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Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
In first Miami-Dade fluoride meeting, ‘gut feelings and misguided passion'
Fluoride fiasco After a Miami-Dade Commission meeting a month ago, in which the only invited guests were Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and UF researcher Ashley Malin speaking against fluoride, the commission rightfully admitted they had not heard enough information from 'both sides.' As a dentist and oral surgeon practicing in North Miami Beach for more than 30 years, I testified before the commission on April 1, in which 'both sides' were invited. However, it was readily apparent the commissioners, in particular the sponsor of the bill to remove fluoride, were not interested in hearing information from both sides. Public comments were allowed, but only for one minute per speaker. It is impossible to deliver any meaningful message on the decades of research-proven community health benefits of fluoride (at the low level of 0.7 ppm) in one minute, nor refute false and unsubstantiated claims, lacking any evidence, from the same anti-fluoride activists seen at all such meetings of late. A town hall-type meeting was suggested for more thorough discussion and sharing of information, but fell completely on deaf ears. Neither facts nor truth mattered, only gut feelings and misguided passion. Richard A. Mufson, Sunny Isles Beach Celebration season During this time of the year, people across South Florida will be observing major religious holidays. Our neighbors and friends will be gathering for Eid al-Fitr, Passover and Easter — each elevating a sense of celebration, freedom, liberation, renewal and hope. As families and friends gather in homes and respective houses of worship, I hope those basic religious values are extended to those who are now experiencing fear and oppression. Keep in mind the families being separated, the men who are being shipped to prison hellholes, people persecuted for who they are and what they read, think, say. During these difficult times, be that person of faith who elevates the humanity in each of us. Reject hate and fear, keep spreading kindness and love. Peace to all my fellow citizens as these major holidays are observed and celebrated. Luis A. Hernandez, Coconut Grove Vote on fluoride Politicians are making medical decisions based upon partisan ideas and unsubstantiated research. For 70 years, fluoride has been added to the water provided by Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. Fluoride has been proven to prevent cavities in children and adults. Some but not all toothpaste has fluoride plus not everyone follows dentists' suggestions regarding proper brushing and flossing. What is the reason for even considering removing fluoride from our everyday water supply? The Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners voted to eliminate fluoride in our county's water based upon the urging of questionable sources of information. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Jr., have forwarded questionable theories about fluoride. County commissioners did not hear any testimony from proponents of fluoride before making their decision. I hope County Mayor Levine Cava vetoes the commission's vote and puts it on the ballot in a future election. Let the voters make the decision to remove or leave fluoride in the county water supply. Let's use common sense in this decision. Allan Tavss, Kendall Safe or not? Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said that adding fluoride to our drinking water is unsafe and should be discontinued. The dental community disagrees and says that science shows that fluoride is helpful in preventing tooth decay. Ladapo's response is that fluoride found in toothpaste will make up for the loss of having it in our drinking water. If fluoride is so unsafe that we need to stop adding it to our water supply, why is it okay to have it in our toothpaste? Can't have it both ways. Miles Woolley, Kendall Baseball on TV The Marlins beat the visiting New York Mets the other night but I didn't see the game; I watched the Tampa Bay Rays play the Pittsburgh Pirates. I am still a Marlins fan, but I have to pay to watch them — through a subscription service on Prime — while the Rays games I get for free. I have not read any stories about this illogical situation, making me wonder if local interest in the Marlins has reached a new low. Are we the only fans in the country who have to pay to watch their hometown team on TV? How does this affect the franchise, which, I always heard, didn't worry about poor attendance at games because its main revenue came from television? Unless things change, I'll get to know the Rays better than the Marlins. They're playing this season in the Yankees spring training stadium in Tampa (due to hurricane damage to Tropicana Field), so at least I'll see the game played as it should be — under a summer sky. Thomas Swick, Fort Lauderdale Struggling media As someone who has lived under a repressive regime, I appreciate what Voice of America (VOA) means. Founded by the federal government as an anti-propaganda tool against Nazi misinformation, it later became the voice of the free press for people living in countries without it. In places like Russia and Cuba, people could tune in to hear what was really happening around the world when they were only being fed what state-endorsed newspapers, radio and TV stations were allowed to say. It was a lifeline for those living under repressive regimes. Last week, President Trump's executive order aimed to dismantle VOA. This is only one of many recent attacks on the media by our government. One of the first things authoritarian regimes do is abolish freedom of the press. The press is the conscience of a country. When the government tampers with it without opposition, we become a country of zombies who either follow the autocratic rules blindly for fear of reprisal, or we leave. A third choice only happened once, more than a century ago. Let's hope we don't have to go that far. Betty Heisler, Aventura Right a wrong An old adage states, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Fluoridation of water is one of the most successful public health advancements of the 20th century. Efforts to discontinue this well-proven health benefit is nothing less than an assault on lower income families by privatizing a public good. Babies will need fluoride vitamin supplements, the price of toothpaste keeps rising and the population that most needs it cannot brush their teeth efficiently. It is a lose-lose deal. I hope Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava has the courage to veto this unnecessary pratfall. Frederic A. Friedman, Miami Insurance transparency There are so many insurance reform bills before Florida lawmakers right now it's hard to keep up with all of them. But I'm particularly interested in the ones that call for transparency within the industry. For years, Floridians have paid the highest homeowners insurance premiums in the nation not because of exposure to hurricanes; homeowners were told too many lawsuits and fraudulent roof replacement scams were to blame. When the crisis hit a boiling point in 2022, Gov. DeSantis and Florida lawmakers passed a bill reducing excessive litigation based on the insurance industry's explanation of the issue. But now a report has come out revealing that in 2022, the insurance industry may have been playing us all by running a sophisticated sort of shell game, crying poor and raising premiums while hiding billions in profits by funneling money into affiliate companies. This shameful practice and the industry report are now under investigation but that doesn't help the people who had to move out of the state or lost homes as a result of excessive premiums. Two bills introduced during this legislative session, Senate Bill 1656 and House 1429, call for insurers to file a 'transparency report' when filing rate requests with regulators. These companies would have to break down costs like profits, affiliate payments, litigation fees and claims. It makes you wonder why we didn't have a transparency system in place to begin with. The time has come to make it law now. John Grant retired Florida senator, president of Seniors Across America
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Miami Herald
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade cracks down on DMV scalpers — now let's fix the entire system
Anyone who has tried to book an appointment for a driver's license or other service at one of Miami-Dade's nine DMV offices knows the struggle. The experience is about as pleasant as a trip to the dentist but just as necessary. Last month, newly elected Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez exposed an appointment scalping operation that had been making service at the soon-to-be abolished Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offices across the county even worse, he said. Appointment slots were vanishing from the online portal quickly, hoarded by scalpers — driving schools — Fernandez said, whose employees were then reselling them to people who needed a quick spot in line. Most people need an appointment to be served. Walk-ins are allowed but that generally requires a predawn showing to make it inside the building. People reportedly paid anywhere from $25 to $250 to get a same day appointment in line. According to Fernandez, this scheme was 'collapsing' the system, making it even harder for everyday residents to secure a spot. That shady practice is now illegal. On Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Commission unanimously passed a law making it a misdemeanor to sell DMV or other government service appointments. Sponsored by Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, the law carries a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail for violators. This is a win for residents who just want a fair shot at getting their driver's licenses without additional unnecessary hurdles — or worse, being forced to pay. The commission rightfully stepped in to level the playing field. As Cabrera said, 'No one should have to pay a third party just to access basic government service.' He's right. But Fernandez should keep the momentum of reform for our DMV offices. It's perfect timing; the local DMV offices, run by the state for years, will now be run by Fernandez's new, expanded tax collector office. Completing basic services like renewing your license or getting a new one shouldn't turn into an all-day ordeal, with or without an appointment. Banning scalping by driving schools is just one piece of the puzzle. The fact that this happened in the first place proves the DMV system is already broken. It's rare to see a DMV office without a huge line in front. Now, with the Real ID requirement on your driver's license set to start in May, more people likely will be coming in to update their licenses. Fernandez, a former tech entrepreneur, has promised to modernize a system that has long been the punch line for jokes about bad service. So far, he has added an extra location in downtown Miami where people can get or renew their driver's licenses. He's already implemented technology that blocks multiple bookings from the same phone number. But he's not stopping there — he's pushing for more DMV services to be available online and working to make appointment scheduling faster and easier. He wants to give the DMV the overhaul it needs. Those are steps in the right direction. The fact that scalping even became a business in the first place shows how badly the system has been failing residents for years. We're glad to see Fernandez, Cabrera and the county commission swiftly tackle this issue head-on. The changes, of course, will cost money. In an opinion article that appeared in the Miami Herald last month, Fernandez warned the 'initial improvements' of changing the county's nine state-run driver's license offices to be run by the county is roughly $40 million. As a constitutional officer, the tax collector sets his own budget, not the county mayor. The new county law is a start. It sends a clear message that it's a new day at the DMV, by reinforcing a basic rule: government services should be accessible to everyone — not just those who can afford to buy their way to the front of the line. 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Each board member has an area of focus, such as education, COVID or local government policy. Board members meet daily and bring up an array of topics for discussion. Once a topic is fully discussed, board members will further report the issue, interviewing stakeholders and others involved and affected, so that the board can present the most informed opinion possible. We strive to provide our community with thought leadership that advocates for policies and priorities that strengthen our communities. Our editorials promote social justice, fairness in economic, educational and social opportunities and an end to systemic racism and inequality. The Editorial Board is separate from the reporters and editors of the Miami Herald newsroom. How can I contribute to the Miami Herald Opinion section? The Editorial Board accepts op-ed submissions of 650-700 words from community members who want to argue a specific viewpoint or idea that is relevant to our area. 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