Lee School Board
The Lee County School Board meeting Tuesday October 7 was packed with citizens wanting their voices heard, including football players from Cape Coral High. They want their fired coach back. Not likely with this board.
There was a group outside the building with signs supporting free speech and opposing more firings, of three teachers this time. There is a “We’re Hiring!” sign in the front parking area. The schools’ website shows teacher vacancies at 30. Yet the superintendent decided to make that vacancy go up to 33. The teachers have been fired per policy (not official until the process is complete but they are not in school) for posting negative comments about Charlie Kirk on their private social media pages, on their own time.
You might think this is a violation of the teachers’ free speech and many would agree. Others argue that the teachers’ posts were hate speech. But if you knew of Charlie Kirk before his assassination (many didn’t) by a single shooter who is quoted as saying he killed him to stop the hate, then you know Charlie Kirk is hardly someone who should have roads named after him.
Then the resolution to support dropping vaccine requirements for students, snuggling up to the current brain-worm direction against vaccines was passed 6 – 1 even though three board members took exception to the resolution being made at the school board level. Because….. vaccines cause adults.
No wonder Lee County Schools are short 30, now 33, teachers and one football coach. Teacher retention and morale are very low, as are their salaries. These actions will not help recruitment. And the children suffer from overcrowded classes.
And finally, the board congratulated themselves on being civil to each other. Not at all like previous board. Well, all righty then.
Denise Kirk, Cape Coral
Bill wrong on several levels
I strongly oppose Florida House Bill 113, which would force every state college and university to rename a roadway after conservative activist Charlie Kirk — or risk losing state funding.
This bill is wrong on several levels. First, it represents government overreach. Decisions about campus naming should be made locally, not by Tallahassee politicians. Second, it threatens academic freedom by compelling state institutions to promote a specific political figure. Our universities are meant to encourage open inquiry, not serve as platforms for political messaging.
Third, HB 113 sets a dangerous precedent. If the Legislature can mandate a tribute to one partisan activist today, what stops future lawmakers from imposing other politically motivated renamings? Public higher education should unite Floridians, not divide them along ideological lines.
Honoring individuals is fine when it grows from community consensus — not state coercion. Lawmakers should focus on improving education, affordability, and academic excellence, not symbolic culture-war gestures.
For these reasons, I urge our local delegation and the Florida Legislature to vote no on HB 113 and protect the independence of Florida’s universities.
Quentin Greeley, Naples
Protest street renaming bill
HB 113 was introduced to the Florida Legislature on October 7th. This bill requires state educational institutions to name a street in honor of Charlie Kirk. These are just some of Kirk’s published beliefs. I urge you to write to your legislator and protest this action.
At a Turning Point USA event in 2023, Kirk said he thinks gun deaths are “worth it” to have a Second Amendment. On his self-titled radio talk show, Kirk expressed his dislike of the word “empathy.” Appearing on Jubilee’s internet show “Surrounded,” Kirk insisted Black people were “better” in the 1940s under Jim Crow laws. The person he debated responded, “4,000 Black men, women, and children were killed in violent lynch mobs. Racial terror permeated American culture for hundreds of years. You don’t think that affected the generational psyche of an entire group of people?” On his radio show, Kirk not only said that Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Ketanji Brown Jackson are “affirmative action picks,” he also said certain Black women “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.” After Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, Kirk fantasized about Kelce making Swift “more conservative” and begged the pop star to “submit to her husband.”
Karen Aarons, Fort Myers
Heavy-handed bill
We should all be alarmed by Republican Rep. Kevin Steele’s bill that would require trustees of all 40 of Florida’s public institutions to rename roadways, or portions of roadways, in honor of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot and killed at a Utah college last month. This is patent bullying of trustees of 40 centers of higher education.
Regardless of the regard for the merits of Mr. Kirk’s contributions to public discourse by students, administrators and trustees, the heavy-handed bill deprives all of those vested interest persons any agency in the matter. It’s appalling and just not in the public’s interest. And it’s only the latest salvo in disrespecting the ability of faculty and administrators to exercise their good judgment and integrity.
Peter Johnson, Fort Myers
Rational consideration needed
When I heard, Fort Myers was considering changing the name of some street for a Charlie Kirk, I had to first learn who he was and why he is supposed to be so honored.
It’s one thing to rename a street block for a fallen police officer or even a street for an outstanding deceased local historical official such as Veronica Shoemaker but renaming an entire street goes far beyond the cost and effort to have signs made and installed.
It requires citizens to notify friends, relatives, businesses and organizations of address change along with businesses having the cost of reprinting letterheads and business cards and changing documents and registrations.
This proposal sounds like an expensive, inconvenient knee jerk for a purpose that needs more rational thought and consideration.
C. A. Farrington, South Fort Myers
Investigate funding
I noticed in today’s paper that there was a short article about the 20/20 conservation program. The News-Press should follow up on this with an investigative reporter to find out why the 40M is not completely funded. Also they can inquire about the 5% sales tax program that was placed on gasoline about 15 years ago and see just how that program is working for Lee County. A good report on how much money has been collected so far and how those funds were spent on various projects would help.
Jim McMenamy, Fort Myers
Vote no on recall election
I am asking for your support in voting NO on the reckless recall election scheduled for Tuesday November 4, 2025. This recall is nothing more than a political stunt built on baseless accusations. The organizers have not presented a shred of evidence to support their claims. They even went to court to block any proof from coming to light. If they had the truth on their side, they would not be hiding.
From the first day I joined the Council, I fought for the people of Fort Myers Beach. I made the motion to waive permit fees for residents rebuilding after Hurricane Ian. The previous Council refused to do that, but I pushed it through. That decision saved our neighbors real money when they needed it most. I have consistently voted to protect your wallet by opposing every attempt to raise property taxes.
After I was elected, I donated my entire first-year’s Council salary to local nonprofits. That was more than $15,000 that went directly to the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, the Fort Myers Beach Art Association, and FMB Strong. My wife, Chris, and her company contributed another $7,500 to those same organizations. We made those commitments even while we were displaced from our own home. To me, service to this community means action, not words.
I also serve as chair of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), vice president of the Southwest Florida League of Cities, and I was recently elected to the Florida League of Cities Board of Directors. I accepted these roles to make sure Fort Myers Beach has a strong and respected voice in every decision that affects us.
This recall is not about facts or leadership. It is about undermining honest public servants and hindering our recovery efforts. I will not back down from fighting for this community, and I know you will not either.
Here is how you can help: Vote NO on November 4 at Bay Oaks Recreation Center, 2731 Oak Street; Request a mail-in ballot by October 23 at lee.vote/Vote-by-mail; Talk with your family, friends, and neighbors to make sure they understand what is at stake.
Together, we will defeat this recall and keep Fort Myers Beach on the path to recovery, prosperity, andconservative leadership that prioritizes residents above all else.
Council Member John R. King, Fort Myers Beach
Open carry at Publix
Who wants guns with their gummy bears? Because both can now be on display at Publix. The policy to allow open carry in Publix stores is horrifying. It puts shoppers and staff at extreme risk. It certainly won’t make anyone feel safer, and could lead to bloody results if an armed robbery or assault were to take place. The chances aren’t so slim, as evidenced by shootings in stores and shopping malls countrywide. As a patron of Publix for two decades, I strongly object to this decision, especially when Publix has the legal right to ban firearms in its stores. The response that “Publix follows all state and federal laws” is unacceptable, especially when there is a more prudent, and permissible path. The right to bear arms does not supersede public safety and freedom from fear. I think I’ll be shopping elsewhere. How about you?
Gay Silberg, Naples
Object to gun policy
I just found out that Publix corporate office has told all their stores that they will be changing their policy on open carry guns in all their stores. Publix will now allow their customers to carry their guns in the open. I verified this with two Publix stores in Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. I spoke with the manager in charge at both of the stores and they verified that this was the new company policy.
Winn Dixie, Aldi’s, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS do not allow open carry in any of their stores. I immediately changed all my prescriptions to Walgreens. This is a very easy to do. I just called Walgreens pharmacy, gave them my name and birthday and the Publix phone number and they do the rest. They call Publix and all the info is transferred.
I will never shop at Publix again, unless they change their corporate policy on open carry guns in their stores.
John Mark Simon, Cape Coral
Nobel Peace Prize
How does one qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize when they terrorize their own countrymen? How do they qualify when they state they hate their adversaries and take vengeance on them?
How do they qualify when they threaten to slash all programs deemed Democrat interest? That means you’re at odds with 75 million Americans. An immense level of unrest towards those you were elected to serve.
It would be a mistake to award the prize to a man who is unable to make peace with his own countrymen.
Lorelei King, Fort Myers
American crisis
“The enemy within.” This has become a frequent cry of our current President Trump. This enemy is anyone who opposes him. He has followed this up by sending troops to American cities. This is serious and calls for a serious response.
Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois has taken the lead role against this domestic attack of Trump’s use of the military in his state and recently declared: “We’re the targets. We need to be strong, we need to fight back.”
The stark lines of dissension and disagreement are deepening between friends and loved ones as this American crisis quickly expands. These divisions are real and the consequences are dangerous. Many of us on the left see Trump’s authoritarian government to have taken control with the open support of his base and the reticent acceptance by the Supreme Court, Republican Congress, leading universities, law firms and major corporations.
The democracy we were taught to believe in and defend is clearly threatened. Throughout my life I’ve heard Americans applaud our military veterans for their “service” in saving American freedom and democracy. During these remaining years of the Trump administration, it looks like it will be left to us citizens who believe in the civic lessons we were taught to be the ones to save this country.
Federal troops in our cities and an authoritarian president are anti-American and must be stopped. We don’t want an American version of China’s Tiananmen Square or our own Kent State repeated. Let’s hope it’s done through peaceful resistance.
Louis Erickson, Naples
Revenge, weaponizing
Let me see if I get this straight. A Democrat runs for the office of attorney general and her platform is that she will do whatever it takes to get Trump. That is not, apparently, revenge or weaponizing the justice system. However, when that same person is indicted for mortgage fraud, it is a clear case of revenge and weaponizing the justice system. I wonder why that is?
Ron Wobbeking, Naples
Non-answer is the answer
Senator to Pam Bondi: “There has been public reporting that Jeffrey Epstein showed people photos of President Trump with half-naked young women. Do you know if the FBI found those photos in their search of Jeffrey Epstein’s safe or premises or otherwise?” Response from Pam Bondi: “You sit here and make salacious remarks once again trying to slander President Trump left and right.” It was a gimme question requiring a simple yes or no that was met with a non-answer that spoke volumes. The thing about a lie is that one must tell another lie to cover for the first one. While it is true as Mark Twain once said that a lie can travel half-way around the world before the truth can lace up its shoes, left unsaid is that truth will eventually overtake the lies, requiring full accounting and consequences for the liar. None of us have enough time left on this earth to sit through a full accounting and see accountability for the voluminous number of the lies from Mr. Trump, MAGA and the rightwing media propaganda machines that support them, but right now, I will settle for a full release of the Epstein files. That would be a good start, given the gargantuan effort by Republicans to prevent the release of an investigation of a convicted pedophile.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
Silencing dissent
President Trump’s recent memorandum declaring “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization is not about public safety — it’s about silencing dissent. Let’s be clear: No formal organization called “Antifa” exists. The term simply means “anti-fascist.” It describes people who oppose fascism — the same ideology Americans fought against in World War II.
By labeling anti-fascists as “terrorists,” Trump’s memo says the quiet part out loud: he wants to normalize fascism itself. When a government begins branding those who resist authoritarianism as enemies of the state, it’s no longer defending democracy, it’s dismantling it.
The memorandum’s vague language gives sweeping authority to target political opponents, community groups, and nonprofits under the guise of “countering extremism.” This is a page right out of the authoritarian playbook, using fear and false labels to justify repression.
America’s strength has always come from debate, protest, and the courage to speak truth to power. Equating anti-fascism with terrorism inverts the very values our nation was built on: liberty, justice, and resistance to tyranny.
Trump’s order isn’t about stopping violence; it’s about stopping opposition. And that’s exactly what fascist regimes do.
True patriots don’t stay silent while democracy is being redefined. We must speak up loudly for the American values this memorandum threatens to erase.
June Sanson, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, October 11, 2025
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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