Letters to the editor for Sunday, August 18, 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

Voting no on fire tax increase

I am voting NO on the Greater Naples Fire District (GNFD) referendum to raise our taxes by 33%. They put pictures online of fire stations needing repairs, yes repairs. This is not a capital expenditure but a maintenance expense. They say they want us to pay for manning the new fire station in the areas of growth. What happened to growth paying for growth?

An insurance agent tells us what a great insurance agent he is, but did he check to see how close he was to a fire station before he bought his home? He will get a new fire station from the impact fees that are being collected.

The fire district will have a $75,000,000 budget this year, and they say they need more. For the last ten years GNFD paid for all payroll, bought all the new fire trucks, boats, equipment and all the bells and whistles they wanted. Now they want more.

Vote No on August 20 on the referendum that asks to raise your millage from 1.5 to 2.0 mills, that converts to a 33% tax increase.

It will add $16,000,000 a year to the budget or $128,000,000 over the next eight years. Then what happens in eight years they will be back for more.

On a $500,000 assessed home you have been paying $750 per year, it will go to $1,000 a year or $8,000 over the next eight years. Don’t be hoodwinked by some saying to vote yes. Vote No.

Ellen Mason, Naples

Cochran for Lee Commission

I recently attended a Lehigh Acres Community Council meeting where candidates Mike Greenwell and Amanda Cochran discussed the issues facing our county. As I listened to them, it became clear that while both candidates genuinely care about Lee County, their visions for its future are quite different.

Both Greenwell and Cochran support development, but their priorities differ significantly. Mr. Greenwell seems to prioritize construction and increasing density above all else. In contrast, Ms. Cochran advocates for a more measured approach, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure before allowing massive expansion in our area.

During the meeting, Mr. Greenwell repeatedly mentioned that the commissioners had fixed many of the county's issues, such as traffic and water drainage problems, over the past few years. His approach appears to be more reactive, addressing problems as they arise. On the other hand, Ms. Cochran takes a proactive stance, aiming to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. She is also committed to following the Lee County Comprehensive Plan, which is designed to control growth and manage traffic increases in the future.

One significant difference between the two candidates is their stance on property rights. Mr. Greenwell believes that property owners should have the freedom to do as they wish with their land, which has led to the approval of zoning changes and significant density increases. In contrast, Ms. Cochran's approach is more balanced, taking into account the broader impact of such changes on the community.

Another critical factor is Ms. Cochran's independence from corporate, developer, and political action committee funding. This independence allows her to listen more closely to the people, making decisions that are in the community's best interest rather than serving the powerful establishment.

For these reasons, I am supporting Amanda Cochran for District 5. It would be a shame to see Lee County become an overcrowded, overdeveloped area like so many other places in Florida.

Megan Damon, Cape Coral

Bias favors developers?

A Neighborhood Information Meeting notice in Wednesday's edition was a request by a developer to rescind a commitment made by the developer when it received approval to build residential units near the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Vanderbilt Beach Road. The requirement was for garages in the ground floor units. This should be an easy response for the commissioners and all county boards. The response is No. Any other response is additional evidence in support of many citizens belief that some commissioners and board members have been overly biased in favor of developers for the past 20+ years for reasons that are obvious.

Donald Switzer, Naples

Choose B enarroch, not Folley

I don’t expect much in the way of pure truth in anything a climbing, self-serving politician puts out to the public. Greg Folley has been on a rampage against Yvette Benarroch with a barrage of accusations, innuendo, and falsehoods through a series of mailers. He has the money to largely self-finance and so can get down and dirty as often he wants and turn out any piece of trash he thinks is profound. Rather than focusing on representing those he wants to be his constituents and what he will do for them, he resorts to infantile, abusive tactics. And obfuscation — but then that’s a tool he uses to elevate himself. Case in point — ask Greg where his 19 months of proud service to country were — he’ll show you his discharge papers from the Naval Academy. It’s possible that military colleges consider students veterans— but he certainly isn’t a vet who served in a military post or in a war zone post-graduation. If he did, he won’t say where that was.

That being said, the piece that offends above all others is the one where he portrays Yvette as a party girl — an interesting way for a man to convey his image of a woman. But then, as he cursed out a female supporter of Yvette’s at a public polling place — there should be no surprise in his denigration of Yvette via direct mail. As a woman, I find his behavior offensive and out of line. I find his depiction of a professional woman, a true veteran, a wife and mother to be disgraceful. No self-respecting woman would vote for a man whose attitudes toward a female opponent border on that of a neanderthal. Macho bravado is no longer considered to be in any way manly — it’s seen as a bullying tactic. The problem for Greg is he’s aiming his attacks at a woman who won’t cower — just as she didn’t cower in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Yvette, unlike Greg, understands that truth will win out and the people will choose the person who will represent them and not his own self-serving goals.

Mary Ellen Jones, Bonita Springs

Bill Ribble for Lee schools

I am honored to know Bill Ribble. Bill is the vice chair of the Lee Schools Strategic Planning Committee of which he has been a member for five years.

Bill believes that “our greatest resource is our children and the quality of their education is a critical component of the quality of our future.” Bill will make sure that every student has access to a high quality of education to help them succeed as adults. He will support our teachers and will advocate the increase of their salaries and work hard to retain good educators.

Another strong commitment from Bill is the safety of every student in the schools, which I believe is one of the most important duties of every school board member and educator in the Lee County schools. Bill Ribble promises to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our children by providing the resources needed. Bill will show fiscal responsibility and focus on the best ways to use our tax dollars.

Ribble is a proven leader in the community with six years of public service in the Village of Estero serving as a councilman and mayor. His excellent communication skills will bring transparency and accountability to the Lee County School Board. So, I ask you to vote for Bill Ribble for Lee County School Board District 3 on August 20th.

James Mendolera, Estero

Enthusiasm builds for Harris

Donald Trump must be chewing his fingernails watching the huge enthusiastic crowds that Kamala Harris and her chosen vice president are attracting.While he was inclined to exaggerate the size of his rallies and then brag about it we never hear Harris boast about her enormous successes.She has chosen wisely her running mate as contrasted to the dud that Trump picked who has already embarrassed him several times over with his incessant persiflage.It’s only a matter of time before Vance will get to see what the bottom of the bus looks like as so many before him.Meanwhile we are hearing messages of hope, progress and promise instead of messages of hatred, vengeance and division and that’s what will really keep America great and on its path to the future as it began again in 2020.

Fred Jodice, North Fort Myers

Harris is part of the problem

I find it amusing that Kamala Harris is campaigning that she will fix everything if she is elected president. At this same time, she is a major part of the administration currently in charge of the things she says will fix. What is truly amazing is that the mainstream media goes along with it without pointing out the obvious stupidity of her position.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Olympics uplifting, not Trump

Did you happen to notice that the Trump/Vance/Republican vision of America was not present at the Olympic games in Paris, France? Have you ever seen a better world class integration of countries and cultures, demonstrating respect, caring, and fierce competition. Winning is the goal but sharing the magic of the moment and celebrating the joy of others is what feeds the soul. We must all be so proud of those who represented America in Paris and who caused our national anthem to be heard so many times.Were you aware that Russia was not invited to the Olympics? The maniac from Mar-a-Lago felt that his friend was being treated unfairly, of course.Were you concerned when you learned that the leaders of Russia, North Korea, China and Turkey were having conversations about playing in the same sandbox?Now that he's the official nominee of the Republican Party, should we be worried that Trump now qualifies to receive weekly national security briefings? Perhaps we should just invite our adversaries to the briefing table.

Tony Penge, North Fort Myers

Harris, Walz will win

All he can do (Trump), is complain about crowd size vs. the competition and the past years' goings on, while his flunky, Vance, is going around calling people vile names and accusing them of silly lifestyles. Now Trump is comparing photos of women and who is more beautiful than another!

Where is the talk about what their plans are for the country? All he wants to do is complain about the past!

One report is "I want to debate," then next report maybe not! Get your act together get some sense to your mouthing off!

Harris and Walz are putting out sensible platforms and listening to what the country wants (and needs), not idle senseless chatter about the past!

They will win this fall!

Franklin Warner, Fort Myers

Walz and 'stolen valor'

If JD Vance were to be accused of “Stolen Valor” by the media, I am certain that it would appear on the first page of the Fort Myers News-Press for several days. A few days ago, Tim Walz was alleged to have violated “Stolen Valor.” One of the mainstream media showed a short clip, throwing Walz under the bus relating to fraudulent claims about his military service. The soldiers under his supervision and his former supervisors have been coming out slowly to tell the truth of Walz’s lying military history. A video of Walz shown to the world has him saying, “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” Walz was never deployed to a war zone.

William Eggers, Cape Coral

What's up with Democrats?

Putting aside the latest whining from the local Democrat writers, what the heck is going on? I've been told many times to stop looking back because that is not the place I am currently standing. A reality check is in order. Less than a month ago, the current president was ungraciously shown the door. His foreign policy expertise, his man of the people, his fit as a fiddle and his booming economy was just too much for the Democratic leadership, celebrity following, and his unwavering voters to support any longer. He was the people's choice and won each Democratic primary, amassing over 1,900 delegates, winning his party's primary and the presumptive nominee for president. Now he is out and Kamala is in.

Without a single primary vote won, not a single delegate earned, and not a single competitor insight, Kamala was anointed as the Democratic nominee for president. Delegates to the convention rushed to coronate her as the presumptive Democrat running for president. This is the woman who was the DEI selection for VP. Historically, the VP had marginal duties, president of the Senate, Border Czar, and chief cackler. She cast the tie-breaker for the IRA legislation which includes 87,000 IRS agents and tasked to corral service and hospitality workers to pay their fair share on tips collected (this is true). Her past statements include killing fracking, killing the fossil fuel industry, supporting trillions for the Green New Steal, I mean Deal.

She is the wily one. From being the least effective VP in history (yes, fact checked), lower favorability ratings than her boss, and an integral part of the Bidenomics economic plan, she has become reborn again. The media loves her, the very ones who voted her worst VP stand up the straightest and shout that Kamala is the next Obama, her charisma is a bright and shiny star in the heavens. And as of today she is the leading candidate for the White House.

You will vote how you want to. I can't change closed minds and small thinking. But for God's sake, at least learn about your candidate.

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

What is Harris afraid of?

To the contributor who can't wait for Kamala Harris to debate Donald Trump because she "will eat him alive."

Be careful what you wish for.You have a presidential candidate who hasn't held a news conference in over two weeks. Do you think there's a reason for that? Have you been oblivious to that? Have you seen or heard any of her words salads? She can read from a teleprompter, but I could also.

Don't you think there's a reason that she will only debate Donald Trump on ABC ?

Do you think she'd take a chance and debate Donald Trump on Fox News? Don't hold your breath. She would never go into what she feels is enemy territory because they just might ask her some tough questions instead of "what did you have for breakfast today?"

Donald Trump will talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. What is Kamala afraid of?

Shes's afraid of defending a record of policies she's supported which are left of Bernie Sanders. Or she'll most likely have to answer as to why she has suddenly flip flopped on most of those policies and that might not be that easy to do.

She'll say anything to get elected and if it happens, her administration will just revert back to these progressive policies that are so hurting this country.

It's going to make for great TV so let the chips (or popcorn) fall where they may.

Rick Manuel, Dade City

Can't trust Trump, MAGA world

In spite of all the on-scene major networks reporting and individual citizens bearing witness to the crowds of over ten thousand that have attended Kamela Harris and Tim Walz’s recent campaign events, Mr. Trump, without proof, now informs us that the crowds are fake, and AI generated.  Lest we forget, Mr. Trump kicked off his first day as president telling Americans that he, Mr. Trump, had the largest crowd to ever attend a presidential inauguration. We only had to go back to Barack Obama’s inauguration to know differently. Mixed in amongst the over thirty thousand documented lies he told the American people as president, Mr. Trump told us COVID-19 would disappear like magic. The death rate in MAGA dominated counties was higher than those that leaned Democratic. COVID-19 did not magically disappear for them. After numerous efforts to deny, obfuscate, deflect and project, Mr. Trump is now telling us it was MAGA “patriots” who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, causing loss of life and maiming and injuring law enforcement officers. I served thirty years as a Marine. I think I can identify a real patriot. Any more patriots like that and we will have another civil war on our hands. Lies have consequences, folk. This November, we all should put our trust in what your own “lying” eyes are seeing over anything told to you by Trump and MAGA world. The country will be the better for it.

Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs

Walz has accomplished little

With the 2024 election looming, it’s a pity that many voters don’t know how to evaluate candidates for a specific office. In the real world, most voters were hired for their own job by submitting a resume that highlighted significant achievements in a prior job.

It shouldn’t be different when the job is political. Evaluating a candidate should deal with two questions. What were you supposed to accomplish and did you succeed?

The latest face on the national scene being marketed as a great choice for vice president on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Timothy J. Walz.

Before being elected governor, a position he has held for 3.5 years, Walz was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2006 to 2018.  So, what did he accomplish?

In 12 years as a congressman, Walz was the sponsor of 68 bills (6.2 average per year).

How many of those bills made it through the House, Senate and were signed by the president so became law? Exactly 5. Of those 5, one was to authorize the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of The American Legion. Another bill was to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in Mankato, Minnesota, as the "Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic."

It is hard to believe that the Democratic party could not surface a running mate for Kamala Harris that had a stronger resume and accomplished more.

Ron Dudley, Fort Myers

Trump propped up by greed

Now that their fictional savior is crowing about taxes, immigration and abortion, his benefactors are kicking in more money. The tax cut he and the right-wing legislators conjured up is due to expire next year. Why do you think these lofty people, despite all the negatives, still want to pony up large sums of money to continue their windfall? It’s called greed. It was not satisfying enough to become millionaires. Now they’re looking to take another leap to become billionaires. The middle class benefitted very little while the rich got richer. It doesn’t matter to these peccaries that the needy, whose welfare is dependent on those funds, are cast to the side like trash in a dumpster. This is why the voters need to come together and end the reign of this tyrant. Hopefully, we won’t have to look at or hear from him forever. Incarceration would be the cherry on top.

Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Courage, strategic thinking required

"Folksy" "Engaging" "Amusing" "Biting" Isn't this wonderful. Those personality traits may be desirable for someone as a guest at a dinner party, but I don't know how useful they are to a vice president who may, at any moment, have to step up to replace the president in an emergency. That emergency may emerge as China invading Taiwan, North Korea invading South Korea, Iran (with Hezbollah as it's conduit) going all out against Israel. All three of these scenarios loom on the horizon as distinct possibilities. The president of the United States is the commander in chief of all three branches of the military. The final decision(s) on how to respond to these events rests solely with him or her. Further, there are the situations that we don't see coming such as the attacks on the World Trade Center and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Dealing with these situations requires someone with strategic thinking capabilities combined with the courage to oppose aggression. Another hors d'oeuvre Mr. Walz?

John Agresti, Fort Myers

Like characters in a movie

I saw the movie adaptation of the musical "Chicago." I thought Richard Gere and the rest of the cast were excellent as was the movie. In one particular number (The Press Conference Rag), Gere plays a ventriloquist with Roxie Hart as the dummy. Gere also manipulates the press as a puppet master.Not a far cry from "Calamity" Harris pulling the strings, Tim "Waltz" as the dummy, and of course, the marionette press.

Ira Linzer, Naples

Florida Republicans for Harris

For those of you that thought all Republicans have lost their sense of reason and for all you Republicans that are looking for someplace to turn. Three Floridians who collectively spent decades as Republicans are part of a nationwide effort to convince GOP voters to cast ballots for Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump as part of Florida Republicans for Harris. The three co-chairs are planning on attending the Democratic Convention in Chicago.

Roger W. Quagliano, Estero

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, August 18, 2024