Letter: Investigation required

Editor, Daily News:

Several months ago, our city manager spoke up at a council meeting and stated that a group of Marco Island citizens may have planted evidence of asbestos contamination. Those comments were repeated in this paper not long ago.

In addition, Marco City Councilman Glenn Tucker made note of photographic evidence of the same allegation in a following council meeting, but he did seem to question his own judgment even while he spoke.

Since that time, I have wondered about the veracity of this allegation. I have written the city and the council repeatedly and have never received a response. I know that others have done so as well. It is time for the city to show us the proof. I am not an attorney, but if the allegation cannot be substantiated, has not the city libeled the citizens?

Do the citizens not have the right to investigate the evidence under the Freedom of Information Act? If evidence does exist, those citizens need to be brought to justice. Think of the expense created by their actions. If it doesn't exist, we are all owed a sincere public apology, at least.

I am forever curious as to why neither of our local papers have ever investigated this issue. One would think that it would be delicious reading and sell lots of newsprint. If a citizen were to claim photographic evidence of a councilman taking a bribe from a developer, I would bet that the paper would take notice.

John Putnam , Marco Island