Open Letter to Gov. Crist and the State Legislature
By Ellie Caldwell
To Gov. Crist and the 2007 Florida State Legislature:
Given that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world; given that Florida is able to spend large amounts of money to attract biotechnical companies, support continuous development, and renovate buildings, downtowns, and roads; given that the citizens of Florida are well-meaning and are committed to relieving human and animal suffering wherever they see it:
I believe it is time we commit ourselves to the following suggestions. We have enough resources, enough programs, and enough energy.
1. Address the homeless problem. We need centers where people can get social services, mental health services, food and clothing. We need decent housing where people can experience dignity and kindness.
2. Dedicate the time and energy to insure that every child graduates from high school or receives a GED: High school drop-outs cannot make it in today's society. Provide students with enough post-high school education or training that will allow them to have a decent job to provide a good living for themselves and their families.
3. Create a major task force to combat violence. Double the police force with people trained in combating gangs and dealing with violence. Empower people to put an end to the violence in their neighborhoods.
4. Make affordable housing a priority. Create more programs to help hard working young people afford homes without saddling them with a nightmare of bills. Create more safe and well maintained public housing, and more programs to help people fully recover from the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons and ensure they are ready for the next hurricane season.
5. Solve the problems that cause nearly 10 per cent of children in this state to have "food insecurity," going to bed hungry at least one night a month. Food is available, and we should make it a priority to do what it takes to get it to families who need it.
6. Coordinate the services of the agencies serving our state and counties. There are hundreds of programs providing services to different segments of our population. Agencies need to collaborate, distribute services fairly, and ensure people know what services are available.
7. Guarantee safe drinking water throughout the state. It is not acceptable that in Pahokee and South Bay in the Glades area of Palm Beach County, pregnant women have been told not to shower in the water.
8. Ban the burning of sugar cane fields, which is unacceptable since there are alternative methods. The asthma and lung cancer rates in sugar cane burning areas are unacceptably high.
9. Expand Medicaid so that the working poor without health insurance can access the health care they need. It is unacceptable that about one-third of Floridians lack health insurance. Money should not determine the quality of the health care Americans receive.
10. Ensure that all students graduating from high school have basic computer, math and English skills.
11. Create immigration centers where people can get legal help, job referrals, health services, and other help. The Catholic Charities Employment Center in Jupiter, Florida seems to be working well; duplicate programs should be organized for other communities.
12. Ensure that all seniors receive the care they deserve in their later years. We need to make sure there are support services for people who opt to stay in their homes, and we need to have help available for choosing an appropriate facility.
For much of Florida's history, personal greed has been a major reason that people moved to this beautiful state. Whether for alligator bellies, snowy egret plumes, oranges, or land, people have come here to exploit her resources. Florida has been good to us - now how can we be good to Florida?
As citizens of this great state, we need to shift our attitude from one of getting to one of giving. How can we contribute our gifts to improve the quality of life for all citizens? With all the resources we have in 2007, there is no need for such need in Florida.
Ellie Caldwell is a writer in Wellington, Florida.
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