The poles are gone, cheers to Lynn Larson

Regarding the last FPL power pole being removed, “Hear, Hear!”  

The aesthetics and power service of our beautiful LBK island has now been dramatically improved. The hideous utility poles and wires strung out all over our island are now GONE!

It is important to recognize past Commissioner Lynn Larson who, backed by many year-round residents, urged the other town commissioners not to “knee jerk” approval of FPL’s proposal to replace the utility poles with larger hurricane hardened poles, which a former town manager and planning department recommended.

Commissioner Larson made a strong case for the town to do the homework on a detailed cost projection for undergrounding power, not just assume a WAG.  

With FPL picking up some 25% of cost and doing a more definitive line item cost projection, it became evident that the undergrounding cost was significantly less than was presented to the Town Commission. It then was properly discussed and approved. 

Right answer!

That was “a close shave.”

So thank you, Commissioner Larson, for getting the FPL undergrounding project approved during a summer when few were paying attention.  

It was the right decision to the benefit of all LBK property owners.

Again, “Hear, Hear” to Commissioner Lynn Larson and the Town Commission!

—Bob and Shannon Gault, Longboat Key

Walsh sounds like the president

If it weren’t for the lack of the misspellings, grammatical errors, and incoherence that often signify messages from Donald Trump, Matt Walsh’s June 19 opinion piece denouncing the “No Kings” protests in Sarasota could have been dictated by the President himself. 

I currently am a registered Democrat, but have voted for Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates (Remember Ross Perot?) over the years, based on their positions on the issues, rather than party agendas.

Walsh seems to think that a lot of Sarasotans are fools. I doubt that many of the 7,000 or so who took part in the June 14 demonstrations expect Trump to soon order beheadings. I doubt, too, that many of them would excuse violence against the authorities, as Walsh implies. In fact, the vast majority surely would condemn it. Conveniently, Walsh doesn’t mention the most appalling violence that occurred on the day of the protests: A Trump voter’s attacks on Democratic state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, which left two dead and two seriously injured. No surprise, there are plenty of dangerous crazies on both sides, as Jan. 6, 2021, amply demonstrated. 

I agree with Walsh’s argument that the nation’s borders must be protected, but oppose demonizing immigrants. Walsh also correctly states that Trump is no king…but it’s certainly not for trying. Consider the obsequiousness that he demands — and gets — from his party. And look how infuriated he becomes when judges block his unconstitutional actions, or when the Fed won’t bend to his will. 

As for Walsh’s questioning of the protestors’ patriotism, dozens of them were veterans. I am one, too, like many in my family, including one awarded a Silver Star before being killed in the Battle of the Bulge. It’s ironic that the commander-in-chief whom Walsh so admires is quite likely a draft dodger. (The daughters of a podiatrist who figured in Trump’s Vietnam-era medical deferment say the physician told them he did a “favor” for Trump without disclosing what it was). During his first administration, the President denigrated as “losers” American soldiers slain in World War I, according to former Gen. John Kelly, then his chief of staff. And Trump once declared that dating was his “personal Vietnam”). 

Despite having this man in the White House, there is no need to Make America Great Again. Regardless of its flaws, the U.S. is great. What we really need is to make America America again.

—Richard Rescigno, Sarasota