Letters to the editor for Wednesday, February 26, 2025

• Numerous residents of Cape Coral wrote to the editor to express their disapproval of a proposed development project called Redfish Pointe.
• They cited concerns about the destruction of natural wetlands, increased flood risks, and harm to wildlife.
• A march was organized to protest the development and encourage the City Council to vote against it.

Cape Coral families have been concerned about the proposed Redfish Pointe development among wetlands south of Rotary Park since 2021. Hurricane Ian, in 2022, of course, heightened our alarm, because it revealed what the future looks like for Cape Coral, which is one of the nine cities in the nation most at risk from future storms.

Indisputably, coastal wetlands provide significant storm protection and flood control. The city’s own website says so. This development would compromise the storm protection these wetlands provide and put our hundreds of families at greater risk of harm and hardship.

Additionally, those hundreds of acres provide critical habitat for wildlife, including protected species. Rotary Park is hugely popular. The development will permanently harm its natural character and allure and will also violate the intent of a conservation easement meant to preserve these wetlands forever. Traffic down Pelican Blvd. and the burden upon the city’s infrastructure will also be significant. All will erode the quality of life that makes living in this area of SW Cape Coral desirable.

We urge residents to join us on Saturday, March 1, at 9 a.m., to march from Rotary Park to the proposed road entrance at Rose Garden Road and SW 6th Place.

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The march is held just days before the Planning and Zoning Commission is potentially scheduled to address the issue. We urge residents to attend and to tell the committee that this property is zoned “Preserve” for good reasons and that that designation should not be changed.

Mary Kay Robbins-Kralapp, Cape Coral

Just ten years ago our canal in Fort Myers had schools of mullet, sheepshead, and mangrove snapper. Mullet fishermen used to come with their boats and nets and haul up lots of mullet. Nice-sized redfish were common, and I once hooked, but did not catch, a tarpon. These were all exciting moments that I will never forget. But these moments are now rare, and I can only imagine how wonderful the waters used to be 30 or more years ago. As quoted in the Feb. 16 Views section of The News-Press, "The Spanish called the land La Florida for its lush landscape... The natural environment (was) a unique example of the magic to be found in the New World."

The current dismal state of our waters was also described earlier in the same Views section by John Cassani in his article "Mismanagement Destroying Florida's Coastal Waters." The title pretty much tells it all.

Despite high levels of public money spent on restoration of waters, without proper regulation and enforcement, it is not money well spent. Cassani's conclusion: the Florida Right to Clean Water petition "may be the only hope for meaningful reform." If you go to https://bit.ly/FRTCW-petition, you can the print out a pre-filled petition that only needs your signature and mailing. You will then become part of the solution. Please help us make our waters better.

Mary Tracy Sigman, Fort Myers

Cape Coral’s city leaders continue to ignore residents’ voices while prioritizing reckless development over our safety and environment. Again and again, we have spoken up — at city meetings, in petitions, and in protests — yet they move forward with projects that destroy natural spaces and increase flood risks.

Jaycee Park: A Broken Promise: Despite public outcry, the city redesigned Jaycee Park, removing mature trees and disrupting wildlife.

Yellow Fever Creek: Flood Risks Ignored: The city approved a water facility inside Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, removing wetlands that act as a flood buffer. These wetlands slow stormwater and protect homes. Destroying them increases flood risks.

Chiquita Lock: Polluting Our Waters: Removing the Chiquita Lock eliminated a filtration system that prevented polluted runoff from reaching the Gulf. This fuels red tide, kills marine life, and hurts our economy. When fishermen challenged the city, they were sued.

Redfish Pointe: The Next Disaster: The city wants to remove a 340-acre conservation easement for high-rise development, increasing flood risks. These wetlands act as a natural storm barrier, absorbing storm surge and protecting homes. Removing them puts families in danger and threatens one of Cape Coral’s last natural areas. Beyond increasing flood risks, this development will disrupt the vital wetlands surrounding Rotary Park, driving away wildlife and permanently altering the peaceful refuge that so many families and visitors cherish.

Take action now. Join the march at Rotary Park on March 1 at 9 a.m. Contact your City Council members and demand they vote NO.

Paula Bendfeldt, Cape Coral

Everyone - not just government employees - should email their weekly accomplishments to President Elon Musk. He has our Social Security numbers, so we should at least let DOGE know we are watering our plants. You can email your accomplishments to hr@opm.gov. As a Social Security beneficiary aka government wage-earner, here’s my list:

1. Vacated bed before 10 a.m on four of five workdays.

2. Secured a Z-pack and a supply of Tamiflu from an Indian online pharmacy, to protect my department against the coming bird flu pandemic.

3. Reduced overhead by selling my Tesla.

4. Upgraded business casual wardrobe to billionaire gangsta-style. Now wear gold chains, mirrored Oakley’s, and a chainsaw with my Lily Pulitzer golf shirts.

5. Memorized the Bill of Rights.

Ms. Vaune Davis, Naples

Do not board my ship: "Officers currently can stop boaters without probable cause to conduct routine safety checks..." according to the Fort Myers News-Press. (02-24-25, page 3A). I did not know this, even though I am a law professor and a former director-at-large of the Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF). In other words, I have been asleep at the wheel (and so have you, editor). IMHO, it is absolutely outrageous that an officer thinks he can board anyone's vessel simply because he FEELS like it. 

I think that, if he wants to poke around in the litter on the deck, he'd better have permission from the owner, or probable cause, or (best of all) a lawfully issued search warrant.

BTW, the 2022 platform of the LPF says: "... IV. Public Safety ... 10. Probable Cause ... searches without probable cause should be abolished ... " Happily, the News-Press goes on to note that Governor DeSantis has drafted a bill that would end this abuse of authority. Good for you, governor. You have my whole-hearted support on this. 

Larry Gillis, Cape Coral

Does any of this sound vaguely familiar folks? In 1966, after failing to get the legislature to amend the constitution to allow governors to serve consecutive terms, Governor “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever" Wallace of Alabama announced the candidacy of his wife Lurleen for governor. They both publicly admitted  that if Lurleen were elected, old George would continue to make the administrative policies and decisions. Lurleen was elected and Alabama continued its policies of massive resistance against civil rights for Black Alabama citizens using White Citizen Councils (a precursor to MAGA)  and the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate and commit violence against them as they protested for their civil rights. Are we now hearing the echoes of that history in Florida as anti-DEI Governor “No fact-based history will be taught that embarrasses white folks”  DeSantis is advocating for his wife to be the next governor of Florida? A note to both the governor and Mr. Trump, 11 years after Wallace said that, he asked the Black people of Alabama to forgive him for the terrible wrongs he did to them.

Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs

Elon Musk has threated to fire every federal employee who failed to respond to his email, requiring them to list 5 things they accomplished this week. Here's my 5: I continued to follow the law and Constitution; I did not take away health care from 72 million people and reduce SNAP (food stamps) benefits for my neighbors in need, in order to give tax breaks for the rich; I followed the Biblical command to care for the least among us; I did not fire people who care for me and our community, including park employees, health workers and firefighters; I did not steal anyone's private Social Security numbers, financial info, or health records.

I think that's a pretty good week. How about you, Elon Musk? What did you do other than break things and indiscriminately wreck people's lives? How about you, Rick Scott? What did you do other than sit back and let your authoritarian president break laws and undermine the international order? How about you, Byron Donalds? What did you do to protect and make life better for your constituents? Maybe you're busy working on lowering the inflation rate and the price of eggs? If so, you can put it on your list of 5 things.

Donald Belmont, Naples

I understand how hard it is for those who are losing their federal government jobs. But this is really no different than those of us who have lost our jobs in the private sector due to budget cuts. I was laid off three times while I was a single parent with children still living at home. I had received excellent performance reviews each time, and once had just received the honor of “employee of the quarter.” Yes, it was hard, but I was able to put one foot in front of the other, and each time got another job. 

When running a household, don’t we do without certain things that are not absolutely necessary when money is tight and “something has to go”?

I agree that just letting the ax drop, cutting jobs without a thorough review beforehand seems cruel and unfair. But there was a need to move quickly. Our national deficit is sky high. What if we ran our households and small businesses like that?

When we visited the Pentagon a few years ago, we were blown away by the number of employees and services. It has 200 acres of lawn, 16 parking lots, 131 stairways and 19 escalators, a number of food and shopping vendors, dry cleaners and banking facilities.

Will there be consequences in national parks and other areas? Yes. But it is time to stop kicking the can down the road.

Rita Montano, Cape Coral

In his letter to the editor on February 22, a writer asserted that a recent study ranking American worker productivity "listed federal employees at the very bottom of the list." I Googled as he suggested and found no such study. Federal employees work at different levels of government with occupations as varied as lawyers, project managers, park rangers, scientists, administrative assistants, air traffic controllers, service workers, and maintenance staff, to name a very few. Surely a study could not have found that federal employees were at the very bottom of productivity in their respective fields when compared with others in the same occupation. As a statistical researcher in a private firm that competed with similar firms for government projects to collect and analyze data to provide reliable information upon which policy decisions could be made, I had the opportunity to work with many federal workers. Without exception, I found them to be intelligent, conscientious, efficient and hard working in managing complex projects aimed at underpinning policy and providing the best value for American taxpayers. Federal employees deserve our gratitude and respect. I believe Americans will soon come to regret the culling of this valuable and productive work force.

Mary Jo Nolin, Naples

It's doubtful the majority of Trump voters support all the whirlwind changes in Trump's first month in office. Beginning with the heavy and far-reaching influence of Elon Musk who was never elected to any role and is performing as a co-president.

Beginning with the release of more than 1,500 convicted rioters, many who assaulted police and are responsible for deaths resulting from their actions. This was followed by numerous Trump acts designed to weaken our federal agencies and increase his executive power. Trump took pleasure in stating "Long live the King" on his "Truth Social " social media. For sake of brevity this letter will not list all the other alarming moves.

Some of his Cabinet appointments are further proof of eliminating his guardrails and consolidating his power, especially the Justice Department and our FBI.

All of us as Americans, regardless of political affiliation, must never allow this to become the "New Normal." We need to stay informed and involved no matter how uncomfortable this has become. 

James Keough, Cape Coral

Sadly another letter writer is totally misinformed about Israel, Palestine and the so-called two state solution.  Many years ago, President Bill Clinton came up with a two-state solution plan which for the most part Israel accepted but the then chairman of the PLO, Yasser Arafat, turned it down. Why you ask? Because he and the Palestinians want the whole of Israel and sadly nothing has changed.  Famously the late great ambassador Abba Eban said: Arafat never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. There will never be a two-state solution as long as the Arabs think they are entitled to the whole of Israel, which has been there before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Michael R. Adler, Miromar Lakes

The United States is negotiating “peace” in the Ukraine with two anti-democratic entities, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Russia is ruled by a former KGB agent, and Saudi Arabia is ruled by a king. There are no freedoms in either of these countries. If one speaks out against a leader, that person will be jailed or killed, as were the poisoned Russian activist Alexei Navalny and the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Ukraine, a democracy which elected Zelensky, is left out of the “peace” negotiations. By leaving Zelensky out of the talks, calling him a dictator, and saying that Ukraine started the war, Trump is showing the world whose side he is on, and just as importantly, who he is.

Trump wants complete control of our government. He allies himself with dictators because he wants to be one. He disrespects our true friends, Canada and Europe. These have been our allies for eight decades, friends who have fought alongside us in wars. Canadians and Europeans are appalled at Trump’s authoritarian, bullying behavior, and failure to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s Russia. In addition to disrespecting our democratic allies, Trump has taken aim at our press, an essential element of any free nation.

Trump has ordered investigations into ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and NPR. He has also banned the Associated Press from the Oval Office and from Air Force One. Banning and investigating news organizations that don’t fawn all over the president is not how a democratic society works, but it is how authoritarian regimes operate. Trump doesn’t care about democracy. He wants absolute power, and we the people need to do everything we can to stop him from getting it. Deluge your congressman and senators with emails. Tell them you won’t support them if they support Trump. Donate to the ACLU, speak to your friends and neighbors, write letters to newspapers, and join organizations who support democratic ideals.

Finally, when the time comes, vote like your democracy depends on it, because it does.

Jackie Minghinelli, part-time resident Naples

I was quite surprised to see the number of local opinions expressing disapproval of President Trump and his supporters. To all of the readers out there supporting the president’s agenda, I want to assure you, we are the majority, and we will make our nation great again. President Trump and Senator Rick Scott won over 65% and 69% of the vote in Collier County, respectively, and won the state of Florida by double digit margins in 2024. The reason Florida thrives, becoming a better place to live every day, is because of the fabulous leadership we have in this great state. We must thank our president, our senators, including newly appointed Ashley Moody, and our wonderful Congressman Byron Donalds, for their righteous efforts to better the state and the country. Our state-level leadership also greatly contributes to Florida, further expanding the freedom and prosperity of our residents and visitors alike. I am proud to be a Floridian, an American, and a supporter of the president, and I cannot wait to see all the great accomplishments he and his team will complete in the next four years.

Nick Damarodis, Naples