Like many Floridians, I watched in horror as Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in one day. It felt a bit too close to home, having watched as my family in Puerto Rico braced as best they could when Hurricane Maria did the same almost seven years ago.
As the Herald reported, to facilitate this growth, Helene encountered perfect conditions in the Gulf thanks to the warming Loop Current. We may not know the extent of the impact of climate change on this current, but it’s pretty clear that climate change is playing a role in this rapid intensification.
I’m tired of my life being overturned and defined by major hurricanes, of worrying that the next tropical storm might turn into a major storm overnight. This year, I’m using my voice and my vote to elect climate champions.
We need people in office who will commit to more than disaster relief. We need them to take concrete steps to prevent these disasters in the first place. I urge readers to take this opportunity to remind our elected officials that the time for climate change denial has passed. If they want our vote, they need a plan to address climate change.
We can’t afford another Andrew, Katrina, Maria, Ian, Idalia, Helene — and more?
Steffanie Munguia,
Homestead
FIU’s top rankingsThe Herald sadly (and widely) missed the mark in the Sept. 25 article on FIU’s achievements, “Miami-area university captures top spot in a ranking.” The article suggests that FIU’s primary accomplishment is being ranked No. 1 nationally in social mobility.
Most people, however, do not even know what that means; it just indicates that we have many applicants from low income backgrounds who, through their hard work and intelligence (not to mention our low tuition), applied, were admitted, enrolled and graduated at high rates from FIU. This is laudable!
Even more significant, however, is that according to U.S. News & World Report — the gold standard in rankings — FIU is now a Top 50 public national university and also ranks among the top 100 national universities, where private institutions are also included.
These achievements were mentioned toward the end of the article, which only some people will read. Furthermore, FIU is the youngest among the top research universities in the nation.
Modesto A. Maidique,
Alvah Chapman Jr. Chair in Leadership,
Florida International University,
Miami
Fateful courtI came to the United States from Cuba with my family when I was eight years old, just a year older than Suset in Herald reporter Syra Ortiz Blane’s Sept. 27 story, “Where futures are decided: Immigration court offers glimpse of South Florida migrants’ lives.” The story rightly points out the steep challenges that immigrants, particularly children, face navigating the U.S. immigration system — often without an attorney.
Unlike juvenile justice and family courts, immigration courts treat children virtually the same as adults, even when they are facing court on their own. It fails to recognize the many ways children cannot navigate these complex proceedings that even adults have difficulty comprehending.
In Congress, I worked across the aisle on commonsense proposals to protect the most vulnerable. Now, Congress has the opportunity to enact bipartisan, practical court reforms with the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act. If passed, immigration judges and government attorneys handling unaccompanied children’s cases would be specially trained, procedures would better align with children’s developmental levels and the courts would help facilitate children’s access to legal assistance.
This is a needed solution for Miami’s immigration court, which handles among the highest number of unaccompanied children’s cases. These children deserve a system in which they can fairly access protection. I know from experience this can be life-changing.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
Miami
Child povertyIn mid-September, the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual report showed an uptick in child poverty for 2023, with the rate reaching 13.7%, according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). Restoring and bolstering the Child Tax Credit (CTC) presents a compelling solution to this increase in child poverty statistics.
The CTC’s expansion in 2021 led to a historic drop in child poverty rates to 5.2%, showcasing its remarkable effectiveness. In a U.S. Senate vote in August, Sen. Rick Scott voted in favor of the CTC, while Sen. Marco Rubio, who had previously supported it, voted against the CTC.
We must encourage our lawmakers to recognize the CTC’s positive impact and expand its reach to improve the lives of millions of children and families.
Claire Callan,
Miami
Public transportAs traffic congestion worsens and air quality declines, we must prioritize eco-friendly transit options to create a healthier environment for all residents. Transitioning to a robust public transportation system can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, lower traffic congestion and provide affordable travel options for those who rely on it daily. Furthermore, investing in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure will not only promote healthier lifestyles but also enhance the overall quality of life in our neighborhoods.
I urge our local leaders to prioritize sustainable public transportation in the upcoming budget discussions. By making these investments now, we can foster a cleaner, more efficient and inclusive community for generations to come.
Charlie Hazboun,
Miami
Familial historyWhat sad irony: the recent reported “sunsetting” of Temple Israel of Greater Miami, founded in 1922, and the passing of Joseph Zwitman Fleming, the last link to that Reform synagogue’s early rabbinic history. When Temple Israel spun off from Beth David — the Conservative and first synagogue in South Florida — the 41 founding members hoped to create a progressive presence in the fledgling City of Miami.
In 1936, Colman Zwitman, a rising stellar mentee of renowned Rabbi Stephen Wise, came south as the youngest rabbi ordained by the Jewish Institute of Religion. Called to the Pacific Theater during World War II, Rabbi Zwitman left the local pulpit and served as a chaplain overseas. When he returned, he was already infected with the liver disease that would take his life prematurely in 1949.
For Temple Israel’s 100th anniversary programming, Joe Fleming brought his father’s history to life in a nearly hour-long taped interview. As a longtime family friend, past-president and journalist, I was honored to conduct that interview.
Even though Temple Israel’s presence may move from the Edgewater neighborhood, longtime members will always take their history with them.
Norma A. Orovitz,
Bay Harbor Islands
Local winnersWe do not know Meg Daly, but if anyone deserves a star, it is she, for her tenacious work over so many, many years to get the Underline up and running, without a lot of political help or money.
What a local entrepreneur can do to make our city even greater is incredible and also shows that if we keep politicians out and entrepreneurial residents in, things get done better and less expensive.
To put “stars” of local citizens upfront along the Underline, thanking them for the work they do for the city — and without government money — would be a great touch. Daly’s “star” should be the first of many.
Barbara & Stanley Schwartz,
Key Biscayne
Changing climateThe extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene made me think of the late comedian Sam Kinison yelling, “Say it!” “Say it!” at Rodney Dangerfield in the movie, “Back to School.”
In this case, the response is “Climate change.” “Climate change.” Good answer, Gov. DeSantis.
Stan Schachne,
Davie
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CLAIM OFFER Opinion Letter to the Editor: FIU’s impressive top rankings October 07, 2024 9:32 PM
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