Kendall residents fret over plane noise

For more than a week, the noise from planes flying over Jasmine at the Hammocks and other communities in West Kendall at all hours of the day has been unbearable. Normally, planes do not constantly pass above our area on a specific route.

Realizing the situation was continuous, I called Norman Hegedus, section chief of air-side operations, aircraft noise and environmental planning at Miami Executive Airport. First, he said the change in route from east to west was because of storms. Then he asked for our community’s location. On the third call, he asked for my name, address, and email to locate the trajectory of the planes.

The airport’s message on noise abatement state’s that all operations must reflect consideration for adjacent residential communities. Operators of turbine and large aircraft are requested to use Noise Abatement profiles. Flight-training activities should avoid making abrupt power changes directly over residential areas and are limited to aircraft weighing less than 40,000 pounds.

Additionally, and terribly worrisome, is that there are more than 10 pilot training schools at the airport. MiamiFly.com, for example, advertises a one-hour introductory flight with an instructor at your side, and you can bring someone along for free to photograph the experience. Meanwhile, residents below are at the mercy of inexperienced pilots-in-training.

I searched the web for accidents. Seven occurred in the past eight years in and around the airport, some with fatalities. Now I wonder who regulates all these training schools.

This absurdity must stop; residents deserve to live in peace.

– Gladys Canizares,

president, Jasmine at the Hammocks Association,

West Kendall

SAVING DEMOCRACY

Re the Nov. 3 online story “President Joe Biden implores voters to save democracy from lies, violence:” Whatever happened to Trump Derangement Syndrome, a condition fabricated by Republicans in which the afflicted, out of hatred, criticize former President Donald Trump?

Has the MAGA crowd grown tired of the phrase, or can it be that Trump’s endless contrivances are so overwhelming that even his most ardent supporters have accepted there never was a syndrome, only justifiable censure?

History, as the final arbiter, will make that determination. In the meantime, it’s a safe bet Trump’s minions, especially Republicans in Congress, will never admit the criticism was warranted. To do so would be an acknowledgment of the ex-president’s despotic nature and their complicity in fostering it.

Choosing fidelity to an individual, group or ideology over fidelity to the U.S. Constitution is more than just a violation of the sacred oath our elected representatives are sworn to uphold — it is a political mugging of each American.

– Jim Paladino,

Tampa

BIGGER PICTURE

The Herald’s Nov. 3 story “Records show who else was on migrant flights” was thoroughly researched and provided specifics on the process and ultimate cost to Florida taxpayers by the DeSantis administration’s decision to fly immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard.

The Biden administration has directed hundreds of flights transporting immigrants to cities in Florida, New

York, Iowa, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, among others. Miami Herald readers would appreciate an examination of the total number of such flights this year, and the cost to taxpayers.

As the immigration and humanitarian crisis continues, taxpayers need to embrace the full extent and financial impact of these efforts.

– Elena V. Carpenter,

Coconut Grove

LEADERSHIP STYLE

Gov. DeSantis’ unwavering, straightforward, common-sense rhetoric is to Democrats much like the cross is to a vampire and water was to the Wicked Witch of the West. Democrats vilify DeSantis and others like him out of an irrational fear of losing their political reign to the GOP.

DeSantis is a strong and intelligent leader, a determined man who stands his ground when he knows he’s right. His opponent, Charlie Crist, is nothing but a blithering sycophant and a chameleon who changes his colors whenever the political wind changes directions.

– JoAnn Lee Frank,

Clearwater

INFLATION WOES

Democrats have failed to explain that most of our inflation woes are a supply-side issue, created primarily by COVID-19 because of breaks in the supply chain and illness. When demand for goods and workers outstrips supply, prices and wages rise (which also pushes inflation up). Republicans can no more fix this than Democrats.

The Federal Reserve can only address the demand side, which is hurting the middle class and poor through higher interest rates. The supply chain must work itself out. As more people are able to work, that also will help.

Had former President Trump and his cabal addressed COVID-19 immediately and directly, we would have been far better off. Instead, they facilitated the deaths of more than a million Americans and pushed our healthcare system to the breaking point.

– Liz Snyder, Delray Beach

COERCED FREEDOM

Gov. Ron DeSantis often talks about how free we are in Florida.

Unless of course, you are a woman seeking an abortion, or a felon trying to vote, or a teacher selecting a book for her students to read, or a company speaking out on gender equity, or a local government making policy decisions, or a transgender youth in need of medical support.

Should the governor add that we’re free only if we agree with him?

– Ken Clark, Coral Gables

ONE TOO MANY

Seems the United States has two presidents — one was elected, and the other was appointed.

I don’t remember a time in history when a justice on the Supreme Court had so much sway as Clarence Thomas.

And he’s getting worse every day.

Talk about destroying our way of life. This guy is as bad as Donald Trump.

– Barry Levy, Miami

MAN OF GOD?

I guess Ron DeSantis realized that his ad saying that God chose him was over the top and pulled it.

How can any Christian stand behind a man who promotes himself as God’s chosen one?

This blasphemy. Vote him out and let him become a minister to his flock and not the dictator to Floridians.

– Ray Belongie, Sunrise