Readers sound off on columnist Fred Grimm's column about South Florida being too crowded.
Sun Sentinel columnist Fred Grimm is right about how overcrowded it has become here, though I could do without much of his hyperbolic sardonicism feeding his ongoing diatribes against Gov. Ron DeSantis.
What’s particularly awful is the overtaxed and totally broken medical system. There are simply not enough hospitals. Any trip to the ER involves about a seven-hour wait.
If you need to be admitted, you have to wait for a room or stay on a bed in the hallway of the ER for up to a day or more. Then, once you are admitted, they discharge you through their revolving door before your treatment is really completed, based on the two or three doctor visits you had for two minutes a day and no communication with your loved ones on the outside.
And then when you make a follow-up appointment with a specialist, you have to wait at least a month or two to get an appointment.
Bruce Weinstock, Sunrise
Fred Grimm’s latest column was a brilliant example of a lack of self-awareness and unintentional hilarity.
Grimm decries the influx of people moving to our state (more than 300,000 people a year) and the negative impact that has on our space, ecology, environment, natural beauty and finite resources.
The headline figuratively screams “killing our paradise.” He’s right about that. As a native Floridian, I feel this way a lot.
Now, compare and contrast that with the invasion of illegal immigrants flooding our country. This influx counts in the millions, not thousands. I’m holding my breath, waiting on Mr. Grimm to bemoan or even acknowledge this situation.
At least the folks who are fleeing blue states for Florida arrive here with jobs and skill sets and money to pay for all those luxury homes and condominiums he doesn’t like. I’m sure Mr. Grimm’s humble abode is sufficiently spartan and descriptive of his surname — or does being here since the bicentennial in 1976 allow him to acquire preferred status unavailable to, as Grimm would say, “right-wing nutters?”
Meanwhile, the parade of illegals swamping our land come here for the largesse at taxpayer expense. Perhaps Mr. Grimm’s next column will address this with the same zeal and tone of outrage.
But probably not.
Mark Hoffman, Pompano Beach
I pay taxes in Broward. My opinion matters.
I’m speaking on behalf of the animals housed at Broward County Animal Care. Residents have been vocal about how shelter director Emily Wood is totally inept. She had no boots on the ground experience when she arrived from California in January 2021, including how extract several dogs and or cats from a given location.
Several residents have told county commissioners they are unhappy with Wood, including Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow. It appears to me and many others that their concerns fell on deaf ears.
Another outspoken taxpayer, Debbie Seritello, sent emails to the county that went unanswered. When commissioners want to avoid a subject, they’d rather sweep it under the rug.
As the Sun Sentinel has reported, taxpayers must dole out $132,000 for another big mistake under Wood in a dog-bite case.
How much did it cost taxpayers for the investigation of Lauren Bluestone, the assistant director who accused Wood of calling her a “bull dyke” and filed a complaint? Bluestone had an impressive background, but was pushed out because Wood was threatened by her.
The LGBTQ community should have been up in arms when it was reported in the Sun Sentinel that Wood called Lauren Bluestone that degrading word. Broward County should act now and fire Wood or else the lawsuits will continue.
Darcy Butkus, Hollywood
What a surprise! What a farce!
Was there ever any doubt of the outcome of any of the decisions of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court, for which he bought and paid?
They should rename it the Kangaroo Court instead of the Supreme Court. It is no longer supreme.
Rosanne Gordon, Boca Raton
