Utility-bill reform helps bottom line

Virtually every Floridian has had the chance to hear a representative or senator talk about affordability. They have held press conferences and run campaigns on this one word; now they must be held accountable.

Bills were introduced this session that can do just that, like the Affordable Energy Reform sponsored by Carlos Guillermo Smith. FPL won permission in 2025 to raise rates by $7 billion over the next four years, after already winning a $5 billion rate raise in 2021. It’s not just FPL either: three out of the four private utility companies in Florida rank in the top 10 for most expensive utility bill across the U.S. But, these proposals aren’t moving through the Legislature. They are being stalled while bills that will increase costs and pollution are passing. Twelve million residents will feel the effect of the FPL rate hikes alone, with millions more becoming increasingly vulnerable to these volatile changes.

The Florida Legislature is failing its constituents. I know many of people who had no electricity, because they had to choose either paying the bill or rent. I belonged to one of those families growing up. It will get worse, nevertheless, it is not too late to sound the alarm. Florida’s legislative session is coming to a close soon; realistically speaking the bills that aren’t moving will die. It doesn’t mean we can’t make noise now.

Call your local representatives and ask them to support PSC Reform bills, talk to your neighbors about your bills to increase awareness, and rake up the muck.

— Aidan Negron, Azalea Park

Keep Trump’s name off airport

Raise your hand if you are exhausted by hearing or seeing the word Trump.

Over the years we’ve had Trump Airlines, Trump University, Trump National Golf Club, Trump Plaza, Trump bottled water, Trump ties, Trump crypto, the Trump and Kennedy Center and more. Let me add Trump fatigue to the list.

If that wasn’t enough, the Florida Republican House and Senate members voted to rename the Palm Beach Airport after our president, who has had one unsteady year in office during his second term with a dismal approval rating lower than any chief executive since Richard Nixon.

Before we build any more shrines to President Trump, how about we wait  until after his term ends to judge his accomplishments? So far all I see from his administration are higher food costs, more wars, dead Americans in the streets, racist tweets, Epstein files, and fewer friends and allies across the world.

Not exactly a resume for Mount Rushmore.

— John Bonano, Gulfport

Uthmeier’s moonlighting at UF is arrogant

I was appalled to read in Scott Maxwell’s Sunday column (“Florida A.G. says he took $100k side gig at UF to ‘keep food on the table,’” Feb. 22) that Attorney General James Uthmeier says he must take another job to make ends meet. How arrogant of him! Would he dare speak to a large group of Florida public school teachers and tell them his attorney general salary of $140,000 is not enough to “keep the lights on and food on the table”? And he probably shouldn’t mention his side-hustle as an adjunct professor at the University of Florida making $100,000 for teaching one class a semester. I hope he will soon regret these words. I know this retired teacher will never vote for him.

— Anne Gardepe, Winter Park

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