Letters to the editor for Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to mailbag@news-press.com and for the Naples Daily News to letters@naplesnews.com

Ordinance would create chaos

A proposed “Bill of Rights Sanctuary Ordinance” will be voted on during the Aug. 22 Collier County Commission meeting.The ordinance states in part “Collier County has the right to be free from the commanding hand of the federal government and has the right to refuse to cooperate with federal government officials in response to unconstitutional federal government measures.”

Local politicians and sheriffs declaring their counties "Bill of Rights sanctuaries" seek to disregard the will of the voters, circumvent the legislative process, and short-circuit the judicial function by declaring themselves interpreters of the Constitution.Collier would be the first county in Florida to pass such an ordinance. It will create chaos, confusion and lawlessness. Who determines what is a violation of the Constitution? Isn’t that the role of the judicial system?

For example, during debates over local “sanctuary” resolutions in Virginia, emails from one Virginia county showed people believing that the resolutions had swept away all gun laws and some people who had been convicted of felonies happily declared that they had got their gun rights back.

Also worth considering are the economic consequences when business and tourism are hesitant to invest in a lawless and dysfunctional county as well as the increased county budget for legal counsel to respond to actions that are sure to be brought forth.This matter is of concern to all who live, own property or do business in Collier County. Please email commissioners today to express your opposition.

Susan Cone, Naples

Kill this extreme proposal

There is a popular saying that states are the “laboratories of democracy.” This concept explains how states act as social laboratories that test out new laws and policies. A law that proves popular and successful may spread to other states, eventually gaining enough momentum to attract the attention of Congress, who may choose to take up the issue and adopt it as federal law.

If the states are the laboratories of democracy, counties are fast becoming the petri dishes of extremism. A particularly bad idea which threatens to go viral is the proposed “Bill of Rights Sanctuary County” ordinance. It declares that the Bill of Rights would be protected in Collier County (it is already protected throughout the United States). The ordinance would allow the county to prohibit enforcement of any federal law it deems unconstitutional, but provides no mechanism for making that determination (that’s the job of our court system). It creates a "bounty hunter" enforcement mechanism where anyone who is displeased with a federal law can directly sue any county employee, including the commissioners. (Do the commissioners realize they are putting themselves at risk?)

The proposed ordinance is the equivalent of a child throwing a temper tantrum in the supermarket checkout line. In 2021 Republicans were unhappy that they lost both Congress and the White House. They floated this ordinance as a way of declaring they don’t have to follow any federal law they don’t like (think of a toddler in a high chair refusing to eat his vegetables). It was defeated in 2021, but now that the makeup of the commission has changed, they are trying again. Apparently Republicans’ loyalty to the Constitution only applies when the candidates of their choice are in power.

Florida Republicans both won and lost in 2022. At the state and local levels, Republicans have complete control of government, while at the federal level Democrats control the Senate and White House. Not satisfied with accepting the will of the American people, Republicans are trying to subvert our Constitution and declare Collier County a law unto itself.

The measure of a patriot takes two forms -- how they wield power when elected to office, and whether they respect the results of elections that don’t go their way. The Collier Board of County Commissioners is about to fail both tests, undermining the health of our democracy. Let’s do everything we can to kill this virus before it escapes the lab.

Adam Molny, Naples

Voter input needed on Lee Health

In Lee Health’s past CEO Jim Nathan’s July 30 opinion piece, he attempts to make a “business” case for investigating a change in governance of Lee Health. He goes through the history of the health system and its mission; but mostly focuses on the business case for a change from a public nonprofit to a private nonprofit. He never addresses this change as taking away the right of Lee County voters to be involved in electing the system’s board or the value of Lee County’s oversight of Lee Health’s financial status.

From his wording such as “The world of health care delivery is ever-changing” and “…convert from a public not-for-profit to a private not-for-profit, giving taxpayers and patients the best value…” make it obvious the power brokers behind this change that he is connected to have already made their decision to get rid of Lee Health as a public not-for-profit where voters have input. He also indicates under the “state” approved process the community will be able to participate in public meetings. These supposed listening sessions are at best perfunctory and at worst just a necessary inconvenience to those pushing to erode the power of the vote.

After all the listening sessions and studies are done, this change in our community hospital should not be left up to the politicians and Hospital Board. It needs to be put on a ballot as a voter’s referendum. Lee health is our hospital system, not theirs.

Daniel Becker, Fort Myers

Solar panels on rooftops

There seems to be a lot of development of warehouses, luxury apartments and buildings for storage units, New buildings appear with a huge flat area of rooftop that does nothing but absorb the heat. This has been at the expense of trees and nature that had a purpose in sustaining our environment.

Interestingly enough, none of these new developments appear to have solar panels on their roofs. It is like a vast wasteland. Considering none of these new buildings appear to have solar power even though some of these buildings might actually have solar power panels in their warehouses, one would think there would be more planning by our local government and businesses to support enhancing our infrastructure.

Jan Porter, Fort Myers

Bias shows in Biden story

The bias in the AP’s article Hunter Biden’s former business partner testifies” is so obvious, one doesn’t even know where to start.

In the Oversight Committee’s "so-far fruitless effort"? Are you kidding? There is more evidence in this case than the OJ trial.

They have discovered a massive network of shell companies to which foreign actors and government entities sent money. They have text messages and emails from Hunter to various people referring these deals. They have well over 100 SARS (Suspicious Activity Reports) which banks are required to provide on large transactions to the government to flag possible money laundering. They have texts from Hunter Biden complaining about having to pay all of his dad’s living expenses. They have testimony from IRS whistleblowers who were denied a 1023 from the FBI regarding a $5m transfer to the Biden’s shell companies. We also have seen Joe Biden on tape bragging about getting a Ukraine prosecutor fired, the same one who was investigating the company from which Hunter Biden, who has no experience with energy at all, received large amounts of money. All the information Archer gave them confirms what another Biden business partner, Tony Bobolinski, said even before the 2020 election. Archer confirms that the "Big Guy" is Joe Biden. This is all the information they DO have. Hunter Biden downloaded over 16 apps that encrypt text messages including one known to be used by governments that he downloaded 200 times. I can only imagine what’s in THOSE texts. Maybe this could all be cleared up if Joe Biden would tell us what business the Biden family was in to get all of that money.

The clear attempt to discredit Archer because he committed crimes was obvious. It doesn’t mean what he said wasn’t true. The puzzle pieces fit with all the other things we know about the Biden family.

To say that the letter from the DOJ asking a judge to set a date for Archer’s prison term was just a coincidence, right? The letter was sent on a Saturday, something that is never done. It was a clear attempt to send a message to this witness. An intimidated witness may not want to come out and claim publicly that he is being intimidated.

The only thing the AP left out of this article was Dan Goldman’s ludicrous claim that Joe Biden was put on the phone with these foreign business partners to discuss the weather. But no worries. The New York Times told us that.

A blind squirrel could see this nut. But the AP can’t seem to.

Allison Spataro, Naples

If Trump's your guy

This week was interesting. One lady was offended by my letters to this paper and took time out of her busy day to leave a voicemail on my phone to call me a #@&%*liberal. Thank you.  Another writer who purported to be a doctor of some sort was getting annoyed at snarky letters to this paper about our absent governor. Maybe he was a doctor of theology because his letter eventually got to the Bible and how we all need it. Maybe he hasn’t read the Bible because if we need to ban books it’s the big one with sodomy, incest and lots of kinky, violent stuff. Which brings me to remember when? When Trump said he’d build a wall to keep our landscapers, housekeepers and agricultural workers out and Mexico would pay for it. Bannon set up a Wall fund too but he and his buddies pocketed your donations. Awaiting jail. Remember the best, greatest health care where insurance companies would compete across the country? Remember the bromance with sociopathic dictators, Kim and Vlad? Remember when he was impeached twice, breaking all presidential records. Indictments? He’s got a collection. Ask anyone in jail, I’m innocent, the other guy did it, I was framed. That’s your guy, the carnival barker, grifter, circus ringmaster and his cult is like Sideshow Bobs. I’ve got lots of jiffy popcorn because it’s going to get real, real soon. Waiting for the MAGA heads to explode. Because one Trump threat he’s going to jail awaiting trial.

Laurence Jacks, Estero

GOP self-destruction

During this ridiculous primary season, the soon to be four-time indicted candidate is STILL in the lead over 12 supposed opponents -- BIGLY, as he would say. All the pretenders, save for former sycophant Chris Christie, have not, and will not take advantage of the big loser’s legal perils due to the exorbitant number of followers who still will not take into account how serious the charges against him are. If subversive actions, theft of  sensitive documents, election interference, instigation of an attack on the Capitol and two legitimate impeachments aren’t enough to sway these steadfast, ignorant people, then the Republicans are solely at fault for their own demise and they will lose the 2024 election. I guess we should actually be delighted for this lack of care or ambivalence of these folks so we can keep our low-unemployment and lessening inflation intact.

So, in summation, thanks for your support of this super-flawed low-life. Your inattention to your environment will pay off for the country. Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Fixing educational problems

Abraham Lincoln said that “The legitimate object of government is "to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they cannot, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, for themselves.” It is not, as a recent letter writer said, to provide for the public good. The definition of public good is dependent on the views of those in power. This has long been the fundamental issue in most governmental programs.

Lincoln’s view provides for evaluating the quality of what the government is doing for the people. For example, if the government built bridges which collapse, formed an Army that could not defend the country or provides education in a way wherein students did not learn, it is the right of the people to seek other solutions to these needs.

Instead of lamenting the use of taxpayer money to fund vouchers so the people can find other educational solutions for their children, government should focus on fixing the educational problems of public schools. Government needs to spend the money wisely to achieve the educational objective our children need. Until it can do that, the educational voucher system needs to stay in place. At the very least, it provides the incentive for government to fix its house.

Chris Corrie, Bonita Springs

Control of immigration

So I am reading the letter praising the work ethic of a restaurant owner the writer knows.  But then he lost the plot when he stated: I don’t know whether he is here legally or not, NOR DO I CARE.

So you obviously condone illegal immigration pushed by President Biden.  Does not matter to you who enters this country -- could be murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, illegal immigrants with COVID 19 and other diseases -- just let them all come in.

In fact why not get rid of all the immigration officers at our international airports and let everyone just walk right on in?

Hopefully we will elect a president in 2024 who believes in legal immigration and closes our borders to illegal immigration.

Michael Adler, Miromar Lakes

History for Baby Bubbas

It appears that a few letter writers (always Republicans) are willing to defend the part of the mandatory curriculum approved by the State Board of Education which implied slavery was "kinda OK" because some of the slaves may have learned a trade.  The reason for this posture is that "educators" don't want to cause any discomfort or guilt for students learning history.  I have a slightly different perspective.

Tallahassee (the site of all this controversy) is located in the part of Florida referred to as "South Georgia."  The legislation emanating from the Capitol (and its overwhelmingly Republican legislators creating those laws) is pointed towards retaining power rather than benefiting constituents, and it doesn't  hurt to keep those constituents ignorant.  It's worked at the national level whereas a large number of Republican voters still don't believe Donald Trump lost the last presidential election.  Based on the number running around proudly wearing MAGA hats, they are being successful.

Of course it's important to indoctrinate the next generation to ensure continuity amongst "believers."  By wiping out any negative thoughts indicating slavery was bad and white ancestors responsible, we create just a little more ignorance and help produce Baby Bubbas who will now have the schools (as well as their parents) reinforcing a white version of history.  Before long these kids will believe January 6 was just some tourists visiting the Capitol and that Democrats have unfairly accused Donald Trump of breaking some laws.  Well, I may be wrong about the last thought -- nobody can be that dumb.

Robert F. Tate, Naples

Wonderful senior environment

In January 2023, I took up residence in Discovery Village near Collier Boulevard. It is a facility that offers much more than a place to live; it provides a wonderful senior environment. Opportunities abound to meet people, and enjoy the many amenities. The residents are all friendly, welcoming, and active. The staff is terrific and could not be more helpful. You can never be bored at Discovery; there is so much in which to get involved: Arts and crafts, the daily movies (all first-rate and classics), exercise classes, and on and on. Shuttles to church, banks, and stores occur weekly.

Residents embrace you from the day you move in. Many friends eat together in the dining hall, meet at the pool, book club, play bridge or other games, get involved in other worthy activities. If you are seeking security, peace of mind, and good friends, Discovery Village is the place to consider.

James F. Malerba, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, August 2, 2023