Letters to the editor for Saturday, February 25, 2023

Farmworkers need help

I find it hard to believe the Collier County commissioners are returning $1.2 million in CDC grant funds for farmworker health care based on the gross misinformation provided by the self appointed "Medical Freedom Sub-Committee" of the of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME! The commissioners did not bother to seek other information or other points of view regarding COVID vaccines or even verify the Republican bogus claims. Commissioners were told what they wanted hear and they ran with it.

An excellent source of information is the National Center for Farmworker Health, NCFH.org. After COVID vaccines were widely available a large majority of COVID hospitalizations and deaths were among the unvaccinated.

I have a master's degree in Public Health and worked for more than 30 years with NGOs providing health care services to Latino farmworkers. Farmworkers are very family-oriented, extremely hard working, underpaid and are in need of the health care services being denied to them by the Collier County commissioners!

It appears to me that the Collier County commissioners drank the Kool-Aid leaving farmworkers to suffer the consequences!

James Laughlin, Naples

Voting against my commissioner

Shameful! I was also appalled that the Collier County Commission voted to return the COVID-19 Extra Mile Migrant Farmworker grant. In my opinion, the commission caved under pressure from a small, yet vocal, fringe faction of our community.

I was so appalled that I emailed Bill McDaniel, District 5 Commissioner, to voice my displeasure and promise to vote against him during the next election cycle. I suggest others email their district commissioners with their opinion.

Nancy Garrison, Naples

Vote no on gun legislation

Florida HB 543 is currently making its way through committee in Tallahassee. This legislation allows anyone to carry a concealed weapon without requirements for training, permits or background checks (private seller purchase). Imagine the presence of firearms in parks, hospitals, and daycares by individuals who have no safety training. It’s ironic that a legislature, the majority of whom proclaim themselves to be “pro-life,” would endorse an action that increases the likelihood of gun deaths: A simple correlation supported by published research is that “where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths.” Given available statistics, it is irresponsible to make it easier to place guns in the hands of any citizen who wants one (including those with undiagnosed mental illness and domestic abusers). If indeed gun ownership makes citizens safer, the U.S. would be the safest nation in the world. It ISN’T. In 2020, the U..S had a child and teen gun mortality rate seven to 50 times higher than 12 other peer countries. Along with rights come responsibilities — requiring training and permitting is not an overreach or infringement, it is a reasonable request of those who want to possess a deadly weapon. The conscientious, rational gun owners I know willingly obtained training and permits to ensure appropriate and safe storage and use of firearms. Failing to protect the public health by allowing unvetted, untrained individuals to possess a firearm would be an imprudent act by Florida legislators. Write your representatives and call for a no vote on HB 543.

Kim R. Finer, Naples

Legislation won't make us safer

The Second Amendment calls for a “well-regulated militia.” Florida’s current gun laws attempt to strike a balance between public safety and the right to bear arms. In the past 18 months, the Florida Department of Agriculture has denied over 42,000-gun permit applications because applicants were convicted of domestic violence, felony convictions, or other disqualifying crimes.Studies show that weakening public carry laws are associated with a 13-15% increase in violent crime rates, as well as an 11% increase in rates of homicides committed with handguns. And states where permitless carry is legal, those states experienced a 22% increase in gun homicides for the three years after the law’s passage, more than doubling the 10% increase for the country overall. Florida already ranks as the 24th worst state in terms of gun death rate in the U.S., with one gun death every three hours. Allowing permitless carry will only take us farther toward the bottom of the list.Individuals carrying guns openly in public can be alarming and intimidating for many people, especially children and vulnerable populations. It can create a climate of fear and tension, and lead to conflicts or misunderstandings between individuals. This is especially true in situations where tensions are already high. Openly carrying firearms in public can make it difficult for officers to identify potential threats and differentiate between law-abiding citizens and criminals.Nearly three-quarters (72%) of adults in the 25 states with permitless carry oppose these policies. Floridians need stronger, not weaker gun laws. We want to be safe in our homes, businesses, and communities. It is crucial that Florida’s legislators oppose passage of this law.Jane Schlechtweg, Collier County Democratic Executive Committee chairwoman, Marco Island

Proud of Cape Royal's giving

I always read with interest the articles concerning the good done by the Cape Coral Community Foundation, and want to share what we do, and have done, in the community of Cape Royal! We are a community of only 483 homesites located on the Cape Royal golf course. Our Cape Royal Community Foundation was founded in 2002 by then residents Hank and Terry Ellison, and Jerry and Gloria Siddall. We have two fundraisers; a golf tournament each April, and a Ball every two years. To date we have given $266,450 to humanitarian causes through grants, and have awarded $271,000 in scholarships for high school seniors. I think, for a small community with both full- and part-time residents, we have reason to be very proud! I certainly am!

Phyllis Mills, Cape Coral

Commissioners are costing us

The failure of Collier County commissioners to implement affordable housing is costing most of us in Collier County big bucks. Continuing care retirement communities are experiencing significant increases in their monthly fees (12%) because of the commissioners' inaction over the years with respect to affordable housing. People in gated and golf communities will soon see the same if they haven’t already. Our commissioners are driving away much needed help by their failure to pay attention on their watch. Slow rolling their constituents, a usual political tactic, will not work here. The costs for the constituents will mount going into the next election. The commissioners' inaction will eventually show up at the polls as costs increase. Rather than investigate COVID vaccine producers, Gov. DeSantis should convene a grand jury to ascertain if the commissioners are deeply into the pockets of unaffordable housing developers.

Joe Haack, Naples

Don't abuse disability parking

This suggestion is for the disability hang tag drivers who sit in their cars in disability parking spots waiting for their shoppers, please be more aware of the inconvenience you are causing other disabled people. When I am cruising for a disability spot there is always at least one driver sitting in their car occupying a disability spot while waiting for their shopper. This week at Home Depot there was a driver sitting in her grey Hyundai Santa Cruz in a disability spot. She was there when I went in, and there when I came out obviously waiting for her shopper. A few days before that at Bealls there was a driver sitting in a disability parking spot in his SUV, door open, reading a book. Good grief people! Please make a plan with your shopper, drop them at the door and have them call you when they are leaving so you can pick them up at the door (driver parks in a spot farther away). That is the plan we use when I'm not shopping alone, I get dropped off at the door and get picked up at the door when done. Please consider it.

L. O'Brien, Fort Myers

COVID vaccine disinformation

The Lee County Republican Party voted for a statewide ban on the mRNA Vaccine. The book "Breathless" details the development of the mRNA vaccines. The mRNA development story rivals that of the moon landing. This vaccine was an achievement of the West, not by China or Russia. When Russia started the Ukraine war, 95% of COVID vaccine disinformation went away as Russia pivoted to Ukraine disinformation. Russia and China have fueled vaccine disinformation to divide Western democracies and promote conspirator theories. Vermont, the state with the highest vaccination rate, was at 127 deaths per 100,000 when Mississippi, the state with the lowest vaccination rate, hit 441 deaths per 100,000. Vermont's Republican governor won re-election by 40 points in a state Biden won by 35 points. The opening commentary in Spring 2020 Parameters, our militaries officer's magazine, details Russian disinformation on anti-vaccine websites. This commentary was written to warn young officers of the threat Russian and Chinese disinformation posed to our fighting forces. It was written before any mention of a vaccine.

Thomas Hallquist, Oshkosh, WI

Any lawyers in Legislature?

Let me get this right. The Florida Legislature has made it illegal for teachers to make students feel uncomfortable. Do any lawyers work there?

Chuck Ryntz, Naples & Washington, MI

Truth can set us free

Ever feel uncomfortable in a classroom? Me too, both as a teacher and student for more than 35 years. It wasn't a bad thing, though. Those moments of uncertainty were opportunities to actually question preconceived notions and learn something. And I can say the same for my students. I would see that "wait a minute" look in their eyes, that moment when they realized there might be more to the story than their "comfortable" assumptions, and I would watch them change and grow in real time. And make no mistake; change and growth are synonyms for education.Currently, some in our state would "protect" our kids from the "discomfort" they might experience from classroom exposure to our national "original sin": slavery and its resonance in the lives of Americans of color to this very day. Well, no sensible person would force tots to confront the grisly details of human bondage, but high schoolers? Come on. If we want to strive for the founders "more perfect union," how can we omit this glaring failure from the story of our aspirational American experiment? How can we hope for positive change and growth in the body politic if we attempt to stifle it in our children? Sure, sometimes the truth hurts, but as a wise man once said, it can also set us free.

Geremy Spampinato, Naples

Pride Festival an event for families

Is the Naples Pride Festival an event for families? My sister-in-law, born in the 1930’s, was the matriarch of our family. A staunch churchwoman and a second mother to her nieces and nephews, she was always there in times of trouble and the center of family celebrations in times of joy. She lived with the woman who was the love of her life. Two of my oldest and dearest women friends, now in their 70's, are one of the happiest married couples I know. Close friends of ours for over 35 years, our children and grandchildren are all family to each other. My beloved 42-year-old son and his husband were married on Valentine's Day. Like me, there are many Naples residents who have cherished family members who identify as LGBTQ+. Yes, the Naples Pride Festival is an event for families, and we and our LGBTQ+ family members are entitled to continue to proudly and openly celebrate the richness and diversity of our families in Cambier Park.

Louise Cromwell, Naples

How do we get a traffic light?

I live in a gated community in Florida. Naples is growing as fast as an epidemic because of the tax benefits, the abundance of nature, and its appreciation of retirees.

But things are changing. Our increasing popularity has resulted in a clog of traffic, especially during the high season when a lot of snowbirds come down here to visit.

It's escalated tremendously in the past few years. Every day I hear about traffic accidents adjacent to our community. The area is getting chopped up with many new housing developments, adding to the density of our beloved Everglades. More people means more traffic, which means more accidents.

A few months ago, a new shopping center was built on the perimeter of our housing development. A stoplight was not included. The traffic going in and out of the shopping center is a nightmare. The proliferation of accidents has escalated tremendously.

With the population density increasing down here in Florida, what does it take to get a traffic light implemented? Shouldn't it be included with the building plans? How many accidents does it take before somebody decides to do something about it?

Mary McGrath, Naples

Biden's still got what it takes

How many NFL fans said Tom Brady, at 40, was too old to play quarterback? How many when he was 41? How many when he was 42? How many when he was 43? How many when he was 44? Never a skilled runner, he still lost a step or two over the years so how did he keep his job? Year after year he contributed more to his team than any before him and more than most of his contemporaries. So his age was very much secondary to his many attributes, skills, and continued employment.

How many of you, Democrat and Republican alike, say Joe Biden will be too old to run for president in 2224? Although he stays fit, there's no question he moves like an 80-year-old man. But his mind, vision, and negotiating acumen are excellent and while some on the right continue to disregard his history as a stutterer since childhood and criticize his verbal stumbles (anyone remember The Former Guy?), his communication skills are better than most and he always gets his point or message across. While his many foreign relations and domestic legislative accomplishments (in a divided Congress) have been delineated in this newspaper many times, suffice to say Joe Biden has actually done more for the American people in his first two years than the last seven presidents combined, with the possible exception of Obama and the ACA.

I remain woke and as long as he continues to show his mental skills are up to the job, a Biden supporter.

W.P. Reed, Fort Myers

Sunset law reasonable

Not all federal programs should continue forever and ever. From time to time, they should be reviewed by Congress to see if they’re really doing what they were intended to do. When a legislature passes a law to do just that, it’s called a sunset law. Since one can’t be picky about which programs to review and which ones not to review, all programs are reviewed.

In the idea floated by Senator Scott, federal programs would be reviewed every five years. The vicious Left seized upon that idea and said that the Republicans are seeking to cut Social Security and Medicare! Of course they were not, but one should never accuse the Left of rational thinking.

Fact is, if you are now receiving Social Security benefits and are covered by Medicare, or if you will be retiring in the next several years and will file for those benefits, you will never, repeat never, lose your benefits or coverage. Not one penny thereof.

Any rational thinker (sorry Lefties, you’re out) knows that both programs are facing insolvency in 10 or 20 years depending on whom you ask. Congress has stood up to this before and did the smart thing, postpone benefits for those who will continue working for many years. I know my retirement age was pushed up to 66 from 65. And you know what? It didn’t kill me.

The longer Congress waits to make another tweak, the harder it will be. But it will be because it has to. So the smart thing to do for we the retired and those soon to be retired is to quit whining needlessly and let it happen. We will never get hurt, but we will allow our progeny to partake of these programs before they go broke.

Gary Marsh, Estero

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, February 25, 2023