Sunday's letters: New law cracks down on working migrants, employers

Migrants are modern slaves and it’s not OK

The heading of the picture on the front page June 25 echoed one of the arguments used to support slavery: “Will new immigration law leave Florida’s crops unpicked, tourist hotels short of staff and construction sites idle?”

It was similar to publishing a Page One photo prior to the Civil War and having the following question accompany it: “Would emancipation of the slaves leave the cotton crop unpicked?”

The argument that immigrant workers are paid and can leave whenever they like is not true. They are paid substandard wages and are afraid to leave.

'A Day Without Immigrants': Local businesses close to protest immigration law

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I am old enough to remember the company stores of the coal mines in Northeast Pennsylvania. For those of you who haven’t heard about these, the coal companies housed their workers and gave them credit at the company store.

The rent and store prices totaled more than the wages, so the workers had to keep working for the coal company. I see the argument that U.S. citizens won’t do the jobs that the immigrants do as saying modern slavery is OK.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tough new immigration law, which took effect July 1, requires employers to verify that their workers are legally allowed to work in Florida, or face penalties. Hundreds of people have marched to express their opposition to the law.

Gerald Ungar, Sarasota

Governor cares nothing about heritage

Here's what I would like to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis:Where did your ancestors come from, governor? What would your ancestors think of you now?

I guess DeSantis is not proud of his heritage. He just wants all the migrants gone. It’s too bad that people like the governor want only what’s good for politics.

I come from Spanish and Portuguese ancestors. I am proud of the people who came to this country.

Just think: If the governor's ancestors had not migrated here, he would not be here.

Delores Trinidad, Sarasota

Sen. Gruters wrong to smear FBI

State Sen. Joe Gruters’ recently published rant of misleading and dangerous claims against the FBI was irresponsible and partisan.

Among his many smears, Gruters wrote that the FBI has defamed Trump supporters as Nazi racists. He also suggested that criticism of former President Donald Trump’s assertion that there were “good people on both sides” − regarding the Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist march − is out of line.

Exactly how did the FBI make this “mistake” in Charlottesville? Isn’t holding up a Nazi swastika flag and chanting “Jews will not replace us” a clear declaration of Nazi racists?

Does Gruters believe that Nazi white supremacist protesters should not be investigated by the FBI as domestic terrorists? If so, why? Because some may be Trump supporters?

Regarding Gruters' complaint regarding the lack of charges against Hillary Clinton, Trump’s own attorney general, Bill Barr, had four years to reopen the case against Clinton and pursue an indictment. Why didn't he do it?

Has Gruters forgotten that former FBI Director James Comey's public announcement that the FBI would reopen an investigation into Clinton’s emails may have been a decisive factor in Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election?

Meanwhile, Gruters ignored Barr’s credible condemnation of Trump’s role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection – as well as Trump’s mishandling of classified information. Barr has said Trump’s mishandling of documents was entirely illegal and that if even half of the indictment is accurate, Trump is toast.

Gruters is having a hard time coming to terms with Trump’s betrayal of this country.

We need sane Republicans to take the wheel.

Cathy Antunes, Sarasota

In Hunter Biden tax case, no there there

Whistleblower Gary Shaply says he was held back by the Justice Department from going further with his investigation into Hunter Biden, basically claiming the White House was behind it.

The IRS veteran began his investigation of the president’s son in 2018 and concluded it in 2020. Hunter Biden paid back taxes in 2021 after the investigation was completed.

Is anyone ignorant enough to think that Trump, who was president, and Bill Barr, who was his attorney general, would actually stop or hamper investigations into the son of Joe Biden?

According to the Justice Department, very seldom if ever does anyone go to prison for nonpayment of taxes if they pay up when confronted with the proof.

Actor Wesley Snipes served three years for evading taxes and failing to pay them. The difference between Hunter Biden and Snipes is that Biden paid $2 million in back taxes, while Snipes, who owned $23.5 million, offered to pay only $850,000.

Facts matter. Well, they matter to many people but obviously not to “Retrumplicans.”

Joseph A. Del Bonis, Rotonda West

Is Sarasota selling both its soil and soul?

If alchemy is the art of manufacturing money through magical means, then corporate conquistadors in khakis are brewing up a fatal potion using Sarasota’s soil.

There is little to distinguish the sales techniques used for the proposed mega-luxury, 342-foot-tall Obsidian or One Park floating skyscraper from the tactics used by carnival barker P.T. Barnum.

But George C. Parker, best known for selling the Brooklyn Bridge to unwary immigrants, might be a better analogy.

Air castles are not pledged or permitted by Sarasota’s master city plan, which was carefully designed by legendary new urbanist Andrés Duany to promote a vibrant, walkable, inviting and neighborly city – a human-scale place of, by and for the people who crafted the zoning laws, live here year-round and pay taxes.

Sarasota belongs to its residents: We never agreed to the “For Sale” sign some special interests and private profiteers want to place on our home.

The “above the law” and antisocial nature of these two proposed projects highlight the problem of “me”-focused behavior in an “us”- based endeavor, which is urban life.

Building and keeping a community requires governing for the common good, and there is nothing good about swiping the soul of a city by demolishing its plan for sustainable and responsible growth.

Kelly Franklin, Laurel Park

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis' law will achieve purpose, driving immigrants out of Florida