'Prehistoric' politicians; matters more urgent than the border: Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2, 2023

Kids lose out over ideology, animosity

Re: FLORIDA TODAY’s Jan. 27 report “Arts foundation severs ties with BPS," Phoenix Foundation administrator Carla Smith apparently has the authority to apply the metric of inclusivity in granting or withholding foundation funds and there is no disputing this.

It seems, however, that Ms. Smith’s dissatisfaction with BPS centers on Chairman Matt Susin. Her vague charges of Mr. Susin’s “antics” in “giving the perception of impropriety” would be more persuasive with more explication. Ms. Smith takes further umbrage at elected official Mr. Susin’s meeting with other elected officials and a parents’ group.

To Ms. Smith, Mr. Susin is “seemingly a cisgender, heterosexual, white ‘Christian’ man.” When he was first a candidate, Mr. Susin rang our doorbell and my wife and I invited him in.  We spent 20 or so minutes in a lively discussion of his experience and his philosophy of education, and his subsequent performance on the board entirely validates what he told us on that occasion. As opposed to Ms. Smith’s characterization of him, all we could observe was that he was a white man. Had he been neither of those, she would have been equally welcome.

It is unfortunate to the point of sadness that our students are to be deprived of a “minimum of $200,000 annually” for what seem to be reasons of political ideology or personal animosity or both. Mr. Susin did not respond to a request for comments. When one’s antagonist is in a hole and digging, prudence would seem to suggest silence.

Jack Lee, Viera

Welcome to Jurassic Political Park

Paleontologists tell us that dinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped them from running for office in Brevard County.The latest prehistoric politician to throw his hat in the ring is Thad Altman, who is running for county commission after already spending 29 years in elected office, including eight as a commissioner once before. The venerable Thad-o-saurus began his political career in 1984 and has kept it going into the present day, somehow managing to evade the asteroids of term limits, a liberal voting record and credible questions surrounding his taxpayer-funded salary as CEO of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. Thad-o-saurus is also known for his roaming capabilities, creatively migrating between legislative districts depending only on which seat is open.In 2020, Altman was the only Republican in the Florida House to speak against Gov. DeSantis’ plan for eight-year school board term limits. As a state senator, he rallied for red light cameras that waste money and turn our intersections into death traps. In his first stint as a county commissioner, Altman raised property taxes by the legal maximum. He also squandered thousands in county funds on trips to the Palace Hotel in New York City, a $500 per night “luxury retreat” located on Madison Avenue.If they hope to win, his opponents will need to excavate more nuggets like those. Otherwise, buckle up your Jeeps, because we're in for eight more years with this cretaceous commissioner.

Nick Tomboulides, Cocoa

DeSantis does not represent my values

When will it end? When will DeSantis stop imposing his will?

This is my attempt to politely express my outrage at this man. It truly pains me that the governor believes that he represents my values. He does not, and he continues to abuse his power over and over again.

Each day I read in the local newspaper or see or hear on the news another place where he has inserted himself: dictating that private business cannot make their own COVID rules; endorsing Moms for Liberty candidates for local school boards; firing State Attorney Andrew Warren for simply speaking out; declaring that AP African American history will not be taught in Florida; appointing his conservative contingency in order to significantly change New College in Sarasota. And the list goes on. He is a despot.

I have lived here for more than 45 years, and I have always enjoyed it … until now. In today’s newspaper I read that Families for Safe Schools has disbanded and that some of the members intend to leave the state.  It is so tempting to join them in departing the Sunshine State.  It feels like there is no longer any sunshine.

Linda Lopardo, Titusville

The right to clean and healthy waters

One would think that with all the emphasis on the condition of our state's waters that the Florida Legislature would step up to do more to curb pollution of every kind. Unfortunately "Big Sugar" and the phosphate mining industry have had sway, spending over $11 billion in campaign contributions in 2022. They have employed lobbyists to keep things their way and allow pollution to continue. These efforts to keep things status quo on our state's water has been largely successful.

One would also think that since we have over 1 million saltwater anglers in Florida who want nothing more than clean estuaries, the "tide would turn," to use an angling term. Sadly, that has not been the case.

We have polluted springs in the Northwest, fish kills in the southwest, seagrasses dying in the East Central areas and overly salty Everglades and Florida Bay. We may have to repeat what we did in 1994 with the hugely successful net ban amendment which banned gill and entanglement nets. We bypassed the legislature by collecting over 400,000 signatures on petitions and changed the way our state fisheries were managed. Similar bypassing of the Legislature was done in 1996 with three habitat initiatives.

It appears it is time to get our citizens geared up for our next battle: This will be the "Right to Clean and Healthy Waters" written into the Florida Constitution.

To get started, we need 223,000 signatures across 14 congressional districts by March 1.

Go to floridarighttoclean-water.org, print and fill it out and send to: Florida Right to Clean Water, 13300 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 56, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

George Minto, Titusville

More pressing matters than border woes

It is no surprise that members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee are quick to label every immigrant crossing our border as a rapist or criminal, as they are merely following the lead of our xenophobic former president.

The immigrants that I have met from Mexico and Central America, are for the most part decent, hard-working people who just want a better life, sometimes fleeing life-threatening situations. Do our immigration policies and laws need an overhaul? Absolutely, but this has been going on for years and is not entirely President Biden's fault.

What I am more concerned about are all of the white Christian nationalists and neo-Nazis, stockpiling ammo, threatening our election officials and school board members, and plotting to overthrow our government, while still believing the lies of our former commander in chief.

John Cielukowski, Cocoa Beach

Look close to home for reform stallers

It is amusing to read the letter from the members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee (BREC) blaming Democratic President Biden about the chaos with immigrants trying to cross our southern border.  In fact, it is the Republicans in Congress who are holding up immigration reform and all proposals to close the southern border. Every proposal the president makes to streamline entry at the southern border is being fought in the courts by several Republican-led states.

In 2013, eight Republican and Democratic senators, including Sen. Marco Rubio, proposed immigration reforms that would have secured the southern border. This legislation carried severe penalties for hiring illegal immigrants and would have stopped asylum seekers from flooding our border crossings by requiring visas. Anyone caught here illegally would have been sent back to their home country automatically. The legislation went nowhere when it was opposed by the Republican Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives.  Our congressman Bill Posey is a member of the Freedom Caucus and voted against this legislation.

The Brevard Republican Executive Committee should be blaming Congressman Posey, as he is the one who opposes immigration reform and the proposals to secure the southern border.

Angela Harris, Cape Canaveral

That's a good one, y'all

I found it very rich that in a recent letter, members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee would quote the presidential oath in order to criticize President Biden, when the last Republican president is alleged to have summoned a mob to attack the Capitol in order to stop the peaceful transition of power.

Really? C'mon now.

Stephen Nicholas, Rockledge

Same old broken record from the 'right'

So members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee, in a recent letter, called out Biden to insure "domestic tranquility," and he alone should be held accountable for the southern border, or it's a dereliction of duty.

They mention unknowns not being vetted.

Since when does vetting matter? Remember when Jared Kushner was rejected by Trump's own boys, Gen. John Kelly, and Don McGahn, and still got a plum job?

No mention of Trump's "dereliction of duty" while he sat on his "hands" while the Capital was under siege for over three hours; then saying to the insurrectionists, "We love you."

Did the check Trump promised from Mexico to pay for a wall bounce?

Did Trump round up the estimated 13 million already here illegally?

Did Trump's promise to replace the ACA with a "phenomenal" plan on Day 1 get lost in the mail?

One  writer suggests that if it's not in the Constitution just eliminate those agencies, departments, expenditures unless they're needed.

Let's just say it like the "right" wants it to read: "We the People" should read "We the Rich White People."

The "founders" of the U.S. wanted to require voters to own property (look it up). So women, slaves, poor people and the like were prohibited from voting.

Just eliminate the whole Constitution like Trump called for in December 2022. Or maybe Ron will save us all.

Possibility for "domestic tranquility" while the insurrectionist cheerleaders remain in Congress?

Zero.

Michael Ruth, Satellite Beach

A gun owner's concerns

I know there will be so much debate over the issue of "constitutional carry," allowing people to carry concealed loaded guns anywhere without permits.

I am a licensed gun owner and a responsible one, but I am torn on this proposed legislation now being considered in the Florida Legislature.

In my opinion, I think it will encourage some less-responsible gun owners to always have their gun with them, on them, etc. And we will be in fear of this out in public, as we already know too many folks settle issues with a gun.

In this day and age of so many shootings, I am just of the opinion that it will encourage less and less responsibility on many people's part.

Patricia Hakanson, West Melbourne

Are kids still using high school libraries?

That Sunday photo of people protesting made me laugh. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, we saw the same protests. In high school I walked in the library once and never again. After that I rode my bike to the city or county libraries. High schools do not have the space for many books. Plus today every kid is on the internet. To see the older lady with a sign was incredible.

Patrick Schroeder, Cocoa

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Prehistoric politicians; ideology hurts Brevard kids: Letters, Feb. 5