Letters to the editor for Wednesday, December 20, 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

Support Laboratory Theater

I only discovered the Lab Theater last month, attending a performance of "Misery." It is a very small theater but that certainly doesn’t reflect the quality of their product! The three actors in "Misery" were nothing short of incredible. On Saturday night I attended the raucous, incredibly fun musical spoof of the “Christmas movie” "Die Hard." Another enjoyable performance filled with so much effort from everyone involved. Unfortunately, the theater was barely half full. I’ve mentioned the great work at the Lab to theater-going friends and they have never heard of the venue. Hoping that this alerts you to this great theater and that you enjoy a future performance so we don’t lose this gem!

Kathy Hultgren, Cape Coral

Disappointing end to event

We attended the afternoon Christmas concert Saturday at Aris Naples. What a wonderful way to stimulate the spirit of the season. The orchestra is such a pleasure to listen to, and watch. Clay Aikens was in good voice and entertained us with some self deprecating comments. The selection of music was perfect, and it’s always a treat to listen to, and watch, the youth choir. A “must-do” every December. At the end of the performance, there was the mandatory curtain call and standing ovation which prompted an encore. Of course, the encore was “Sleighride.” What’s a Christmas concert without it? However, many, many attendees did not take their seats for the encore. They milled around, talking WHILE the orchestra was playing and spoiled the visit from Santa. Many attendees were distressed by this, and when they were told to sit down they acted as though they were in the right. And this is Naples. One of the most monied communities in the country. My mother used to say “Just because you can afford the silver teapot, doesn’t mean you know how to use it!” What a disappointing end to a special event!

Christine Nieman, Naples

NCH downtown expansion

I am against the expansion of the NCH Baker Hospital. I think you folks are CRAZY to allow the beautiful Old Naples area to be blighted with this encroachment. That sub-neighborhood is the most in demand in the city (outside of beachfront) because of the quiet ambiance, the trees, and the respite from a major city environment. The last thing they (we) want to see is a skyscraper looming overhead.

Let them build new using the same height and property footprint as now exists, that would only be fair. NO new height encroachment, ever - that would be the MOST detrimental degradation. Keep the commercial and multifamily properties within the 8th avenue to 10th avenue footprint where it belongs. Why kill one of the three golden geese for old Naples (ambiance, beach, world class restaurants) by allowing the commercial blight to grow.

That facility should be built somewhere near a major traffic artery designed for traffic and quick access by the majority of residents, not just the handful who want to walk to the hospital. Speaking of traffic, who would ever think the daily traffic a 700 car garage generates is appropriate in a residential neighborhood?

I bought my house on 2nd Ave N not all that long ago, and am paying far, far, more in taxes than is prudent, NOT because there is a hospital on my street, but because there IS NOT. This change would definitely change the neighborhood I bought into.

I have not yet moved permanently, but Naples is my happy place I visit monthly and that day is not far off, but I surely hope I will not have to put up with that dis-improvement when I do.

Steve Woeste, Naples

Downtown additional charm

Last evening my husband and I and four friends walked from our condo downtown to enjoy the evening. The streets, buildings and alleys were aglow with lights for the season. We all said it would be lovely to keep the lights up and on all winter long as it gives the downtown additional charm.I ask the city to give this suggestion serious consideration.

Diane Bruno, Fort Myers

Surtax should have expired

When the Collier County sales tax surcharge was approved by voters in 2018 by a vote of 51-49, I couldn't believe the quotes of some voters. Many said they didn't mind the increase because it was for a good cause and was only temporary. Temporary, my eye.One of the most egregious examples of a tax not going away as it was scheduled to do, is the toll on the George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey to Manhattan. A toll, really another name for a tax, was implemented to pay off the bond holders that paid for the building of the bridge. This toll was scheduled to go away after the original cost had been paid off. It has been paid off many times over through the tolls collected. The original toll was fifty cents. It is now $17 and will never go away, but it sure will keep on rising.

What brought all of this on is the headline in the Naples Daily News, "Surtax renewal appears dead for now." Wait a minute, wasn't the surtax supposed to be temporary? Well, that's what the politicians promised us, didn't they? So, why even think about extending it? In fact, the surtax was to have lasted seven years or until $490 million had been raised. The article states that more than $525 million has been raised. If that's the case, why am I still paying the surtax? Shouldn't it have expired already?County commissioners, I know you love to spend our money, but isn't it time you stepped up and did what the law requires you to do?

Chuck Bainbridge, Naples

Too much growth

1,000 people a day are lured to Florida for the palms and sunshine.  When they arrive they find this mostly is far from the truth when they see what is happening all around us.  Nature and the animals don't have a chance to live in the wild.  Overpopulation and over development is up against the panther, wildlife, environment and global warming.  Why do people have to shoot wild bears invading their yards?  Because homes are being built in lands that were dedicated for wildlife.

How many more people are you going to cram into South Florida?  Just because 1,000 people a day move to Florida doesn’t mean they all must stay here.   Already traffic is a nightmare, and now there is a recognized, soon to be realized water shortage if development of the three towns that are planned, proceeds.  Here was never supposed to grow like Miami. Well guess what?  Wake up!

Pamela Cannon, Naples

Cape Council stipends

Citizens  of Cape Coral are upset with the new stipends added to the City Council and mayor paycheck.

I never saw a way to get a pay raise of $3,333 a month for council members and a $5,000 one for the mayor  put on as a consent item.

That should bring out a huge investigation by our State Attorney's Office. I don’t see how anything gets put on as a consent item like pay raises without a whole lot of talking behind closed doors.

The state attorney should look into the back pay for October, November and part of December as well for these personal Robin Hooders, who would take from the city  coffers to get a big Christmas bonus for themselves.

Nothing like getting paid twice for work already done. Surely there is a law against it.

Maybe the Cape Coral Council members and the mayor might keep our governor busy looking for replacements.

Leo Amos, Matlacha

Golden Gate incorporation

From land use ordinances  to hydrological infrastructure  – four out five BCC  commissioners have an “act now, think about the impact later” mentality, that discounts the welfare of their constituents. An incorporated Golden Gate Estates  would take back the right of self determination from an authoritarian state. It would have the authority to defend itself from onslaught by Tarpon Blue and Collier Enterprises.

Quiet Collier Inc. hopes that Commissioner McDaniels, Senator Passidomo and Representative Rommel will have the wisdom to give GGE the right to protect its low density legacy.

Bebe Kanter, Quiet Collier, Inc., Naples

Growth has its costs

Florida is the fastest growing state in population. The government dealing with its growth planning, zone changing and commissioners approvals easily match the unfettered demand of the inflow of new residents. But should this continue now affecting the settled life of the present residents?Our commissioners play the game with the developers. The developers ask for more than what they really want, nearby residents complain, the developers decrease their demands and the commissioners give their approval. The residents' logical complaints, their petitions, the environmental losses of wildlife, woods and marshlands, and the addition of air, noise and light pollution never seem to be considered. Everything against growth is ignored. Approvals never consider the future impact of growth.

Arizona and other Western states are now experiencing the costs of population growth. A US News and World Report (June1, 2023) discusses the depletion of ground water around Phoenix. Parts of Arizona are actually running out of water. New bills have been passed to limit new growth. A builder in some parts of Phoenix has to obtain a certificate before a home is built proving a water supply is available from farmers, Native American tribes or elsewhere. Presently, there is not enough water in the some areas around Phoenix. Water had to be trucked into Rio Verda over a five hour drive from the foothills of Scottsdale. This supply was stopped and residents were forced to experience the reality. Governor Hobbs signed an emergency bill later to continue sending water to the residents but at a cost of $600 to $700 a month. Residents were happy. Arizona has also limited their take from the Colorado River by 13%. Six other states are also limiting their percentages.Growth has its costs to the environment and it’s present residents. The Florida government has not considered the ramifications of their present approvals and the serious future effects. Protests have not worked. Elections are our only hope. Vote.Tim Diegel, Naples

Where's Christmas music?

Have you noticed the dearth of Christmas music  and carols on public TV,  radio and computers this year?  This is the only time of the year when we we used to be inundated with some  of  the most glorious music ever  composed.  When did we lose this  tradition of Christmas  songs  which used to fill the airwaves?

Marian Lauck, Naples

Conserving nature and water

In 1986, Westinghouse Communities put me in charge of landscape planning for the Oakmont neighborhood in the prestigious community of Pelican Bay. It was then like today, with looming water shortages and impending irrigation restrictions.

Oakmont crowns a high parcel of land, a relic of an ancient beach dune of fine white sand mantled in a scrub oak and pine forest, tawny grasses, and showy wildflowers, containing the southern-most strand of Turkey Oaks (Quercus leavis) in the United States and the Florida scrub jay, the endemic state bird listed as threatened.

Selective removal of trees and plants on a site-by-site basis allowed each home to be built within the forest. New plantings were drought-resistant, and the small areas of lawn departed from water-guzzling landscape traditions.

Oakmont was an experiment in real estate development that ultimately pleased everyone: it retained the natural beauty that attracted homebuyers to the neighborhood, builders bought and sold at profit, nature was protected, scrub jays continued to forage in the Turkey Oak preserve, and much irrigation water was conserved.

Oakmont won state and national landscape awards. South Florida Water Management District designated Oakmont a neighborhood water conservation demonstration site, and the American Society of Landscape Architects conferred the sustainable landscape planning award.

As slash-and-burn real estate development continues at an alarming rate to ravish the natural landscape of Collier County, perhaps it is time to reconsider water conservation and the aesthetic principles of sustainable landscape planning.

David Driapsa, FASLA, landscape architect, North Naples

Warrant justified

Recently one of our usual right-wing suspects was upset that Jack Smith got a warrant to find out who was following and "liking" on social media our twice-impeached, four-times indicted ex-president.  Well first, to get that warrant, Smith had to convince a federal judge that there was a good and valid reason for it.  And second, when you are prosecuting an individual actively trying to destroy our democracy, you would want to know who else is part of the conspiracy.  It's certainly justifiable.

Ken Brindle, Cape Coral

Left leaning letters

A note of appreciation to Jay Custa for the succinct response to those complaining that most letters to the The News-Press were left leaning. While it might seem to be that way and notwithstanding the fact that the the writer seems correct in the assessment of the reasons for that appearance there are a bunch of writers whose names appear like clockwork in the column which do echo much of the baseless drivel you can hear incessantly on Fox News and which drives much of the misinformation that is being delivered on the readers.On that note it would appear that the editorial staff is not biased or reflective of any political ideologies as it should be and therefore the thanks go along to them and the aforementioned writer.Fred Jodice, North Fort Myers

Blind loyalty

Blind loyalty to a political party advocating an agenda born and nurtured in fascist ideology, like the Republican MAGA’s, is neither virtuous, patriotic, commendable, or magnanimous. When their candidates and supporters are reluctant to answer a simple question of fitness as a qualification to lead the most powerful country on the planet, there is an implicit admission that two congressional impeachments, 90 legal indictments and 60 court judgments are insufficient to qualify as hard evidence of possible guilty conduct and beyond the grasp of this group to distinguish between good and evil and true meaning of democratic values.

MAGA’s conception of democracy is to wrap themselves in American flags, engage in violent protests, mock, and disparage our national military heroes, attack and injure law enforcement, break into the Capitol, insult our courts, and blindly follow and support neo-Nazi’s agenda like Pavlov’s conditioned dogs. It is inconceivable that American society could produce such a vile political constituency.

If events over the next eleven months leads us to a contentious contest that no one wants, and a Trump victory, it would not only make him an instant lame duck and diminish the possibility of bipartisan compromise but also incentivize the impetus for reinstating the horrors of the Third Reich. Without doubt, there are some good honest people in the GOP, and maybe a few brainwashed MAGAs, who privately oppose Trumpism but fear peer and party recrimination. It takes courage to disagree with the party leadership – it requires putting the interests of the country above the party and respecting the rule of law which seems to be an insurmountable challenge for the MAGAs.   Maybe a visit to a military cemetery will stimulate their conscience and heritage and remind them of their oath and obligation to serve their country, not themselves, nor the party or special interest groups and financial backers. This is not the time for blind loyalty.

Leo Boghosian, Bonita Springs

Trump’s dementia, paranoia

What about Trump’s dementia?The media should be reporting on his growing paranoia, persecution complex, and cognitive impairment.On Saturday, during a campaign speech in Durham, New Hampshire, Donald Trump invoked Vladimir Putin (of all people) as proof that he’s being persecuted.He has confused Biden with Obama so often that he’s had to put out a statement that the slips have been intentional. The most telling evidence of Trump’s growing dementia is found in his paranoid thirst for revenge, on which he is now centering his entire campaign.Biden may appear frail at times, but he’s rational. The growing evidence of Trump’s dementia and paranoia, on the other hand, poses a potential danger to the future of America — if he’s reelected. At the least, the media should be investigating and reporting on it.

Dennis Raube, Fort Myers

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, December 20, 2023