Saturday's letters: Distracted drivers, 'service before self,' expiring COVID tests, more

Drivers holding phones threaten walkers

After reading “Pedestrian Deaths on Rise,” a letter Jan. 18, I decided I would offer my services free to anyone who drives in Sarasota.

As a walker and a biker, I’m quite aware of the danger presented by the drivers. But to have the police blame the pedestrians is a “cop-out” (sorry, pun). The reason these people were hit is distracted driving.

While walking downtown, at least 50% of the drivers I see are holding their phones, talking or texting. In New York, where I’m from, the first offense is a $100 fine. You never see it anymore.

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Guess what, Sarasota? They’ve invented Bluetooth – and phone mounts! Yet I see people holding their phones up to their mouths like they are about to take a bite from the end of it. So “2010.”

Are you still watching videotapes, too? If you see me walking and I hold my hand up like I’m holding a phone, it's because you are holding your phone while driving. I’m letting you know I see you.

I am willing to connect your Bluetooth free of charge. Look me up; the life you save may be mine.

Chris Therrien, Sarasota

Peace and justice for ‘Peace Walker’

There will finally be peace for the family of the “Peace Walker” and justice for those of us who have waited for the arrest in the senseless hit-and-run death of a man who made people’s days a little better with his own special greeting (“Bradenton ‘Peace Walker’ still not forgotten,” Jan. 16)

The 82-year-old Joey Dralus walked the same five-mile route for 35 years, flashing the peace sign to the people he met. Such a small thing that became a meaningful moment to those who saw him and a bright spot in their day. There are too many people during these complicated times who don’t understand what a few seconds of kindness can mean to strangers.

There wasn’t anything peaceful in Dralus' death. The driver decided to leave him in the road and drive off. A kind stranger helped, but he passed away a month later.

I didn’t know the peaceful walker, but I do know every time we read about losing someone at the hands of a noncaring criminal we all lose something as a society.

The headline for the column Jan. 16 stated that Joey Dralus still wasn’t forgotten. I know I personally won’t forget him.

Sharon Mitchell, Sarasota

35 SEALs disregard ‘service before self’

Regarding the Jan. 15 column by Cynthia M. Allen, “Judge sides with Navy SEALs on religious exemption from vaccine”: The writer ignores facts and relevant circumstances. So did the judge.

Allen claims “… he (the president) believes they should be fired.” I suggest the president believes in supporting the military, particularly the unit commanders of these 35 SEALs, now challenged with maintaining the health, morale and readiness of their respective teams.

Unit commanders now face great scrutiny: If they take any measures to keep the coronavirus from their vaccinated members, they will be accused of wrongful treatment of the unvaccinated SEALs.

Questions left unanswered by Allen: How does this vaccine differ from the many other vaccines these SEALs have been required to take throughout their careers? What religion do these 35 SEALs share that holds the COVID vaccine an abomination?

No major religion in the U.S. has said “no” to the vaccine. What’s the cost when other members are infected by any of the 35? The column states that training a SEAL costs an estimated $1.5 million.

“Service before self.” Thirty-five didn’t embrace it. The judge didn’t consider it. The writer wouldn’t understand it.

Randal Jacobson, Sarasota

Fried told the truth about expiring tests

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was right in revealing the facts about the nearly 1 million COVID-19 test kits set to expire in Florida. The state Department of Health press secretary was wrong in telling her to “turn on that blinker and get back in her lane.”

At a time when test kits are needed, holding back and letting them almost expire, and then trying to blame the Biden administration for not extending the deadline, is wrong. The Food and Drug Administration extended the deadline in September; on Jan. 7, it OK’d another extension, until March.

More testing means more proof of just how contagious this omicron variant is. Dr. Anthony Fauci has said, “Vaccinated individuals are 10 times less likely to get infected, and 17 times less likely to be hospitalized and 20 times less likely to die.”

If Gov. Ron DeSantis truly wants to be a leader, he should fire those people in his administration who are failing him by not giving him sound advice about COVID-19, to protect the people in Florida he claims to care about.

With the health care system in Florida stretched to capacity, it is time for DeSantis to get in the right lane. Be a leader!

Chuck Hartke, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Distracted drivers to blame for pedestrian deaths, expired tests