Letters to the editor for Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Beach needs its elementary school

I clearly remember the day I started first grade at Beach Elementary. I was 6 years old, and walking down the hallway of the main building, I felt totally comfortable; like I was home. That feeling lasted for the next six years I spent there. I made lifelong friends; people I am still very close with after 60 years. I remember after graduating from the sixth grade, wishing I could go back, but we were bused to town to attend junior high. It was a different world from our island school.

I was very fortunate to “go home again” when I became a teacher. I spent the last nine years of my teaching career at “my” school, Beach Elementary. It was heaven!

My heart hurts with the thought that Fort Myers Beach Elementary may not be repaired and reopened. I understand the school district’s consideration of this possible option. The student population is decreasing; the price of repair is staggering. BUT there are two sides to this dilemma. The island community of Fort Myers Beach is a close-knit group of people who rely on tourism, shrimping and local businesses to survive. They support each other because that’s what small town neighbors do. They have churches, stores, parks, their own library and fire district; and they have a local school.

You can legitimately argue that the school is too small to spend the money on rebuilding. You can also argue that the town of Fort Myers Beach will rebuild and thrive again. It will not be the same; and that is sad. However, having an island school is tantamount to the community. The children who attend that school will be the people who live on the island as well as the people who work there to support island businesses.

Because I love the Beach School, I want to see it saved. Because I understand the Beach, I can see that the decision made by the School District of Lee County will make or break the Beach School forever. If it is not decided to repair the school, it will disappear from the Town of Fort Myers Beach forever.

Personally, it’s obvious where my heart is on this dilemma. I hope more than dollars are a consideration in the ultimate decision on the fate of Fort Myers Beach Elementary. Give the school a chance to be a part of the rebuilding of Fort Myers Beach. The community needs its school back.

Cathy Goodacre Smith, Fort Myers

Concerns about Collier school election

Wait -- I thought we were trying to teach children not to hit.

Following the most recent election, the results that caught my attention were the newly elected Collier County School Board members.

The school board race is nonpartisan, however, Lichter, Moshier and Rutherford were endorsed by the Collier County Republican Executive Committee, Florida Citizen’s Alliance and Naples conservative firebrand and grocer Alfie Oakes, who is the county Republican Executive Committee State Committeeman.

The issue that seemed to catch the voters' attention who supported these candidates was not that under the former board members test scores had risen significantly or other academic improvements, but rather parental rights. Based on my reading and listening to the candidate forums, basically this translates to parental input regarding classroom discussion on issues related to the LGBTQ population, Critical Race Theory and books in the library related to those issues.

Because the three new candidates were endorsed, my concern is that busy voters may not have been aware of everything these candidates said, or did not say. In one of the candidate forums, Jerry R. Rutherford said. I have a plan, but I’m not going to tell you what it is. Now we know more about that.

Rutherford told the Naples Daily News he wanted to bring back corporal punishment to classrooms and wanted to see fewer “rights" for LGBTQ students.

Monthly board meetings start at 4:30 p.m. with the business portion starting at 5:00 pm. Those interested in “parental rights” might want to attend.

Susan Kaercher Meyers, Naples

Third World authoritarian spectacle

“Turn left here, folks, to leave the airport,” boomed a deep, friendly voice.

No matter how many times I fly into RSW, I’m always disoriented when I emerge from the exit chute that runs parallel, but in the opposite direction of the TSA screening stations. Judging by the befuddled looks on the faces of my fellow travelers, they felt equally confused. Or perhaps, they were simply reacting to the sight of the helpful police officer who was directing us.

He was a large, burly man standing, feet spread wide, facing the approaching passengers — his large hands caressing an assault-style rifle slung across his chest at a 45-degree angle. He was an imposing figure, apparently scrutinizing people who had already passed a rigorous examination of their IDs, their baggage and their bodies before boarding. Was he surveilling tourists and winter residents fearing that one of them was engaged in smuggling firearms and/or explosives FROM the airport? It made no sense; his very presence was incongruous, like a mortician officiating at a wedding. It was a Third World authoritarian spectacle staged in an American airport.

If the gesture was intended to reassure travelers that Southwest Florida is a safe place to visit, it likely missed the mark. My wife’s immediate reaction was, “What if our grandchildren were traveling with us and saw this?” In the Post-9/11 World travelers probably have come to assume someone is behind the scenes, armed to the teeth, overseeing a bank of closed circuit security monitors; but this in-your-face show of arms screams of danger, conspiracy and threat. “Welcome to the Sunshine State — be very careful!” The old joke about moving from the United States to Florida no longer seems quite as amusing.

My own reaction was very much like when I encountered soldiers bearing similar weapons while I was passing through a Honduran airport: What a horrible place. It breaks my heart that visitors to the city I love are greeted in this nonsensical fashion.

Thomas Wise, Fort Myers

Prohibition doesn't work

Reverend Michael P. Orsi’s guest column, “Marijuana legalization is an extremely unwise policy” (Nov. 27) contains numerous unwarranted assertions and an egregious conclusion regarding the greatest social policy failure in American history.

Prohibition creates black markets. Black markets attract the most vicious individuals in society who have no compunction about murdering innocent citizens, police officers, judges and legislators. (Is the reverend unconcerned about the collateral damage to society because of prohibition? Apparently so.)

Proponents of marijuana prohibition are in fact, unbeknownst to the good reverend, the greatest supporters (enablers) of drug dealers. Marijuana prohibition is a boon to drug dealers, who reap “excess” profits because of the black market for so-called illicit substances.

Rev. Orsi asserts in his support for marijuana prohibition, “The harmful effects of marijuana have long been known.” Let’s substitute cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, pornography, infidelity, sugar, a long list of foods and artificial substances, and the list goes on and on. Will the reverend call for criminalizing the aforementioned substances and activities?

As economist Ludwig von MIses wrote about the failure of prohibition, “Why limit the government’s benevolent providence to the protection of the individual’s body only? Is not the harm a man can inflict on his mind and soul even more disastrous than any bodily evils? Why not prevent him from reading bad books and seeing bad plays, from looking at bad paintings and statues and from hearing bad music?”

In other words, should the government ban "The Communist Manifesto," "Mein Kampf" and other books that have been the basis for the deaths of tens of millions of human beings?

Prohibition causes death and destruction whenever it is implemented. It is time the ill effects of marijuana use are treated as a medical issue and not a criminal one.

Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., Naples

Reasons for property insurance chaos

If you are looking for a reason for the alarming chaos in the Florida property insurance market, look no further than the stultifying actions of the state Legislature. Hurricanes and severe windstorms have been an inherent part of the Florida landscape for centuries. Yet, little priority attention has been given to preemptively attenuate its impact. It confirms the fact that politicians don’t act, they react. As a result, we have a heterogeneous set of laws encouraging fraudulent practices by contractors, lawyers etc. making the carriers' cost of defense prohibitive to the extent that settlements of inflated claims are more cost effective than litigating them, hoping to subsequently recoup their losses through inordinate premium increases. That business model may work well as long as reinsurance is readily available at reasonable cost, however bear in mind that Florida has a well-known history in the minds of underwriters who evaluate risk exposures.

These comments are not intended to be in defense of the insurance industry but a simplified general explanation. Insurers and reinsurers are in business to make a profit like any other business. If that objective is perpetually impeded by adverse or biased rules and regulations promoting fraudulent activity, they will leave the state or become insolvent. We are in dire need of an overall reform. A good start would be complete abrogation of AOB’s (Assignment of Benefits), stringent enforcement of Proof of Loss, Independent Engineering inspections, better capitalization and higher risk retention requirements of local carriers, more frequent state audits of their bordereau reports, better building codes etc. Those suggestions may not be a panacea but are more effective than ignoring the underlying issues with insipid temporizing action. We can’t control hurricanes but we can control fraud and financial stability.

Leo Boghosian, Bonita Springs

Don't blame insurance companies

Nov. 27 letters to the editor included one that implied the "Insurance Industry is gouging homeowners." Nothing could be further from the truth. Insurance companies are not a philanthropic not-for-profit entity. They are entitled to make a profit and base their rate requests on statistics and their individual loss ratios. The mere fact that nine companies have gone insolvent in the last year is indicative that we have a major problem in the State of Florida. I call to the attention of the writer a guest column of the same issue by Ronald R. Assise titled "Property insurance reform needed for a healthy market." He cites the problem of attorneys and unscrupulous contractors who convince the homeowner to let them file their claim for damage to a 15-20 year old roof with minor damage to a few shingles by a big wind. Because the insurance policies provide replacement cost coverage from a covered peril, normal wear and tear is not taken into consideration. So the question is was the roof really damaged by the storm or was it a consequence of an aging roof soon due for replacement? In addition to needed tort reform an idea has been advanced where insurance companies could also offer an "actual cash value" option that is defined as replacement cost less depreciation. If accepted by the homeowner, it would involve a premium credit. Bottom line, if nothing is done, premiums will continue to rise and more insurance companies will throw in the towel in the State of Florida.

Gray Poehler, Naples

New start for Times Square clock

With great interest I read the well-written article concerning the Times Square clock, which was located on Fort Myers Beach before Ian struck. I have seen and admired the clock for many years and look forward to it being replaced. The design, based on public clocks of Victorian England, has been replicated many times around the world and is a dignified reminder of our past, according to the Verdin Clock Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. On the last page of the article, the header read "Uniquely Florida," and directly under that, the bold lettered word "Clock." That is when it struck me that losing the old clock was very unfortunate, but that perhaps this was an opportunity to replace it with one that would be completely unique to Fort Myers Beach. Something that would stand out to Florida visitors and to visitors from around the world. Something that would be special to Fort Myers Beach. Something that visitors would look forward to seeing, and want to be photographed with. Every year I see dozens of people waiting in line from dawn to dusk to be photographed next to a giant concrete buoy in Key West. How much more special would be a one-of-a-kind, Fort Myers Beach Clock? History and heritage is special, and we have had that and will always remember. This would be an opportunity for a new start, with a relevant symbol and identity. A one-only design that would attract interest and attention. The ideas for design are many and varied, but would ultimately incorporate that Fort Myers Beach special vibe!

William Bond, North Fort Myers

Mailboxes overlooked

Mailboxes in the Third Street District: It has been over two months since the hurricane swept through Naples yet the USPS mailboxes on Broad Avenue and Thirteenth Avenue have not been cleaned up or replaced. As public life recovers here in Naples this seems like an oversight.

John Speredelozzi, Naples

Assistance for Pine Island Tropicals

There’s a huge lump in my throat after reading Amy Bennett Williams’ Thanksgiving Day story about the Schneiders, whose Pine Island Tropicals business in Bokeelia was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. As Williams uniquely does, she brought this hard-working, loving family to life. She also reminded us what we lose in Florida whenever these sustaining ventures are knocked down by natural disasters, economic turmoil or rampaging development. I’m sending a donation to the Schneiders, but what I can afford is mere drop in the bucket. I’d like to see them get meaningful assistance, which they’re entitled to from the government, and also from the many deep-pocket residents of Southwest Florida. And Martha Stewart, you’ve honored Pine Island Tropicals in the past, so please help out now.

Vicky Bowles, Fort Myers

Right to clean water petition

A petition drive is underway that will add an amendment to the Florida Constitution that creates a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters for the residents of Florida. This will be voted on in the General Election of 2024.

There is currently no political will at the Florida state level to clean up the water pollution that is all around us. Massive amounts of funds are expended on “downstream” projects but, due to special interests, nothing is done to eliminate the sources of the nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) that are polluting our waterways. Manatee are dying in alarming numbers.

Collier County is responsible for 22 waterbodies. FDEP has not officially set oxygen limits on 21 of these waterbodies. If the higher oxygen standard from prior to 2013 were applied, only ONE of the Collier County waterbodies would NOT be impaired. A constitutional “Right to Clean and Healthy Waters” would enable the citizens to hold the state accountable. Collier County is almost fully impaired for lack of oxygen in the waterways. Nothing is done about it. FDEP has set no limits.

To do its part in the statewide effort, Collier County needs to get 4,187 petitions signed by March 1, 2023, to help trigger a Florida Supreme Court review of the amendment and a total of 16,748 petitions signed by Nov. 30, 2023, to help qualify for the 2024 ballot. Go to this website to learn more and sign the petition: floridarighttocleanwater.org.

Eugene Wordehoff, Marco Island

Helpful article on 50 percent rule

I applaud Derek Gilliam and the Naples Daily News for the Sunday article on the dreaded 50 percent rule. The article was well written and explained the different aspects of the rule. One came away with the sense that the officials at all levels of government are trying to help the public within the confines of the law. Happily, the article was devoid of politics, and was helpful to the general public and understanding this issue.

Bruce Foster, Naples

Evacuations and mask mandates

A recent writer to the mailbag asked the difference between a mandatory evacuation and a mask mandate. The answer is simple. You can say "no" to that evacuation as many people do, for better or worse. It is your choice.

Greg Fretwell, Estero

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, November 30, 2022