Gridlock on Pine Ridge
About 11 a.m., two days before Christmas, I tried driving west on Pine Ridge − Fuhgeddaboudit!
People were probably trying to get to Costco, Honey Baked Ham, Target, etc. Unfortunately, you could not get to any of these fine establishments expeditiously, so this driver turned around and chose other options in southeast Naples. The gridlock was beyond comprehension. And this is at a time of the year when a lot of residents are North with their families. What happens when Naples is at full capacity or when the many condos, apartments that are being built on 951, Santa Barbara are completed and fill up with more residents?
Our city planners need to wake up to reality and start better understanding Naples’ current and future needs. Stores such as Costco, Target should also be in southeast Naples or on the corridor to Marco Island.
There are not a lot of places in the United States to truly escape the winter. Naples is one of the ideal spots but let’s not turn it into an overcrowded, undesirable, frustrating place to live. Or has that already begun?
Bob Shea, Lely Resort and Chicago
Biden presidency failed
It’s hard to believe that so many liberal writers to the mailbag are still upset about the winner of the presidential election. Trump won 56% of the vote in Florida, over 2 million votes more than Kamala. The four-year reign of the Biden/Harris presidency was a complete failure, the Cabinet was the worst in recent history and to top it off they ran the most unqualified candidate ever for president spending over two billion dollars in less than 100 days buying votes and it still didn’t work. Everyone just sit back and watch what Trump does and if it fails like Biden let me know in four years.
Jim McMenamy, Fort Myers
Here we go again
If all it takes to get appointed by Trump is dating family, be accused of sexual indiscretions, donating huge (HUGE) amounts of money for his personal use or anything else most would find immoral, then Trump could be for you. Also, Russian right wing purging immigrants. Here we go again, separating families, pardoning thugs, investigating opponents, will the American flag add lightning bolts in the Trump era?
Time to reflect: 1- on our almost attorney general. Bringing a new perspective to child rape, drug use on taxpayers’ tab, and legal sex for pay everywhere. 2- A strong musky odor from the White House, a man who wants a 50 billion contract for his talents, gives hundreds of millions to Trump, and in charge of government spending. Since he never donated to USA, will he cut the cost of ALL his government contracts? Be fair to his competitors? Will Trump’s White House Be like Putin’. Will Trump’s tariffs be Musk exempt?
Kevin D. Ryan, Estero
May we survive lunacy
This is about the ultimate insanity that Trump formed in his mentally disturbed mind. He thinks he can take away the Panama Canal from Panama. He also thinks he can make Greenland, which does not belong to us, the 51st state. So, you wanted him and now you have this idiot as our president. He will become the copy of Putin in our country. May we survive his years of lunacy.
Elaine Wachtel, Naples
It is a climate crisis
Another hot year is over. 2024 will almost certainly be recorded as the hottest year for our planet. Moreover, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 10 hottest years on Earth have been the past 10 years. This is not simply climate change; it is a climate crisis.
It seems like Americans do not care what the world will be like in 2050, when they may be dead but their children and grandchildren will have to live with the consequences of their stupidity in 2024. For example, Americans elected a president who still argues that global warming is a hoax and who wants to increase drilling for fossil fuels. Sad.
Jim Douglas, Naples
Loud vehicles
Pervasive, Illegally LOUD motorcycles, autos, trucks in Florida are generally operated by privileged, narcissistic, selfish, bullies who abuse our most innocent, our children, our families, with their illegal, intrusive, NOISE that destroys the daily quality of life for millions; this, while a specific Florida State Motor Vehicle Noise Statute exists (§316.293 (5)) mandating the quiet OEM muffler affixed to all motor vehicles operated on the public roadways of Florida; this, while Florida’s law enforcement community is too compromised, too cowardly, too unconcerned, to use this illegal motor vehicle noise as “probable cause” to stop, investigate, cite, arrest, incarcerate, impound, the offensive and dangerous and intrusive behavior; this, while our governor and attorneys general and state law enforcement administrators, sheriffs, police chiefs, mayors, commissioners, look the other way, do absolutely nothing; this, while our state legislators refuse to “criminalize” motor vehicle noise abuse and make it an impotent “civil” penalty subject to fines only. I love Florida, I hate the thugs who are not policed and privileged that destroy daily quality of life here and abuse our most innocent unencumbered by those sworn to protect and serve!
Rickey Holtsclaw, Bokeelia
Obama is shadow president
The Democrats are calling Elon Musk a shadow president. The Dems can never accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Obama and staff have been the 46th president since Biden took office. Obama was smart enough to know that Biden lacked the faculties to be president and could be easily manipulated. So true. Biden ran on being a middle of the roader and the day he was sworn in, he took a hard left turn under the tutelage of the former president. No other president stayed in Washington after his term was over. No one until Obama. He was smart enough to know Biden would follow his every direction. Much to the detriment of the American public. Every Democrat that came in contact with Biden told the same lie: he is alert, energized, always on the move when in fact he was in a fog, tired and taking naps. Biden needed a shadow, and we were kept in the dark the entire time.
Michael Zubrow, Naples
Death penalty deterrent
The White House announced the commutation of the death penalty to life in prison for 37 convicted murderers. Families affected by their actions and the public are angered. It is hard to believe that President Biden acted in good conscience. He lacks the mental acuity to make such a decision.
Red Eye radio and Breitbart News reported the woke Pope urged Biden to commute the sentences for humanitarian reasons. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Bishops, issued a statement the next day that the commutation is a “significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity and respect for human life from womb to tomb in our nation.” He then went on to express his gratitude to President Biden.
What a vile action by Biden! It was a cold-hearted act that ignored the grief and memories these murderers inflicted on family members and showed his lack of respect to them and our judicial system.
Archbishop Broglio concluded his press release encouraging “all elected leaders to take bold action to protect human life in all stages.” Actions have consequences and the death sentence, imposed by our judicial system, is a strong deterrent to others committing vicious crimes against humanity. Leviticus 24:17 states “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.”
Frank Mazur, Fort Myers
Trump sows divisiveness
Trump has systematically lied his way through immigration killing legislation which would have cured its problems. Trump has denied the human contribution to climate change labeling it a hoax as Helene and Milton ravaged our lives.Trump has destroyed women’s rights by stacking our Supreme Court with religious zealots. But Trump has had a major impact: He has taught Americans to hate one another. He has sown divisiveness throughout the land. He has single-handedly removed compassion from Christianity.
Joe Haack, Naples
Can Gaetz run again?
With some national media pointing out that resigned House of Representatives member Matt Gaetz still has substantial support within his 1st Congressional Panhandle district and elsewhere, too, notwithstanding the damning ethics report that came out earlier this week, a question arises: What can stop him from running again for that office?
The answer is: only the Tuesday, January 16th filing deadline, 12 days before the primary and 2-1/2 months prior to the special general election to fill that vacancy.
As a solidly Red district that customarily votes 70% for Republican/MAGA candidates, the four-termer would be a shoo-in to return to his old haunts if he beats the filing deadline and then can get past the crowded GOP primary field.
With his name identification, both a boon and a bane, he could be back in Congress by special Election Day, Tuesday, April 1st. No foolin’.
Marshall H. Tanick, Naples
Money and privilege
Alas, poor Matt. He was the chosen one, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. Of privileged lineage and protected by MAGA. Alas, poor Matt given to drugs, solicitation and young trollops with the good times were had by all who knew him. And so close to being the most powerful lawyer in our land, and though the Great One would hold sway knowing what was contained in the Ethics investigation and hold him like a puppeteer would Pinocchio, the damning report managed to see the light of day and the end came too soon. Fear not, Horatio, money and privilege trumps all. Sadly, it always does.
Laurence Jacks, Estero
Hotline for help
The New Year (2025) needs expectations that people recognize the importance of their health (mental and physical), and the health of humanity.Non-violence needs to be at the top of the list. Non-violence in the family, in the community environment, schools, the world, and importantly within the self.The number 988 is a number to be remembered as it is there to call for helping the self when needed, and others.We must find a way, and appropriate communication is a good beginning. Bring back love in thinking.
Louis Cohen (Koltun), Naples
One person, one vote
If you are tired of hearing that the only votes for president that count are those cast in the seven swing (battleground) states, the National Popular Vote is the answer for the future.
Because of state winner-take-all laws, voters in seven states (with less than 20% of the country’s population) decide the presidency. That means 43 states (with 80% of the country’s population) will be mere spectators to a presidential election.
Twenty-four states (with 218 electoral votes) are considered safely Republican. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia (with 225 electoral votes) are considered safely Democratic. The 2024 presidential race concentrated on the remaining places with 95 electoral votes. It doesn’t have to be this way.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (already enacted into law by 17 states and the District of Columbia) will guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It will apply the one-person-one-vote principle to presidential elections, give presidential candidates a compelling reason to solicit support from voters in all 50 states, make every vote equal throughout the country, guarantee that the candidate with the most popular votes wins.
The National Popular Vote will take effect when enacted into law by states possessing 270 electoral votes (a majority of the 538 electoral votes). Get the details on how it works at nationalpopularvote.com and contact your state legislators to make Floridians’ votes count!
Suzanne C. Low, JD, Bonita Springs, district chair, Floridians for National Popular Vote
Neurotic, delusional emotions
Why are we still trying to prove Trump’s words and actions are wrong? They’re not wrong. They’re insane!Saying his words and actions are wrong assumes that his thought processes are debatable in a logical format.Insanity is not based in logic. It’s based in neurotic, delusional emotions.Like a petulant child, Trump is not emotionally equipped to accept losing, therefore he will lie, cheat and steal, while accusing others of lying cheating and stealing, like his life depends on it to not have to admit he lost. That, my fellow Americans, is insanity.
J. Cant, Naples
Why take the risk?
Can somebody please explain to me why a person living in the United States illegally would risk drawing attention to themself by (illegally) registering to vote?
George Russell, Naples
Lightning Round
Gaza War – Israel is again surrounded by vicious terrorists whose only object is to destroy the Jewish state. Israel cannot allow Hamas to survive as an armed entity, ready to rearm and attack again in the future. Hamas is solely responsible for civilian causalities when their fighters hide among civilians. The war can only end when Hamas is destroyed.
Yemen Houthis – The U.S. has enough naval and aviation assets to obliterate the forces attacking, and in some cases sinking, civilian ships. Why don’t we?
Russian war on Ukraine – NATO is supposedly committed to help the Ukrainians to resist the Russian onslaught, but Biden has not allowed enough arms (aircraft, tanks, long range missiles, air defense systems) to make a difference. He needs to allow all these systems NOW.
Traffic accidents – This issue came home when a semi ran a red light at Immokalee and Logan, killing a woman in my subdivision and putting two children in the hospital. I think such accidents can be partially abated by extending the duration of the red light by 2-3 seconds for the driver waiting for a green light. It’s worth a try, at least.
Antisemitism – After the attack on Israel and it’s response, many top universities, among them my own (Brown), tolerated occupation by antisemites, both by students and outsiders. Starting at the fall semester, they must adopt stricter rules, including expulsion, for such actions as erecting tent villages and preventing Jewish students’ access to their classes and facilities.
Climate Change – Throughout the Earth’s evolution, there have been changes in climate. The measures the U.S. government is taking, such as mandating the elimination of fossil fuels for generating electrical energy, will only affect global heat over the next 50 years by less than 1%. We need to stop wasting money on windmills and solar farms and focus on small modular nuclear reactors such as those powering our aircraft carriers and submarines.
Abortion – A limit on abortions for just six weeks from conception is much too short. Vote for stronger measures in the future to maintain all women’s right to choose.
Ira Cotton, Naples
Trump overestimates himself
“I alone can fix this,” Mr. Wonderful promised in 2016. That didn’t work out so well. In his defense, in addition to his own incompetence, COVID presented problems beyond the capability of the smartest guy on the planet. Trump underestimated the virus and overestimated himself.Now he’s back with his dystopian view of America. He likes to solve problems that don’t exist and then take credit. He rants about how bad crime is and how horrible our economy is. The only place crime stats are spiking is in Trump’s pea brain. He thrives on people’s fears. He criticizes Biden and warned us of economic collapse if Harris won. A fair analysis would be that the economy was doing fine under Trump until COVID and that our recovery under Biden has been impressive. Inflation has declined to about 3% and the numbers on GDP, jobs, wages, and unemployment are the envy of the world.He alone can cure the troubles in Ukraine and the Middle East — just ask the windbag. He alone can figure out how to round up 11 million (he says as many as 21 million) “undesirable” illegal immigrants and deport them. This misogynistic sexual predator says he”ll be women’s “protector.” Unfortunately, he’s notably insensitive to women’s concerns. Despite the lessons of history and wisdom of economic experts, Trump is convinced that oppressive tariffs will help American manufacturers and consumers.As president, he’ll be a vindictive, narcissistic bully who thinks that he alone has all the answers. He doesn’t.
Kevin McNally. Bonita Springs
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, December 28, 2024
