Road construction done right
In a time when road construction often leads to frustration and complaints, it is refreshing to experience a project that is being done right. As someone who regularly travels Daniels Parkway, I have witnessed firsthand the progress and professionalism of the crews working on this major roadway improvement.Like many drivers, I initially expected delays, confusion, and disruption. Instead, I found clearly marked barriers, well-planned detours, and thoughtfully designed access points that made navigating the area far easier than anticipated. On more than one occasion, I noticed how seamlessly traffic was redirected, allowing me, and many others, to continue our daily routines with minimal interruption.What stands out just as much is the pride these crews take in their work. At the end of each day, the areas are left clean, organized and safe. There is a clear sense of accountability, not just to the project, but to the communities that depend on this roadway. Even more impressive is the consistent progress being made, suggesting a strong commitment to staying on schedule.Too often, we are quick to point out what is going wrong, but slow to acknowledge when things are done well. The workers on Daniels Parkway deserve recognition. Their professionalism, efficiency, and attention to detail set a standard that should be appreciated and, frankly, expected in all infrastructure projects.Thank you to the crews for a job exceptionally well done.
Josephine Carter, Fort Myers
We are indebted to Donna Fiala
East Naples just lost one of its most valuable citizens, Donna Fiala. Did you know that when you drive over the bridge to Marco and you admire the view, that that is because Donna insisted on a change in the design from a solid concrete siding. That beautiful big American flag as you enter Marco Island is also her gift to us. Enjoy the streetlights on 41? Donna fought for those, too. Don’t smell anything bad from the landfill? Donna tackled that problem early in her tenure as East Naples commissioner.
The East Naples Park, known as Donna Fiala Park, has a pool that can be used for exercise classes because she cared enough to get public input.
We are indebted to Donna for so many things she accomplished in those 20 years that she dedicated to East Naples. She was an exemplary commissioner and her legacy will live on.
Sally Lam, Naples
Biking and pedestrian safety
Residents and visitors to Marco Island often enhance their experience by biking along our streets and shared use pathways. Most of these are casual bikers and as such are forgetful of or mostly unaware of their responsibility for pedestrian safety as they pass by. Common decency, common sense, and Florida and Marco Island law require the operator of a bike, e-bike, or skateboard to give an audible alert and yield to pedestrians.
For many of our senior pedestrians, a fall or impact is life threatening because they are on blood thinning and/or anti-platelet medications for coronary health. A call to 911 and treatment in an ER is mandatory.
We have established a pro-bono organization to initiate a Public Awareness and Education Program: Walk Bike Run Safely Marco Island (WBRSMI). This website presents a great deal of information including video clips demonstrating the problem, stories about hazardous encounters, technical data, legal aspects, as well as biking-related resources. There are posters, handout cards, and a cartoon image that can be downloaded and printed for display. There is also a complete list of the Marco Island entities that are included in the WBRSMI Public Awareness and Education Program. The website is: https://walkbikerunsafelymarcoisland.org/
Joe Rocchio, Marco Island
Gerrymandered district maps
Did our state elected officials uphold their oath of office? When our state senators and representatives took their oath of office, they swore they would support, protect, and defend the Constitution and government of the United States and of the State of Florida. Partisan gerrymandering is illegal in Florida. Section 20 of the Florida Constitution states, “In establishing congressional district boundaries, no apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.”
So the 21 senators and 83 representatives who voted for DeSantis’ new gerrymandered district maps were voting in direct conflict with the mandate in the Constitution.
This November, every House Representative is up for re-election plus half of the Senate. I invite you to join me in refusing to vote for any elected official who voted yes in defiance of the state Constitution. Before you mark your November ballot, check how your representatives voted: House individual votes. In the Senate, all 21 Republicans voted yes.
We deserve better, but we’ll get what we vote for.
Laura Hansen Reynolds, Naples
Respect checks and balances
In Collier County, many of us care about low taxes, safe communities, and stable, predictable government. Recent national policies delivered some of that — but the way power is being centralized in the presidency has gone too far, and in the coming midterms we should think carefully before giving automatic support to candidates who promise to be rubber stamps.The concern is less about any one policy and more about how they are being carried out. The current governing blueprint envisions replacing many career professionals with political loyalists and bringing law‑enforcement and regulatory agencies into much closer alignment with the personal priorities of the president. That might feel effective in the short term, but any tools created now will be available to future presidents of either party.We have also seen a growing reliance on executive orders and administrative directives to make major changes on immigration, federal agencies, and cultural questions, rather than using the legislative process. That may be faster, but it leaves the country more polarized and our institutions fragile.Collier is a growing, educated coastal community where residents understand long‑term risk. Instead of rewarding candidates who campaign on absolute allegiance to any president, voters can look for those — of any party — who respect checks and balances and are willing to say no when a president oversteps.A midterm course correction is not an act of partisanship. It is a way for citizens to insist that our Constitution, our institutions, and our community’s future matter more than any one leader or agenda.
Paul Howard, Naples
Hypocrisy from DeSantis
The story about DeSantis signing a bill targeting unions shows how much of a hypocrite he is. He says that unions use their funds for political purposes. What about the $10 million he appropriated from the disaster relief funds to use in his campaign against the 2024 ballot question to legalize marijuana? That was outright unethical if not illegal. The public support meant nothing to him and that’s been his record for the last 8 years.
Hope Holleran, Fort Myers
Free speech vs. hate speech
Free speech is creative, offers us hope and seeks solutions. Hate speech is destructive, creates chaos and offers no solutions. Shame, especially on Congress members, who choose to spew hate speech instead of trying to work together. Do not vote for these men and women whom we sent to Washington to improve our lives, not destroy them.
Marian Lauck, Naples
University funding
Rick Scott, why are you sponsoring a bill (the Defending American Research Act) to ban federal funding for universities with branch campuses in adversarial nations or accepting their research money and bar such institutions from federal research funding for five years if they take money from countries including Qatar at the same time that the State Department has approved sales including Patriot missiles to Qatar? Why would we sell Patriot missiles to an adversarial nation that American universities are punished for having branch campuses in or accepting research money from?
Jean Chandler, Fort Myers
Misleading tax data
A recent letter to the editor distorted the tax debate by confusing wealth with income. Citing a 2021 ProPublica report, the writer claimed certain billionaires paid tax rates of about 1%. That figure isn’t just misleading, it’s based on a comparison no ordinary taxpayer would recognize.
Those numbers divide taxes paid by increases in wealth, not by taxable income. By that standard, any Naples homeowner whose property rose in value could claim to pay almost nothing in taxes. But we don’t tax unrealized gains, and we don’t calculate tax rates that way for anyone else.
Using the same ProPublica data, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Michael Bloomberg paid a combined $1.29 billion in federal income taxes from 2014 to 2018, about 28% of their income. That’s the apples-to-apples comparison, and it tells a very different story.
There are roughly 160 million income tax filers in the United States. These three individuals alone paid more in federal income taxes than tens of millions of Americans combined. More broadly, the top 1% of taxpayers shoulder a disproportionately large share of total income taxes while paying significantly higher average rates than lower-income groups.
We can debate what constitutes a “fair share.” but redefining income to include unrealized gains only when it suits the argument doesn’t inform the debate; it distorts it. Facts matter, especially when they’re used to shape public opinion.
Jerry Solomon, Naples
Celebrating Nurses Week
As we celebrate Nurses Week 2026 (May 6-12) we need to take this opportunity to recognize and honor the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and skill of nurses in our community and across the nation. Nursing is not only a highly respected, trusted profession, but nurses clearly are the backbone of our health care systems. They provide comfort, healing, and expert care in hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, and countless other settings.Their tireless commitment, especially in the face of ongoing challenges, deserves our deepest gratitude and respect.It is important for all of us to acknowledge the sacrifices nurses make daily including long working hours, sometimes in difficult conditions, but always with a focus on the well-being of others. Nurses are advocates, educators, and leaders who make a lasting difference in the lives they touch.During Nurses Week, I encourage everyone in our community to thank a nurse, share a word of appreciation, or simply recognize the impact they have had on our lives. Let us continue to support, invest in, and uplift the nursing profession, ensuring that nurses receive the recognition, resources, and respect they truly deserve.To all nurses, thank you for your unwavering dedication and for truly being the heart of health care. You inspire us all!
Arlene Wright, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, LNC, Fort Myers
Address gun violence
I was waiting to see how quickly there would be a letter regarding the Ballroom that our current president insists we need. Thank heavens there was no one injured during the correspondents dinner. A terrible tragedy was averted due to security that was there.
Gun violence seems to be a way of life. I do find it interesting that we are hearing many comments about the president, and all of the staff that was there. There was terror from those who witnessed this awful scene. What I have not heard, is how the impact of shootings at schools around the country has impacted the lives of our children and what we need to do to protect our most vulnerable who will live with their terror for the rest of their lives. Let’s work on getting gun laws that work, and guns out of the hands of the criminals or those with mental issues. I am not interested in having a ballroom for the current president, who thinks that is the best solution so he can be in a safe environment. This is the first time he has even agreed to participate in this event. He is important, but so are all of those who have been victims of gun violence. He and his staff now know what it feels like to be terrorized. We should all feel safe and not have to believe we belong in a gilded ballroom.
Barbara Herstig, Naples
No to the ballroom
Americans have shown in every poll a total disregard for the White House Ballroom!
First as seen last week you don’t have a large event in a working hotel with doors hotel open to the public and lax security. Second this event would never be in any White House ballroom as sponsored by a neutral organization. Third, all state dinners have been held in the East Room hosting 200 people with no problem. Fourth, how many events a year would host 900 people? Fifth the taxpayers will pay yearly for staffing, maintenance and the lavish dinners! Sixth the entire White House complex is owned by the people and us overseen by the government not an ego driven autocratic president.
As companies constantly raise commodity prices and energy gas and oil from the useless war in Iran where is any benefit for the average consumer? If a gigantic seldom used ballroom is your answer you must have fallen off a tuna truck.
Glenn Mueller, Naples
Happy talk not working
One of the contributing factors causing Hitler to lose the support of the German people in WWII was propaganda fatigue. Likewise, the happy talk coming out of Mr. Trump, his political eunuchs and state media seems not to be working in the face of Mr. Trump having started an ill-conceived real war that, as wars do, refuses to adhere to Mr. Trump’s standard administration reality TV show script approach in which Mr. Trump creates a crisis and proclaims how he resolved it and emerges in all his glory as the hero in all things MAGA. How many times have we been told the war will be over in a few days or weeks as if the Iranians have no vote? Happy talk is not working when voters fill up with gas or buy groceries knowing that the high price of both is directly related to Mr. Trump’s not so well-planned war of choice. Happy talk is not working when the Fox (you can’t handle the truth) network, and other right-wing media “Trumpsplain” daily to convince it’s audience how Mr. Trump did not really contradict himself and show significant cognizant decline when he rambles about how the war is terminated or that he could walk away today and declare victory and in the same sentence says the country is not at war with Iran while missiles fly toward our troops and then pivots to talking about how beautiful his ballroom will be and showing replicas of the Trump Arc de Triomphe which will cast a shadow over the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery if built. Anybody else confused? And please, for all those MAGA writers to this paper who insist on repeating the Trump propaganda mantra of how respected the United States is around the world now that Mr. Trump is president when Mr. Trump cannot get our closest allies to rescue him from the mess he has created after not consulting with them and constantly denigrating them even as he demands their assistance, please spare us all that particular piece of happy talk. Mr. Trump is a laughingstock around the world, albeit a dangerous one. Fortunately, most of our friends and allies still separate Mr. Trump out from the average American (MAGA excluded), for now.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
Marginalization of women
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was almost certain I heard a talking head on the tube say that our current administration was targeting academic and scientific studies for funding cuts if the word “women” appeared in the title. “No,” I thought, “That’s too blatantly anti-female even for Trump and his minions.” I knew that The Donald had been a self-identified misogynist for decades, but it never occurred to me that he would incur the political risk of this kind of out-front marginalization of women.So, as one does these days, I turned to Internet University, and guess what? Funding for the above mentioned studies actually has been cut by 31% as of early 2026. I had to try to reconcile that with another fact: Many, many American women voted for Trump in ’24 and still support him to this day. This all seemed so counterintuitive. How could any woman remain steadfast in support of a man whose policies are so clearly inimical to her interests? And I had to ask myself … why?
Geremy Spampinato, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Daniels project is road construction done right | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
