Blaming Democrats for redistricting mess ignores a key sequence of events | Opinion

Redistricting mess

I was dismayed by Mary Anna Mancuso’s Aug. 28 op-ed, “Is democracy at risk of dying by a thousand map cuts?” She wrote, “...breaking democratic norms, even to save democracy, undermines the very institutions meant to protect it.” Democrats were making precisely zero moves to redraw voting districts between censuses until Republicans began making blatant moves to stack the decks, starting in Texas.

What does Mancuso expect Democrats to do? Surrender? Fervently hope that at least a few Republicans develop a conscience?

What we are dealing with is an administrative fascist coup. The Republican heroes of 2020 who resisted Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the election have all been purged. Career bureaucrats and professionals also have been purged from the Department of Justice and other departments.

The president has eliminated agencies (USAID, Department of Education) that were created by Congress and can only (legally) be dissolved by Congress. Masked ICE thugs with no identification are kidnapping people off the streets. History is being whitewashed in our museums and schools. The coup is consolidating power by the month. To surrender is to give up on the Republic.

Frank J. Corbishley,

Coral Gables

Model of care

Re: the Aug. 28 Miami Herald online editorial, “Why is Florida on the brink of a healthcare disaster? Congress, fix this.” We must try to create a health-equitable Miami-Dade County, where every resident, regardless of ethnicity and religious or political affiliation, has free access to high-quality primary care, including preventive, chronic disease, pediatric, mental health services, optometry, podiatry, pulmonary and allergy services along with nutritional food.

One solution could be free primary care clinics, which could include general health and wellness care, vaccinations and immunizations, prenatal and pediatric care and chronic disease management, mental health counseling and other services. This could be done through a public-private partnership, perhaps using public land and facilities while nonprofits or the public health system could provide in-kind support.

Community organizations could assist with outreach and volunteer support, while private philanthropy could fund operations, equipment and infrastructure. Academic institutions would also have a role providing interns and medical residents with faculty to supervise training, for the underserved and underprivileged population.

Funding could come from the county via recurring budget subsidies for rent and utilities and from philanthropic foundations. The impact could be significant. We estimate more than 8,000 primary care visits a year, a 25% reduction in emergency room visits for non-emergency cases, improvements in diabetes and hypertension control and an increase in uninsured patient access.

Risk management and sustainability also would be considered. Multi-year commitments, bipartisan support and endowment-style funding from philanthropic partners are among the factors to be addressed.

Health inequity is a solvable crisis. By investing in a public-private partnership-driven network of free primary care clinics, Miami-Dade can become a national model for inclusive, community-first healthcare. Let’s take bold, collaborative action to ensure no one is left without basic care.

Shabbir Motorwala,

founding member,

UHI Communitycare Clinic,

West Kendall

American paradox

America is a land of contradictions. While the president has called National Guard troops to the nation’s capital under the guise of emergency concerns, America finds itself in a constant state of turmoil.

Not one week into the start of the school year, the nation suffered another terrifying school shooting. The proverbial thoughts and prayers were expressed for the children — who were actually praying while being murdered in cold blood — and the White House proclaimed that flags must be flown at half mast to honor the victims.

This incident will vanish from memory in a week’s time and once again, absolutely no effective measures will be taken to curb mass shootings. There are more guns than people in our country. Clearly, the real emergency stems from the fact that American children die by gun wounds disproportionately more than children in other developed countries, where gun laws are sensible.

Our nation’s “minister of health” worries that science-backed vaccines pose a threat to children’s health, while ignoring that guns are the top health threat.

When will the right of a child’s life trump the right to own an assault weapon?

Viviana Brown,

Pinecrest

Littlest hero

“My friend Victor, he saved me though, because he laid on top of me. But he got hit.” One hears about such bravery in war — one soldier risks his life to save a buddy. To hear it from a fifth grader, however, is so far beyond sad. It’s a shameful indictment of our nation’s tolerance and inaction.

Every child survivor of a school shooting will live the rest of their lives with the trauma they endured. Every child now enters their school knowing they could be next. When they are grown, they will know our leaders had a choice to protect them but chose not to, for all the wrong reasons.

Pat Bonner Milone,

Redland

Role model

Florida’s beloved former governor, Bob Graham, was a kind and thoughtful man. He and the state legislature invested in Floridians by funding our universities, extending environmental protection and making taxes fairer. Floridians thrived.

His political stunt was to work a day in ordinary jobs — a busboy, a tomato picker, a construction worker — so he could understand the daily lives of the people he served. That’s true leadership.

Gray Read,

South Miami

Overworked attorney

Residents of North Miami Beach deserve a city attorney who is present, focused and effective. Joseph Geller has not delivered.

At commission meetings, Geller has been inattentive, texting and at times even dozing off. His delays in resolving city business have created a backlog that slows progress on issues affecting residents, while also stalling contracts, development and critical partnerships that move the city forward.

The problem is compounded by his outside commitments. He represents other municipalities and holds elected office on the school board. While public service is commendable, no one can manage so many demanding roles effectively.

Although NMB contracted with his firm, which boasts hundreds of attorneys, the agreement clearly states: “The primary Attorney to perform the duties of City Attorney shall be Joseph S. Geller.” In practice, NMB depends almost exclusively on him.

This is not about politics — it is about accountability. The contract requires a regular presence at City Hall four days each week, yet that obligation has never been met.

North Miami Beach deserves reliable, engaged legal counsel. Our city commission must act. Residents should expect nothing less.

Leslie Sardinia,

North Miami Beach