Lakeland's red light cameras not worth the cost
It seems to me, the red light camera program isn't worth the cost.
The program costs nearly $870,000 a year to operate. Why don't they just cancel the program and take that $870,000 and use it for our homeless population. It beats taking the homeless to jail using the jail budget and fining them money they can't pay.
David Scheib, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Sept. 22, 2024): Polk County Commission buys into election conspiracies
Scott Franklin's ethics
So our representative in Congress, Scott Franklin, has violated ethical rules by buying stock in a corporation that he helps to regulate while sitting on a House Subcommittee that oversees military construction. [ Questions raised after Franklin stock buy , Sept. 23]
While that purchase is clearly unethical on Congressman Franklin's part, it isn't the reason alone as to why he should be voted out of office. Franklin violates his oath of office by supporting for president someone who attempted to overthrow our Constitution. That makes Franklin a co-conspirator to overthrow the U.S. government.
We voters need to own up to the fact that actors such as Scott Franklin are not our friends, but rather our enemies.
Richard Sutherland, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Sept. 15, 2024): Florida should pass paid family and medical leave
County commission's election resolution
I read in the Ledger about the recent vote by county commissioners in support of a resolution claiming election irregularities in Florida in the 2020 Presidential election. [ Three Polk commissioners support group alleging election fraud , Sept. 15]
The subject came up at the Board meeting during public input and the resolution adopted was never advertised or listed on the agenda. What this means is that with no dissenting input and no opportunity for the public to read or understand the position the county was taking, our commissioners sent a strong message to the public to mistrust voting in Polk County, Florida and probably the entire country. The resolution was adopted with no evidence reported to the public.
I only wish the board would read the 72-page researched report “Lost, Not Stolen” by a group of prominent conservative judicial and political figures (https://lostnotstolen.org). The exhaustive report finds that in 2020 Trump lost and Biden won.
In these times of strong political tension, the Polk commissioners’ duty should be to calm the waters and seek truth and facts obtained through public discourse taking all views into account. This resolution should have been advertised so that all sides could understand it and have an opportunity to comment.
Rick Garrity, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Sept. 8, 2024): Florida Poly lacks flexibility for adults with families
Supervisor of elections
Imagine being a business owner and needing to hire for an important position. You’ve gone through your submitted applications, and you’ve found two candidates that please you, two you feel quite sure will be able to do the job.
You interview each and find that they both will accept the salary for the position; both have good ideas about how to move the position forward. They are both people oriented.
But here’s the kicker: One of them has oodles of experience at the very position you are seeking to fill, and the other does not. The experienced candidate has earned the praise of many people, friend and foe, over the years for work done. She has taken a tough job and made it look easy. She is a model of excellence.
I’m pretty sure, given the qualities of the candidates and criteria of the job, that you’d hire the experienced one. Why would you do otherwise?
Well, you have the exact same choice this November in Polk County’s Supervisor of Elections Office. Lori Edwards has years of experience and the support of people of all political affiliations.
Don’t put a newcomer into such an important office. Vote Lori Edwards for SOE.
Ben Graffam, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Aug. 25, 2024): Do Polk County voters care about local politics?
Lies on the campaign trail
Liars who tell stories that lead to terror, waste of resources and closing of public places for the sake of publicity and attention don't deserve to be on an election ballot, receive government salaries or be covered by the media.
Both perpetuate lies. JD Vance admitted he tells false stories, like the slanderous story about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, to get press attention. Imagine, a man who professes to be Catholic as he trashes its members to feed his self-centered ambition.
Trump always pleads ignorance. Please Florida, save the American people from these two maga-mega-liars who abuse people legally in our country with the right to work, and the support of their governor, mayor, employers, then tell the ignorant that they speak the truth.
These liars give Ohio a bad reputation, foster death threats, bomb threats, hate and bigotry but don’t care. The Trump-Vance twosome seem to be competing for which can shovel the most outrageous lies or hang out with the most detestable people.
You can’t believe a word they say…unless you want to add “fool” to your resume. We can and should do better.
Linda Rooney, Winter Haven
Voice of the People (Aug. 18, 2024): Polk sheriff needs proactive approach to deputy DUIs
Amendment 4 lies on TV
Amendment 4 opponents are entitled to their opinions but not to spread lies. A new TV ad does just that, as a scare tactic. So, let’s spread some truth here.
- Florida’s 6-week abortion ban kicks in before many women even know they’re pregnant, with no real exceptions. Amendment 4 would allow abortion until the fetus can survive on its own outside the womb, known as viability, which is usually between 23-24 weeks.
- Women’s lives are at risk in cases of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or other conditions, when doctors are now afraid to intervene. Amendment 4 would ensure doctors can provide the care women need.
- Amendment 4 still requires parental notification for minors, per Florida’s 2021 law.
Amendment 4 puts women and their doctors in charge of their reproductive health. Not politicians. And no, it doesn’t mean a dentist or massage therapist can perform abortions; the medical community governs scope of practice for health care providers.
Amendment 4 does not mean anyone wants more abortions; it would simply allow every woman to make her own choices about her own body. Restore women’s rights, and Vote Yes on 4 on November 5.
Cindy Sternlicht, Lakeland
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Send letters to the editor to voice@theledger.com , or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj , or go to TheLedger.com , click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the People (Sept. 29, 2024): Lakeland's red light cameras not worth the cost
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