Monday's letters: Development offsets Urban Forest, COVID heroes could become criminals

Creating forest haven, building more homes

The Community article Dec. 14, “Fresh growth for Urban Forest,” about continued work creating a safe haven for wildlife and clean water in Venice, was refreshing to read. The volunteers who work to make this a reality are to be congratulated.

The irony, however, did not escape me. The city of Venice has annexed countless square miles of beautiful natural habitat for this same wildlife, and it has been recklessly clear-cut while more and more homes are built. More homes that require more clean water.

More:How to send a letter to the editor

Back in 1978, John D. MacDonald wrote in his book “The Empty Copper Sea”: “Florida can never really come to grips with saving the environment because a very large percentage of the population at any given time just got there. So why should they fight to turn the clock back? It looks great to them the way it is.”

Not to detract from the Venice Urban Forest project, but is it not, “Look here, but don’t look over there”?

Jim Dellecker, Venice

DeSantis’ COVID grand jury could cost lives

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for the authority to convene a grand jury to investigate “any and all crimes and wrongdoing” relating to the development and distribution of mRNA vaccines in Florida.

More:DeSantis requests probe of vaccine 'wrongdoing'

DeSantis is attempting to criminalize the action of scientists who saved tens of millions of lives in the face of a deadly pandemic.

This effort by DeSantis to fuel his presidential aspirations by firing up his MAGA base is likely to kill people. The evidence is clear that vaccines save lives.

Ironically, at the same time DeSantis was proposing a grand jury to investigate the heroic efforts of scientists, a science lab in California, culminating some 70 years of rigorous inquiry, successfully demonstrated the potential for nuclear fusion as an effective energy source. While practical applications are still far in the future, the implications for reducing climate emissions could be far-reaching.

While irrational distrust of science may give DeSantis airtime on right-wing media, his anti-science actions do nothing to help the citizens he is supposed to represent.

William Welsch, Punta Gorda

Condemn Putin for Whelan’s imprisonment

In answer to the letter writer who wrote that President Joe Biden should be condemned for bringing basketball player Brittney Griner home while leaving Paul Whelan in Russia, he is condemning the wrong man.

It’s not Biden, but Russian President Vladimir Putin who is making things impossible. If the letter writer had listened to the details on the news, he would know that Biden had no choice: It was Griner or no one at all.

Russia has claimed that Whelan is a spy, and to let him go it wanted to pressure Biden into getting a third country to release a Russian spy from its jail.

As Whelan’s own brother said, Biden made the right choice. Even if his brother couldn’t come home, it was right that Griner did.

Susan Jurist, Sarasota

Democrats show lack of governing skill

The Dec. 16 letter, “Gaetz makes poor argument,” called for a quick return to the “sanity and governing skill of the Democrats.”

Would that be the governing skill that has taken us from 1.4% inflation when Joe Biden took office to the highest rate in 40 years? Would that be the governing skill that engineered the "highly successful" Afghanistan pullout?

Would that be the governing skill that led to shortages of medical drugs, baby formula and other critical products? Would that be the governing skill that has led to enormous spikes in illegal immigration and drug trafficking across our southern border?

If the last two years are a display of the Democrats’ government skill, I don’t even want to imagine what a lack of such skills would achieve.  Of course, we are already seeing that every day that the Democrats remain in control of the federal government.

Roger Roess, Venice

MAGA movement either dead, or not

I’m wondering if Rex Huppke, one of USA TODAY’s stable of left-wing columnists, thinks his readers are stupid.

In his column Dec. 15, he states “... it’s safe to say anyone who thinks Trump carries a popular message is allergic to popularity.”  And he goes on to announce “MAGA … is dead.” All of which may be true.

But by the time we get to the sixth paragraph Huppke declares, apparently using facts now, “… from USA TODAY’s poll: By 2-1, GOP and GOP leaning voters now say they want Trump’s policies …”

Three states that went for Joe Biden gave him an Electoral College win with an astonishing 44,000 popular votes. However, “the adult in the room” has governed like a third grader.

Michael Petersen, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: In Venice, one hand creating wildlife habitat while other destroys it