I want to ask the powers that be in Collier County to save the Vanderbilt Beach branch of the Collier County library. I have lived many place but never seen a better library than this one. The librarians are incredibly knowlegable and they cater to the needs of people of all ages, particularly children and senior citizens. I can think of no better use of our taxpayer dollars than to spend them on improving this already beautiful shrine to lifelong learning.
Wayne Winston, Bonita Springs
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed on county property. While I personally agree with the concepts the Ten Commandments teach and believe each of us as individuals may choose to follow, I scrupulously support the overriding concept of separation of church and state that applies to all of us.
The separation of church and state is a foundational principle of American democracy. We are not a theocracy. We are a representative republic that serves all citizens equally regardless of their faith or non-faith. For nearly 250 years, the First Amendment of our Constitution has prohibited government establishment of religion. This was applied to the States via the 14th Amendment’s due process clause. Florida’s state Constitution upholds religious freedom / separation of church and state in Section 3, Article X.
Currently, there is ongoing debate about nearly every foundational principle of American democracy. The County Board of Commissioners should be focusing on those things that can bring us together, that can foster a healing, less contentious environment. The Ten Commandments should not be displayed on county property. On the surface, it appears innocuous. In reality it is a step toward merging church and state. It is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Libbie Bramson, Naples
I appreciate the enthusiasm expressed for the proposed East Zone High School, but I must raise a serious concern regarding transparency and proper board process. In a recent News-Press opinion piece, Board member Armor Persons discussed the NNN project as if it were already finalized. To my knowledge, Phase 2 of the project has not been scheduled for a public vote or placed on a School Board of Lee County agenda.
Florida’s Sunshine Law (Chapter 286.011, F.S.) is clear: All discussions of matters that may come before the Board must occur in properly noticed public meetings with the topic on the agenda. Even if framed as a “personal opinion,” presenting Phase 2 as a “done deal” before deliberation misleads the public, creates the appearance of predetermined outcomes, and risks undermining the integrity of the voting process.
This is particularly troubling because Mr. Persons himself stated to me: “I do not know how the board will vote. A NO VOTE will stop the NNN project.” To be clear, it will stop it from proceeding on the Alva site, however, it can still be built on an alternative site such as in Lehigh Acres on a property owned by the LCSD that has all required infrastructure, no environmental issues, it’s where the greatest population of students live and is build ready. Saving 10’s of millions of taxpayer dollars. There will be minimal delay.
That private acknowledgment is inconsistent with his published Op-Ed, which suggests approval is already secured. The effect is twofold: it misinforms the community and creates undue pressure on future votes. The citizens of Lee County deserve decisions that are made openly, transparently, and lawfully — not through media statements that preempt board action.
Denise Eberle, Alva
Why is there no mention of the tremendous economic loss the closure of Alligator Alcatraz will be to South Florida as hundreds of workers are dismissed from good paying jobs, and lucrative contracts to the many South Florida businesses providing daily goods and services to the facility are cancelled?
Dennis McCloskey, Cape Coral
This Labor Day, we recognize the hardworking men and women who are literally building the future of Southwest Florida. From bridges and hospitals to homes and schools, our region’s workforce powers the growth and development that keeps communities moving forward. But progress depends on more than labor alone. It depends on opportunity. Today, our region is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the construction industry. Projects that serve the public good are being delayed, not because of a lack of funding, but because we do not have enough trained people to do the work. That’s why investing in workforce development is so critical. Programs like registered apprenticeships provide real skills and career paths without student debt. They create opportunities for local residents while helping us meet the demands of a growing region. We also must ensure our policies support growth. When permitting is consistent and predictable, and when development is embraced thoughtfully, we create jobs and strengthen our economy.
This Labor Day, let’s celebrate work with more than words. Let’s support the systems that make meaningful careers possible for the people who call Southwest Florida home.
Lisa Swinto, Cape Coral
As we fire up our barbecues and savor the long weekend, it’s easy to forget that behind every ear of corn and basket of berries lies the labor of someone who rarely gets time off — the migrant farmworker. Migrant agricultural workers are the invisible backbone of our food system. They plant, pick, and pack the produce that fills our supermarkets. These workers endure grueling conditions: long hours in scorching heat, limited access to health care, inadequate housing, and constant uncertainty about visas and employment. Many have no pathway to permanent residency — despite being essential to national food security.
Many migrant workers are tied to single employers through closed H2-A work permits. Leaving an abusive or unsafe workplace could mean deportation. Basic labor rights like overtime pay, rest breaks, and health coverage are often denied or under-enforced. Language barriers, rural job sites, and housing away from towns make it hard for workers to access services or legal aid. ICE is rounding up many migrant farmworkers for deportation out of the country. I wonder how this has impacted our recent U.S. Jobs Report? These injustices don’t just harm workers — they put our food supply at risk. A system built on exploitation is not sustainable.
Here’s how we can honor the labor that truly feeds us: Advocate for policy changes that allow migrant workers to choose their employer without fear of reprisal; Choose produce from farms certified under ethical programs like the Fair Food Program or those aligned with unions such as United Farm Workers.
Migrant farmworkers are proud of their work. They don’t want a handout — just the same rights and respect as every other law-abiding worker: fair pay, rest breaks, heat protection, protection from pesticides, a path to citizenship, and freedom from exploitation. This Labor Day, as you celebrate with friends and family, remember the farmworkers whose labor makes it possible. Together, let’s plant seeds of change.
Let’s make this Labor Day not just a moment of rest, but a movement for rights.
Linda Lindquist, North Fort Myers
On August 20 I was privileged to attend an at-sea memorial service on board a Coast Guard vessel from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach. I was aboard as a guest of the family to honor their loved one, a former member of the Coast Guard.
From the time we arrived at the station until after we returned to shore we were treated with the utmost consideration by each Coast Guard member who took part. The professional seamanship, compassion, and courtesy shown by the boat crew upheld the highest traditions of the nautical services. These young members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fort Myers Beach Station are to be commended for their dedication to not only ensuring our safety, but also as they take time to honor former members of the sea services.
Vic Delnore, Fort Myers
Seems that President Trump is all for “states rights” as long as they are Red States and not Blue States.
Jon Pipkin, Naples
As the guardrails that protected our democracy have been removed, government has become more intrusive than ever. Local control of law enforcement has been usurped by the federal government. Freedom of thought at colleges and universities is attacked by withholding federal funds and insistence on teaching to the MAGA party line. Now, government is demanding an ownership interest in private business, a move some would call “creeping nationalism.”
Asylum is offered to white South Africans and denied Guatemalans. The president seriously proposes selling a million dollar “gold card” to those who would buy United States citizenship. Conquered diseases like measles have been resurrected by anti-vaxers controlling our health policies.
The red carpet is laid out before Putin while Zelensky is told he should dress up to meet with Trump. Negative employment news results in the firing of the messenger. The attorney general has become the president’s personal attorney. Pardons have become items for purchase by those who can afford them only because of their very crimes.Convicted felons seek and secure election to office. Enablers of sexual predators are granted private interviews with the president’s counsel to gain custodial transfers as long as they have nothing negative to say about Trump.
All this while supposed champions of free markets, free thinking, law and order cheer the “successes” of an administration driving relentlessly to a totalitarian regime. The imperfections of prior administrations were many, both Republican and Democrat, but there were checks and balances provided by long-standing policies and institutions. More importantly, we could count on leaders with integrity and strength to speak up against corruption and remind us of what our country stood for. Today, those voices have been muted.
Daniel Graziano, Naples
A letter in Sunday’s paper asked, “what has Trump done directly to me to cause such hatred,” and I have to respond. To begin, Trump has personally caused me to become totally embarrassed for our county and how the free world now views us. Where to begin? Let’s start with promises made before the election. One of the first things Trump said was that he would end the war in Ukraine on his first day! Let’s examine what he did to fulfill this promise. First, he cut all military supplies which had bipartisan approval. Remember, during the Biden administration we supported Ukraine because, as any true American knows, Russia is not our friend! We all saw Russian build up military forces and invade Ukraine; we know who started it. When this war began, we acted like Americans and gave Ukraine all we could. That’s right, both Republicans and Democrats stood together in our fight with Ukraine against Russia, and Ukraine was holding their own until the Putin-loving Trump got into office and started blaming President Zelensky for starting the war. Can you believe it? Trump actually blamed Zelensky for starting the war and even berated him at the White House! Next, our fearless leader invited the war criminal Putin onto U.S. soil, treated him as though he’d done nothing horrible on the world stage, and then he rolled out the red carpet for this thug. This is worse than sad; it’s disgusting. Not only did he not negotiate a cease fire, he agreed with giving Putin 20 percent of Ukraine. He is so far out of touch with reality that even Ronald Reagan would be rolling in his grave!
So what about Israel? This is another reason I am embarrassed. We can all see starvation right in front of our eyes. Are you really proud of the fact that thousands of people are starving to death? Netanyahu says there’s no famine, fake news. Trump says Netanyahu is a war hero. Therefore Trump is one as well. Pathetic!
Can we talk about lowering prices on Day One? Well, that sure didn’t happen. Instead of putting his disastrous tariffs in place, maybe he should have met each country individually to discuss any changes that needed to happen. Instead, in his usual blowhard manner, Trump announced excessive tariffs randomly throughout the world. Why bother being respected when you can cultivate fear and hatred? Anybody notice Canadians are a little miffed by how our president treats his neighbors?
And how about pardoning hundreds of traitors who beat United States police officers on January 6th? None of this should make any of us proud. These are but a small sampling of what our president has done to make me embarrassed for our great country.
Jim Propert, Fort Myers
In response to the letter writer wanting to know what Trump has done to me personally (Why the hatred?), I reply out of respect for her right to her position, if it was a serious concern rather than a partisan jab. She has every right to the question, even if ignorant of the facts. A list of my grievances against this administration would be far too lengthy for this letter, but is concisely organized into the newly released Vote of No Confidence in Our Current Federal Government, easily found online through any search engine. Every illegal atrocity listed affects me personally, at some point.
I urge ‘Why the hatred?’ and readers of this LTE section to read the Vote of No Confidence to see with which issues you agree, or not. Although such a vote is only valid in a parliamentary system, not our constitutional republic, the content is valid and will send the right message to Washington, if or when it goes viral.
As a 77-year-old lifelong, nonpartisan constitutionalist and combat veteran, I am appalled at the ignorance of a majority of U.S. voters. Our 250-year-old democracy depends upon an educated, participatory electorate. It seems to me that a growing majority votes for their own personal gain today, not our collective future, regardless of the very critical outcomes ahead. This must end.
And yes, most voters are ignorant because we don’t teach civics or government systems, and voters often don’t make or have the time to dig out facts from a seriously flawed media. Project 2025 laid it all out for us, but it was largely ignored. The rank partisan divisions, intolerance, disregard and outright cruelty demonstrated at many levels of so-called society today have allowed this administration to move us to the brink of a greedy and corrupt autocracy.
Beware. Become an informed voter while you still can. Do something powerful and patriotic.
Cliff Welles, Bonita Springs
John Bolton, former national security advisor to the Trump 1 administration, has joined the growing list of Trump detractors targeted by the sitting president: NY Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Adam Schiff, former FBI director James B. Comey, and ex-CIA director John Brennan. Bolton’s White House 2020 memoir chronicled his 17 months as Trump’s adviser; that best seller, “The Room Where It Happened,” characterized Mr. Trump as “erratic” and “stunningly uninformed.” Mr. Bolton’s critiques have only increased in both frequency and intensity since the release of that best seller.
The FBI search of Bolton’s home and office yielded several boxes of “hoped for” classified documents as intimated by FBI director Kim Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance. A 2020 criminal investigation of this same issue was conducted under then-Attorney General William P. Barr and was subsequently closed without charges in 2021.
Apparently, President Trump has a penchant for re-opening closed investigations that vindicated (or at the very least, vacated) Trump enemies’ alleged wrongdoing. Given his own sketchy past with classified documents, perhaps our Oval Office occupant now recognizes the peril to our national security that unsecured classified materials pose? Critics would counterargue that the search was more likely an egegious assault upon Mr. Trump’s most censorious pundit. Count me in the latter group.
James L. DeBoy, Fort Myers
