As a loyal Sun Sentinel reader, your June 7 article struck a chord (“Artificial turf, real anger in Lauderdale,” Column, Steve Bousquet).
I too have been victimized by Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman’s vitriolic behavior.
After I appeared before the Broward County Commission on the city of Plantation’s decision to demolish an aging community center, Glassman verbally attacked me in the hallway. His aggressive action and nasty language caused a Plantation employee to step in front of him for fear he was about to strike me.
This incident was more than a decade ago. Glassman continues his unacceptable behavior toward those with different opinions.
Will he ever be held accountable for his hostile behavior?
Thank you so much for your “common sense” opinions.
— Diane Veltri Bendekovic, Plantation
The writer was mayor of Plantation from 2011 to 2018.
Shock and disbelief
Ted Inserra is a fixture in Fort Lauderdale city affairs and frequently speaks out about city decisions.
I was in shock and disbelief when I heard someone question Ted Inserra’s upbringing. Disgusting — yet he was not reprimanded by fellow commissioners.
I’ve known the Inserra family since 1955.
Both of our families went to St. Jerome Catholic Church, and both of our dads were ushers and in the men’s club. Along with Ted’s dad, Tony, brothers Tom, Tim, Ted and volunteers from surrounding neighborhoods, led by the Floyd Hull family, we collectively built Little Yankee Stadium.
When we were kids, the tallest buildings in town were The Governor’s Club hotel (eight stories) and The Sweet Building (nine). High school football games were played at Broward Blvd. and Federal Highway, before the tunnel was built.
Anyone who questions Ted’s family upbringing should look in the mirror. Give me our old Fort Lauderdale, with commissioners who represented the public without questioning someone’s family upbringing.
— Bob Pedrazas, Tullahoma, Tenn.
Glassman’s strong leadership
I was present and testified when Fort Lauderdale commissioners approved the new site plan for the Beach Park area. I read Steve Bousquet’s column with considerable interest and frustration.
A certain brand of opinion journalism mistakes chronic skepticism for insight — that reflexively recoils from progress, finds fault in every ribbon-cutting, and treats civic improvement as something to be endured rather than celebrated.
Readers deserve better, and frankly, so does this city.
Commissioner Glassman has served his district with dedication and effectiveness. Voters have returned him to office three times by strong margins.
When he responded to disruptive behavior at the meeting, he did precisely what strong leadership demands. It is the responsibility of those presiding over public proceedings to maintain order and civility, not look the other way while residents who came to participate respectfully are drowned out by audience outbursts.
Letting repeated rudeness pass unchallenged is a failure of governance.
What troubles me equally is the selective application of scrutiny. Conflicts of interest exist across the political spectrum. When Commissioner John Herbst was retained by developers connected to the Bahia Mar project as CFO of one of their New York companies, the editorial page was silent.
Consistency is a minimum standard of credible journalism. Relentlessly targeting one commissioner while extending quiet grace to another is not watchdog reporting. It is something considerably less dignified.
Fort Lauderdale is a genuinely wonderful city, growing and improving in meaningful ways. Some of us actually enjoy watching it get better. I look forward to the new beach park amenities and yes, playing pickleball on the beach.
— Dr. Bret Ribotsky, Fort Lauderdale
Check your gas receipt
On Sunday, June 7, I purchased gas at the Chevron station at 9028 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Due to high prices, I filled the tank carefully.
The lot sign, and the pump, said $4.19 a gallon for regular. My receipt said I chose premium for $5.049 a gallon.
The attendant told me I chose premium. I did not. Always check your gas receipt. I don’t think this was an accident. Have you seen Chevron’s profits lately?
— Susan Kaplan, Boca Raton
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