Flock cameras are installed on southbound Southwest Seventh Avenue and eastbound Broward Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Carl Juste
cjuste@miamiherald
Eyes upon us
Re: the Sept. 6 front page article, “Pervasive and ungovernable.” Today, no one has a reasonable expectation of privacy when out in public and particularly when in their car.
Just about everyone has a smartphone with a built-in camera. At any given moment, you can be filmed by anyone. More than a few videos like this have appeared on social media sites.
You can take all the Flock cameras away, together with any benefit to law enforcement they provided (rapidly locating getaway and stolen cars, or Silver Alert drivers), but you still won’t have privacy while driving your vehicle.
Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. It makes more sense to more carefully regulate Flock camera use than to eliminate them.
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Risk remains
The nation, once again, remembered Sept. 11, 2001 with solemn ceremonies around the country. We remember, but to this day, no group has been held accountable for the terrorist attack other than Al Qaeda. Those Al Qaeda members originated in Saudi Arabia. This has been proven, but that is as far as the investigation went.
Today, the Trump administration is beholden in many ways to Saudi Arabia and its hierarchy, no further investigation is forthcoming and no one or no country has been held accountable. We are still vulnerable to similar future attacks now that many of the agencies responsible for tracking threats have been eliminated or greatly reduced.
This administration needs to come to its senses and strengthen our national homeland defenses rather than removing them.
Allan R. Tavss,
Kendall
Start investigating
Manny Sanchez’s Sept. 6 letter, “Hope for accountability,” regarding the unauthorized use of $10 million of Hope Florida charity funds, hit the nail on the head, particularly with his last line: “Finding the money was misappropriated should begin the search for accountability — not end it.”
That the people involved were not subpoenaed, forcing them to plead the Fifth Amendment, rather than just claiming they “don’t remember,” is an excellent place to start.
Linda Conner,
Miami
Gables fraud
The recent disclosures of alleged fraudulent names and addresses, given under oath during public comments at the Coral Gables commission meeting on Aug. 25, was absolutely shocking. However, the total disregard of the evidence by most commissioners and Mayor Vince Lago was nothing short of astounding. Lago’s insistence on carrying on with the vote smacks of underlying issues.
Why did that vote need to be carried out before an investigation could take place?
An investigation after the vote is too late. In my 36 years as a Coral Gables resident, I’ve never seen anything like this.
Lago’s disrespect and disregard of residents’ opinions is disappointing. His treatment of Commissioner Melissa Castro, the only one on the dais who listens to residents, is more than disgusting.
Coral Gables voters must pay attention and vote in November for anyone but Lago. Restore respect to our City Beautiful.
Lynn Guarch-Pardo,
Coral Gables
Protect Pepfar
The United States launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), 23 years ago. Regarded as one of the most successful global health initiatives in history, it has saved more than 26 million lives while strengthening America’s standing around the world.
Today, more than $1 billion that Congress appropriated for PEPFAR and other global health programs could disappear without a single vote. The Office of Management and Budget has not released the funding and, if it isn’t obligated before Sept. 30, it will expire through a “pocket rescission.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is well positioned to prevent that outcome. During his 14 years representing Florida in the U.S. Senate, he consistently supported PEPFAR and bipartisan global health investments.
This summer, Rubio directed the State Department to release $600 million in congressionally appropriated funding to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, ahead of the same deadline. More recently, the State Department announced nearly $2 billion in health and humanitarian assistance delivered through faith-based and community organizations.
Rubio understands the value of these programs. He should use that same leadership to press OMB Director Russell Vought to release the remaining funds.
For South Florida families, the impact could hit much closer to home. PEPFAR disruptions have affected HIV treatment and prevention services in Haiti, while roughly half of Haitian immigrants in the United States live in Florida, many in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. For families with loved ones in Haiti, this funding can mean continued access to lifesaving treatment.
This is not new spending. Congress already approved these funds. Rubio spent years supporting PEPFAR in the Senate. He should help protect that investment now.
Julio Fuentes,
president and CEO,
Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
Wellington
Venezuela’s future
Venezuela’s economic recovery matters, but economic desirability and lawful authority are different questions. The United States announced an arrangement involving 100-year petroleum concessions, extensive U.S. governance and economic rights and a 35% equity interest for the Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital. These commitments deserve documentary examination before they are treated as accomplished facts.
Venezuela’s constitution places sovereignty in the people and its hydrocarbon deposits within the Republic’s public domain. Meanwhile, American officials continue to describe democratic elections and a fully democratic Venezuelan government as objectives still to be achieved.
The American statutory question is equally important. Congress considered, but did not enact, proposed equity-investment authority for the Office of Strategic Capital.
What enacted authority permits the announced federal equity interest?
The complete petroleum agreements should be disclosed, the statutory basis for the federal interest identified and the Venezuelan constitutional authority for century-long concessions explained.
Venezuelans need not choose between the authoritarian government from which they sought liberation and unquestioning acceptance of whatever arrangements follow it. Economic recovery, investment and stable relations with the United States matter. None requires abandoning the question of lawful authority or Venezuela’s sovereign capacity to determine the obligations imposed upon future generations.
Ricardo Federico Morin,
Oakland Park
Love and shame
Two things can be true. You can love your father even if he’s a drunk. You can love your mother when she criticizes your choices. And you can love your country even though you’re ashamed of what its self-serving, domineering administration is doing to dishonor its people, its history, its reputation, its democracy.
The grievances for which I’m ashamed are abundant. They include insults to women and suppression of voting rights and independent media. The latest shameful act is inviting Russia to the G20 Summit while bullying our allies.
I’m ashamed that our Constitution, which states “All men are created equal” is being trampled and the First Amendment prohibiting a national religion is eroding. I’m ashamed of the overt corruption by the greedy and power-hungry. I’m ashamed of the elected officials who stand by and allow this great county to be tarnished by gilded lies, sullied by broken promises, defrauded by an egoist and his loyalists.
I’m trying to respect the citizens who support this administration because I know they love this country as well. But I won’t be silenced or intimidated; I won’t blindly accept the exploitation of our presidency. More than shame, I’m angry my tax dollars fund this shameless, vainglorious regime.
Johnnie McDonald,
Coconut Grove
Hold the closures
Re: the Aug. 28 story, “After 10 years and many challenges, this Wynwood gem is still a Miami favorite.” I enjoyed reading about the 10-year anniversary of KYU in Wynwood, in spite of the restaurant’s struggles.
It’s much more interesting to read about restaurants that have survived — and thrived — in this competitive Miami environment rather than reading about restaurants that just closed.
Charles Morgan,
Coral Gables