Florida Power & Light will raise our electric rates by a staggering $10 billion, as Gov. DeSantis’ Public Service Commission decided on Nov. 20 that we should all foot the bill.
For years, his appointed utility regulators have acted as a rubber stamp, approving nearly every requested increase, while families in Florida continue to struggle.
In five years, Floridians have seen their bills rise by more than $400 a year. Now the utility wants to hike bills even higher while guaranteeing itself profits above the national average and doubling down on expensive and dirty fracked gas, instead of cheaper and cleaner alternatives.
Floridians already pay some of the highest electricity bills in the country despite living in a state with abundant sunshine and clean energy potential. It’s past time to rein in the PSC. Lawmakers must pass affordable energy reform and put people — not monopoly profits — first.
Stella Nunes, Coral Springs
The writer is associate director of campaigns at ReThink Energy Florida.
Giving thanks
As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s difficult for many families to fully enjoy the holiday as inflation and other factors negatively impact their lives. So let us focus on all the gifts and benefits we all receive by living in this great country. Many are fully apparent, such as our strong military, heroic first responders, medical providers and religious community.
There are educators, truck drivers for essential needs, entertainers and athletes for enjoyment, municipal workers, government officials and commercial and retail businesses. Yes, we have difficulties that may or may not pass. But this holiday should have a grateful meaning for all.
Bob Sweeney, Warwick, R.I.
Help our public schools
What happened to separation of church and state?
No religious schools should receive taxpayer money. I personally feel that all allotted education money should be to improve public schools’ value and none be given to for-profit schools.
Florida’s per-pupil spending on public schools is far below the vast majority of other states, and the salaries for Florida school personnel are disgraceful. In the past, public education has always been known as what made America great. Let’s fund it to the max.
Lois Feinberg, Hollywood
Shame on Congress
Some biased news coverage of the government shutdown portrayed the “evil” of the right against the “good” of the left, but news articles about people losing SNAP benefits, workers going unpaid and long lines at food banks failed to mention an important thing: Members of Congress continued to draw paychecks during the shutdown.
Surely, we can agree that while the American people suffered, their leaders should have, too.
Congress should be ashamed of itself for taking money when other federal employees were not paid, and people should be outraged by these actions.
Yet, for some reason, many didn’t seem to care.
Daniel Strachman, Parkland
(Editor’s Note: The U.S. Constitution requires that members of Congress must be paid.)
Fire the ‘Fins coach
I watched the recent Dolphins game from Madrid (Miami 16, Washington 13 in overtime).
Even thought the ‘Fins had a lucky win, their coach should have been fired for the decision at the end of the fourth quarter to rush for a touchdown instead of kicking a field goal for the victory. With less than two minutes on the clock and no time outs left, there was no way Washington could have scored to tie or win the game. It was one of the worst decisions in NFL history.
Michael R. Adler, Miromar Lakes, Fla.
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