‘Trump derangement syndrome’ has blinded opponents to president’s accomplishments | Opinion

Trump’s doing fine

Since Donald Trump has been in office, he has succeeded in securing the border, bringing peace to the Middle East, stopping the flow of drugs, opposing DEI policies, creating a thriving economy, reducing crime in cities and initiating international trade deals.

Meanwhile, his opponents and those on the left are near hysterical, obsessing over his plans to renovate the East Wing of the White House.

Admittedly, Trump can act unpresidential and sophomoric at times, but his detractors and others who suffer from Trump derangement syndrome should have the courage to acknowledge his many accomplishments. They can disagree with his tactics, but he continues to put America first.

Gilbert Schwartz,

Aventura

Lend a hand

With the upcoming freeze on SNAP benefits, more than three million Floridians may soon have less food on the table. For years, SNAP has been a quiet lifeline for working parents, seniors on fixed incomes and children who depend on school meals.

In South Florida, where grocery and rent prices continue to rise, its loss will hit especially hard. Families already stretched thin could find themselves choosing between food and other essentials. We, as a community, can rise to meet this challenge.

Whether by donating to a local food bank, checking in on an elderly friend, or simply sharing a meal with our neighbors, even the smallest act of kindness can ease someone’s burden.

If each of us gives a little, together we can give a lot. Let’s make sure no one in South Florida faces hunger in silence, because compassion, shared one meal at a time, is what makes a neighborhood a family.

Serjeel Ahmed,

Hallandale Beach

Animal freedom

Re: the Oct. 29 Miami Herald editorial, “Where will Miami Seaquarium’s marine mammals go? They deserve a happy ending, too.” Most of us would rather die in freedom than in captivity. Keiko was a wild orca captured near Iceland and sold to a series of aquariums, where he was forced to perform tricks for food. He became sick and severely depressed. In 1993, after the movie “Free Willy” prompted the call for his retirement, Keiko was moved to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where he was rehabilitated. In Sept. 1998, he was moved to an ocean pen near Iceland. He learned to hunt and catch his own food. Keiko lived five healthy years, navigated more than 1,000 kilometers of open ocean and was living freely when he died. Don’t these animals deserve some measure of what they’ve long been denied? Even if there are risks, aren’t we morally compelled to give them a chance to spend their last days off-display with some degree of autonomy and self-determination? Philip Tripp, Largo

Bus woes

No one can deny the great need to improve mass transportation to and from Dadeland South Metrorail Station through Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Redland, Homestead and Florida City. Now, Miami-Dade County Metro Express has finally been established, with the first-ever bus rapid transit (BRT) system, including all electric buses and railroad crossing gates at the many intersections. Yes, it will take a bit of time to work out the bugs and fine-tune the system to maximize efficiency.

Apparently, only 69 of the 75 buses ordered have arrived from Proterra, the since-defunct manufacturer. Only three buses are operating and the contract with Phoenix Motor Inc., the manufacturer’s successor to operate them, has been declared in default.

Who at the county researched and conducted due diligence and will those responsible be held accountable?

Perhaps this could have all been avoided if Metrorail had been funded to continue south in a seamless transportation system, as county citizens voted for with the half penny transportation tax. Or, perhaps our citizens would have agreed to increasing it to a full penny, which then-Mayor Alex Penelas championed?

Harry E. Gottlieb,

Coconut Grove

Analyze this

The Miami Herald’s editorial board continues to underestimate the value of the Miami Dade College lot given to the Trump Foundation to build a Trump presidential library. This is damaging to the public’s understanding. I implore the newspaper to do more than simply typing in an address on the county property appraiser’s website, which estimates the property at $67 million.

Several weeks ago, the New York Times interviewed respected real estate analyst Peter Zalewski about the matter. He said the property is worth an estimated $360 million on the market. That’s based on costs per square foot of nearby condo units and a premium for new construction. That’s quite the spread.

For the sake of the constituency, the board could do a little more digging, please.

Daniel Hernandez,

Coral Gables

Wrong move

For decades, Democrat and Republican governments of the United States have unsuccessfully tried to implement regime change around the world. They totally ignored the cultural traditions, geography and political history of Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nicaragua and Cuba.

The people of Venezuela who seek regime change will be better off doing so by themselves, within their own country, even if the struggle is difficult. They should not succumb to the offer from a foreign power. It’s never a good option. Cubans are all victims of regime change. We know it never works.

Martha Gutiérrez Steinkamp,

Fort Lauderdale

Fix this fight

President Trump claims he has settled eight wars between parties that despised each other.

Where is his leadership during our government’s shutdown?

Myles Klein,

Aventura

Past and future

The Oct. 24 Miami Herald online editorial, “What’s Miami-Dade College afraid of? Re-do Trump Library hearing,” questions why the community college appears to not want public input on the gift of land to President Trump.

I visited the newly renovated Freedom Tower Museum and stood in the ballroom near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the parcel of land in question.

How ironic the permanent exhibition honors Black Bahamians, Black migrants from the U.S. South and other settlers who helped build Miami and the Freedom Tower.

Dennis Leyva,

Miami Shores

More for us

I would be pleased to give President Trump the $230 million he requested from the Department of Justice.

First, however, like he promised to do with drug prices, let’s discount it 1,500%.

Tony Chifari,

Miami

Shopping safer

I don’t own any guns, but I’m a regular shopper at Publix supermarket. In light of recent news, I feel much safer being in Publix due to the likely multitude of good guys in the store who are armed and ready to protect me, should armed bad guys appear.

Jack Kleinert,

Pinecrest

Just pondering

Will the new White House ballroom include a full, commercial kitchen, or will the food served there be reheated after traveling from the west side kitchen to the east side ballroom?

Don Deresz,

Miami

Faded Eden

My wife and I spent many years visiting Florida as tourists. We loved the warm weather, white sand and palm trees. Finally, after retirement, we moved here permanently. It has been good, but not a paradise, as I had hoped.

Florida is basically a one-party state controlled by a Napoleon-like governor who seems to enjoy putting people in cages. Not what I expected. Nor did I expect so many Floridians to dismiss the danger of climate change, accept the banning of good books, ignore and defy modern medicine and empower any kook to roam the streets and stores with an AK-47 strapped over their shoulder.

Florida is a beautiful place that offers so much to the people. Sadly, under the surface, there is a backward and scary side to this state.

John Bonano,

Gulfport