Tuesday's letters: Disney is beating DeSantis in ongoing battle

Disney ahead in dispute with governor

From a 40-year Floridian to our honorable governor: Don’t mess with the Mouse.

By demanding Disney accept his opposition to certain ways of life and replacing Disney’s governing board with individuals of his choosing, Gov. Ron DeSantis has cost Florida nearly $1 billion in new construction and 2,000 jobs that would have paid an average of $120,000 a year. What has DeSantis accomplished in his culture war?

Disney is one of Florida’s biggest private employers. The company paid more than $1.1 billion in state and local taxes last year, making it the largest taxpayer in Central Florida.

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Think of all the small businesses that thrive because of Disney. Check out the company’s impact on tourism, hotels and airlines.

The governor plans to run for president but his feud with Disney will hurt many residents of his own state.

Rich Unger, Sarasota

Childhood memories of suspicious matters

Guess I was lucky. Growing up during the 1930s, I was exposed to dangerous matters that didn’t ruin my life.

For instance, Saturday afternoons my friends and I usually went to the movies. We got a feature film, a “B” movie, a newsreel, a short subject and a cartoon. All for a dime.

I didn’t know it at the time but one of those cartoons was dangerous. It was about a funny-looking sailor and his lady friend, Olive Oyl.

The couple, who were not married, cared for a toddler named Swee’Pea. Was he their child? Horrors!

There was also a strange, obese character who did nothing but eat hamburgers. All weird and suspicious.

I also read many books that I now know were very dangerous.

But somehow those films and books did not turn me into a threat to society.

Lawrence Bagnoli, Sarasota

DeSantis keeps travel under cover

So now we have another new law in Florida whereby the governor’s travels are kept secret, along with names of the people he meets with.

In other words, Florida will be replacing “Where’s Waldo?” with "Where’s Ron DeSantis?"

Robert T. Hildebrand, North Port

Sad showing at event for veterans

On May 18, a friend and I, both veterans, attended a “rally” at Sarasota National Cemetery to support veterans taking part in a monthlong march that culminates in Washington, D.C.

People march and donate their time. There are buses taking veterans and their families hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to help veterans just before Memorial Day.

My friend and I left early for the 8:30 a.m. event because we expected lots of people. We wanted a good parking space. When we arrived, we saw no guards yelling at us about where to park. We continued into the cemetery, alone, until we found one of many spots near where the rally would be.

We walked until we saw a few people exit the “Carry The Load” bus. After those people introduced themselves, we found out that we the only ones who showed up. We had everyone’s attention.

The cemetery administrator then explained how the whole place works. Impressive.

And that was that. We thanked the people on the bus for their determination to help and they thanked us for being there.

I was very disappointed that only two older Vietnam veterans showed up.

Bill O’Connor, Sarasota

Each word of our pledge matters

Portions of the Pledge of Allegiance were included in two letters May 19 to support the letter writers’ opinions. However, a key word or phrase was missing from each.

The Pledge of Allegiance reads: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Richard L. Mizell, Sarasota

Place a bid to save 1920s home

This is an SOS to encourage preservation-minded buyers to save our Sarasota historic buildings. One of them, a 1920s house at 1710 Vamo Drive, is for sale, open to bids before May 24.

Neighbors on this charming street of 1920s Mediterranean homes welcome preservation of this house, owned by the county.

To make a bid;

• Go to https://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-development-services/property-management.

• Contact Jayne Dower at jdower@scgov.net – or by phone at 941-861-5190.

Nancy DeForge, Nokomis

Question of the Week

The Opinion page invites readers to tackle our "Online Question of the Week."

If Gov. Ron DeSantis held a town hall forum and you had a chance to ask him a question, what would it be?

Email responses by Thursday, May 25, to editor.letters@heraldtribune.com.

We will publish the best responses Saturday, May 20, at https://www.heraldtribune.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Disney is getting the best of DeSantis in ongoing feud