Americans don’t care about climate change | Sept. 24

No interest in climate change

Columnist Nicholas Goldberg offered a warning of disinterest and apathy regarding the world’s biggest crisis. Citing that global warming ranks 24th on a list of 29 issues concerning voters, the dire warnings fall on deaf ears.

Attempting to market an issue in today’s America to enact a popular outcry may prove to be a fool’s errand. Who is to blame for the disinterest is the not a confusing scientific riddle. The same old culprits of dubious news sources, social media bubble, and extreme politicians who continuously promote a false narrative about climate change, done to promote an agenda where disbelief in science is defined as freedom and patriotism. That’s an agenda where we all lose.

William Falcone, Brandon

Pinellas leaders launch free mental health program for first responders | Sept. 23

Help for first responders

Pinellas County is to be commended for launching the Mental Health for Heroes Foundation, which is helping to provide mental health services to first responders and their families. For far too long, the behavioral health needs of first responders have been disregarded. First responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. They are the first to respond, but they are the last to ask for help.

As a retired law enforcement officer, I have seen how repeated exposure to trauma can impact someone. Police, fire, EMS, and dispatch personnel experience extreme stress on an ongoing basis. That is why I am now working to connect our community’s first responders to the help they need through the First Responder Hope Line (1-866-4FL-HERO/LastToAsk.com). This 24-hour support line, funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families, covers 11 counties, including Pinellas, and provides immediate, confidential, emotional support and connections to a variety of resources. We all need to do more to help our community’s heroes.

Meg Ross, First Responder Ambassador, Tampa

Deputy killed in hit-and-run | Sept. 24

One more lost Life

You can add one more needlessly lost life to President Joe Biden’s open border policy. A man in the country illegally is accused of running over and killing Pinellas County Deputy Michael Hartwick, whose family lost a son, husband and father. If convicted, the Florida taxpayers will have to pay for his incarceration, which could be up to 30 years. He should be deported and never allowed to enter this country again. Main stream media including Tampa Bay Times have ignored the Democrats crisis at the border for the last 21 months. There are hundreds of thousands of immigrants waiting to be processed and obeying the law. But you can bet this letter won’t be published because it doesn’t fit your woke left wing agenda.

Mark Khan, Tampa