Permanent daylight saving time may not happen but Florida has another option | Opinion
Time shift
As we endure yet another disruptive springtime clock change, the adverse health and societal impacts of these biannual time shifts remain undisputed. From heightened risks of heart attacks and workplace accidents to sleep disruptions and lost productivity, the toll on Floridians is clear and costly. The federal Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, aiming for permanent daylight saving time nationwide, offers relief but languishes in Congress with no passage in sight. Yet Florida need not wait. Under current law, states cannot adopt permanent daylight saving time without congressional approval, but they can opt for year-round standard time. By joining Hawaii and Arizona in this sensible choice, our state could spare residents the exhaustion and hazards of “falling back” and “springing forward,” fostering better health and daily rhythms for families, workers and students. I urge our lawmakers — and fellow Floridians — to champion this reform now. Let’s make Florida a leader in ending this outdated ritual. Permanent standard time isn’t just practical; it’s a public health imperative. Bradley S. Feuer,
physician and attorney,
Wellington
Supporting Jamaica
The importance of a swift, methodical disaster response to Hurricane Melissa cannot be overstated. Immediate disaster relief is reaching communities there, but we know that is only the first piece of the process. The damage continues to unfold at an unprecedented scale, revealing new needs and challenges.
While much remains uncertain, coalitions and partnerships — locally and those that cross geopolitical boundaries — will be essential to support affected communities in managing the immediate situation and, ultimately, rebuilding.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has developed a successful humanitarian aid model through more than a century of responding to natural disasters. We work with local and global partners to provide immediate aid, delivering critical relief in the Caribbean, including medical supplies, shelter, hygiene kits, clean water and other lifesaving support.
Coalescing partnerships to maximize impact is a proven model we’ve deployed to urgently meet the growing needs on the ground. This can be replicated and tailored to address other global catastrophes. In crises like this, our greatest strength to help lies in coming together to support those who need us most.
Ariel Zwang,
CEO,
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee,
New York, NY
Who is over-taxed?
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia came to Miami-Dade County and said the county spent $305 million more than it should have in its 2025 budget, based on population data.
If he had stayed home and reviewed the state’s own numbers, he would have reported that in 2023, Florida wasted $33.4 billion.
Per Google Ai, in 2015, Florida had 19.9 million people and spent $93.19 billion. In 2023, the state had 22.6 million people and spent $139.24 billion. The population grew by 13.5% while revenues grew by 49%. Thus, Florida’s revenues were $33.4 billion higher than needed based on population growth.
Miami-Dade officials may have some minor corrections to make. State officials, however, have zero basis to criticize our municipalities. They should fix the state’s out of control items, like property and windstorm insurance.
Perhaps Ingoglia should return to college to get the degree he never finished and sit for the CPA exam – if he can pass it.
Juan A. Galan Jr.,
Coral Gables
Rejecting Trump
Last Tuesday’s election results can be summarized in one word: repudiation.
Trumpism collapsed. If the president endorsed you, you lost. Mayors, governors and down ballot politicians all won with Democratic backing.
If you missed the message, take newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s advice to Trump: “Turn the volume up!”
Doug Kostowski,
Kendall
Fail and repeat
Re: the Oct. 26 Herald story, “Trump’s new citizenship test rule: Fail this part and your interview ends immediately.” As a retired immigration service officer, I’d like to clarify that applicants who fail the new test will be given a new interview, possibly three months after the test.
This procedure has always been the case, even with the old citizenship test, which was easy for many immigrants. Even failing a second time, an applicant can apply again and again until eventually becoming a citizen.
James J. Oberstein,
Miami
Skewed nation
Government workers are working without pay and U.S. House members are being paid without working.
What’s wrong with this picture?
Adrienne Hochman,
Pinecrest
A fifth voice
If the late Rabbi Solomon Schiff, an interfaith icon, were still with us, he would have signed on to the Oct. 29 op-ed, “Four voices, one Miami: It’s time to stand up for our immigrant neighbors,” along with his colleagues Dave Lawrence, Jr. and Michael Putney.
He would have added the coda that we need to stand alongside “the least, the lost, the lonely.”
Norma A. Orovitz,
Bay Harbor Islands
A must-read
The most important article on public health and the state of the medical insurance complex was excellently exposed in the Oct. 31 Miami Herald opinion page, “Open enrollment is health care’s most expensive lie.”
This is so much more important than all the articles written on how to be healthier, what diet and nutritional supplements are “du jour,” all climate change articles and all the millions spent on trying to convince us which insurance plan is better.
Guillermo A. Martinez,
Coral Gables
Medical freedom
If we are lucky and the stars are aligned, Florida’s next governor will not be a Republican and we never again have to hear the bizarre absurdities uttered by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.
Harvard University must be so embarrassed.
Patricia Amaya,
Miami
Personal gain
Two of South Florida’s most prominent names — Benjamín León Jr., founder of León Medical Centers and José “Pepe” Fanjul, co-owner of Florida Crystals and Domino Sugar — appeared among the donors to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom. Both men have built fortunes from industries sustained by taxpayer funds: León’s clinics run on Medicare contracts; the Fanjul empire relies on federal sugar subsidies.
Both also have owned multimillion-dollar homes in Gables Estates, Coral Gables’ most exclusive enclave.
When billionaires, enriched by public programs, bankroll political vanity projects, it’s not philanthropy — it’s influence dressed up as generosity.
Catherine Stewart,
Coral Gables
Potty mouth
Although I agree with President Trump on many issues, there is one glaring activity that I cannot condone: the bad-mouthing of past U.S. presidents while on foreign soil — and never, ever before a group of our military.
I hope he understands that when he does this, he is demeaning himself in this kind of rhetoric.
Roger Shatanoff,
Coral Gables
Hairy situation
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth refused to meet with bearded soldiers in South Korea. Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War, I spent much time trying courts-martial involving AWOLs and “hair offenses.”
Although the Army prohibited beards and had regulations on mustaches and sideburns, I frequently visited a Naval air station where beards and other Army taboos were freely displayed. Sailors were no less competent or committed to duty than we grunts; hair was never an indication of anything worth worrying about.
Hegseth was a major in the National Guard, just one rank above mine as an Army captain. I’m not qualified to wield the responsibility of secretary of defense; neither is he. A bearded guy bears the same risk in service to his country as the guy next to him without one.
R. Thomas Farrar,
attorney,
Miami