Hybrid political meetings help people with disabilities | Letters to the editor

While stating the obvious “fiasco” regarding Palm Beach County’s Democratic Executive Committee meeting on July 6, columnist Steve Bousquet missed the point regarding hybrid meetings (“A Democratic fiasco still festers in Palm Beach,” July 9). Reasons such as driving long distances, family scheduling conflicts and other reasons are listed as complaints. Apparently “other reasons” are representative of the voters who identify as having a disability.

If COVID taught us anything, it’s that conducting meetings via Zoom or other online platforms brings more people into a space. Inclusion, a word practically banned by Republicans, does have meaning in the Florida Democratic Party, which has a Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

I’ve attended many successful hybrid meetings. The format has become the norm for many organizations and is by no means “illogical.” On the contrary, hybrid meetings are inclusive.

We Democrats pride ourselves as being the big tent party and eliminating hybrid meetings would take us back to the days where individuals with disabilities did not have equal access to having their voices heard. While I agree that the Palm Beach meeting was an embarrassment, it is not reflective of the party as a whole or of its firm commitment to inclusion.

Karen M. Clay, Tampa

The writer is president of the Democratic Disability Caucus of Florida.

(Editor’s Note: Palm Beach County Democratic leaders say they only meet in buildings that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Barriers to justice

I am writing in response to the recent editorial, “Too Little, Too Late for Two Gross Injustices.”

I agree, Florida’s “clean hands” provision impedes many exonerees from receiving compensation. But I believe it’s also worth mentioning that Florida’s 90-day rule adds to the difficulties exonerees face when seeking compensation. Under state law, wrongfully convicted individuals who request compensation must file a petition within 90 days of being freed. The issue is that some exonerees are still in custody, even after a conviction is overturned.

Not allowing exonerees to file claims within 90 days is what happened to Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin, whose charges were not taken away until two years after the dismissal of his conviction. When he filed his claim for compensation, his claim was not accepted.

Two bills were filed to extend the 90-day limit to two years after exoneration. One bill (SB 382) passed the Senate 39-0, but died in the Florida House in the 2023 session. I agree we need to get rid of Florida’s clean hands bar, but we also need to make progress to pass a bill to ensure that, when we are discussing the challenges the wrongfully incarcerated encounter, all of their barriers are eliminated.

Kayla Weinberg, Pembroke Pines

Gun laws and Congress

In reference to the letter from Rob Berg of Boynton Beach: True, President Biden had a majority in the House and with Kamala Harris, a razor-thin majority in the Senate. But it takes 60 votes to pass anything in the Senate. I believe if Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate, many new gun restrictions would be law. It’s the Republicans who are fully responsible for our lack of responsible gun laws.

Charles Terban, Hollywood

Women’s golf deserves better

The LPGA hyped this year’s U.S. Open at historic Pebble Beach for months. It’s a huge year for women’s golf, because they’re not only playing at Pebble, but they’re allowed to compete at other historic venues where before, only the men were allowed to play.

Despite Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West playing in their final U.S. Open, the Golf Channel had practically no coverage. They aired the first two rounds of the men’s John Deere Classic over and over, yet the first two rounds of the women’s U.S. Open were hardly aired. Sexism or stupidity? The PGA has had a miserable year with the LIV debacle and this insult is yet another major error for professional golf. It’s too bad for golf fans.

Joel A. Elin, Ph.D., Lake Worth Beach