DeSantis shows leadership in preserving Florida’s natural lands | Opinion
Conserving land
As a dedicated protector of Florida’s waters, I thank Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet for their leadership in approving several conservation projects last week. These approvals covered counties across the state, including Osceola, Martin, Hendry, Putnam, Collier, Duval, Okaloosa, Hardee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Hillsborough and Leon.
Together, these projects will conserve thousands of acres of land through acquisitions, conservation easements and Rural and Family Lands Protection easements. That means cleaner water, healthier estuaries, stronger wildlife habitats and more opportunities for Floridians to enjoy the natural resources that make our state so unique.
This is conservation at work on a meaningful scale and I am grateful to see our leaders prioritizing Florida’s environment and communities.
Nyla Pipes,
executive director,
One Florida Foundation,
Port St. Lucie
‘Living document’
Josh Blackman and John G. Malcolm’s Oct. 2 op-ed, “How ‘originalism’ became the prevailing view at the US Supreme Court,” focused on the concept that the U.S. Constitution should be read and interpreted with the intent the founders had when it was written. Former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, among others, suggested that view is necessary to constrain justices from making arbitrary decisions based on personal biases. This assertion is nonsense.
Justices all carry political and religious biases which are not eliminated by attempting to read the minds of the founders. The very privileged white men of that era were not demigods.
We can either be constrained by a reading of a document cemented to the supposed ideas of a very small group of white men in 1788 or accept the reality that things change. Reading the Constitution in the light of our contemporary times makes significantly more sense. The Constitution is indeed a “living document” and should be read as such.
Sid Kaskey,
South Miami
Seaquarium land
The Miami Herald has a justifiable reputation for bringing to the public’s attention wrongdoing by elected officials and others. So where is the Herald on the Seaquarium lease transfer to David Martin, CEO of developer Terra Group?
The deal stinks of public cronyism and corruption. Miami-Dade County engaged in an apparent fiction concerning the existing ground lease with The Dolphin Company’s subsidiary, MS Leisure. That lease should have been terminated when MS Leisure failed to make monthly payments. There is no ability to cure. Therefore, the proposed procedure of Martin assuming the lease is invalid.
The city and county should have issued Requests for Proposals and should have had a discussion as to the site’s future, with public input, as the site is on public land. The Herald must make sure the public has a say as to what happens with public park lands.
Martin will be paying $22.5 million for the 20 years remaining on the ground lease; that is a steal. Perhaps he has a separate deal to extend that lease to 99 years and obtain several boat slips.
Will the Herald have the courage to shine a light on this deal, done in the dark, to benefit a powerful developer?
Alan Ballinger,
Palm Beach
Evil exists
Re: the Oct. 2 story, “‘Most prolific, pedophile, priest.’ New lawsuit resurfaces notorious Miami sex abuse case” and the Oct. 3 story, “Miami man accused of sexually abusing infant and recording it, cops say.” The conduct described in the articles was incredibly upsetting.
The behavior mentioned shows that pure evil exists and that the most innocent and defenseless are sometimes subjected to hell on earth. Both perpetrators should be permanently removed from society.
Appallingly, in the case of former priest Neil Doherty, as of 2023, he had been released from prison and was living in a residential community in Orlando.
Is that justice?
Not even close.
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Going somewhere
Re: the Oct. 6 editorial, “Miami-Dade’s largest public transit project in a decade is set to open. What we saw.” Congratulations to Miami-Dade County for its efforts to complete this vital project to help transport passengers to and from Florida City and Homestead to the Dadeland South MetroRail Station. It’s regrettable the county was unable to locate the funding needed to complete its MetroRail service fully south for a seamless system.
The editorial could have benefited by including a photo of a bus traveling through an intersection protected by a rail-style crossing gate.
Let’s hope efforts will also be made to improve the pedestrian and bike trail and provide regular foliage maintenance, so that pedestrians and cyclists feel safer while on the trail.
Harry Emilio Gottlieb,
Coconut Grove
Second stringers
A pro football team is in sorry shape when it is second-best to a college football team in the county.
Dave Oliver,
Miami Lakes
Civics education
After reading Liam Julian’s Sept. 10 op-ed, “Why teaching civics now comes with fear — in Florida and nationwide,” I was concerned and hopeful. Concerned, because it is disheartening to know that so many educators feel they must censor themselves when teaching about democracy and the U.S. Constitution. Hopeful, because the op-ed is proof there are still educators finding ways to have meaningful conversations with their students about democracy and current events.
Education in democracy only works when teachers are supported, not silenced. Students should have a space to talk about real issues, ask hard questions and learn what it means to be active citizens.
We should be investing in teacher training and guidance. Educators can then feel supported and confident in their ability to provide for students. If we want future generations to protect our democracy, we must give them the opportunity to actively engage and understand it.
Alexandra Nicole Perez,
Miami
Hysterical record
In her Sept. 25 op-ed, “Trump’s presidential library in Miami should tell the full story — not the highlight reel,” Mary Anna Mancuso stated, “History often isn’t pretty. But the record should reflect the truth.”
Considering President Trump’s desire to rewrite history and make it more palatable, the expectation that his library will present anything other than his distorted take on our history would be laughable, if not so misguided.
Linda Conner,
Miami
Irrelevant show
With all the uproar, pro and con, about the Super Bowl halftime show, there is no need for one. There is no halftime show in any soccer game in the world. It is truly a time for hot dogs and popcorn.
This tradition is one we can surely do without.
Guillermo A. Martinez,
Coral Gables
Reliable Rubio
Re: the Oct. 6 story, “How Rubio went from Trump’s political opponent to the White House inner circle.” In the early days of the 2016 presidential run, I was genuinely surprised that local businessman and philanthropist Norman Braman backed and supported Marco Rubio. I had known Braman for many years and presumed he had more thorough knowledge of and confidence in the then-U.S. senator than did I as a mere constituent.
Not-so-fast-forward to President Trump’s second administration, now Secretary of State Rubio has proved himself to be the man in the room where it happens. Talk about confidence!
Trump seems to have found a dependable voice in Rubio, who seems not just an insider but also a thriver and survivor, no matter which advisory hat he wears.
Norma A. Orovitz,
Bay Harbor Islands
In the dark
Is it really so important to use our taxpayer dollars to remove a beautiful crosswalk made out of colorful paver tiles just because those colors may represent people of different sexual orientations? This is what our stupid Florida government is focused on?
Talk about completely misguided priorities!
Aren’t there some actual problems our state government can and should be solving instead of this mean-spirited, ridiculous effort?
Debbie Regent,
Weston