Sound Off: February 16, 2026

Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.

Foreign language music

I guess we will all have to stop listening to stuff like Feliz Navidad. Then we will have to get rid of Ritchie Valenz’ La Bamba. Lets not forget Carlos Santana’s version of Oye Como Va. There is a lot more of this than I thought. We haven’t even gotten to the opera yet. That’s all go to go, too. When will it end? I sure hope MAGA is happy then.

Manhole covers

There have been two recent posts on this topic pointing out that manhole covers are often several inches below the pavement. Blame the contracting officer and city engineer for this problem. If making the manhole cover even with the top of new pavement is written into the contract, the contractor will do so. They probably won’t if not required since it will cost more. Put it in the requirements statement, the contractor will bid with this requirement in mind and deliver a smooth road.

Another manhole cover problem

You’ve probably noticed that when a road is widened, the design often puts the manhole covers right in the path where a wheel will hit it rather than to the center, so vehicles will straddle them. Good attention to engineering design could avoid this problem.

Trump’s people

Continue to blame Joe Biden for everything if you must, but his AG did not flip-flop on “we have the files, there are no files, we reviewed the files and there is nothing to see.” Nor did his AG expose victim’s information while keeping possible perpetrators identities safe. Republicans only have themselves to blame for suspicion of covering up and protecting President Trump and his cronies, especially considering Pam Bondi and Kash Patel’s recent absurdly theatrical performances in front of Congress.

50 percent

Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said, “President Trump is going to go down in history as the most successful and consequential president in our lifetime …” He was half-right.

Epstein information

I’ll remind you that President Biden had four years to release this Epstein information and ... crickets.

All guilty

Sure seems like Republicans and Democrats, alike, have done their level-best to prevent America from finding out the truth behind Epstein Island.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.