06-05-2025
Skyscrapers erase what makes Miami Beach unique. State bill is not ‘progress'
Letters to the Editor Skyscrapers erase what makes Miami Beach unique. State bill is not 'progress' | Opinion
South Beach's historic Art Deco District.
Miami
Miami Beach's soul
Miami Beach's iconic Art Deco buildings are not just historic — they're the soul of the city. The latest version of Florida's Live Local Act, allowing the demolition of such buildings in favor of high-rise towers, is a slash-and-burn, chainsaw approach disguised as progress. Art Deco's architectural treasures drive tourism, boost the local economy and define our identity. Replacing them with generic skyscrapers would erase what makes Miami Beach unique. Once gone, this heritage cannot be rebuilt.
True progress preserves character, not destroys it. I urge our elected officials to stand against this reckless legislation and protect the legacy that sets Miami Beach apart.
Rosemary Ravinal,
Doral
Condo worries
The May 4 story, 'How a small Bay Harbor condo met Florida's tough rules,' was excellent. However, there are more associations that fail to work together for the benefit of their community. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation must proactively investigate associations that knowingly try to bankrupt their associations, only to be bought out by a hungry and savvy developer.
In one condo in Little Havana, the 'officers' (no elections have been held in years) do not have building insurance, lack proper reserves, have unfinished roof repairs, a malfunctioning elevator and have 'rented' clubhouse space as an apartment to a family member.
Condo owners will have nowhere to go when they get hit by a huge assessment.
Maria Galvez,
Kendall
Lawful duty
Re: the May 5 article, 'Florida Attorney General digs in against Judge blocking new state immigration law.' To the extent that the federal government has used well known applicable provisions (among them Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act) to deputize state and local police officers to assist with immigration compliance, it would appear that Judge Kathleen Williams' order may have a problem.
If the law enforcement officers involved were deputized and they performed their duties as the government requested, even if the state statute is flawed, the arrests at issue and their continued assistance to the government would likely be lawful.
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Truly, the facts
I was beyond delighted to read the May 4 op-ed by Miami Herald editorial board member Mary Anna Mancuso, 'No one is above the law, not even Milwaukee Judge.' The Milwaukee circuit judge, Hannah Dugan, was certainly in violation of her oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Mancuso is a true journalist, like those my mature age group was so used to. It was so refreshing to see her common sense, objectivity and moral compass in true journalist fashion.
Today's news media generally lean toward political beliefs of their choice with no regard to the truth. They simply distort their stories to suit their political persuasions. Mancuso should be a role model for her professionalism.
Lucita L. Moran,
Coral Gables
Due process
Re: the May 4 op-ed, 'No one is above the law, not even Milwaukee Judge.' There have been multiple violations, in the last few months, of the due process clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Judge Dugan possibly perceived that Flores-Ruiz had not fully been given due process.
Is it right to call Dugan a heroine for shielding him? Were there heroes in Europe who helped Jews escape Nazi Germany? Were there heroes in pre-Civil War America who ran the Underground Railroad?
Rev. Martin Luther King was arrested ✓29 times in his life. Many consider him a hero in spite of that.
Joel Ross,
Fort Lauderdale
What oath?
When asked if it was his duty to uphold the Constitution, President Trump replied, 'I don't know.'
I don't know?
To quote former tennis pro John McEnroe: 'You can't be serious?'
Did the oath of office Trump took mean anything to him?
I guess not.
Peter M. Brooke,
Doral
Eyes forward
Re: the May 4 story, 'How a Florida driver reacts to seeing a border patrol car could get them pulled over, feds say.' Jeffrey Dinise, chief patrol agent for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said that a driver who 'looks away' from a marked unit is suspicious.
Perhaps someone should remind Dinise that not keeping eyes on the road is a safety issue. Also, varying one's speed can be due to multiple factors, top among them is keeping up with, or slowing down for, traffic.
As a white male, I'll be curious to see if I get stopped the next time I encounter a CBP-marked unit and look away and vary my speed.
Scot McCluskey,
Davie
All to blame
Re: U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar's April 24 op-ed, 'I don't belong in letter claiming inaction on immigration in Miami-Dade.' Perhaps it is true that she was unfairly painted. I fully agree that Democrats share responsibility for our immigration policy mess. However, are Republican Party members blameless?
As a Senator, Marco Rubio was part of a bipartisan group to create immigration reform. Not surprisingly, given Rubio's oft-demonstrated lack of a political spine, the minute he received blowback from his GOP colleagues, he abandoned the effort.
More recently, during the Biden administration, a bipartisan consensus was reached on immigration reform, only to be tanked by Congressional Republicans when Donald Trump informed them he wanted to run on immigration.
During his first 100 days in office, Trump and his executive branch have ridden roughshod over the U.S. Constitution, defying due process rights of immigrants, deporting American citizens and thumbing their nose with impunity at the courts which have tried to apply the brakes to this autocratic insanity.
Salazar said that given the atrocities visited on the Cuban people, which is undeniable and which forced tens of thousands to '[flee] Fidel Castro's tyranny,' the pain of that 'brands your soul.'
Where are the 'branded souls' of now U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and U.S. Reps Carlos Gimenez and Mario Diaz-Balart?
Rubio is aggressively pursuing and supporting all sorts of vindictive actions against immigrants. As to the others, their silence in response to (and tacit support of) the outrages against the Constitution and immigrant population is palpable.
Most respectfully, Salazar's op-ed is likewise substantially 'short on facts.'
Harry M. Solomon,
Coral Gables
Fishing industry
Florida's commercial fishing industry is more than just a livelihood — it's a tradition that sustains families and the state's economy. With more than 100,000 jobs and $18 billion in economic contributions annually, Florida's fishers lead the Gulf region in landings, fishing trips and seafood production. From stone crab to spiny lobster, our waters provide iconic catches that feed America and fuel local businesses.
The Gulf Council plays a vital role in managing key fisheries, balancing conservation with the ability of fishers to make a living. For more than two decades, Florida has held an essential at-large seat, ensuring our fishers' voices are heard.
Now, Louisiana is attempting to claim this seat, a move that would weaken Florida's influence in vital policy decisions. President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness reaffirms his commitment to domestic production, reducing regulatory burdens and securing the future of our industry.
Keeping this Gulf Council seat in Florida ensures that sound science and strong leadership protect the economy and the sustainability of our waters. Florida's fishing families and coastal communities depend on it. Safeguarding their future and ensuring Florida's seat at the table remains secure is essential.
Jeff Cramer,
Marathon
Pardon our dust?
Alcatraz Island was once a federal prison. It has been generating revenue as a tourist attraction for decades. President Trump is now pushing the idea to reopen it to house notorious prisoners.
Why spend millions to upgrade Alcatraz when there are plenty of federal prisons around the country that have been closing or deactivated since 2024?
George Lipp,
Cooper City
