Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (2024)

Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (1)
Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (2)
Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (3)

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 tomailbag@news-press.comand for the Naples Daily News toletters@naplesnews.com

Grandparents and autism challenge

Did you know that one in 36 children today are being diagnosed with autism? When a grandchild is diagnosed with autism, it marks the beginning of an unexpected and unique journey − one that requires immense patience, understanding, and a willingness to learn and adapt. As grandparents, we find ourselves in a special role, filled with love and care, yet often facing challenges that are new and sometimes overwhelming. That's why we are excited to announce the launch of the Autism Collier Grandparents Support Group − a place where we can navigate this journey together. Together, we can make a difference for our grandchildren and families.

Please join us for our inaugural meet-up on Monday, Oct. 14, at 4. We will be meeting at NAMI COLLIER- 5025 Castello Drive #101, Naples.

Pamela Collins, Naples

Election choices

For the Lee County Commission seat vote for Kizzie Fowler. She will bring a fresh new way of looking at the same legislation the good old boys on the commission voted for time and time again, year after year and the voters be darned. She will not pave over Lee County's green spaces. Kizzie will fight for clean water, affordable housing, and lower taxes. Of course, she will see to it that women will get all their rights in all areas of their spectrum of life.

For Cape CoralCity Council vote for these fresh new faces to get on the board: Joseph Kilraine is running on a transparency platform. He wants to know what the electorate wants and that is his mission to get that done. He is one of many that is the smartest running for office. He was an engineer and has the skills to work with the city to stop the flooding in the Cape so hopefully our flood water and household insurance will go down. He is all for green space in Jaycee Park and the old golf course, tells us, leave it as it is with just a couple of minor improvements, which will not hurt the wildlife.

Rachel Kaduk. is of a younger generation than many of the rest running for office. She also exudes transparency and intently listening to the people. She is for the environment and more land for wildlife. A wonderful candidate who will do wonders for our fair city.

Laurie Lehmann is for the people, of the people by the people. She wants to stop the project of Jaycee Park in its entirety. Right now. According to her no one wanted these changes to the park no matter where they lived. Especially the people that use the park daily. She wants to see a park for the usual users and a park where the children will have a beautiful play area that will not infringe on the rest of the park. She will listen to the electorate on all issues that come before her and support that majority.

Jenifer Nelson has been on the council before.She helped the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to get money to pay the UEP fees when we bought lots with wild animals on them. She supports green spaces and will do so in the future. She did very well in her other term. Caring about all the people's wishes, looking to reduce taxes and saving tax money was her way on the council.

Deborah McCormick is my all-time burrowing owl favorite candidate. She uses a picture of a burrowing owl on her campaign literature. This really says all that you need to know on Deborah. She is an avid protector of the Earth and wildlife. Like all that are running she said she would rely on what the people wanted not what she wanted,

Carl Veaux, Cape Coral

Charles Work for state House

“I am pleased to support my friend Charles “Chuck” Work for the Florida State House of Representatives District 81.Chuck is moderate, opposed to extremism. He believes civility is important in government. He will not be a rubber stamp for Alfie Oakes or Ron DeSantis.Chuck was a lifelong Republican and has held presidential appointments in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. He and his wife Roni left the Republican Party shortly after the insurrection on January 6.Chuck is very well qualified. He is a lawyer; he was a prosecutor; he was the elected president of the District of Columbia Bar. In Florida he has served on two different HOA Boards.Chuck supports Amendment 4. He believes with Tim Walz that we should all mind our own business.Chuck supports all efforts to fight climate change.Chuck will fight the continued erosion of home rule in Florida.Chuck will fight to restore transparency and ethics enforcement in Florida at both the state and local level.

Rev. Dr. Timothy V. Stover, Presbyterian Minister

Project 2025 threatens NOAA

As I write this, we await news about the pathway Hurricane Milton will travel, and whose lives and homes are most threatened. My updates come every six hours from NHC, the National Hurricane Center, which provides weather and climate forecasts and warnings.As I get all the current details of this storm on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NHC ( National Hurricane Center) site, candidate Trump is outlining how to cripple it in Project 2025, which documents the plan his transition team intends to use to broadly dismantle government agencies should he win.Project 2025 takes four pages to describe how NOAA, the National Weather Service and its NHC "should be broken up and downsized." But we need these protective services across the country.The League of Conservation Voters has said that Project 2025, which describes NOAA as "a primary component of the climate change alarm industry," "would dismantle the National Weather Service and NOAA."Those actions would undermine the agency's independence from the executive branch and eliminate internal departments. Hence lifesaving information about hurricanes, heat waves and extreme weather events would be reduced.Project 2025 says the agency "should focus on data-gathering services and should commercialize its forecasting."This is a considerable limit on work and services they provide. The intent seems to render the agencies ineffective.I do not support this proposal.Vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Kathleen Callard RNBS, North Fort Myers

Could be a movie

Spurred by recent federal court ruling and the urging of fluoride opponents, the city of Naples may soon cease the addition of fluoride to drinking water, a practice begun in 1957. Unincorporated Collier county decided to cease fluoridation in February. For citizens of a certain age, the debate recalls a scenario dramatized in one of the great movies of the last century.

"Do you realize fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?" Those words were spoken by General Jack Ripper, the renegade SAC commander portrayed brilliantly by Sterling Hayden in the 1964 film "Dr. Strangelove."

When Captain Mandrake, one of three roles played by Peter Sellers, asks for clarification, Ripper intones "A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. That's the way your hard-core commie works."

Pressed by Mandrake, Ripper goes on to discuss the impact of the nefarious chemical on his sex life, a dialogue that need not be recounted here. He also alleges a plot to infuse fluoride into children's ice cream.

Stanley Kubrick's film classic draws no conclusion about specific health risks of fluoridation. But it does result in Ripper's launch of World War III.

Paul Atkinson, Bonita Springs

Effective FTC head

Lina Khan is the head of the Federal Trade Commission. You may not know of her work, but you do know the results of her passion for citizens. Take inhalers for instance, from $500 to now $35 and currently going afterthe Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their manipulation of drugs, who gets them,who can sell them and at what prices. They currently control 80% of the market, often creating pharmacy deserts when small drugstores can’t compete.Ms. Kahn and her team has also put the “Non-Competing Clause” to rest, which many employers make their employees sign, from CEOs of large companies to hamburger flippers, which discourages employees from seeking higher wages nearby.Recently, she has been looking at the practices of Amazon, giant tech companies, as well as the food industry. Many savage her ideas and ideals, but from where I’m sitting as a consumer, interested in lowering costs for all, I’m fascinated in what she has accomplished since 2021.Recently, Ms. Khan has taken a hard look at "rent to own” projects, which also happen to be in our backyard. Unfortunately, the properties under that plan in the Southwestern states have not done very well for renters but have made billionaires of the property managers, Invitation Homes and Starwood Capital Group which builds the homes. Price fixing is just one of the issues. The mainreason renting to own hasn’t worked for many in the SW is that rent increases or additional fees keep being added until a renter just moves, losing his initial payment and the additional sum that went towards ownership. It shall be interesting to follow Ms. Khan. I hope whoever is the next president keeps her onboard. We the people need her.

Maureen Trerice, Naples

Move on from Trump

We are reminded daily by the TV and print media that the upcoming presidential election is very close and that the outcome will have tremendous far-reaching effect upon our future democratic lifestyle. If that is a valid summation and pragmatic analysis, then it begets the question; why is it so close? Doesn't Trump's track record of reprehensible words, deeds, behavior over the past eight years and announced plans for the next four years (if he wins) provide enough insight for the electorate to see that his objective is to destroy and subordinate our Constitution to fulfill his demented goal of becoming a dictator? Are his estimated 35% hard core supporters unable to differentiate the difference between truth and lies, honesty and dishonesty and character or the lack thereof? Isn't his vulgarity on issues, particularly those pertaining to women, our military heroes, flagrant insults denigrating immigrants, crippled veterans etc., all well documented, plus his attempt to overthrow an election, sufficient concrete evidence of his deep depravity and those of his inner circle of friends?

How can any patriotic conscientious American cast a vote for this despicable man-child playing with the future of our country as if it were his personal sandbox? Worse yet are the gullible fools who can't discern an obvious fraudster funded solely for the benefit of the elite. We are accustomed to politicians exaggerating, misinterpreting, concealing and deflecting the truth; however, Trump and his coterie elevated this conduct to the level of insurrection and treason. "We the People" deserve better representation. Too many Americans died attaining and preserving that right. Your vote is imperative.

Leo Boghosian, Bonita Springs

Opinion on abortion

During this past Sunday morning, when Maria Bartiromo was interviewing Melania Trump on TV, she asked her about her opinion on abortion, which she had written about in her book “Melania.” She answered that “government should not be telling women what to do with her bodies.” I agree with her 100% when it comes to the government. Whatever a woman’s choice, the government has no business telling her what she can or cannot do. With the world in a chaotic and dangerous position, to vote solely on the subject of abortion is WRONG, and rather selfish.

Marilyn Doherty, Naples

Tariffs a wretched idea

The hodge-podge of proposals that comprise what might be considered former President Trump’s tax plan is centered around his across-the board tariffs, reducing tax rates for corporations and the super-wealthy, elimination of income taxes on tips primarily for hospitality workers and some others at the lower end of the economic spectrum, and doing away with taxes onovertime compensation, among other matters.

The centerpiece of tariffs imposed on goods sold into this country is regarded almost universally by economists as a wretched idea because it would be highly inflationary and drive up unemployment in this country as other nations engage in a trade war, and for other reasons.

But there’s an even more ominous feature of shifting from an income-oriented to a tariff-based taxation model. It would effectively impose a much greater financial burden on people who purchase commodities for personal use from “A” (Automobiles) to “Z” (Zippers) and nearly everything in-between. This would hit middle and lower level wage earners the hardest, rather than the wealthy, who spend less percentage of their earning on these items.

It would, in effect, work as a disguised version of a sales tax, like the 6% one in effect here in Florida, and those in 44 other states as well, a regressive form of taxation on the less affluent.

This proposed arrangement is yet another illustration of how returning the ex-president to the White House would portend undue economic gains for those who need it least, the rich, and fiscal hardships on those who tolerate it least, middle income and poorer people.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

Deb Henry for Marco Council

Deb Henry has been a vital contributor of the Marco Island community. Her involvement in a variety of community, civic, and local government activities has given her a well-rounded and valuable understanding of Marco Island. She cares about our island as a whole and is committed to working with all parties to resolve issues and find paths forward together.

Deb Henry understands residential concerns, business challenges and local government complexities. In addition to her commitment of service to our community Deb cares deeply about Marco Island’s future. As a retired small business owner, she ran a low cost construction business that she built over time.She understands how to operate in a low cost environment and will be careful with our tax money.She has signed the pledge not to increase our taxes.

In addition to financial know-how, she is a dedicated humanitarian. After Hurricane Ian, she gathered donations for those who suffered damaged homes, housed families who had nowhere to go, and donated Thanksgiving dinner for over 100 Capri residents after the hurricane. Deb dedicates her time, energy and heart to Marco Island and has proven she is an asset and leader in our community.

Deb Henry consistently demonstrates all the attributes Marco Island needs in a city councilor.I am proud to count Deb Henry as my favorite neighbor and friend and I look forward to voting for her on November 5for Marco Island City Council.

Melodee James, Marco Island

Fluoridation of water

It is a sad day when the public officials of Collier County and Naples rely on the opinion of a West Coast federal judge. His opinion was cited in the efforts to remove fluoridation from the water of Southwest Florida.My early years were in West Texas where there is a level of natural fluoridation in the water. During my life I have been remarkably free of adverse dental issues. I do not remember the last time that I had a cavity. I have always credited this to the fluoridation in the water.We would all like to have a higher IQ, but I have never found that to be a problem due to fluoridation of water. I graduated salutatorian in a high school class of 265 students. I graduated near the top tier academically in a class of 565 cadets at West Point.It is truly sad that the young people of Southwest Florida will have to suffer a lifetime of unnecessary dental problems.

Bruce Foster, Naples

Marco City Council choices

Typically, when we hear about winds on Marco Island, we get nervous and concerned about what bad things are about to come. Well, this time I am excited about the winds of change that are coming this election season.I’m supporting Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler for Marco Island City Council because they are candidates who are committed to respecting the residents’ concerns. These candidates understand that our island needs protection from over-development and over-tourism, especially with big changes coming just north of us in Naples.We certainly need a change. Some of our current City Council members have neglected the basics. Instead of focusing on critical issues like clean waterways and strong bridges, some members of the Council are pushing for a taxpayer-funded tourist bus that will likely cause more problems.We are a small island, and our infrastructure needs focused attention. It’s time to elect leaders who will focus our tax dollars on the true needs of the community rather than projects designed to line special interest pockets. The days of repeated public disrespect of the citizens needs to come to an end.These honest, well-intentioned candidates Stephen and Tamara have stepped forward and given me and other residents hope for a brighter future. If you want healthy waterways, peaceful neighborhoods, and a Council that respectfully honors the will of the residents when spending taxpayer dollars, please join me in voting for Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler.

Michael Josephs, Marco Island

Say noto Goehlerand Gray

Those elected to City Council should be able to work with their fellow councilors in a productive and positive way to get the job done. That is the expectationof the citizens. However, candidateTamara Goehlerhas made it clear by her actions that she is not willing to show any level of civility to her fellow candidates. And her actions speak louder than words.

I was surprised to hear at a recent City Council meeting sherefused to shake the outstretched handof a fellow candidateintroducingherself. Instead of politely shaking hands,as is socially acceptable,Goehlercontorted her face,grunted, turned her back and walked away. That speaks volumes about the type of person she isand how she will behave if elected. She obviously is not fit to serve the fine people of Marco Island.

Then there is her sidekick candidate Stephen Gray who has never volunteered, andhis own video he claims that there are no charities on Marco that appealed to him, so he doesn’t support or volunteer anywhere on Marco Island. His only “contribution” to Marco Island is that he sits on the board of the Apollo short term rental condominium where he is part owner of a short-term rental.

Furthermore, NEITHERGoehlernor Gray have signed a pledge to keep your taxes low. Rest assured they have supported big government legislation and hefty taxes in the past. Ask yourself how can people who are not part of our community understand our community and its issues? They have zero qualifications and would not have the ability to represent our citizens. Say NOto Goehlerand Gray on election day. VOTE forBlonna, Henry, Irwin and Schwan.

Wayne Rose, Marco Island

Republican Party changed

In 1954 I voted in my first presidential election for Eisenhower. My how the Republican Party has changed. Now we have the MAGA GOP “God Old Boys.” When the “Accordion man,“ Trump starts playing his imaginary instrument, we know that means he is lying. Any day now he will start telling his people that the sun comes up in the west and sets in the east. If he says it enough, they will start believing him. I just do not understand how people can vote for him.

He is a convicted man, closed a charity and his university for fraud, bankrupt three times, most of his former Cabinet members and staff said he was unfit to be president, and the list goes on and on. “He is going to help the economy.” I question that. When he was president, he added 8 trillion dollars to our debt. He said he was going to build the wall and have Mexico pay for it, that never happened. Well, as the saying goes “the blind leading the blind."

America Has Always Been Great,

Herb Taylor, Fort Myers

Character, integrity count

Voters should be impressed by candidates with class and the ability to stick to the issues. The amount of negative campaigning says more about the candidate than their opponent.

Recent mailings from people who want to lead, show the shallowness of their character and lack of class. In fact, the negative mailings are an act of desperation for failing campaigns.

My vote is for people with character, depth, and integrity.

Ed Brandt, Naples

Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (2024)
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