Florida city gets $57.5M for train waste. Cleveland Clinic

I was disappointed to receive Congressman Mike Haridopolos' email regarding more dollars being poured into anything associated with Brightline. Like every passenger line currently operating across America, it's losing money and will continue to take every dollar it can from local, state and federal governments in order to continue its existence. Since no U.S. passenger line is existing on its own, without government funds, and this was just as true when this monstrosity was approved, one must ask, 'Why was it approved?' Poor taxpayers continue to be forced to feed the monster, having no choice in the matter. There should be an investigation on how approval was given to allow it to start, when clearly every passenger line in the United States was and is still losing money. Were these approval givers just stupid or was there some other questionable motive? Now, the latest twist to help Brightline continue its financial stranglehold, professed by those who supported it, as well as many in the media: 'It's too big to let it fail.' You could see this coming. So, for God's sake, I wouldn't brag about obtaining funds for a Cocoa rail station as they're simply more taxpayer funds to be wasted! Check the finances of any line in America. Please. Spending $57.5 million in government funds to support a proven loser? I wouldn't be proud. Wayne Sandlin, Vero Beach I am saddened and appalled by the self-inflicted problems the city of Fort Pierce is having. There is no reason to attribute venality to the decisions to consider the ill-advised plans for the development of the Causeway Cove property. It is obvious to me that no thought has been given to the long-term development ofthe area. With the sewage treatment plant being decommissioned and removed, the whole area must be developed more thoughtfully. Height limits are the least of the problem, although I must point out that using a defunct plan for King's Landing as a benchmark for height is insultingly stupid. Marcia Baker, Fort Pierce No spring chicken, I've been diagnosed with a condition my doctor said requires a specialist. He gave me a referral, but that specialist didn't honor my insurance plan (United Health Care, not exactly an outlier), sending me in search of an alternative. I finally found one, in Vero Beach, who took my plan. I called for an appointment. The friendly voice on the phone cheerfully told me the doctor was booked into January — five months away ― but they'd put me on a 'cancellation list' as an 'emergency priority.' If an opening arose, they'd send me a text message and I'd have five minutes ― five whole minutes! — to respond or I'd be stricken from the list. This is a true story. It's not a TikTok reel or a "Saturday Night Live" skit, nor am I clever enough to make up something so comically absurd. But it's sadly typical of the way health care works (well, doesn't work, really) under Cleveland Clinic's semi monopoly, with which Dr. Five is affiliated. I thought of calling our congressman to get his input and maybe his thoughts on health care reform, but remembered he's enjoying Congress' all-important summer recess. Can't interrupt that, not even for five minutes! Bob Hyde, Vero Beach Have you forgotten? I haven't! On Sept. 11, 2001, I was sitting at my kitchen table having a cup of coffee when they announced on TV one of our World Trade Center towers was hit by an airplane. I thought, "what a horrible mistake for an airplane to hit the tower." Then, not too much later, the second tower was hit, and I realized we were being attacked by terrorists. Our whole country was devastated! Then they attacked the Pentagon and were on their way to Washington, D.C., to do more damage, which did not happen as the brave people on that plane diverted that plane in Pennsylvania. After these attacks, everyone flew their flags, hugged each other and vowed revenge. Fast forward to 25 years later and many in the United States have forgotten. They are not talking to our children about what happened; they are voting in leaders who have shown disdain for our country. Please join me and my friends at 10 a.m. Sept. 11. We will gather at the east end of the Barber Bridge in Vero Beach to show that we haven't forgotten that 3,000 people died that day. Bring a flag and wave it proudly. God bless America! Wanda Johnson, Vero Beach As we approach the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept 11, the worst terrorist attack to ever take place on U.S. soil, we must all remember and never forget exactly what happened on that fateful day in 2001. The Twin Towers of The World Trade Center and the Pentagon were deliberately attacked by planes hijacked by terrorists on suicide missions. And Flight 93 was crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when passengers onboard realized what was happening, stormed the cockpit (which had been taken over by terrorists), sacrificing their own lives and preventing them from reaching their destination — believed to have been the Capitol in Washington, D.C. At 10 a.m. this Sept. 11, members of Vero Beach Veterans Inc. are planning a memorial march starting at Riverside Park in Vero Beach, carrying American flags and marching west across Barber Bridge and then east, returning to Riverside Park just as we did five years ago on the 20th anniversary. This shall be done in memory of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of these attacks, the passengers of Flight 93 and all of the first responders who sacrificed their own lives while attempting to save whomever they could from this terrible situation. Let's not forget everyone else still dealing with the devastating aftereffects of this horrible act of terror. Please join us in this act of remembrance. Never forget! Edward J. Stiffen, Vero Beach As a person with a challenged immune system due to leukemia, and as measles cases rise again in the United States, it is time to remember why we began vaccinating against this disease. Measles is not simply a childhood rash. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in every 1,000 people who contract measles develops encephalitis, which may result in permanent brain damage. And one to three of every 1,000 infected children die from respiratory or neurological complications. The disease is also very contagious. That is why health officials say that communities need about 95% vaccination coverage with two doses to prevent outbreaks. That said, our childhood vaccination coverage has fallen below that level. So far in 2026, the United States has experienced more than 2,700 confirmed measles cases and several deaths. Consider that two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles. It is also important to be honest about vaccine risks. According to health experts, the MMR vaccine can cause fever and a mild rash, and a febrile seizure may occur in about 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 vaccinations. But these seizures usually have no long-term effect. Those numbers put the issue into perspective. A vaccine is not risk-free, but the risk of serious complications from measles is much greater than the risk of serious complications from the MMR vaccine. To abandon measles vaccination would mean giving up a remarkably effective public-health tool and allowing a disease that we have successfully controlled to return and possibly threaten generations to come. Ray Mancari, Vero Beach Join the Conversation: TCPalm is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at TCNLetters@tcpalm.com. 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