Letters to the editor for Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Reconsider Naples Bay no-wake zone

My husband and I live where we can see Naples Bay and the boat traffic going up and down the bay from our home. We are amazed and appalled at the speed, and amount of boats that have been on the water this last week. There is a 30 mph speed limit on the bay that is NOT being monitored or controlled. I know our Fish and Wildlife group and marine sheriffs have been busy after Ian dealing with loose boats, debris, and other issues on the water. I think it is time that they start monitoring the speed limits of watercraft on the bay before there is a serious accident.

Today we watched a large four-engine center console go blowing by two kayak fishermen and one of the Tiki barges. The barge got swamped, and one of the kayaks almost went under. It is also very scary when some of these 40-60 foot yachts go too fast and their wakes break up and over seawalls and rip rap of houses on the bay, and rock boats tied to docks in canals.

You can also look at the environmental issues these high speeds cause. The area already lost a lot of mangroves and vegetation during Ian, and high wakes account for loss too. Manatee deaths and injury rise when speeds are too high. Also, a berm has formed alongside the main channel from these high speeds and wakes that limits the water depth for boats exiting canals along the bay.

Personally, I would love to see Naples Bay go back to a no wake zone. I know the commercial fishermen were opposed to this due to increased time in their commute to the fishing grounds. I would like for them to look at the damage that is happening to the bay, wildlife, and vegetation that we need to preserve, and reconsider their thoughts.

Ashley Brigham, Naples

Collier League of Women Voters honored

The Greater Naples Chapter of Americans United is proud to announce that the 2023 Turner Civic Award will be presented to The League of Women Voters of Collier County.The League is celebrated for the diversity and extent of its commitments beyond the obvious voter services of empowering citizens to take an active role in free and fair elections and its informative voter projects. The League’s support of diversity, equity and inclusion in our society, the public school system, the local environment and myriad other issues is exemplary. LWVCC acts as a well-respected, major influencer in our area because of its thoughtful research and advocacy.The luncheon ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at noon at the Vineyards Country Club in Naples. Tickets are priced at $40 per person, $75 per couple or $140 for a table of four. Tickets are available at Eventbrite AU Honors the League of Women Voters of Collier County Tickets, Wed., Jan. 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite or checks can be mailed to Americans United – Naples, Box 111, 6017 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34119.For more information, please call 609-647-1343 or visit our website au-naples.org.Americans United, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is a nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans.

Bill Korson, Naples

Post-hurricane 'help' complicated

There is some inaccurate and incomplete information reported in the news regarding post-hurricane help from the state and from FEMA, which increases the difficulty people have in planning how to proceed with their recovery.

We have recently learned that FEMA will not put trailers in flood ways -- exactly where they are most needed now. This is after many applied and built plans on getting a trailer. The same came out about the state, which later approved those types of placements. However, it had not been widely reported that those in need of trailers to be able to fix their homes after the hurricane are required to sign a contract before moving into a state-issued trailer that requires a monthly meeting with a case worker to provide proof of actively looking for another place to live.

It is not clear how one is supposed to have time to work full time, raise a family, fix a hurricane-ravaged house, look actively for a place to live, collect proof of doing so, and also fix the house to move back in. These are some examples of how the "help" actually makes recovery more difficult. If the state and federal agencies were up front about what they can and cannot do, it would help people to make more streamlined progress in building back homes and communities.

Debra Giambo, Bonita Springs

Extraordinary shrimp fleet story

In the middle of the Fort Myers shrimp fleet's devastation, Janine Zeitlin has written an extraordinary and soul searching article ( January 1, 2023) on our shrimp fleet's owners, families and workers as well as the amazing history of the shrimp fishing industry right here in Fort Myers.

And Andrew West's photography captured the heart and soul of these amazing and tenacious individuals.

As so many are still reeling and are frustrated, this story gives one hope and admiration for their determination to recover -- and may we see "pink gold" once again on Fort Myers Beach.

Elise Missall, Fort Myers

Affordable housing solutions

Guest columnist and Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo writes in Sunday's paper that there is "No single solution to affordable housing." I believe that there is long-standing agreement with that point. However, there are real, politically reasonable and attractive solutions to shortages of affordable housing. Senator Passidomo alludes to her plans to review housing programs now in place as well as a variety of public policy considerations.

This is described as a "multifaceted approach." However, there is not a single specific example or even a hint as to likely legislative action which she may entertain. We are made aware of what will not be supported: "Government simply mandating private businesses simply freeze their rent..." I am not aware that this was recommended by any elected official in the "free state of Florida." Rather, a law was enacted requiring rental landlords to provide notice of 60 days when planning a rent increase.

There are serious public policy approaches to address the issues raised here. These include mixed-use structures, variable density zones, suspension/adjustment of zoning requirements and government incentives to investors, planners, builders and officials which would, over time, add to the housing stock where people work and would like to live. Is the "free state" of Florida, and specifically its legislative body, willing to consider solutions which are initiated, sponsored by and implemented with oversight by State of Florida departments and agencies?

A totally laissez-faire, hands-off, solely market-driven approach has had an abundant amount of time to succeed as the senator states in her opening remarks -- 43 years. But, we have no clear "multifaceted approaches" to date. Please, Senator Passidomo, introduce meaningful legislative solutions along with the necessary funding to help solve this problem.

Joseph Curran, Naples

Petition for clean water

What would a clean water amendment accomplish for Marco?With a Right to Clean and Healthy Waters (RTCHW), Floridians could file suit, and our courts, after reviewing the evidence, could order the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to enforce standards and implement long overdue Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). We could begin restoring Florida’s water quality.Florida waters are polluted because the state permits it through action or inaction, and its MO is to allow as much pollution as is politically acceptable.Here on Marco Island, the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is allowed to dump unlimited amounts of pollutants in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus into the waterways in the “reuse” or “reclaimed” water. FDEP conveniently lowered the limits for oxygen impairment in 2013 by 50 percent making it that much harder to declare the Marco waterways impaired for oxygen, thus assisting the WWTP in the pollution of the Marco waters.In Collier County 21 of the 22 watersheds have no pollution limits established at all and all the WWTP that the county manages are allowed unlimited pollution of these waterbodies. The state permits the pollution of the county waterbodies without restriction. We have a real problem.In 2023, we need what the state will not provide: bold environmental action to restore and protect our waters. Floridians, therefore, must qualify a “Right to Clean and Healthy Waters” amendment for the 2024 ballot for approval by voters.Sign and mail the petition available at floridarighttocleanwater.org.Eugene Wordehoff, Marco Island

Support for Cancer Society

Thank you Naples for your support of ACS!This Christmas season our neighborhood, Victoria Park, collected for the American Cancer Society.I would like to thank everyone who donated and those who volunteered their time to collect for thisworthy cause. A special thank you to all the residents of Victoria Park who definitely get into the holiday spirit providing some spectacular light displays and luminaries that make Christmas Eve so special. Once again, the Naples community showed its giving spirit and helped raise $8,734.94 to help those dealing with cancer. Please plan to attend the Greater Collier County Relay for Life on Saturday, April 15, from 4-8:30, at North Collier Regional Park.May God bless each and every one of you with peace, health, and joy in 2023!Barb Senkevich, Victoria Park's Relay for Life captain, Naples

Kindness can change lives

The other night I watched a TV show that dealt with kindness. Can you believe it, a show that didn’t deal with mayhem and murder? The purpose of the program was to point out how one act of random kindness has the ability to change thousands of lives. Fortunately for me, my life has been surrounded by people who unselfishly reached out to others. When I was young, my aunt and uncle took me into their family. My aunt became my second mother, and my uncle became the father I never had. They changed my life forever. In our own little ways, all of us have the power to make our community, the world, and 2023 the best ever. You never know what a good deed might do.

Warren White, Estero

Governor's vaccine hypocrisy

COVID vaccine unsafe?Let me get this straight. Casey DeSantis, wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is a breast cancer survivor as am I. Unless she had alternative medicine doctors she was advised to be up to date on all vaccinations as should her family members. Therefore, I can predict with certainty that this governor is fully vaccinated as are his kids.

His hypocrisy on this matter is unbelievable. Why would we use taxpayers' money to investigate the effectiveness of the vaccine? It is proven effective. Sorry, governor, you do not have a medical degree. Please start addressing real problems and not creating false premises. Bizarro, as another writer said, it is. It would be so refreshing if he tried to save lives rather than endanger those who listen to his false doubts of the vaccine safety. Perhaps another suggestion to consider is find someone of knowledge in the medical field rather than Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida surgeon general.

Carolyn Sertich, Bonita Springs

Wealthy pay their fair share

A writer in his letter (“Sen. Scott shouldn’t represent us,” Jan. 1, 2023) argues that “the wealthy should join the rest of us and pay their fair share to support our country.” The facts are that they already do, and more.The U.S. tax system is quite progressive – the more you earn, the greater the percentage of your income is taxed by the IRS. According to the Tax Foundation, the top 1 percent of taxpayers face an average tax rate that is seven times higher than the bottom 50% percent. The top 50 percent of all taxpayers paid 97 percent of all individual income taxes while the bottom 50 percent paid the remaining 3 percent. The top 1 percent paid 38.8 percent of total income taxes, the top 5 percent paid 59.4 percent, the top 10 percent paid 70.8 percent, and the top 25 percent paid 86.6 percent.Who are the people in the top tax brackets? They are the professionals who serve you (doctors, dentists, architects, accountants), the staffs who work for businesses and government agencies (engineers, marketing and sales staffs, designers), and the business owners and entrepreneurs who manage and create income for their enterprises and jobs for those in the lower tax brackets.Republican administrations, on their own and sometimes jointly with Democrats, have shown that lowering tax rates for the rich results in more, not less, tax revenue due to the investment of the reduced taxes into income and job producing enterprises.Most of the 87,000 new tax agents are going to audit rich people’s returns and find that most rely on legal tax avoidance strategies to lower their taxes, not evading or cheating. Money spent on these agents would better be used to lower the rates of the rich who are the drivers of productivity in the economy. As for Senator Scott, he was fairly elected and you are welcome to vote against him should he run again.

Ira Cotton, Naples

Swear to tell the truth

I’ve commented before that all elected public servants should additionally swear in their oaths of office, just like courtroom witnesses, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth during their term in office or face criminal perjury charges.

After this George Santos egregious breach of truth when he became a candidate, perhaps we should also require an oath of candidacy to swear to tell the truth to keep someone from lying their way into elected victory or face criminal perjury indictment.

The First Amendment shouldn’t protect public servant liars just like the Second Amendment doesn’t protect mass shooters.

If this oath requirement had always been in place, we’d have an entirely different line-up of past, present and future public servants and the strength of our democracy would be, unquestionably, rock solid.

J. Cant, Naples

Legal action on Santos lies

I think attorneys are always looking for the legal case that will make their reputation. Since the lies that George Santos uttered in his campaign were so outrageous, it would be interesting to see a New York voter bring suit to change his vote. The claim would be something on the line that he based his or her vote on what Mr. Santos claimed as his credentials. Since they were false his vote should no longer be valid.

In the unlikely event that a person and attorney could be successful in such a case, it would give all politicians pause before uttering untruths.

Harold McFarland, North Fort Myers

It's George Santos, not Soros

The mailbag letter of 12/31/22 titled "Honesty Not Required" would be a well-written item reminding us that honesty needs to be restored to our legislative bodies -- except for one five-letter error:The latest exposed liar in politics is George Santos, not Soros!

Soros, known as a brilliant businessman, is a real billionaire (now with "only" $8 billion or so, having donated three-quarters of his fortune to philanthropic causes).Whether the error was a typo or momentary mental slip -- by author or editor or spellcheck -- a late correction is better than none.

Jan Guardiano, Fort Myers

Correction: A letter about dishonesty that appeared in Saturday's paper incorrectly named George Soros when the writer's clear intent was to name George Santos. The letter that appears online has been corrected.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, January 4, 2023