Property insurance crisis, book bans, Florida prison system | Letters

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

Legislation was too late

Newscasters are telling us that Citizens Insurance is "shedding" policy holders because there are a handful of new private insurance companies who have entered the state.  Governor DeSantis is announcing that Citizens is insolvent.  At the same time, the state is considering allowing Citizens to raise the cap on insuring homes from $700,000 to $1 million.  This makes no sense to me.  The U.S. Senate is investigating Citizens.  If another catastrophic storm like Ian causes damage beyond Citizens' ability to pay claims, the shortfall will land on the shoulders of all Floridians.  With big storms increasing in the state, this is a real possibility and concern.

The news this morning is focusing on all the condo owners who are unable to pay the steeply increasing condo fees due to the rise in insurance costs.  There is a glut of condos now on the market and prices are falling.  Some condo associations are having to place liens on condo owners' property where the owners aren't able to pay the fees.  That means the other owners have to make up the shortfall.  The politicians who have been interviewed regarding this crisis just shrug their shoulders and say that it takes time for the recently passed legislation to bring down costs.  Didn't they realize it would take time years ago as the crisis was building?

The legislation was too late in coming.  The only reason new companies are entering the market is because the legislation was a gift to them.  One good thing the legislation did was to eliminate the assignment of insurance payouts to contractors who used it to price gouge to line their pockets.  That should have been done years ago.  I guess the governor and Legislature were too busy dealing with culture issues to deal with this crisis that is devastating Floridians financially.

Michaeleen A. Mahan, Fort Myers

On book banning

It is hilarious to see people suggest that book banning is not an infringement on the rights of individuals. While, yes, I could ask my mom to drive me to Barnes and Noble to buy a book that is not an excuse for blatant censorship. After all, a school library is the easiest way for me, as a 10th grader, to access books and shutting down the easiest way to get something is not suddenly okay just because there exist other ways. Our cities are not walkable in this state, so to say you can just go to a library and get the book is laughable because most of us teens can't! Most of our parents are busy and can't drive us, and most of us can't drive. If cities were walkable and there were more libraries then, sure, maybe your point would hold weight.

Ariel Hernandez, Naples

Florida prison system

Having worked for the Florida prison system for 12 years, I have some insight and truths I have experienced personally.

As far as not having air conditioning, dormitories and housing units are equipped with fans to circulate the air.  Not all inmates are housed in single cells but rather large open rooms with bunk beds.  Ironically homes in Florida are not required to have air conditioning but are required to have heating units. Which the prisons do.

Inmates are given the same required time limits for meals as children are afforded in our public schools.

Prisons are well equipped for emergency food situations and can pack up and move inmates in any emergency.  Peanutbutter and jelly are readily available for any emergency as well.

People need to realize that prison is not camp.  It's a place for rehabilitation for the inmate to be removed from society.  And should be a place where inmates do not want to return to.

Officers experience the same uncomfortable situations the inmates do.  It's one or two officers maintaining control of the 50-60 inmates assigned to them every day.  And it's the officers who are away from their families every holiday so that the inmate can visit with his family while in an air conditioned visiting area.

And I doubt Floridians would appreciate their money being spent on AC units, health products like sanitary napkins and tampons for the inmate population.  Inmates are assigned money making jobs if they are indigent or do not have family who can support them while incarcerated.

All I can say is make better choices and do not go to prison.

Sharon Heard, North Fort Myers

Americans With Disabilities Act

I am initiating this communication on behalf of all disabled and challenged individuals that continue to have to face misinformed business owners, management and staff that either don’t understand or elect to not acknowledge the accessibility required by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). While it doesn’t occur often, I still experience situations in which my service dog is prohibited to accompany me to provide the assistance required. As a 38-year-old adult, I am wheelchair bound and require the services of a fully trained and licensed service dog. He is certified through Canine Companions and has been my assistant for over 8 years without one incident. When on duty, he is absolutely responsive to commands and always well behaved.The latest incident occurred on February 25. My parents and I joined my aunt, uncle and cousin at a business for dinner. Just before our dinner was delivered, the owner stopped by our table and ordered my mother to “remove the dog, now!” Following several attempts to affirm that he was allowed as mandated by the ADA, to include showing him his certification, he refused to listen to reason. We departed the restaurant.Aside from the embarrassment and ill mannered treatment suffered by all of us, this is just wrong, especially in today’s world of instant information. All disabled individuals are already challenged, we deserve to be afforded the same rights as any other individual seeking service from a public business!

Margaret Hackett, Marco Island

Proactive traffic calming

With the recent deaths from motor vehicle accidents in Lee County, perhaps Sheriff Carmine Marceno might consider a proactive approach to traffic calming in light of the fact their traffic department has dropped the ball on traffic enforcement. Parked empty patrol cars are ignored by rush hour travelers. No enforcement of the cell phone prohibition is in evidence, and the cyclist, pedestrian and vehicle fatalities pile up. (123 fatalities in 2022, second highest, per WGCU). It's time to have the marked and unmarked patrol cars display running lights whenever they are on the road and on duty. There are no bar lights on most patrol cars. This way drivers would see a police presence and the speeds and violations would decrease by default. Not to mention the deterrent to crime seeing police in a neighborhood. This tactic is used by the Atlanta, GA police with success. Unless we want to see more deaths on the roads in Lee County, it's time to switch strategies. Not respond to accidents, prevent them.

Sean Courtney IV, Fort Myers

Retain Heitmann’s leadership

Developers, vacant properties, PAC money and Gary Price. Do we want that package? Another PAC does, The Realtors Political Advocacy Committee in Orlando. A recent statement by this PAC “In our darkest hour Gary Price was there to pick up the pieces.” How insulting to all the responders and the entire efforts of City Council, which Gary Price was not a member.Let us maintain the balance that has been achieved under Teresa Heitmann’s leadership.Elizabeth Rogala, Naples

Candidate declines invitation

The residents of River Park East hosted a forum February 28 and invited all mayoral and commissioner candidates to introduce themselves and respond to a few prepared questions.It is noteworthy that Mr. Price declined our invitation and celebrated with Elite Jets, instead of participating with the people who will be voting in the upcoming election.

Pearl Struminger, Naples

Mitch McConnell's legacy

When the history books write about retiring U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, he will likely be portrayed as if he were an anti-hero in a Shakespearean tragedy. A man immersed so deeply in his own hubris, that he could not discern right from wrong.

A person of considerable intellect and extraordinary political acumen, how could McConnell have destroyed his own political legacy and cemented his place in history as an abject failure? The answer is that he put party first and his country last.

With responsibility to convict Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate, the GOP Senate leader opted out. He deluded himself into believing that the House Impeachment had chastened Trump. But as McConnell soon discovered, Trump never has shame, remorse and certainly no sense of chastisement. The man only demonstrates victimization and entitlement. Chastening him only emboldens him.

Although McConnell's term does not expire until 2026, he has one final opportunity to demonstrate some courage and mitigate the damage to his legacy; by refusing to endorse the candidate whose possible election would ravage the republic. He must realize now that it's not the Republican Party of his early Senate years. He can help restore it by demonstrating some integrity and statesmanship. The nation will be grateful, and history will remember.

Manny Cacciola, Fort Myers

Democracy to last 250 years?

A recent survey had 31% of Americans prefer autocracy over Democracy.This means they prefer Xi Jinping and Putin over Lincoln and FDR.The election next fall will undoubtedly see what direction we pursue in our politics. One professes "dictator for a day," charge a former dissenting general with treason, trusts Putin not interfering in our election over 11 U.S. security departments and organized and attempted to overthrow election results certified by 60 U.S. judges.We see autocracy in Russia with Navalny being killed, 400 in attendance for church jailed and broadband service reduced.Next fall will determine if democracy makes 250 years in 2026. At stake is Social Security, all women's reproductive health, free press, NATO, American oligarchs, and the judicial system just to name a few.I can only hope a Happy 250 for the USA in 2026.

Glenn Mueller, Naples

In service of Trump

The CFO of Trump’s pseudo empire has pled guilt to perjury when he tried to protect his boss again. Consequently, he’ll spend more time in jail. His thought process, or lack thereof, probably took into account his age which is about the same as  the orange man’s so he probably thinks his best days are behind him so what’s a few more months. Once again, another employee prostrated themselves for a low-life who would never do the same for them. Sooner or later (preferably) the former, someone with a backbone other than Michael Cohen will testify truthfully against the most deceitful and dishonest person on planet Earth. Here’s hoping.

Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Biden at the border

President Biden has now been to the border twice since he became president. Do you know what he has seen at both of these visits? Not one illegal immigrant or "newcomer" as he now calls them. Is that like a fire department being called to the fire and not actually viewing the fire?

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Border policies

The issue of immigration is front and center with the Republicans blaming the president and Democrats for doing nothing to solve it. In fact, the White House, along with Republican Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and Independent Kyrsten Sinema negotiated for four months to create a comprehensive bill to overhaul the immigration system and to impose tougher asylum and border system laws. It was heavily backed by conservative Republicans, but House Leader Johnson refused to bring the bipartisan bill to the floor for a vote. The former president made it clear he didn't want the bill passed so he could use it as a political issue. Just what did the former president promise regarding immigration and what did he do during his term? The nonpartisan Pew Report on 3/2/20 stated: "Trump pledged to build a border wall to reduce illegal crossings. . . and said his administration would deport as many as three million unauthorized immigrants with criminal records living in the U.S." but during Trump's tenure "removals remained below the levels recorded during much of the Obama administration. . . and ICE arrests went up but remained lower than during much of Obama's tenure."

The Cato Institute stated in a headline on 1/20/21: "President Trump Reduced Legal Immigration: He Did Not Reduce Illegal Immigration." This was done by reducing green cards and non-immigrant visas. The Cato Institute disagrees with cutting green cards as a way of reducing immigration and states: "Congress should see the green card applicant as a historic opportunity to unleash the economic potential of immigration." The Bipartisan Policy Center agrees: "Clearing Green Card Backlog Would Unlock Trillions in GDP Gains." They estimate a gain of 39 trillion in GDP gains over ten years. As to the refrain regarding Biden's "open door policy" the Cato Institute states: "Practically since his first week in office, President Joe Biden has faced repeated criticisms. . . that his border policy amounts to 'open borders.' This criticism is not simply inaccurate: it is unhinged from reality. . . Biden's immigration policies and goals are largely the same as those of President Donald Trump." As to releasing migrants onto our streets the Cato Institute stated "New data show migrants were more likely to be released by Trump than Biden." Summarily, it's so easy to repeat assertions not backed by facts.

Rosemary Giovannone, Fort Myers

Online menus unreliable

Southwest Florida’s favorite pastime, dining out! Check out the restaurant’s online menu, a few items look really good, even some items in the 20s, house wines only $10 a glass! Let’s go! Unfortunately, over the last few months, I’ve become suspicious of restaurants' online menus. Arrive at the restaurant and look at the menu and the offerings and prices are different from online. Less expensive online and more expensive as you peruse the menu. Some of those look really good items online are not on the menu at the table. I inform the wait staff. “I’m so sorry but we’ve updated our menu.”  “Don’t look at that menu; It’s never updated.” I called some restaurants later to talk to management. “I’ll have someone call you back.” No callback no message. After dining on Third Street in December and reporting this issue I returned two months later and found no changes had been made to either menu. Fifth Avenue, Third Street, North Naples, the Promenade, and in between the same scenario has been found. To me, a restaurant’s website is their public-facing advertisement of their services and prices. Food for thought: Bait and switch? Greedflation? Sometimes there are disclaimers on the website that reserves the right to make changes to it’s information. Disclaimers do not absolve a business from the obligation to operate in an ethical and legal manner.

D. Haines, Bonita Springs

Gary Price and overdevelopment

Gary Price must have received the same book for Christmas as me back in 1970. He’s applying the learnings from it in his run for mayor. The book is "The Art of Misdirection." It’s based on getting an audience to look at one hand while ignoring the other hand.80% of residents state that overdevelopment and its adverse impacts on traffic, the environment, and our quality of life is THE #1 issue. Price attempts to hide this issue through misdirection. Why? Because he approved overbuilding beyond our codes almost 90% of the time. Instead, he is trying to deflect his abysmal voting record by talking instead about:∙ Long council meetings. Sorry Gary, Council encourages residents to voice concerns at our meetings.∙ Describing Naples as unsafe. Newsflash Gary: Naples was just named the Safest City in America by US News & World Report. And 95% of residents feel safe according to the Collier County Foundation Assessment – the highest percentage on record.One group has taken notice of Price’s rubber-stamp approvals on overdevelopment. Developers invested more than half a million to get Price and his slate elected through dark PAC money and $1,000 a plate fundraisers. This is 10x the usual amount spent.Price underestimates Naples residents. We see though the sleight of hand and will vote on the issues that matter to us. Let’s send the message that Naples is not for sale and vote “No” on Price, his slate, and his special interests pulling the strings.

Beth Petrunoff, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Property insurance crisis, book bans, Florida prison system | Letters