Letters to the editor for Saturday, January 29, 2022

Upset about Fiddlesticks gate

As a longtime resident in Briarcliff, I am truly upset the way the Fiddlestick gate issue is being handled. We as residents have no say in the matter. Our road is narrow, not lighted, curves, no sidewalks for our residents and the increased traffic would be dangerous to all of us. The other issue is why do Fiddlesticks residents get to use our road, but we cannot use theirs. They complain about traffic but feel it is OK to bring their traffic to our neighborhood. Something is very wrong here. I hope The News-Press can investigate.

Elaine Zoldak, Fort Myers

Briarcliff residents don't want traffic

Placing at risk the many children and adults who live, ride horses and bikes, walk and play in the Briarcliff community so as not to displace two families in Fiddlesticks, is a clear dismissal of the safety, health, and well-being of middle class families who seek peaceful country life, over the preference of wealthy and more powerful residents seeking to eliminate temporary discomfort. Briarcliff residents do not want more traffic, more accidents, more injured and dead people, or light pollution from streetlights that opening a proposed gate would create at the east end of their main thoroughfare, and only place of egress.

All it takes is one look at the map to see two potential points at which egress could be achieved for Fiddlesticks -- to the south into a commercial area, either at Domestic Avenue or Lee Road. If it is temporary egress that the Fiddlesticks community truly is seeking, let them ask their own residents to bear the temporary discomfort of more traffic driving by their homes. Using this south point gives Fiddlesticks’ residents ready access to Alico Road, thus also to the Interstate and to Highway 41. This south choice of egress simultaneously preserves the quality of life that honors the thousands of voters living in Briarcliff.

Debbie Silver, Fort Myers

Still waiting for response in Briarcliff

I don’t understand how the Lee County commissioners approved a gate that will allow the community of Fiddlesticks access to Briarcliff Road. Briarcliff was assured of a response to an application for interpretation of the county code by County Manager Desjarlais before a final decision was made. No response was given. The gate was approved.

Fiddlesticks wants this gate for convenience. They want to go through Briarcliff but Briarcliff residents will not be permitted to go through Fiddlesticks. Can somebody explain to me how this is justified?

Kathleen McLaughlin, Fort Myers

Climate always has changed

Dr. Jennifer Jones of FGCU provided us with a little more on climate change in her recent Sunday column. While I agree it is OK to believe in climate change, just don’t tell me that we are at risk because this past year was the "third most active hurricane season on record." She does not point out any direct evidence that hurricanes are caused by climate change.

In Dr. Griffin’s article, she says that “belief in climate change is widely accepted and even a bipartisan issue here (Florida)." We know that for centuries the Earth’s climate has changed. It will continue to change and we can’t stop it. The title of Dr. Griffin’s column is “Climate change: Pay me now or pay me later.” Given the record of dire predictions from climate change enthusiasts, I would take my chances on paying later.

I reference the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for some data. It reported that the Earth has warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1850. It noted increasing trends in heat waves, heavy precipitation and some kinds of drought. Sea level has been rising at roughly 16 inches per century. Here is the interesting part, it also found downward or no trends for hurricanes, winter storms and extreme cold, floods, tornadoes or thunderstorms. Florida may be dealing with flooding issues as Dr. Griffin says, but not necessarily from climate change.

Nick Blauwiekel, Naples

Governor's comments ironic

As a retired pediatrician, it seems ironic to me that our governor would choose to criticize the federal government's action to withdraw drugs that have been shown to not be effective against the omicron variant of COVID-19 at an event to promote literacy held at an elementary school. Has he not read that the drugs he is promoting are not effective and have side effects? Even the companies that produce them and profit from them admit that they are ineffective against the omicron variant. Maybe he is not literate!

Paul Gresham M.D., Fort Myers Beach

DeSantis promotes ineffective treatment

Our esteemed governor is hinting that he will bring another legal action against the federal government. He has not been very successful in that endeavor in the past, so this time he will be going against the FDA which has revoked the “emergency order” allowing use of certain antibody treatments. These antibody treatments, promoted by the governor and his sidekick, Dr. Ladapo, have been found not to be effective against the omicron variant which is prevalent these days. Even Eli Lilly and Regeneron, the makers, attest to that ineffectiveness.

Given that these drugs are the cornerstones of his COVID treatment policy (Get the virus first, then treat it, as opposed to getting the vaccines and not getting the virus at all – or only getting a mild case), I can see that he upset. We must remember that he is running for president (well, governor, too) and any failures in his platform could cause difficulty.

By the way, where will the governor be obtaining the money to sue the federal government? From our tax dollars, of course.

Raymond Brooks, Fort Myers

Stunning hypocrisy

The hypocrisy of it is just stunning! Having scientific data that shows both wearing masks and getting vaccinated help to mitigate COVID, there are those who speak about the rights one has over their health care choices. So where in there is a woman's right to her health care choices not the same? It matters not where one stands on abortion rights, if one has the option regarding vaccines (where your health is not the only one impacted), where does the line fall? Just because it may be a different health issue, does not make it any less important.

Barbara Herstig, Bonita Springs

Inflation and price of gas

A writer opined the calculation for inflation is both inaccurate and misleading. His example of gas prices two years ago, one year ago, and today cannot be measured using single comparisons and must be measured using a longer lens to measure inflation. In support of his calculations, at least he got one thing right, we can measure the cost of gasoline and the effects on our pocketbook.

Staying with gas, in 2017 the average cost of gas was $2.24, 2018 $2.41, 2019 $2.24, 2020 $2.58, and 2021 $2.08. so measured across four years of Trump, gasoline prices actually dropped $.16 or an inflation rate of -7 percent. This would indicate lower fuel prices and no inflation.

Measuring 2021 gas prices of $2.08 and with limited data, the gas price in 2022 is $3.30 per gallon. While our writer used general parameters for his results, these numbers are from Gas Buddy and are accurate. Biden under his watch has a 33 percent increase in the cost of fuel.

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, January 29, 2022