Your best 'Buddy' is at Florida Rep

My wife and I have attended many live theater performances here in the Fort Myers area where we are fortunate to have so many venues to choose from. The performance of "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" at the Rep was the absolute finest, most professional and uplifting show we ever witnessed including those we attended in different parts of the country -- even Broadway. The performers were not only talented with singing but many could play multiple instruments. It was set in the late’50s when Buddy, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper exploded onto the scene. The audience was comprised of mostly those who lived during this time and the reactions during the show were utter exuberance. The Richie Valens character had the entire audience standing and dancing what was then construed to be provocative moves. The lady next to me went and got her walker so she could participate. The moment near the end when a radio announcer relayed the tragic news of a plane crash that took all three lives elicited tears from the onlookers, which was quickly followed by an upbeat song to switch the mood back to jubilance. Jason Parrish who directed the show wrote in Friday’s paper thanking the patrons and the house was finally full after the pandemic period. This is the final weekend of the show so it would be shame if you missed it.

Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Disney debt bomb awaits taxpayers

Florida taxpayers could face a $1 billion Disney debt bomb if its special district status is revoked.

The monies Disney put into infrastructure will have to be replaced. Whether the county can do that without raising taxes is questionable.

Someone just kicked out the goose that was laying golden eggs.

Harold A. Maio, Fort Myers

Costly, blatantly racist GOP actions

Ending the special status of Disney World is liable to cost communities surrounding the area a lot of money. They will now have to pick up the costs of utilities, fire and police departments. What was DeSantis thinking?

The redistricting legislation just passed by the Florida GOP-led legislature is blatantly racist. It should be perfectly clear that the GOP does not deserve the support of people of color.

Bruce Barter, Bonita Springs

What would the Democrats do?

Obama says that elections have consequences and indeed they do. When it comes to making congressional districts, DeSantis and Republicans are in power and they will do what is favorable to their party. Wouldn’t Democrats do the same thing? Of course they would. No doubt about it! It’s Politics 101!

Richard Piccirilli, Naples

We need a new representative

This month our representative in Congress, Byron Donalds, voted against a resolution supporting NATO. How can that be? I called his Washington office to ask why. They were too busy answering other calls. I called his Collier County office. They weren’t “authorized” to speak about issues.

NATO began 70 years ago as an alliance to strengthen democracies and protect Europe from another war. It has succeeded. The invasion of Ukraine, not a member of NATO but a nation striving to solidify its democracy, makes it plain that the alliance is even more necessary than ever. The U.S. is leading the way. More democracies, like Finland and Sweden, may soon join. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are showing the world what courage, patriotism, and leadership can achieve.

But my representative won’t even vote yes on a resolution to support NATO? Please, we need a new representative.

Kathy McQuarrie, Naples

Virus doesn't care about your freedom

I managed to ride out previous waves of COVID by limiting exposure, masking, staying away from crowds and getting fully vaccinated and boosted. But two weeks ago the kids came down from the North for a long-delayed trip to Disney World and I dropped the precautions. After all, especially here in Florida, the pandemic is over, right?

Wrong! After a week of being in large crowds and despite limited precautions like masking on buses, sure enough I felt ill when I got home. I tested positive for COVID, probably the new BA.2 subvariant.

Fortunately, being fully vaxxed and treated with a new emergency-authorized medication called Paxlovid, which fights the infection, the siege was essentially a bad cold with fatigue which has now passed. However, it gives me the street cred of a COVID survivor and I have a message I’d like to pass on to all readers:

Folks, the pandemic isn’t over. If by some incredibly willful act of idiocy you haven’t been vaccinated, get vaccinated. Without a vaccination what could be a bad cold can be a lethal illness. If you don’t believe me, check out SorryAntiVaxxer.com to see the stories of the fools who defied the warnings. Even in its mild forms, COVID is unpleasant at the very least. I presume you don’t want to join the dead.

COVID is a virus. It’s an impersonal force of nature. It doesn’t obey court orders, political propaganda or your personal preferences. It doesn’t respond to prayers. It doesn’t care about your freedom. It’s out there, it’s mutating and it’s out to get YOU, yes YOU. Consider yourself warned.

David Silverberg, Naples

What helpful measures does bill prevent?

There has been a lot of discussion about the so called "Don't Say Gay" bill in Florida. Those opposed to the bill suggest that it is anti LGBTQ. They suggest it leads to bullying those people and will lead to more deaths and mental health issues in the LGBTQ community. I have a simple question. What was being done in our schools before this bill was passed that prevented bullying, deaths and mental health issues and is now not allowed to be done solely because of this bill? While I have heard and read from many who oppose the bill, I have never heard an answer to that question.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Punish person who killed dolphin

We also will contribute $100 to a reward fund for the capture of the person who killed the dolphin found in Fort Myers Beach. This scum needs to be punished.

Kathy Ferguson, Estero

Put inflation blame where it belongs

I hear many people blaming Biden for increased fuel prices and the high inflation rates we have today, yet I’ve heard no one blaming DeSantis for the skyrocketing insurance premiums for Floridians. Biden has no control over what fuel companies and OPEC charge, except by releasing reserves in an attempt to lower prices.

DeSantis has no control over what insurance companies charge, (as far as I know he’s not a board member of any of the major insurance company) but no one is pointing at him.

Fuel, food and insurance rates are major factors in trying to control inflation but at least let’s put the blame where it really belongs, with the greedy oil and insurance companies and let’s not forget those four major meat processors who are controlling that market.

John Fanelli, Fort Myers

Rising crude cost an excuse for gouging

Having lived during the energy crises in the Seventies, rising crude oil was the biggest factor on everything going up causing inflation. Having worked for a consumer products company they looked for any excuse under the sun to raise prices if they could get away with it.

At this moment we have some greedy companies doing the same thing: gouging!

Jay Vincent, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, April 23, 2022