Jacksonville lags on lead removal
Lead exposure has significant harmful effects on the developing brain and is detrimental to neurodevelopment. It causes hyperactivity, decreased attention, poor academic performance, decreased IQ and has been associated with childhood depression, juvenile crime, hearing loss and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The impact of lead is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Most exposure comes from lead paint and pipes in older houses. Lead paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978, but houses built prior to that can still have leaded paint on their walls. Lead pipes also remain in many older homes, often in low-income neighborhoods. As a result, lead has a disproportionate impact on minority children.
Additionally, lead paint was banned in Europe due to its known toxic effects on children decades before it was banned here in the U.S.
There are currently lead screening guidelines in place, but they are often not strictly followed. A lead level of greater than 3.5 μg/dL is the current index level for U.S. screening, but any level of lead exposure is still detrimental to neurodevelopment.
In addition, Florida is not amongst the 29 states that have mandated reporting of statewide lead screening to the CDC, and Jacksonville has a higher rate of lead exposure than other Florida cities. While our statewide lead exposurerate is12.2 per 100,000 population, Jacksonville’s rate was 18.5 per 100,000 in 2022, and it has been higher here than the rest of Florida since 2010.
The impact of lead is irreversible. It mostly impacts low-income and minority children ages5 to 7 during their peak period of brain development. This is why it is important to screen children as early as possible to eliminate lead exposure.
With the city’s commitment to health equity and the overall well-being of the children of Jacksonville, we should consider a comprehensive approach to eliminating lead exposure by getting rid of lead-based paint and lead pipes.
Rachna Karumuri, D.O. pediatric resident physician, UF College of Medicine, Jacksonville
Harris brings renewed hope
I am just an old guy, age 75, but I have not been this excited about a presidential nominee since the sixth grade, when JFK's motorcade cruised past my school in Fairborn, Ohio. The principal let the upper grades go out to the front of the school to wave as the motorcade went by.
I remember watching John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. What stood out to me then (and still does) was "… ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
I also remember Martin Luther King Jr. speaking on the National Mall in 1963. I remember watching the news of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
I remember these things because my father was a career Air Force officer. Two of his many tours were in Southern states and I saw firsthand how people were treated based on their skin color. I don't think we want to go back there.
Likewise, with the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the much-amended Clean Air Act, do we really want to let billionaire oil barons drive our environmental policies?
We are approaching a seminal moment in our nation. We can either move forward or we can accept the denigration of the less fortunate and disrespect for those that have differing views, demonstrated by name-calling and spouting baseless lies as they spread division or hate for personal gain.
I was not raised that way and neither were most Americans, I suspect. If honesty, integrity, civility, honor and fealty to the Constitution and the rule of law are important to you, then the choice is clear.
I am all in with Kamala Harris.
Michael J. Connelly, U.S. Navy (retired), Jacksonville Beach
One ultrasound tells all
I am replying to several recent pro-choice letters and columns. I have often challenged pro-choice advocates to present some scientific proof that human life does not begin with the fertilized egg cell. They have not presented such proof, nor can they.
The fertilized egg begins life with a genetically programmed sequence of events that lead to various stages of life up to old age. It is not a “potential life.” A baby is a potential adult, but not a potential life. Every ultrasound of a viable pregnancy is proof of this.
One writer wrote of “ensoulment” with no proof such a thing exists. Another wrote that abortion was a “legal and foundational principle” of our country. So was slavery from 1619 to 1865, but that did not make it right. A third letter stated that with current state law restricting abortions, “There will be roughly 20-25% more births per year.”
I would agree with that assessment, but is putting those human beings to death the answer?
Governments have an obligation to protect people who cannot protect themselves. Amendment 4, if passed, will prevent Florida government from doing so during the first 24 weeks of their lives.
I ask every voter to look online for illustrations and ultrasounds of all the stages of a fetus, especially images of the fetus in months 3, 4, 5 and 6. Amendment 4 will give that child no right to life, no appeal of a doctor’s decision. Study the pictures and then make your best decision on how to vote.
Peter K. True, M.D. (retired), Jacksonville
Florida Blue, Baptist battling it out
Last month, I was attempting to reschedule a routine doctor's appointment. However, nothing is available until after Oct. 1 so my physician can see all patients before Baptist Health breaks with accepting Florida Blue coverage.
A full-page ad from Florida Blue that same day explained how they want Baptist to re-engage in negotiations and continue medical coverage after proposing a 70% fee increase over the next 48 months. Even with inflation and other circumstances, that's way more than what's happened to the price of groceries and gas since the pandemic.
Both corporate behemoths claim to be nonprofit organizations.
Public information is a bit hard to find, but my best guesstimate for Baptist's CEO in 2022 was roughly $1,400,000 in total annual compensation. At Florida Blue, the CEO salary plus other perks is reportedly close to $24.6 million. That’s about $5,385 and $94,600 gross pay per workday respectively (give or take).
Maybe if they were for-profit companies answering to shareholders, some amount of reason would prevail. At a for-profit company, cost would have to be managed to ensure profitability. Is Baptist not being managed well, prompting the need for a massive short-term infusion of payments that threatens average Medicare customers like me?
Is Florida Blue managing itself properly? A 70% increase is unconscionable, but five figures per workday for one employee stresses credulity.
I don't have a vote here, but I do have a voice. The two big boys need to figure this out fast. If not, it's time for a government oversight accounting of how corporations get away with claiming nonprofit status while making a handful of individuals rich on the back of average citizens.
Rob Richardson, Jacksonville Beach
Stop funding private school vouchers
Like so many of my neighbors, I’m a proud product of Duval County Public Schools and have experienced firsthand the impact neighborhood schools can have on children. When I was growing up, our Arlington community flourished because of schools thriving with resources, dedicated certified public school teachers and high-quality curriculum.
Today, as a parent and long-time School Advisory Committee member, the proposed school closures fill me with disappointment, but not surprise. State policies over the past 20 years have increased funding for unaccountable private school vouchers while not sustaining financial models for neighborhood public schools.
This has now come to a crisis that requires multiple school closures to maintain minimal services for those remaining open.
I believe neighborhood public schools are the best investments we can make in the American Dream. Hardworking people deserve high-quality neighborhood schools for their kids where they live, work and play. Schools should be thriving with resources, safe for students and have great certified public school teachers teaching them high-quality curriculum.
Diverting billions of taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers — where nearly 70% of the funds go to wealthy families to attend nonaccredited private schools — while we close schools in our communities is wrong. Cuts to programs, staff, resources and now neighborhood school closures must stop. We are eroding the foundation of our communities and making the American Dream farther out of reach.
We need sustainable funding for neighborhood schools. Stop diverting taxpayer dollars to corporate school vouchers.
Jonathan Beckham, Jacksonville Beach
Rely on critical thinking, not AI
As an avowed online researcher, I appreciate that Google's new AI search engine, Gemini, summarizes the information it finds and presents it neatly at the top of your search results labeled "AI Overview." But how does it evaluate which information is credible?
I searched this question: "How does Google AI Gemini select valid information?” I was gifted with descriptions of large language models and algorithm programming that I didn't understand.
The problem with summarizing everything out in the Googleverse is that misinformation can easily be captured in its net.
As election season approaches (and until Google AI Overview is improved), I urge readers to use its findings as a starting point. To validate Google AI Overview, I go to authoritative sources. Be forewarned, knowledge-sharing platforms like Quora and Reddit are not authoritative. They are open to anyone and everyone to spread misinformation or disinformation.
For example, for authoritative sources about medical information, I look in Google's search results for links to Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic, etc., or I go to Google Scholar. For authoritative political information, I seek out FactCheck.org and Snopes.com.
Let's all practice critical thinking.
Susan Schjelderup, Ponte Vedra Beach