Sunday's letters: Cigar policy is pure puffery, raising minimum wage no solution, more

Cigar policy is all smoke, no sense

I would like to congratulate our Sarasota city commissioners for giving initial approval to an ordinance that makes absolutely no sense.

According to a recent Herald-Tribune article, cigarette butts and cigarette smoke would be banned – however, there would be an exception for unfiltered cigars ("Sarasota commissioners OK ordinances banning smoking at city parks and beaches" Sept. 7).

Apparently unfiltered cigars, which produce plenty of smoke, don't bother anyone.

These cigars would also be welcome in our city parks, where they apparently wouldn't pose a threat to Lido Beach or the seabirds, turtles and mammals that live there.

More: Herald-Tribune: How to send a letter to the editor

So if I understand this ordinance correctly, cigarettes are bad – but unfiltered cigars are good.

Like they say, you couldn't make this stuff up.

Tom Allman, Sarasota

Column summed up teacher concerns

I would like to thank Joe Henson for his very important guest column on the challenges facing teachers in Sarasota County ("Educators who teach in state are underpaid, under attack," Sept. 6).

I would repeat Henson's listing of the three dynamics that are now affecting our teachers:

• The culture wars.

• Economic disparities.

• A lack of adequate funding from the state.

Once again, Henson deserves thanks.

Mary Alice DeVirgilis, Venice

Boris Johnson for president?

Some in the Republican Party are looking for a new leader, and I have a suggestion for them: former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson was born in New York City, so dual citizenship could be arranged.

And, like Trump, Johnson:

• Has a distinctive hairstyle.

• Is adept at speaking and answering questions (as shown by his past performances in the House of Commons).

• Supports his conservative party's policy of forcibly kicking migrants out of the country.

Johnson is also known as a bit of a party boy – and that may please those Americans who want someone like Trump, who isn't part of the intellectual elite.

Finally, Johnson's last words during his farewell "Prime Minister's Questions" appearance were, "Hasta la vista, baby," a famous line that is a part of American pop culture.

Sara Ornstein, Venice

Hiking minimum wage is no solution

Previously I was involved in a small manufacturing company in Chicago, and then in Sarasota.

We must have done something right, because 25 of the employees were with us for more than 20 years.

We wanted to have good and dependable employees, and our wage structure reflected such an attitude

It is the job of the employer to offer a wage that will make prospective employees willing to work for the company.

The minimum wage mandates being put forth by both the federal government and various state governments are only feel-good in nature. Back in the 1950's, a hamburger and fries cost 15 cents; today that burger and fries are $6 or $7.

If politicians want feel-good solutions, then they should make the minimum wage $30 to $50 an hour, which will lead to a burger-and-fries meal that costs $30.

The minimum wage was not designed for people to live off of it.

A company must maintain a certain profit margin, or it will go out of business.

John Cavanaugh, Sarasota 

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Cigars don't belong on Sarasota's beaches, Boris Johnson for president