Feeling dumped? Blame Citizens Insurance incompetence
On Feb. 22, a Citizens Insurance claims adjuster called to tell me that my claim for damage to my air conditioner was approved and a check was being sent. That same day, I received a letter from Citizens, dated Feb. 15, that my insurance policy would not be renewed on June 25. The reason given was that my “roof was over 25 years old or has less than 3 years of useful life.” This, of course, is the standard excuse for not renewing a policy, and the fact that Citizens can’t pick an exact reason proves it.
I have been paying my policy in monthly installments. My last payment of $748 was due March 25.
Yet Citizens was stupid enough to notify me that it already planned to cancel my policy.
Where is my reason for sending in that last $748?
All my monthly payments were made on time, but Citizens always sent a non-renewal letter, only to send a policy reinstated letter when it realized it had been paid. Incompetence is an art form at Citizens.
Sadly, Citizens Insurance is Florida’s insurer of last resort, yet it is dumping many Floridians for too many claims; that’s the real reason I’m being dropped.
Meanwhile, our governor is too busy chastising college students for wearing masks because he’s tired of the “COVID theater” and he signed a homophobic bill that we “Can’t Say Gay.” He and our insurance commissioner do nothing to help the people.
Where are we supposed to find insurance when we need it?
Perhaps I’ll take my chances this coming hurricane season, and be uninsured. If so, it will be due to Citizens’ negligence and I’ll sue its executive officers.
What will Citizens do? What will the State of Florida do?
Most likely, not a damn thing.
– Cully Waggoner,
Miami
OFF THE MAP
Re the March 25 online story, “Miami approves redrawn voting map.
Some parts of Grove, downtown districts will change:” The Miami Commission ignored Coconut Grove throughout the redistricting process. The redistricting map adopted by the commissioners on March 24 was the same as the Feb. 7 map, except for one change benefiting a commissioner. Grove citizens rejected the city’s proposal throughout this process.
The commission never swayed from its original positions. Why?
Possibly because the city’s final redistricting map is favorable to certain commissioners rather than the citizens they claim to represent.
Commissioner Ken Russell presented a redistricting alternative favored by the Grove community. This plan eliminated the city’s Feb. 7 patchwork map, preserved neighborhoods, including the Grove, and met redistricting criteria. This alternative was essentially ignored.
The recurring commission message was that it had the power and the citizens did not. Citizens who took valuable time to attend and speak at the redistricting meetings were ignored.
These redistricting meetings were unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Opinion content from syndicated sources may be trimmed from the original length to fit available space. There was infighting among commissioners, and certain commissioners insulted the citizenry they represent.
Attending and speaking at these meetings was an exercise in futility. The citizens were not represented.
– Fleta Anne Stamen,
Miami
BRUTAL INSURANCE
The March 25 story “Are brutal rents causing people to leave South Florida?” is accurate, but there is more to this story. We own our home, we do not pay rent, but we do pay homeowner’s insurance, and this is the main culprit of our situation.
Citizens, my insurer, has been increasing the policy premium for the past four or five years at a rate of $400 per year; in 2018, it was almost $700. Citizens is a nonprofit insurance company supposedly created to help Florida homeowners. We are considering moving out of state because we cannot afford the policy premiums for much longer.
ENJOY THE SILENCE
Re the March 25 story “‘It’s going to be loud.’ Ultra Music Festival will bring noise and crowds:” How nice to see that organizers are making masks available for attendees.
They should also be
BOB MCFARLIN
– Horacio Perez,
Kendall handing out protective ear plugs to save the hearing of the participants who will suffer irreparable hearing damage during three days of brutally loud music.
– Adele Sandberg, Sherilyn M. Adler, Ear Peace Save Your Hearing Foundation,
– Miami
SLICED AND DICED
The redistricting of Coconut Grove is very sad. This will negatively affect future generations of Grovites. That the Grove is being punished for attracting more residents who only want to live in a better neighborhood with an improved quality of life is a travesty.
The fate of Coconut Grove is being determined by outsiders, and this is unfortunate. Apparently, an all-too-familiar story these days.
– Harry E. Gottlieb,
Coconut Grove
PULLING UP STAKES
Instead of moving into a house in his district, City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo wants to move his house into his district.
How is that not a conflict of interest?
– Dolly Macintyre,
Coral Gables
ROCK THIS BOAT
Vladimir Putin’s yacht in Italy, which has an estimated value of $700 million, should be confiscated and sold, and the proceeds should be donated
MONICA R. RICHARDSON
to the 100,000 Ukrainian refugees coming to the United States.
Let’s punish Putin by taking away his toy.
Why haven’t we done this yet?
We need to provide more energy assistance to NATO so it can stop providing Putin with energy profits. Let’s drill for more oil in our country.
– José A. Mesa, Jr.,
Kendall
TIME FOR AN UPDATE
The purpose of the Judiciary Committee hearing is to verify an appointee’s qualifications. After listening to the questions of some of the members, I wonder whether they know what their role is as a vetting member of the Committee. Significantly, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first defense attorney nominated to the Supreme Court who had previously been approved for different roles on the bench.
Republican committee members questioned her judgment on cases regarding child pornography and her role as an attorney representing Guantánamo prisoners. Brown Jackson reminded them that decisions were made based on the laws passed years ago, before the internet. Technology has changed many things, especially the ability to distribute despicable subjects like child porn, and conspiracy theories.
Some members are only
DANA BANKER
trying to appease their political bases with bullying tactics to maintain control. Rather than criticizing judges’ rulings based on the laws passed by the legislative branch, perhaps they should focus on updating the various laws they are questioning.
– Rose Hobbs, Davie
RESPECT IMMIGRANTS
In the March 15 letter, “Civics for all,” the writer complained about the nation’s lack of patriotism and suggested this is because immigrants were not raised here, and they lack love for this country. His brilliant idea is to require immigrants to join the National Guard.
When looking at photos and videos of the treasonous Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, I see mostly white, born-in-the-U.S.A. terrorists. Additionally, fake bone spurs kept the former president from serving in the armed forces. I’m pretty sure he’s not an immigrant.
Let’s not generalize about immigrants, who built this great nation. Some came here voluntarily and some, sadly and tragically, were brought here as slaves.
Furthermore, there are innumerable soldiers who were not born here but who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Don’t disrespect their memory.
– Monica Harvey,
Miami Shores
NANCY ANCRUM