Why stay in Florida? For lots of reasons | Letters to the editor

(Editor’s Note: In a letter published Aug. 17, a reader asked that if people are so dissatisfied with Gov. Ron DeSantis, why do they still live in Florida? We asked readers to respond, and received a flurry of letters).

The Sun Sentinel invited responses to the leading question: Why do I still live here?

For those of us who were ridiculed by Jerry Seinfeld for early-bird dinners and who seek protection from high taxes and cold weather, the answer is simple. The question is wrong. The major reason I still live here is because I just got here. The question should be why did we wait so long to move to sunny Florida?

Another question is, why don’t those of us with younger families up in the nasty North urge them to move here so we don’t need to go back there to visit. But I digress.

My reasons are simple. I got tired of the cold. I’m no longer involved in business. State taxes are virtually nil, and I just refreshed my wardrobe online with six pairs of shorts, a pair of long pants and two golf shirts for about $300. I’m probably set for a couple of years.

Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton

‘This ugly turn’

I love my beautiful state — just not this ugly turn in our politics. And make no mistake, it’s simply a turn.

This is a free country. I’m free to live wherever I want. More importantly, I am free to vote for whomever I want.

Looking at the disaster DeSantis has made of this state, I and millions like me am looking to turn our politics away from the fear and hatred that he has allowed to bloom and fester. To turn away from misuse of public funds, the disasters visited upon women, immigrants, people of color and anyone who’s on the gender or sexuality spectrum. People toss around the word  “woke” as if they had some clue about its meaning.

As a teacher, I am beyond livid. This man has called me a “groomer” and a pedophile and is utterly destroying our state educational institutions and our public schools. His management of COVID, his stands on vaccines and health precautions, and hiring a sham of a surgeon general has imperiled the health of everyone living here.

Denying history, science or sound education is not acceptable. Treating any citizens as second class, imposing religious views and elevating hatred is not acceptable. I don’t plan to leave; I plan to fight. It’s my right and responsibility.

Susan Walsh, Coral Springs

Inside a little bubble

I do not agree with any of DeSantis’ policies. I still live in Florida because I am 76. I came here in 1980 from Newark, N.J., and have lived in Broward for 30 years.

I would have trouble teaching some of the curriculum now. I have cousins and a great social circle here. If I had children, they would be in private schools more in tune with my beliefs. My son and daughter-in-law don’t live in Florida anymore. They were born here, but both are happy that they moved to Virginia. My son’s salary tripled after he moved three years ago. I feel like I live in a little bubble, and I make my bubble very comfortable for myself.

Bonnie Feldman, Tamarac 

Working for change

My answer to your question about not moving out of state is that I’m too old. I moved here in 1974 and have lived in Coral Springs, Miami and now Boca. If my kids were still young, I would remove them from this toxic political environment. However, they are adults and made their own decisions where to live. Both were away; one is back now for personal reasons.

My husband and I do work to change things, but for now, we’re “stuck” in Florida.

Susan Kaye, Boca Raton