Who is really threatened by a Florida rainbow crosswalk? | Opinion

Whitewashed crosswalks

Bravo to the Miami Herald’s online editorial, “Rainbow intersections are erased overnight but Florida avoids real issues.” Gov. Ron DeSantis spends so much time kissing up to Donald Trump, it is a wonder he has any time to work on Florida’s real problems, like the high cost of property insurance, the high cost of living and property taxes.

Oh wait, he doesn’t!

This editorial is a well-written reminder that if you are threatened by rainbow crosswalks, you really need to see a therapist. Let’s also remind the Florida Department of Transportation that crosswalks, rainbowed or not, are not political ideologies.

Kelly Wagner,

Winter Haven

Dade’s budget

To those who have been lashing out at Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava about the $420 million budget overrun, it is the county commission that must approve the budget, including any major changes that could lead to cost overruns. There are multiple reasons for the overruns and most were made to improve the lives of our residents.

Affordable housing initiatives went over budget due to rapid cost increases; the Public Transit improvement (SMART plan) had delays and budget issues; sea level rise and storm water infrastructure required more funding; the new county jail project, which was originally estimated at $400 million, later revised to $800 million; and formation and funding of new election offices and employees. County commission members who are critical of the mayor must take responsibility for these overruns.

When will politicians do their job and stop attacking the mayor because she wants to improve the lives of her constituents?

Stanley Coira,

Miami

Fairer exemption

Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed eliminating property taxes. While the idea may sound appealing, it would devastate local governments that rely on those revenues to fund schools, first responders and infrastructure. There’s a smarter path: modernize Florida’s homestead exemption.

The exemption was last raised to $25,000 in 1980. Then, it sheltered more than half the value of a typical home. However, housing prices have surged while the exemption has remained frozen. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values have risen dramatically since 1980. A home then worth $25,000 is now worth more than $205,000 today. Yet homeowners still receive only $25,000 of relief, which now shields just 6.25% of the average home’s value. This erosion hits families hardest. Retirees on fixed incomes and first-time buyers bear a burden voters never intended. Indexing the exemption to home value inflation, applied retroactively, would restore fairness, automatically adjust over time and deliver real relief — all while preserving property taxes that sustain vital community services. Floridians deserve tax policy that reflects today’s economic reality. It’s time to bring the homestead exemption into the 21st century.

Paul Stearns, Southwest Ranches

Cloudy horizon

Immigrants seeking legal status or a pathway to citizenship will now be subject to a new screening process of “anti-American” views. Well, we all should know what that means: if any immigrant has posted, written, or done anything against the Trump Regime, they will be considered anti-American.

We are witnessing the dawn of Fascism in our country. Soon, any one of us, immigrant or not, will be considered anti-American if we oppose Trump and his policies. May God help us all!

Carlos Taracido,

Miami

Speak up

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava has unfairly taken the blame for cuts to the county’s multi-billion dollar budget. The real responsibility for these cuts lies with us, the voters.

In 2018, voters said ”Yes” to Amendment 10, which effectively changed the structure of county government. Now we must pay the bill for a transition to elected “Constitutional Offices” (sheriff, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, tax collector, clerk of the court and controller), to an estimated $160 million per year for the next few years.

The sheriff has momentarily deferred the purchase of new branded green uniforms, but the supervisor of elections apparently had to send new voter cards branded with her name on it. All of this political rebranding and restructuring costs millions and we agreed to pay for it. A large percentage of the budget is beyond the mayor’s control.

While we are grateful for any efficiencies that may be found, we owe it to ourselves and the larger community to better understand the consequences of our votes. County commissioners will be voting on the proposed budget in September. There is still time to make our voices heard.

Kathleen A. Shea,

Kendall

Dreaded age

The Miami Herald’s Aug. 24 In Depth article, “Why young Americans dread turning 26 as they face health insurance chaos,” painted a distressing if not frightening picture for people aging out of their parents’ medical insurance coverage. Due to a Republican-led savaging of the Affordable Care Act, they are being thrown into a worrisome world of no or limited insurance.

The few anecdotal experiences, resulting in emergencies or the prospect of bankrupting bills, are situations no civilized society should foist on people starting out in life. This is the (scary) part of the mantra that all government is bad. We are taking giant steps back in decency toward our fellow citizens.

L. Gabriel Bach,

Key Biscayne

Casting for Collins

Florida’s Lieutenant Governor, Jay Collins, is a former state senator, a decorated combat veteran, a husband and a father. As a Vietnam veteran, I encourage all, especially Florida’s military veterans, to support Collins.

He is and will continue supporting President Trump’s America First agenda. He will not back down from any enemy, as too many politicians often do. Many politicians also are all show and no substance.

Collins has not been focused on getting his face planted in front of TV cameras; no “photo bomb” news broadcasts for him, as another candidate has done. As a state senator, Collins did an outstanding job drafting and sponsoring legislation for the good of Florida. As governor, he will continue to work toward Making Florida Even Greater.

Richard C. Russell,

Port Charlotte

Keep Serrano here

As former interior minister of Ecuador, José Ricardo Serrano worked tirelessly against drug cartels and lowered that country’s murder rate by more than 66%. As noted in the Miami Herald’s Aug. 21 online story, “ICE detains Ecuadorian official who combated drug trafficking back home,” he was decorated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Violence in Ecuador has now exploded, with homicides rising 429% between 2019 and 2024, according to Human Rights Watch.

The U.S. State Department cites credible reports of arbitrary arrests or detentions as a serious human rights concern in Ecuador. Amnesty International has documented a lack of due process and improper pressure on courts and judges.

Serrano has publicly criticized Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa often, largely because he was safe to do so from the United States. In April, he commented on links that an investigative journalist uncovered between a company owned by Noboa and narcotrafficking. Noboa certainly seems to want payback and plans to extradite Serrano. The U.S. should not comply with this request.

Returning Serrano to Ecuador is a death sentence. He needs and deserves asylum. The U.S. should uphold its promise to provide asylum to those who are no longer safe in their home countries.

Celia Maysles,

Amherst, MA

Throttle down

As a South Florida driver, I have seen the Brightline train whiz by at scary speeds. In his Aug. 8 op-ed, “People, not Brightline are to blame for fatal crashes,” author Jim Kovalsky wrote that speed is irrelevant.

The train’s speed, compared to the level of congestion at the intersections it is crossing, cannot be ignored. Brightline should understand and be aware of the density of the area it is serving; that its trains are travelling at street level; and that speed is not irrelevant.

Josie Oteiza,

Miami