Letters to the editor for Thursday, December 2, 2021

City of Naples still needs more trees

Trees that are planted throughout our community are one feature that makes the City of Naples distinctive and beautiful.

In 2017, the damage from Hurricane Irma resulted in the loss of 1,929 trees in the city. We have worked to replace many canopy and palm trees but more needs to be done. Some of the benefits of planting trees in Naples are providing shade, cooling the city, cleaning the air, protecting birds and other wildlife and increasing property values.

Thanks to the generosity of the Blair Foundation trustees, which was created in memory of longtime Naples residents and philanthropists John and Dorothy Blair, the Blair Foundation Tree Challenge was established. It matches donations dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 for a total of $1,000,000, for trees to be planted within public spaces in neighborhoods, city parks and along roadways. However, the Tree Challenge is set to expire at the end of this year.

To date, the city has raised more than $327,000 including matching funds. Your gift will enable even more trees to be added in our city, so let’s make that happen!

Success in this challenge will keep Naples as the “Green Jewel” of Southwest Florida and help preserve the urban forest canopy for future generations.

To make a tax-deductible donation, please send a check, payable to: City of Naples

Mail to: Community Services Department: Tree Challenge, 280 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL 34102

The City of Naples Community Service Advisory BoardAnne Russell Foster, Chair; Joanne Jeffreys, Vice Chair; Kathy Swingley; Nathaniel Smith; Richard Kneedler, Alternate

Politics intrude on restaurant outing

After going to Cambier Park to listen to the Naples Big Band, we like to go to a favorite restaurant for a nice happy hour drink and appetizer at the bar and maybe have a chat with some "friends" we didn't know we had. Politics we do not want to discuss because why ruin a good time? We have been doing this successfully for several years. However, this time, on the back of the bar, was a large political banner for someone who is a terrible person in my opinion. Because we had already ordered, we stayed, but we will not be going there again. What a disappointment and spoiled time. Please restaurant owners keep your political opinions private, or if you don't want to do that, put your political banner right on the front door to your restaurant.

Charles Wise, Naples

Support Trump's policies, not his tweets

When will the Democrats learn that we don't support Donald Trump for his personality or mean tweets. We support him for his policies. Secure borders, energy independence, booming economy, low taxes, full employment and standing up to our enemies just to name a few.

J.N. Miranda, Naples

Education the antidote to propaganda

Trump was America’s wake-up call that the Oval Office’s resolute desk isn’t despot-proof and almost half of its voters aren’t propaganda-proof.

What can we do about it?

Let’s start by pouring vast amounts of our treasure into nourishing what every child is born with: curiosity and an innate desire to find real world answers.

Traditionally, our schools starved innate curiosity by focusing on answering questions instead of asking them and providing real world tools for finding answers for a lifetime of learning.

This force-feeding caused many kids to mentally drop out. I bet a big chunk of Trump voters said when they got out of school that they will never open another book! And they didn’t.

So their "continuing education" came from Fox "News" charlatans who know that those with atrophied critical thinking abilities are easy to scare, anger and manipulate.

Jan. 6 was nothing short of a big elementary school drop-out reunion!

G. Wilson, Naples

Healthy democracy requires truth

In a democratic republic like ours, citizens are expected to participate in elections and are consequently dependent on hearing the truth from their elected leaders. Rep. Byron Donalds spoke during at least one congressional hearing where witnesses were required to speak the truth under oath. At a recent House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing entitled, “Fueling the Climate Crisis: Exposing Big Oil’s Disinformation Campaign to Prevent Climate Action,” Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney asked the oil industry executives testifying to take a pledge affirming that they would stop funding disinformation campaigns. When Donalds got to speak he said this to the executives: “ … what I witnessed here today was just rank intimidation by the chair of this committee. Trying to get you to pledge on what you are going to spend your money on is a gross violation against the First Amendment.” What the chair asked for is not a violation of the First Amendment. None of the executives took the pledge, and their unwillingness was simply entered into the record of the hearing.

Patricia Duncan, Bonita Springs

Thank you to the Naples community

My son, Jeremy Griffith, passed away while fishing on Nov. 11 by the bridge off of Golden Gate Parkway. I wanted to thank the fisherman who saw his body and called 911 for help. I also wanted to thank the Collier County Sheriff's Department for their assistance that evening. We arrived on the scene and they were so caring, thoughtful and helpful as we received this tragic news of his death.

I would also like to thank The Dunes of Naples, where my son worked in The Club. The outpouring of support through this community and Troon Golf LLC. has truly touched our hearts. He really loved the residents and all his co-workers there -- and loved coming to work everyday.

And finally, all of my co-workers at the Naples Daily News for their support during this difficult time.

Maryjo Griffith, Fort Myers

Waffling isn't leadership, congressman

Congressman Byron Donalds was quoted in The News-Press saying, “I am not anti vaxing, I am anti mandate.” He also wrote that the concept of individualized health care and the right to medical freedom should never be radical. He goes on to suggest that the Democrats are using intimidation and mandates to end COVID. Now, I have a few questions for him regarding our pandemic. First, are you anti universal health or pro universal health? Next, if you are pro health, how do you suggest universal health be accomplished? Lastly, what is your stance regarding health care for your family during this pandemic? When you talk about leadership in our government, waffling does not work and yet that is how you write. You do not state a solution to this catastrophic problem.

JoAnn Reece, Sanibel

Biden critics regurgitate talking points

I have noticed a set verbiage in the letters that are irate and critical about the job the current president is doing.

Always included in the criticism: Stopped the Keystone Pipeline, bumbling old man being controlled by someone else (usually Obama), soft on China and Russia, disgraceful exit from Afghanistan, problems at the southern border not solved yet.

It is amazing how these “talking points" are being regurgitated word-for-word.

Too much Fox News?

Say the lie, repeat the lie, until it becomes truth.

Try looking at current events and forming your own opinion. Think instead of repeating talking points.

Linda Lally, Fort Myers

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Thursday, December 2, 2021