In Florida, let’s be sure our hungry kids are fed | Letters

Feed the kids

State officials urged to take food aid | July 9

State officials in Tallahassee have so far decided not to opt in to the millions of dollars in federal food assistance money because there are more than enough programs to feed Florida’s hungry children? Where did these “officials” get their information? Did any one of them scope out the places that people must travel to (maybe some without any type of transportation) in order to pick this food up for their families? Have any one of them ever been hungry? Children are growing and need nourishment in order to be healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. In 21st century America there is no reason for anyone to be hungry. While I was teaching, children on free and reduced lunch would receive a bag of food to take home on Fridays to tide them over for the weekend. Hunger in this country is shameful and a travesty. Our church food pantry feeds more than 750 families every Wednesday and those are the ones who can get to the church to pick up the food. What about those with no transportation? I want to know who these Florida officials are who turned down $259 million so that children could have good nutrition this summer. It’s too late for this summer, but they still can apply for funds for next summer and not repeat this mistake. Either way, they need to be held accountable, in more ways than one.

Carol Hess, Hudson

Care for caretakers

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

July 1 marked an important benchmark in health care when a new crop of doctors entered the workforce as resident doctors. Data shows nearly one-third of them will experience depression. But, it’s not only resident doctors whose mental health is suffering. Almost half of all health care workers feel burned out and intend to look for a new job. Earlier this year Gov. Ron DeSantis passed Live Healthy, a package of bills to support health care workers across Florida including increasing the number of residency training positions for doctors and increasing funds for loan-forgiveness programs.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is a federal initiative that furthers this work by addressing the mental health crisis contributing to the health worker shortage. This landmark legislation must be reauthorized and funded so our nurses, pharmacists, physicians and all health workers have access to the mental health care and professional well-being support they need.

Live Healthy aims to grow the health care workforce in Florida. Retaining our existing health care providers through programs that combat burnout and support mental health are critical to this mission. Since its passage in 2022, the Lorna Breen Act has funded $103 million across 45 organizations to implement evidence-informed strategies that reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions and substance use disorders. I urge Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to reauthorize and fully fund the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act so we can widen its reach to more health care workers and better care for our caregivers.

Jennifer Caputo-Seidler, Tampa

A date with history

The 2024 presidential election

Being able to put a really bad experience behind you is part of a healthy recovery, unless the threat of that bad experience may be attempting to return. In case Americans have forgotten how bad life was this time four years ago, I encourage everyone who has access to the internet to look up the major U.S. headlines of this date in 2020, and do it every day until the election.

Brian Valsavage, St. Petersburg

Listen up

Some Biden donors wary about candidate’s age, ability | July 6

The problem with the Democrats is they are weak. They are not getting their message across. Time is drawing nigh. They need to hire a gospel preacher to shout their message from the rooftops to scare the bejesus out of voters. They need stronger candidates to do it. They should be hammering on the negatives of former President Donald Trump and his plans, in my view, to ruin our democracy. People need to hear this loud and clear. Voters are not paying attention. It should be forcefully presented, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently, it is all falling on deaf ears.

John J. Tischner III, Dunedin

Denying reality

Some Biden donors wary about candidate’s age, ability | July 6

Asked how he went bankrupt, a Hemingway character answered that it was two ways, “gradually, then suddenly.” So, it is with two myths, now teetering. I don’t think there has ever been much evidence that former President Donald Trump posed a threat to democracy. A recent poll showed that many worry about democracy, but the majority felt that Mr. Trump was the better defender of it. Interpreted correctly, the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity may protect President Joe Biden more than Trump, should the latter prevail in November. The evidence that only Biden could defeat Trump rests on a razor-thin margin in three states. Now, the media and political class seized on Biden’s debate performance. Poll averages show that this improved Trump’s lead by a mere 2 to 4 points, less than he gained from public disfavor of the political trials. Other polls have consistently shown majority concerns about Biden’s age going back to 2020. This needle moved little post-debate; the public got a confirmation, not a shock. In coverage of what to do now, I find almost no concern for Biden’s personal welfare and little attention to what to do about the media and political class who willfully denied reality for far longer than the recent 90 minutes.

Pat Byrne, Seminole

Not just us

Stop politicizing climate change | Column, July 7

Climate change is political precisely because not everyone accepts the dire consequences and draconian solutions promoted by people like columnist Mary Ann Mancuso. Global warming is indeed global, not local, and demanding that U.S. consumers pay higher costs today for potentially tiny world temperature reductions sometime in the future is foolish virtue signaling, until China and others accept equal pain. European voters have gotten a taste of what “net zero” means to their pocketbooks and sent some of the most strident politicians packing. A little skepticism of “science-based solutions” is also warranted considering the serious fallout from COVID-based lockdowns, promoted by scientific experts. Government mandates and subsidies have produced a powerful climate/industrial complex, which warrants careful scrutiny.

Robert Potter, Seminole

People in need

Some thrive, some struggle | July 7

Times staff writer Lane DeGregory does a great job in humanizing the faces of homeless people as she introduces us to people who are in dire need of affordable housing. Too many people don’t realize that a catastrophic misfortune can put them in the same boat. Innovare is a daring move by St. Pete as a very avant-garde housing experiment and looks like it is showing the nation how to defeat homelessness. Volunteers of America is giving these deserving people the tools to survive. The concept of a one-stop shop such as a food pantry gives me confidence that these people will thrive, especially since the project focuses on each person’s situation and how to handle it. The only thing the article does not address is the need for medical coverage, but I bet they can sign up people for Medicaid. I gave the contact number for volunteering to my neighbors who complain that they have all the time in the world and crave something to do. This would be a win-win solution.

Holly Haley, New Port Richey

Channeling Sgt. Schultz

Trump denies knowing about Project 2025 | July 6

Whenever former President Donald Trump is asked about a controversial subject or person, the reply is always the same. “I don’t know anything about it” or “I never met him/her.” Now this stance takes place again. When asked about Project 2025, the radical right-wing proposal to transform our government from a democracy to a form of government where the president has pretty much absolute power, Trump said, “I know nothing about Project 2025. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying. ... I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.” Well, if he knows nothing about Project 2025, why does he say he disagrees with it? Why does he wish them luck? Trump reminds me of Sgt. Schultz, the German prison guard from the old “Hogan’s Heroes” TV show. When confronted with an uncomfortable situation, Schultz always had the same answer: ”I know nothing!” Project 2025 is a very threatening agenda to democracy as we know it. If Trump is not familiar with it, I suggest he learn about it.

Charles Smith, St. Petersburg

Freedom to be wrong

Bidens all in for presidential run | July 9

I was an office holder and a registered Republican for over 25 years. I joined and supported the Second Amendment Club, my votes went to candidates with an R behind their names. That changed when President Donald Trump spoke about veterans, calling them losers. Now, I’m an independent and am thinking it’ll take four presidential election cycles to become a Republican again. At 69, I wonder if I’ll ever see that day again. I voted the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 as a majority of voters did. I made the decision then, with the knowledge that Vice President Harris would be the successor in 2028, if not before, if she had to step in. Now it’s 2024, halfway to 2028, it seems there’s talk about replacing her. She still has my vote. Is there a buyer’s remorse? Did she screw up? What happened? I support a free society. I am not happy about some directions ours has taken, but it is the freedom that gives us that choice.

Thomas Finn, New Port Richey