Approving commuter rail is forward movement

For decades, MiamiDade County has studied, discussed and analyzed how to improve transportation. From the creation of the People’s Transportation Plan to the adoption of the SMART Plan, our community has outlined the corridors it wants and how to fund them.

We finally have the opportunity to expand mobility choices, remove cars from our over-burdened roads and enhance the walkability of our neighborhoods. On Nov. 13, county commissioners will vote on a plan to implement commuter rail service along the Northeast Corridor. The proposed system will connect Brightline’s MiamiCentral and Aventura stations with stops at Wynwood/Midtown/Edgewater, Miami Design District, Little Haiti, Upper Eastside/El Portal, North Miami and FIU/Biscayne Bay.

Many things will be different in a post-COVID-19 world, but we know economic development, job creation and transportation will always be critical components to kick-starting a successful economy.

The Northeast Corridor Coalition, a broad-based consortium of MiamiDade’s most prominent business, education and cultural organizations, advocates for this transit initiative. If approved, it will significantly reduce travel time, remove 1.45 million cars from our roads annually, reduce 3,644 metric tons of CO2 and create nearly 25,000 jobs at a critical time for our local economy.

We urge commissioners to vote Yes. Moving this project forward has widespread support, will create a more connected county and ultimately a more connected region as the system is hopefully expanded to Broward.

– Albert Garcia, chairman and co-founder, Wynwood Business Improvement District,

chairman, Northeast Corridor Coalition of Miami-Dade County,

Miami

MISCHIEF MAKER

The First Amendment protects our right to freedom of speech and protest. However, Gov. DeSantis’ latest proposal to expand the Stand your Ground law seeks to limit the safe exercise of such protections.

The governor is conflating looters with protesters to justify taking lethal action in the name of preventing potential property damage.

Expanding Stand your Ground guarantees a real threat of physical harm and death. Property can be replaced. People’s lives cannot.

The governor’s response is much worse than the potential harm sought to be alleviated.

The irony is that those who protest are asking for their lives to be respected and protected. The governor’s proposal only further endangers us.

Just as with his COVID-19 response, DeSantis demonstrates yet again that he values property and money more than people’s lives.

– Lauren Silk,

Boca Raton

IDOL WORSHIP

Re the Nov. 11 stories “DeSantis hires conspiracy blogger as data analyst” and “DeSantis pushes new laws to crack down on protests:”

So our esteemed governor has further demonstrated his fealty to Donald Trump.

While loyalty is an admirable quality, he has taken it to unknown heights in his quest to please his leader.

Before Jan. 20, DeSantis should identify with a different idol to follow, as he has demonstrated a total inability to formulate his own opinions.

– Judy Blanchard,

Homestead