Letters to the Editor: July 22, 2021 – TCPalm

Treasure Coast Newspapers

I have been reading, with interest, articles concerning the burning of sugar cane fields by U.S. Sugar.

I live in a condo that has water front on the St. Lucie River. I have a small 20-foot sailboat that gets covered with soot when crops are being burned and the wind is blowing from the west. In addition, I suffer from shortness of breath and believe the toxic algae blooms and this smoke residue may be the root cause or at least, a contributing factor.

Millions of dollars and many years of studies have identified the problems concerning Lake Okeechobee releases and the health of our estuaries.

The overall consensus is that the sugar Industry is the problem. The fear-mongering that the Herbert Hoover Dike will fail, or that 13,000 workers will loose their livelihoods, is all a smoke screen (pun intended).

Please instruct that industry to terminate the practice of burning their cane, which is one cause of unhealthy air, and take the needed land south of the lake (via eminent domain) to allow the necessary water to flow south to restore the Everglades and the Key Biscayne Estuary. These two environmental issues are in dire need of protection.

Its clear to me and many others that this sugar industry mirrors the tobacco industry, in that it is hazardous to health and yet due to its size and political power, it gets what it wants regardless of the harm it does to the health and well-being of the general populace.

Paul D. Popson, Stuart

Florida is falling into the clutches of another COVID-19 wave and where is our illustrious governor Ron DeSantis? Why, at the border in Texas. He has sent a 50-member troop of law-enforcement officials to the border in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbots plea for help protecting the border. DeSantis followed to show his support, or maybe get a photo-op with his idol Donald Trump.

Our state is falling into the ravages of this plague and our leader is off the reservation. Please tell me what he can do there as opposed to as what he can do here?

He cares more for showing his and Trumps minions what they want to see than doing what it will take to finally bring this plague to an end. He has abused his powers by selling T-shirts and political material using anti-Fauci slogans.

When will he finally resign himself to care about the people of his state? Both DeSantis and his wife have been vaccinated and have never fostered the same for his constituents. Trump could have put an end to non-vaxxers, as De Santis could have, but both chose to turn their backs.

If more citizens do not get vaccinated, then only non-vaccinated individuals will get sick, and possibly some will die.

Policis must be left out of this pending disaster.

Joseph De Phillips, Stuart

So a political action committee connected to Gov. Ron DeSantis is now selling Dont Fauci My Florida merchandise. Wow. Considering the governors record on COVID-19 I can only say Please America, dont DeSantis my cemetery any more than he already has.

Stephen Osiecki, Vero Beach

As people continue to walk freely across our southern border and are permitted to enter the United States, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that Cubans who may try to enter our country by boat will be refused entry and turned back to Cuba.

Why is that?

Lois Acinapura, Palm City

Ben Shapiro didnt mention the Confederate flag in his July 18 column. At least when you kneel, or turn your back on our flag, it is still there. What showed more scorn for the American flag, than replacing it with the Stars and Bars? And continuing to honor it, even carrying it into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Shapiro also didnt mention Israeli planes shooting down the U.S flag on the USS Liberty, on June 8, 1967. Even after the Americans put up their large, ceremonial flag with the gold fringe, in a desperate attempt to be recognized as an ally, the Israeli navy torpedoed the ship.Thirty-four Americans were killed.

How about replacing Ben Shapiros column with an expanded This Day in History?

Helen Frigo, Jensen Beach

With the pandemic, widespread climate catastrophes, and widespread insanity, including our government daily into provoking violent reactions by the Chinese and Russian governments, it's high time we seek the heavens' guiding light and saving grace. It's time that we repent and change our ways.

Steve Gifford, Vero Beach

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Letters to the Editor: July 22, 2021 - TCPalm