Sebastian hotel; have DeSantis fix bait, switch; Vero Beach mobility; sex books | Letters

Former DEP secretary: Proposed hotel near Sebastian bad for Indian River Lagoon

The proposed Hampton Inn Hotel along the scenic Indian River Drive in Sebastian fails to address Indian River County’s greatest environmental threat: nutrient pollution to the Indian River Lagoon. 

The time is now to ensure that new development is designed and operated to protect the lagoon and not just meet minimum requirements.

The current stormwater design does not take into account the impaired status of water quality in the Indian River Lagoon. The lagoon is impaired for nutrients, harming seagrass and our fisheries, and while the proposed dry detention pond will provide some flood control, it has limited ability to provide water quality treatment. This will result in additional nutrient and pollution load to the lagoon, which is contrary to the Basin Management Action Plan adopted by Indian River County.

The Environmental Protection Agency's own fact sheet notes that while dry detention ponds are appropriate for detaining stormwater from large drainage areas (typically 10 or more acres), if pollutant removal efficiency is an important consideration, dry detention ponds may not be the most appropriate choice.

Published data has documented the limited pollution removal efficiencies of dry detention ponds, with as little as 5% and 10% of nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates, zero total suspended solids removal and less than 10% removal of bacteria.

The Indian River provides an exceptional lifestyle for the region with fishing, recreation and wildlife viewing. It is also an essential driver of our economy. It is time we make informed decisions to ensure we protect this natural asset and take steps to reverse the harm that we all have caused by drastically reducing our nutrient pollution to the lagoon.

Indian River County should act to protect the lagoon and ensure new development does not further drive the Indian River into collapse.

Among other roles, Michael Sole, Sebastian, is former secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and vice president of environmental services for NextEra Energy.

Brightline: He moved after winter along the tracks, but what's next?

Good Lord!

Having spent a winter adjacent to a railroad crossing in Fort Pierce, I know what it's like to have trains passing by regularly. Bells clanging, both from the gates going up and down and from the train itself. Plus, those godawful whistles. That's the worst, blasting as they approach every crossing.

We lived with only 10 to 12 freight trains a day. Now those folks who are stuck adjacent to railroad crossings are going to have to endure those freight trains plus 32 passenger trains a day? That's almost 50 trains a day. Intolerable.

My heart goes out to these poor souls. Thank you to the almighty, all-knowing bureaucrats who created this mess.

Now what?

Bill Croke, Vero Beach

Safety needed: Close to downtown Vero Beach, Twin Pairs, some learn real meaning of pedestrian-unfriendly

Rosewood students, others in Vero Beach endangered by lack of sidewalk

Thanks to Laurence Reisman for his column showcasing the need for more sidewalks.

For more than 20 years, people living off 16th Street between 43rd and 58th Avenues west of Vero Beach have begged for a sidewalk on one side of 16th.

The street is narrow, leaving no room for walkers or pedestrians. The only small section of sidewalk is outside the Old Savannah neighborhood … obviously pretty useless. Anyone waiting for a school bus along 16th has to wait in wet grass or on the street.

The lack of a safe sidewalk also makes riding a bicycle dangerous.

Let’s also mention students attending Rosewood Elementary Magnet cannot walk or ride bikes to school from this area with the lack of a safe sidewalk on 16th.

Many who would enjoy walking or riding bikes to Leisure Square are also prohibited from safely doing so without a sidewalk.

Indian River County covered the open culvert on 12th Street years ago. Is covering the 16th Street open drainage a possibility?

Could the county add to the east and west ends of the Old Savannah sidewalk on the north side of 16th, creating a safe way for walkers and bikers to travel between 43rd and 58th avenues? Certainly there must be an easement. If not, why not?

Please add the voices of all who live on the streets off 16th Street between 43rd and 58th avenues to your list of county taxpayers who agree that more sidewalks are needed!

Rich & Bobbie Miller, Vero Beach

Vero Beach: Serve seniors better on beach and at Three Corners

I am in my 90s and wish we had the following facilities years ago when I moved to Vero Beach:

First, except for parking spaces, a large percentage of the elderly are denied access to the ocean. Many elderly have problems walking in the sand. Hollywood Beach has a fiberglass mat that runs down to the ocean edge. This mat accommodates the elderly or handicapped who have canes, walkers or wheelchairs and gives them access to the water.

Indian River County and Vero Beach lack sufficient facilities for the handicapped who want to spend time in the ocean or on the beach.

Second, Vero Beach's Three Corners have two facing the river. One should be developed for a community facility for residents of all ages. The young could have a youth museum, science center, experimental activities and training facilities. A substation library could be sectioned off to serve all ages. The elderly would have arts and crafts sections and areas to meet others with common interests and make new friends.

These are just some suggestions.

Almost all of my old neighbors, friends and many relatives have died. Their children and grandchildren have their own lives. They like to visit their parents and grandparents on occasion, but not be there for their social lives or entertain them. This type of community facility serving everyone would be one of a kind.

Jerry Flick, Vero Beach

Martin County commissioners show civility, compromise alive during budget debate

On Sept. 26, the Martin County Commission conducted a final public hearing and discussion on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that was impressive in many ways. Public comments were articulate, respectful, varied and — most of all — numerous.

Chairman Ed Ciampi presided over the proceedings fairly and judiciously, and all of the commissioners engaged in a discussion that was thoughtful and thought provoking.

While I disagree with much of what was said and in some respects with the final outcome, I agree with the intent and the manner in which the discussion was conducted. It was clear each of the commissioners heard and took into consideration the public's comments and concerns. The county administrator and staff provided excellent assistance and support.

Approving a budget is difficult in the best of times. But the manner in which the final budget hearing was conducted provided proof that Martin County commissioners can listen to residents, respond to their concerns and maintain an admirable level of civility and willingness to compromise for the public good.

Virginia Sherlock, Stuart

Late budget changes show commission's ineptness

My takeaway from the Sept. 26 Martin County Commission meeting:

Our commissioners are not bad people; they are just not competent in finance and operations. The tax increase slated for 2024 boils down to awful negotiations with the sheriff's office and fire rescue.

We were told of all the terrible things that could happen if we didn’t increase the fire rescue and the sheriff's office budgets. Tugging at people’s heartstrings resembles extortion. They simultaneously praise the departments for doing a great job, then claim they can’t do it without more funding. How, then, did they do such a good job last year?

The sheriff’s office enjoys the lion's share of our tax dollars. It is also receiving the most significant increase in its budget. But that money is indirectly related to the millage increase. It is coming from other accounts and must eventually be replenished. The commission just kicked the can down the road. Commissioners have created a budget crisis, curable only by eliminating other expenses or raising taxes again. Probably the latter.

Palm Coast was able to thwart tax increases. It lowered its millage rate. The values are higher, keeping the revenue intact, so saying there was a tax decrease is a stretch, but nonetheless, there is cause for celebration. Leaders there are still able to cover their expenses without asking for more. They are confident their county's fire rescue and sheriff will still do a great job with what they have.

Savvy planners would be preparing budgets two and three years ahead. Instead, at 9:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night, our commissioners made token cuts to many social services and parks. The last-minute scramble seemed as if they were more concerned about getting home than keeping campaign promises.

Nick Gulotta, Stuart

DeSantis should mandate tax transparency before property sales

I’d like to give kudos and add comment on David Tindal’s letter published Sept. 28, “Misleading claims make Florida retirement seem like bait, switch."

Gov. Ron DeSantis should enact legislation to make tax transparency a mandatory disclosure to all new Florida homebuyers.

Every real estate agent knows new home purchases will be taxed at approximately 2% of the sale price and not the tax paid by the previous owner. That tax may dip slightly, to about 1.8%, once the new homeowner applies for, and receives, Florida’s homestead exemption.

With that said, few real estate agents are up front with this information. After all, they want to make the sales and earn their commissions. Once the sales are done, new homeowners only learn this when they get ambushed with their new tax rates (perhaps months to a year later). Too late then.

All who enter retirement calculate future affordability by factoring in mortgage (if any), taxes, homeowners association fees (if any) and insurance costs. They then weigh this against predicted income.

Incorrectly predicting your new tax rate could be the first steppingstone to financial instability and ultimate foreclosure for some.

Gov. DeSantis, please make full tax disclosure mandatory prior to Florida home sales.

Gary Cicio, Port St. Lucie

Are book defenders OK with showing boy, 8, how to perform fellatio, in drawings?

Cray Little’s latest letter (“Hair-on-fire Moms for Liberty brigade”) regarding banning certain books from school libraries begs a response.

Does Mr. Little know whereof he speaks? If so, then he agrees with teaching an 8-year-old boy how to perform fellatio (in cartoon-type pictures in case the child’s reading skills are lacking)? This would not say much for Mr. Little’s virtue signaling. The same goes for letter writer Ronald Roberts, who thinks that books in school libraries are “innocuous.”  

Unfortunately, they all are not, and this is the reason for activist parents and preachers who endeavor to read passages from these books at school board meetings so that other unaware adults can take steps to prevent the unnecessary sexualization of young children.

I learned to read at 3, and have probably read many more books than Mr. Little, regardless of his having been a teacher. There are plenty of books that have always been, and still are, much more suitable for schoolchildren, and that will hopefully encourage them to read.

Many of us would appreciate less hypocrisy in the Opinion column.

Christine Meier, Stuart

East Harlem unfairly vilified in article about Target

Regarding the article in your publication about Target closing nine stores in four states, I take exception to the reason given for the closing of a Target in East Harlem, New York, due to "danger to the staff."

While it is my understanding theft was a deciding factor (this is a widespread problem in New York City, not just East Harlem), the generalized assumption that there is danger to the staff is misleading and entirely false based on my numerous experiences shopping there. This Target is a necessity for the East Harlem community, populated predominantly by people of color, and provides a wide selection of affordable clothes, food, personal health products and more.

To vilify East Harlem residents and loyal customers as "dangerous" is blatantly biased and irresponsible.

Karen Martinez, New York

U.S. leadership factor in foreign policy of China, Xi?

Alexander the Great pondered: I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Do you think that this kind of thinking about our leadership factors into Xi Jinping’s aggressive behavior and actions on the world scale? Just wondering.

Ray Grochowski, Vero Beach

Simple reason to impeach Biden

Lately, I keep getting phone calls, texts, emails, etc., all asking if I support the impeachment of President Joe Biden.

My answer is a resounding yes. It is the only way I can see that we might actually get a woman as president of the United States.

Catherine Crow, Palm City

Young people communicate more effectively, thanks to technology

In this modern world of technology, I've noticed the younger generation may know more than the old. Or maybe I should say more than I.

This generation has all kinds of devices to use from helping with their homework to cooking, using recipes online.

For instance, blind readers use Braille by feeling a pattern of dots with their fingertips. The patterns create the words that send or relay the messages. A genius created sign language for the deaf and mute to give them a voice. This language is taught at an early age using hand gestures.

Recently, I posted a card on the bulletin board at my childcare center that shows three ways to say, "I love you" — in Braille, sign language and in three words. The children were fascinated with differences of the same meaning.

This great invention of spectacles has opened many eyes to clear vision. Infants as early as 12 weeks old are tested and prescribed glasses. Babies are screened for sight and hearing before the hospital discharges them after birth.

Parents are advised of how to care for issues their infants might have. These techniques may include a combination of ways to communicate, including text to speak.

Children may receive speech therapists, sign language classes, along with laptop usage that include pictures and sound. Computer technology has helped our new generation become faster and more accurate, independent young people than ever before.

Theresa Harriel-Clark, Vero Beach

Democrat says he'd vote for this presidential candidate

I am a lifetime independent Democrat, although I did vote for a good Republican, Dwight Eisenhower. If Nikki Haley wins the Republican nomination for president, I will vote for her over Joe Biden.

She is not old, she is intelligent, has common sense, she has held different offices. With her experience as a state representative, governor and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, I believe she would work well with leaders from other countries, as well as Democrats across the aisle.

Donald Trump should be history, and believe me, in later years, his true colors will be revealed.

We have given the men their chances, sometimes good and sometimes different. Let’s give a smart woman, Nikki Haley, a chance.

I do not believe the United States will be disappointed.

Dale Grabenbauer, Sebastian

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Can DeSantis fix Florida tax trap? Vero Beach, Brightline woes | LTEs