'How is it possible that Trump's still a candidate?' Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3, 2023

Brevard: A budding 'Paradise Lost'?

Brevard County has failed to protect a paradise promised for its residents. The nationally praised Endangered Land Preservation Program has floundered after an initial beginning breakthrough.

The EEL program not only provides land preservation, but it also makes natural areas accessible for citizens throughout the county. Also, three educational centers provide an outstanding educational experience for thousands of Brevard County's citizens each year.

The EEL program started in 1990 and continued with a second referendum overwhelmingly approved in 2004. Even with a 60% endorsement, the program received only a fraction of the money allocated because our county commissioners failed to appropriate the total millage approved by the public.

The latest referendum passed with over 70% support has yet to be appropriated at any level. After a year of inaction the county commission has not acted to continue the funding process. The shortfall in the 2004 referendum and the slow rollout of the current one constitutes a "Paradise Lost" for the citizens.

There is a solution. The county commission should provide the millage already approved by its citizens as soon as possible before our paradise is lost forever.

Linda Lopardo, Titusville

Council owes taxpayers on this deal

On Nov. 14, I attended a Melbourne City Council meeting in which council members were to consider the Daily Bread's affordable housing project for homeless people. This project is to be located on Sarno Road and built on land presently owned by the city of Melbourne.

In the meeting it was obvious the city council, especially Mayor Paul Alfrey, gleefully supported the project. Councilwoman Mimi Hanley dissented.

It is not my intention to argue the pros and cons of the project. To some, it is a great philanthropic effort that will put them in the good graces of the Lord. To others, it will become an abysmal blight on the neighborhood, rife with drugs and prostitution that will obliterate property values.

I would like to make this point: In the meeting, it was revealed that there is a standing offer of $250,000 to buy the property that is to be used for the project. I know the council has a legal fiduciary requirement to do the best possible for the taxpayers' monetary investments, i.e., get the most for the tax dollars as possible. Without much discussion, the council voted to reject the dollar offer, donate the land, and proceed with the project. With this vote, the city council purposefully donated $250,000 of taxpayer money to the Daily Bread., a private profit organization.

My question: Is this legal? I am not a lawyer. I don’t know. But my gut says it is not. My hope is that someone of means will read this and initiate some sort of legal proceedings that will get our money back.

If the Daily Bread wants to do this, they should buy the property with their own money. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation does similar projects for homeless veterans. I’m told they use their own money to do so.

Larry Shaffer, Melbourne

Enough is enough

Sad to read the story about roadside memorials and heartfelt condolences to Ms. Moore. It is a shame more isn't done about highway safety in Florida. We shouldn't have to take our lives in our hands driving on I-95 or in our own neighborhoods. Rude, reckless driving seems to have spread like a cancer on the Space Coast.

We can draw a lesson from England. On the motorways, the speed limit is 70 mph. Every 10 or 15 miles or so, drivers pass under detectors. They might be on a gantry spanning the roadway or hidden under a bridge. Everyone knows they are there and has to respect them. A policeman told me the system allows a 10% cushion or 77 mph. (Who the hell needs to drive over 77 mph?) He said they just wait for a call from the system and they stop the violators. Why not a system like this in Brevard County? I confess, I got a ticket from a robot in France, and another from the Tallahassee PD. It gave me a whole new respect for traffic rules.

You can expect an argument from the Fraternal Order of Police and Sheriff Ivey. Such systems will take away police jobs. Look, there aren't enough cops to deal with the problem now. How many times have you nearly been run off the road and said "Gee, I wish a cop had seen that? Jobs are safe and the result would be a spike in revenue.

As for political will, I have sent similar emails to the sheriff, Rep. Randy Fine, and others. No response. Someone from the county did reply that they were forwarding my email to FDOT. Never heard a thing.

My heart goes out to Ms. Moore. But I have to say, every time I see one of these memorials, I think: How many of these accidents were preventable?

Bob Michaud, Melbourne

Voter guide spurs questions

Thank you, FLORIDA TODAY, for the 2022 Nonpartisan Voter Guide from the League of Women Voters.

The No. 1 change cited on Page 1 is that “drop boxes,” i.e., “secure ballot intake stations,” are no longer available 24/7. Thanks for sharing this information about these “secure” boxes.

Under “Getting to know the Candidates,” the League dedicates five pages of Democrats’ responses to questions, but there is not one response from any Republicans, and the “Important Note” cites none of the Republican candidates offered responses. Not one. I find it very interesting that all the Democrats could be contacted by this nonpartisan group, but not one Republican responded.

What would be very helpful to your reading (and voting) audience would be a chart with the major issues in this election, denoting where each candidate stands. This information is easily accessible to investigative reporters.  Sample questions: Supports Florida as a sanctuary state, yes or no? Supports a woman’s right to choose abortion, even up to the moment of delivery, yes or no? Supports teaching CRT in math books, yes or no? Supports “gender reaffirming surgery (castration, sterilization)" for minor children, yes or no? Supports biological males competing in girls sports, yes or no? Supports depleting our emergency oil reserves, yes or no? Supports buying oil from foreign countries, instead of energy independence, yes or no? Many issues could be clarified by a simple chart. Maybe a staff investigative reporter might want to investigate this option.

Lonnie Jones Taylor, Indian Harbour Beach

More: Latest election shows polls don't vote, people do: Letters to the Editor, Nov. 19, 2023

Sinclair Lewis had a point ...

I read with great interest Rex Huppke’s recent column in FLORIDA TODAY. Given what I have seen and read about regarding former President Trump’s activities, I find that Mr. Huppke has hit the nail on the head. Trump is a man who has absolutely no moral code that embraces our country, and, if elected, will be a dangerous character and a “leader” to be feared.

Thinking about this apparently unstable person and his quest for the presidency in 2024 caused me to go back and re-read a book that outlines the fictional experience of our country after falling for a similar set of lies and broken promises made by a similar presidential candidate.

the book is “It Can’t Happen Here." The author is Sinclair Lewis. I strongly recommend that any American who cares about our future as a nation read it.

I have returned the copy I borrowed from the DeGroodt library. You can find it in most local libraries. It is in stock at Barnes and Noble. Go read it. It’s an eye-opener.

Bob Chadwick, Palm Bay

More: Arming teachers would be a 'major mistake': Letters to the Editor, Nov. 12, 2023

Congrats to Moms for Liberty

It is the season to be thankful. And, we should be. On Nov. 17, the organizers of Moms for Liberty were honored with the highest award given for citizens' accomplishments in our state and in America for the present year.

The organizers appeared at the 2023 Patriot Awards in Nashville, Tennessee where they were presented with the Patriot Award for excellence in service to our country and to their fellow Americans.

Moms for Liberty is a 501 C4 nonprofit corporation that advocates for parents and for excellence in our public schools. It was "born" in Melbourne, Florida, three years ago, established by then-Brevard school board veteran Tina Descovitch and colleague Tiffany Justice of Indian River County, and has since grown to more than 300 chapters throughout the United States.

Moms for Liberty encourages parental and citizen involvement in public schools and stands for consideration and respect for parental values and interest in all things concerning the education of our children. Their belief is that parents are in the position of highest authority over their children and their ongoing mantra is "We do not co-parent with the government."

Many dedicated to the organization have admonished us that Moms for Liberty stands for "love," and that all citizens interested in the future of our country should get involved, express our thanks to these dedicated parent leaders and show that we care.

Sylvia Sharpe, Doug Sharpe and Paula Estridge, Melbourne, are members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee.

How can anyone support Trump?

In the two years since he left the office of the president, against his will, mind you, a federal jury found the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation. A judge has ruled he committed financial fraud. Another judge has placed a gag order on him for tampering with and threatening potential witnesses and court staff. And another judge has found (what we all saw for ourselves) that he engaged in an insurrection.

Now he is talking about invoking the Insurrection Act on Day 1 to have the military and DOJ move against his enemies. And rounding up immigrants and putting them in internment camps to be deported.

How is it possible that he's still a candidate for president? And what does that say about the people who support him?

Why would the good citizens of this country support any man of such low moral character for any office? A man with no respect for the law or the Constitution? Or women. A man who would ask his staff and supporters to act illegally and then do nothing to help with their legal challenges? A man who would cheat on his wife with a porn star immediately after his son's birth?

Is there no longer respect for common decency, or our founding fathers' vision for America, in today's Republican Party? The continuing support of Trump, the failure of his challengers to criticize his inane statements and dangerous plans and his stupefyingly high poll numbers say the answer is sadly a big fat "no."

Jeff Dorman, Satellite Beach

Editor's note: The first sentence of this letter has been edited to clarify the jury's findings.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rude driving spreads like cancer: Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3, 2023