Denying Miami residents the right to vote in November is wrong

Miami Herald

a day ago

Skip the proposal
Some members of Miami's city commission want to deny residents the right to vote by postponing November's city election to 2026. This is wrong!
This seems illegal and against our rights as citizens of the United States of America, Florida and the city of Miami.
Brenda Merrill,
Miami
Voters have a say
Canceling the upcoming City of Miami election is an un-American act of tyranny and we, the voters of Miami, will not allow our voices to be silenced.
Clementine Gazay,
Miami
Promises, promises
Revocation of legal programs for certain migrants is the most recent example of America reneging on its promises. The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program, instituted in early 2023, allowed 30,000 persons per month from these countries to legally enter the U.S. for up to two years. Then they were supposed to go home.
The Trump administration terminated CHNV in March, leaving 550,000 in the lurch. We should have simply enforced the two-year limit, required the migrants to honor their end of the bargain and then leave — or be removed.
This is a years-old problem, however. People entering our country apparently know how to claim political asylum at the border, as economic refugees are quickly deported or refused entry. Political asylum cases are backlogged for years, allowing unlimited stays. Until now, no TPS program has ever been terminated. So much for 'Temporary.'
Migrants and their advocates should stop complaining about the devastation to their lives if their time is up. On the other hand, our government must examine TPS for each country and make an unbiased decision to continue it or not.
Norman Segall,
Coral Gables
Sustainable resource
Imagine Greater Miami and Miami Beach without its beaches and bay. No days spent swimming, boating or fishing, no economic tourism benefit. While it can be easy to take our backyard for granted, we can't. The importance of protecting our region's greatest asset — our marine waters — can't be understated. World Ocean Day reminds us to act.
While Miami Beach has championed sustainability initiatives like promoting green infrastructure, energy and water efficiency and resilience efforts to build a better future for residents and visitors, local government can't do it all. The tourism industry must do its part.
Destinations that proactively improve their environmental health create stronger, more vibrant communities. For example, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB) Green Key Global Certification program recognizes hotels and resorts for water conservation and eco-friendly practices.
With 71 hotels (including 28 Miami Beach properties) in the certification pipeline, we call on all our tourism industry peers to do more. Tourism is our economic lifeblood. Whether committing to existing programs or creating new ideas, let's work together to protect our most vulnerable and valuable resource and help ensure Greater Miami and Miami Beach remain a sustainable paradise to live, work, play and visit.
Laura Dominguez,
GMCVB board member,
city commissioner,
Miami Beach
Rising insurance
If you live long enough, you get cataracts. I've been told I need surgery. Armed with Medicare, supplemental and additional vision insurance, I was surprised to learn that my out-of-pocket cost will be about $4,500 per eye.
My home insurance rose so much we are dropping it and hoping we don't get a Cat 5 hurricane. With health, home and car insurance consuming 35% of our income, something had to give.
I thought I was well-covered for the surgery. Something isn't right.
George Lipp,
Cooper City
Feeding strays
I wholeheartedly disagree with Haydee Sanchez's June 2 letter, 'Animal feeding.' For many years, I dropped off mail after hours at the post office at Bird Road and Southwest 117th avenue. Every night, someone would put out up to 15 disposable plates of food for stray cats by the entrance. This attracted many cats. The smell was unpleasant, the area was dirty and not all the food was consumed. Rats likely ate the leftovers. This was a health hazard being created by well-meaning cat lovers and shouldn't have been allowed.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado's ordinance would have protected residents from such health hazards. We have a problem, but feeding strays in public places shouldn't be allowed. One reason I stopped visiting that post office at night was all the cats, rats and the food stench.
Lynn Guarch-Pardo,
Coral Gables
Housing concerns
On May 25, the online Miami Herald published the Bloomberg editorial, 'A building boom on federal land just might work.' I take issue with this statement: 'In exchange for land, states and local governments should also be required to make concrete changes to draw investors. The free market — not zoning boards or community groups — should be allowed to determine what kind of housing gets built and at what price.'
We have seen that over and over in Miami. We tear down affordable housing and replace it with 'luxury' housing, which drives up housing costs and makes workforce housing impossible to attain. We do not need more luxury housing.
Nanci Mitchell,
Miami
Roads to learning
As a proud Miami Dade College graduate and current FIU student, I know firsthand that the road to a degree isn't always linear. I began my journey 11 years ago as an immigrant learning English. Today, I'm on track to become a CPA — thanks to the Helios 20th Anniversary Pathway Transfer Scholarship.
Florida leads the nation in two- and four-year college transfers, but such students face significant barriers. Often overlooked in traditional scholarship programs, these students bring resilience and ambition to their new institutions, enriching academic communities. Many are first-generation college students or come from low-income backgrounds. Tailored services are critical for their success.
Transfer pathways offer affordable, accessible routes to higher education, ensuring students of all backgrounds can succeed. Multiple narratives exist, including the notion that not every student needs a four-year degree. I couldn't disagree more.
Our communities must continue to invest in clear, affordable pathways to education beyond high school; this strengthens our communities and recognizes the unique contributions of every student Regardless of their chosen path, let's celebrate all students pursuing post-secondary education. Talent doesn't follow a single path and neither should opportunity.
Leina Olazabal Rodriguez,
Doral
Honor all troops
For many years, I have felt a sense of regret (even cowardice), for not serving in our military. As a result, I make it a point to offer my seat or shake the hand of any service member I encounter, including transgender personnel.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows President Trump and his administration to enforce a Department of Defense policy prohibiting transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military.
Who would oppose any member of our society willing to put on the uniform and take a bullet on our behalf, bearing the weight of defending our freedoms?
The military has about 1.3 million active-duty service members. According to the Defense Department's own reports, only 0.2 percent of those in uniform have a 'diagnosis of gender dysphoria.' Astonishing.
Although pros and cons are present in most situations, I will endlessly support any fellow American in uniform, for they never have to experience the lack of courage I once felt.
Jaime Rivera,
Miami
ICE's chaos
Why are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plain clothes and masks showing up at immigration courts and scooping up individuals who were following all the rules and reporting for asylum hearings before a judge?
Targeting immigrants who have no criminal record creates chaos, does not make our communities safer and discourages individuals from showing up. ICE should go after real criminals and leave law abiding immigrants alone.
Kenneth Karger,
Kendall