The people of Florida are being financially crushed by high prices for food, gasoline and home insurance while federal SNAP benefits are being withheld.
Meanwhile, some of our state legislators are focused on requiring presidential portraits in elementary schools.
What in thunder is wrong with these people?
Miriam Carpenter, Delray Beach
Editor’s Note: House Bill 371, by Rep. John Snyder of Stuart, would require every K-5 classroom to display portraits of presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Snyder, a Republican, is also the chairman of the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation. The next session begins on Jan. 13, 2026.
Keep tax policy local
If you think the state Legislature should decide how much in taxes cities and counties can collect for roads, police and everything else, then you will appreciate Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to eliminate property taxes.
After all, the Legislature meets for about two months a year, and Tallahassee is nearly 500 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. But you would have to be crazy to believe that this arrangement would be more responsive and accountable to us than the current arrangement.
Ed Dahmus, Boca Raton
What is Publix thinking?
(Bill Varian / Tampa Bay Times via TCA)
Publix bans most dogs, citing “health concerns.” A reader argues that it should ban guns, too.
I was very upset to read the Sun Sentinel article about the customer who was awarded $2.55 million after being shot in a Publix parking lot (in Lake Worth Beach).
As a loyal customer, I am appalled that anyone can carry a gun into Publix.
Publix is guilty of a breach of trust.
After what happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, many Florida legislators still believe that open carry is a Second Amendment right.
I’m really surprised that Publix, whose slogan is “where shopping is a pleasure,” will not put signs outside its stores saying no guns allowed.
They have beautifully handled their policy of no dogs, except for service animals.
Sheila Cusick, Coral Springs
Never normalize bigotry
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman (Rabbi Forman/Courtesy)
I commend Samir Kakli and Adam Abutaa for their Sun Sentinel op-ed essay (“Say no to Islamophobia and every single form of hate”), on Nov. 3.
As a rabbi and psychologist, I recognize the painful parallels between Islamophobia and antisemitism.
Both communities face stereotyping, scapegoating and violence rooted in fear and ignorance. Both experience the anguish of seeing our faiths distorted as our neighbors view us with suspicion. History teaches that hatred of one group metastasizes when we normalize bigotry against Muslims, Jews or any minority.
Our sacred traditions share profound values: justice, compassion and human dignity.
The Hebrew concept of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”) and Islam’s commitment to justice call us to stand together against all prejudice as baseless hatred.
We must reject the false choice between condemning antisemitism or Islamophobia.
Solidarity makes us stronger. When our Muslim neighbors face discrimination, Jews must speak up, and when antisemitism rises, Muslims must stand with us. Only by confronting every form of hatred can we build the just, peaceful society that our traditions envision.
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Ph.D., Plantation
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