Letters: Brown proves that crime apparently does pay
Corrine Brown was successful in evading true justice by pleading guilty to a single charge of tax evasion. She walked away with her pension intact and the lion’s share of the funds she stole. Those monies were entrusted to her to benefit children. Instead, she lined her pockets for her own benefit.
A loophole created by Congress keeps her pension and benefits safe. Since tax evasion did not affect her as a legislator, she will continue to be enriched from the taxpayers' pockets.
She must pay back a paltry sum as a further slap on the wrist, compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars she is allowed to keep. Granted she did spend some time in prison; but by my calculations she was paid a few hundred dollars each day behind bars.
I wish I had been able to earn that kind of money when I was honestly working.
Chip Kirkpatrick, Yulee
River Taxi is fun for locals, too
I'd like to share a great experience our group recently had.
At one of our monthly meetings for St. Nicholas Area Preservation, we were trying to think of another type of event we could do with our neighbors — besides happy hours, wine walks, luminaria parties and cleanup activities. Someone suggested a sunset cruise on the Jacksonville River Taxi, so we inquired about pricing and options.
After some weather delays, we finally picked a date for a Friday night a few weeks back.
We all probably think of the River Taxi as just something that out-of-towners use to get to the football games from the Southbank. I'd like to suggest that residents of Jacksonville get together with their friends, neighbors, coworkers, or church members and check out all the options to get out on the St. Johns River and see our city from the water. It was a great evening and a wonderful event!
Wally Ericks, Jacksonville
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: Brown proves that crime apparently does pay
