Disruptive force
I am writing this in the hope that the Daytona Beach city commissioners read and heed it. I’m writing in response to the recent articles about short-term rentals. This is a subject near and dear to me because I live in the county where they are seemingly not regulated. There are short-term rentals in the area, and to give at least one owner credit, he has tried to make his property less invasive.
(READ: Daytona, investors spar over short-term rentals)
Yet every week there are new groups of people in and out. There are parking problems, and then there’s the noise — , even the joyful noise of kids screaming in a pool is disturbing when we feel peace and privacy have been invaded.
We live in a quiet neighborhood and we have all these strangers coming and going.
So bottom line, what I want to say to the commissioners is: Don’t change the rules. Keep the short-term rentals restricted to certain areas. Don’t allow them to proliferate throughout the city at the expense of the right of local people to the peaceful enjoyment of their property.
Jane Glover, Ormond Beach
Economic boost
Revitalizing the beachside must be a multi-pronged approach. Vacation rentals is one strategy that can be implemented today, without any more studies, workshops, government funds, or incentives, and will have immediate benefits. Properties will be spruced up. Jobs will be created in property management, landscaping, cleaning services, construction, and more. Tourists who prefer vacation rentals will find their dollars welcome here. Tax revenue will increase. Homeowner investors will see a return on their investments.
We need innovation in Daytona Beach! In the words of Tom Freston, “Innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.” Two things that already exist are tourist accommodations and rental regulations. We just need to apply what we already have for long-term rentals, and apply it to vacation rentals. How hard is that?
Hotelier Manoj Bhoola’s comment that “slowly our hotels cannot compete anymore and eventually will go out of business” is not supported by the facts. According to the most recent Halifax Area Advertising Authority monthly report, Volusia County average hotel/motel occupancy rate was 64 percent in 2016, 66 percent in 2017, and 67 percent in January 2018 (the most recent data available). Hotels are not suffering from reduced occupancy.
Average room rates in Volusia County have risen from $110.55 in 2016 to $117.98 in 2017 to $123.43 in January 2018. In the Daytona beachside area specifically, average room rates have risen from $109.76 in 2016 to $130.76 in Jan 2018. Competition from vacation rentals can only help tourists more easily afford a family vacation in Daytona Beach.
Mary Synk, Daytona Beach
Synk is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the city of Daytona Beach regarding its regulations of vacation rentals.
A tale well-told
I was pleased to see that Ken Willis won the Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in journalism. I remember well the article about James Church, who survived a lightning strike while fishing on the Ponce Inlet jetty. I, in fact, wrote to you about how courageous Church was and what stamina he showed not only at this event, but other tragedies in his life mentioned in the article. Willis did an exceptional job reporting this story, and I know I will never forget this heroic survival of Church.
Lorraine Golding, Palm Coast
Wrong on rights
“Reckless (and) creating law.” That was Gov. Rick Scott’s spokesperson John Tupps, commenting on U.S. District Judge Mark Walker’s order that the state of Florida immediately correct its policy on reinstatement of voter rights for ex-felons (News-Journal, April 26).
Really?
Like any rank-and-file citizen, the governor is entitled to publicly disagree with a court ruling. But to insinuate that Walker overstepped the bounds of his office by “creating law” was grossly disrespectful, if not downright slanderous. Perhaps the governor’s office should give more attention to heeding its own blather: If anyone has been overstepping the bounds of their office, consider Scott’s opinion that “former prisoners should have to demonstrate they can remain out of trouble before their voting rights are returned.” Says who? Since when was the Florida governor’s office given the authority to continue to judge and punish citizens long after they have paid their debt to society?
I think Scott’s resistance to expediting second chance voting rights is not grounded, as his mouthpiece so arrogantly claimed, out of “concern for victims of crime and their families,” so much as in the GOP’s concern over what would happen to the political balance of power in Florida should its 1.5 million unconstitutionally disenfranchised voters be given back their rightful citizenship.
It’s past time we voting citizens of Florida correct this injustice and, this November, give ex-felons back their own voting rights.
Mike Nunn, Daytona Beach
Trump’s appeal
There is no doubt that CNN and MSNBC are doing everything in their power to destroy President Donald Trump. The only things they bring up are porn star Stormy Daniels, her allegations, and the constant Russia investigation. Never do we hear on CNN and MSNBC the positive things that have happened since Trump became president. Is he perfect? No. Has any president been perfect? No. Have most presidents been politicians? Yes. Is Trump a politician? An absolute no.
So, people, he was elected by a constituency to do a job. Just get out of the way and let him do his job for the four years he was elected. If voters are disappointed after these four years, vote him out.
Joy Gloer, Ormond Beach
More than dribble
Let’s give kudos to two NBA stars for how they handle their views. The first is Gregg Popovich , the coach of the San Antonio Spurs, and the second is that great star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James.
Popovich is a longtime admirer of James, praising him for his activism and being a role model to millions of kids. Recently, he defended James’ right to speak after he was criticized by Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham, who said the NBA’s most high-profile player should “shut up and dribble” after he criticized President Donald Trump.
“To me, when I heard this about that, it was just an unbelievable show of arrogance for a talking head to tell someone else if they can speak, what they can speak about and when and where to do it," Popovich said. "It’s just ludicrous, but to not have a feel for who this guy is.
“I mean, think about when he came into public view, how young was he? And to this day he hasn’t missed a step, he hasn’t fallen off the ledge and he’s been a brilliant example for millions of kids, especially kids with lesser opportunity who haven’t had the same advantages as others.”
Ingraham is just another Fox News commentator who can’t tell good news from the bad. They are all the same. James should keep up the good work; he is always spot-on and should be listened to.
Dan Amedick, Daytona Beach
Honorable warrior
I have never been a fan of John McCain’s politics, ever. His unleashing of Sarah Palin on the national political scene was, to me, almost unforgivable.
However, I have always been a fan of his service to this country. People like Donald Trump (and Sarah Palin) don’t have the right to even breathe the same air as Sen. John McCain. He is truly an American hero! I honor his service in the military and as POW in Vietnam in horrific conditions. He refused to go home when he was offered preferred treatment (because of who his father was). He was tortured and has spent the remainder of his life in pain, due to a lack of medical treatment while a prisoner. He is the epitome of a true patriot.
I remember our current president, during the campaign, mocking him and disrespecting his service. This from a man who dodged the draft, staying out of the military by using his connections and wealth.
I was so sad to hear about McCain’s brain cancer. I’m sad to hear reports of his struggles. I heard this morning on the news that he continues to fight the good fight against Trump and will until the end of his life. See: He continues to fight for his country, as we all know he will until the end!
Karen DeMaio, Orange City
Don’t shut people out
I know that Leonard Pitts Jr. has been triggered ever since Donald Trump was elected, but I had no idea how unhinged he has become until I read his “letter” to Marco Rubio that was published in The News-Journal April 30. The man stopped just short of calling half the country “the enemy” and declares he will not engage with “deplorables” anymore? He and his allies are going to “fight for our country”?
Mr. Pitts doesn’t seem to understand that the word “our” implies the country belongs to Donald Trump supporters, too. We should be able work together to solve problems of mutual interest as Americans, instead of continuing the ugly partisanship and gridlock that has shackled our country in recent decades. Pitts should give that a try sometime.
Jack West, Deltona
Ignorant viewpoint
In his April 30 column, Leonard Pitts Jr. dismissed 30 million voters as ignorant. That’s an ignorant or stupid view in itself. What is his take on the smashed cellphone, the missing emails, the billions in cash to our country’s enemies, the fake foundations — on and on?
Shame, just shame on Pitts. Donald Trump gave up his billion-dollar life to try to save our American country. He doesn’t have a lot of class? Ohright, he’s not a politician or a “journalist.” I’ve never written in response to an article before but this column had my 74-year-old blood boiling.
Lois Munn, Palm Coast