A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers:

Tampa Bay Times — Florida need to test all rape kits

Florida has failed thousands of sexual assault victims by allowing rape kits to go untested throughout the state. Officials have long known they have a serious problem, but they grossly underestimated its scope. Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials have put the number of untested rape kits at more than 10,000. And they are still counting. There is no excuse for ignoring critical evidence, potentially robbing victims of justice and allowing criminals to go free.

FDLE officials said last week that a survey to determine how many untested rape kits exist at law enforcement agencies in Florida has found more than 10,000 kits. The backlogs are largely due to inadequate staffing in FDLE crime labs around the state. Some of the untested kits have been around for decades, sitting untouched as the evidence was collected before DNA analysis or because suspects confessed or argued that the sexual act was consensual. State officials plan to detail the full extent of the backlog in December. Already, the FDLE is struggling to analyze 1,500 rape kits that it received since January as pressure began to mount to test evidence related to old sexual assault cases. Attorney General Pam Bondi wisely raised the issue in September and committed to work through the backlog of untested kits.

The FDLE typically handles 2,400 requests per year for current rape kits. In 2014, the agency had to outsource 450 kits. Working through the backlog of more than 10,000 old rape kits along with the current kits will be a challenge for the agency unless it gets more money to retain staff, upgrade equipment and attract new talent. State officials estimate that outsourcing the analysis could cost approximately $9 million or $900 for each rape kit, an unnecessary expense given that Florida should employ enough crime analysts to do the work.

Florida is in this difficult position because years of budget cuts that made for good political sound bites decimated the FDLE’s staff, depressed salaries and triggered high turnover. The state has been penny-wise and pound-foolish and now needs to swiftly reverse course. FDLE Commissioner Richard Swearingen has asked the Legislature for more money to pay for raises for crime lab analysts and supervisors and update old equipment. Lawmakers should grant his request.

The Bradenton Herald — Florida Legislature once again fails mission, proving inept

Florida’s Legislature proved once again to be an inept, even broken political entity. This week, the Senate and House failed to agree on new redistricting maps for the upper chamber after ending a three-week special session. Facing a lawsuit, the Senate conceded the old maps had been drawn illegally. Now the courts will select one of the newest maps.

This mirrors the Legislature’s failure to approve new boundaries for congressional districts during a special session in August after the state Supreme Court invalidated the map in July as a violation of one of Florida’s Fair Districts constitutional amendments. This, too, left the decision in the hands of the courts.

Ahead of those political debacles, the House quit the chaotic regular session early before accomplishing the lone task demanded in the state Constitution — passing a balanced budget.

Outraged senators sought a Supreme Court decision, and justices ruled the House action violated the Constitution. Lawmakers finally agreed on a budget during a special session that ended in June.

Republicans control both chambers but they could not come to terms on redistricting in the face of rigid political battles. Now some lawmakers are coming to their senses by suggesting the creation of an independent commission for drawing political boundaries.

Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, put the matter succinctly in a Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau interview after the collapse of the special session: “The system is completely broken and it needs to be fixed, and I’m completely open to a commission.”

The Daytona Beach News-Journal — Another wasted special session

Another special session of the Florida Legislature has gone the way of a Kardashian marriage.

The House and Senate adjourned Thursday, one day earlier than scheduled, because they couldn’t agree on a redrawn map of Senate districts. This follows their inability in an August overtime session to reach an accord on a new congressional map. Both decisions will now be left to the courts.

If there’s common ground among the Republican leadership, it’s the belief that legislative redistricting is virtually impossible under the state’s Fair Districts amendments. Those measures, passed by voters in 2010, forbid districts from being drawn with the “intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.” Initial attempts by the Legislature to draw maps under the new standards were challenged in court by the League of Women Voters, Common Cause of Florida and other plaintiffs, and later ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court.

Subsequent attempts by lawmakers to produce unified maps have proved futile, with each chamber interpreting the standards differently — and each drawing districts to serve individual political agendas. Indeed, future leadership positions in the Legislature rested on whether lines zigged this way or zagged the other, making compromise unlikely.

The plaintiffs say it’s hogwash for legislators to blame the law for their failure to govern, and accuse Republicans of stubbornly resisting “the will of the people.” Whether real or self-inflicted, the GOP’s obstacles to drawing viable maps, and its willingness to punt the responsibility to the courts, bolster the rationale for the state to create an independent commission that drains at least some of the politics out of the redistricting process.

The Florida Times-Union — Cheers: White House visit for JTA chief

Congratulations to Nat Ford, CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, who visited the White House not long ago.

And not merely for sightseeing.

Ford was among 11 officials from across the country to receive the “White House Transportation Champion of Change” award.

It honors individuals who display top leadership and innovation in the national transportation industry.

Ford was selected for overseeing JTA’s successful overhaul of its bus route system and its fine overall work to upgrade mass transportation in Jacksonville.

Ford received his award during a ceremony attended by Anthony Foxx, the nation’s transportation secretary.

Florida Today – Kennerly: Students take off via BLAST

The young man picked up a dark, bruised grape from a colander full of fruit; studied it carefully and threw it out before the grapes were thoroughly washed.

Such an unremarkable task for many of us — putting on plastic gloves and sorting fruit.

But for Michael, every moment he spends on the job is a lesson, a challenge he looks forward to tackling.

Michael is enrolled in Brevard Public Schools’ BLAST (Brevard Learners Achieving Successful Transition) program, for exceptional education students ages 18 to 22.  About 80 young people are enrolled at four BLAST sites, with individualized programs considering conditions from autism to cerebral palsy to Down syndrome.

BLAST, in its second year, centers on opportunities for its students as they segue into adult life, addressing four main areas: independent living; vocational and employment; personal and social; and recreation and leisure.

One of BLAST’s leaders is the enthusiastic, deeply committed Jared Ostrander, ​who lives BLAST’s “student-driven, teacher-guided” philosophy.

Three days a week, three to six students work as interns at Brevard Community Kitchen in Cocoa, where Meals on Wheels and food for Seniors at Lunch sites are prepared. They might volunteer on the food line, wash dishes, do prep or collapse boxes, said Ostrander, program supervisor and instructor at the Clearlake Educational Facility site.

“They are building work relationships, experiencing real-life work situations and job skills, and giving back to the community,” said Ostrander.

The Gainesville Sun – Cheers and jeers

As University of Florida alumni return for Homecoming this weekend, some have a surprise in store with the changes that have happened in Gainesville in recent years.

While development at West University Avenue and Northwest 13th Street is still a work in progress, new businesses and apartment complexes have sprouted up nearby.

The revitalization of downtown Gainesville continues, although it’s the neighborhoods just south of downtown that are undergoing the most dramatic transformation.

Cheer: The wave of new businesses moving into the South Main area, for continuing the revival of a long-underutilized area.

South Main had already started seeing improvements, but a new batch of businesses will seal its reputation as one of Gainesville’s funkiest neighborhoods. As The Sun reported this week, the new businesses include a tamale shop, pretzel bakery, music studio and relocated arts center.

A welcome change is the conversion of the old Discount Hi-Fi building into the Make.Work manufacturing incubator. The building, which was long an eyesore, is also being covered in murals from local artists as part of the 352walls initiative.

First Magnitude Brewing Co. had already brought new energy further south off Main, and the opening of Depot Park and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation will mean more attention and visitors.

The Lakeland Ledger — Elections are not an academic exercise

Congressman Dennis Ross has taken on the admirable task of trying to instill some sense of civic responsibility in our young. Earlier this week the Lakeland Republican, joined by Democratic Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Tallahassee, introduced a resolution that would encourage elementary and secondary schools to, as Ross’ office put it, “promote civic education and democratic engagement.”

How? Well, one way is by testing them. Ross and Graham suggest that high school seniors should take an exam based on the 100-question test the Department of Homeland Security gives foreign-born residents seeking to become American citizens. The test would not be mandatory, nor would it factor into graduation criteria. Still, Ross believes administering it would be beneficial.

“Over the years, unfortunately, I have noticed an alarming decrease in civic participation, particularly among our youth. Because of this increase in apathy and a lack of understanding of the political process on a local, state, and federal level, I am concerned about our next generation,” Ross said in a statement. “It is my belief that the largest contributing factor to this apathy is a lack of understanding of basic civics, brought about by a void in civic education throughout the United States,” Ross added. “An increased emphasis on civic education must be made to improve the overall health of our republic.”

We share the concern Ross and Graham have for our young people’s knowledge of how government at all levels works, and their participation in shaping its policies. But perhaps Ross and Graham should take a harder look at the supposed role models of these students.

The Miami Herald — Rethinking the Cuban Adjustment Act’s goals

Fifty years ago, in a speech delivered on the site in New York Harbor that is home to the Statue of Liberty, President Lyndon Johnson made a solemn vow: “I declare this afternoon to the people of Cuba that those who seek refuge here in America will find it.”

One year later, the pledge he made in October 1965 became law in the form of the Cuban Adjustment Act, signed on Nov. 2, 1966.

It proved a godsend for the beleaguered people of Cuba, betrayed by a gang of communist despots intent on establishing a totalitarian regime that, incredibly, survives to this day.

The law offers Cubans who arrive in this country a unique and speedy pathway to legal residency and citizenship available to no other immigrants from anywhere else. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Cubans seeking a better life arrived in this country. In 2009, the Congressional Research Service noted: “Cuba consistently ranks among the top 10 source countries for legal permanent residents.”

South Florida, home of the exile community, and America in general have been enriched by their presence.

The gift of an open-door policy for Cubans has been repaid many times over by their economic and cultural contributions to the country that became their new home, and to which they pledged fealty.

The world has changed in significant ways since 1965, but the despotic nature of the Cuban regime has not. Cuba remains frozen, in the grip of the same barbudos who seized control in 1959. Their beards are gone, but time has not diminished their lust for absolute power.

What has undeniably changed, however, is the nature of Cuban migrants arriving in this country. The evidence that many are no longer political refugees or individual victims of political persecution has been apparent for years.

They see the 1966 law more as an inducement to migrate to this country in search of a better life and rarely, if ever, consider the political situation in Cuba. Nowadays some even bring their pets!

The Orlando Sentinel — Hand duty for maps to commission: Where We Stand

Watching the Florida Legislature deal with redistricting has become like sitting through the movie “Groundhog Day.” There is a certain predictability to events.

Unfortunately, the legislative players aren’t nearly as endearing as Bill Murray’s character, who is forced to relive the same day over and over again. And it can’t be amusing for ordinary Floridians after paying the bills for their representatives and senators to spin their wheels in the state Capitol.

Another legislative session dedicated to redrawing districts ended in failure Thursday when the House and Senate were unable to agree on new maps for the state’s 40 Senate districts. Just a couple of months ago, the two chambers reached a dead end over the state’s 27 congressional districts in another session. Legislators have now blown through $11 million from taxpayers on fruitless redistricting efforts.

How much longer will citizens have to wait, and how many more of their dollars will be wasted, before their leaders in Tallahassee concede what events have rendered painfully obvious? The time has come for legislators to turn over responsibility for redistricting to an independent commission, an approach adopted in at least a half dozen other states. That group includes red and blue states.

Such a reform in Florida would require another amendment to the state constitution. That can’t happen in time to straighten out the Senate and congressional districts in time for the 2016 elections. So it’s now left to the Florida Supreme Court to do what legislators couldn’t, and approve final maps for next year.

The Ocala StarBanner — Failing Florida on mental health

The recent series of articles on deaths and injuries at Florida mental hospitals is proof that statewide reforms of the care system haven’t gone far enough, fast enough.

That’s a tragedy for the affected individuals, but it is also a defeat for Florida — which has been trying for decades to create an effective, humane treatment system for people with severe mental illness. We must ensure that this setback is just a temporary one on the road to a more community-based, proactive and progressive infrastructure for mental health.

It has been eight years since a Florida Supreme Court task force issued its recommendations for “Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System” — a valuable analysis that was undertaken at a time when jails were overflowing with at-risk inmates needing placement in mental hospitals. The state was so short of beds for this purpose that the Legislature had to approve an emergency funding infusion; these so-called forensic beds continue to be a costly reality, absorbing $136 million per year to serve a comparatively small group of people.

That money, redirected to front-end care and supportive services, could stabilize many patients and prevent the crises that lead to institutionalization, the state Supreme Court report noted.

“Difficult to navigate and inefficient points of entry have resulted in barriers to accessing preventative, routine, and competent care. (In 2006), more than half of all adults with (severe mental illness) and about a third of all children with severe emotional disturbances in need of treatment in the Florida’s public mental health system had no access to care,” according to the report.

The Pensacola News-Journal — U.S. 98 palms look tacky

Ask someone if they’ve seen the 20-plus palm trees planted on the Florida side of U.S. 98 at the Lillian Bridge and be prepared for “they aren’t native to this part of Florida,” “they look ridiculous,” “what a stupid idea,” “totally out of place,” and “tacky.”

However, this is the first thing visitors to Florida will see. This is a two-lane highway, at an unpretentious area, with palms along one side. These palms look completely out of place among the native oaks and pines. The state plans to plant additional palms at other entryways into Florida, in similar settings.

When I first saw this, I called both Commissioner Wilson Robertson and state Rep. Mike Hill. Left messages, then an email, but no acknowledgment of either. Called Robertson’s office again, and talked with the secretary who told me:

1) She remembered my email, because no one else has been critical of this. (I told her that I was the only one who had taken the time to write them about it, more likely.)

2) That it is a state project. (I told her I understood that, but that I felt the commissioner should be concerned with what was going on in his district.)

3) He hadn’t replied because I hadn’t asked him a question. (True, I had simply stated the facts, but thought he should acknowledge receiving a message from a constituent. I also thought he might call Hill to find out details on who had decided on this “beautification” project, where the funding came from, etc. She told me that due to the Sunshine Law, he couldn’t call Rep. Hill on this. (I’m not knowledgeable on that law, but I don’t think that would apply to a county commissioner talking to a state representative about a concern in his district. If so, no wonder nothing gets accomplished.)

The Palm Beach Post — Facts, consumers being manipulated in solar choice debate

Manipulation is not something people usually appreciate, especially when they are obviously the victim. A common form of manipulation that we see so often is attempting to confuse consumers through various scare tactics.

Today, in the battle for solar choice in the Sunshine State, this is exactly the type of manipulation and insult that we are experiencing, and as a competitive EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), and supporter of solar choice here in South Florida, we’d like to shed some light on the truth.

In response to the Floridians for Solar Choice citizen-driven, ballot initiative to remove barriers to solar in Florida, the utility monopolies and their well-funded groups have created a sham amendment to confuse consumers and preserve the status quo on solar in Florida.

The Floridians for Solar Choice amendment will help people save money with solar by locking in electricity prices. With solar costs dropping rapidly, the payoff gets better every day. Solar choice would allow more people access to solar and provide them with alternatives to the power companies for their electricity supply. Solar choice will bring much-needed competition – the ultimate consumer protection – and the utilities are getting scared.

It’s up to the people of Florida to recognize what is going on and to stand up for the rights of energy consumers in the state. Consumers should not be fooled by the utility-backed opposition. Instead, let’s stick to the facts.

The Panama City News-Herald — Beat the elite

We love to complain about elites, people who seem to have a special advantage, privileges in life.

I get annoyed by the Kardashians and other spoiled rich kids. They didn’t work for their wealth. They don’t contribute.

Still, those elites are mostly harmless.

But there’s one group of truly dangerous elites: politicians. Spoiled party kids might have stupid ideas, but they can’t impose them on the rest of us. Politicians can, and do. It’s an important distinction to remember.

In Thomas Sowell’s book “The Vision of the Anointed” (which should have been titled “Conceit of the Self-Anointed,” Sowell points out that politicians use “the word ‘ask’ — as in ‘We are just asking everyone to pay their fair share.’ But of course governments do not ask, they tell. The IRS does not ‘ask’ for contributions.”

A rare presidential candidate who understands the importance of that difference is Sen. Rand Paul, who will appear on my TV show today. Paul points out that free markets get people to create things without force, and markets are much more efficient than governments.

“The Soviet Union was brought down because they couldn’t determine one simple thing — the price of bread,” said Paul. “They had all these planners, but nobody can determine the price of bread. Only the market can.”

Sadly, Paul hasn’t inspired voters with that message, while his fellow senator, self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders, draws huge, cheering crowds. Front-runner Hillary Clinton doesn’t call herself a socialist — but she often acts like one.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel – No need for term limits for judges

After staggering to the end of yet another special session dedicated to redistricting, many Florida legislators were seething at the Florida Supreme Court. Justices have repeatedly rejected unconstitutional boundaries drawn by legislators for Congressional and state Senate districts and forced them to try, try again in Tallahassee.

Given the timing, count us more than a little skeptical of recent legislative proposals to slap term limits on the justices and the other appellate judges at the district court level in Florida.

These proposals smack of payback, not reform — despite protests to the contrary from their sponsors. They’re just the latest in a long line of cynical attempts from frustrated legislators to weaken Florida’s judiciary, the one branch of government that has consistently stood up for the Florida Constitution.

The House version, a proposed constitutional amendment co-sponsored by Republicans John Wood, of Winter Haven, and Jennifer Sullivan, of Mount Dora, won approval from a subcommittee this week. It would limit justices and appellate judges to two six-year terms. Wood said it would restore a “true balance of power” to the three branches of government, because the governor and other executive branch officeholders are subject to term limits, and so are legislators.

Florida’s experience with legislative term limits, which date from a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 1992, isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the concept. Term limits have starved the Legislature of institutional knowledge and expanded the influence of lobbyists and staff. Meanwhile, ambitious members who enter office under an eight-year deadline wheel and deal for leadership positions as soon as they cross the Capitol’s threshold.

Judges on district courts of appeal and justices on the Supreme Court in Florida are appointed by the governor. Unlike federal judges, Florida’s appellate judges are accountable to voters, and they don’t serve for life. They must win approval from a majority at the polls to be retained on the bench after their terms expire. They must retire by the end of the term in which they turn 70.

The Tallahassee Democrat – Performance standards and accountability vital to Florida’s future

There must be clear goals and performance expectations set and measured throughout Florida’s entire talent delivery system.

This is a fundamental building block for Florida’s sustained success in developing a capable and productive workforce imbued with the right skills at the right time to ensure our state’s businesses remain globally competitive

The focus on performance is particularly imperative within our publicly funded education and workforce development systems. As stewards of the public trust, we must be able to measure organizational effectiveness while simultaneously ensuring achievement and progress are made at the individual level by students of all ages and stages of life.

Whether in early education, primary and secondary education, post-secondary or workforce development that happens beyond these traditional sectors, knowledge, skills and experience that is rooted in rigor and responsive to market-relevant talent needs is vital to developing a prepared workforce for the jobs of today as well as tomorrow.

When we started enhancing performance and accountability efforts here in Florida 16 years ago, our state was on the leading edge; today, every state is similarly working to bolster its education and workforce competitiveness through higher standards and other accountability measures.

Recently, much has been reported in the news, communicated through social media and discussed throughout our communities about the next important steps for Florida’s K-12 education accountability system. Education Commissioner Pamela Stewart has been meeting with and listening to recommendations from stakeholders ranging from parents and educators to superintendents, business owners and community leaders, among others, since this past spring. As the commissioner and the State Board of Education move closer to a decision regarding passing scores for Florida Standards Assessments, school grades and teacher evaluations, there are suggestions that Florida should suspend its accountability system.

The Tampa Tribune — A move toward transportation sanity