Letters to the Editor: June 17

Letter of the Day: That'll fix it — not

Editor, Daily News:

Back in May 1992, the county came along and installed a sewer line on my street in Brookside in East Naples.

When the construction company that was doing the work finished the sewer lines, they laid down what I thought was a preliminary coat of blacktop.

I assumed they were coming back to put a proper, level coat on top of the blacktop, since the street drains were installed higher than street level. Of course, when we get an inch or more of rain, the street is under water in several places.

I have mentioned this to my county commissioner several times, with no results.

But I should have been patient with the county.

The other day they came up with a solution to my problem. They have put a sign on the street in a couple of places that says there is "Water Over Road."

Mike Joynt , Naples

Letter: Many hands, great work

Editor, Daily News:

On behalf of the Village Oaks Elementary School staff, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all staff members and families of our school community for a most successful school year. I feel great pride that Village Oaks has been designated an outstanding school by the state of Florida.

This school is located on Highway 29 — tucked into the corner of a hard-working farm community — and has a climate of safety and determination. It is this determination that has allowed the amazing students at Village Oaks to work steadily and unceasingly to achieve a B score from the state. While some may notice that the scoring scale is topped by the letter A, the staff and students refuse to be discouraged. Our steady climb has been like that of a determined turtle and I believe that we will reach that A in the near future.

In the meantime, I wish to celebrate the success of our hard-working students and thank their equally hard-working families, along with our business partners, Jim Siesky and the members of his law firm of Siesky, Pilon & Wood, and the reading partners at the Education Foundation of Collier County. Their faith and support helped our students realize that accomplishment isn't instant, but requires hard work and bears great rewards.

We will remain proud of this out-of-the-way gem and feel secure knowing that it has so much about which to be proud.

Dorcas Howard , Principal, Village Oaks Elementary

Letter: Fair and balanced?

Editor, Daily News:

Immokalee High School Principal Manny Touron may be a "nice guy," but how must the student body feel about zero tolerance for them and questionable tolerance for principals?

Ted Petterson, Naples

Letter: Simple, really

Editor, Daily News:

I want to thank Kevin Juk for explaining to fellow letter-writers Roberta Baird and Annette DiPaolo that all the attributes that we enjoy here in Naples come at a cost. I especially like the part where he suggests naysayers should look in the mirror and take responsibility for their own arrivals.

There were trees and animals living, undisturbed, on the exact spot where Roberta and Annette now live. It was the same for where I live and the same where Kevin lives. It applies to all of us.

So, it's time for Roberta and Annette to stand up and say, "We are to blame for the loss of the quality of life in Naples, just like Bob and Kevin. We have added to the traffic congestion, deforestation, the advent of big houses, the loss of a vegetable stand, a drive-in movie and flea market and the long lines in restaurants.

Others are going to continue to come to Naples for the same reason that Roberta and Annette came: nice weather, nice people, white sandy beaches and ... well, you get the point.

And they'll probably want to take me out to dinner now that I've straightened them out.

Bob Moates , Naples

P.S. — In Fort Myers they're looking for a safe place for sex offenders during a hurricane. If that challenge comes up here in Naples, the best place for them would be the Collier County Jail.

Letter: Blocking progress

Editor, Daily News:

Well, so much for the Collier County School Board's insistence on the modified block schedule, which boasted alternate-day classes in our high schools this past year.

Teachers told them it was terrible.

Students didn't like it and even parents complained — but the School Board members insisted that they were right.

So what did we get out of their schedule? Lower test scores and not one of our six high schools managed to get an A.

Who was right? The School Board or the outspoken majority?

What a crime that one of the most affluent counties in the state can't even come up with one A high school. I am appalled.

Trisha Pavy , Naples

Letter: What do they know?

Editor, Daily News:

Being a resident of Southwest Florida has many benefits, along with a few inconveniences, but all in all this is a great place to live.

I have never seen snow (unless imported or synthetically produced) in Naples, and I hope I never do.

I cannot place a "value" on the commodity of this tropical lifestyle.

I actually had to laugh at the recent media hype referencing Naples real estate as being "overvalued" by 102 percent. Did the experts who "judged" the Naples market take into consideration the number of homeowners who do not reside here annually as well as the number of affluent people in this market who live here but don't need to work?

To those of you thinking of buying in Southwest Florida, take advantage of the "cooling" of a hot market. To those selling, it's just going to take a more realistic time frame than last year's record-breaking "an-hour-or-less-on-the-market" trend.

To the mortgage brokers, my fellow Realtors, home inspectors, etc., please don't forget those responsible when deciding where to advertise in the future.

Kurt E. Hoenig , Naples

Letter: Come on — chip in

Editor, Daily News:

Thank goodness for the Economic Development Council and Tami Nemecek and her efforts to keep the Daily News based in Collier County.

I am surprised at the reaction of the newspaper to the request to make affordable-housing donations.

If the newspaper doesn't want to make a donation, maybe you should allocate the old newspaper property on Central Avenue in Naples for affordable housing?

Ten acres would be a great start. We can only hope that a newspaper of your stature would set the example?

Jon Ogle , Naples

Letter: Better indeed

Editor, Daily News:

In D.A. Baumgartner's letter of June 10, he complains that President Bush's critics offer no alternatives and prefer to do "nothing." He correctly identifies the following Bush policy failures, but is wrong to think there are not better solutions.

War on terror: Had Vice President Cheney and Bush not diverted our resources from fighting the terrorists to invade Iraq, we would be safer and in a stronger position to deal with Iran and other threats.

Social Security: Doing nothing would be better than the Bush privatization plan which ultimately would fix Social Security by eliminating it. Means testing, increasing retirement age and wiser spending priorities are solutions that do not destroy the system.

Gas prices: Alternative energy sources, higher fuel economy standards and conservation would help. Removing gas taxes would be counterproductive, increasing demand and eventually prices.

Immigration: Bush has actually suggested a reasonable policy, but contrary to Baumgartner's assertions, it is his own party that is blocking progress.

The economy: The previous administration left a $127 billion budget surplus. Bush has never vetoed a spending bill, and his deficit spending has pushed the national debt to over $8 trillion which will cripple our nation for the foreseeable future.

Congress: Our representatives have failed to adequately implement the 9/11 commission's recommendations to make America safer. They have failed to hold this administration accountable for disregarding U.S. and international law. Replace them.

Supporters of the current administration have resorted to disparaging the opposition because it is difficult to defend their performance.

Robert Fulton , Naples and Boulder Junction, Wis.

Letter: Turnabout, sir?

Editor, Daily News:

The letter from Michael Rodriguez in the Daily News on Monday lists war crimes allegedly committed by U.S. troops in Haditha, Ishaki, Hamdaniya and Samarra, Iraq. He closes by stating: "These murders are war crimes and must be punished as such."

It saves us the trouble of a trial, doesn't it?

But wait. No mention of beheadings, roadside bombs, suicide bombers in marketplaces (allegedly?) by the enemy in their quest to slaughter the innocent.

No mention of the executed or thankfully exposed terrorist plots at home and abroad. It is the typically twisted, liberal la-la land letter to the editor our bloodthirsty foes salivate over.

If you're picking and choosing atrocities, Mr. Rodriguez, you can start with the militant jihadists. Or don't the ones that want you dead count?

Larry Meholick , Naples

Letter: Our champion

Editor, Daily News:

On behalf of the faculty and students at Lake Park Elementary School, I would like to acknowledge an unsung hero of our community.

For several years now, Sue Wilson of The Trophy Case has donated numerous individualized plaques and trophies to our students. These prizes have been awarded to those students demonstrating excellence in our Accelerated Reading program.

It is a heartwarming experience to witness the community recognizing and applauding the accomplishments of our wonderful students.

Thank you, Sue. This trophy is for you!

Suzanne Clarke , Naples, Media specialist, Lake Park Elementary

Letter: A time for us?

Editor, Daily News:

First the illegal immigrants want amnesty for breaking the law. Now they want us to change the ruling for athletic eligibility for them.

Little by little our politicians are giving them what they want. They want our country to be like their homelands — all screwed up. And our politicians are letting them do it. Why? For the almighty vote. I remember when politicians were elected to serve the people, not the noncitizens.

I hope everyone writes down the names of all those not doing their job, Republicans or Democrats. No, it's not just one party. It's both. Come election time, vote them out.

What do we want? Enforce our laws; bring our troops home and secure our borders from all immigrants entering illegally. Do away with that wet-foot/dry-foot bull. And, oh yes, get rid of that law that says children born on our soil are citizens regardless of the parents' status.

Yes, some laws should be changed — those that benefit we Americans, not the illegals.

Politicians, do the job you were elected to do, or step down.

Joe Volturno , Naples

Letter: Lest we forget

Editor, Daily News:

During the Clinton reign, contempt for the military and the intelligence agencies led to the gutting of defense and intelligence budgets. The attack on the USS Cole was the first attack on an American warship in our history that went unheeded. Many other Americans were killed in Muslim attacks on our embassies and overseas barracks. Muslim militants were emboldened during these years by our pitiful responses and correctly believed that he had no stomach for war.

This history almost certainly led to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in which over 3,000 people were slaughtered right here in America.

On Oct. 31, 1998, President Clinton signed a bill declaring that U.S. policy would be a regime change in Iraq and the establishment of a democratic government. The vote to adopt this policy of regime change through the use of force was passed unanimously by the Senate and by the vast majority in the House.

Two weeks later, Clinton merely launched bombing sorties and cruise missiles against Iraq. Both Saddam Hussein and Muslim militants were unimpressed and continued business as usual.

American policy on Iraq has been absolutely the same through two administrations, but "Billary" left President Bush with the dirty work. Our troops, who must carry out American policy, are obviously performing admirably. Elected politicians who voted for this policy in 1998, and have now changed their tune, do a tremendous disservice to our troops and our country and richly deserve to be unelected at the earliest opportunity.

Robert A. Strohaver , Retired Air Force colonel , Naples

Letter: You want charter government?

Editor, Daily News:

We have a charter form of government called democracy established by our Founding Fathers with our Constitution.

We get to elect politicians who we feel represent our views. We get to change our minds every two to four years. This form of charter government has served us well for 230 years.

The solution is not to give the people the ability to change their minds or the losing candidates ability to try to win — after the election.

The solution is for the citizens of this county, state and country to exercise their right to vote every time this important civic duty is required.

Thank you.

Roben B. Taglienti , Naples

Letter: Here and there

Editor, Daily News:

Before I moved to Naples, when I had trouble falling asleep I used to count sheep.

Now I count dump trucks.

Fred Hayes , Naples