Florida, let people shop around for best electric rates | Letters

A better alternative

Don’t let Duke Energy and Tampa Electric prioritize profit over people | Column, July 10

Once again the people of Florida are facing another rate hike by Duke Energy and Tampa Electric. I believe these rates hikes are uncalled for and unfair. Florida residents pay some of the highest electric rates in the country. When is the Florida Public Service Commission going to stop rubber-stamping utility rate hikes? When will they allow customers to purchase electricity from other utilities, which is being done in other areas of the country? My son in New England, for example, purchases his electricity from another electric utility in another state and saves almost 30% a month. I urge people to contact the Florida Public Service Commission to protest the rate hikes and push for allowing use of an alternate electric utility.

Charles E. Salzmann, New Port Richey

Limit cars on causeway beach

A family mourns and still seeks answers | July 8

As a daily cyclist on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, I’ve come to cherish its serene beauty. However, during holidays, this peaceful space often turns chaotic. The tragic incident, when a 7-year-old boy was shot in the head by a stray bullet on the causeway beach while waiting to see the Fourth of July fireworks with his grandfather, highlights the urgent need for change. A few individuals disrupt the peace with alcohol, drugs and loud music, creating a hazardous environment for everyone, especially families with young children. To prevent such tragedies, we must consider limiting auto access to reduce congestion and curb disruptive behavior. Restricting access to daytime hours can make monitoring easier, ensuring the causeway beach remains family-friendly. Additionally, increasing police presence during holidays can deter unruly conduct and maintain order. These measures can strike a balance between allowing public celebrations and preserving the causeway’s integrity. Let us urge public officials to implement these changes, ensuring the causeway remains a safe and enjoyable haven for all.

Doug Longfellow, Tampa

Two old men

Biden clings to campaign | July 7

I’ll be 70 on my next birthday. I have spent the last 42 years setting tile and marble for a living. This morning, I did 16 chin-ups and 35 push-ups. I know a lot of men my age who couldn’t get their fat bodies off the floor if they tried to do a push-up. Age impacts each individual differently. There is only three years’ age difference between the out-of-shape former President Donald Trump and lean and mean President Joe Biden. During the recent presidential debate Biden seemed a little slow. I have days like that. While Biden was slow responding, Trump spent his 45 minutes spewing many lies. I’d rather have a slow-speaking, honest president than a fast-talking serial liar, convicted felon for president. They’re both old, but along with Biden is a team of dedicated lovers of the Constitution on his staff. Trump will most likely bring in a crew who only study the Constitution to figure out ways to work around it. If Biden were my age, none of this would even be an issue and I think he would win the next election, hands down.

Brian Valsavage, St. Petersburg

No second chance

Biden clings to campaign | July 7

In the voting booth I had pulled the Republican lever — or bubbled in its fill-in-the-oval equivalent — for nearly 50 years, until Donald Trump darkened the political landscape. In 2024 I would gladly vote for President Joe Biden again, even if he had to take the oath of office in a wheelchair, rather than vote for the person I believe is the most flawed presidential candidate in American history. But it’s not voters like me who need convincing. In the polls, Biden was behind this hugely flawed opponent before the debate, and since then it has only gotten worse. We need a new Democratic candidate who can get the votes of independent/undecided voters. We won’t get a second chance to keep Trump out of the White House.

Michael Green, St. Petersburg

A back-up plan

Biden clings to campaign | July 7

I believe the Democratic Party and the media have failed in the reaction to President Joe Biden’s decline. In this country we have a running mate known as the vice president. When you vote for your candidate, you are also voting for his back-up if anything were to happen to the president during his term. There is talk of elevating Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket. This is not necessary. If Biden wins and cannot complete his term, she will step in. You are already voting for her if you vote for Biden. Former President Donald Trump also has issues, but he, too, will have a running mate. So calm down, people, we already have a back-up plan.

Leslie DeVane, Plant City

And your point is?

Biden clings to campaign | July 7

When President Joe Biden speaks and makes a mistake I can at least understand the the point he was getting to. When former President Donald Trump speaks, I have no idea of the point he was trying to make.

James W. Deveney, Pinellas Park

A reality check

The Almighty calls for Biden | Wall Street Journal editorial, July 9

The Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board, not surprisingly, ignored former President Donald Trump’s bombastic ramblings at the debate while making the case about President Joe Biden’s inability to verbalize a coherent point. Sadly, with good reason. Everyone knows what to expect from the former president, while a sliver of hope remained that Biden was still capable of making a strong case for his accomplishments while brushing off the other guy’s lies with compelling facts. But Biden is now seen by objective thinkers to be an elderly man who is not aging gracefully. His cognitive decline may be in current free fall. His health failures have been overlooked due to the understandable fear of the alternative, and all its Project 2025 craziness. A reality check is necessary from elected Democratic politicians, especially from the power brokers closest to the president. The time to retire is now. A dignified exit can still be in the cards. We’ll see if grumpy Joe will heed the advice.

William Falcone, Brandon

Bravo, turtle rescuer!

Baby sea turtles, bewildered and scattered, run wild | July 10

Amid the usual overabundance of bad news generated by tortured souls with evil intentions, I was uplifted by Treasure Island police Officer Mark Douglas’ efforts on behalf of dozens of disoriented baby sea turtles that probably would have perished without his quick thinking and decisive action in guiding them to the Gulf of Mexico. He deserves our thanks for following his heart and using his wisdom and training to preserve these cherished lives.

M. Canon Henry, St. Petersburg

Arts and hackers

The governor is seeing ‘sexual’ boogeymen everywhere | Column, July 4

Even though it’s a myth that “when Nero fiddled, Rome burned,” when Gov. Ron DeSantis blustered about arts funding and how he was preventing us all from being exposed to porn, someone was apparently cyberhacking into the Florida Department of Health. Scott Maxwell’s column is one of the best of the year, demonstrating how DeSantis’ skull is just full of (insert expletive), while his reasons for vetoing much of the arts bill was (sorry, again) reasoning, and the Republican-led Legislature just doesn’t have the (a Spanish word of which Dalí would approve) to override the veto, even though they voted for the funding.

David Lubin, Tampa