantiate my complaint.

When I tried to submit supporting documentation including witness statements, photographs, letters from the manufactures and more, questioning in its entirety what the state had reported, the veterans benefit administration informed me that there is no mechanism in place for the veteran student to appeal or challenge the findings of the state approving agency in which the VBA noted that they are to accept the state’s findings as an absolute, even if those findings were fraudulent or erroneous.

Think about that. Senators Scott and Rubio and Congressman Gaetz, help me and other veteran students have a voice. Meet with me, hear my story, and review supporting documentation. #notonemoreveteran

Michael Hainline, Pensacola

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Letters: If Bay Bluffs Park is so beloved, who will volunteer to help?