Downtown Vero Beach hopping; don't cram more people in
Members of our monthly fishing group live on the mainland and the island and have been Vero Beach residents, on average, 15 years. Several of us had dinner recently at a restaurantdowntown.
These weeks before school starts are considered the slowest for the restaurantbusiness because many families are out of town getting summer vacation finished before school starts.
Still, downtown was packed at 6 p.m. and parking was non-existent. We left about 8 p.m. and it was still jammed.
Everyone wonders why the city council wants to cram more people and cars in the area. Downtown is not an option when the season starts. What will it look like if you add more people?
Nobody at our table could see the logic to add density to an already thriving and successfularea. It would be better served if it were spruced up and made it more pedestrianfriendly.
One of us has a son who just relocated to Vero Beach after teaching several years in Broward County. He rented a two- bedroom/two-bath home with a pool near downtown for $1,500 per month. It's likenew and has a fenced backyard. His father said he wanted to look around to see where to buy one of the more than 700 homes, townhouses and condos available in Vero priced between $100,000 and $350,000.
What are we missing that is not affordable? If people put in timeand effort, affordableis attainable. Whoever is broadcasting that there is no affordable housing is not looking.
This is the buzz going through the community on the island and landside.
Charles Resta, Vero Beach
Vote carefully to shape future of Martin County
It’s been a long time coming, and it’s hard to believe that after all the waiting, false hope and disappointment, we finally have a chance to return our commissions to the people.
Incumbents rarely face opposition in Martin County, and for challengers to succeed is even rarer. However, we have a golden opportunity for a significant shift this year. The incumbents' reputations are at an all-time low and overdevelopment has reached the boiling point. The county commissioners' raising of our taxes and careless approach to growth have them on the ropes in this year's elections.
In the city, the approval of more than 3,000 new housing units, the grossly mislocated Costco complex, and the most blatant zoning exception in Stuart’s history, the four-story hotel with no parking, has the town in an uproar.
When most of a candidate's donations are from interests outside of Martin County, we must question the motives. This raises concerns about who the candidate represents and whether his or her decisions will align with the needs and values of the local community. Because a significant portion of all the incumbents' campaign funds have come from the same out-of-state development donors, we rightfully have a sense of distrust and skepticism.
These donations provide valuable insight into their potential allegiances and priorities. It leads us to question the underlying reasons behind their candidacies and why they chose to be commissioners. We don’t need foreign developers voting by proxy on critical issues affecting Martin County’s quality of life. It is time for our voices to be heard and our values to be represented.
Now, it is up to the voters to show up and vote in the elections on Aug. 20. Your vote is crucial in shaping the future of Martin County.
Nick Gulotta, Stuart
Martin County land deal in Palm City a good one
We are seeing a consistent theme in editorial reviews and social media posts about the desire to swap out Martin County commissioners. It’s been our home base since 2016, so we’ve been observant, too. Here’s something the public should know.
About two weeks ago, I emailed Commissioner Ed Ciampi, inquiring about the multimillion-dollar land purchase he authorized. He replied and the next day called to talk. We spoke for more than an hour as he addressed that and other topics. It was eye-opening. Did you know that even if commissioners reject a developer’s request, the developer can and often will sue the county so that a project can proceed? In fact, a huge portion of the Martin County budget is service debt from losing a lawsuit years ago.
Long story short, the land purchase was to stop construction of a condo which was so dense that there wasn’t even enough space for parking. The county plans to resell the property to a developer who will repurpose it in a way that is seen as value-add to our area.
Ed knew the person who sold the land and the Delray/Boynton developer who wanted to make a quick buck. Ed navigated an incredibly complex situation in order to keep Martin County beautiful.
Tim Arthur, Palm City
Perhaps this is how you beat sewer meter reader
In response to Jan Belwood's letter, "Paying sewer fees when irrigation your lawn? Huh?" I have a suggestion I used at a business park I managed some years ago.
Separate the irrigation "main line" from your house main. Add a water meter to your irrigation that will measure the amount of water your irrigation uses. Separate this number from the total and have the water district recalculate the total and charge you accordingly.
Keep very accurate readings, down to the last digit on the meter and keep them current. Good luck!
Jan Alfiere, Hobe Sound
Vance might get rude awakening from women's vote
It is evident JD Vance has little understanding of women or their nature. Not that I have a better understanding.
However, when he verbalizes disdain for childless cat ladies, he is ignoring the plight of women. Childless women make valid choices for the paths they choose in life.
Even though he grew up in a dysfunctional family and environment, he does not take into account the many women who did marry and had children. Think of single moms, whose daily struggles to survive and support their children have them fall asleep crying as they worry about tomorrow.
Vance also does not entertain the fact that other moms, who struggle because of immature husbands who care only for sports, gambling and video games while their families' welfare takes a back seat.
Studies have provided results that single childless women are the happiest of females. As a matter of fact, Pew Research has shown that the number of married couples who choose to remain childless has increased since 2018.
Vance must remember a cat scratches, and hell has no fury like the women's vote.
Ronald D. Roberts, Sebastian
Lack of heat measures sets up dangerous survival-of-fittest mentality
It's difficult to believe that Gov. Ron DeSantis would refuse outdoor workers' rights to take in some shade and water breaks during the current paradigm.
From late November/early December through March/April, the great majority of employed outdoor workers or laborers commit to seasonal unemployment in the northeastern United States. It would be impossible to build, landscape, garden, etc., during this time period there. Applications and forms, proposals for construction, planning, landscape architecture, calls for landscaping still come in. Yet, most construction laborers, landscapers etc., choose to go on seasonal unemployment.
I don't see the problem if outdoor laborers used the same unemployment during such scorching hot weather in Florida.
It's not a race human beings should be running in. Nor to instate pain or agony just to be provided safety, a living wage, etc. It's nowhere near healthy to have a "survival of the fittest" mentality or intentions of helping some individuals and groups while targeting others. To have specific targets or ways to misuse hierarchy using someone, then lie about it.
It definitely scares me what systems of different hierarchies have the capacity to do using innocent human beings.
If humans are in such rivalries, why don't they use rivalry journals instead of harming others?
It can't be moral or legal to harm workers who experience heat exhaustion or set up conflicts between innocent people like there's not enough to go around. Is it superiority? Is it inferiority?
Shouldn't humans think more in terms of nominal measurements than just ordinal ones? Yes, there are services, even employees, who might shine through in terms of ordinal measurements. But to be obsessed with superiority to the point of endangering? Toward the future? No, not that.
Anna Santacroce, Fort Pierce
Teachers unions should get in on innovation for a change
A recent letters package featured some letters on education in diametric opposition. Charlie Hayek sees the results of the usual teacher union-dominated education.
We know something is wrong when high school graduates are poor readers (colleges must offer remedial reading) who never even read a book a year and cannot make change.
In a way, it is a good thing they don't take their civic duty/responsibility of voting very seriously. They do not know how to assess, to evaluate candidates or anything else. For all the years I taught college, my students said: “Voting is for old people.” They were not even registered to vote.
The other letter, from a teacher union advocate, Felicia Bruce, gives the same sing-song platitudes they all do, the first being, “if we only had enough money.”
Were the teacher unions serious about educating, there would be a student government in every elementary school. And, yes, kindergartners would send two reps per class to meetings. A teacher would serve as chaperone, but would leave the room as voting took place in secrecy.
And, yes, the youngest would be offered gifts ― ice cream, extra dessert — all sorts of "lobbying" would occur. By third or fourth grade, those children would know much about electioneering and lobbying. What better way than to experience it?
Those campaigning would learn public speaking and debating techniques not commonly covered, except in high school, as an elective for a few participants.
Is the union rep offering this or phonics, McGuffey-type reading instruction, or Cuisenaire/Stern math and tried, true, proven techniques? No. Same ole, same ole.
Audrey Taggart, Hobe Sound
Trump ancestors rolling over in their graves?
Here’s what I’d like to say to our former and never-again-to-be president:
What does it matter?Black, Indian, Hispanic, caucasian. Kamala Harris is American.
That’s all that matters.
She wants the best for all Americans. She was raised to believe that the American Dream is real, is attainable. She is living proof that it is.
So is Donald Trump in a strange sort of way, also. Too bad he hasn't done better by his ancestors who came here to improve their lives. (I believe they were immigrants, too, unless of course he is now claiming to be descended from America’s indigenous peoples, who, if truth be told — yes, truth — even they migrated to the Americas from elsewhere.)
Clearly, the way Trump has lived his life would be a big disappointment to them, except maybe to his father, who taught you to take advantage of others, never to back down, not to value the truth and that failure was never an option.
If Trump hasn't read it, I’d suggest he read his cousin Mary Trump’s book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." Hopefully, he won’t get another chance to pervert democracy.
I’m hoping with all my heart that Americans of all origins recognize the negative influence and danger he is to our country, American values and the world and vote accordingly in November.
Fingers crossed.
Julie Eisdorfer, Vero Beach
Women benefit from Title IX, but things far from equal
Columnist Christine Brennan touts Title IX as ensuring female athletes be treated as equals. However, not only are they not treated as equals, they are not paid equally.
One only has to view the more physical aspect by touring the college and professional sports venues/training venues to appreciate the differences.
And then there's news coverage. Your sports section today has eight pages, but only Brennan's piece and one other had any reference to female sports. And why is that?
Perhaps your team should also try to follow Title IX and give all female athletes more or at least equal coverage, photos, kudos.
Jan Belwood, Palm City
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