Local leaders haven’t bungled property taxes

The unstated premise behind Evan Power’s opinion piece regarding property taxes (“Property-tax bill helps Floridians, not government,” July 2) is that Republican-led counties and municipalities have failed to uphold conservative values, be it through mis- or malfeasance. Fifty-seven of 67 counties are run by Republicans, and with the million-vote surplus for the GOP in Florida, many municipalities are also Republican-controlled. Considering that Republicans control the governor and Legislature in Florida, when have we ever heard Republican leaders castigating an entire state-full of Republican local leaders? Never. But Power uses the anonymous “they” to veil Republican blame. Our Republican leaders know that the faithful will never link “they” with them because the leaders believe everyone thinks local council people are inept.

It’s just hard to believe that every county and municipality, whether Republican or Democratic-controlled, mismanage their budgets to the degree implied.  Leadership doesn’t want us to know that new residential developments never pay for themselves, so each new development puts us deeper and deeper into “service” debt while developers walk away with our gold.

Why should any of us think that a problem caused by Republicans will be solved by a poorly thought-out Republican strategy? If this amendment passes, I wonder: How long it will take for us to realize that this is just a grand illusion hiding something nefarious?

— Greg Gensheimer, Montverde

Pedestrians are danger for bikes

With all the hate directed at e-bikes and bikes in general sharing trails with walkers and runners, we are ignoring the other half of the safety equation — inconsiderate and distracted pedestrians (“Orange County School Board may ban e-bikes at elementary, middle schools,” July 8). On a recent morning I rode my (regular) bike on the Lake Underhill trail. A man had his face buried in his phone with his earbuds blasting because he didn’t see my retina-burning flashing LCD light or hear my eardrum-ripping electric horn as I tried to avoid him. I did miss him, but walkers and runners need to either wear open-ear headphones or leave one headphone out so they can hear what is going on around them. And they need to keep their noses out of their phones and their heads up to see what is going on around them. Safety goes both ways.

— Scott Bassett, Orlando

Uthmeier can’t stay out of headlines

Over the last eight years we have all witnessed blatant corruption from too many of our state politicians.

It never seems to end and they are rarely held accountable.

Lately there hasn’t been a week that goes by without our Attorney General James Uthmeier in the news for a host of shady, controversial, or partisan decisions.

From the Hope Florida scandal, to Alligator Alcatraz, to a $100,000 part-time job and more. And, of course, there has been no retort from the Legislature or the governor. Anybody surprised?

This type of behavior from our elected officials is wrong and an embarrassment to the good people of the state of Florida. We deserve better.

— John Bonano, Gulfport

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