Letters to the editor for Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to mailbag@news-press.com and for the Naples Daily News to letters@naplesnews.com
McGregor pedestrians at risk
There is a major issue that is apparently being ignored by the Fort Myers law enforcement community. McGregor Boulevard, West First Street, Euclid Ave. are all part of the area that I walk daily with my dog. As a resident of the area, and a frequent pedestrian, with a law enforcement background, I take note on a daily basis of the fact that the streets I listed are basically race tracks. I use the stoplight and crosswalk at Altamont and McGregor, and the stoplight/crosswalk at the Edison-Ford Estate to cross McGregor frequently, which seems to be offensive to drivers who believe that they’re above the law with regards to traffic controls, speed limits, and the right of a pedestrian to cross the street with a Walk sign lit.The ”assumed privilege” extends to residents along McGregor Boulevard, thinking their golf carts give them license to force pedestrians off the sidewalk, regardless of whether there’s room for them to pass or not.
In 2022, four-way stop signs were installed on West First Street. There was a token attempt to enforce them for a whole two weeks, and one officer working. After that, it reverted to the same old song, with expensive vehicles ignoring the stop signs, and other drivers and pedestrians be damned.While I realize the FMPD has a lot on their plate, I have an expectation of my safety when I am a law-abiding pedestrian, not to be threatened or have vehicles speed up trying to beat me through the crosswalk when they have a red light. I would expect transgressors to be ticketed regardless of who they are, or what they’re driving. The recurring pattern I see is that the more expensive the vehicle, the more likely they are to ignore traffic laws and controls, at the expense of others.
Robert Waldrop, Fort Myers
Helmets for bicycles, motorcycles
We continue to see senseless motorcycle and bicycle fatalities on our roadways. It might be worthwhile to raise the awareness of riders by highlighting the use, or non-use, of helmets by those victims. Would you consider adding such information in the reporting of those fatalities? You could always preface your reporting by including “Preliminary reporting indicates…” To some riders, having such information might just shape their behavior a bit and thereby save a life. I don’t see a downside to making active and potential riders aware of such facts.
John Tomlinson, Bonita Springs
Cape leadership falls short
While our esteemed Cape Coral leaders were engaged in a debate with citizens regarding the allocation of significant funds for the transformation of Jaycee Park and the adjustment of their stipends, they inadvertently overlooked their primary responsibilities. This oversight has resulted in a concerning 25% increase in our flood insurance costs. In addition to their disregard for citizen input, their overall governance of our city has demonstrated a concerning lack of competence. It is imperative that we collectively exercise our democratic right to vote and elect individuals who possess the requisite skills and genuine concern necessary for effectively governing our wonderful city.
Bill McDade, Cape Coral
Restore women's health choices
Great news for all Florida women.As newspapers, TV and others announced last week, "The state Supreme Court ruled that a proposed amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution can appear on the ballot in November."I say "all Florida women" because it does touch the grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends of women who are facing the unwelcome presence of Florida assemblymen, Florida state senators and the gov into our MD's office, our bedrooms and our private health concerns. They call the shots for women's choice of when and how they manage their family planning.Listen up gentlemen of Florida. These unwelcome restrictive measures threaten your lives too. You are half of the procreation formula. You can't have a say in your wife/partner's planning or care. You could even have to watch the woman you love suffer near death situations while a state official preens over his moral right to call the shots.Don't let this happen.Vote YES in November like your life depends on it. Vote YES because the women you love need their health choices restored.Freedom of choice is enshrined in our democracy. There is a way to preserve it for all of us and the women we love. VOTE YES.
Barbara Levatich, Naples
Restoration after Ian's flooding
I write to you from Pennsylvania, the place we fled to following Ian. And I am following the FEMA story along with the city’s outrage. The whole thing reeks.Our home, which we lived in for 31 years, had over 14 inches of flood water in it. We were located between the river and a canal. The elevation of our previous home was 6 inches above sea level, built in 1960. We lost all mechanicals, and anything within 4 feet of ground level. Roof damage required the need to replace the roof, not only of the home but also the detached garage in the backyard. Items not covered by insurance, for example the large screen-in lanai, also required replacement. Being long term residents, the assessed value of our home was artificially very low.By all rights, our home should likely have been condemned by the city and required to be rebuilt to current codes. But it was not. We sold for the property value; some investor bought it, and repaired it. It looks nice from the street though.Our experience begs the question of how many other homes were in the same situation of our old home.So now the city is upset that it lost its flood discount. How many citizens will suffer? Reminds me of making a bed and sleeping in it.Rick Bautista, Elizabethtown, PA
Celebrate Red Cross volunteers
I'm part of the Communications team at the South Florida Red Cross. I wanted to let you know about National Volunteer Month, which happens every April. During National Volunteer Month, we celebrate our volunteers – the lifeblood of the American Red Cross – who represent more than 90% of our national workforce. We are proud to honor these community heroes who bring our mission to life every day through the generous gift of their time and talents. Because of their commitment, local families can depend on the Red Cross to be there during emergencies.
Last year, 1,500 South Florida Red Cross volunteers provided food and shelter after disasters of all sizes, assisted veterans and military families and taught lifesaving skills like CPR and First Aid. Today, the combination of heartbreaking home fires and the worsening climate crisis is creating a critical need for disaster volunteers. In the first three months of 2024, volunteers have responded to 184 local home fires and helped 639 individuals with financial assistance, health and mental health services and recovery support in South Florida.
Disaster Action Team (DAT) members like Christine Thompson are trained Red Cross responders who answer the call to help families affected by disasters like home fires 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. She shared, "When I am working with DAT, it feels good to be able to respond to home fires and go there to be a supportive shoulder for someone."
Stephanie Wesseling, Development Communications manager, American Red Cross South Florida Region
Trump support puzzling
It is difficult to understand how so many Republicans still support Trump, when we know how incoherent and confused he is. An example: On September 15, 2023 he said, “I beat Obama in 2016, and I will do it again.”
Of course, I have no personal experiences with Trump, so let’s get the opinions of those who have worked with him. Gen. Mark Milley, Trump’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in September of 2023, “We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator,” meaning Trump. In fact, after Jan. 6 Milley wanted to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office before the end of his term on January 20 because he was concerned Trump would do something else radical to stay in office.
John Kelly, Trump’s chief of staff, reported that Trump felt that those seriously wounded in the service or who became POWs were “suckers” because there was “nothing in it for them.” He also said that Trump admires autocrats and murderous dictators, and has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions and the rule of law.
It is certainly difficult to understand why so many Americans, who value our democracy, can support someone so very unfit to be our president.
Joe Czarnecki, Naples
Enough of Trump
I'm not hearing another Rant Rally from Trump recently. Maybe he's running a little short of cash, I hope.
It's unfortunate that many money people support a man who started an insurrection on Jan. 6th for the first time in American history and is still running for president with support from many money people.
Some of the letters in The News-Press, April 6, by people opposed to him have given me some hope that I will hear less of him calling people "animals" and "vermin." Or veterans called "losers" and "suckers."
Maybe he will soon learn again that he is a big time LOSER. One again: LOSER! Please keep a responsible president in office. I voted for Biden and will again. Thank God.
Former Air Force nurse, Captain Alice Mack, Fort Myers
Dems may gain momentum
Despite the number of registered Republicans exceeding their ranks by some 850,000 and the margin continuing to grow since GOP voters surpassed them three years ago, Democrats need not despair. They have an opportunity to turn around their misfortunes at the polls this year due to developments last week.
One of them is placement on the ballot this November of the proposed recreational marijuana and abortion rights state constitutional amendments, Referenda 3 and 4, respectively, as green-lighted on April Fool’s Day by our state Supreme Court.
It will be difficult for referenda proponents to achieve the required 60% approval at the polls, but as one of the simpletons in the 1994 movie “Dumb and Dumber” says: “So, there’s still a chance.”
However, injection of the issues into the election cycle is likely to invigorate important segments of the Democratic base, particularly youths and women. Their increased motivation should boost their turnout and aid Democratic candidates who support those propositions, including President Biden at the top of the ballot. It also should increase the chance of Senate candidate Debbie Murcarsal-Powell in her attempt to sunset the career of Rick Scott, who has pressed for sun-setting Social Security benefits for the elderly and other long-established entitlements. That momentum could also trickle down to lower spots on the ballot, too.
Additionally, the evaporation a few days after the Supreme Court’s indulgence of the No Labels movement due to a lack of candidates removes a potential impediment siphoning away Democratic-inclined voters.
The outlook, to be sure, remains bleak in light of that growing gap in partisan affiliation, coupled with the traditional dysfunction of the state Democratic Party, along with its persistent financial frailties.
But, no fooling, the pair of referenda coupled with demise of the No Labels threat give Nikki Fried, the former Agriculture Commissioner now chairing the state Democrats, the party’s best opportunity in years to be competitive in key races.
It’s unlikely that the state will reverse course and become Blue. But the potential exists for Democrats to emulate the title of the best-selling Pulitzer Prize winning book by author Alice Walker from neighboring Georgia and last year’s movie, a remake of one 38 years earlier: “The Color Purple.”
Marshall H. Tanick, Naples
Protect the Florida panthers
As a born-and-raised Floridian in love with our state’s rich biodiversity, my heart ached reading the recent opinion about Florida panthers.
I’ve spent my life fighting for Florida’s native species and work every day with biologists and environmental scientists to ensure their healthy future.
Federally endangered Florida panthers are unquestionably part of Florida’s wild heritage. They roamed the forests, swamps and savannas of the Southeast, but their range has dwindled to small portions of Florida due to historical overhunting and ongoing habitat destruction.
It’s a travesty that panthers die on our roads. But that should motivate us to protect them, not ship them across the country to habitats and climates they’ve never known. This would be scientifically suspect at best and cruel at worst.
We have to protect these native cats and help them recover across their impressive former range. Let’s start by preserving wild lands and waters across the Southeast to ensure panthers — and many more species like gopher tortoises, wood storks, and manatees — can survive and thrive.
It’s our responsibility to fight for every fiber in the fabric of life, including the Florida panther.
Elise Bennett is the Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity, St. Petersburg
Petition for clean water
I believe water is life. I believe keeping water clean should be a part of life.When I first moved here, I was in awe of the marine life that visited me off my dock. The wonder of nature was present day and night. As time progressed, priorities moved to development at all costs; and our waters deteriorated.I wanted to help in whatever small way I could. I put several vertical oyster gardens (VOG) around my dock to help filter the toxins out of the water. At first, the VOGs were growing lots of life. Then, starting last fall, the VOGs began to die. After the latest releases from Lake O, the VOGs are now barren. That helps explain why marine life is so desolate now.We have laws to protect our waters – which haven’t kept our waters clean. We have agencies to protect our waters – still our waters are not clean. We spend a tremendous amount of tax dollars cleaning up what never should have been permitted – yet our waters continue to worsen.As someone once said, “Water is life – so let’s save the life of water.” You can do your part. If you signed the 2024 petition to grant Floridians a Constitutional Right to Clean and Healthy Water, you will get a new one for the 2026 initiative in the mail. Fill it out and get some friends/neighbors to join you. Each of us can do our part to clean up the waters.
Mary Kay Robbins-Kralapp, Cape Coral
Credit Biden for thriving economy
The April jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor for the month of March, 2024 showed higher job growth than analysts anticipated. Instead of the 214,000 jobs expected, the U.S. added 303,000. It’s Biden’s fault.
The government also revised its estimate of job growth in January and February upward by a combined number of 22,000. This administration has created more than 15 million jobs since taking office. It’s Biden’s fault.
The unemployment rate was also good, dropping to 3.8% in March. The United States has now had 26 consecutive months — more than two years — of unemployment under 4%, the longest stretch of unemployment that low since the 1960s. It’s Biden’s fault.
Joe Biden is a very responsible person. When the economy thrives, Joe Biden is responsible.
Joe Biden is not responsible for the inflation. The causes of today’s inflation are COVID, deglobalization and consequent supply chain disruptions, Putin’s war and a shortage of qualified workers. Research reveals that Fidelity, MarketWatch, Bloomberg, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs agree with this conclusion. Nor is Joe Biden responsible for the deficit which resulted from Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy during Trump’s time as president.
Keep the economy going. Keep Joe Biden. He has proven he can do it.
Sally Lam, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, April 10, 2024
