Trust politicians with Amendment 6 cash? Troops on the U.S. border; Immigrants and public aid | Letters

Readers complain they cannot vote for the Amendment 6 referendum to raise new transportation money in Broward County because local governments have a history of diverting funds from their intended purpose, such as sewer repairs in Fort Lauderdale. (Sun Sentinel / Handout)
Trusting politicians with Amendment 6 cash

The "Another Viewpoint" editorial from Broward County Mayor Beam Furr recommended voting "Yes" on raising taxes to approve transportation improvement funding.

I have already voted, by absentee ballot, and I voted "No" and recommend other voters do the same. While we DESPERATELY need improvements to our transportation infrastructure, politicians cannot be trusted to use the money we vote to give them to spend it on what it was intended for. Fort Lauderdale, for instance, is paying higher utility taxes in order to update the aged sewer system, to prevent sewage spills in our roads and waterways.


The result? The funds supposedly dedicated to sewage infrastructure got spent on other things, for years, and we have experienced massive sewage spills on our roads and waterways, and are now, as taxpayers, paying hefty fines levied by the state for polluting our waterways. In Miami-Dade County, the voters approved an additional tax to update and expand Metrorail, to relieve traffic congestion. Nothing at all was done for years, and now the mayor wants people to believe that extending the Metrorail system is too costly, and they will have to settle for buses.

In short, if our local politicians had a history of spending the money we vote to give them for the purpose we voted for, instead of using the old bait-and-switch scam, I could support the amendment. However, this is not the case.

Frederick Mitchel, Fort Lauderdale

Barring immigrants from aid an injustice

The Trump Administration officially announced proposals for making it so that immigrants who already present in the U.S. and those who are seeking to enter cannot use federal anti-poverty programs like Medicaid and SNAP without risking being denied a green card. This public charge rule is a horrible means of punishing innocent families. Our nation was built by immigrants and it is sad that we are turning our backs against these very people. Moreover, we’re making them choose between staying here and getting basic necessities like food, healthcare, and shelter, which every human being needs for survival.

Now that a “public comment" period is under way, we need to speak up. Everyone from our members of Congress to family and friends should partake in stopping this injustice. This is not about politics anymore, it’s about having humanity.

Tanha Rahman, Plantation

Troops and immigrants at the U.S. border

Mid-term elections are fast approaching and President Trump is considering using American troops to further secure our southern borders. We will be protected from illegal immigrants. As the U.S. Marines like to say, hoorah! I am looking forward to paying more for fruits and vegetables and cutting my own lawn. But thank goodness my home doesn't need a new roof.

Scott Shampaner, Coral Springs,

Stop placating Saudi Arabia

How many times is the U.S. government going to placate Saudi Arabia? After the 911 the only people who were allowed to fly out of this country were Saudi Arabians. How many Presidents have looked the other way at the human rights violations, crimes and rights violations against women, torture, etc., that have been ongoing for decades in Saudi Arabia? Now we are giving the corrupt Saudis way too many chances to explain the mysterious death that occurred in their embassy in Turkey. It's always about money; whether it's related to the military-industrial complex or the Trump companies. What has happened to our moral values in this country? We seem to be way more interested in money (our new God) than we are in human values. Shame on us.

Linda Weiss Rose, Boca Raton