Letters to the editor for Sunday, February 19, 2023

Aircraft noise disrupts corridor

I have expressed great concern in the past year, and especially once again, beginning in January of this year, about the horrifically loud, frequent low flying aircraft that seem to be focused on the Winkler Road/Cypress Lake Corridor. It is becoming a daily nightmare from morning through the evening here. We cannot hear ourselves think, cannot speak on the phone nor enjoy any outdoor activities because of these scores and scores of daily explosions in the sky.

I had contacted the Port Authority in Lee County last year, and received mostly double talk (wishing I would just go away) to "we have no control over these aircrafts and their noise and safety issues." Really? How bizarre, when public sanity and safety are at issue, there is no attempt to explain why this horrifying cacophony is suddenly threatening our quality of life. No explanation and no concerns come from the county, that is known for its lack of transparency.

In Wednesday's paper, I found a detailed article of similar concerns.  Collier County is doing a study about this latest nightmare. But Lee County continues to ignore it. Why?

I would like some roadmap to setting up the same noise reduction study in Lee County! And with SOME reasonable explanation of why this incessant noise seems focused on just a small segment of Lee, i.e the Winkler Road Corridor.

We have to be involved. This lack of transparency in Lee County is mind boggling.

We are deeply concerned about these low-flying aircraft, at all hours of the day and night. The noise itself is enough to make us suffer a form of PTSD.

Any suggestions for public involvement in this serious matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sarah Wilmarth, Fort Myers

No consequences for traffic offenses

Lee County had 118 motor vehicle fatalities in 2021 (per The News-Press). Having volunteered for the Sheriff's Office for a short time in their VOICE program, I can personally attest to the fact that their traffic division has marching orders to let 60% of violators off scot-free to avoid tainting the image of Lee County as a friendly vacation spot. Why would someone repeat the offense? Because there are no consequences. Pull up to any light and you will see driver's texting behind the wheel. No enforcement on this has been visible since the law was passed to make it a violation. Radar is nearly non-existent on Three Oaks Parkway (with multiple fatal accidents) ; cars routinely going 70 mph and higher with nary a deputy sheriff in sight. This needs to be addressed by the current sheriff, perhaps putting it as a priority for 2022 to make the citizens who elected him safe while on the road. The marked patrol units have blue and red "running lights" (not flashing) that should be on at all times while on patrol to alert the public that there is a police presence; perhaps slowing down those who might otherwise have a lead foot on the gas pedal. The population is increasing; the traffic will as well. It needs to be a larger part of the Sheriff's Office as visible deterrent to those who flaunt the law.

Sean Courtney IV, Fort Myers

E-bikes, scooters on sidewalks

Perhaps there are ordinances already in place to govern where e-bikes and scooters may be driven but they either need to be more strictly enforced or new ordinances written -- sooner rather than later. At present it appears that the sidewalk is the preferred area for most riders of this ever popular means of economical travel but, unfortunately, someone is going to get hurt if this is permitted to continue.

Theodore Barto, Naples

Sellout of Isles of Capri

Appalling and callous was the sellout of the fragile Isles of Capri!  Residents who treasure these pearls have been given startling insight into how cheaply they were “sold.” Twenty units and $400,000 is the ticket to the ecological and social disaster of $100,000,000 of bulldozers, piles of wildlife carcasses, ospreys singing “Taps,” a couple hundred cars, 20 acres of pavement, tons of airborne carbon monoxide, party groups urinating on the beach, light pollution of our night sky blocking the descent of Venus, Mars and Jupiter, overcrowding of roads, supermarkets, gas stations, beach privacy and our low-key lifestyles.

The butchers of Capri would have been happy with 20 units.  $400,000 represents half the profit of one sale and provides housing for, what, eight low-income families?  Nice job.  No surprise as we’ve witnessed the trashing of our marvels of nature for over 50 years.

God and nature are angry.  Irma and Ian may be just the beginning in their effort to reclaim this section of their planet. 

Martin Clay Traywick, Naples

What's wrong with 'woke'?

What does WOKE mean and why is DeSantis railing against it? I looked it up and, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means “alert to and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” Is that a bad thing?It doesn’t sound like a crazy liberal ideology, no crazier than “do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” It sounds reasonable. Shouldn’t we all want to be informed and conscious of racial and social injustice? Shouldn’t our governor care how people are treated, how all groups can be accepted regardless of their color, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference.If we and our children are awakened to past and present injustices, is that a dangerous thing? Isn’t transparency better than ignorance? I wish our governor was woke.

Kevin McNally, Bonita Springs

Republicans won't cut benefits

The News-Press has sunk to new lows. Trying to push a narrative that Republicans are cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits (on the front page). Never going to happen. Thank goodness most of your readers know this story is nothing more than a journalistic "prop-up" for the worst presidential administration in my lifetime!

Leo Doran, Clewiston

Political suicide

It seems silly for Scott to even talk about Social Security and Medicare during upcoming elections before you know it!

The Democrats will use this as Biden is trolling around the country telling everyone the Republicans want Social Security cuts!

It’s political suicide!

Jay Vincent, Naples

Republican reversals and Ron DeSantis

As a GOP presidential candidate in 2012, Mitt Romney thought he would brag about his state-based success on health care reform as an accomplishment — right up until that became politically unRepublican. His “Romneycare” success resulted in the conception from which “Obamacare” was born. Mitt had to reverse course.As a GOP presidential candidate in 2016, Sen. Marco Rubio thought he’d be able to brag about his role in negotiating a bipartisan deal on comprehensive immigration reform as an impressive accomplishment — right up until that became politically untenable as a Republican. Marco had to back off. This year, as the race for the GOP’s presidential nomination begins to heat up, Donald Trump’s approach to vaccines has been overhauled. Instead of bragging about the success of his efforts to bring a COVID vaccine to a needy scene, Trump is trying to use the right’s hostility toward vaccines against GOP rivals, including Ron DeSantis.

These reversals were the result of percolation from the bottom up -- from a base comprised mostly of conspiracy theoried, racist, dummied down, fundamentalist voters. ( Racism: the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another.)

DeSantis will have no such reversals. He already complies with many of his base: he is a racist (anti-wokes are racists -- see definition above), a sexist (don’t say gay and eliminate birth control), a conspiracy theory propagator (convened a grand jury to look into organized crime for the creation and distribution of Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines), a dummying down enthusiast (forced the removal of educational material from classrooms and libraries and suggested teachers be replaced by the National Guard) and a religious fundamentalist (encouraged the religious right in Hillsdale, Michigan to do battle with infidel leftists). Steady the course.

Joe Haack, Naples

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) awareness

As an adult living with congenital heart disease (CHD), I am writing today to remind readers that February is not just Heart Month – it also includes Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Week, CHD Awareness Day on February 14.  I am one of the one in 100 people born with a heart defect who needs ongoing specialized care throughout my life.

Thanks to medical advances in just the last decade, more children born with heart defects — the number one birth defect in the United States — are living to adulthood. This is great news but just a small number of patients (less than 10%) are seen in specialized centers and are getting appropriate and specialized cardiac care.

That’s where the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) comes in. ACHA is a nonprofit whose mission is to empower our CHD community by advancing access to resources and specialized care that improve patient outcomes. Importantly, ACHA is the only national patient advocacy organization dedicated solely to serving adults living with CHD and the health care community that cares for them.

I am proud to be a Board member of ACHA, as we celebrate our 25^th anniversary this year. For a quarter century, ACHA has made sure that no one with CHD, including me, has felt alone. Through offerings such as conferences, peer-to-peer mentors, educational opportunities, charity walks and more, ACHA has been honored to be the conduit for adults in the CHD community to connect and lean on each other.

This month, join ACHA and me in spreading awareness about adults and children living with CHD and the specialized treatment they need to live a full life. If you or someone you know was born with a heart defect and needs medical care, education, or just someone to talk to, please visit achaheart.org. Happy Heart Month!

Anne Reilly,  Naples

Let’s get back to civil debate

Every time a senator or other politician shows their colors a social media blast goes out to combat the opponent. Send money to defeat this blah, blah, blah. Money is the driving force in our current political system. We would all be better off if we could get the money out of politics, especially big money. Let’s have a publicly funded six week election campaign every election and be done with it until the next election.

This constant bombardment of news and social media 24/7 is just not healthy for any of us. No matter what your political view is, we do not need to battle each other every single day. Let’s get back to civil debate, bipartisan compromise, governance by representatives who actually represent people not big money, and generally living our lives without worrying about politics every single day. We are all part of our families, our communities, our country. Let’s act like civilized human beings and get on with the pursuit of justice, equity, inclusion, and happiness for ALL. Democracy is a worthy goal. Let’s show the world we can make it work. Life is short and then we die. Do we want to spend every day thinking about politics and corruption?

Susan Parrott, Fort Myers

No welfare for the wealthy

I think Floridians need to take a very close look at how the state spends TAXPAYER dollars on Hurricane Ian damage. Cleaning out canals. Are they available to the public or are they where wealthy people park their boats? Beach clean-up? Beach replenishment? Whose beach? I think it's reasonable to ask, how much tax money should be spent on islands and shoreline with so little public access? Maybe funds should be spent to greatly increase public access to the water. I don't want one dime of my tax dollars to provide welfare for the wealthy.

Carl Babnik, Dunedin

Crimes in every sense of the word

In arriving at blame for a crime an essential element is “intent.”

In a litany of misdeeds  and abuses of power Donald Trump  has been accused of deliberately withholding  classified documents from the National Archives.

In addition, the then-sitting president has been accused of fomenting actions attacking the Constitution and democracy itself in the assault on the nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump’s refusal to turn over classified material to the federal government as well as his countenancing sedition are  deliberate acts for which he should be held accountable..

These are crimes in every sense of the word, and “intent” is clearly provable.

The next steps are clearly indictments.

Robert  P. Sanchez, Naples

Pete Buttigieg most qualified?

I had to laugh at a recent contributor who said Pete Buttigieg is the most qualified person currently to be president of the U.S.A.

Why is he? When he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana he was known as Part Time Pete because he was always somewhere else and he was also known as Pothole Pete because of a continuing pothole problem. Somehow he had his street repaved but other streets around him were not. Domino's Pizza was so fed up with the problem that they donated money to repair the streets themselves. He also never addressed the rising crime rates in his city.

I'd like to know what possibly would have qualified him to be the secretary of Transportation let alone the president of the United States. Well l'll tell you why.

The contributor said "he is articulate, has a great sense of humanity and he is super intelligent and compassionate to all people." I'm pretty sure I can find some people like that in Lowe's.

Remember that Barack Obama was a mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and a nice looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man. Not my words, Joe Biden's.

The contributor said that maybe it's time for a rational female (I don't think they're that hard to find) or gay man to be president. Does the gay man have to be rational also? Just asking.

I'm tired of all this box checking. Biden did it with Kamala Harris and pretty much with the rest of his Cabinet.

Remember when those on the left were fawning over disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti because he looked "presidential"?

Well, we know how that turned out.

How about just getting a job based on meritocracy? Now that's a novel thought.

I don't care if a person is a male, female, gay, black, white, blue, green or yellow.

I just want whomever it it is to be QUALIFIED!

Rick Manuel, Dade City

Mayor Pete unqualified

Mayor Pete. He is a perfect example of a fish out of water. A totally unqualified person appointed to a position for which he has absolutely no qualifications!

Apparently someone owed him big time to be given this slot!

Remember he carries with him the nick name of Pothole Pete! Apparently because he couldn’t handle the job of mayor in a small town in Indiana!

His inability to handle our national issues emphasizes his ineptness!

Remember our supply chain issues, tankers anchored offshore for weeks, baby food shortages, food shortages, airline issues, pilot shortages, and now a train derailment and explosions emitting toxic chemicals while he is at a conference and unable to respond.

Even members of his own party called him out for not addressing this latest emergency!

But hold on, he is now being mentioned for PRESIDENT!

God help us!

Denny Rosenhagen, Naples

Balloon reports don't add up

Let's follow the logic. The Left is now saying that at least three balloons flew over U.S. air space during the Trump administration. However, the only reason we now know about the Chinese balloon that flew over thousands of miles of U..S airspace is because two individuals in Montana saw it and reported it. However, we are to believe that at least three such balloons flew over the U.S. during the Trump administration and not one of the 330 million people in the U.S. saw it nor did any of our air defense systems see any such thing and yet two of some one million people in Montana saw it during the Biden administration? Does this defy logic? Also, the Left is now trying to suggest that it was a coup that we were allowed to track the Chinese spy balloon for some eight to 10 days as it traversed the U.S. and Canada. That would mean that we would want a lot more of the Chinese spy balloons so we could gather more information. If that was true, why did we shoot down the recent ones in Alaska, Canada and over Lake Huron? The logic does not follow. It just shows that the left just thinks the public are idiots or cannot think for themselves. The amazing thing is that the mainstream media actually buys into the Left's idiotic logic.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Time to call on divine guidance

Our representatives and senators have lived in the greatest era of prosperity and with countless blessings, but they have become entitled and privileged. They have not taken their oath of office seriously and have not upheld the laws of this land. They have refused to do the hard work of finding solutions not only for their own constituents but to all the people of this country. It may be time to call on divine guidance, as our Founders did.

Marian Lauck, Naples

Story shows political bias

In the Naples News on page one, the headline reads “Biden takes Medicare, Social Security fight to Fla.” What fight? Senator Scott and the Republicans are absolutely NOT proposing any cuts to Social Security. His plan simply wants to responsibly review all federal spending programs every five years. But Ms. Varn does not even mention Senator Scott’s actual position or attempt to clarify the plan. It is irresponsible and the most egregious political bias by its obvious omission.

This is not fair and balanced journalism presenting all sides of a story. It is a prime example of the liberal media ignoring contradictory evidence and cleverly framing facts to change the public opinion.

B.J. Olson, Naples

Republican 'flip-flop'

It was a Republican, Gerald Ford, who inserted the derogatory term “flip-flop” into the political lexicon. In 1976, the incumbent president repeatedly hurled that phrase, mild by today’s standards of coarse discourse, at Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter, denoting his purported changes in positions over the years and even in the campaign. It almost worked as Ford nearly overcame a  25% early polling deficit to narrowly lose by fewer than 2%.

But that characterization now aptly applies to Ford’s GOP contemporaries. They are falling over each other in flipping their positions in seeking to reduce, even “Sunset,” Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. That initiative was floated  in the last election cycle by no less a party leader and austerity authority than Florida Senator Rick  Scott, head of the party’s  unsuccessful Senate campaign apparatus, and cheered on by many of his acolytes at the time.

Now, after being filleted on that issue by President  Biden in his State of the Union address last week and the miniscule  support in polls even among Republicans, 10% in one of them, GOP office holders can’t run fast enough to exit that platform. They are not  only  proclaiming their support for these  entitlements but even feigning astonishment that they are being pilloried for formerly advocating stripping the entitlements, as some did.

Indeed, Senator Scott himself, who may emerge from this self-inflicted fiasco with the denomination as “Senator Sunset” from the Sunshine  State has come out with his revised — and reversed — proposal to strengthen those entitlement programs. That’s a bit like an arsonist  bringing buckets of water to the fire he started or a fox entering a chicken coop and declaring himself a vegetarian.

The Republican retreat from their adversity to entitlements to affinity for them is reminiscent of the sight of GOP congressional solons smilingly showing up for photo opportunities extolling new infrastructure programs in their localities attributable to the Biden administration’s Build-Back-Better program after they had voted against the measure. Their effort to hog the spotlight for pork-barrel programs they opposed  is another version of flip-flopping.

But even more so, the GOP’s fire-drill exit from flirting with the end-entitlements mantra is reminiscent of how numerous of candidates from that party during the 2022 campaign ditched their strident opposition to abortion after the firestorm created by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last June eliminating women’s constitutional right to abortion. The ensuing adverse public reaction led many anti-abortion candidates to dilute their positions, scrub their websites of anti-abortion views, and disingenuously promote themselves as safeguarding  reproductive rights, an about-face that most voters were not buying.

It remains to be seen if the electorate buys into the latest GOP flips on Social Security and Medicare or if the party’s contrived  conversion flops.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

Platform to divide

The SOTU address was typical presidential bloviating and chest thumping. It has become a platform to divide and seek chaos. The bait was taken by the Republicans during the speech and specifically, the attack from Biden on Medicare and Social Security. The bottom line on this whole Medicare and SS topic is no one is willing to step up and lead. This third rail of society is so important to Americans that no one is willing to step up and save it. Yes, Medicare and SS were supposed to be protected, "lock box" secured and there forever. However, both sides of the political coin refuse to address the empty coffee can full of IOU's. Medicare and SS won't collapse as long as the U.S. can continue to print money but fixing it, NO WAY -- that could cost a politician an election.

The answer -- raise the ceiling on Medicare and SS taxes. Right now the employee stops paying for these services when they reach $140K+. What does this mean, is people making more than $140k stop paying into the system for the calendar year. Why? You know why -- because no politician will tax themselves on purpose and no politician will raise the taxes on the very people who finance their campaign. simple.

As a leader, the hard decisions are the one's that make a difference. Lift the ceiling on all income earned and each taxpayer will pay into the system no matter how much they make. This increase in revenue to the Med/SS system will extend its life indefinitely. But there must be one condition, these funds cannot be lent or loaned out, they must remain in the "lock box." And the programs be returned to the original purpose of FDR's "Widows and Orphans" fund.

Who is the politician in America standing up for these programs yet will tell their constituents they have to pay more? Right, the line for those starts right behind the line for those investigating waste and fraud.

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

Reckless driving solution

We keep getting news reports that traffic deaths are increasing. We have a real problem in Florida on 41 and 75 with speeding and reckless driving and lane change lunacy.

A solution, keep old guys with Mustangs off the road along with pickup drivers and Hondas two inches off the ground driven by little people.

Then we and they will be safe!

Joe Kiernan, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, February 19, 2023