Thursday's letters: Pick Rubio over Demings, renovate Van Wezel, find better leaders

Choose Sen. Rubio over Demings

In response to “Choose Demings, kick out Sen. Rubio,” a letter Aug. 30: Sen. Marco Rubio has done a good job for Floridians. He has earned our support in the upcoming election.

Rubio, the son of Cuban refugees, provides a valuable connection to our culturally and economically important Cuban American community.  He’s one of the few politicians to push back hard against the national security risks posed by China. 

Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat hoping to take Rubio’s seat, has done little to distinguish herself in the U.S. House. She’s been a faithful supporter of the Democratic agenda pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Why should she be any different in the Senate?

Voters should carefully weigh the consequences of giving Democrats a Senate majority to push the Joe Biden-Chuck Schumer big spending agenda.

Roger Bonke, Lakewood Ranch

Spend Bay money on Van Wezel renovations

The city of Sarasota should do everything possible to save the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. It’s a very good example of a building that was influenced by one of the most important and iconic architects in America and beyond.

Cities that preserve iconic structures from previous eras are aesthetically richer, which should be important to Sarasota, which has a reputation for very good art and culture.

The reported costs of the Bay Sarasota project, and particularly the construction cost of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, seem to demand ticket costs that will be prohibitive to most of the public.

The Van Wezel could be renovated to withstand strong hurricanes and flooding, with a new seating plan with a center aisle and various other improvements. The lower costs of the renovation could allow excellent performances at much lower prices than that projected for a new performing arts center.

The Sarasota committees should carefully research all these issues before making a recommendation on Van Wezel’s fate.

Jeff Orlove, architect, Bradenton

US can do much better than Trump, Biden

As the Broadway musical goes, “Send in the clowns …” Donald Trump and President Joe Biden fit the roles perfectly!

Trump knows he lost the presidential election but can’t admit he was beaten by “Sleepy Joe” – his ego won’t allow it.

Worse, Trump would have claimed the presidency if Mike Pence had done his bidding and thrown out the election results.

Tragically, Trump could have done himself proud and dispersed the Jan. 6, 2021, mob, saving lives, avoiding injuries and property damage, and preventing the greatest threat to our republic since 1782. He chose, instead, to bask in the glow of his rioting followers.

Biden has been another beaut! His election team kept him in his basement during the presidential campaign under the pretense of COVID caution. They feared, rightfully so, that he’d talk openly and sink his chances to win the White House. Brilliant move, but he had to come out after the election and show his true colors.

That has been an embarrassment to himself, the Democratic Party, the American people and our allies.

With more than 330 million people, the USA can do much, much better than Trump and Biden.

Thomas G. Moore, Bradenton

GOP fights restoration of voting rights

In 2018, Florida Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to most convicted felons who had served their sentences, was approved by nearly 65% of the voters.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans went to work immediately to impede implementation of the amendment, resulting in a confusing system where felons who have served their time are issued voter IDs by the state only to be charged later on with the crime of voting.

At a recent media event where DeSantis was surrounded by uniformed police, the governor announced that 20 ex-felons had been arrested on charges they voted illegally in 2020.

He credited the arrests to the state’s new Office of Election Crimes and Integrity, an office created to broadly investigate voting irregularities.

Reporters who interviewed some of those arrested revealed they had registered to vote, checking the box indicating they had been convicted of a crime and served their sentences.

When they received their voter ID, they assumed that it was OK to vote. DeSantis and his voter goon squad had other ideas.

This November, voters must replace DeSantis with a governor who respects the will of the people.

William Tucker, Punta Gorda

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Reelect Sen. Rubio, US can find better leaders than Trump or Biden