Letters to the editor for Saturday, September 10, 2022 – News-Press
Are Florida sheriffs violating Hatch Act?
It must be nice to be another above-the-law Republican in a Republican state.
The 1939 Hatch act is intended to prevent public officials from becoming involved in elections. So why are pro-DeSantis commercials and anti-Demings ads green with mostly old, overweight guys flaunting Florida sheriff’s uniforms praising or damning the candidates? The Hatch Act is supposed to carry penalties for public servants who disregard the edict.
Should we credit Lee County’s former sheriff, Mike Scott, for annulling the Hatch Act in Red Florida? Lawless was the order of day in 2008 when, in shiny badge and full-dress uniform, Scott spoke to a crowd of 9,000 at a Republican rally for Sarah Palin.
The deputy chief of the Hatch Act Unit said the U.S. office of Special Counsel said Scott did, indeed, violate the Act but closed the case when she thought the federal board might not rule in the counsel’s favor.
The Florida Commission of Ethics declined investigation and locals questioning whether Scott violated the county code of ethics were quashed because, although locally elected, sheriffs answer to the governor.
C. A. Farrington, South Fort Myers
Fire district proposed budget questioned
The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District (GNFD) is proposing a budget of almost $55,000,000.
The Board of Fire Commissioners (B of FC) approved the fire chief’s draft budget in August 2022 with a windfall of almost $6,000,000 in increased revenues, but also are using $2,500,000 from cash reserves. This does not include identified major capital repairs.
The GNFD B of FC chose to move ahead with deficit spending based on the fire chief’s budget request. Then the B of FC gave the fire chief a 4 percent raise. He wanted an 8 percent raise.
The GNFD will claim they do not have enough money and are setting the taxpayer up for a tax increase. In the GNFD strategic plan the B of FC support coming to the taxpayer for a tax increase.
A $8,700,000 increase and no additional boots on the ground to serve you. The budget this year was a great opportunity to fix the infrastructure needs of the GNFD.
Then GNFD is comprised of East Naples, Golden Gate, Estates, Port of the Islands, Everglades City, Ochopee, Isles of Capri, etc.
On Tuesday September 13, 2022, at 5:05 p.m. the B of FC will spend 25 minutes at the first budget hearing on a $55,000,000 budget. This is in addition to your county and school board taxes.
When does it stop? The B of FC need to start asking some tough questions of the fire chief and giving him clear direction.
Ellen Mason, Naples
Vote Kathy Fanny for Lee schools
We are fortunate to have Kathy Fanny running for Lee County School Board in District 1. She is highly educated and has spent her 38-year career in education, from being an elementary level reading specialist in Title 1 schools to teaching gifted high schoolers in a public school for the arts.
Ms. Fanny is exactly what Cape Coral needs. Our school district is 100 percent Title I schools. They are entitled to additional federal funding if they follow federal, state, and local mandates. Kathy Fanny knows how to get every resource our students deserve.
Professional educators know Kathy Fanny is right for the job. The teachers union (TALC) and the public school support staff union (SPLAC) have both endorsed her.
Vote for the best. Vote Kathy Fanny.
Gabriele Spuckes, Cape Coral
Questions for MAGA Republican
This is in response to “I am a MAGA Republican.” I would like to ask him some questions:
Do you believe the lies that the ex-president claims regarding the 2020 election?
If yes, you are a threat to this country.
Did you support the insurrection on Jan. 6?
If yes, you are a threat to this country.
Do you think the ex-president was within his legal rights to take classified, TS-SCI, and nuclear intelligence to his country club home? And lie to the DOJ and NARA about it?
If yes, you are a threat to this country.
I am a proud American and I love this country.
I hope you do too.
Priscilla See, Naples
Agree 100 percent with MAGA Republican
I would like to comment on Michael Mainelli’s, Estero letter on Sept. 7 (I am a MAGA Republican). He covered all the bases! I agree with him 100 percent. It would be great if you would reprint it very day!
Jackie Hall, Estero
Women must vote
In the upcoming elections, women and men who support women’s rights could make the difference between continuing on the path of divisiveness or providing a journey to a kinder, civil culture. We would do well to remember that white women were granted the right to vote just over 100 years ago and it took more years of struggle to make this right available to all women. Now, that may seem like a long time if you are in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, but over that, your grandmother or mother was likely born before women’s suffrage and remembered it was a big deal. Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back though. Exit polls show that women do turn out to vote, but this year it’s going to take all of us. Among other important issues that impact us and future generations of girls, the ability to make choices about our health care is on the ballot. Take a look around at who’s running the show, what they say, what they do. Are they representing you? Are they supporting you or do they believe they know better? Do they vote as though you are capable of deciding important life-changing things for yourself or not? Having choices allows us to be who we are, protects the right for each of us to act based on our values and beliefs. The people we put into office will be making decisions about our freedom. Our vote is our voice. It is the essence of our democracy. We could help save it.
Susan Kaercher Meyers, Naples
Republican women: Save democracy
There are at least four good reasons why Republican women should vote Democrat this fall. Number one is climate change: Mother Earth beckons you to save your children and your grandchildren from pain, suffering and extinction. Number two is Roe versus Wade: women’s rights are quickly deteriorating — birth control is next; those rights need to be clearly carved in stone and be made permanent. Number three is gun control: at the very least background checks and no assault weapons; innocent lives of grandchildren are at stake. Number four is white male supremacy: If we revert to their standards, racism, sexism and avarice will prevail defying our democracy.
Republican women, be a little selfish and do something for yourself for a change. A change which will save the rights of American women and help save our American Democracy. First be a WOMAN, then be a Republican: Women with rights come first, then the party. Vote Democrat.
Vote Byron Donalds out by voting for Cindy Banyai who will bring the rights of Florida women back before all is lost. Vote DeSantis out and vote for Charlie Crist who can make polarization a phenomenon of the past. Vote for Val Demings who will sustain women’s rights and who recognizes the science of climate change while Rubio buries his head in Florida sands as the sea moves inland on Florida from the Atlantic and from the Gulf.
Sally Lam, Naples
Send DeSantis on his way
Thank you, Gov DeSantis, for keeping Florida free and open. Thank you for showing us what that cost: 80,000 dead Floridians and one of the highest infection rates in the U.S. Thank you for showing us who you are; Floridians are just collateral damage to your personal agenda to climb the political ladder. Voters should turn you out of office now so you can spend your time seeking a path world domination in 2024.
Suzann Smith, Cape Coral
Rubio’s disqualifying comments
Sen. Marco Rubio is up for re-election this November. Over the years I have heard him espouse how important intelligence is for our national security. He is the senior ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is always talking about the Latin American countries, about China, about Russia, about North Korea and how important our intel people are in those regions. He talks about liberations for Cuba and other countries. He talks the talk but he does NOT walk the talk. In the last few weeks he has made several comments about the recent search at the Trump Florida home for documents related to national security and nuclear information. First, ”this is what third world countries do.” Next up “a fight over storage of documents.” Next up, when interviewed on Fox News with Steve Doocy, Steve says, “That doesn’t seem like something you should have in your post-presidential drawer,” and Rubio’s says, “All this information is coming from one side and one place… who are the sources with knowledge of the investigation? The FBI and Justice Department.” (Previous comments: ”We’re about to turn over the nuclear codes to an erratic individual, Trump”) So the questions is, who is it that we can trust, Rubio? Please tell me, the DOJ or the erratic, chaotic, con artist who kept top secret and nuclear secrets in a drawer in his unsecured office and a basement in a country club? I certainly do not trust you, Rubio, with any intel info because you sound like it’s OK to store those kind of documents in an unsecured beach house in Palm Beach.
Beth Summer, Naples
DeSantis looking past Florida
The only time I hear of Gov. DeSantis is after he dictates yet another policy that most Floridians don’t support. He spends much of his time traveling to endorse/support election denier candidates who could control state elections. Clearly, his goal is to ensure that the will of the people can be defeated if enough states overturn valid election results, as MAGA attempted in 2020. Since he is already running for president in 2024, his personal nationwide exposure is enhanced with these donor-paid junkets.
Get used to it.
Meanwhile, who is running the state of Florida — the ghost lieutenant governor who was chosen strictly to “balance the ticket”? I’m more interested in good governance.
If DeSantis is re-elected on Nov. 8, his candidacy for president will unofficially launch the next day. Don’t expect him to pay much attention to us Florida voters and our problems because his lieutenant governor (who?) will become governor for the last two years.
It’s unlikely that he will follow the lead of Charlie Crist who just resigned the U.S. Congress acknowledging that his own campaign for governor will prevent him from fully representing his Tampa area constituents. Christ’s resignation allows the voters to choose the most qualified candidate to fill his role in D.C. while he focuses on a tough election fight.
If my assumptions are correct, we better elect a governor who wants the job for all the right reasons, not just as a steppingstone to the White House.
Cliff Welles, Bonita Springs
Restore powers to the states
In his 1996 State of the Union speech, President Clinton said the “Era of big government is over.” He got a polite response. Clinton worked with Speaker Gingrich to reduce government and submitted balanced budgets. The Biden administration isn’t emulating Clinton/Gingrich’s fiscal austerity. Instead, they’re infringing on individual freedoms with bigger bureaucracies, increased regulations and reducing states’ ability to govern.
In a 1932 decision, Justice Brandeis thought states should serve as “laboratories” of democracy, try different approaches and chart their own course. The Foundation of Government Accountability (FGA), based in Florida, is an organization working to restore power back to the states and develop policies to counter Washington’s “Great Reset” focus of federal government control. For example, to help tame inflation, FGA is educating state and federal lawmakers how both Florida and Wisconsin require state bureaucrats to obtain legislative approval if proposed regulations, often influenced by federal policy, exceed a cost threshold. This reform restores proper constitutional authority to the Legislature and provides a way to push back on bureaucratic oversteps and overspending.
The Biden administration suspended work requirements, then increased welfare benefits, without congressional approval, making it difficult for states to encourage work and fill open jobs. FGA helped Kansas find a solution where abled-bodied adults, without dependents, are required to participate in a state employment and training program to receive welfare benefits. We need more policies like those proposed by FGA to restore power back to the states and lessen Washington’s influence over our lives.
Frank Mazur, Fort Myers
Blaming Biden a political distraction
Inflation was a perfect storm NOT of Biden’s making but he is in our corner.
Today’s inflation is the result of a powerful convergence of factors which cannot easily be controlled.
The COVID-induced global economic shutdown accelerated several long-term trends which led to the current supply-side shocks and the consequent return of inflation. Central banks offered extraordinary amounts of monetary stimulus to support economies during the COVID pandemic, making some mistakes in timing.
Then, increased energy demand coincided with an adjustment to cleaner energy sources. The global move to renewables requires an enormous amount of transition investment which leads to a persistent inflation.
In addition, the war in Ukraine and its consequent sanctions have led to shortages of oil, gas and grain bringing greater inflationary pressures.
Another trend seen during COVID is the undoing of globalization which is causing supply bottlenecks and undoing interdependent supply chains. The demise of Brexit and strained trade relations with China add to this inflation drama.
Changes in the workplace because of the pandemic are also feeding inflation with the pressure of higher wage demands. As the cost of living increases while wages stay low, we will see higher wage demands as employers struggle to attract workers. Moreover populations are aging, and retirees are not being replaced. Our education system has been dummied down leading to a lack of qualified entrants into the labor market. The demand for workers will outstrip the supply, driving up prices.
The question is: Is Joe Biden responsible for these factors ? No. He fought hard against COVID in spite of being hindered by lawmakers in Congress, in red states and by Trump appointed judges. COVID, not Biden, was the major cause of supply-side shocks. Blaming Biden is a political distraction, but Biden is in our corner working us into a solution.
Joe Haack, Naples
Vote for truth and sanity
DeSantis’ new spin on education is wrapped in half truths and fear that your child may hear the word “gay” or, even worse, understand bigotry. His new “Civics” curriculum is really about indoctrinating our kids to believe the founding fathers wanted religion in public life, that America is ALWAYS right, that slavery was a minor issue! Heaven forbid he talk about guns, his income from lobbyists might stop! He should wear name tags showing who owns him, because he is not working for us!
Democrats statistically do not have as high a voter turnout as Republicans. This lack of participation is why we are here today losing our rights as women, gays, voters, people of color, vets, middle class and especially the poor. All elections matter, especially the school board! Vote Kathy Fanny for Lee school board, why? She knows what has been happening in our schools with her 30+ years of experience and she wants them fixed so real teachers can return to teaching. They left in droves because they are fed up with all the insanity. Critical Race Theory has been around since the ’70s and never been taught anywhere but graduate school. Elementary teachers are not sexual predators “grooming” children. Gay and transgender students are real and deserve the same education, consideration and respect as any other student.
Vote for truth! Vote for sanity!
Denise Healey, Bokeelia