Put House back in GOP hands; clean energy program back in place: Letters, Aug. 14, 2022

Community deserves PACE program

I am disappointed that last month Brevard County decided to terminate the Residential PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program. PACE is a wonderful option for homeowners and our community deserves access to this method of financing.

When I found out I needed a new roof or I risked my insurance company dropping me, I wasn’t sure what to do.  At 76 years old, I’m still working very hard to make ends meet, so financing my new roof with the PACE program through Renew Financial felt like a weight had been lifted off me. PACE offered a competitive interest rate and a great term on my loan. I don’t know what I would have done without PACE, it was a blessing and a godsend.

Now, I think about other homeowners who might be in a similar position as me. They won’t have the same opportunity I did and could risk getting dropped by their insurance or worse. To me, it’s wrong of Brevard County to take this option away and I hope they reconsider their decision.

Sandy McDonald, Melbourne

Please put PACE back in action

Brevard County made the wrong decision when it voted to end the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.

My wife and I took advantage of PACE after dealing with a nightmare situation. Our home was constantly covered in a film of dust and debris, and we endured months of breathing this stuff in.

None of the experts who came out were able to find the source of the problem.

Finally, a PACE provider inspected our home and discovered our air conditioning ducts were punctured, likely from when we had our roof replaced by a different contractor. After a duct replacement and new insulation, we also financed a new wind-resistant door with PACE.

With the energy efficient upgrades we got through PACE, our power bill has gone down tremendously. During COVID, things were tight for our family, and PACE has a very easy, quick and straightforward process to get the upgrades you need for your home.

PACE gave my wife and me the ability to relax and enjoy our own home again. I feel like we’re one of the lucky ones who got to take advantage of this program while it was available. Brevard should put this opportunity back on the table so others in our community can benefit from it if they choose.

Francisco D. Dejesus, Palm Bay

Ivey's conduct is 'outrageous'

I'm usually amused by Sheriff Wayne Ivey's narcissistic antics. The man has never met a camera that he didn't like. But after reading about his latest attempt to persuade Ms. Musselman to remove herself from the election for judge, it's clear that he is out of control.

I don't know why he fancies himself to be a kingmaker, but it is very apparent that he needs to remove himself from office. How does someone who is tasked with upholding law and order deliberately defy rules and regulations?

If Gov. Ron DeSantis can throw State Attorney Warren out of office for refusing to prosecute crimes that haven't even happened, certainly he should look into Ivey's outrageous conduct.

Robert Casey, Palm Bay

DeSantis is just doing his job

If someone’s primary job is to “enforce the law," and that employee refuses to “enforce the law," call me crazy, but why should he be allowed to remain in his job?

If I hire a landscaper, accountant, electrician, plumber, any example, and they tell me they aren’t going to do the work for which they were hired, should I be criticized for doing “my” job and firing them?

William Alford, Melbourne

Mick's voice, choices reflect status quo

Brevard County should heed the advice of Bill Mick from his recent primary choices opinion piece — but not for the reason you're expecting.

In his discussion of the School Board District 1 race, he elected to cast a vote "against the status quo," rather than an affirmative selection of a particular candidate.

When it comes to Brevard County politics, Bill Mick's voice is the status quo. In true Mick fashion, let's cherry-pick the advice to reject the status quo, and vote against his choices in the Aug. 23 primary.

Julie Shannon, Melbourne

'Vote these people out'

I wholeheartedly agree with a previous opinion about the obvious corruption, narcissism, and unethical conduct of Wayne Ivey and his right-wing department, but the rot and stench of the right extends through Brevard County and the state of Florida.

Rep. Bill Posey, along with Sen. Rick Scott, voted to overturn the official election results of the 2020 election based on proven lies, even after the vicious attack on the Capitol by a lawless mob simply because they didn’t like the results. Since Mr. Posey is the voice of Brevard, he is telling the nation that Brevard supports the insurrection. He has also tried to support the "Big Lie" by gaslighting the nation that the insurrection was “legitimate political discourse." Are you kidding me? And of course, Ron DeSantis is the ultimate enabler for all these hypocrites.

Take a good long honest look at each of these "representatives" of Brevard and Florida and ask yourself: Do you want to discard 246 years of democracy in favor of an authoritarian autocracy? Are they really acting in your best interest? We’re better than this and we deserve better. Vote these people out and let’s find more honest people who really care about the people of Brevard and Florida.

Ed Dean, Merritt Island

Let's put the House in GOP hands

Since my last letter of maybe a year ago Mr. Biden has led a masterful exit from Afghanistan, let into the United States about a gazillion assorted people from Mexico, Central and South America plus worldwide countries, bringing us unnumbered friendly  terrorists; cut off our oil pipeline from Canada; and sold millions of gallons of oil from our strategic oil reserves to the Chinese. His economic theories have now brought on a full-blown recession. I could go on but won't keep readers from getting very depressed.

We have a critical election coming up this November, and we must take back our country from those trying to take us down the socialist path. Think Bernie Sanders, who definitely leans leftward to the socialist camp. The House of Representatives makes many of our national laws, and sets the course of our country.

Think about this when you vote. Are you satisfied with the way things are going? Put the House in the hands of Republican candidates, and watch thing get done to put America on the right track, plus keeping Mr. Biden in line.

John Dulaney, Melbourne

'Stop WOKE' can stifle equitable future

Florida’s new “Stop WOKE” law claims that children shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about the sins of previous generations. But if we don’t learn about the injustices of the past, how can we ensure a more equitable future for generations to come?

Currently, a group of people who believe in racial justice are determined to ensure that the story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore will be told with the respect it deserves.

The Moores were credited with increasing the percentage of Black voters in Brevard County from a paltry 5% to 37% — no small task for a Black couple in rural Florida during the 1930s and '40s who were active with the NAACP and similar causes. In 1951, the couple was murdered in their sleep at home early Christmas morning in Mims, Florida.

Filming by my production company is set to begin in South Florida on a full-length movie, directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles, called "The Price for Freedom," about the Moores’ lives and the outrageous fact that no one was ever charged for their murders.

The emotional tale of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore certainly isn’t joyful. It might even make a few kids cry. But that surely does not mean that we, as enlightened adults, should allow it to be erased it from the history of ours state. It is up to each of us, regardless of our political affiliation, to protect the freedom of expression that makes America great.

Walter T. Shaw, producer at Top Cat II Productions, is a Fort Lauderdale resident.

Where was logic in abortion decision?

Did the members of the  Brevard Republican Executive Committee even read their own letter in the July 24 edition of FLORIDA TODAY?

The Supreme Court did indeed strike down Roe v. Wade, which stated it "provides a fundamental 'right to privacy', which protects a pregnant woman's right to an abortion." This was a nearly 50-year precedent and has been respected by every court until now.

The letter writers declare that "we the people of each state have to decide what to do about the issue of abortion." What a great idea! However, it is delusional to believe that many states will actually put it on the ballot.

In some states, women are being left to near-death while a fetal heartbeat exists because doctors are fearful of giving life-saving treatment. Why is the life of the fetus more valued than the life of a woman? Is this pro-life? A 10-year-old pregnant rape victim in Ohio would have been forced, in her state, to carry to term. Fortunately, a caring doctor was found in Indiana who gave this child the healthcare she needed.

I fail to see how "requiring" a woman to have a medically unnecessary ultrasound, therefore placing additional restrictions, gives women true freedom of choice. Where is the logic in this way of thinking?

Women really do not need men in state legislatures making such personal decisions for them.

Susan Termini, Merritt Island

DeSantis' talk of freedom rings hollow

The 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not disagree with Gov. DeSantis as ye will be reprimanded, rebuked, or suspended."

State Attorney Andrew Warren is suspended for failure to properly enforce abortion laws, gender confirmation surgery, and other issues being deemed woke. Disney's long standing self-governing agreement is revoked due to opposition to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill. Young adults are embarrassingly ordered to remove their protective face masks during a DeSantis press conference, erroneously refuting CDC recommendations.

DeSantis falsely claims gender transitional therapy is being performed on young children when in actuality medical professionals delay such procedures until at least age 18, but at age 16 in extremely rare instances, and after undergoing a year of psychological therapy.

Gov. DeSantis has the unmitigated gall to air a political ad denoting basic freedoms he's provided for Floridians. Evidently, DeSantis has opted to ignore the exceedingly important issue of a woman's right to choose being taken away. Then there's the voting redistricting initiated to reduce minority impact on elections. Equally important, the censorship of books and teaching of events leading to the establishment of our nation, sometimes shameful history.

Apparently, DeSantis' claim of parents knowing what's best for their children only applies if it's in agreement with his opinion.

Gregory W. Hewitt, Melbourne

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Put House in GOP hands; sheriff out of control: Letters, Aug. 14, 2022