Thank you, Palm Beach County commissioners. Thank you to the four commissioners who voted to save our county comprehensive plan and our Agricultural Reserve.
The thoughtful debates among all seven commissioners, the developer, experts, and the public showed how democracy should work — out in the open.
Thank you for allowing the process to show that the developer’s proposal was to have the detrimental effect of reversing decades of comprehensive planning that protects the entire county. There was no plan for the proposed questionable amenities, which would have saddled the residents with millions of dollars of operation and maintenance costs for decades.
Thank you for listening to county staff and members of the Planning Commission who, under much pressure to approve, stood their ground and presented you with information and facts to back their recommendations.
Thank you for restoring the public trust to the process of democracy and accepting the responsibility of essential services and protecting our environmental resources.
Thank you, commissioners, for your dedication. I would like to express an extra thank you to the 4 commissioners that voted to preserve the Ag Reserve: Mayor Gregg Weiss, Vice-Mayor Maria Sachs and Commissioners Mack Bernard and Marci Woodward.
Linda Smithe, Jupiter
Disparaging GL Homes
I live in west Delray Beach and attended the Oct. 24 Palm Beach County Commission meeting to speak in favor of the GL Homes swap.
I was profoundly disappointed in the way Vice Mayor Maria Sachs and Commissioners Mack Bernard and Marci Woodward behaved during the meeting. It was troubling and disheartening.
From the outset, it was clear these three officials held reservations about this proposal, which I appreciate and respect. Unfortunately, they chose to denigrate and disparage GL Homes, a valuable corporate contributor. The animosity and acrimony directed at GL was unnecessary and spiteful. I also found it upsetting that several supporters who spoke on behalf of the project were belittled and intimidated by these officials.
I hope Vice Mayor Sachs and commissioners Bernard and Woodward are more measured and respectful in the future. The well-being of our community depends on fostering an environment where worthwhile projects are not discouraged by the behavior of elected officials, where residents feel comfortable sharing their opinions publicly.
Jonas Seider, Delray Beach
On ‘collective punishment’
When the U.S. bombed Berlin during World War II, there were no accusations of “collective punishment,” as U.N. experts now contend about Israel’s strikes on Gaza. Though not all Germans were Nazis, the Nazis were the German government, and the Allies were at war with Germany.
Likewise, not all Gazans are members of Hamas, but Hamas is the government of Gaza, and Israel is at war with Hamas.
The Israel-Hamas war is not “collective punishment.” It is the result of the government of Gaza making war on the people of Israel, and Israel’s response.
H. Allan Tucker, Hollywood
The cease-fire resolution
The delegates serving in the U.N. today have not learned the history of the Middle East or are intentionally ignoring it. In 1947, the U.N. passed a resolution dividing Palestine into two nations, one for Arabs and one for Jews. The Jews set up their state in 1948 but the Arabs, supported by seven Arab nations, vowed to kick out the Jews and take all the land.
They did not succeed in 1948, nor did they in 1967 or in 1973, but they are still trying. By passing a cease-fire resolution now, the U.N. is coming to the aid of the very people who are still trying to wipe Israel off the map.
Herbert Goldsmith, Pembroke Pines
