Treasure Coast Newspapers
Andres Duany proposes changes to U.S. 1, 21st Street, Vero Beach
Andres Duany, discussing changes to U.S. 1, draws laughter from the crowd while pitching a master plan for downtown Vero Beach Feb. 9, 2024.
People stopped golf courses; now stop Vero Beach nonsense
Good for the people banding together and blocking the building of golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
The people of Vero Beach and Indian River County should get together and stop all the expensive studies and planning for the Three Corners and redoing downtown. We don’t need a hotel in the middle of the property on the Three Corners. I thought it was supposed to be for the people of Vero Beach.
You don’t need to redo downtown. After 6 o’clock, you can’t find a parking place. People are all around. The restaurants are full. What more do you want?
We could spruce up the streets, put flowers around. On the beach, there’s a big lot right next to the Ocean Grill. Build a three-story parking garage with the bottom section reserved for people who are dining at the Ocean Grill. That would solve the parking problem on the beach.
Pat Stewart, Vero Beach
Stuart in decline; Brightline can revitalize it
On Sept. 9, the city commission will hold a hearing on whether to rescind the contract to construct a Brightline train station in Stuart. This would be a huge mistake.
Our city is in a state of decline. The neighborhood surrounding the proposed site of the train station needs to be gentrified. Struggling retail shops and restaurants need more business. This proposed station will bring investments for surrounding property improvements; foot traffic and tourists that will benefit local shops and restaurants.
The proposal requires a minimal investment and will ensure the future of our beautiful city. Let’s not throw away all of the prior effort to satisfy some splinter group or some irrelevant campaign slogan.
Edward Lucente, Stuart
Thanks to local journalists for getting facts on outdoors initiative
Coverage of the Not-So-Great Outdoors Initiative by Treasure Coast Newspapers is a tribute to the power of the people to protect our environment and lands we love. It also confirms the importance of media outlets that provide facts that the public can rely on in fighting bad government decisions.
Thanks to Jack Lemnus, Keith Burbank, Laurie Blandford, Blake Fontenay, editors, photographers and the rest of the crew that produced excellent and timely reporting on the ill-advised plan to add golf courses to Jonathan Dickinson State Park and pickleball courts and lodges in eight other state parks.
Petitions and social media can spread thoughts and comments of thousands of citizens in real time. But the reliability of the information we get from outlets that employ professional journalists is unmatched. Journalists have sources and obtain statements from government officials with whom citizens cannot directly communicate.
How did we know for sure that the parks development plans were truly “on hold” at least until next year? We got confirmation from professional news reporters.
We learned a lesson from the outcry over the parks development plans: Citizens can fight bad government decisions by speaking up and demanding accountability.
We also learned a lesson from coverage provided by Treasure Coast Newspapers: We need local journalists to get necessary information quickly and accurately to help us win the fight.
Virginia Sherlock, Stuart
What’s so bad with state park golf courses, given rest of facts?
I understand environmental concerns over golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, but I did a little research.
I found the park occupies 11,500 square acres, and an 18-hole golf course can occupy 200 to 300 square acres. Since many people move to Florida to retire and enjoy the outdoor activities year around, this (2% to 3% of the total area) seems like a small sacrifice since the people who approve the building permits are approving thousands of acres for new homes up and down the Treasure Coast.
Recreation does not end with hiking, canoeing, tennis, birdwatching or plant admiration. Most people in their late 60s and 70s cannot do some of the aforementioned activities and golf is a great alternative, especially since private courses are economically out of the question for most retirees.
Thomas Campbell, Vero Beach
Decades-old Jupiter effort shows how annihilation of parks can be stifled
The Loxahatchee Battlefield Preservationists, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization in Jupiter, is firmly opposed to the proposed golf courses and any accompanying development in Jonathan Dickinson State Park or any other state park in Florida.
As an example, in the early 1990s, developers and politicians proposed increasing population density and new developments west of Jupiter Farms on Indiantown Road to the Beeline Highway.
To meet concurrency requirements, a proposal was made to develop what is now known as Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park and Riverbend Park as a regional park.
Local historians, archaeologists and the public banded together to oppose those plans that would have annihilated the sensitive and historical environment found at the parks. There were plans for a golf course, RV park, athletic fields and other amenities at that location.
Led by LBP patriarch Richard Procyk, those opposed to the development made their voices heard loud and clear.
No development! Under threat was the unique and delicate environment of the parks as well as two Seminole War Battlefields from January 1838, ancient indigenous burial mounds, a portion of the Florida Trail of Tears and pioneer sites. In total, 51 documented and registered state historical sites within the park boundaries would have been destroyed.
The 15-year battle to save Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park and Riverbend Park ended in December 2010, when it was agreed not to develop the two parks and to maintain the environmentally and historically sensitive environment found within the parks.
It was only the persistence of the members of the Loxahatchee Battlefield Preservationists and the public that brought about the decision not to annihilate the environment and history found at Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park and Riverbend Park.
Glenn Bakels, Jupiter
Ensure Mother Nature prevails at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
The powers that be and those that will be making the final decision on building (supporting) golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park need to back off the tee and leave Mother Nature alone.
There are more people using this park (172,000 in 2004) than would-be golfers. It would take 470 golfers per day to match that total. That is 172,000 divided by 365 days. With three courses, that would be 154 per course per day. Not only would the courses distract from nature’s setting, the game itself would be detrimental to the park’s flora and fauna.
The state of Florida, according to Golflink, has more than 1,300 golf courses. The counties of Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie have, respectively, 28, 145 and 20 golf courses.
We need to not move “fore”-ward. We need to stand down, leave the park alone and let it be used for its original purpose. That purpose being to enjoy Mother Nature and not upset its ecological balance.
Ronald D. Roberts, Sebastian
Social media ruins debate on state park initiative
The fight for Jonathan Dickinson State Park golf courses and other development certainly came to a quick end.
I’m a little sad because I was just starting to get used to being called an idiot, nature hater, New Yorker, insider to the development, (expletive deleted) nuts and many other descriptive words that really can’t be printed here.
I happen to be none of the above.
All of this, of course, was done on social media regarding the fact I thought it was not all bad to put a golf course in the park.
It’s unfortunate that in today’s world, people no longer discuss a topic face to face. It’s very easy to get offensive on social media, but personal attacks simply take all integrity away from those who are throwing the insults and hyperbole out there. It tells me they have nothing intelligent to add to the conversation when they start spewing personal attacks.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion and perspective and should have mutual respect for what that is.
Mary Gavin, Hobe Sound
Par 3 courses not significant threat to environment
I understand the environmental concerns in state parks, but after much research, I found out that 2% to 3% of the state parks would be beneficial to older residents who would benefit greatly from par 3 golf courses.
Middle income seniors cannot afford private golf courses. In my opinion, par 3 public golf in state parks would not be a big sacrifice for the environment.
Nancy Laub, Vero Beach
Politicians’ children should be off-limits
When does it stop?
At the Democratic National Convention, as his father was being nominated vice president of the United States, Gus Walz, a 17-year-old non-verbal developmentally disabled person, publicly shed tears of pride.
Conservative pundits such as Ann Coulter immediately took to their platforms disparaging Gus for his show of emotion. They’ve got to be de-platformed and shunned.
Prior to Bill Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, the children of presidents and presidential candidates were pretty much off-limits to the press. They were not fodder for ravenous journalists looking to grab headlines.
Chelsea Clinton, Sasha and Malia Obama, Baron Trump, and now Gus Walz have been put into the limelight for no reason, a limelight they didn’t seek.
The children of politicians deserve to be left alone.
Michael Goodfellow, Sebastian
Democrats avoid legacy, policies; Trump doesn’t
Speakers at the Democratic National Convention mentioned Donald Trump hundreds of times, inflation a handful of times. They obsessed with making nasty remarks about him and avoided discussion of Kamala Harris’ policies. Trump crisscrosses the nation making policy speeches and taking questions: just about no policies and no answers from Harris.
Trump lowered taxes, closed the border, cut regulation, avoided wars, expanded our energy production, rebuilt our military, established enterprise zones in cities, reformed criminal sentencing, convinced NATO nations to contribute for their own defense, defused the Middle East, renegotiated NAFTA, planned a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan and (working with drug companies) developed a vaccine for COVID.
Trump’s economic policies encouraged employers to move jobs to the United States and to repatriate trillions of dollars to make capital investments. This led to the lowest unemployment rates for all segments of the population, all this with 2% inflation and 4% mortgage rates. Inflation-adjusted take-home pay rose $4,000 a year for working families. Since Biden/Harris, inflation hit 7%; mortgages are about 7%. They paid workers not to work. Inflation-adjusted worker take-home pay dropped significantly.
Ignoring military advice, Biden/Harris oversaw the humiliating Afghanistan retreat. When Vladimir Putin saw this, he built up forces on the Ukrainian border. When the United States did nothing, he invaded.
Now Democrats ignore Biden/Harris incompetence and lie about Trump. Trump has commonsense polices and a history of success. Harris has neither. Save our country. Vote Trump/Vance.
Tom Miller, Vero Beach
Mast attacks Walz’ military service, but not Trump’s lack thereof?
On the same day Tim Walz gave his Democratic National Convention speech accepting the vice-presidential nomination of his party, 50 GOP lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, signed a letter accusing him of “egregious misrepresentations” of his military service. The Republican letter said, “the honor of wearing the uniform is earned through dedication, bravery, and an unwavering sense of duty. You (Walz) have displayed none of these characteristics.”
Walz served our country honorably for 24 years, and to denigrate his reputation is a travesty.
But the Republican letter is not really about Walz’s military service. It is career politicians playing party politics to try to help Donald Trump win the presidency.
If Mast is so concerned about “unwavering sense of duty” in our leaders, where is his criticism of Trump for dodging the draft?
And where was Mast’s sense of duty when Trump asked him to overturn the 2020 election? He was one of 147 lawmakers who voted not to certify the election results. That was the closest our country has been to a coup in its 240-year history. Through war and peace, 44 presidents honorably upheld the peaceful transfer of power, until Trump.
I believe Mast’s actions in Afghanistan were heroic. But his playing party politics with criticisms of a fellow veteran are not.
When Mast was elected in 2016, he promised to be a moderate like his predecessor, Patrick Murphy. Now he plays party politics like the rest of the D.C. establishment, and the GOP letter attacking Walz is just the latest example.
Asher Moss, Palm Beach Gardens
DeSantis flubs setting himself for life after Tallahassee?
So Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handpicked leader of the University of Florida overspent millions of dollars. DeSantis’ New College is busy dumping books by the Dumpster load, now they tell us he wants condos and a golf course on Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Next, he will tell you they need a private company to manage these “new resources” to maximize their full potential.
DeSantis knows his political career is over. There are two incumbents Republicans in front of him in the Senate. The national audience saw DeSantis as a second-rate Donald Trump. So where does DeSantis go from the governor’s position?
Stevie Wonder can read the writing on the wall. The plan recently introduced to develop large swaths of the state’s natural resources will award lots of state contracts, management of these new developments, golf courses, condos. There’s lots of state money the governor would love to hand out.
DeSantis is the most secretive governor in Florida’s history, so we have no idea who the governor has consulted with concerning this plan. Bet your life this plan came directly from the governor’s office. Bet your life the governor plans to benefit financially.
Don’t let DeSantis fool you again.
Don Whisman, Stuart
She’s got no use for some TV critics
I really don’t care if a TV critic trashes a show I like. It just means he or she has no taste.
However, I do not think it is OK to give away guest stars before they appear on the show. That is what USA TODAY critic Kelly Lawler did regarding “Only Murders in the Building.”
Eileen Schoenberg, Fort Pierce
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Publish date : 2024-09-04 22:05:00
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