We aren’t ‘confused’ about ultra-processed food concerns for schools | Opinion
To our health
Re: the March 27 front page story, “Bill would pull ultra-processed foods from Florida schools. Lobbyists are pushing back.” Lobbyists are sorely mistaken thinking these measures may “confuse consumers and undermine confidence in food safety regulations,” as Elizabeth DeWitt, CEO of the Florida Beverage Association, said. Many of us don’t have this confidence and those of us who are concerned are in no danger of being “confused” as to their agenda: money, not our health.
Can anyone believe these chemicals are good and safe for us?
Consuming processed food and drinks is a choice many are willing to make for themselves and their children. Those of us who are concerned are not wrong to educate ourselves and are in no danger of becoming “confused” as a result.
DeWitt should not assume we all trust the lobbyists; that’s an insult to our intelligence. I’ve had these concerns long before RFK, Jr., entered the picture. This is not about politics; it’s about lobbyists’ absolute absence of concern for consumers’ health and our state’s children.
Bridget Gaines,
Cutler Bay
Hands off
Social Security and the security of people’s personal information is under attack. Untrained, inept DOGE political appointees have been given unprecedented access to sensitive data. They have been threatening the existence of one of the nation’s best and most popular public programs. In addition, although no one in Congress has the courage to say it out loud, plans are being formulated once again to privatize Social Security, despite President Trump’s numerous promises to the contrary.
Our U.S. senators and congressional representatives must stand and protect Social Security from these DOGE hacks and from the carpetbaggers within Congress who want to privatize the program and profit from it.
Call your senators and representatives now before it is too late. Tell them to reinstate the staffers DOGE has fired, enlarge the staff to provide better service and take Elon Musk’s hands off Social Security.
Ashby Cathey,
Miami
Special ed funding
I work with children who have learning disabilities. I have seen firsthand how a lack of funding can limit their success. Many schools simply don’t have the resources to give these students the individualized support they need — and it shows.
These kids are smart, capable and full of potential. However, without trained staff, updated tools and consistent intervention programs, they’re often left behind. It’s not fair to them and it’s not who we should be as a community.
Miami-Dade schools must prioritize special education funding. Let’s hire more specialists, offer professional development for teachers and invest in programs that meet students where they are. Every child deserves the chance to thrive.
Richard Bakalov,
student,
Florida International University,
Miami
Out of reach
A paragraph in the March 27 story, “Affordable homes hang in the balance as Miami-Dade commissioner, nonprofits squabble,” mentioned that builders who buy so-called “surplus” lots from the county can’t sell the homes they build for more than what the county dictates, which is about $451,000. I had to read that twice.
Who in their right mind thinks paying more than $400,000 for a home is affordable for the working poor?
Only a politician, I gather.
How in the world are the working poor going to not just afford to buy, but also expect to maintain the property once taxes, utilities and insurance hit their pocketbooks?
W.F. Cunningham, III,
Fort Lauderdale
Lost revenue
The IRS plays a critical role in safeguarding the financial well-being of the American people. Potential cuts to its workforce are alarming. As president of the local National Treasury Employees Union, I represent about 200 South Florida IRS employees who help enforce tax laws, recover unpaid taxes and ensure that programs like Social Security, 401(k)s and unemployment are properly funded. Cutting jobs would not only hinder the ability to perform these essential functions but also undermine public trust in the government’s ability to manage such vital programs.
For example, employers must withhold Social Security taxes from employees’ paychecks and remit them to the IRS. However, when employers fail to do so, IRS agents step in to recover the money.
Instead of reducing the IRS workforce, we should invest in the agency to ensure it has the resources and personnel needed to carry out its mission. We urge Congress and the American people to advocate for policies that strengthen the agency.
Jorge Luciano,
Miami
Security breach
Republican congresspersons and senators have said nothing as to the egregious beach of security demonstrated by President Trump’s Cabinet members in the Signal chat leak. When members of leadership act on my behalf, their actions reflect upon me as a participant of our shared citizenship.
Those involved in the Signal “conversation” have brought shame upon me for their reckless disregard of the safety and dignity of our military and the dignity imbued in all Americans. Even more so, without any remonstration from Republicans in the legislative branch for the action of their fellow Republicans in the executive branch, the shadow of craven abdication falls over me.
As an American citizen I insist, to the panoply of Republican Party congresspersons and senators, that they live up to the profound responsibility of their positions and immediately suspend all those involved in the leak, while a swift and thorough investigation is conducted.
Cathy Fitzpatrick,
Jacksonville
Kids at work
The Florida Legislature has presented a bill to loosen some child labor laws in order to fill jobs vacated by undocumented immigrants and others short of workers. Some of the proposals include allowing children as young as 14 to work overnight shifts on school nights, allowing home schooled 16-year-olds to work any hour of the day, ending guaranteed meal breaks for 16-year-olds and allowing children to work 30 hours a week.
Gov. Ron DeSantis supports this bill. Shame on him!
Unfortunately, without laws protecting minors, some employers and even some parents would abuse children. This bill is a horrible idea. I bet this is not what you want for your children. Republican or Democrat, let your state representatives know how you feel about this.
Maureen Bachmann,
Melbourne
Uncertain times
The end of World War II brought an era of relative international stability, dubbed Pax Americana in the West. It was interrupted by hostilities among the Balkan states in 1991, but has surely ended with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, cemented by President Trump’s renunciation of imbalanced financing of Europe’s defense.
As Aristotle taught, power, like nature, abhors a vacuum. In Europe’s scrambling to fill U.S. defense commitments, only uncertainty answers. Russia and North Korea, both nuclear powers, have joined as combatants. China, another nuclear power, has joined by treaty.
Will Europe be content to rely on French and British nuclear deterrence after withdrawal of America’s nuclear umbrella?
Indications from Poland and Germany suggest nuclear proliferation may be on the horizon. International cooperation is about more than money. Peace treaties are simply scribbles on paper without trust (and verification).
We are just starting to see the consequences of weakening our bonds with NATO. The only certainty is that no one can predict the outcome.
R. Thomas Farrar,
Miami
Veiled Liberty
We find ourselves living through one of those periodic epochs in America when a black shroud should be thrown over the Statue of Liberty. Many of our rights, enumerated in our Constitution, are now more often breached than observed.
L. Gabriel Bach,
Key Biscayne
America no more
“They’re coming to America, they’re coming to America, with the flag unfurled, from all over the world, they’re coming to America…” — Neal Diamond 1980.
Not anymore, not to Donald Trump’s America.
Now they’re being warned NOT to come to America.
What has America done to itself?
Ed Shohat,
Miami