Letters: College students should know their obligations and plan accordingly on loans

I just read Natasha Sutherland’s Oct. 23 article regarding student loan debt relief. Certainly, her writings are not the first article I have read supporting this program. I am happy that she worked hard and has been able to achieve success.

Even though I generally support Biden’s programs and am a big believer in helping to try and balance the inequities of our economic condition, I do not agree with this program. It took me 10 years to get my undergraduate degree. I had no expendable funds and zero parental financial support. I accomplished this by going to night school at community college while working full time at low paying jobs.

Working 60 hours a week and going to school four nights a week cost me my first marriage. After that, I decided that I had to somehow go to school full time if I was ever going to finish. I got my degree in one more year by completing a given list of classes at a local university while working 20 hours a week and living as a pauper.

Now, I am being asked to pay for student loans with my tax dollars. That doesn’t sit right, when I personally know young acquaintances who bought TVs and even cars with their student loan funds.

Someone should know the definition of the word “loan” by the time they enter college.

How is this different from a car loan or a mortgage loan? I hope I won’t be asked at some point in the future to pay for those also, because a few people did not understand what a financial loan is or are unwilling to fulfill the responsibilities to which they agreed.

Bill Mills, Jacksonville

Cheers for governor's hurricane response

There is no denying that Hurricane Ian was a crushing storm that will keep Floridians reeling for months to come, especially those in Southwest Florida.

Our governor, Ron DeSantis, has shown incredible strength and leadership when Floridians needed it the most. He has made sure that Floridians will receive all the help and resources they need to recover as quickly and effectively as possible from the storm. But more importantly, Gov. DeSantis has put action behind his words.

From before the storm even hit, the governor was encouraging Floridians in vulnerable areas to evacuate and to stock up on water and gasoline, as well as other essential items such as batteries, medicine and more.

Gov. DeSantis has been providing frequent updates and has been on site serving food, surveying the needs of residents, providing resources, physically helping with cleanup, congratulating businesses that have made it back already and encouraging those who can to patronize those businesses — even giving hugs to individuals in the hardest-hit areas. These include the counties of Lee, Charlotte, Manatee and more along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Most impressive to me has been our governor's boots-on-the-ground leadership style. He led an incredibly efficient and effective state response by activating more than 5,000 National Guard troops, making it clear that Florida will have zero tolerance for potential looters. This strong leadership by our governor has given many affected by the storm a sense of hope that we are not alone and that Florida will rebuild stronger and better than ever.

Gov. DeSantis has unified the Sunshine State and shown impeccable leadership during this challenging period.

Patti Walker, Middleburg

Republicans not practicing what they preach

To my Republican friends: I get it — the economy (inflation, in particular) is your biggest concern and why you vote Republican. I respect and appreciate your desire for small government and less spending. Before you vote, let’s consider that Republican politicians most likely aren’t going to reduce inflation (generally a global problem) or stop growing government. They don’t practice what they preach.

According to Florida TaxWatch, the Florida budget has increased 57.5% in the last 10 years. By my calculations, more than half of that growth has occurred since Ron DeSantis became governor.

Instead of using his time and power to limit increases in homeowners’ insurance and energy costs, Gov DeSantis is running for president. Instead of combating inflation, he is using our economic hardship to further his political ambition.

Most will agree, our country and our state are in trouble. Republican domination of Florida politics hasn’t helped. Signing culture war measures into law doesn't solve any problems but it does cost taxpayers money to implement and defend those measures.

Politicians who encourage book banning have never been seen by history as the “good guys.” They use power to divide neighbors along party lines. Governors Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles and Charlie Crist balanced business, protecting our environment and advocating for citizens.

I know many folks don’t like that Charlie Crist changed political parties but he has a record of moderation. When you vote, consider balancing the Republican legislature with a Democrat governor and vote for Crist.

Jay McGovern, Riverside

Seahorse needs Grisham

I was absolutely dismayed to learn that Shad Khan has bought the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn, the Lemon Bar and surrounding environs — that little slice of heaven for all of us that beckoned in Neptune Beach.

Some of my high school friends (we call ourselves the PHD Beach Sisters) have been going there the annually for the past 12 years. We were also allowed to film a remembrance video at the Seahorse for one of our Sisters, whom we lost in 2020. We always loved being able to park our vehicles in one spot the entire time we were there and walk to eat or shop.

We spent time at the pool, the beach and the Lemon Bar; we played cards and always got up to some shenanigans during the time we were there. That whole area was such an affordable, relaxing area for locals but the Seahorse even drew others from further away as well. Over the years, we met and got to know a group of nurses from Minnesota who came every year the same time we did.

I can hardly bear the thought of it all being gone ... but I know it will be.

I call on author John Grisham (who knows this area well) to wrest this sale from Shad Khan and keep the Seahorse the same as it has always been.

Melodie Brunson, Jacksonville

City should master basics first

Whether it’s the local diner or the Ritz-Carlton, the tables are wiped down several times a day while salt and pepper shakers are refilled, without exception. It’s a basic requirement of staying in business.

The same thing is true about a livable city. In a livable city, the trash is collected, while parks and sidewalks are maintained relentlessly. Without exception. It’s a basic requirement of being a top tier, livable city.

I am a Jacksonville native. For the over three-quarters of a century of my life, I have heard one politician after another run on a platform of infrastructure improvements. I have yet to see any of them deliver on that promise.

Now, we have city council candidate Charles Barr, and Council President Terrance Freeman running on (and advocating for) an infrastructure improvement platform.  Let’s give them a chance — elect Mr. Barr and hold Mr. Freeman to his promises.

After all, it isn’t fancy sports complexes and exotic hotels that make a city a great place to live. It’s clean, safe, walkable neighborhoods with nice parks and playgrounds that make a city a great place to live.

I believe Jacksonville can get there, but I'm not holding my breath.

Carlton Higginbotham, Spring Park

How does total compliance look?

According to WJCT, the Florida Department of Education has listed Duval Schools as “not in compliance” with the Parental Rights in Education law (sometimes called the “Don’t Say Gay” law). This is in spite of the fact that they have already removed several kinds of materials that support gay and transgender students, including posters proclaiming Safe Schools for all. Are they now supposed to condone or ignore the harassment of those students?

As a taxpayer, I strongly object to having my taxes support schools that are not allowed to teach the dignity and worth of all people — or to teach that we need to improve our treatment of those who still suffer from past oppression.

Public education in the United States is intended to cultivate responsible citizenship for the benefit of society. Parents do not own it. All taxpayers support public education, funding the nearly $10,000 per year that it costs to educate a student in the Duval County public schools. Where are the voices of public-spirited taxpayers in this debate?

Patricia DeWitt, Jacksonville  

Archaic argument for oil reserves

An Oct. 22 letter writer worried that we shouldn’t fritter away oil reserves trying to ease inflation. She argues that we don’t want to end up without enough oil to fuel our naval ships, like Japan did in World War II.

Nearly half of the U.S. fleet, including all 11 full-size aircraft carriers, as well as submarines, are nuclear powered, which don’t require fuel oil. The writer’s argument is archaic and assumes a world that no longer exists.

Mike Lawrence, Avondale 

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: College students must know loan obligations, plan accordingly