July 26, 2026, 6:02 a.m. ET
- Readers express concerns over local environmental issues, including mosquito control harming butterflies and the use of artificial turf at Florida Gulf Coast University.
- Several letters address political figures and elections, discussing candidates for U.S. Congress and criticizing President Trump’s influence and rhetoric.
- The impact of plastic pollution and microplastics on Southwest Florida’s environment and residents’ health is a recurring topic.
- Other community issues raised include the placement of median trees, school safety priorities, and the role of private philanthropy in public services like health care.
Property tax relief
Just as our homes increase in value most every year (and it doesn’t hurt living in a desirable location like ours), so too does the amount of money collected by the relevant municipality, either a city or county, in the form of property tax. And that municipality does what any person would do when they have more money flowing in. They spend it! Municipalities are just like any other government entity, new money is like a drug, they just want more of it. But is this property tax windfall really being spent wisely year after year?
The whole cockamamie scene is backwards. Instead of government identifying a need and then looking for a way to pay for the remedy, property tax creep is funneling more money every year to government, which then has to find something to spend it on! And don’t believe the politicians and government employees who wail that there won’t be enough money for public services like fire, police, and EMS. It’s property tax relief, not elimination, and the amendment specifies that local governments must provide for public services before anything else.
Vote YES in November for property tax relief and give senior homesteaders a break for a change.
Gary Marsh, Estero
Stand up to Tallahassee
Thank you for shedding light on final closure of the shameful DeSantis/Trump “Alligator Alcatraz” near Ochopee, the heartless threat of deportation for tens of thousands of hard-working Haitian immigrants here on Temporary Protective Status, and the long-delayed ground-breaking for the new Florida Veterans’ Nursing Home and Daycare Center on former county land donated to the state for that specific purpose.
But I would strongly urge the Collier County Commission to take preemptive measures to prevent Governor Ron Desantis’s heir apparent — the equally loyal “Trump Man,” Byron Donalds, from repurposing any portion of the donated 23.5 acres to “temporarily detain” our Haitian brothers and sisters.
I for one have been anticipating the opening of the hard fought for Veterans’ Nursing Home for a long time – long before Governor DeSantis decided to redirect state funds to construct a detention camp in the Big Cypress Swamp in order to house “the worst of the worst” of the mostly undocumented immigrants from Latin America. I doubt that I’ll survive long enough to be admitted there when it finally does open. But let us assure that the new governor doesn’t “pull a fast one” on Collier County like his predecessor did with the Alligator Alcatraz debacle.
So, act now, County Commission, before you get caught “unaware” once again.
Bruce J. Kennedy, Naples
Mosquito control harms butterflies
Whatever chemical Collier County Mosquito Control is using to control mosquitos is harming beneficial insects, especially butterflies.
Last week my area was treated and the very next day, the giant swallowtails, orange-barred sulphurs, zebra longwings, and gulf fritillary caterpillars I was raising all died.
It’s frustrating living in a world where it’s legal for humans to destroy it and even more frustrating knowing my tax dollars are being used to commit these atrocities against nature.
Lea Derence, Naples
Aghast about plastic grass
I am aghast about the plastic grass installed at our “environmental university.” Frankly, I am horrified and cannot think of a worse solution for a mud-free student gathering place.
According to UF IFAS, artificial turf often uses as much or more water than turf grass. Yes! That’s because it heats up so much that sprinklers must be used to cool it down. Plus, the fake turf can hold odors and smell. This means chemical odor removers. This translates into maintenance costs that it was supposed to eliminate. Yikes!
Is it really a solution when it is a lifeless heat pool and an assault on the planet? Wouldn’t a better solution have been a beautiful native plant space full of life and beauty. This native plant space could be full of fragrant natives such as fiddlewood, Jamaica capertree, beautyberry, Bahama and little strongbacks, and more. The space, if properly planted, would be full of birds and butterflies. It would be relaxing and peaceful and would incite calmness for the stressful campus life. Most of all, it would fit with the university’s image. It would be a real source of inspiration and a mighty fine example of Florida living.
Beautiful native plants that invite wildlife are always a better solution than hot, stinky plastic. FGCU has knowledge on payroll. Plus, the local chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society are here to help, too!
Marlene Rodak, Estero, president, The Coccoloba and Naples Chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society
FGCU’s plastic grass
What was the FGCU administration thinking?! Their decision to pave a good segment of that beautiful campus with plastic grass is hardly in keeping with the university’s stated commitment to sustainability and the environment. At a time when we face increasing temperatures (when each year seems hotter than the last), they opt for plastic, known to be hotter than real grass. At a time when we are facing a significant loss of biodiversity, they opt for something that only exacerbates that loss. At a time when we are becoming more and more aware of the dangers of microplastics, they are offering their students a good dose of it. And at a time when we are aware of the need to maintain as much porous surface as possible in order to mitigate flooding and replenish our aquifer, they opt for a plastic surface which does a very ineffective job at that. What has become of our FGCU’s commitment to the environment?
S.L. Calkins, Naples
Vision for schools
In the July 11 Opinion piece titled “A vision for Lee County Schools in 2030” Armor Persons said: “We have strengthened school safety through enhanced security…. Then goes on: “By 2030, I envision a district recognized nationwide for excellence in every category. First and foremost, that means achieving uncompromising safety. We must make our campuses the safest in Florida… This secure environment will serve as the bedrock for an “A” rated school district….
Mr. Persons did pontificate on his vision, but provided little in the way of any real plans how to make Lee County School District’s academics and services grade “A”. He always goes back to “security” as the way to improve our schools when there are a lot of more impactful positive things the Lee County School District is doing that are non security related. It raises the question, is his mindset about managing a school system or a prison system?
Daniel Becker, Fort Myers
Allen Spence for Congress
I am writing this letter in support of Allen Spence who is running for U.S. Congress in the 17th District. The district encompasses Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. This district has been represented by Greg Steube for many years. He is almost invisible to his constituents until photo ops become available near voting dates. When Mr. Steube posts on Facebook, most of constituents’ replies are negative. He rarely answers comments or returns calls. Mr. Spence is a highly intelligent Florida native. He is extremely well versed on all issues that are important to us including the economy, our unique environmental issues, Social Security, education and the situation in the Mideast. His social media platform is filled with a wealth of information and plans he wants to implement to better the lives of all citizens.Mr. Spence has spent the past year going out into the communities he hopes to represent. He has met people in all walks of life and listened to countless problems facing people in the 17th District.
Candice Shores, North Fort Myers
Cut back on plastic
We moved here like so many of our snowbirds and vacationers for the beautiful beaches, the array of shorebirds, the nesting turtles on our beaches and the fresh seafood. Plastic Free July should be a good reminder that plastic pollution is not just an environmental eyesore on our beaches and a danger to our wildlife, it is a growing threat to our health.Plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, and takeout containers may be used for minutes, but they can remain in our environment for generations. As they break apart, they become microplastics that contaminate the water we drink, soil we farm in, air we breathe, seafood we eat and even our bodies.
The problem begins long before plastic becomes litter. Plastics are made from fossil fuels, release pollution during production, and often end up burned in the Buckingham incinerator, buried, or washed into rivers and oceans. Wildlife mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it. Communities pay the price through clogged storm drains, dirty beaches, higher cleanup costs, and possible exposure to harmful chemicals linked to plastics.
Plastic Free July is not about perfection. It is about choosing better habits: carrying reusable bags and bottles, refusing unnecessary straws and utensils, buying less over-packaged food, and supporting businesses and local policies that reduce single-use plastics. Individual choices matter. We have to start at home to educate ourselves and spread the word.
Here are few tips to help you reduce plastic: 1. If your favorite restaurant doesn’t have metal utensils bring your own; 2. Take a container to the restaurant to bring home leftovers; 3. Buy in bulk and bring your own bag; 4. Buy produce that is not displayed in plastic bags. Let’s protect our health, our wildlife, and our waterways by cutting back on plastic wherever we can — and by demanding systems that make the plastic-free choice the easy choice.
Gregg Lustig, Fort Myers
Microplastics in Paradise
Microplastics are everywhere. You could be swimming in them, ingesting them, or even breathing them without knowing it. Microplastics, tiny particles mostly formed as plastic breaks up, are now found throughout our oceans worldwide. Scientists estimate that 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean each year, the equivalent of dumping two garbage trucks of plastic into the ocean every minute.
Paradise can’t escape microplastics, either. ABC Gulf Coast recently reported that Florida Gulf Coast University tested water samples collected from Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Englewood Beach, and Marco Island and found microplastics in every sample tested. Sanibel showed the highest concentrations, with elevated levels also found at Fort Myers Beach.Approximately 16,000 chemicals are used to make plastic, and about one-quarter are known to be hazardous to human health and the environment. Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, placentas, and breast milk. We are exposed to microplastics through the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.The plastics industry must reduce plastic production, and companies must decrease their use of unnecessary single-use plastics and shift to non-toxic reuse and refill systems. Government policies are critical to ensure they do. One important step is the REUSE Act, a bipartisan bill to study the feasibility of expanding reuse and refill systems nationwide. The bill has already passed the Senate. Now the House must act. Contact your representative today.
Solemi Hernandez, Naples
Endangered sea animals
Now Trump has started an assault on our sea animals, weakening and attempting to dismantle the Endangered Species Act. This only allows more harm to come to our sea life that we love. the sea turtles, the manatees, the dolphins, the birds, the fish (so crucial to Florida’s livelihood). Many of these creatures are on the endangered list. We must keep intact the Endangered Species Act or Trump’s attack will allow the harvesting of the sea creatures we are trying to prevent from extinction, many already in danger from habitat loss, overfishing, and illegal sea animal trade and more.It’s time for Floridians to say “No” to Trump’s incessant attack on our lives and planet by his degrading our humanity with ICE and now seeking to eliminate protection of our endangered sea animals.
Cynthia Best, Lehigh Acres
Encourage more philanthropy
The article, “New Medical School to Help Ease the SWFL Doctor Shortage,” (July 18), showcases the quintessential American solution to society’s challenges: private philanthropy. The extraordinary $200 million commitment to establish a new medical school demonstrates that generous, civic-minded individuals can create lasting institutions that benefit an entire community without burdening taxpayers.
This investment should dispel the misconception that only government spending can address major social needs. America’s greatest universities, hospitals, libraries, museums, and charitable organizations were often founded through private generosity rather than taxpayer funding. There is no shortage of private wealth available to build institutions that improve people’s lives.
Southwest Florida already has a shining example in the Naples Neighborhood Health Clinic. For more than two decades, it has provided high-quality medical care to low-income residents through charitable contributions and volunteer physicians — not taxpayer dollars. It is a model worthy of replication throughout the United States.
America’s philanthropists possess the financial resources to transform health care. Warren Buffett alone has pledged to donate virtually all of his fortune, now exceeding $100 billion. If America’s wealthiest citizens helped establish nonprofit medical centers across the nation modeled after the Neighborhood Health Clinic, they could dramatically expand access to care while reducing dependence on Medicaid. Such an effort could eventually save taxpayers nearly $1 trillion annually while preserving compassionate, community-based medicine.
The new medical school is another reminder that voluntary action, not government coercion, has long been America’s greatest engine for solving human problems. We should encourage more philanthropy and less dependence on taxpayer-funded programs.
Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., Naples
Hazard of trees in medians
I am writing to raise awareness about a pressing safety issue in our community. The trees planted along the median of roadways pose a serious hazard. The fronds and branches frequently fall onto the roadways and parked vehicles, creating dangerous driving conditions and causing damage to cars. In some cases, drivers have had to swerve suddenly to avoid debris, which could easily lead to accidents. During storms and hurricanes, strong winds can snap branches or uproot entire trees, blocking critical evacuation routes and delaying emergency response. After hurricane Irma, fallen debris had made roads impassable for hours — sometimes days — putting lives at risk. With hurricane activity becoming more frequent and intense, proactive measures must be taken to ensure our infrastructure is resilient. Removing or relocating these median trees to safer locations, and replacing them with low-profile landscaping, would greatly reduce the danger while preserving our city’s aesthetic appeal. This would not only reduce the risk to motorists but also lower the ongoing costs of cleanup and maintenance. I urge city and county officials to prioritize public safety over ornamental planting on roadways. Our community’s safety should always come first, and I believe this change would be a proactive step toward preventing potential harm.
Elaine Collins, Naples
Montavon for Congress
I look over the Gulf in Florida with its aging piers and the water’s edge, revealing a jagged edge like a mirror of our democracy − eroded, uncertain and displaying a jagging shifting shoreline in desperate need of a steady hand, For too long the air had been stale by those looking backwards, clinging to the 2020 election results and the shadows of a rigid Freedom Caucus. I thought our current representative Greg Steube seems more comfortable carving away the safety nets of the Affordable Care Act and voting according to the incumbent president mandates.
From January 2019 to June 2026, Steube missed 217 of the 3,788 roll call votes, which is 5.7%. This is much worse than the medium of 2.1% among the lifetime records of representatives serving.
Matthew Montavon is a flicker of something new, a promise for the future, I can think of him in North Fort Myers (District 17) not representing special interest, but having a blueprint for the PEOPLE. I demand a representative who serves the people. Matthew believes the census is a blueprint for our voting districts every 10 years rather than gerrymandering lines drawn by a political party; He sees the Gulf as the backdrop of a living and breathing ecosystem that requires stewardship and leadership supporting the Fort Myers Yacht Basin revitalization. As a lifelong Democrat, unlike his opponents, he has pledged to defend Social Security, to preserve it for this generation of senior citizens and to ensure it is there for the future generations. Matthew is opposed to raising the age when seniors can start collecting Social Security. Matthew’s platform includes protection for veterans services and freedom and women’s health care. Matthew supports children by supporting early childhood classrooms. Matthew supports raising the tax cap on earnings and also taxing unearned capital gains.
I know what I have to do. The future is what we build, one envelope at a time with one vote cast from my home. I’m ready and looking forward to my future in District 17 with Mathew Montavon as my representative in Congress. I am voting for a significant shift for my grandchildren and my great grandchildren in District 17.
Kathleen Callard, North Fort Myers
Propaganda
Hitler said if you repeat something often enough people begin to believe it. Trump follows this by repeating over and over the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. Let’s not let him get away with this.
Benjamin Glick, Naples
Trump’s speech
Well, he did it all again! More untruths, false claims, purported facts that are never produced! In the meantime he’s spending millions on the addition to the White House, now a new heliport that is being done unquestioned, an Octagon that now turns out to cost unknown amounts to tear it down, a pool that still is not working properly.
Now he is setting us up for new allegations and false claims for the upcoming mid-terms and then when he and his crew is defeated in the next national elections, he will be complaining again that the election was stolen!
Now he has his new henchman DHS Markwayne Mullin, threatening to punish those who don’t abide by the rules that DHS has promulgated.
When can we expect a leader who is truthful, trustworthy and credible? New elections can’t come soon enough!
Franklin C. Warner, Fort Myers
Lessons of the World Cup
For weeks the USA was treated to the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. With removal of “illegal immigrants” and discussions of birthright citizenship we opened our doors to countries of all birth and political backgrounds. It proved that sport like everything is global not isolationism. It proved not every British and France person is white due to centuries old territories and migration. It proves tourism is a multi-faceted bonus despite the president attacking Mexico, Canada, Spain and all the African nations. It proves closing one’s borders loses naturalized citizens we have seen representing the USA in Olympics, creates a loss of athletes and some of the best people in the world in a broad spectrum of achievement from doctors to educators.
If America First means America Alone then maybe we will learn from the World Cup that the goal is America Best and follow our Founders and the Constitution of the United States.
Glenn Mueller, Naples
Casting doubt on elections
So let me understand this, China is now the big international threat to our elections. I am not debating that China tried in 2020 to influence the election. I also do not debate that Russia tried in 2016. I believe China, Russia, Iran and others will continue to try and influence our elections. It is the job of our intelligence agencies to continue to discover and take action to minimize their attempts. It is the job of agencies charged with cybercrime to weed our international foes actions and remove their attempts. None of this was new. If anyone read the Mueller report on the 2016 election it concluded Russia had a cyber campaign and tried to influence the election to stop Hillary Clinton from being elected. It never found evidence that there was any involvement from the Trump campaign to aid or encourage Russia.
The big story line of the president’s prime time speech was China tried to influence the 2020 election. No evidence that China actually falsified anything nor was there any cooperation by the opposing campaign. Yes, China did not want Trump to win. So his administration failed to nullify nor stop their influence campaign.
Other than China wanting to influence the 2020 election against Trump the speech contained many accusations of other election interference with no evidence to back up the accusations. With more than 60 court cases filed on behalf of Trump after the 2020 election only one resulted in a conviction which was then overturned by the state Supreme Court (this case involved the time that people had to provide ID to cure their ballots). In other words, of more than 60 court cases zero resulted in convictions. No evidence to back up the claims. Thursday night speech sounded like the claims after the 2020 election with once again no evidence.
It appears the objective of President Trump’s speech is to put doubt into the integrity of the upcoming election. He has been trying to cast doubt on our elections ever since he lost the 2020 election. He gave no new evidence just the same accusations. If he allocated the same amount of resources to providing assistance to states to further hardening their election system we would be better off than continuing his attempts to cast doubt on our elections.
Steve Wiener, Fort Myers
Testosterone and Hegseth
Forcing our military to undergo testing for testosterone. How do you think that makes our enemies feel? Hegseth, never more than a platoon leader, is now a blink away from emulating his Nazi heroes and making our American servicemen take Pervitin or some modern alternative approved by the Kennedy with the worm in his head. For those of you too young to recall WWII, Pervitin was essentially methamphetamine. It was issued to hundreds of thousands of Nazi soldiers to reduce fatigue, increase alertness, and allow troops to stay awake during rapid offensives. While it temporarily improved endurance, it also led to addiction, psychosis, cardiovascular problems, and impaired judgment.
Now, in addition to creating over-sexed troops by insisting on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) our men run the risks of suffering the side effects known to occur with TRT, blood clots, lower sperm counts, etc.
Of more concern is the tacit admission of our own military “leader” that our military suffers from a defect that affects their military capabilities. This is demeaning to them and suggests that they are less than men enough to face our enemies, all of which provides aid and comfort to the enemy, the same conduct that is part of the definition of treason in our Constitution.
Shouldn’t this misuse of his position be fully investigated? At the minimum, shouldn’t Trump and Hegseth be the first to be tested and treated to motivate the troops?
Bob Geltner, U.S. Air Force veteran/ captain, North Fort Myers
Allies into competitors
Historically the deal has been that Europe purchased weapons from America and America protected Europe in return. With much theater, Donald Trump has converted European allies into competitors. At Trump’s direction, Canada and Europe are now designing and developing their own weapons systems.
We await the reckoning where America, having spent its stockpile in Iran, will have to purchase its weapons from Canada and Europe who, in turn, will protect America. I guess it’s all part of “making America great again.”
Sally Lam, Naples
Trump’s enablers
While I didn’t vote for Donald Trump in the last presidential election, I fully understand why many did. The Republican nominee’s promises to make life more affordable and to keep America out of prolonged foreign wars were appealing indeed. For 19 months, the president has enjoyed a Republican majority in Congress that has marched in lockstep with him on nearly every issue, yet he has accomplished neither of those goals. In fact, it sure appears he’s made things worse.
Affordability is not even on Trump’s radar. He recently dismissed the crisis as a “con job” and “fake word” used by Democrats and refused to sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill, calling the legislation “a big yawn” compared to other political priorities. This despite record-high home prices, significant supply shortages and rising costs for groceries, everyday necessities and gasoline.
He promised to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, claiming neither would have begun if he had been president. Not only has he failed there, but he’s started his own war with Iran — a war he said would last four weeks but still rages on five months and 17 American lives later.
And, in a year in which we celebrate this nation’s 250th birthday, Mr. Trump seems to be hell-bent on making himself and his sons even richer; building monuments to himself; curtailing freedom of the press by way of threats and lawsuits; and repeating his never-ending lies about the 2020 election to ensure fewer Democrats can retain the right to vote.
With Florida’s primary coming up on Aug. 18, our mailboxes and TV screens are flooded with ads for Republican candidates who are just itching to help Mr. Trump in his bid to continue the steady march toward anarchy. They are backed by billions and billions of dollars from the party, from special interest groups, from lobbyists and from PACS. Democrats, in Florida at least, do not have that advantage in this Deep Red state. Because Florida’s primaries are closed (meaning if you’re a Republican you can’t vote for Democrats and vice versa), Republicans and independents won’t have a real choice. But come November, please consider whether your life is more affordable before you cast your vote for governor, congressional representative and senator. Your vote just might ensure that Mr. Trump has one less enabler in his last two years as president.
Sue Beard, Fort Myers
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