MORE STORIES

• Tax break for Dolphins

  It’s interesting how people look at expenditures from the state and cities. Are you aware of how many tax breaks companies are given to move to Florida? Why is money given? To create jobs, to add to our economy. No one looks at how much money the company makes, just what can be done to entice them to come here. The TV show Burn Notice has benefited from such tax breaks.

• The readers’ forum

  Creativity abounds for the mentally ill

  National Art Exhibitions by The Mentally Ill Incorporated (NAEMI) is proud to celebrate its 25th year of existence. Established in 1998 to help persons with mental illness through the expression of their art, the organization has grown to where it is today. Whether you are a mental health practitioner, advocate or an art lover, you can appreciate how NAEMI has sought to recognize the artistic talent among many individuals suffering from mental illness.

• Transparency for hospital pricing needed

  Focusing on treatment variations by hospital is, at best, misguided and at worst, a complete distraction from the real issue. We are a capitalist society and every provider should be free to price its own services.

• K12 online learning provider compliant with law

  There was a serious case of selective reporting in the May 12 article, K12 Inc. struggled to comply with law. Writing about a complaint filed against online learning provider K12 Inc. by a school district, reporters selectively pulled quotes from a lengthy recorded meeting among K12 educators. Yet they excluded from the article the most significant and illuminating passages where K12 supervisors clearly instruct teachers to follow all state laws and direct that “no teacher should fill out anything that isn’t correct.”

• Street vendors make honest living

  After reading the May 15 letter, Street vendors’ havoc, I must express my support for these unique and colorful assets to Miami. I always buy water, flowers, fruit, whatever they are selling. These people are earning an honest living, not living off the taxpayer. Anybody who can bear the heat all day selling in the streets gets my respect and money. I love their entrepreneurial spirit and welcome their presence.

• IRS’ probes of tea party groups warranted

  While I’m no fan of the IRS, and I don’t approve of any administration using it as a political weapon, the media is missing the key point on this issue. Charitable groups can only gain tax-exempt status if they do something beneficial for the public’s “social welfare.” Groups that are strictly political don’t qualify for tax-exempt status. The problem that these conservative groups faced with the IRS was self-made. If you call yourself “Tea Party Patriots Against Obama,” chances are the IRS is going to think you are political, and subject you to extra scrutiny. Every one of the groups that was examined by the IRS had a politically charged buzzword in their title.

• Insane price for ointment makes for bad medicine

  I have a great example of how our healthcare costs have gone completely out of control. I recently needed help to cure a bad cold sore on my upper lip. My dermatologist recommended Zovirax, for which I paid $25. To my horror, I found out that was just a co-pay. AvMed Medicare paid an additional $673.01. For a tube of ointment! This is insane. Do we have to continue being at the mercy of the drug companies?

• The readers’ forum

  UM Hospital raises standards across South Florida

  Last fall, after months of ignoring my gastrointestinal distress, I sought a blood test, which prompted an urgent message from my doctor. She warned that my kidneys were failing, my life was in danger and I had to get to an emergency room immediately.

• FIU thanks legislators for education commitment

  I would like to commend publicly our elected officials who this year put higher education front and center during the legislative session. They took the first opportunity offered by the improving economy to return funding that had been cut from the State University System and invest in the future of our state.

• Plant thief at Fairchild Gardens

  I was recently at Fairchild Gardens and after much consideration, purchased two lovely specimens from the Flowering Tree Society’s plant sale. A very nice helper offered to take my plants to the front entrance. I could have carried them with my friend Jim, but she was adorable and I told her I’d drive my car around. When I got there, her face was red and she was on the verge of tears.

• Legislators should disclose financial interests in charters

  Re the May 13 article, Fight over funds for tutoring was down to wire: Rep. Erik Fresen and Sen. Anitere Flores, both Republicans from Miami, should offer their resignations for the dubious scenarios behind funding $100 million to charter schools. They question the need for disclosure of self interest when both families are involved in charter schools. How about openness and transparency? If Flores wants to jump on her high horse about self interest, why didn’t she disclose her involvement in Doral College? Being the CEO is something to be proud of and open about. The distinction of owning a charter school or operating a management service company to run it, appear to be a guise for further skullduggery!

• Let me out of GOP

  The Republicans are committing political suicide with the Benghazi attacks. If a troop of defenders were on site with weapons to kill the attackers, it would have been an impossible dilemma to talk our way out of and could have possibly been the end of the diplomatic system.

• Guantánamo solved

  The closing of Guantánamo prison is becoming more difficult every day for the president.

• Good job, IRS

  Bravo to the IRS for doing their job. With Tea Partiers dedicated to overthrowing the government, forcefully if necessary, why should they receive tax-exempt status?

• Patrol performance

  Most drivers seem unhappy with the traffic on our roads — speeding, reckless lane changing and inattentive drivers.

• Unethical House

  The Florida House seems to be devoid of ethics.

• Accuracy, please

  The May 13 Other Views article, “Getting the story wrong in Boston,” was timely and well written.

• The readers’ forum

  Arts play integral part in Hollywood

  As the executive drector of the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, I would like to address some misconceptions that may have resulted from Fabiola Santiago’s May 8 column, Pols should keep noses out of art.

• Fund solutions

  The conservatives who voted against gun control arguing that it didn’t address mental-health problems have a good point. Now let’s see if they campaign and vote for fully-funded mental health solutions.

• Changing beliefs

  In Myriam Marquez’s May 12 column, Struggle for hope and faith in Cuba, Elsa Morejón is quoted as saying that what ails Cuba is a gaping hole in spirituality.

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