Worthy investment
Irma brought massive destruction to Alachua County, which has a long history of flooding. So why don’t we fix it?
We had the chance after 2004 hurricanes. The county spent $800,000 on the 2010 stormwater master plan, yet commissioners decided not to implement it. Commissioner Lee Pinkoson commented, “What happened is that nothing happened. I would hope we don’t ignore it anymore.”
Alachua County’s budget priority has been social services rather than necessary infrastructure. The $29 million Alachua County fairgrounds is a case in point.
Recently, public works presented a flood mitigation plan and the board voted to move forward. Projects that are projected to take years to complete put many flooded homeowners in limbo.
Other Florida municipalities have already committed millions to stormwater upgrades. Experts warn that 2018 will be the strongest hurricane season in 70 years. Isn’t it a worthy investment to protect millions in real estate and the lives of Alachua County residents?
Debbie Menoher, Gainesville
Keep Electoral College
Hillary Clinton had 2,868,691 more votes nationally than Donald Trump. In California, Clinton had 4,269,978 more votes than Trump. So in response to the Jan. 7 column by the local League of Women Voters, I ask is their proposal a fairer method where one state can overwhelm the other 49 states?
The current system has served the nation well since the Constitution’s inception. Maybe the League should remember the United States is a republic and not a democracy.
Victor M. Yellen, Gainesville
Common ideals
My many years of hard soldiering for America was a light burden when I believed we were the “good guys” led by people who were virtuous, smart, visionary and selfless. This was true most of the time, no matter the party in power. We are now led by a president whose word cannot be trusted, thinks it is smart to ignore experts, acts impetuously on shortsighted passion and is blatantly self-serving.
There is a cohort of young Americans from 18 to 45 who see the emperor has no clothes. We elders, and they, need to elect politicians in both parties who exemplify these common American ideals. Both parties should learn from the experience of vetting their candidates based on unfounded hopes, and move on to firmer ground.
Huba Wass de Czege, brigadier general, U.S. Army, retired, Gainesville
Overseas perspective
The author of a Dec. 28 letter writes (from Sydney, Australia) that anyone who lives outside of the U.S. for any decent period of time has his American identity forever changed to a more brutally honest perspective — that America's greatness has always been limited, ask any minority group.
I suggest that he interview some Aborigines if he can find any in Sydney (they were hunted down and murdered in Tasmania by the Aussies). Alternatively, he could interview the refugees denied admittance to Australia and sent to a detention center.
Australia and America (and virtually every other country) have claims to greatness and offsetting liabilities. My wife and I lived in Australia for three years, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the people, but still were proud to be Americans every time we returned.
Americans should be lucky enough to experience life overseas, and I'll bet a vast majority would return with a better, more accurate appreciation of how lucky we are to live here, in spite of our country's unresolved problems.
John O. Jay, Gainesville
Dirty bus stops
Why is it when people get free stuff or taxpayer-funded items, they are the most neglected? Our medians and our bus stops are disgusting. Can we at least put Corrine Brown on a chain gang every day to clean up the bus stops?
John Stinson, Gainesville
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