Humiston boardwalk victim of 'megatropolis' heading north
Like many who live in Vero Beach or grew up, as I did and moved away, the thought of not having the Humiston boardwalk is very disappointing. Whenever Icome home, it is a must visit. I grew up on Dahlia Lane.
To many families, the boardwalk holds memories. For my family, that included dedicating a boardwalk bench in honor of our dad (a member of the 82nd Airborne and D-Day paratrooper). It was in his later years a place he enjoyed most looking out at the ocean.
Many may accept progress, fiscal responsibility and the like when it comes to all things Vero Beach. It comes at a cost. The charm and very fabric that makes Vero Beach special is slowly being chipped away and the Humiston boardwalk is another example.
I'm afraid the megatropolis lurking south is beginning the march. Losing a simple yet meaningful boardwalk to many is yet another example of Vero Beach giving up what makes it special.
Michael Stutzke, Princeton, Illinois
Vero Beach City Council sheds core values in jettisoning boardwalk
What a shame about the Humiston Park boardwalk.
I don't understand what else the city could be spending a ton of money on that's actually going to get done. I think the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on those studies for these new extravagant buildings should be going to the preservation of our history and character as a town and community.
It's what makes Vero "Vero."
The council seems to be mistaken on its core values. It can never be put back the way it is now.
Jared Smith, Vero Beach
Harbert-Audubon deal just more politics as usual
I read with astonishment the lack of business acumen by the Fort Pierce city commissioners when they allowed Harbert Realty to joint venture with Audubon to solve the problems facing King's Landing. There is no vetting when Harbert, a real estate brokerage firm, is selected.
This is reminiscent of when Audubon was chosen, bypassing Brightline, a stronger financial candidate. Shouldn't the public view Harbert's financials?
It's politics as usual, to the detriment of the community.
Gloria Roa Bodin, Fort Pierce
Forget dollar signs; rethink Three Corners
Now that we have another opportunity to consider the Three Corners property, why not consider our very own Central Park?
Think of that property this way:
If we “lease” our property for 99 years, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will never have a say in the use of “their property.” By not leasing, we could have a massive tree-shaded open space, passive walking, playing park without all the hubbub of commercial enterprises that the ordinary Vero Beach citizen cannot afford to avail themselves of in the first place.
It is our last public-owned waterfront, which we would deprive future generations from enjoying. Let’s forget the “pie in the sky” and dollar signs and do our own thing there.
Gene Waddell, Vero Beach
Learn more about sheriff's office in citizens academy
I’m writing this letter since my husband, and I just completed the citizens academy presented by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The program is 14 weeks long and it is well worth the time. The sheriff’s office is not just a bigger police department; it is far more complex. The sheriff oversees a large, diverse workforce, directed at protecting the community, including managing the intricate workings of our judicial system; both running the jail and operating the courthouse.
The functions of the sheriff are organized into a real time crime center, 911 dispatch, uniform patrol, agriculture and marine special operations, K-9 and aviation special operations, SWAT, crisis negotiation, traffic, school resource team, criminal investigations, crime scene/forensics, special investigations, the courthouse, corrections, emergency services, homeland security and critical incidents.
In addition to the above, there is also community affairs, customer service, the SAFIR Coalition to reduce substance abuse, the peer support program to help employees deal with the stresses of the job, Project Lifesaver to locate lost loved ones and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches that help troubled youth.
We were both awed by what we learned about the operation. Key takeaways were the knowledge, professionalism and love of their jobs by everyone we encountered. All staff were competent and proud to point out support and resources that they have to help them do a better job, especially technology, equipment and continuous training.
As a former longtime public sector human resource manager, I know that this is not a typical workplace; it is a workplace you wish to create.
Having been through the citizens academy, we now have firsthand knowledge and can distinguish facts from fiction in the campaigns for sheriff. I encourage everyone who can to sign up and take advantage of this informative program when they are able.
Linda Anselmini, Vero Beach
Democrats, Republicans leading us down the wrong path
Let me begin by stating that I am a veteran, 74 years old and a registered Republican in Indian River County since 1988, when I relocated from Long Island, New York.
The polarized position of the two main parties leaves me little hope for the future. Both candidates for president are older than me and are incapable of being our leader over the next four years.
The Donald Trump verdict surprised me in two ways: the speed it was arrived at and the fact it was unanimous on all counts. What is most disheartening is the portrayal of the trial as being “fixed” and the number of my fellow Americans that agree. A trial by a “jury of our peers” is one of the most important tenets of our Constitution. How can anyone believe that all 12 members of that jury were secretive operatives or didn’t possess the same sense of duty that they would bring to the table?
Please leave your comfort zone and get the opinions of the other side. Go to other countries' news services and hear their sides. The Democrats or Republicans as they portray themselves now will lead us down the road to extremism and ruin.
John Colgan, Vero Beach
Palestinians can end siege by turning away from Hamas
This newspaper printed an article by John Bacon from USA Today reporting Hamas claimed more than 200 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s raid to free four Israel captives.
According to Hamas, Bacon writes, 64 of the 200 were children and 57 women. I am appalled and saddened of any dying in this war. As a Christian, I believe Jews and Palestinians are God’s children. The world has been enriched by the descendants of Esau and Jacob.
But the fact is, four Israeli hostages were saved after being kidnapped in Israel Oct. 7, 2023, and held captive by Hamas for seven months. The fact is that in Islam, taqiyya permits precautionary dissimulation, or lying, for a pious goal.
The fact is that civilian Palestinians who were allegedly killed during Israel’s raid to free the four hostages were complicit in keeping the hostiles captured by Hamas. Palestinians voted in Hamas. Palestinians over the years allowed their own children to have bombs attached to their bodies to explode and kill Israelis.
Israel’s war efforts in Gaza should not end until Hamas is removed permanently. The Palestinians can bring this killing of civilian Palestinians to an end by turning on Hamas themselves. The fact is, civilian Palestinians remain complicit in protecting Hamas and keeping Israeli and American Jews captives in Gaza.
Stanford Erickson, Vero Beach
Learn more about Mast's MTG-like actions
Constituents of U.S. Rep. Brian Mast should open their eyes. He is now following the lead of Marjorie Taylor Greene.
While we were celebrating the greatest generation on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, our representative voted in support of her resolution to defund NATO. He, along with our two senators, also voted to deny aid to Israel and Ukraine, among others.
While he will work to win votes because of his stance on water issues, he is undermining our national security and following the leadership of those who have no interest in solving problems, but only in igniting feuds.
You would hardly know this from our local news: It has stopped publishing the listing of votes by our representatives in D.C., let alone providing any detail about their positions. Please pay attention as this election is serious and critical on so many levels.
Mary-Win O'Brien, Stuart
Dump Trump last chance to save nation
Our founding fathers gave us several ways to escape Donald Trump's destruction of the Grand Old Party. Republicans ignored the first two: impeachment, twice.
Despite his cultist grip on the GOP by lying, conspiracy and criminal behavior, sane Republicans can nominate a more likely winner at their national convention next month, such as Gov. Larry Hogan or even Liz Cheney.
Most Americans will not vote for an unhinged convicted criminal and Joe Biden will win.
Biden has the better track record on the economy, jobs and military standing with our allies. Trump's last term was a disaster on all fronts, from crazy COVID cures costing millions of American lives, to running up the debt by nearly a trillion dollars with his tax giveaways to the rich.
Republicans can save their integrity, their GOP and America, by "Dumping Trump" at the convention. It's their last chance.
Robert Gibbons,Stuart
Get facts right on what Trump's accused of doing
It's American to be able to have and share our own opinions. But, it's disingenuous to state your opinion as fact.
The author of a recent letter stated that Donald Trump "says he will be a dictator from Day 1." That's not true, but it is an often-used battle cry of channels like CNN and MSNBC. Here's the truth taken from the transcript from an interview with Sean Hannity, where Trump made a similar statement, jokingly, that started the fake story.
0:25 Trump: He says, "You're not gonna be a dictator, are you?"
0:27 I said, "No, no, no, OTHER THAN ONE DAY." (not STARTING ON DAY ONE)
0:30 We're closing the border and we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator.
0:34 Hannity: That sounds to me like you're going back to the policies when you were president.
That was it. The media jumped on it like a dog on a bone, falsely.
The letter writer continued talking about Memorial Day, referring to the WW I Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and stated Trump labeled the buried soldiers as “suckers and losers” and didn't want to visit.
That's not true. I have a relative in the Secret Service. He states the chopper couldn't fly due to weather and it was too far for the motorcade to safely drive because the route had not been secured. The final decision is always made by the Secret Service, not the president.
So, instead of blaming FOX news for spreading fake news, the author would have known the truth if the author stopped watching news media that's in bed with the liberal Democrats.
Jan Alfiere, Hobe Sound
Why do people continue to believe in Trump?
“We have gone through 2.5 centuries with the transfer of power through elections. There were some tumultuous times, but never has the party in power conspired to weaponize the federal government to disable an opponent's candidacy.”
This was from a letter in this newspaper.
When the writer said "never before," did he miss four years ago? Donald Trump, acting as the government and using the full power of the presidency to conduct a multi-state conspiracy, including fake electors, to defraud 81 million people from their votes?
There have been fake electors charged and pleaded guilty in multiple states for crimes involving and some have alleged directed by Trump. That is what’s called multi-state conspiracy, note the multiple convictions, pleas and confessions.
Some folks might want to keep believing convicted felons, but I myself watched Trump stand up on the podium Election Night and declare himself the winner, declare the election over. I listened to the tape of him speaking with the Georgia election official. I watched Jan. 6.
It’s sad some people continue to believe.
Don Whisman, Stuart
Let's hope Trump supporters come to senses
Convicted felon Donald Trump should be rejected as qualified to run for the Oval Office of the White House.
All of the MAGA Republicans who support him for some reason need to do two things: Read a civics book on democracy and find a good shrink.
Why would any real American even consider putting a lying, cheating, big-mouth, blowhard in office to run the greatest country in the world? As a convicted felon, he is not qualified to run for dog catcher.
Here's hoping and praying to God they come to their senses before November's voting day.
Elmer C Meiser Jr., Sebastian
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce King's Landing, Vero Beach boardwalk, 3Cs politics as usual
