Change Florida’s clemency rules now

It’s been over a year since 5 million people marched to the polls to support Amendment 4. Voters on both sides of the aisle came together to help former felons who served their sentences regain their right to vote. The people spoke together decisively, and Amendment 4 won with over 64 percent in favor. But the voice of the people continues to be silenced.

A federal judge recently ruled that voters can’t be stopped from voting because they’re too poor to pay financial obligations resulting from their conviction, citing constitutional concerns with lawmakers’ Amendment 4 legislation.

Now, Governor DeSantis is appealing that ruling. But here’s a fact: while Amendment 4 is tied up in litigation, the amendment’s goal can be accomplished — and it can be done right now. Florida already has a process to restore voting rights to those who have served their sentences. The Board of Executive Clemency, comprised of the Cabinet members, has the authority to restore civil rights to prior offenders.

The previous Administration severely restricted that process by changing the rules in 2011, giving unfettered discretion to deny clemency for any reason, and mandating that all applicants wait five or more years before even starting the process. If an applicant finally did get a hearing, they get just five minutes to speak. Five years for five minutes — that’s our current system.

Under that clemency system, which a judge called “crushingly restrictive” and “arbitrary and discriminatory,” only 3,368 people had their rights restored.

By contrast, under my administration, we restored rights for over 150,000 deserving Floridians. My predecessor, Jeb Bush, oversaw 76,000 people getting their rights restored.

That’s a far cry from the 24 people who have had their rights restored this year. Twenty-four.

We can return to a fairer clemency process and restore rights to those who should have been helped by Amendment 4.

The truth is, clemency is an executive function. Over two months ago, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried sent a letter to her fellow Clemency Board colleagues, calling for the adoption of new clemency rules. Her letter, just like the will of the voters on Amendment 4, has been ignored.

Under my administration’s clemency rules, civil rights were automatically restored to non-violent ex-felons who had served their time, paid restitution to victims, and had no further pending criminal charges.

Fried has called for returning to those rules as a model, as a floor, and as an improvement to the current disenfranchisement scheme.

Freedom is fundamental to our nation — but it’s constantly shifting, shaped by the powers of government.

Whether or not they voted for Amendment 4, it’s the duty of Florida’s constitutional officers to uphold the will of the people.

Right now, more than 10,000 applicants continue waiting for their voice to be heard and their rights to be restored. Change is needed now, justice delayed is justice denied. This can no longer be about politics or partisanship. It’s about humanity, decency, and the Golden Rule: do unto others as we’d have done unto us.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Clemency Board should follow Fried’s lead, change the rules, and restore the rights of their fellow Floridians.

Boca needs Brightline

South Florida is deeply in need of public transportation to lighten auto traffic on the roads.

Brightline is further east than Amtrak, which would make it possible for workers to get on in Boca and go to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, and walk to their office due to the fact the tracks are nearer the business districts.

There are more than 5,000 people a day commuting into Boca to work. Boca should be able to become a bedroom community for these cities.

The thought that Boca is only the playground for the rich is slightly behind the times.

Most cities in the country have public transportation where people travel approximately an hour to their place of employment.

Boca, with the right transportation, can service Miami, a true international city.

Stanley Greenbaum,

Delray Beach Brightline in Boca Raton is right move

The Brightline/Virgin stop in Boca Raton is the right move.

The Boca area is under development to become a prosperous city for all who live there, not just a privileged few.

The use of public transportation, where available, has decreased carbon emissions, made intercity travel easier, and promotes Boca as a destination stop for visitors to South Florida.

Those who view Boca as being just for the wealthy are uninformed and/or egocentric.

People that work in West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami will find the trains an attractive commutation service, just as people in Greenwich, Conn., and Westchester, N.Y., do when working in Manhattan.

Public transportation ridership is increasing while golfing is decreasing in usage.

I also found five private and five municipal or public golf courses already in the greater Boca area, and many more within 10 miles.

Aaron Baron,

Fort Lauderdale

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