Thank you, Sun Sentinel, for printing Mike Hundley’s letter of concern about beachside high-rises, using Pompano Beach as an example.
Our city has irresponsibly granted permits and variances to beachfront developers to build “name-brand” towers for the ultra-wealthy. Pompano once had a mandatory building height restriction of 10 stories.
What happened? Money, money, money.
The Ritz, 32 stories, and the Waldorf, 28 stories, are trendy glass towers with no character. They will block the afternoon sun on the beach north of them in winter months.
I was amazed to see a full-page ad for the Waldorf in the April 3 paper. Check out the photo. In the far left corner is the Criterion, a tasteful, boutique 10-story residence, dwarfed by it.
Don’t get me started on traffic. The W tower, among others, goes up next, at the foot of the Atlantic Boulevard bridge. Our city better be planning a new bridge or widening this one pronto.
These big, beautiful buildings bringing in big, beautiful property tax bills are the opposite of improvements in our beachfront cities. Persistence by residents will hopefully wake up the snoozing officials who have made up their minds to favor developers. Bigger is not better.
— Susan Rome, Pompano Beach
Don’t sweat the entitlements
The federal government is monetarily sovereign. It can’t run out of money. Even if it stopped collecting taxes, it still could pay a trillion-dollar invoice today by pressing computer keys.
Social Security and Medicare can’t become insolvent unless Congress wishes it. The claim that they will run short of money is a lie promulgated by the rich and their lackey media to keep you from receiving benefits and to widen the gap between the rich and the rest.
Congress easily could end the FICA payroll tax while providing more generous Social Security and Medicare benefits for every man, woman and child — regardless of age or health (no, it would not cause inflation). Inflation is caused by shortages of crucial goods, not by federal spending.
— Rodger Malcolm Mitchell, Boca Raton
Trump’s erratic leadership
One has to wonder if Donald Trump, who never served in the military, is actually making the wartime decisions or relying on the vast expertise of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
His decisions are erratic. He makes threats he does not carry out. He repeatedly redefines the objectives.
It would help to hear from top military brass, in a clear, cogent message to the public, as to real progress and the future of the war. As worthy as the goal may be, I do not see regime change or elimination of the threat being accomplished, and in the process, we have damaged relationships with our allies by not forming a coalition.
— Jack Miller, Parkland
Copyright Donald J. Trump
It’s true, some politicians have had airports named for them after leaving office. But none of them, living or deceased, copyrighted the use of their name or required payment of a licensing fee.
Not one was a convicted felon, pathological liar or associate of a pedophile. Nor did they enrich themselves and their families at the expense of American citizens, or preposterously compared themselves to Jesus — all of which are attributed to Trump.
Trump’s sycophants do not accept this as reality. Psychology defines this as a “fixed, false belief” or delusion. Any attempt to point out the absurdities just reinforces the delusion, which is the real definition of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Once Trump leaves office and the full extent of his corruption is revealed, his name will be removed from everything.
— Christopher Laurent, Boynton Beach
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