Miami’s de la Cruz art collection will be missed. Why not donate to a local museum? | Opinion

Art concealed

Re: the April 4 story, “Miami’s de la Cruz Collection is closed. Art is headed to $30 million auction after founder’s death.”

The de la Cruz Collection had been a wonderful venue showing modern art in Miami for the past 15 years. I am saddened to learn that this free museum is now closed.

The worse news, however, is that the collection will be sold at auction by Christie’s. The great art collected by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz will probably be sold to private collectors outside of Miami. This art will likely no longer be available for the local public to view.

Why not donate the art to a local museum?

Jim Douglas,

Ocean Grove, NJ

Still breaking strides

In May 2023, the Miami Herald published my letter commenting on the out-of-service elevator or escalator at the Metromover station by the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Here we are in April 2024 and on our recent trip to the Arsht Center, the Metromover station was in the same state: no escalator or elevator in operation. I’m glad we are still mobile enough to manage the stairs. What about those who are physically challenged or those with strollers or bikes?

This is a busy tourist location and it is still not showing off the best of Miami.

Marsha Broad,

Miami

Drink less

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to think about our alcohol consumption to ensure we are enjoying it responsibly and in moderation. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, alcohol should be limited to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less for women.

While any alcohol abuse is too much, the good news is federal data indicate harmful drinking in the United States is declining. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows binge drinking among adults 21 and over decreased 11% from 2018 to 2022 and nine out of 10 (89%) say they drink the same amount or less than before the pandemic.

Adults who choose to drink should commit to mindful drinking year-round. Some people should not drink at all. Talking with healthcare providers can help determine what is best based on individual factors and family history.

Amanda Berger,

vice president, science and health,

Distilled Spirits Council,

Washington, D.C.

Popular trails

The March 20 article, “Pedal coast to coast without using a road? New program helps link trails across U.S.” reported that a St. Louis-based lawyer said trails can devalue property and wants landowners compensated under laws that protect their rights.

The U.S. Association of Realtors has said that the next most-asked for amenity by potential home purchasers, after schools and parks, is paths or trails. In almost all cases, a trail next to a property would increase rather than decrease the value of that property. Also, trails would be built on public right-of-way, so as not to take land from private use.

When linear property becomes available, it must be evaluated for use as public transportation assets before disposing of it. Cycling and walking should be a priority, especially due to the lack of infrastructure for bikes and pedestrians.

Paths are not only important for transcontinental trips but also for the many regional and local users. Safe routes to school, a weekend or day trip, a wonderful commute, or even a short walk in your neighborhood are some of the many benefits of more paths.

Eric Tullberg,

Palmetto Bay

Save our pets

Authorities reportedly rescued hundreds of neglected dogs from three separate mass-breeding operations in Northeast Florida in March.

Animals in mass-breeding mills suffer so breeders can make a buck. As long as people keep buying animals from pet stores, breeders, classified ads and online, animals will keep suffering in these miserable mills, and animals in shelters and struggling to survive on the streets will lose out on homes.

Adopt animals from shelters, rather than purchasing them from breeders or pet stores. And please, spay or neuter your animal companions and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

Melissa Rae Sanger,

The PETA Foundation,

Norfolk, VA

Haiti in crisis

As a physician who ran a community development organization in the slums of Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti from 2010-18, I find the reporting on Haiti’s gangs remarkably naive.

There is no way these gangs will accept a political solution imposed by the United States, CARICOM and selected Haitian representatives. With gangs in control of Port-au-Prince’s airport, sea port and roads leading into the capitol, I doubt a multinational police force led by Kenya and funded by the United States could arrive in Haiti without suffering massive casualties. Gangs are not interest in “amnesty;” they are only interested in overthrowing the system, controlling the country and dividing the spoils.

Unfortunately, there is only one solution which most readers would rather not consider. In 1804, Haitians overthrew their French masters and mulatto overseers and became the only successful slave revolt in the world.

Perhaps the United States and the international community should embargo the flow of arms and ammunition reaching the gangs and support the Haitian police force by arming civilians, who are barricading their communities and battling gangs only with machetes. This will precipitate a brutal civil war that could eventually defeat the gangs and restore the country through national elections.

Lawrence R. Kaplan,

Cape Elizabeth, ME

End the fighting

Israel is its own worst enemy. This drip-by-drip war to rid Gaza of its Hamas fighters cannot continue with world opinion castigating Israel’s every move, every bombing of an ambulance, a food truck or a hospital.

Israel must make every effort to successfully end this battle as soon as possible.

Roger Shatanof,

Coral Gables

Could’ve been worse

I am 92 years old. For 86 of those years, I have struggled to see and hear. A severe case of measles left me completely deaf in one ear, the other ear damaged and sight in one eye diminished. It also affected my balance and I have always had to be careful not to fall in, down or over something.

I am a retired journalist, university professor, a happy parent, grandparent and great-grandparent, so I have done all right, but it hasn’t been easy.

Avoiding profanity and slander, I would merely like to tell Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that his decision to allow unvaccinated students to go to school during a measles outbreak is amazingly, stunningly wrong.

One bright spot, though. At least he was not in office during a polio outbreak.

Nancy Pike Hause,

Estes Park, CO

No royalty

I don’t wish any ill will to the British royal family but, why is their health and prosperity relevant to American society?

Cancer among Americans remains one of the single greatest health crises here.

How patients here can seek treatment and continue their employment — without the benefit of nannies, butlers, chauffeurs, and a job, other than waving to crowds — should surely deter our interest in their exalted lives.

Marshall Sober,

Aventura

Seeking answers

Re the April 5 story, “‘Giving him the voice he never had.’ Play in Miami Beach explores Arthur McDuffie’s death:” I was hoping to read more about McDuffie’s life. Instead, the story was about writers, books and journalists.

My husband’s business had to close during the riots in 1980 and scant details were available even then.

Why the high-speed chase? Where did the officers beat him to death?

Even then, it all sounded like racism, but still very little information about McDuffie, the man.

Valeria Mastelli,

Key Biscayne