Letters to the Editor: March 7, 2021 – TCPalm

Treasure Coast Newspapers Published 4:00 a.m. ET March 7, 2021

The proposed House Bill 839 preempts energy infrastructure regulation, prohibiting local governments from regulating energy infrastructure.

It is distressing that the Republican Party, which once championed true cost accounting and local control of local decisions, now wants to direct county decisions from on high.

Local residents successfully fought a coal-fired power plant proposed for western St. Lucie County in 2005. Preventing citizens from making decisions about such proposals would be a terrible overreach of government.

The cost of carbon-based energy will be borne by Floridians far into the future. Energy lobbyists will saddle our descendants with the expenses of adapting to a degraded environment.

Our freshwater lakes, canals and rivers have fish consumption warnings and limits due to mercury contamination from power plants. Residents who depend most on fishing to put food on the table are often not aware of the danger. As a former teacher I have worried that children from struggling communities where local fish are an important part of the diet are too common in Exceptional Student Education programs. The personal costs to families and individuals notwithstanding, the economic costs of having a higher percentage of our labor force with mental or physical limitations brought about by environmental pollution has an impact now and on future generations.

I have seen sea level rise erode my propertys shoreline. The increase in extreme weather and hurricane damage has been driven by warming oceans. Ocean acidification brought about by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide affects shellfish and the food chain. These are economic impacts that energy production companies do not include in the cost/benefit analysis for economic impacts of energy infrastructure.

Locally elected city and county commissions, who know their communities and are directly responsible to the voters, should have the final say on energy infrastructure decisions.

Kevin Stinnette, Fort Pierce

Bell(Photo: Bell)

Many thanks to Phil Hunter, featured on March 2, for his tireless trash cleanup during his daily 6-mile walks. He truly represents the best in humankind.

What about the rest of us? Can we all be better citizens and demonstrate environmental respect by not littering in the first place? Lets all take care of our own garbage so people like Phil Hunter can hunt for natural beauty during their walks instead of hunting for our trash.

Coleen Oleski, Stuart

One outside-the-box solution to building affordable housing units is to use old or abandoned semi-trailers as shells for individual apartment units.

The trailers can be renovated for basic, clean and safe housing units and situated similar to existing trailer parks. They can be fitted with basic plumbing and cooling at a fraction of the cost of building units from scratch.

Other cities have succeeded in building these transitional housing units for indigent persons who need shelter to begin re-starting their lives.

Robert Savino, Fort Myers

Kathryn Jean Lopez, in her March 4 column, was right on the money when she called the Equality Act a euphemism. Everyone wants equality, so what is not to like? Well, it is an act that tips the balance of equality toward those who ascribe to an extremely liberal ideology. It negates any values that the opposition might hold religious or otherwise. How is that equality?

The bill does not respect parental rights. Do parents have any? It extends the LGBT agenda and, penalizes anyone who objects to it. If anyone wishes to transform his/her gender fine, but he/she should not use the taxpayers' money to fund it. All of us are Americans, and we should all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We all should respect our fellow human beings. Maybe the Golden Rule is too religious?

Mary Lou Rodimer, Sebastian

Dr. Rachel Levine, President Bidens assistant secretary of health nominee, was grilled by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., over her stance on transgender issues on Feb. 25, the same day the House passed the Equality Act.(Photo: Getty)

With all the negative news about vaccine appointments I would like to share a more positive experience.

I used CVS website after weeks of trying unsuccessfully for an appointment on the Publix site.

The website loaded quickly and I was able to obtain appointments for my husband and me within a reasonable driving distance. On the Publix site, the closest appointment offered last week was up in the Panhandle.

The day of our appointment we received a phone call that we could get in earlier as they had a cancelation. So up we go to Fort Pierce.

From the moment we entered the front door and were greeted by a staff member until we exited the premises we were made to feel like we were their friends or family.

Everyone was smiling and helpful: Don't worry we'll take care of you. The check-in process was quick and efficient. There was a lot of laughing and camaraderie between the staff and all of us!

The nurses who were administering the vaccine were top-notch;in fact if I had not felt her hand on my arm, I would not known she had injected me. We waited the allotted time, then checked out. Again, friendly goodbyes and "See you in a few weeks." And this was at almost 7 p.m. after a long day of this clinic.

Both of us were so impressed. We were not expecting this level of efficiency and professionalism.

This group of health care professionals and CVS far exceeded our expectations and we are so grateful to them all.

Neither of us has had the slightest reaction;no soreness at site no weakness/aches or pains .Looking forward to going back. When was the last time anyone thought they would look forward to a vaccination clinic?

Jan Belwood, Palm City

Read or Share this story: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/2021/03/07/letters-editor-march-7-2021/6918205002/

Original post:

Letters to the Editor: March 7, 2021 - TCPalm