Willi Rudowsky, St. Petersburg

Florida finally frees churches to start schools without burdensome rules | Column, May 1

Not my money

Pastor Joshua C. Robertson makes an impassioned plea for using tax money to fund religious education. I’d like to point out that he and his denomination are free to open any school they want, but they are not free to use my tax money to pay for it. Use your own money, like the rest of us.

Jim Barrens, St. Petersburg

Florida House rejects added school vaccine exemptions, AI rules | April 29

Empowering parents

As a parent of three fully vaccinated boys, now grown men, I remain deeply grateful for preventive healthcare that supported their healthy growth and development. Today, each contributes meaningfully to society: one is an engineer, one a photojournalist, and one serves as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Their outcomes reflect not only individual effort but also the foundational protection offered by immunization.

Vaccine‑preventable diseases can significantly impair childhood growth through decreased food intake during illness, reduced nutrient absorption, direct nutrient losses, and increased metabolic demands as the body diverts energy from growth to fighting infection. For example, rotavirus causes severe dehydrating diarrhea, and recurrent infections are associated with delayed nutritional recovery. Serious infections such as bacterial meningitis and encephalitis may lead to seizures, hearing loss, and an increased risk of an IQ below 70.

The benefits of vaccination extend beyond physical health. In India, fully vaccinated children scored 4 to 6 percentage points higher in reading, writing, and mathematics than unvaccinated peers, representing relative gains of 6% to 12%. The American Academy of Pediatrics underscores that school immunization requirements help create safe learning environments that support attendance and social development. Ultimately, vaccination promotes long‑term educational attainment, productivity and economic stability while preventing the financial devastation associated with Vaccine‑preventable diseases.

Frances L Gilliland, DNP, CPNP-AC/PC, Tarpon Springs

U.S. destroys 7 Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz | May 5

Political la la land

In a March 22 appearance on Fox News, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., compared taking Kharg Island in Iran to the Battle of Iwo Jima, saying, “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this — my money is always on the Marines.”

What he failed to mention is the true cost of Iwo Jima: 6,821 American service members killed and more than 19,000 wounded. That’s not just history — it’s a reminder of the human price of war. Those numbers represent real people, real families, and lives forever changed.

It’s easy for politicians to invoke past victories, but far harder to acknowledge the sacrifices behind them. Many Americans — especially young families — may be the ones who ultimately bear the burden if history repeats itself in another prolonged conflict, as it did during the Vietnam War.

President Donald Trump entered this situation without a clear plan and still lacks a defined path forward. Statements like Graham’s strike some as detached from the reality faced by those who serve.

As voters head to the polls this fall, it’s worth reflecting on what leadership, accountability, and care for American families truly mean — and choosing representatives who align with those values.

Joseph Lipa, Seminole

Tampa and balanced growth

As Tampa enters another election cycle, the debate over growth is no longer just about zoning maps or development incentives. It’s about whether residents’ lived experience is given equal weight in shaping the city’s future. For decades, development interests and the political networks around them have driven much of Tampa’s expansion. That momentum has brought investment, but it has also pushed our infrastructure to its limits.

As a Tampa resident since 1975 and a long-time neighborhood and infrastructure advocate, I’ve watched the same concerns surface year after year: sidewalks that disappear mid-block, traffic that overwhelms neighborhood streets, parking pressures in older communities, and stormwater systems that fail during routine rainstorms. These issues are not abstract; they affect safety, mobility, and quality of life across South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, West Tampa, and Beach Park.

In my work as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, I’ve learned that durable solutions come from balancing competing interests, not ignoring one side of the table. Tampa needs that same balance now. As major candidates present their visions, voters deserve clarity on how each intends to align growth with the lived realities of our neighborhoods.

Tom Feaster, Tampa

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