http://www.marconews.com/news/opinion/letters/?partner=RSSmarconews.com Stories: Lettersen-usopinion/lettershttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/20/letter-editor-sidewalk-and-parking-education-begin/?partner=RSSThis letter is response to the sidewalk parking issues on Marco. After reading all the recent interviews, columns and comments pertaining to the issues, there was very little mentioned in any of them about all the sidewalk parking laws and ordinances that exist. Then listing to the comments made at the Oct. 5 City Council meeting on this issue, made by councilman and public speakers, it was made very clear that the majority of them have no idea about all the laws that prohibit sidewalk parking. This is a 24/7 out of control sidewalk parking situation on Marco Island, it is nothing new, it’s been going on the entire 20 years I’ve lived here and gets worse every year. (I live here 365 days a year). Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216625-733731opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Sidewalk and parking education for beginnersmarconews.comletter-editor-sidewalk-and-parking-education-beginurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216625-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/18/letter-editor-buyback-success/?partner=RSSJust wanted to let everyone know that our first annual Halloween candy buyback was a great success! The event was held on Nov. 1, 2009 and had a tremendous response from the community. Bonita Dental Care, Marco Dental Care and Ft. Myers Dental Care all participated in the event. Even though we were paying $1 per pound for candy, we had a overwhelming number of people that just wanted to donate their candy for the cause. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:50:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216266-733729opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Buyback a successmarconews.comletter-editor-buyback-successurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216266-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/18/letter-editor-thank-you/?partner=RSSOn behalf of the American Cancer Society of Marco Island, I would like to thank the Optimist Club of Marco Island for sponsoring Camp R.O.C.K. Day at their homecoming games on Oct. 31. Thanks to the generosity of the board members that include Tom Garousi, President Jim Young, Vice President Bill Hollowsky, Treasurer Fred Krammer, Secretary Terese Glasser, Director at Large Kim Burke, League Chairman/Soccer Greg West, League Chairman/Football and Diane Tryna, League Chairman/Basketball, we were able to host a 50-50 raffle to benefit children of cancer. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:48:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216265-733729opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Thank you!marconews.comletter-editor-thank-youurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216265-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/18/letter-editor-view-room/?partner=RSSOne lone gull just crossed the path of the 40-foot luxury fishing boat. It gleams an almost unbearable white as it just starts to slow down entering the Big Marco Pass; there passing a 30-footer headed to Keewaydin, each giving the other the boater’s wave. It’s Tuesday. Boat traffic is light and bird traffic is sparse this time of day; most are hunting offshore. I am sitting in bed trying to nurse walking pneumonia. I landed in Fort Myers on Saturday, feeling awful. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216264-733729opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: A view with a roommarconews.comletter-editor-view-roomurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216264-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/18/letter-editor-lets-live-within-our-budget/?partner=RSSIn response to Steve Stefanides commentary, I would agree only to working together for solutions to our city’s problems. This city needs to recognize that most residents are coping with the worst economic times in our nation’s history. I would urge residents to join the Marco Island Taxpayers Association if only to get a summary of what is happening on Marco Island each month. If you care where your tax dollars go, you will be informed by newsletter mailed to your home. Stefanides refers to us as a small group of people complaining about how this city is run. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216263-733729opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Let’s live within our budgetmarconews.comletter-editor-lets-live-within-our-budgeturn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216263-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/18/letter-editor-911-number-one/?partner=RSSI would like to express my humble opinion on a very important issue that seems to be trivial and superfluous to some. First, I would like to say that many Americans are fed up with the double-talking cartoon-like characters in government dictating our lives. They are angry at the double standard and the “do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do” attitude of our pseudo-sophisticated politicians and bureaucrats. Man people here in our community seem to view everything through rose-colored glasses. It’s comforting to some to have fancy bridges, bike paths, dog parks, flowery medians, underground wires, over-abundance of sidewalks and parks. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:41:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216262-733729opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: 911 is number onemarconews.comletter-editor-911-number-oneurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-216262-733729Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/12/letter-editor-council-consensus-2010-budget-and-fu/?partner=RSSI’ve just returned from the City Council meeting Nov. 9, and was extremely disappointed at the consensus reached during the council communications portion of the meeting when most of the audience had already left for the day. For those of you who were not there and other concerned citizens, the council reached a consensus that the direction they gave to the city manager to come back with recommendations designed to save the city an additional $480,000 was going to be too disruptive to accomplish now, and there should be no further effort expended to develop savings that would affect the fiscal 2010 budget. The 2010 budget was to be frozen, and yes, the review process could go forward, but only for the yet to be developed 2011 budget cycle. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:55:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215748-733723opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Council consensus, the 2010 budget, and the futuremarconews.comletter-editor-council-consensus-2010-budget-and-fuurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215748-733723Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/12/letter-editor-review-water-meter-rates/?partner=RSSAs I have said in the past, water meter rates were set by independent professionals, Public Resources Management Group, Inc., and while there seems to be some controversy about a disparity in rates as charged to condominiums in comparison to single family structures as compiled by Amedeo Petricca, I would suggest that any disparities that might exist would be due to the complexity of the subject. The Marco Island Water Utility, purchased on October 20, 2003, uses the water rate structure previously used by Florida Water Services. This structure is commonly used across the country and is based on the following facts: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:54:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215747-733723opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: A review of water meter ratesmarconews.comletter-editor-review-water-meter-ratesurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215747-733723Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-housing-leads-way-economic-recove/?partner=RSSSome economists have been suggesting the recession is largely over, and the U.S. economy appears to be breathing new life. A major factor in this resuscitation is the ongoing stabilization and steps toward recovery in the real estate market. Sales are higher than year-ago levels. Pending sales for single family homes increased 163.64 percent year-to-date October 2008 to October 2009 and increased from last month (September 2009) 81.25 percent. Pending sales for all property types from October to October period increased 77.78 percent. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:55:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215175-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Charlie Neal, 2009 President, Marco Island Area Association of RealtorsMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Housing leads the way to economic recoverymarconews.comguest-commentary-housing-leads-way-economic-recoveurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215175-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-lets-work-together-solutions/?partner=RSSOver the last several months our community has struggled through the process known as the annual budget. This year has been somewhat more tedious than others due to the downturn in the economic conditions around the world. Failing financial institutions, plummeting property values and the loss of jobs we’re felt by us all, so we don’t need sanctimonious lectures from those that make complaining instead of problem solving their only contribution. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215173-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Steve “Stef” StefanidesMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Let’s work together for solutions marconews.comguest-commentary-lets-work-together-solutionsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215173-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-effective-budgeting-challenging-t/?partner=RSSWhile reading the front page article in last Sunday’s Eagle, “City Budget Cuts Don’t Please All,” I became concerned about numerous misleading comments, including comparing our financial process to “renovating a house while it’s on fire,” and council’s direction to explore additional cost savings as a “financial witch hunt.” Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215172-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Dr. Bill Trotter, City CouncilorMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Effective budgeting in challenging timesmarconews.comguest-commentary-effective-budgeting-challenging-turn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215172-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/letetr-editor-future-our-city/?partner=RSSThis letter is addressed to those in the city who don’t seem to know what the financial status is of our city. It is fine for Ed Issler and Steve Stefanides and their kind to be critical of MITA because it is pretty obvious they do not know the facts, figures, and impact that MITA has studied intently. Are they aware that the debt of this city stands at $165 million plus, plus as of Sept. 30, 2008. The amount at the end of 2009 will be known in the financial audit. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215170-733717opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: The future of our citymarconews.comletetr-editor-future-our-cityurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215170-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-condos-should-be-rewarded-efficiency/?partner=RSSI am not a political activist and I don’t want to be, but I am a long time condo owner and a full time resident and several of my neighbors have asked me to put out a point of view to answer those calling for a 400 percent increase in our base sewer charges. It does appear to be noble that these increases could help offset the 1.7 million dollar shortfall to utility invoicing ... but that is another story ... skip to the last paragraphs if you want to focus on that point alone. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:36:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214775-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Condos should be rewarded for efficiencymarconews.comletter-editor-condos-should-be-rewarded-efficiencyurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214775-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-budget-concerns/?partner=RSSWhat’s wrong with asking the city manager to propose additional budget cuts? Your headline in the Sunday edition, “City budget cuts don’t please all.” As one of the individuals mentioned in the article suggesting the City Council take a closer look at the budget, I would like to respond as follows: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214773-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Budget concernsmarconews.comletter-editor-budget-concernsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214773-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-thompsons-predicament/?partner=RSSThe front page article in the Nov. 1 issue of this newspaper contained two reported statements, attributed to the city manager that merit particular attention. The first entry stated that Mr. Thompson compared the city financial process with that “of renovating a house while it’s on fire.” Precisely what relevant information this disturbing analogy attempts to convey, and what the citizens of this city are supposed to make of it, is anyone’s guess. Perhaps Thompson dismisses annual budget trials in general as hopeless. Or it could be that he reserves this judgment exclusively for those that take place here on Marco Island. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214771-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Thompson’s predicamentmarconews.comletter-editor-thompsons-predicamenturn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214771-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-rates-seem-fair/?partner=RSSThere continues to be some concern primarily between Marco Island home and condo owners over meter rates. Homes which are individually metered, pay $23.69 base rate per month while condo owners pay $4.39 when tied to a master meter. On the surface this seems patently unfair. I am making, I hope, a correct assumption that the two rates were set on a break-even basis to cover the costs (primarily administrative) associated with the following: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214770-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Rates seem fairmarconews.comletter-editor-rates-seem-fairurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214770-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-water-costs/?partner=RSSCondo owners continue to pay less for a gallon of water than the single family home residents pay. Those who follow island politics know this happened in order to get the votes needed to win the last election. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214769-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Water costsmarconews.comletter-editor-water-costsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214769-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-magel-supporter/?partner=RSSAlong with so many other Marco Island residents, I am concerned about the city’s spending. I have sent letters expressing my concern to Rob Popoff, the chairman of the City Council, and Steve Thompson, the city manager, but received no reply from either. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214767-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Magel supportermarconews.comletter-editor-magel-supporterurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214767-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-public-record-requests-veils-hidden-/?partner=RSSI have been following with much interest the recent articles on the “A” Rated Marco Island Charter Middle School, regarding individuals requesting public records. Comments have been made with respect to “transparency,” however it is interesting to note that there is never a mention of what these individuals are searching for, nor what their motives are, therefore it is obvious that the party that is lacking transparency are the individuals making these public records request. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:23:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214766-733714opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Public record requests veils hidden agendamarconews.comletter-editor-public-record-requests-veils-hidden-urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214766-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor-pet-o-ween-thanks/?partner=RSSOn behalf of the American Cancer Society I would like to publicly thank the following people for volunteering their time at Pet O Ween, a costume contest for owners and pets to benefit children of cancer. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214456-733710opinion/lettersStaff WriterMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: Pet O Ween thanksmarconews.comletters-editor-pet-o-ween-thanksurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214456-733710Change0Usable