My idea to fix property insurance

Insurance costs may not drop very soon | Oct. 11

The real way to reduce the insurance costs for Florida would be a four-step process, I believe: (1) Limit the amount of coverage by conventional insurance carriers for any property to $750,000. Anyone wanting more would have to buy additional coverage from a secondary insurance provider; (2) change Citizens Insurance to a secondary-only carrier that would only offer policies for coverage over the $750,000 conventional insurance cap at rates that reflect the additional risk; (3) change the Florida law requires that Citizens to levy assessments on most Florida policyholders if it experiences a deficit in the wake of a particularly devastating storm or series of storms. Have Citizens levy special assessments only on other Citizens policyholders if that happens; and (4) set a base rate per $10,000 of coverage for a property in central Florida, and increase the rate significantly for property in each evacuation or flood zone up to a maximum rate for conventional $750,000 coverage.

These steps would limit the exposure conventional providers have and possibly encourage providers to reenter the state. Conventional carriers in Florida already have plans like this for sinkhole coverage because not everyone has as big an exposure. Shouldn’t the same apply to the base rate and wind exposure?

Richard Ross, Brooksville

We are all losing

The US House is not representative — and that’s the problem | Editorial, Oct. 8

Bravo to the Editorial Board’s renewed call for ranked-choice voting and open primaries. These innovations threaten the Democrat and Republican parties because such changes place problem solving above party loyalties. In 1994, Republicans won control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. Up until then, two generations of Americans simply assumed a Democratic-controlled House. This profound change in the competitive dynamic might have prompted a move to the middle. Instead, we have suffered a rush to the extremes. For 30 years now, the foremost result of any election is to redefine the battle lines of and launch fundraising for the next vote. Governing has been sacrificed to winning the next political fight. So now we are all losing. We must do better.

Todd Hooper, St. Petersburg

The writer is on the executive committee of the Florida Forward Party.

Not just the primaries

The US House is not representative — and that’s the problem | Editorial, Oct. 8

I totally agree with this Tampa Bay Times editorial. But primaries are just the beginning. Add in severe gerrymandering, voting restrictions, equal senators for each state regardless of population and the Electoral College, and you have all the necessary elements for a rule by minority. I can remember participating in a public opinion poll at Walt Disney World more than 25 years ago in which we watched a short video on numerous subjects and then registered our opinions on the subject with a touch of a handheld device. It dawned on me at that moment that this could be the basis for a totally new way of gathering public input from those who wished to be involved on almost any subject considered for legislation. With the advancement of the internet and communication systems, I think we have arrived at the proper time and place to begin the transformation of a truly representative form of government.

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Paul Hauck, Tampa

A way for the Rays

Here’s a pitch | Column, Oct. 8

Sports columnist John Romano’s suggestions to increase Tampa Bay Rays’ attendance are right on the mark. I watched every game this season on TV, but did not go to the Trop once due to the cost of tickets and parking, but primarily because of the hassle of needing to purchase tickets on an app. Yes, as Romano suggests, retirees like me prefer to walk up to a ticket window and purchase a ticket. I’m old school to the extent that throughout my life I have saved my ticket stubs from memorable or significant games. Some 15 to 20 times this season I considered driving to a Rays’ game, only to change my mind when I considered the cost of parking and the sometimes tedious chore of trying to purchase a ticket through the app. Hey, Rays, open up a ticket window at the Trop, and I’ll see you in ‘24!

Scott Betzelberger, Largo

Not really funny

What part of ‘science’ do DeSantis and his sidekick not get? | Perspective, Oct. 8

This tongue-in-cheek opinion piece by Diane Roberts captures the very essence of the clown governing our state and his jester leading the Florida Department of Health. It would be hilarious if it weren’t true and it wasn’t harming a substantial percentage of adults in Florida. Instead, it’s just sad, so very sad.

David Burg, Tampa