Letters: Malcolm Yonge Center’s demolition shows not all community spaces are equal

Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of our readers and not the Pensacola News Journal. In order for letters to be considered for publication, they must be 250 words or less and include name, a full address and phone number. Only your name and city of residence will be published. Email submissions to opinion@pnj.com.

Malcolm Yonge Center was more than a gym

The recent 6-1 vote by the city council to demolish the Malcolm Yonge Community Center, with Councilman Charles Bare as the only vote against demolition, has sent shockwaves through our city. The overwhelming citizen pushback is not just due to the loss of our sense of place, or a destruction of our history, or the loss of such a significant space that sharpened the skills of local professional athletes like Reggie Evans, Derrick Brooks or Roy Jones Jr.

The loss is not as simple as a general mistrust of the words “affordable housing,” or the hushed whispering that those in the seats of power will use our public parks for their profits. The issue of demolishing Malcolm Yonge is a much deeper, soulful look at how we prioritize “who gets what” from our tax dollars, and why some community spaces seem “worthy” of renovations while others languish in neglect.

The court case re-filed by Mr. Jonathon Green to issue a temporary restraining order against the city just two days before Mayor D.C. Reeves chose to demolish the gym, should concern every single one of us, because it could set precedent that citizens do not actually have any real powers of referendum. His decision to interfere with charter processes of a legally-formed constitutional body, by ordering the demolition before the 60 days allocated to the electors, makes this check and balance of government by the public impotent, and the citizen disenfranchised.

Malcolm Yonge Center stood as a battleground over citizen rights, community spaces remaining public, historic preservation, constitutional rights of redress of governance, and yes, as an arched beacon of hope that lost dollars are equally allocated to all of us.

Teresa Hill, Pensacola

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Florida is not kind to renting homeowners

Only in Florida can a tenant live for free. This is the state of Pensacola, where a tenant who doesn’t pay their rent for 11 months will, at the end of the 11 months of not paying rent, pick an excuse to get a hotel room for the landlord to pay and the judge rewards them.

Now, how could this be possible? So now I know this state of Florida is a live for free, don't-pay-your-rent-and-get-a-room-at-a-hotel-all-for-free destination. This has to stop. Why hasn’t the law put a stop to this?

Homeowners, the dream is over; don't rent to anyone.

Wilfredo Rivera, Pensacola

Trump ‘dealing’ his way back to White House

Trump wrote a book entitled The Art of the Deal. Attorney General of New York Letitia James remarked with regard to Donald Trump, "The Art of the Deal is the Art of the Steal." If wheeler dealer, high roller Trump can buy his way out of 91 felony charges, not to mention wiggle out of all the civil legal problems he has, not go broke from legal fees, and even get elected president, he will surely be “Wheeler Dealer Maximus.”

David Venn, Cantonment

Infrastructure falling behind two-county growth

I have been a resident in this two-county area for 26 years and I have seen the rapid development. I have witnessed the commercial and residential development outpace the capability of the two counties to keep up with the needed infrastructure improvements to accommodate the growth.

The needed road improvements continue to lag while more residual developments just announced are approved and the traffic congestion just gets worse. We are becoming like too many other areas in Florida where the rapid growth has ruined what was once a desirable place to live.

It's time we all hold our county commissioners accountable for what they have allowed to happen.

Pete Gandy, Pace

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GOP must fully unite behind Trump

Up front I am a Trump supporter. My review of the State of the Union speech leaves little doubt that President Biden has rushed left as fast as he can go and isn't looking back.

He is bringing his crew in the Senate and House with him, and they will keep the leftist policies they have pushed for three years on the front burner. I urge the Republicans to unite behind Donald Trump and push for laws that follow the constitution as written.

The Republicans better give up their petty differences and unite and regain the majority in Congress and the presidency and move this nation to its place in the world it had just a few years ago.

Elijah Bell, Jay

Voters should be careful what they wish for

Our country is a very safe place to live where we can make many choices. We have one presidential candidate who wants to convince us that this country is out of control. If he is elected, this seems to be preparation to implement the Insurrection Act, where our military will be in the streets to stop any citizen protests.

He seems to be educating himself on how to rule as a dictator. Also, a dictator can suspend a constitution, eliminate future elections and reform a constitution to their liking. Let’s look at life in those countries with dictators. In Hungary, Russia and China, only the military and police and Secret Police have guns. Are we ready to give up our right to the Second Amendment? Also, those governments own and control the power and water utilities.

If someone or some business is not sufficiently loyal or pay enough protection money, they may find their utility rate rise or be cut off. I think we need to find out more of what life is really like for citizens in autocratic countries.

Gerri Cripe, Pensacola

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Letters: Malcolm Yonge Center demolition shows all spaces aren't equal