California wildfires provide a lesson for Florida’s property insurance market | Opinion

Wild fires

Raging, out-of-control wildfires sadly are scorching tens of thousands of acres in Southern California while forcing more than 200,000 residents to evacuate. When the winds die down and the flames are extinguished, affected residents will face their next hurdle — navigating California’s already fragile home-insurance market.

South Floridians should take note.

While our natural disasters come in the form of hurricanes, our insurance industry also is shaky. Insurers have left Florida due to the risk, leaving homeowners with dwindling coverage and with rates among the nation’s highest.

According to recent news media reports, 25% of South Florida borrowers spend more than half of their monthly mortgage payments on taxes and insurance. Additionally, insurance premiums are on the rise.

My heart goes out to those affected by the California fires. I wonder, however, how our community — underpinned by a similarly rickety insurance industry — could survive the financial burden of a huge hurricane.

Chad Van Horn,

Fort Lauderdale

Good chemistry

The Jan. 12 article “Pharmacy Deserts” described how the shuttering of neighborhood drugstores inconveniences citizens, particularly the elderly. Over the years, we haven’t just lost easy access to healthcare. We’ve also lost feelings of community and caring.

Drugstores weren’t just to get prescriptions filled. They were gathering places to see friends, neighbors and schoolmates. I especially remember the Pinewood Rexall Pharmacy as a child in the 1960s.

My father would chat with the pharmacist about vacations and healthcare until I’d tug at his sleeve and say, “Daddy, when are we going?” He’d respond: “I still need to discuss a few matters.”

Daddy would then give me some change to eat at the fountain counter, with its intoxicating aromas of meat loaf, hot dogs, hamburgers and fries, topped off with a “custom” beverage: not canned soda, but a concoction of seltzer water, syrup and crushed ice. The milkshakes were so thick you needed a spoon!

By contrast, in today’s chain pharmacies, the Tide detergents, painkillers and laxatives are under lock and key. No chance of a chat with anybody except to unlock the cabinet.

There’s still some glimmer of hope for community, however. Recently, I visited a nearby North Miami Walgreens. The pharmacist called out, “Hi, Karin.” He knew me on a first-name basis.

Karin Stahl,

North Miami

Intelligence chief

Intelligence leadership is one of the most vital responsibilities in safeguarding America’s security. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) must demonstrate sound judgment, proven expertise and the ability to inspire trust — qualities that recent nominees have alarmingly lacked.

Troubling actions, such as undermining U.S. intelligence on Syrian chemical attacks and parroting Russian disinformation during Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty, fracture the trust of our allies and embolden adversaries. These behaviors do more than raise questions — they compromise critical intelligence partnerships and global operations.

The DNI oversees 18 agencies tasked with protecting sensitive global operations. This role demands impeccable credentials and impartiality. With escalating global tensions, we cannot afford leadership prone to controversy or learning on the job. Anything less jeopardizes our security and alliances.

The Senate must prioritize competence over partisanship and ensure the safety of the American people by confirming only those fully prepared for this critical role. America’s intelligence leadership demands excellence because the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Lousindy Mitton,

Hollywood

Basic gardening

The last time Donald Trump was in office, California had fires. He gave the state the solution: rake under the brush, like they do in Finland.

Obviously, California chose not to benefit from his wisdom.

David R. Carlson,

Miami Beach

Let Butler sit

Miami Herald sports reporter Barry Jackson wrote that the Miami Heat seem to want to play Jimmy Butler after they return from their road trip.

By playing Butler, they risk him getting injured and missing more games that will reinforce the image that he cannot play a full season. Or he might suffer a more serious injury, like an ACL, and he will miss the start of next season. He might suffer a more significant injury that effects him long term.

These scenarios will lower Butler’s trade value and the last two possibilities could trigger his $52 million option. That would make it really hard on the Heat next year. There’s really see no upside in Butler playing unless the relationship is repairable.

Jose Teijeiro,

Miami

Celebrity prez

When President-elect Donald Trump was asked about his pleasant, smiling conversation with former President Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter’s funeral at the National Cathedral last weekend, he said “I got along with just about everyone backstage.”

I took it as an indication that the White House will soon be occupied by someone who probably knows more about television than governing. Additionally, Trump clearly doesn’t spend much time in church, where there is no “backstage.”

Tony Chifari,

Miami

Florida’s free-fall

Only in this new generation of America, where politicians are no longer embarrassed by their sleazy behavior, can someone like former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz have the audacity to run for governor.

And only in Florida could someone like him actually get elected; outrageous but true. This state has lost its moral compass.

John Bonano,

Gulfport

Trump has it

In the Jan. 14 letter, “Trump’s sentencing,” the reader quotes and agrees with Dr. Laura Schlesinger that “Some Americans have lost their moral compass,” referring to the fact that some Americans still believe Donald Trump is good to be our next president.

Have 77 million voters lost their moral compass by voting for Trump “a second time” for president?

The reader also praised the late President Jimmy Carter for his many extraordinary acts as a humanitarian, which are very deserving indeed, but all of this did not make Carter a good president. Voters decided not to re-elect Carter.

In a few days, we will again see our democracy in action. Contrary to many countries in the Americas and other parts of the world, Trump and Vance will be sworn as president and vice-president, freely elected.

Let us pray for much health and wisdom for them in the exercise of these important roles for our beloved United States of America.

Sylvia Viyella,

Coral Gables

Go away

We have two unhappy athletes in our great city that would be happy to play elsewhere. I say great! Bye-bye!

Jimmy Butler isn’t happy playing for the Miami Heat anymore. He makes almost $50 million now and that will increase next year to $52 million. Butler is 35 years old and certainly on the downside, as are most basketball players of that age.

Butler is making $600,000 a game! He’s not inventing a cure for cancer, not teaching underprivileged kids, not doing anything other than playing a game.

The other narcissistic, entitled athlete is Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who said he wants to do what’s best for his family by playing somewhere else for a contender. That, of course, is ridiculous, because Hill came here from the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are, most years, a playoff and/or a Super Bowl favorite, with the best coach and quarterback in football.

So why did he leave paradise?

As he is now 30 years old, his trade value will continue to diminish every year. And since he disrespected Miami police after being caught recklessly driving, I find it hard to root for this athlete.

So bye-bye, Jimmy and Tyreek, we’ll miss you. Maybe.

Mark Townsend,

Miami