Are powerful people in both parties involved in an Epstein cover-up?
President Trump and MAGA are pointing the finger at former President Biden, asking why he didn't reveal the entire Jeffrey Epstein file while in office. No doubt it's a distraction tactic, but actually, that's a fair question.
We know that former President Bill Clinton and other top Democrats flew aboard the 'Lolita Express,' Epstein's 200-seat aircraft. To where and why, I wonder.
Are powerful people in both political parties engaged in a cover-up?
Mac Melvin,
Key Biscayne
Disturb this groove
As an ordinary citizen not schooled in economics, my understanding is that the Federal Reserve's mandate is to maintain full employment and price stability. It's a delicate dance of adjusting interest rates down during periods of low employment (to stimulate businesses to produce and hire more) and adjusting rates up to keep prices in line.
Fiscal policy, on the other hand, is determined by politicians deciding how much to tax and spend. When the Fed and politicians try to 'dance' together, we can expect fiscal responsibility to prevail. (During the Clinton administration, the national debt was eliminated and we had a surplus, so it can be done.)
When politicians spend more than they raise in taxes, it puts pressure on the Fed to lower rates due to the cost of the national debt. A harmonious dance preserves the value of the currency.
A reckless dance partner — Congress and the administration, unnecessarily cutting taxes for the rich — increases the national debt and upsets the balance.
Because the U.S. dollar is not backed by a tangible asset (gold), it is a fiat currency, which can easily be devalued by requiring the Fed to print too many dollars to cover excessive spending and/or requiring the Fed to reduce interest rates, leading to inflation.
We need better dance partners and less ego.
Richard Masington,
Coral Gables
Brightline blameless
My thanks to the author of the July 22 letter, 'Narrow margins,' who wrote in defense of Brightline. I, too, felt that the Herald's reporting, which seeks to blame Brightline for the deaths that have occurred on its tracks, was off base.
If I am driving at a fairly fast speed and someone suddenly jumps or walks directly into the path of my oncoming car and I hit and kill them, I might feel many emotions, but I certainly would not blame myself. Brightline is doing all it can.
In any of these cases, what does the Herald expect Brightline to do?
Joanne Miles,
Hollywood
Rail safety
I've been reading the Herald's ongoing coverage of Brightline Florida train deaths. Please keep up the good work.
I have been trying for years to get more safety features added to this high-speed train, such as 24 hour/7 days a week live video cameras, like those on I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. With such cameras, the train engineer will have more time to stop.
Thomas Ladomirak,
Fort Pierce
Arts attacked
I am the artistic director and founder of Karen Peterson and Dancers, a nonprofit that has been working in Miami-Dade County for more than 35 years. We have a national and international reputation for featuring choreography by dancers with and without disabilities. The Miami Herald and ArtBurst have featured my work since our first performance in 1990 at the New World School of the Arts.
I am dismayed that 'Loud and Live,' a private for-profit company with a sparse track record, is now managing Tropical Park. The Miami-Dade contract requires Loud and Live to pay through its revenue streams $250,000 annually to the A3 Foundation, formed in 2023 and run by Francisco Petrirena, who is also chief of staff to Art Noriega, Miami's city manager.
Meanwhile, my organization, with its 35 years of consistent outreach work in Miami-Dade's dance and disability communities, is facing significant budget cuts.
I moved to Miami four decades ago seeking opportunities to create, perform and give back. I am very concerned about arts inequality, sweetheart deals and budget slashes in Miami today.
Karen Peterson Corash,
Miami
Federal grant
I'm amazed at the display of chutzpah by U.S. Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez at the groundbreaking of the new cargo facility to serve Miami's airport and seaport. Part of the $33.5 million cost was a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. That grant was provided under then USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. This fact was left out of the Herald's July 23 report.
I remind readers that Díaz-Balart, Giménez, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and former Sen. Marco Rubio, all voted against the bipartisan Biden Infrastructure Bill 2021-2022, which funded this project. Transparency is a beautiful thing.
Dolores Mendoza,
Coral Gables
Inspect hypocrisy
Re: the July 23 story, 'DeSantis announces inspections of local government spending in Broward.' What a hypocrite! DeSantis and his wife's Hope Florida initiative is being investigated by his Republican-led legislature for potential money laundering and fraud.
They funneled taxpayer money through Hope Florida to fight ballot initiatives for marijuana and abortion. They also failed to file any financial forms with the state. So much for Florida's DOGE.
John Meic,
Davie
Miami election
Re: the July 23 Miami Herald online editorial, 'Miami power grab: It took a judge to remind city leaders they can't cancel democracy.' My thanks to Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Valerie Manna Schultz for honoring the law and protecting the rights of our citizens.
Readers may recall that it also took another wise judge to remind three previous city commissioners and a mayor that their desire to rezone Mercy Hospital to build luxury condos was also illegal spot-zoning.
Unfortunately, citizens seldom receive justice unless they have the will and means to take issues to our courts.
We can only hope that the next batch of elected representatives will be more law-abiding and responsible to citizens.
Harry E. Gottlieb,
Coconut Grove
Upside down
The Trump administration is accusing former President Barack Obama of treason for attempting to undermine the legitimacy of Donald Trump's 2016 election victory.
Yet, Trump pardoned the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrectionists and the case against him for attempting to disrupt President Biden's 2020 election victory was abandoned. The world is truly upside down.
Sometimes, it seems we are living in the world of Alice in Wonderland, where things get 'curiouser and curiouser.'
Peter M. Brooke,
Doral
Miami zoning
In 2021-2022, the Miami21 Task Force (with members selected by the Miami City Commission) discussed more than 100 suggestions for potential improvements to the city's zoning code. These were organized into a report by my firm, DPZ CoDesign. Not one of the recommendations resembled the proposal for the Transit Station Neighborhood Development.
Miami21 already encourages transit-oriented development (TOD) with several incentives. If there is to be further encouragement of TOD, it can be done within the current framework, which maintains protection of neighborhoods while promoting transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly development of underdeveloped commercial corridors.
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk,
partner,
DPZ CoDesign,
Miami
Wrestler's death
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Hulk Hogan. His name was synonymous with professional wrestling, transcending the industry to become an American pop culture fixture.
My condolences to his fans, friends and family.
Paul Bacon,
Hallandale Beach
Nation at risk
I attended a Common Cause online seminar recently, along with 2,000 people from across the nation. The frustration and angst over ordinary citizens' lack of power to influence the course of any governmental action in any sphere at any level dominated the discussion. And this is after only six months of a four-year presidential term.
The audacious autocracy of this government is beyond what any novelist could conceptualize. One can only conclude that the apocalypse has arrived and America is dystopia.
Barry J. White,
Kendall
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