Women’s quiet leadership

US again delays electing a woman president | March 7

My mother, though an eighth grade dropout, was well-read and very politically astute. She once told me during the tumultuous Nixon years, that a prominent politician, before making an important decision, told a reporter he had to go home and “sleep on it.” My mother firmly believed that women held more influence over political decisions than most people realized. I believe she was right and that this still happens in the homes and bedrooms of many politicians today. Will the United States ever elect a woman president? Perhaps, in a roundabout way, it already has.

Joan Wernert, Zephyrhills

Affordable internet at risk

Biden’s vow of affordable internet in doubt | Feb. 6

I worked hard my whole life and I saved for retirement. Now that I’m 63, I should be celebrating this phase of my life. Instead, I’m really worried about money. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) saves eligible households and many seniors like me $30 a month on internet service. But I’m extremely concerned that the program is in danger of expiring. Florida has the third-largest number of participants in the country. More than 1.7 million people across our state rely on the program as a more affordable way to stay connected. They are going to lose that discount next month unless Congress takes action to fund the program.

Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have not supported the bipartisan bill to ensure it continues. They are going to let poor seniors across Florida pay more for the internet, which makes me sick. Our elected officials are out of touch with what it’s like living on a fixed income if they think we have extra money just laying around. I’d challenge them to try and live for a week on what we seniors get.

I blame Democrats as much as Republicans for failing seniors. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a program meant to help people who are struggling with this inflated economy. I want to see Florida’s senators help seniors like me by working to save the program. That’s one way they can begin to win back my trust.

Elizabeth Patterson, Tampa

Women in construction

Where are we building homes in America? Hint: In Florida, just look around. | Dec. 3

With great opportunity available now and in the future, more women than ever are choosing a career in construction. Women have the strength and skills to succeed in the industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 1.148 million women working in the construction industry represent the highest percentage share on record as of December. The construction industry plays a vital role in providing fulfilling and financially rewarding career opportunities for women.

Regardless of gender, construction offers lucrative earnings for everyone. Average hourly earnings in construction are nearly $3 higher per hour than all other private industries, and those earnings are up 4.6% year over year.

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Construction is also full of advancement and career mobility, providing a career ladder into the middle class. This can lead to opportunities varying from entrepreneurship to business ownership. From executives and project managers to supervisors, building inspectors, business developers, engineers, equipment operators, craft professionals and marketing and communications experts, opportunities in this industry are plentiful.

Women can be an empowering competitive advantage for construction companies and are valuable to any vibrant culture. Women in construction can find purpose in building America, from schools and manufacturing facilities to bridges and health care facilities. ABC Florida East Coast Chapter member companies are recruiting and retaining the best talent because they are dedicated to building strong communities. To learn more about opportunities in construction during 2024 Women in Construction Week, visit www.abceastflorida.com.

Peter Dyga, Coconut Creek

The author is president and CEO Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Florida East Coast Chapter.

Yes, murder

Privacy rights ephemeral in light of fetal personhood | Column, March 5

In their column decrying the Alabama Supreme Court decision on IVF, professors Caroline Light and Marya T. Mtshali inadvertently stumbled on the truth in their conclusion: “If frozen embryos are legally considered ‘unborn children,’ ... then IVF — which generates, preserves and ultimately discards multiple embryos in the often lengthy process of implantation — is murder.“ Yes, I believe it is murder. When the conception of an unborn child is treated as a commodity, that’s what you get (regardless of the best intentions of those women unable to get pregnant otherwise). Human life begins at conception, even if it occurs in a petri dish.

Chuck Rivetto, Lake Orion, Michigan

Where it leads

Privacy rights ephemeral in light of fetal personhood | Column, March 5

Too many Republicans want to control your body. The Alabama Supreme Court ruling is a step beyond prohibiting women from ending a pregnancy because it could prevent families from having children by declaring embryos are people. When extra embryos are discarded as part of the procedure, “murder” is committed and those responsible could possibly be charged. If this all seems too absurd, remember that 13-year-old rape victims have been denied abortions. Women having miscarriages have been denied hospital admission. If the past is prologue, I would not be surprised if some political leaders will support arresting those who have used IVF to one day be tried for murder. There is no statute of limitations for murder.

Martin Peters, Tarpon Springs

Can’t fix stupid

Florida legislators should make it illegal to hold a phone while driving | Editorial, March 6

Why must the state legislate common sense? We have laws requiring use of turn signals, stopping for red lights, obeying speed limits, parking and dozens, if not hundreds, of laws involving driving. I can drive for days without even seeing a law enforcement vehicle unless at an accident. Do we need laws to ensure pedestrians put down their phones when crossing a street? Or looking up from the screen when walking in a parking lot? When the light turns green and the car in front of you doesn’t move, it isn’t a leap of judgment to assume a phone is involved. Road rage occurs all the time. Passing yet another law to mandate the use of common sense and personal responsibility won’t solve stupid and inconsiderate behavior.

Tony Leisner, Tarpon Springs

Maybe they don’t

Florida legislators should make it illegal to hold a phone while driving | Editorial, March 6

The second paragraph of this editorial ends with “people know better but do it anyway” in reference to one hand on the car wheel and the other using a phone. Sadly, this statement is so true in spite of available Bluetooth technology. Actually, I’m not so sure that people do know better.

Kenn Sidorewich, Oldsmar

What measles does

Measles? Perfect as we revert back to the ‘50s. | Column, Feb. 28

German measles not only affects the individual, it can also affect future family members. My aunt caught German measles while she was pregnant with twin girls. One was born deaf and the other was born blind in one eye. Something to think about.

Carlos J. DeCisneros, Tampa

Build a library

Timeline for Rays deal stays hazy, while Pinellas officials wait | March 5

All the new residents of downtown St. Petersburg need access to information, advice, free meeting space, the latest technologies and free entertainment that only a library can provide. Before the die is cast, and contracts are awarded for the Historic Gas Plant redevelopment where Tropicana Field is now, let’s insist on including plans for a first-class library to provide space and enlightenment — and a place to simply sit, read and think — for all members of our city.

Camille Walkinshaw, St. Petersburg

A teacher’s pay for 343 years

Gamble has spectacular payoff for Evans, team | Column, March 5

Mike Evans, premier receiver for the Tampa Bay Bucs, is slated to receive a guaranteed $23 million this year as part of his contract. He is an outstanding player and some would say he is worth every penny of it. I guess taken in isolation of the prevailing salaries paid professional football players make, he is worth it. However, it still boggles the minds of those of us who work for years with what could be considered normal compensation. The average teacher salary in Florida is between $46,000 and $67,000. At $67,000 a year a teacher would have to work 343 years to just make what Mike Evans is making in one year. What’s wrong with this picture?

John Payne, St. Petersburg

If not US, whom?

Few Americans want US more involved in wars abroad | March 7

I daresay that no one wants the United States to be involved in a war of any kind. However, my question is this: What would the world look like if the U.S. hadn’t gotten involved in World War II? Would we all be speaking German now?

Beverly G. Isaacs, Seminole

Why I’m not voting

Court rules Trump can stay on ballot | March 5

I have advocated for voting as long as I can remember. Still recalling the sense of pride felt after voting in my first election. Even as a young parent my children saw me doing my part. They accompanied me to the precincts until I began voting by mail. As both boys became of age they too registered and participated in every election. As I gracefully approach 50, I now believe the political system has deteriorated in such a way that I can no longer remain optimistic about the future. In my opinion, pride, greed, power and ignorance have triumphed over fairness, equality, justice and morality. I fear we are descending in a way the forefathers never would have imagined.

Recently, I read the Supreme Court ruling that individual states can’t ban former President Donald Trump from their ballots and for the first time pondered the true purpose of this democracy. So much has happened that our society simply has chosen to turn a blind eye to. Yet all the signals indicate we will only decline further from here and what then will history have to say about us? I will sit this one out and patiently wait to see what happens.

Rosalynn Carter, St. Petersburg

Utilities should work together

Water utilities should collaborate

As a former water commissioner, I would like to highlight two trends: (1) the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and (2) the growing supply chain challenges. These are global issues. For water utilities, these natural disasters are causing more frequent service disruptions as a result of the damaged infrastructure. The first step in repairing the damaged infrastructure is locating the parts needed to make the repairs. However, supply chain challenges are creating long delays to get parts and materials — sometimes weeks or months. This means there will be longer outages, more suffering and population loss as people leave due to the lack of water service. Even bond rating declines for utilities as rating agencies are now considering the potential to lose population makes the utility an increased credit risk because fewer people mean fewer ratepayers, which means less revenue for the utility.

This is a problem where collaboration can be a key solution. Fortunately, any part that a utility needs is likely in another utility’s warehouse. And water utilities generally do not compete with each other, so they open to helping each other. There is technology that can connect utilities so that they help each other when there is an emergency need. We need policy makers and economists writing and talking about the societal and monetary costs of water utilities remaining siloed, and the benefits of being connected.

Glenn Oliver, San Diego, California