Biden’s Cuba policy must demand a quid pro quo
It’s not surprising that Sen. Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, reminded President Biden that there must be a link between opening to Havana and specific results.
Without a quid pro quo, such as cash-and-carry sales of food and medicine to Cuba, there will be meager results.
John Kerry, President Obama’s secretary of State, said that Obama’s good intentions (or concessions) to Raúl Castro failed to obtain the release of political prisoners and the moderation of Cuba’s hostile foreign initiatives, which he sought.
It makes little sense to allow unconditional remittances to Cuba. This will subsidize thousands of Cuban soldiers propping up Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
Biden must insist that remittance recipients receive dollars instead of worthless pesos and not be forced to buy in regime stores.
If Cubans who received those dollars were permitted to purchase chicken, beans, milk and vegetables directly from Cuban farmers, their productive capacity would be unleashed, and widespread hunger would disappear.
The recent petition by senators and other elected officials to Biden is supported by millions of Cuban-American voters and many others.
Lifting restrictions without first obtaining freedom of political prisoners, withdrawal of Castro’s army from Venezuela, and return of FBI-wanted American terrorists would be a useless return to a failed policy.
It is good the new administration is consulting with elected Cuban-American officials and the community. – Frank Calzón,
Arlington, VA
BLACK EQUITY
Re the Feb. 18 opinion, “Dade sorely needs mayor’s push to bring equity and inclusion for Black residents:” Once again, Fabiola Santiago explains Miami to us.
I had always seen Black resentment of the unique Cuban dominance here as primarily a linguistic question, the added burden of language for job entrance. You get a GED, put on your suit and tie, shine your shoes and the first question is, “How good is your Spanish?”
I first came to Miami in 1976, when every young ambitious Black person I met considered Atlanta the place one had to go.
Miami long ago eclipsed Atlanta as the international hub of the new South, but for many young Black Americans, the feeling might still be the same. – Mary Motes
, Redland
GOOD FRIEND
The Herald’s Feb. 19 front-page teaser, “Ivanka Trump won’t run against ‘good personal friend’ Sen. Rubio,” seems to answer the question: Why did Marco Rubio vote No on convicting Donald Trump?
Not surprising to have the confirmation as to why he did not follow his oath to defend the Constitution, but rather his oath to take care of himself by eliminating a serious competitor to his reelection in 2022.
Looks like “Little Marco” is still a much smaller man than the seven Republicans who voted to impeach the leader of the Jan. 6 insurrection. – Fran Skwira,
Miramar
LOST IN SPACE
Congratulations to NASA for the Mars landing in search of life that may have once inhabited that planet.
Perhaps we can convince NASA to send another probe, this time to Congress, to search for intelligent life there. – Herbert J. Halperin,
Boynton Beach
PROBLEMS AT HOME
It does not cease to amaze me that many Cuban Americans want President Biden to work the miracle that no one else has managed to perform in more than 60 years.
The new administration is just over a month old and I have already read a number of letters to the editor telling the president what he ought to do about Cuba and how to make it happen, and the sooner the better.
Don’t we have enough problems at home? A pandemic, an economic crisis, a poor standing on the world stage, divisions created by hate, racism and white supremacy?
I never read any letters giving advice to the previous administration on this issue. Nothing was done and yet most Cuban Americans supported that administration.
And while we’re are it, let’s all hope Biden can unite the country and make America sane again. – Rosa Cuervo,
Miami
NEEDLESS PROPOSAL
The Florida Senate is poised to pass Senate Bill 78, requiring every public school employee to jump through hoops to join or to remain in a union. This “Big Brother” approach insults the intelligence of school workers at a time when they are dealing with opening schools during a pandemic. SB 78 would mandate that every union member must join again every three years and, possibly, every year.
This pressure tactic is to show public employees that the state frowns on those big bad unions. Florida is a right-to-work state where employees have the right to join a union or not. Also, it is illegal for a public school teacher to strike in this state. So what is the problem? The last thing we need in a low-funding year is an invitation for lawsuits.
Aren’t we taxpayers having enough economic problems? – Maureen Dinnen,
Fort Lauderdale
UNDER ONE ROOF
Because of my age, I qualified to receive my first dose of the COVID vaccine and I’m now awaiting my second dose this week. However, I wonder howmany multigenerational families there are who live together. These families also should qualify for the vaccine.
Children and grandchildren living in the same house should also be protected, thus reducing the possibility of bringing the virus into the house. Most grandparents usually stay home more, however, thechildren are off to work, and some grandchildren go to school or have other activities.
It is still difficult for those over 65 with underlying conditions to receive even the first shot, but vaccinating those who are younger should be considered. – Mary Ferguson,
Cutler Bay
HONORING SLESNICK
Belated congratulations to Lt. Col. Donald Slesnick, (ret.) for his Veterans Day induction into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame, a high and well deserved honor for his 27 years of military service.
Besides his long and noble military career, Slesnick and his wife, Jeannett, have devoted years of unwavering dedication to our city.
He was a proactive mayor, always visible and approachable. He skillfully handled dissent and disagreement with tact, decorum and grace.
I thank Mayor Slesnick for his service to our nation and to our community. – Ignacio H. Boladeres,
Coral Gables
CORRECTION:
Due to a production error, an op-ed about West Matheson Hammock Park on Feb. 19 carried the wrong photo of Maria Nardi, director of the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Here’s the correct photo.
HEARTBREAKING. ONE TEXAS RESIDENT HAD TO TRAVEL OVER 1,700 MILES TO FIND HEAT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY.
Trevor Noah