DeSantis damaging Florida and his own reputation
Reading in Sunday’s Sentinel about our governor spending $35 million of taxpayers’ money to defeat last year’s two amendments on abortion and recreational marijuana is typical of a man who both feels he is smarter than anyone else and can impose his own views and values on the whole state. The majority of voters, 57%, were in favor of a longer period of time for a woman to choose health care regarding their pregnancy. 57% were in favor of recreational marijuana.
Agree or disagree, but I believe using taxpayer dollars through subterfuge to advocate against these amendments is irresponsible and probably illegal. Moreover, dropping vaccine mandates for school children is just nuts.
We have the wrong men in the positions of U.S. secretary of health and human services and state surgeon general. DeSantis can do a lot of damage to this state next year, let’s hope the Legislature can rein him in.
Jon Lee Winter Springs
Corruption against children
Ten million dollars here, $35 million there… pretty soon, we’re going to be talking real money (“DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads,” Dec. 14).
University of Miami Professor Emeritus Kenneth Goodman sums it up perfectly in the article: “This is corruption at the expense of children.”
There really are two systems of justice in the U.S., one for the politically connected and one for the rest of us.
It’s pretty sad days when our elected officials (and way too many instances of unelected/appointed so-called officials) appear to be leading the crime syndicates themselves.
Gerald S. Sutton Winter Park
Mutual lack of respect
In Friday’s Nation and World section, you have an article that said the Democrats on the House panel questioning Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem asked for her resignation. The article says she is under scrutiny.
How about Rep. Bennie Thompson telling her the killing of the National Guardsman was an unfortunate accident? Accident? He was shot in the head. Why wasn’t that statement and her response brought up in your article?
Trusted and Balanced. Maybe there should be another article bringing that up and requesting he apologize to everyone affected by that killing. I believe that would be balanced reporting.
Ron Brenton Lake Mary
Be careful placing new fossil-fuel plants
Dawn Shirreffs recently highlighted how Florida families are hit hard by volatile natural gas prices (“Energy diversification will drive down costs for Floridians,” Dec. 13). But affordability isn’t just about electric bills — it’s also about where we locate energy infrastructure and how those decisions affect communities.
The proposed Chesapeake Berkshire Hathaway liquefied natural gas facility on Merritt Island raises serious questions about siting. Placing a major fossil fuel plant near homes, schools and sensitive waterways is far from ideal. It can limit future development, complicate emergency planning and even affect homeowners’ ability to secure insurance. These are real costs for communities, beyond the utility bill.
Florida has a better path forward. Expanding solar and other homegrown energy sources is cheaper, keeps dollars in-state, creates local jobs, and avoids the site constraints and long-term liabilities tied to fossil fuels. Smart energy siting — away from dense neighborhoods — paired with clean generation strengthens our electric grid, protects communities, and stabilizes costs for ratepayers.
Energy diversification should prioritize solutions that are both affordable and practical. Moving away from fossil fuels and, in the interim, carefully choosing where we locate new gas plants is how Florida can build a safer, more resilient, and economically sound energy future.
Joel McPherson Merritt Island
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