Lee Plan Amendment
One history of Florida is the history of development. In 1881 a Philadelphia millionaire named Hamilton Disston signed a single contract with the State of Florida for four million acres of Florida “swamp land,” a tract larger than the state of Connecticut. He drained the Everglades, lowered Lake Okeechobee, and raised an empire of towns on drained land. Fifteen years later the water had come back, and Disston’s dream of cheap development land was done. Over the past 135 years the State of Florida has spent billions of dollars trying to correct the damage done by greed, ambition and ignorance.
Here we stand in Lee County 135 years later looking to amend the Lee Plan so developers can continue to exploit Florida’s land with false promises of prosperity and growth. The proposed changes will loosen development restrictions across more than 83,000 acres in southeast Lee County. These changes move the plan away from conservation and agriculture to allow uncapped amounts of commercial development, and incentivize commercial, light industrial and residential growth. Commissioners will deny it, but these proposed changes will set up the framework to allow heavy infrastructure like data centers to sneak into land use categories labeled as “Preservation and Innovation.”
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners will vote on this change to the Lee Plan at the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan Amendment Hearing on August 19 at 9:30 a.m. held in the Board Chambers at the Old Lee County Courthouse located at 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.
This proposed change is another episode in the long history of Florida government giving free rein to developers to exploit what they consider useless natural land. Call, write, email, show up at the August 19 meeting and say no to this proposed change. When Florida’s beauty is built over for profit, all that will remain is glass, steel and concrete, and that is a hell of a way for humans to live.
Daniel Becket, Fort Myers
Terrible, thoughtless decision
Temporary Protected Status ended for more than 350,000 Haitians on July 27. This was a terrible, thoughtless decision. In Florida, they are our Certified Nursing Assistants in more skilled nursing homes than I can even count, as well as private duty caregivers to many homebound and elderly infirm Floridians. These are not the tasks our American-born citizens choose to do. Yet, the need is there, and with Florida’s senior population growing, it is a very important need. I worked in health care in Southwest Florida and had the utmost respect for my Haitian colleagues who delivered kind, conscientious care to patients in hospitals and in hospice settings. I urge the Florida Legislature and senators to advocate for continuing Temporary Protected Status and finding an avenue for these hand-working employees to remain in the U.S. and become citizens.
Atodrianne Cady, Naples
Best for Marco City Council
Marco Island City Council is responsible for managing millions of dollars, maintaining critical infrastructure, protecting our environment, and making decisions that directly affect property owners. Those responsibilities demand competence and sound judgment.
That is why I support Chris Ricci for Marco Island City Council.
Chris brings an exceptional professional background to public service. He is an attorney, engineer, entrepreneur, former executive, and local business owner with more than 40 years of experience managing complex financial, legal, operational, and strategic challenges. He built a career around analysis, innovation, and solving difficult problems.
His commitment to Marco Island is well established. He has chaired the Beach and Coastal Resources Committee, served on the Audit Committee. He has a detailed understanding of the city’s finances, infrastructure, environmental issues, and wastewater policy.
Marco Island needs Council members who will read the financial statements, understand the numbers, ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and explain their decisions to the public.
At a time when important decisions will shape Marco Island for generations, we should elect someone who understands both the responsibility and the consequences of those decisions. Chris Ricci has the experience, professional discipline, and independent judgment to deliver accountable, responsible government. He has my full support for City Council.
Jerry Cole, Marco Island
Profit and education reform
In a Miami Herald article dated March 24, 2026, titled “Profit is not going to be a bad word: Byron Donalds wants to reshape education,” Donalds states, “Profit is not going to be a bad word when it comes to the education industry.”That statement raises an important question: Should businesses be allowed to profit from the education of our children, and what safeguards will ensure that profit does not take precedence over educational quality?When Erika Donalds’ financial success in the charter-school business and her advocacy for classical charter schools, which emphasize traditional values and are often associated with conservative approaches to school choice and “less woke.” But what does “less woke” actually mean? Could it include changing or minimizing how American history — and particularly the history of slavery — is taught, as has occurred under Florida’s recent education policies? If her husband becomes governor, could she have a role in influencing which schools receive state support or recognition?There is also a broader concern. When education becomes increasingly tied to political or ideological goals, where is the line between education and indoctrination?These questions deserve clear answers and transparency. The public should know whether financial interests or political ideology could influence education policy. And if Byron Donalds becomes governor, Floridians deserve assurance that his family’s financial interests will not benefit from decisions made by his administration.
Jan Thompson, Cape Coral
Trump supporters
Night after night I have to watch congressional Republican candidates Askar, Lauf, Oberweis and Collins declare how they support Trump. Some are touting they will be honest like him. I guess they ignore how he has gained billions from his government corruption. Not one word about war, high gas prices, groceries, electric bills and clean water. They do not want to mention these issues because they know Trump’s and their positions are not popular. They are all worthless, vote Democrat.
Benjamin Glick, Naples
Privacy rights
I am concerned about violations of our constitutional right to privacy. This issue is of the utmost importance to me and my community members, because I find the constant surveillance is making it less to go out and live my life as a woman. I am also worried about the impact of data centers both environmentally and financially. I am writing this letter in the hopes that more community members will join me in opposing how surveillance companies harvest our data, threaten our rights and make our communities less safe.
Thank you for reading and considering my letter. I hope to inspire more people in this community to join me in solidarity over surveillance.
Roxie Fowell, Cape Coral
Election tampering
One of the usual MAGA/RINO/CINO/FASCIST suspects got their panties in a twist in an August 9 letter titled “Democrats shifting argument,” about the 6,600 illegals who got registered to vote when they applied for a driver’s license or ID card in NJ; it seems that some 400 or so actually voted. Apparently, there was a “bug” in the computer system that registered them to vote even after they indicated they were NON-CITIZENS, not “illegals.” Hopefully, someone got kicked in the shins over that. Then, all of a sudden, he finds that 75,000 NON-CITIZENS in NJ got summoned for jury duty, but instead of calling them non-citizens, he turns them into “illegals.” Apparently, to this writer, anyone who’s not a citizen is an “illegal.”
However, I’m less concerned about computer “bugs” and other mistakes getting made than I am about organized, planned attempts to rig an election, especially when it’s done across multiple states, which tells you it was no accident. It’s already happened once, although I don’t remember the writer of the above-referenced piece ever getting upset enough to share his concern, probably because he couldn’t figure out a way to include “Democrat” in the story, and it was the crook in the White House who tried to do it.
What? You forgot already. It was the “fake electors” scheme that Trump tried to implement in seven states: Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Michigan − not to mention trying to strong-arm the Georgia Secretary of State to “find” him 11,780 additional votes. It culminated on Jan 6th when VP Pence chose to abide by his oath to the Constitution after Trump had his bully boys attack the U.S. Capitol; he refused Trump’s demands to reject or delay the certification of the 2020 election. He presided over the joint session of Congress, evacuated to a secure underground location when the Capitol was breached, and returned to finish counting the electoral votes for Joe Biden early the next morning.
I’d suggest that if the writer above is really concerned about the sanctity of the voter rolls, he needs to worry about Trump’s attempts to get all the states to send him their lists of registered voters. With his track record of playing fast and loose with votes, it’s not hard to imagine what games he’ll play with those. And I wouldn’t worry about brown-skinned folks around the country voting; I’d worry about old white men in Washington, DC with their hands on the levers of power.
Ken Brindle, Cape Coral
Alternative facts
In the 10 years since Trump became a politician, he has taught us two things, “there is truth” and there is whatever he wants us to believe. It began with the mainstream media quoting what Trump had said on different topics. It was at that time Trump began his attempt to discredit the press by claiming they were “fake news.” He was aided substantially by Kellyann Conway, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, who introduced us to the phrase “Alternative Facts,” which Trump has been relying on ever since. However, each person appointed to Trump’s Cabinet, is well versed in supporting “alternative facts” exactly why they were chosen.
Where/who is the arbiter of Truth, I had hoped that it was SCOTUS, but not so sure anymore.
Roger W. Quagliano, Estero
Do not get sick
This summer has seen food-borne illnesses that have Americans sick and hospitalized. 48 million Americans get sick yearly, in July 11,234 people were ill from cyclospora and 193 people were hospitalized in Michigan.In October 2025, 1,300 employees were cut from the CDC, this includes high-ranking positions as experienced scientists, chronic disease researchers, data analysts reducing public health and outbreak response.The U.S. does not have a primary tracking system for all pathogens. The system only tracks Salmonella and E Coli. Tracking for six dangerous pathogens is no longer mandatory at the federal level. Tracking is a patchwork reporting from states and local voluntary labs.Compared to 10 years ago the major illness was Novovirus. Reported foodborne illness is higher now.Today’s genetic sequencing, DNA panels, central supply chains, food production and dietary shifts towards prewashed, raw and ready to eat foods introduce pathogens in our diet.Food safety practices: clean hands with soapy water and clean surfaces. Separate raw meat from other foods, cook food at the correct internal temperature, chill perishables, rinse fruit and vegetables and use safe storage.
Stay healthy, protect your family and you will have a calm summer without diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and further complications.
Kathleen Callard, RNBS, North Fort Myers
What a sorry lot
Republican voters should feel indebted to Florida’s congressional candidates for their thoughtful Voters Guide. Without their educational television ads, voters may not know that everyone but Jim Swartzel are carpetbaggers who couldn’t get elected in other states. Jim Oberweis, who owes millions to creditors, lost races for Illinois governor, senator and congressman. Chris Collins plead guilty to insider trading — pardoned by Trump — and supported legislation that “coddles illegals.” We’re told Michael Carbonara allegedly didn’t join the GOP until 2024 and has been accused of keeping millions from a former client while Casey Askar allegedly has dubious involvement in foreign business — claims made by Republican candidate Belinda Keiser who, according to her opponent’s ads, gave money to Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Al Gore. Which candidate is more loyal to Trump is regrettably uncertain to voters, but we know from their ads that fealty is guaranteed.What a sorry lot to choose from. Trash talking their opponents, exaggerating achievements and hiding failures will be invaluable tools in making the transition to Washington politics.
Tom Marquardt, Naples
Marco development proposals
Marco Island is at a crossroads. Two major development proposals — the Hilton PUD rezoning and the Rose Marina expansion — threaten to push our community beyond what its infrastructure and neighborhoods can reasonably support. I am firmly opposed to both projects.
The Hilton request alone would reshape the south end of the island. City staff found that the proposal violates the Comprehensive Plan and attempts to exceed the 16‑units‑per‑acre density limit by nearly four times through an unrecognized “fractional density” calculation. The plan to grow the resort from 310 rooms to more than 600, add a 150‑foot tower, build a new restaurant, and construct a parking garage would bring more traffic, more service vehicles, and greater demand on police, fire, utilities, and beach access. Residents will feel these effects every day.
The Rose Marina redevelopment adds another layer of concern. Allowing multiple 250‑foot commercial cruise vessels to unload hundreds of passengers at a time — followed by bus trips to local shops and restaurants — would dramatically increase commercial intensity. The noise, traffic, parking pressure, and congestion from expanded marina operations and large‑scale tourism activity would spill into nearby residential areas.
We already experience seasonal strain on roads, services, and public spaces. Introducing cruise‑level passenger volumes and doubling resort density will only make conditions worse
Cindy MacQuarrie, Marco Island
Thoughts on rail trail
Initially, I thought the rail trail was a great idea. We have bike trails in NY that follow along the Mohawk River using the old Erie Canal tow paths. Giving it more thought, I think the most important thing to consider are the RR road crossings. Can you imagine signals that stop traffic in both directions, especially during rush hours, on Old 41, Bonita Beach Road, Coconut Road, the Estero Parkway, Corkscrew and so on? With some of the worst, impatient, crazy, reckless drivers in the world, it could be wholesale slaughter trying to get across these roads. Talk about traffic jams, backups, tempers and I hate to think of what might come out of the glove compartments. Sorry, but the overall horrendous expense and safety issues make this endeavor practically impossible.
Fritz Metts, Naples
High-speed rail service
As a Southwest Florida seasonal resident I would encourage voters on August 18 to soundly reject the BERT proposal to spend $60 million of public funds to acquire the abandoned railroad right of way paralleling I-75 for a bike/walking “rail to trail” project. Without question the highest and best use for this corridor would be for FLDOT to acquire this property for high-speed rail service connecting PGD/RSW to the communities along this route. To take out permanently a potentially high-density travel one, for a very limited constituency, is a grave mistake and a very possibly irreversible decision. Southwest Florida — its residents, economy and visitors — should not be following Southern California into a never-ending delay, truck and car congested build-out concrete abyss. STOP this proposal in its track on August 18!
Marc Higginbotham, Troy, MI
Educator salaries
Just read the article on 23 educators moving into administrator roles in Collier. Was very impressed with the background of each of them. Dedication jumped out as you read each one. The starting salary of teachers in Collier is $57,000. Hardly a living wage. Many occupations such as maintenance, housekeeping, landscaping folks etc. must commute here from places north. Our maintenance man here commutes 66 miles each way. Makes one wonder if teachers and administrators are doing the same. Be sure we treat them kindly and with respect.
Brad Scribner, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Say no to proposed Lee Plan Amendment | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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