Letters to the editor for Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Lee commission lacks transparency

Even on a citizen’s first attendance at a hearing conducted by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, it will quickly become apparent that the process is patently unfair. Their rules and their actions are not consistent with those of elected officials whose first responsibility is to the citizens who pay their salary, not to campaign donors.

For example, applicants and county representatives may speak ad infinitum but a concerned citizen is allotted a paltry three minutes.

It is my opinion that this is contradictory to their oath of office in which they swear to uphold the Florida Constitution which states that freedom of speech shall not be abridged.

Furthermore, commissioners display a decided bias from the bench prior to any decision they will make.

Commissioners go on public radio to laud an applicant prior to any decision they will make. And in doing so praise the citizens who speak in favor but speak with disdain about any dissenter, labeling them “environmental activists.”

Information, which should be available to the public, is often not released until after the hearings.

Agendas and dates are not always posted in a timely manner, sometimes not at all.

In a recent hearing, information sent to the commissioners was shared with the applicant who was not on the mailing list.

The ultimate problem is that we, the voting public, have allowed this to happen by voting for them. There will be no solution until the voting public does its homework and takes an interest in the use of their monies and demanding that these proceedings be done in a transparent manner. Until such time the commissioners and others will run roughshod right over us.

Norman Cannon, Fort Myers

Historical society a key Naples resource

Recently, a community member wrote to the Naples Daily News asking fellow citizens to patronize important nonprofits and government museums to learn more about local history.

I applaud her efforts. Indeed, we need more people who think like her.

In addition to her list of places to visit and learn, I remind her and the greater community about Naples Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation that is widely considered the central voice of Naples history.

For decades the society has informed residents and visitors about our history. We’ve accomplished this by funding the publishing of informative books, providing docent-guided tours of Historic Palm Cottage, securing legislation for historic rehabilitation, and by protecting Palm Cottage in perpetuity.

One of the brilliant books we sell is a colossus of facts and stories about our local history; it is over 1,000 pages (Naples, A Second Paradise: The History of Naples, Florida by Lila Zuck, 2010).

Through a visit to the society, the letter-writer would have learned the answer to every excellent question she mused, one of which regarded the beginning of our libraries. Ms. Zuck, the Society’s Research Historian confirms, “In 1913, Ethel Mosteller brought books to Naples from a library that closed in Ohio and started a lending library at her home for [the Old] Naples Hotel guests.”

There is no shortage of information on local history, but there is a tragic shortage of the willingness to seek information about it. Kudos to the letter-writer for suggesting all know a bit more about where we live, work and play.

Elaine Reed, President & CEO, Naples Historical Society

Airport cab drivers need a raise

Ten years ago when I first started driving at RSW, to this day, the rates haven’t changed. A ride might cost $35 to Lehigh that takes one hour round trip while a $35 to Estero might take 30-minute round trip.

RSW airport rates for what we charge our riders is established by Lee County Port Authority and is part of a contract between the airport and the cab companies. Again, these rates haven’t changed the whole time I’ve been driving. What the company does when gas gets above $3/gallon is add a gas surcharge. We had a surcharge during the Obama administration and now we have another one under the Biden administration.

Before Uber and Lyft were allowed to pick up at RSW I was able to make up for the varying trip times in volume.

The real RSW cab drivers and myself have been here through everything from letting Uber and Lyft into RSW to Irma to COVID. It’s time the RSW Port Authority and airport personnel work on establishing a rate for rides from RSW that’s equivalent to what our competition is charging.

The whole fare system needs an overhaul. In the meantime, the Lee County Port Authority could add $10 to every ride plus the gas surcharge while the new fares for the different zone rates are being established.

Jerry Kellgren, Cape Coral

Be part of solution to climate crisis

I'm a 15-year-old boy living in Naples, and I love playing sports outside like football, soccer and basketball, but it has been hard for me because it is too hot. I remember when I was at Boys and Girls Club, and I was playing soccer, and many times I couldn't breathe because of the heat. Now I can't even go out to play any sports at the community park because I get headaches when it's too hot. Climate change is causing extreme heat that many of us can't stand and putting our lives on the line. It is because we humans use fossil fuels to generate power, manufacture goods, and cutting down trees. Higher temperatures also boost evaporation, intensifying the heat we feel. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 18 of the last 19 years were the hottest on record and June 2019 was the hottest June in 140 years of record keeping. Luckily, we can be part of the solution by planting trees and supporting laws that help deal with the climate crisis. We often pay for polluters' impact on our environment when they should be responsible for assuming the cost. It's time we make polluters pay for dumping waste in our environment and give the money back to the people so they can deal with higher prices. As a Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteer, we build political will for climate solutions like this one, but we need a lot of help from everyone in our community. Because I am only 15 years old, the decisions made today about climate will affect my generation profoundly. I don't want to inherit a climate disaster because there is no action NOW.

Alexander Maguire, Naples

Careful what you wish for

The Supreme Court has successfully turned back the clock to 1973, wiping out fundamental women’s rights by reversing Roe v. Wade. Clarence Thomas insisted those privacy rights lack any basis in the Constitution.

Then he affirms that other privacy rights will be next in their crosshairs. Thomas explicitly called on the court to overrule the watershed civil rights rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut (rights to use contraceptives), Lawrence v. Texas (rights for same-sex intimacy), and Obergefell v. Hodges (rights for same-sex marriage). He added, “We have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents.”

Justice Thomas, be extremely careful what you wish for. I’d like to point out that in their new zeal to eliminate substantive due process, Justice Alito and his buddies might undoubtedly like to take us back to 1967 and undo Loving v. Virginia, which eliminated anti-miscegenation laws. If that happens, say good-bye to your wife or face prison because the rights to inter-racial marriage will then be abolished. You too can experience having your personal rights stripped away.

Karen Evans, Cape Coral

Who will care for unwanted babies?

Now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, where is the conversation about what happens to all of the unwanted babies? Who is going to feed them, clothe them, educate them, love them?

Patricia Sawyer, Cape Coral

Power reserved to the states

Regardless of how you feel about abortion nowhere in the Constitution are you guaranteed the right to have an abortion. Even liberal Judge Ruth Ginsberg agreed with this and said it would more than likely be overturned in the future. The purpose of the SCOTUS is to enforce the Constitution and only that. It does not have the power to create new laws. Read the Tenth Amendment. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

States have more power to create new laws then the federal government. That was one of the purposes of the Constitution to make sure our government stayed in the hands of the local people and not taken away by the federal government.

Overturning Roe v. Wade does not make abortions illegal. It leaves the decision with the local governments and the people as it should be. If the law where you live goes against your values get more active in local politics.

I do believe in the right to have an abortion however the SCOTUS made the correct decision based on the law as it is written.

Tom Borgen, Fort Myers

Sepsis the real danger

Imagine, it is before Roe v. Wade: I am pregnant, the hospital says so, though the fetus is dead. Oh, such happiness, I am still pregnant! Of course, they knew better, but the scheduled procedure could not go forward. The only real question was how far from the hospital did I live. That was, you know, if the bleeding started again. Sepsis wasn't even mentioned, though I now know -- I'm age 85, for gawd's sake -- sepsis was the real danger as I waited for the "negative" test that meant the doctor could now remove the rotting tissue from my womb.

Vivian Berg, Cape Coral

Barrier to women's advancement

The Trump-dominant SCOTUS decision that overturned Roe (1973) could be the first victory for that "aggrieved" political voting bloc. Friday's ruling has re-tilted the workplace floor whereby coerced unwanted pregnancy and its attendant child care responsibilities present additional barriers for women seeking job promotion/advancement in some 25 states. The court's justification for butchering Roe was predicated upon its assertion that no such (reproductive) right is cited in the Constitution. Extrapolating such fallacious reasoning, the nation's highest court could dismantle affirmative action -- another boon for the "victimized" angry white men. Will "Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen" become the 2024 rallying cry for the Alt-Right? Sadly, the Supreme Court has set the precedent for such a misogynistic phrase reentering our lexicon.

James L. DeBoy, Fort Myers

Ready to adopt unwanted babies?

There are a large number of people who who argue forcefully against abortion. That is your right as a citizen of the United States. However, I have a simple question for each and every one of you.

"How many unwanted babies have you adopted?"

Raymond Brooks, Fort Myers

Cartoon insulting to Christians

The political cartoon contained in the Sunday paper is an insult to all Christians in the United States and worldwide. And the cowardice of the author is evident by the inability to read his name. It was not unexpected to view the cartoon in the leftist News-Press. There is no relevance to abortion case or the Second Amendment, but the author only connects them, in my opinion, to stir up public anger. One must wonder if he would produce a similar political cartoon for any other religious or political organization. I doubt that.

His "cartoon" is an attempt to inflame those opposed to the recent decisions by the majority of the Supreme Court regarding First and Second Amendment rights. The author and many others would do well to sit down and take the time to read the Constitution of the United States. On the issue of abortion, I wonder how many of those young, "brainwashed" girls who were protesting in front of the Supreme Court would be so vocal if their mother made the decision to abort a sibling. Of course, if it was they who were aborted, they wouldn't have anything to protest about, they simply wouldn't exist. Think about that for a minute. You would not be.

Robert Reichert, Punta Gorda

Changed mind about abortion

I was in favor of abortion until I saw photos of bloody little aborted babies with their arms, legs, and heads cut off.

Rosalyn Becker, Fort Myers

Protesters are nihilists

Watching mostly young people rioting over the Roe decision pushed by the media and politicians says a lot about that generation. They are mostly nihilists who have no purpose other than to destroy. They also showed up at BLM riots and Antifa uprisings. They are also ignorant as they do not know or are able to read the decision. And most telling of all and is fed by their nihilism, they are mostly from blue states that have abortion on demand enshrined in their laws. These yahoos will keep abortion on the front page for months as the desire to kill babies satisfies their nihilism.

Joe Kiernan, Naples

GOP is what's abnormal

Texas Republicans just declared homosexuality "an abnormal lifestyle". Wow! Now, what I find it abnormal is: Worshiping at the altar of a twice impeached criminal psychopath. Kids running around with AR-15s killing other kids. Policing women's vaginas and children's genitals. Terrorizing our Capitol.

The GOP is what's abnormal but remains proud.

Robert F. Tate, Naples

Not a decision for politicians

On Friday, the highly conservative Supreme Court voted to overturn a 50-year federal decision of the court that allows a woman’s right to an abortion, The U.S. Constitution does not grant this specific right; it is based on the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Both decisions of each Court are interpretations of what the Privacy Clause governing Due Process means.

It is no wonder that in the 18th century, there was no specific consideration for abortion, so as to include it in the Constitution, because the women of this time did not enjoy many rights, Period! So whether an enlightened Supreme Court of 1973 chose to stretch the meaning of privacy in the Due Process Clause or if the current makeup of conservatives on the court saw an opportunity to overturn a decision that has been demonized by conservatives for 50 years, it will be left to the states to sort out.

I’ll never understand why politicians are allowed to make the decision when life begins that should be made as a result of a debate between the medical profession and renowned ethicists.

Roger W. Quagliano, Estero

Funding faith-based institutions

Re: Erica Donalds' misleading editorial promoting academic success. It is simply a cover for diverting needed tax dollars from public schools to right-leaning, Christian-based education. Research Optima Classical Academy. That will lead you to Hillsdale College whose mission statement includes maintains "by precepts and example" the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith." People of every faith should have the option of sending their children to faith-based schools. That is not the issue. Just please don't take money from our (hopefully) non-sectarian public schools to fund faith based institutions.

Harriet Lipschutz, Fort Myers

What's up with the airllines?

Airlines are canceling flights left and right. They are dropping service to small towns. All because there is a shortage of pilots and an increase in demand for seats on planes. Are the people who run this country's airlines just plain nuts? You know how many planes you have and how many crews you have. Why in the world would you schedule flights that you know you don't have a crew to fly? I guess they don't care and figure the public is just stupid and will go along with this fiasco. Doesn't the federal government still have some control over the airlines? Oh that's right it's Putin's fault!

Dennis Miller, Miromar Lakes

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, June 29, 2022