3 days ago
Miami Republicans are feigning disbelief after supporting Trump's immigration policies
Predictable outcome
In the June 7 online Miami Herald story, ''Inhumane:' Latinas for Trump founder condemns White House immigration crackdown,' State Sen. Ileana Garcia said, 'This is not what we voted for.'
She and her Republican colleagues, U.S. Reps. Maria Salazar, Carlos Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart, can feign disbelief that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was rescinded and cruel deportation measures implemented against law-abiding people, but this is exactly what Garcia and others voted for. They knew Trump's plan and didn't care.
These politicians played a dangerous game for their political gain. They bet Trump wouldn't follow through on an unconstitutional plan against immigrants — and they lost. They ignored glaring evidence that 'Trump 2.0' didn't want any 'brown' immigrants in our country. Trump also repeatedly maligned legal immigrants, saying they were 'poisoning the blood of our country' and 'eating pets' in Springfield, Ohio.
Furthermore, The Heritage Foundation's 'Project 2025' initiative states as an objective: 'withdraw Biden Administration regulations…Repeal TPS designations.'
No matter whether Garcia and others allowed immigrants to be thrown under the bus by political calculation or stupidity, they are too incompetent to do their jobs. They should be ashamed, as they share the same or similar immigrant stories as those deported and detained without due process. Vote them out.
Kristin Battista-Frazee,
Big Pine Key
Even-year election
Miami's voter turnout is notoriously low, as the Miami Herald has often indicated. However, there's mounting evidence that voter turnout in municipal elections is higher in even-numbered years. The city should move elections to even-numbered years because it has an obligation to make it easier, not harder, for voters to show up and pay attention. Greater voter participation helps reduce corruption by forcing elected officials to appeal to a larger number of constituents (instead of their voter base).
However, a new proposal pushes the 2025 city elections to 2026 to accommodate for this change, effectively giving current officials an extra year on their terms. This action is unnecessary.
Even-year elections can be implemented simply by having officials elected in 2025 (who would be up for re-election in 2029) serve a three-year term ending in 2028. While officials scheduled to run and/or get elected in 2027 (who would be up for re-election in 2031) serve a three-year term ending in 2030. Reducing terms temporarily to three years is better than a five-year term.
As a candidate for city office in 2025, I am fine with having a three-year term to make this critical change for the greater good.
Rob Piper,
Miami
To be or not to be
The Historic Coconut Grove Playhouse is a publicly-owned, civic-zoned property intended for cultural and community use. Miami-Dade County plans to replace the Playhouse with a tiny 300-seat theater, surrounded by more than 52,000 square feet of offices, restaurants and retail spilling directly into Historic West Coconut Grove / Little Bahamas.
The people of Miami are tired of politicians handing over our public assets to commercial developers. Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado should recognize this and address the community's valid concerns.
Anthony Vinciguerra,
Miami
Boating tragedy
Re: the June 8 story, 'FWC chair and Miami-Dade state attorney texted about Pino boat crash.' Rodney Barreto should be removed as chairman of Florida Fish and Wildlife, along with the FWC officers who were at the scene and did not follow procedures. The FWC's handling of that horrible boat crash in September 2022 is inexcusable.
George Pino, the vessel's operator, was at first minimally charged (a misdemeanor), although two passengers were seriously injured. One died the next day and the other still is re-learning how to walk. Pino should have received a sobriety check immediately.
I have been boating on Biscayne Bay for at least 65 years and I am very familiar with Cutter Bank, where the crash took place. As he headed south, Pino should have been on the starboard side of the channel, clearly marked with red markers. He hit a green marker, which is used for boats heading north; that's like driving north in the south bound lane of I-95.
Further, the statement that 61 containers of alcohol found on board were given to Pino by other boaters is not credible.
Jack Dresner,
Miami
American smugglers
Based on limited information at this writing, it appears Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man deported to an El Salvador prison without due process, has now been returned to the U.S. to face 'smuggling' charges for transporting immigrants — across state lines — from Texas to Tennessee.
Isn't that what Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did in busing migrants from Texas to northern cities?
Isn't that what our Gov. Ron DeSantis did in flying immigrants from Florida to Massachusetts? And all at taxpayer expense, no less?
Who are the criminals?
Richard Masington,
Coral Gables
Give us a rest
Re: the Herald's June 8 In Depth story, 'New order in the courts.' After reading the article concerning President Trump's bashing of the Federalist Society, I was left primarily with one feeling: fatigue.
I have no idea where Trump gets the time and energy to juggle so many foreign policy and domestic issues daily while, at the same time, indulging in feuds with individuals and entities such as Elon Musk and the Federalist Society.
I respectfully ask him to give us all a couple of weeks off this summer to recuperate from the constant storm out of Washington, D.C.. Make America relax again!
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Wise investment
Floridians know that strong health systems — at home and abroad — keep us safer. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria still claim millions of lives each year. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, alongside PEPFAR, has helped cut those deaths nearly in half — saving 65 million lives and strengthening healthcare systems in more than 120 countries.
This is a proven, bipartisan solution that costs a tiny fraction of the U.S. budget. Drastic cuts won't balance the budget — they only reverse progress. Clinics close, testing declines and without daily anti-retroviral medications, preventable deaths rise. The abrupt halt of promising HIV vaccine research happened just as we approached a breakthrough.
As HIV and TB cases begin to rise again, backsliding puts the world and our country at risk. U.S. leadership has always been essential. Congress must honor its commitments to us and the world. This is a smart investment — for our safety, our values and the millions of lives we can save.
Karyne Bury,
Hollywood
Bad judgment
The U.S. Supreme Court recently voted to 'green light' DOGE access to sensitive Social Security data on millions of Americans. The conservative segment of the Court that voted this way, no doubt, will be sorry.
This is a short-sighted decision and should have been left alone.
David Myles,
Aventura
Mar-a-Lago wing?
Re: the June 9 story, 'As FIU's prospects fade, push for Trump's library site shifts to downtown Miami.' I would tell Eric Trump, who is charged with vetting the sites, that after all his father has done to Latins and Haitians, does her really think they want his library here?
Get real.
Put it in West Palm Beach, where his mansion is located.
Carole L. Hamilton,
Miami Springs
