Letters to the Editor, April 9
Destruction of Florida
Last October the Board of Collier Commissioners voted to use $53 million of Conservation Collier funds to fill gaps in this year’s budget, funds earmarked by voters in three separate referendums for purchasing conservation lands.
The commissioners also gave themselves power to use the program’s money for “any other county purposes deemed to be in the best interest of the public.”
At last meeting, swamped by opposition, they back-paddled so fast they left a wake. Rick LoCastro observed the high number of citizens came to the meeting because “they thought we’d raided Conservation Collier, when in reality we put a spotlight on it.” Ouch.
Chris Hall stated that appropriating the money “was a one-time thing,” and denied it was ever their intent “to rob Conservation Collier and use its slush fund.” Slush fund? Yet, they’ve no plan how to replenish it.
This same board recently voted to change building codes in Isles of Capri to allow for multiple high-rises in the dead center of that tiny island community. Capri residents garnered over 1,000 signatures opposing the change, hired a lawyer, attended commission meetings in vanloads, all to no avail. The commissioners, not one with a tie to the community, approved the changes anyway. For sale signs are sprouting.
And that’s a brief history of the destruction of Florida. I’d like to urge you to write our commissioners, but this board seems to collectively disregard the will of the citizenry. I recommend replacing the lot. Your ballot remains your strongest voice.
Tara O’Neill, Goodland
Adoption is the answer
Whether you’re for or against, there is an answer that gets everybody off the hook and over all these many years I’ve never heard the media or anyone else bring to light. Even the unborn baby who would otherwise pay the ultimate price gets a start at life. It’s called adoption.
I was born in the middle of the Great Depression when life was really tough. My parents considered aborting me but knew they had made the right decision after I was born.
John Mallen, Marco Island
Help dementia caregivers
A new report from the Florida chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association shows more than 840,000 of our neighbors, family members and friends are now serving as unpaid family caregivers. This number is growing exponentially. It’s important for us to know what we’re doing in our community to help them.I’ve been in multiple roles of family caregiving support over the past 40 years, including my grandmother, father, and husband. It’s impacted all areas of my life, including leaving my career to provide care. I respect the challenges of the journey, which impacts each of us differently.If you know a caregiver in your life, ask them how they’re doing. If they say fine − don’t say ‘OK’! Ask them more questions. Offer to help in specific ways you can. Help them learn to accept help. If you’re a caregiver, accept help that’s offered!It’s important for caregivers to know resources available to help them. One resource is The Alzheimer’s Association Florida chapters. They provide a 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 to help address caregiving challenges, answer questions about Alzheimer’s, other types of dementia and more. For more information on local resources, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Elder Helpline is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-963-5337.We’re all on this journey together!
Sue Ryan, Naples
Protect women's rights
DeSantis is helping Floridians with toll relief. Florida needs toll relief as Floridians flee the state in search of governors who protect women’s reproductive rights rather than a governor who acknowledges and recognizes an abortion right but limits that right to the first six weeks of pregnancy.
We can bring folks back to Florida with a constitutional amendment allowing women choices over their bodies.It is time for women to stand up for their rights − not just the right to choose, but birth control rights too.As their next step, the religious right has an eye on the Comstock Act as a vehicle for eliminating contraception as an option.
Sally Lam, Naples