Letters: City and state leaders must commit to easing post-COVID burdens
We have struggled mightily during the pandemic over the last two years. I’ve witnessed it at my church on the Westside, where families of all income levels, races, and backgrounds have dealt with the health and financial challenges that COVID has brought.
Some have lost loved ones; others have lost their jobs. Everyone has lost time. But we have also come together and gained a new appreciation for the gift of life and the people around us. The strength of our community depends entirely on how well we support one another.
Many people still suffer from severe health conditions, food, housing scarcity, and general fear of an uncertain future. The cost of living has become too burdensome for them to achieve a dignified quality of life. Small businesses have dealt with labor shortages and abusive lawsuits that have left many near bankruptcy.
As our city leaders in Jacksonville shape our path forward out of this challenging period, they need to focus on reducing the financial burdens faced by families and ensuring that businesses aren’t forced to close their doors out of fear of frivolous litigation.
I believe that our elected representatives in Tallahassee want to do good for the people of Florida. It’s time now for them to show their commitment to governing by passing reforms that will help families rebound from this turbulent time and build the foundation for a brighter, stronger future.
Raymond Johnson, Jacksonville
Williams saga is better than fiction
The rapidly unfolding story of Sheriff Mike Williams relocating outside Duval County sounds wilder than the best fiction. It now seems that Sheriff Williams will be allowed to officially retire on June 10. In addition, although he was not legally in office for nearly one year due to his change of residence, he will retain his pay and benefits accrued during that time, and the actions he took during that time are valid because of his “de facto status in that office.”
No one has a flux capacitor, so we can’t jump into a highly modified DeLorean and go back in time to fix the situation. Furthermore, according to a Times-Union story on June 3, “The same clear prescription applies to a move out of Duval County by the mayor, City Council members, the tax collector, supervisor of elections, property appraiser and School Board members.”
What can be done to ensure that this never happens again? The vacancy of office created by the death or resignation of any of the above officials would quickly become known, but a change of primary residence out of the county might not be. Perhaps we need an amendment to the city charter or possibly an ordinance requiring that a change in residence would require a said official to publish an announcement in the local newspaper.
Wayne Tutt, Jacksonville
When will gas prices top out?
Gas prices have always risen. I recall when a gallon of gas used to cost mere pennies and a fill-up was little more than pocket change. Back then, it was an extra penny here, a nickel there. And the increases were weeks or months apart, not happening on a daily basis.
But recent trends are daily and bigger increases. Where does it end?
Yesterday I was forced to pay $4.75 a gallon. I drive an older Toyota and the gas tank holds around 13 gallons. My gas tank had about 1/8 of its capacity remaining and $50 later I had less than 3/4 of a tank. A little more than a year ago, $20 would have totally filled it.
So, what is causing the current and continuous increase in the price of gas? What is changing daily that would require the petroleum companies to keep goosing up the retail costs?
Are their expenses constantly going up? Do their employees get daily pay raises? Is there some unknown ingredient in regular gas or some part of processing crude oil that is suddenly more expensive? Are the costs of purchasing oil from foreign countries this uncontrollable?
There must be a reason, and the American public has a right to know what it is.
Chip Kirkpatrick, Yulee
Elected officials must obey laws
I am troubled when servants of the people don't follow the laws. The city council needs to pass an ordinance to clearly explain the punishment for not maintaining residency when it is a job requirement.
I am still upset that JEA executives (and possibly members of the mayor's team) didn't abide by local ordinances. The city council voted 19-0 to rewrite charter sections including increasing transparency in JEA’s procurement process, executive contracts and board appointments.
The council acted after the JEA debacle and they need to act now. They must strengthen the charter to clearly explain the punishment if an elected official does not reveal that they are no longer qualified to be a registered voter in Duval County — but residency is a job requirement. Mike Williams has now retired, but he kept it hidden for over a year that he no longer met the job requirements as clearly explained in our city charter.
If Williams wanted to contest the charter, he should have done that honestly and openly. His actions put a blemish on his record. The city council should pass an ordinance to discourage other public servants from flagrantly breaking the law.
Susan Aertker, Jacksonville
Frenette wrong on former coach
As a former member of the Jacksonville Sports Development Board, youth baseball coach, and a former president of the San Jose Athletic Association, I had the pleasure of working with former FSCJ baseball Coach Chris Blaquiere for many years. I was shocked when I read Gene Frenette’s May 25 story, stating that the program under Coach Blaquiere was “impeded by his difficult management style.”
If you call it “difficult” to require players to not hold keg parties and disturb their neighbors, attend classes, be on time for practice, hustle while on the field and not wear hats indoors, then Mr. Frenette doesn’t have a clue as to what makes a great baseball coach.
Coach Blaquiere shaped the lives of many boys into great men. The FSCJ program declined simply because the baseball complex was on the north side of town and could not compete with other college locations; not because of its great coach. Mr. Frenette owes an apology to Coach Blaquiere.
Chuck Arnold, attorney and retired circuit judge, Mandarin
Birds safer than we are
Migrating birds — ducks, geese and doves — are protected by laws that require a hunter to use a gun with a capacity of three shots or less. If a hunter cannot harvest their quarry with the recommended firearms, which today are highly accurate, he or she needs to consider taking up another sport, such as golf or fishing. Otherwise, they are a danger to other hunters.
The Second Amendment reads, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." With our military, national guard, state and local law enforcement, do we need or even have a militia? If we do not need or have a "well-regulated militia," isn’t the Second Amendment null and void?
It appears the original purpose for the Second Amendment no longer exists. No private U.S. citizen needs a high-capacity assault weapon, designed for only one purpose — to kill people.
Robert Houghton, Jacksonville
Misunderstandings drive hate, too
Regarding Christopher Shea's letter in the Times-Union on June 5, which criticized an editorial cartoon that depicted a priest hearing confessions from Supreme Court justices, I agree 100 percent with what he said. The No. 1 fault in assessing the Catholic Church is the misunderstanding people have about it.
Last Sunday was the feast of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles (as Christ promised them before ascending into heaven) and gave them the power and knowledge — as Christ also promised — to go and teach "all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit."
According to the late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (who is being considered for sainthood), there are millions of people who hate the Catholic Church for what they think it is, but not 10 people who hate the Catholic Church for what it really is.
Ted St. Martin, Jacksonville
Do it for the pigs
In response to the shooting in Uvalde, Sen. Ted Cruz blamed a door while other lawmakers said it was primarily a mental health issue. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also said we can't ban AR-15s because his constituents need them to kill feral pigs.
How bad of a shot must you be to need an assault weapon to kill a pig?
Nothing will change until we deal with the real problem — that no one should have an AR-style anything at their disposal in a peacetime situation (including pig attacks). These are weapons designed to not only kill multiple people but to also tear them apart, and it is no surprise that many mass shooters have used an AR-15.
If we can't ban these weapons for children or for the rest of society, maybe we can at least do it for the pigs.
Scott Schleifer, Jacksonville
Golden Rule might help society
It seems like some people think guns alone cause people to go mad and commit murder. How do you explain Switzerland? Millions of people have guns, but there are no mass shootings.
Semi-automatic rifles have been around for over 100 years and AR-15s have been around since the late 1950s. So, what has changed? Our culture, and I believe it's what fuels evil people.
Movies and video games glorify violence. If Hollywood and gaming companies depicted the use of 12-gauge pump action shotguns, my guess is that would probably be the weapon the perpetrators used.
We all need to remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we celebrate that — and get help for those that are deemed dangerous — life would be so much better.
Mike Quinn, Jacksonville
Gun debate keeps going around
It befuddles so many people on why lawmakers can’t agree on sensible gun legislation.
Why are simple background checks, gun registration or limits on ammunition (such as armor-piercing ballistics) too much to ask? It won’t cure all our issues in this country, especially since mental health funding has consistently been cut, but anything would be a start.
Let’s have a long hard look at the divisive Second Amendment. Maybe until others become directly affected by these heinous crimes, the status quo will keep its hamster-in-a-wheel mantra. If we can’t save ourselves from each other, can we have the fortitude and decency to at least try to save children?
Gary Schuran, Middleburg
Definition of insanity
There is a famous quote that says, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” That seems to apply to the ongoing debate over gun regulation.
Every time there is a mass shooting the public outcry is for gun regulation. Background checks, age limits, and bans on assault weapons are a few of the more reasonable requests. However, every time nothing is done — that's the definition of insanity.
The current group of politicians will never change their minds. The only way we will get different results is to elect different people.
Scott Schleifer, Jacksonville
Save the trees
Recently I drove down Old Kings Road, and I noticed large swathes of trees were being cut down for new homes. It started around Toledo Road, near Wolfson High School.
This is a travesty to our world, not only because of climate change. Trees provide us with oxygen, which allows us to breathe.
Frederick Schmidt, Jacksonville
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: City, state leaders must commit to easing post-COVID burdens
