Letters to the editor for Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Help Habitat provide affordable housing

For 45 years, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County has been working to improve access to affordable homeownership by building and selling homes with no-interest mortgages while also advocating for effective policy to improve affordability beyond the scope of our own work. During this time, we’ve built nearly 2,500 homes with highly qualified low-wage earning buyers. Today, Habitat Collier is the largest producing affiliate of nearly 1,000 Habitat affiliates in the nation and remains the ONLY provider of affordable homeownership in Collier County. There is much to celebrate. And yet, there is MUCH MORE to be done. The crisis that was predicted by the Urban Land Institute’s 2017 study is upon us. The conversation has been elevated and much of our community is personally impacted by the serious deficit of housing for our workforce. Lots of people are talking. But Habitat is working! Today, we invite you to be part of that work. Feb. 1 marks the launch of a historic $2 million matching challenge. Over the next five days, all gifts and pledges made to Habitat Collier will be matched by a remarkable pool of donors who believe deeply in our mission. Take a moment to find the insert in your paper or go online to HabitatCollier.org to make your donation today. It will take all of us working together to ensure that affordable, stable, healthy housing is a part of the bedrock of this community.

Rev. Lisa B. Lefkow, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Naples

Food truck rules anti-competitive

The News-Press recently ran an article about “New Changes for Food Trucks… ” (Jan. 27), dealing with new food regulations in Cape Coral. We all know what this is really all about, don't we?

These city regulations have nothing to do with aesthetics or trash blowing about or flies on the sidewalk, or anything like that. They have everything to do with strangling the competition, to the extent that these food trucks are perceived as a threat to brick-and-mortar restaurants (who are politically powerful here.)

In other words, these regulations are getting the government to do for these restaurants what they cannot legally do for themselves, like imposing unnecessary costs on the “competition” and shutting off electricity. In other words, getting the government to interfere with the free market. This type of economic interference is not a proper use of government power.

If the food vendors and the lot owners cut a deal about the use of the premises, who's the government to interfere? Besides, If I want table service and haute cuisine, I'll go to your sit-down restaurant. If I want a gyro and a bag of chips, leave me alone.

Vote Libertarian. (We are famous for objecting to mini-regulations like these, ones that actually serve political purposes rather than pretending to serve the general interest.)

Larry Gillis, Cape Coral

Intolerance, bigotry discussion planned

Consider yourself lucky if you haven’t seen outrageous displays of hate-filled bigotry in Florida recently. Anti-Semitic messages and swastikas have been projected onto high-rises in West Palm Beach and Jacksonville, large banners urging viewers to “end Jewish supremacy” have been hung on Orlando overpasses, and pictures of these have been widely distributed on social media. In cities including Fort Myers and Naples, anti-Semitic flyers are being distributed.Not only is our governor not denouncing these incidents, some of which include blatant shows of support for him, he is enacting policies that are driven by bigotry. One example: the decision to ban an African-American studies course as an elective for college-bound students.Concerned citizens of the lower Lee Country area will be hosting a discussion of religious and racial bigotry and LGBTQ+ intolerance in Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Bonita Springs Library, located at Reynolds and Childers streets in Old Bonita, off of Old 41. A featured speaker (appearing virtually) will be Dr. Marvin Dunn of Florida International University and author of “The History of Florida: Through Black Eyes.”

Patricia Duncan, Bonita Springs

Stop gun insanity in Florida

This nation has gone mad. We Americans are literally killing each other. There are no safe places left. The rest of the world is looking at us in horror. With 40 mass killings in the first 28 days of 2023 in the United States, we now are afraid of schools, grocery stores, movie theaters, nightclubs, Walmarts, churches, synagogues, mosques, dance halls, and shopping centers.

Florida, however, plans to go beyond the pale in madness and make living here far more dangerous for all of us.DeSantis is proposing new gun legislation called “Constitutional Carry” that would allow Floridians to carry concealed guns without any license! Current law in Florida requires gun owners, at least, to have a concealed weapons permit to carry firearms in public. If this law passes, any crazy person who wants a gun can carry one. This is the definition of insanity.

Do we not want to save our lives and those of our fellow citizens? Do we not want to preserve this paradise we love here in this state? It is urgent that we keep weapons, particularly automatic weapons meant for war, capable of killing masses of people, out of the hands of people who are dangerous.

All Floridians should all stand up and voice our concern before our Legislature meets on March 7. Contact your state legislators before we end up fearing even going out of our homes.

Joanne Huskey, Naples

Communications providers don’t respond

Have you noticed how customer service is becoming more and more extinct, especially when it comes to communications companies? Actually, the term "communications company" has literally become an oxymoron. It is particularly true of our providers here in Southwest Florida, but I’m getting the idea it’s a nationwide problem.

We live in downtown Naples and the two big dogs here are Comcast’s Xfinity and CenturyLink. We have had CenturyLink for internet and phone service for more than 14 years and Xfinity for television during the same time. I don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket.

After Ian, our television was down for weeks, but eventually Comcast came through. I bragged to my friends who had Comcast internet, which was down for some time, that my CenturyLink internet had not gone down at all -- but woah! On Oct. 9, CenturyLink literally pulled the plug on us, and they STILL have not restored service. Although I’ve spoken with 30 representatives, I actually kept count, around the world, no one has been able to tell me why service remains down or when it might be restored. During this time CenturyLink has continued to send out bills!

I hesitantly have switched everything to Comcast. My internet is working, but I still have no landline. Aren’t these companies accountable to someone? The FCC? Florida Public Services Commission or Consumer Services? They certainly don’t respond to their own customers. We may as well be “whistling in the wind.”

Carolyn Tieger, Naples

A callous step backward

Gov. DeSantis, as a former United States Army officer and citizen of some 81 years, I sense an obligation to cry out against the so-called “anti-woke” legislation you are foisting upon the people of Florida.

An American philosopher wrote: “Those that don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The slavery of Blacks that began in Colonial America is the ugliest blot on our democratic nation’s history. The bloodstains of its countless victims and the sorry consequences of a prejudiced enforced caste system upon people of color must be reckoned with as part of the American fabric — not treated as if it never happened.

For the State of Florida to prohibit forcefully its educators and thus students from examining our country’s past mistakes is slavery of the mind — and a callous step backward from teaching understanding, tolerance, and love of our fellow man regardless of color. Censorship and its sister, Prior Restraint, called by any other name smells the same — it stinks. And so does your “anti-woke” legislation.

Sadly, it appears you are acting to appeal to the baser instincts of our nature and for purely personal political gain — if so, shame on you.

Thomas Ging, Fort Myers

Illegitimate grand jury theater

Imagine being a 40-year-old mother with three young children and recently diagnosed with breast cancer. You would immediately consult a breast cancer oncologist to access cutting edge clinical approaches to achieve remission. In this scenario, it would be absurd to consult a proctologist, dermatologist or ophthalmologist following a breast cancer diagnosis (would you hire an electrician to fix your leaky sink?) Yet that’s exactly the mis-approach Ron DeSantis is taking when he parades a dermatologist, radiologist and cardiologist in front of the press to support his ill-conceived plan to convene a grand jury to investigate COVID vaccines and masking recommendations. How about consulting a virologist, immunologist, vaccinologist, or an infectious disease doctor? These individuals are experts in the field and can accurately describe the science and protocols employed to protect the public health during a pandemic. Given that neither DeSantis nor his minions understand (nor try to) the basic distinctions between infection, transmission and disease, it seems doubtful they would be interested in hearing expert opinions. Pfizer/Moderna never stated that COVID vaccines prevented viral transmission or infection — or conferred sterilizing immunity. COVID mRNA vaccines were designed (trial goal) to prevent serious disease and death — which they continue to do very well. Science is self-correcting — no study goes unchallenged. For example, Ladapo’s UF colleagues objected to his “flawed research” involving COVID vaccines and insignificant anecdotes. On the other hand, numerous scientific publications of well-designed research studies unequivocally conclude that vaccination prevents serious COVID. Rather than give voice to illegitimate grand jury theater costing time and taxpayer money, the state should find authentic ways to promote the public health of Floridians.

Kim R. Finer, Ph.D., Naples

Whitewashing the past

Let me get this straight: History of events may be "uncomfortable" for students to hear about. Slavery, The Holocaust, books that may be in classrooms or school libraries (ex: "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Bluest Eye") that are now being looked at by "The Book Police"; who exactly are they? AP classes about African American history!The past cannot be whitewashed or eliminated just because it may be "uncomfortable" for students to learn about.Our past is just the beginning of where we can go to see how we can improve not only ourselves, but for future generations to understand how these events occurred and how they can help understand and look at things differently, and hopefully improve not only themselves but society in general.

As a grandparent of a transgender grandson, any ideas I had about gender identity are now very personal. By listening and understanding, I have a greater knowledge of the impact of how he has chosen to live his life. By opening up and not being judgmental, I have learned how to not only hear, but take in what he has shared.The anger and vitriol that has currently taken hold about those who see and think differently is beyond the pale.We don't have to like or love those who personalities, religion, political agendas, lifestyles are not to our taste. We all need to be encouraged to have a conversation to "hear" the other, and not to judge their choices.

Every morning I wake with this one thought: Today is a gift. I want to make the most I can of it, and enjoy it to the fullest. Yesterday is gone, cannot be changed, Today I have a chance to make a difference. I encourage everyone to remember words can be hurtful, and last for a very long time. Kindness lasts quite a while, and we all need more of it.

Barbara Herstig, Naples

This isn't about race

Tyre Nichols' death during a traffic stop raises tough questions about race in policing. It seems that some experts, activists, and the progressive media are saying that the race of the officers involved is far less important than the race of the victim. This had nothing to do with race and everything to do with evil. The police officers' actions were intolerable and a senseless act, and they have no place being on the police force. Their color has nothing to do with it and any sentient being would agree.This attempt by the media and progressives now is to propagate the idea that only the race of the victim matters, is itself a racist view. Any article that suggests and that states that only the victim's race matters, is cause to continue the irrational idea that the application of laws should now be different and based on race. For example, if a white person is beaten to death by five Black police officers, there should be no outrage and outrage should only occur when the victim is a minority. It's easy to see how such thinking is irrational. Everyone needs to remember something. There are bad people in any line of work. You can have bad teachers, lawyers, doctors, politicians, and the list goes on. These five men will pay the price for what they did and deservedly.

Lou Walker, Cape Coral

No place for political statements

An article in The News-Press Jan. 27 edition said that the Florida Retirement System is prohibiting investing in "ESG" companies. ESG companies factor in climate change and other societal concerns into investment decisions. This is ridiculous! According to Motley Fool, a top stock advisory company, the top ten ESG companies are showing an average gain of 16.63% as of Jan. 27. That is a one-month gain! Not bad. Rich Templin of the AFL-CIO says that "the Florida Retirement System is not something to be used to make political statements. It is not bait for political headlines." Agree.

Bill Bessire, Fort Myers

Approve site for mental health center

Approving the central receiving facility at the proposed site near David Lawrence Center makes economic sense. As an economist with 40 plus years in policy analysis experience at the federal, state and local level, I urge the Collier commissioners to approve the location.

The need to enhance mental health facilities in Collier County is indisputable. The proposed facility would still leave the county short of what health professionals deem adequate for our community. If individuals are not able to receive the care offered by the facility, they are likely to be sent to a facility far from home, or, more likely, the county jail. These are not cost-effective treatment options.

Studies indicate the direct cost of treating someone with a mental illness is far less than the cost of keeping the person in a jail or a hospital. A recent study demonstrated that hospital treatment is twice the price of mental health treatment. Similarly, the return on investment in mental health treatment can be 800%. That is, an $8 return for each dollar invested when including the reduction in recidivism rates for minor criminal infractions resulting in jail time, hospital visits and law enforcement efforts and ability to return to a productive life in society.

The economics of locating the receiving facility near DLC are unmatched. The land is free, the required professionals are there and it is easily accessible. Building elsewhere would cost the county more and delay the construction resulting in the inadequate treatment for those currently in need.Jerry Godshaw, PhD, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, February 1, 2023