Renaming road for Trump a travesty
As a constituent living in Fort Myers, I am struggling to understand exactly what we are “honoring” by renaming Palm Beach Boulevard after Donald Trump. This man was found liable for sexual abuse with 34 felony convictions whose name appears multiple times in the Epstein files. He has abused the presidential pardon power to exonerate the January 6th insurrectionists, five of whom have now been sent back to prison for the sexual exploitation of children. According to an article in the Police Executive Research Forum, over 140 police officers were injured by 600 insurrectionists who were charged with the felony of assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Trump also circumvented Congress to start a war in Iran that has destabilized global economies and caused thousands of deaths, including 260 innocent schoolgirls. When the pope called for peace, Trump insulted him, posting an image of himself as Jesus.
How much of our money is being wasted to flatter this man at a time when many Floridians cannot afford the rising cost of gas and housing? What happened to the checks he promised us from the billions in waste, fraud and abuse DOGE supposedly saved us? What happened to the checks he promised us from the money we supposedly saved from his tariffs? Taxpayers are already paying for Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted child sex trafficker, to do Pilates and pet puppies, and now we are being asked to pay to “honor” the man who wished her well? This is a travesty.
Wendy Chase, Fort Myers
Water park incompatible
When I first heard of the Naples Grande Waterpark, I assumed it was a joke, or at least a red herring. Perhaps their real intention was to replace two courts with a pool? But no, these absentee venture capital firms actually intend to erect 25-foot-high slides, a bar, pools and speakers! This monstrosity is incompatible with all of its surrounding quiet, upscale neighborhoods. If half of local residents are part-time, then half are full-time. Regardless, all taxpaying citizens deserve to be protected from this joke!
William Saunders, Naples
City of Palms Park demolition
Good afternoon Mayor Anderson and City Council members – I understand that you have halted demolition of the City of Palms Park because there may be some historical artifacts that should be saved. I applaud you for this. And many thanks to the sharp-eyed persons who recognized this.
While this is all good, the behavior of the City of Fort Myers in actions leading up to this point has been abominable. How could you possibly have approved the selection of a contract with a company with such a conflict of interest. While the fact that he even bid on the project casts doubt on his ethics, your action in even allowing this company to bid places a huge cloud over whether or not you have any ethical standards.
Compound this with the fact that you selected a company with a track record of illegal TOXIC dumping.
It would be great if you would take this opportunity to cancel the contract with Honc, stop bellying up to another politician, and act responsibly on behalf of your constituents as you swore an oath to.
Norman Cannon, Fort Myers
Trump vs. Pope Leo
The war of words between President Trump and Pope Leo is right out of the authoritarian playbook. It’s not the first time that the president has dissed the head of the Vatican. During his first run for president in 2016, he got into a tiff with Pope Francis, who criticized his stance in building a wall along the southern border and harsh anti-immigration remarks. Candidate Trump responded by calling the Pontiff “disgraceful” and a “political pawn” of Mexico.
But he’s not the first or only authoritarian to take on the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion-plus Catholics. In the 1920’s, the Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, the model for the rising Nazi movement headed by Adolf Hitler in Germany, kept the Pontiff at the time, Pius XI, at bay by promising he would not tamper with the Vatican if the Pope would look away from the regime’s improprieties. His successor, Pius XII, drew criticism for his passivity in refusing to take a stand against Hitler’s Holocaust. After World War II, another totalitarian, Russia’s Joseph Stalin, reflected his disdain for the potential of Pius speaking out against Soviet Communist hegemony spreading through Eastern Europe when he bemused “How many divisions does he have,” referring to military units.
Given this history, it’s hardly surprising that President Trump has no misgivings about going toe-to-toe with the Pope, as long as he’s not a MAGA adherent like his brother.
Marshall H. Tanick, Naples
Refreshing tidal wave coming
Must this all be about only who can raise the most big, dirty money? I’m an active progressive voter/donor who still loves a strong two-party system of reasonably moderate, knowledgeable electors. I don’t need billionaires or their misguided PACs flooding the web and airwaves with BS and grossly negative lies about candidates who are running legitimate campaigns to see how their ideas and policy principles fly with the voting public. That is exactly how our Founders intended it to be.
Since the horribly misguided Citizens v United decision, it’s all about who can flood the campaigns with dark money heaping dirt on each other, the Dems with far more supporters of modest means, and the GOP with a few mega-doners who have unlimited funds to buy Trump favors and congressional support for their next big, polluting, profitable business deals. The president and his top lackeys are bullies willing to blackmail universities, businesses and top government agencies like DOJ/FBI/DNI to make themselves and their families fabulously wealthy while cutting taxes for the obscenely rich. It is sheer bribery.
Can we all not step back from the tsunami of malicious political pandering and ask the real questions? What needs changing today? How do we get the economy, the military, and justice back on track to support real, hard-working, taxpaying Americans? How do we reinstitute a fair immigrant program and fix the unconstitutional and needlessly cruel ICE “enforcement” to help grow the country with the same talent and work ethic of most immigrants before 2016? How do we reverse disastrous trends in funding cuts for science, health, education and other social programs? How do we rebuild trust with our former allies, built over hundreds of years and completely “obliterated” in a few months? How do we extricate our country from a stupid, aimless, illegal war in the Middle East, with the least pain for us and the world?
How? We keep on top of the facts, not misinformation from Trump or social media; we support strong, young candidates from either party with great ideas; and we listen to and question the new, astute, independent media emerging today. No more CNN or Fox. And, of course, we VOTE! And we make sure our friends and family vote, too, both in November and in 2028.I smell a refreshing tidal wave coming ashore. Ahhh…
Cliff Welles, Bonita Springs
Price of gas
I researched how, if we have all the oil we need and we are exporting oil, is our price of gas high and rising? The answer was oil is a global commodity. I don’t care or accept that. I thought President Trump was against globalization of markets. Our oil companies could simply charge our refineries a lower price per barrel of oil or kept it at what it was before this war with Iran started. Imagine the boost to President Trumps popularity. Imagine the affordability of everything for us.
John Piccolo, Estero
Make America really great again
Before the current administration America was great. People were able to purchase groceries, gas for cars, and health care was more affordable. Government did not have frequent shutdowns making life difficult. Our allies were treated with respect and were willing to work with us. Members of Congress negotiated like mature adults. Our current immature president should not attempt to put his name on every building when he has not earned that right. Previous presidents did not continue to complain about results of an election six years ago in which no fraud was found. The historic White House, the temporary home of the president, remained intact and was not partially destroyed. In the next election please remember make America great again by electing those candidates who will actually work for their constituents instead of continuing to be a do-nothing Congress. A sign at one of the No Kings events wisely said IKEA has better cabinets. One good thing done by the president was getting paychecks for TSA workers who were forced to work without pay. This voter does not plan to vote for any candidate endorsed by the current president.
Virginia Davidsaver, Fort Myers
Devoid of morality or civility
Many people are discussing both Swalwell and Gonzalez in a positive light for resigning. Nevertheless, this situation primarily benefits them. Both were on the verge of being expelled from Congress, leading them to resign instead. It is important to note the difference between resignation and expulsion. Resigning allows them to keep their congressional pension, whereas expulsion does not. In essence, both individuals engaged in common practice among politicians: they prioritized financial gain and exited the scene. When Democrats feel you are not useful anymore (Swalwell wasn’t doing well in the governor’s race) they cease to support them, they can quickly turn against you, if you no longer serve their interests in maintaining power. This behavior is quite typical; it revolves around power, devoid of morality or civility, and is pursued at any cost. The level of hypocrisy shown by both the Democrats and media is truly remarkable! When they held power, they could have disclosed the Epstein files but chose not to, also President Biden’s mental problems, also they could have advocated for victims of unlawful violence but refrained from doing so and they selectively choose their victims based on their own hypocrisy, often without even recognizing it. The level of arrogance and indifference towards the American voter and the well-being of the American people is surprising. Although it appears to be on members of both parties, it seems to be more rampant among Democrats.
A true criminal element is present within Congress. It is difficult to choose which is worse: the actions of many elected officials or their overt arrogance in carrying out such deeds in plain sight, whether it pertains to outright fraud or the misuse of funds. Congress needs to implement measures to correct this conduct. As the adage states, no individual is above the law, and there should be term limits in place.
Lou Walker, Cape Coral
Founder of Gladiolus Food Pantry
I’m writing in hopes that everyone in Lee County has some awareness of Miriam Ortiz, the founder, director, and soul of the Gladiolus Food Pantry. Last year the Pantry distributed over a million pounds of food to over 8,000 families (almost 22,000 Lee County residents of all ages). Miriam is the kind, humane, tireless force of nature who makes the Pantry the special place that it is. She fundraises, she networks, she advocates, she organizes and inspires the volunteers who are fortunate to work with her and her colleagues, and she makes every client feel welcomed, worthy, valued. Please consider contributing to the Gladiolus Food Pantry, so that Miriam’s ultimate goal can be realized − until all are fed.
Tim Hatfield, Fort Myers
Holocaust survivor
My mother was the youngest of eight children, seven girls, one boy. Grandpa’s discipline method was simple: an icy stare, no harsh words. His method of teaching the girls lifetime skills was simple as well. A haberdasher himself, he sent each girl to work at a neighborhood store to learn every aspect of retail business.
The oldest sister, Mary, who preferred the name Mitzi, turned out to be his best pupil. At 22 she apparently answered an ad for a nanny. She packed her suitcase and bought a ticket on the German steamer Hamburg, bound for New York. I found a picture of the ship on line and a copy of her ship ticket on the Ellis Island website. Once in New York, she traveled to Chicago, where she was met by her new employer — Oscar Mayer senior. Aunt Mary became an American citizen. Just before the war she returned to her hometown Zatec, in Czechoslovakia, a town known worldwide by beer brewers for its hops. She found a husband and they had a son, my cousin Hank. The new family returned to Chicago just before the war started.
In 1945, after the war, my mother and her now American big sister found each other through an organization that reunited relatives separated by the war. My Mom and I were the only family members surviving the Holocaust. Aunt Mary got us on a waiting list to emigrate to Chicago. Three years later we came to Chicago. I was 15 then and eager to start the rest of my life as an American..
George Baum, Naples
Cleaning up after Trump, MAGA
Mr. Trump, who, lest we forget, is the president of the United States and not just some powerless backbench politician, issued a thinly veiled threat to use a nuclear bomb to wipe out the entire civilization of Iran. It is yet another reminder that the man this country entrusted with the nuclear codes, twice, is first, last, and foremost just a terrible human being, with all that implies, incapable of being redeemed. The French King Louis XV’s “après moi, le deluge” (translated loosely to mean, I could care less what happens when I am gone) captures the nihilism of Mr. Trump, his lobotomized MAGA supporters, and the Republican enablers who acquiesce to his dangerous craziness. Yes, Messrs. DeSantis, Donalds, Scott and all the other Trump political eunuchs, you stand indicted. Mr. Trump does not give one whit about this country or anyone other than himself and the golden calves that he hopes to have erected in his image. This latest unhinged, deranged screed from a president of the United States shows he certainly does not care about the political, social, economic, and military debris field he is spreading in this country and internationally and will leave for others to clean up when he is long gone from our public life. It would be beneficial if this country could expedite Mr. Trump’s departure from office and require that he take all his enabling eunuchs with him given that somehow they all seem to disappear when there is another instance of clearly visible evidence of Mr. Trump’s obvious unfitness for office. That may be too much to hope for but “we the people” can get the process well underway with elections in November of 2026. Vote as if your life depended on it, folks! It may very well be with Mr. Trump waving around nuclear war as if it were his MAGA scepter and his political eunuchs remaining silent. We all, Republicans, Democrats and Independents should have had enough of this dangerous nonsense by now.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
Coercive taxes vs. investment
The recent essay, “Higher taxes breed discontent and eventually outmigration,” (April 12), correctly highlights an important economic reality: when states impose heavier tax burdens, they risk driving residents and businesses elsewhere. History repeatedly shows that high-tax environments tend to discourage investment, slow growth, and ultimately erode the very tax base policymakers seek to expand.
However, the author makes a common but fundamental error in describing taxes as “investments” made by the public in exchange for services. This characterization is misleading. Investments, by definition, are voluntary decisions made by individuals and entrepreneurs with the expectation of a return. Taxes, by contrast, are compulsory payments enforced by law. Individuals cannot opt out, nor can they freely choose how their money is allocated.
In a genuinely free society, goods and services — including those often labeled “public” — would be provided through voluntary exchange and supported, where necessary, by private charitable contributions. Such arrangements respect individual choice and foster accountability in ways that coercive taxation cannot.
Conflating taxes with private investment obscures this crucial distinction and weakens the broader argument against excessive taxation and taxation in general. Recognizing the coercive nature of taxes is essential to having an honest debate about their proper scope and impact.
Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Renaming Palm Beach Blvd. for Trump is a travesty | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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