Re the May 10 articles Dozens arrested in marriage for citizenship sting on Page 5B and Florida 'American Idol' finalist welcomed home on the same day on Page 1B:
Re the May 11 article Drive to save Virginia Key carousel continues: How much real use does the carousel get by the public to make it worth buying? Do a use study first.
Re the May 10 editorial Pembroke Pines charter schools share district's pain: Pembroke Pines was forced to enter the education business by a School Board that was too inept to keep up with student seat demand while our city's population grew during the early 1990s. The School Board took our tax and developer contributions -- which were ample to build the necessary new schools -- and spent them elsewhere, leaving Pines families in overcrowded schools.
The people who complain that the state will be hiring more correctional officers amaze me. We are the ones who watch over the people you do not want on the street.
Funny how easy it is for rich America to take away the livelihood of the poor. Those making decisions that affect the working class are not middle-class Americans. Layoffs, budget cuts to education and public services -- where are we going to end up?
The May 7 letter Fighting gay rights asks what I would respond if my children asked what I did with my life. My children have asked me this question, and I've answered that I lovingly work hard to protect and defend basic human rights, social justice, human dignity and equality for all members of our community.
How is it, that drivers and pedestrians think nothing of throwing their trash on a pristine lawn? They fling trash and fast food from their car windows. I have seen discarded beds and other furniture, too.
On behalf of the Florida Commission on Human Relations, I extend our support to South Floridians after the recent acts of hate inflicted upon Jewish communities during the week of Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day.
In his May 3 Other Views column, Want to be an author? Start tumbling, Joel Stein speaks disparagingly of blogs, tumblers and twitters, the latter being Web notes of 140 characters or less. I came away agreeing with him that a twitter would be useless.
ELECTIONS
Florida has been characterized as restrictive in registering people to vote and in our voting processes. As secretary of state, I know that is simply not true. Our mission is to register all Floridians who are eligible to vote, make sure every eligible voter can cast a ballot on Election Day and ensure that their ballots will be counted.
Mother's Day void. Mom's death is new, her long years ending in March. Wondrously, half a century ago, she foretold future generations.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
I often hear that customer service and simple kindness are lacking in Miami. Recently, I took my 12-year-old daughter and her friend to their first opera at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. We were going to the matinee of Puccini's La Bohème, starring Elizabeth Caballero. Our seats were about as high up and as far back as you can get.
INTOLERANCE
Thirty years ago, when I came to study in America, I was welcomed with open arms. After graduation, when I applied for my first job, my prospective employer did not ask me where I came from, my religion or my ethnic background.
I often have seen Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez at public events and private gatherings make persuasive arguments on why we need to hold the line on the Urban Development Boundary: to protect our environment and the interest of taxpayers and to preserve county services.
Let's not miss this golden opportunity to retrain public-school teachers as hot-dog vendors for all the new ballparks that will soon be opening.
Several years ago I volunteered for Switchboard of Miami's crisis line. When circumstances dictated that I stop the volunteer job, I promised to return. Now I am back because Switchboard's services are valuable to the community.
I disagree with the letter writer who says that Barack Obama hasn't shown that ''he can close the deal'' (Clinton a fighter, May 9). Hillary Clinton was regarded as a shoo-in when the primaries began. Yet Obama has consistently won more of the popular vote and more delegates. If you add up the votes cast for John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Christopher Dodd, etc., in the early primaries, more Democrats have voted against Clinton than for her.
Re the May 4 story Newly conceived NJ Hall of Fame inducts 15 of its finest: Some important additions could have been made to the New Jersey Hall of Fame -- Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Jerry Lewis, Roy Scheider, Robert Blake, Frankie Valli and Martha Stewart. Also inventors Sam Colt, who made the first workable revolver, and John Holland, father of the modern submarine.
I am writing on behalf of South Floridans and millions of other Americans who have lost their jobs and their unemployment compensation, which ended shortly before Christmas. We are hurting. While Washington has bent over backward to help homeowners and other less fortunates in faraway lands, what about us?
Re the May 7 letter Animals in sports: The writer said that she has no sympathy for the trainer and owner of Eight Belles. She does not understand horse racing. My husband is a trainer and had a starter in the Kentucky Derby.
President Bush may be right in his assessment that most of the ''new'' Cuban government's reforms are empty gestures. But if along with touting his accomplishments in Latin America he would only listen to most of our friends in the neighborhood -- and allies worldwide -- Bush might realize that his policy toward Cuba is precisely that, an empty and irrelevant gesture.
Hillary Clinton out? I don't think so. Americans have to ask themselves whether we need a bulldog fighter in the White House or another glad-hander Democrat. America's future is in peril with the Iranians, Syrians and North Koreans waiting to put on the gloves and go a couple of rounds.
With all the businesses and products that have tax-exempt status in the state -- ostrich farmers? -- I figured that legislators would look at these items as one means to help with the budget.
Re Andrew Carroll's May 6 Other Views column How to spend your stimulus check: As a former Army soldier, I appreciate any effort by civilian organizations to support troops during conflict.
Accolades are in order once again to the staff, board, sponsors and members of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival for making 2008 another memorable year. We were entertained; we laughed, cried and thought about the world we live in.
