Florida is one of many states grappling with overcrowded prisons. States with budget shortfalls are seeking alternatives to imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders. A study conducted by the RAND Corp. found that every additional dollar invested in substance-abuse treatment saves taxpayers $7.48. There is far more at stake than tax dollars.
The drug war does not promote family values. Inmates' children are at risk of academic failure, joblessness, addiction and delinquency. Not only do the children lose out, but society as a whole does, too.
Imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders with hardened criminals gives them a taxpayer-funded education in anti-social behavior. Turning drug users into unemployable ex-cons is a senseless waste of taxes.
It's time to declare peace in the failed drug war and begin treating the abuse of drugs, legal or otherwise, as the public-health problem that it is. Destroying the futures and families of people who make unhealthy choices doesn't benefit anyone.
ROBERT SHARPE, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
Schools are cheated
The fact that the state budget has more money for prison construction than for schools is so outrageous that it is incomprehensible. Where would these legislators be now if they had to suffer the school system we have in place?
When I moved to Hollywood from Cleveland in 1959, the PTA at West Hollywood Elementary said that every teacher at that school had a master's degree. Now we are lucky if we can attract teachers right out of college. A good education gives a child a better chance to succeed and keeps them from breaking the law, which results in the need for fewer prisons.
HARRIET FIERING, Davie
Moving the UDB
It is ironic, but not surprising, that during the same week that we celebrated Earth Day, nine county commissioners, against all logic and advice, voted to allow developers with big money to build a home-improvement center and an office complex outside the Urban Development Boundary.
Approving the projects undoubtedly will open the door to more construction close to the Everglades. How sad. Let's remember commissioners Katy Sorenson, Carlos Gimenez, Sally Heyman and Dennis Moss for voting against this fiasco.
TERESA FERNANDEZ-BURKE, South Miami
Stifling wheelies
Re the April 30 story Popping a wheelie may cost you an arm and a leg: Police agencies are forced to ticket and release unlicensed drivers because of the sheer number of violators and the lack of resources and manpower necessary to transport them if arrested.
Yet, state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera considers it a priority to chase down and ticket teenage motorcyclists for popping wheelies and speeding. That's just what the rest of us on the road need: cops initiating high-speed chases, at the public's peril, to issue moving violations.
YVO MARTINEZ, Miami Beach
Delicious reviews
Victoria Pesce Elliott is one of the reasons I subscribe to The Miami Herald. I read her reviews not for the insights on a specific restaurant, but for the joy of reading pure, unadulterated, witty and entertaining literary masterpieces. Her writing reminds me of the late Bill Cosford's movie reviews.
Forget the particulars of the subject matter -- it's the ability to weave in references from literature, history, mythology, politics and other worldly subjects that make reading the restaurant reviews fun.
Whether it is stinging commentary or spectacular admiration, Pesce Elliot's passion for food and words is fascinating.
CARMEN DOMINGUEZ, Miami
Teachers lose out
For the past few years, we teachers have watched as the Miami-Dade Public School district, flush with property-tax money, created costly programs and perks for the privileged.
This ''bubble'' money was not reflected in a modest set of pay raises promised in a three-year contract, which Superintendent Rudy Crew requested so that he could plan the district's finances. The contract allowed enough financial room for all these programs. Now once again, the School Board is asking teachers to subsidize its balance sheet.
Breaking this contract is a breach of trust and will hasten the day when teachers smart enough to realize they are being taken advantage of will leave the profession. Left behind will be teachers pliable enough to follow orders, stuck in their jobs or just passing through on their way to something better. If you want to keep good teachers, you need to pay for them.
DANIEL HOLMES, Miami
Traffic a trial
Re Dave Barry's April 29 column, Driving in SoFla? Close your eyes and pray: I was sitting at my desk and not in very good humor. But I laughed out loud while reading this column.
Recently, I was driving on the turnpike, and a woman in the lane next to me was drinking coffee, reading something draped across the steering wheel and talking on the phone. When she then tried to put on lipstick I remembered that I was driving in South Florida and just drove on.
Fort Lauderdale
Backing Obama
The May 2 letter Vote For Clinton expressed disdain for the Iraq war and said, ''Vote for Hillary Clinton.'' But the headline should have said ''Vote For Obama.'' Clinton voted for the war, and Obama was against it. Vote for Obama.
GABE VILLANI, Miami
