Comments by naples_rocket

Written on Police beat April 23, 2011:

in response to happy6:

surely this grand theft is not the one and only joey's pizza olivera...thiought he lived on heathwood in the big house...

it is!!!
http://www.marconews.com/photos/2011/...

Written on Guest Commentary: Marco Island Utilities rate recommendation ... Fair and equitable?:

I live in the condo on an individual meter. There's just me and my little kid. Yesterday I received my bill. $126. This is just out of control!!!

Written on Letter to the Editor: Three mandates for successful living:

I bough my home with the money I didn't have, I went to grad school with the money I didn't have. Two best financial decisions I've made in my entire life.
Lets not overestimate all this "if you don’t have the money, don’t buy it" deal. I'm pretty sure that richest countries in the world became such in the 20th century because ordinary citizens became able to do things with the money they did not have.
One thing is putting spa treatments and shopping trips on the credit card and totally different thing is taking out a loan to help ones kid to go through the medical school. In both cases something is being done with the money one does not have.
Taking on too much and not being able to repay is a totally different story.

Written on Teens charged with practicing medicine without a license on Marco Island :

I guess this "practicing medicine without a license" thing is just the same as when a homeless guy asks for change, gets arrested and is charged with "soliciting charitable donations without proper registration of charitable organization". I see this all the time in Collier County jail log.

Written on Marco residents concerned over taxes, water sewer rates:

in response to deltarome:

Marco City govt is blessed with an older average age. Less of our taxes go to pay for schools, which is not the case in cape coral or other cities where the average cost of a house is much less and there are more school age kids.
The fact that is overlooked here is that my house is worth the same as when I purchased it in 2002 yet my city taxes are 40% higher!
Tell me again how city govt is doing a job better than other cities???
If the state and county govt can lower millage rates since 2006, why is it that Marco City govt has to raise it year over year??

neither Marco Island nor Cape Coral governments have anything to do with taxes for public schools. Millage rates for each of 67 Florida school districts are set by the State of Florida up in Tallahassee.

Written on Teens charged with practicing medicine without a license on Marco Island :

well there are absolutely no jobs on Marco Island besides degrading hospitality ones. Those kids are just a consequence. Sad...

Written on Central Florida man faces 459 sex-related charges:

In Florida? I'm shocked!

Written on Police: Miami man set girlfriend on fire:

BRUTAL WAY TO GO

Written on Do people 50 and over have a reason to feel pessimistic about their future?:

50? I am in my 20s and I am pretty pessimistic about the future. At the rate things have been going, I don't believe anymore that I will ever be able to buy a home or afford having children :(

Written on Rallies set in Naples, Cape Coral to Awake the State to Rick Scott, budget cuts PHOTOS:

why would a realtor be against the cuts? Probably has his own agenda - make his name known and later sell something.

Written on It's official: Jackson Lab picks Sarasota for Florida outpost:

Whether you like it or not we live in the environment where companies shop around for the places where governments offers best incentives. Collier said no, Sarasota said yes. Is it good? Not really. But it is what it is. If one wants to make it, one has to adapt to the environment. Also, companies are moving to China and India not only because of cheap labor but also because their governments offer very big incentives. Some places chose to develop their economies some chose to decorate their hats with tea bags.

Written on Marcophiles: Speaker Boehner spotted in Naples, is a fan of Marco Movies:

he's just killing time between his tanning sessions

Written on Jeb Bush quiets presidential run talk but says country needs fixing:

in response to RayPray:

I can't find any information that Jeb owns a testing company. Which is it?

Pearson is a huge UK based and publicly owned educational publishing company. They publish the Financial Times, for example. They own many esteemed science publishing subsidiaries.

While these texts are expensive, this is no more so than other publishers today.

Pearsoned is involved with GMAT and educational supplies this. They also own PearsonVue which gives tests.

But there prices are in line with other professional certs like those offered by Comptia and Microsoft and Cisco, some of which are given by competitor Prometric.

While these may seem dear, the certs are the vocational equivalents of up to a BS degree in some areas, and the total expense is much cheaper than tuition and books from any college today.

I've taken many Prometric certs at $125-- each. These seemed dear, but was told by someone working for Prometric that the testing centers barely broke even on giving these exams.

In fact, in the last 10 years all the Prometric testing centers in SW FLA have shut down. The nearest remaining Pearson one in in Port Charlotte.

I suspect it is the same for GMAT.

I have small faith in any of these ed reform schemes floated by politicians.

Still how does Jeb control the huge company Pearson???

I would too like to see some link to verify the info that Jeb B is somehow connected to one of the testing companies...
I mentioned Pearson because I know that it does a lot of curriculum development and other stuff for our school district. Which is an empire by itself with way too many employees yet still manages to get away with hiring consultants for every little thing plus hires companies like Pearson to develop curriculum, etc. I am not saying that their products are bad, but they are just sooooo expensive. And what all these people at school district are doing if we have to hire an outside company do do this kind of job?
All the school district staff+school board members+superintendent+consultants+Pearson and we are talking real numbers.

Written on Jeb Bush quiets presidential run talk but says country needs fixing:

in response to u2cane:

captnjimbo writes:
Note how strong he is on the education problem.
.

That is because he owns a testing company, so he stands to gain a lot of money if we go to a test based pay schedule for teachers. It is not about education, it is about him making more money (just like it is with just about any politician these days).

Are you talking about Pearson?

I have been following this company since I took grad school admission tests. Exorbitant fees for nothing. Call center in India. For example, they administer GMAT. This test is required by most of the legit business schools not only here but worldwide! China, Europe, Singapore, you name it, everybody has to pay $250 and take it. Very often retake it. For an additional $250. I can only imagine the money they are making.
And all those $100-200 textbooks...

Anyway, I wonder how much money Collier C schools board dishes out to this corporation. Teachers keep talking about books, tests and other instructional materials from Pearson. Every time I go to the school board there's always somebody with Pearson badge in the elevator. Very interesting.

Written on Police beat: Feb. 2, 2011:

that's it???

Written on Florida Board of Education to consider fining school districts not meeting class-size limits:

there was a referendum and the majority of voters voted for the amendment.
I voted No just because I had an absentee ballot, voted at home in front of my computer and was able to research. If I was to vote on the election day... Smaller classes? Yes!

Written on Creating a moment in the sand:Illinois couple engaged after sand sculpture proposal on Marco Island beach:

in response to rolomokat:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

oh, why!!! I'd really like to know what was the response :)

Written on Creating a moment in the sand:Illinois couple engaged after sand sculpture proposal on Marco Island beach:

awww... how nice to find out that some men still believe in marriage. Took five years and very good looks, but it did happen, it did...

Written on ‘Happy Hanukkah’ banners waving again on Marco Island:

well, that's what happens when we have only one City council meeting a month. Just not enough drama to satisfy the demand. Islanders are forced to look for it in other places! City authorities should look into this and have two Council meetings every month and create drama there.

Written on POLL: High school on Marco Island one step closer to reality:

I just hope kids are not reading this "intelligent and mature" discussion

Written on Letter to the Editor: Our taxes earn us a high school:

in response to u2cane:

The daily 30-40 minute commute twice a day increases the chance of a mishap.

What? It takes me 40 minutes to get to North Naples. Lely is not that far.

Someone needs to go back to school.

The residents of Marco Island pay taxes for a high school located in another city. Our students deserve a high school that is close to their homes, because these homes are paying the taxes for their education.

These are county taxes, not city taxes that go towards the schools. Don't give the city any ideas to raise our taxes either!

school bus is not a car. It makes stops, it goes slower. It picks kids up in the Isles of Capri, as well as Mainsail. It does take forever to get to Lely.

Every year City of Marco sends $15 mil+ to county school board alone.

Written on Authorities busy with petty theft arrests:

and even busier making prostitution arrests...

Written on Marcophiles: Answer to Marco city financial strains — naming rights:

there are plenty of ways to raise money without taxing or "fee-ing". But political will is necessary. Unfortunately, all I've been hearing lately is cut, cut, cut. Might as well just unincorporate?

Written on Letter to the Editor: This Island teacher supports a high school:

in response to Joe_Btfsplk:

NO HIGH SCHOOL ON MARCO - NO NEED - EXCESS COST

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/o...

Written on Letter to the Editor: This Island teacher supports a high school:

in response to 4marcoisland:

Kerri L-the voice of reason. Thank you for sharing your well written letter. The Marco Island Academy will be an asset to this community. It is unfortunate that the Marco community fights about everything regardless of what it is. Hard to believe anyone would fight against a quality school. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I couldn't agree more.

I feel exactly the same way. I just cannot comprehend this. How can a community be against a quality school. Your money? Well, parents pay plenty of taxes too. Diversity? Please check demographics at TBE and Charter middle. It's more diverse than one can imagine.

All Marco politics is about residents/taxpayers v. chamber of commerce. Parents... we have no lobby, therefore all we get is leftovers. Not until Marco parents get organized, have their "Fay Biles", attend all council meetings, there will be no school, no decent sidewalks, no nothing.

Written on Under heat from restaurants, Marco Island moves to consider impact fee moratorium:

Klabautermann,

please find Collier County fees and take a look at them . They are abnormally high. Some are 3-4 TIMES higher than those in Marco.

There is a government A that charges $1000 fee for a service X. There is a government B that charges $250 fee for the same service X. Government A decides to lower fee for the service X by 25 percent, government B decides to increase the fee by 25 percent. New fee for the service X in A is $750 and in B it is $312.50. Klabautermann's logic suggests that government A is way better than government B.

Written on Marco Island approves 15 percent tax rate increase, limits oil spill reserves:

in response to marco97:

Rocket, They should resign if they are not paying their taxes, it is not because they don't own real estate. I don't care if they are not paying the mortgage but if you do not pay the tax bill for 2 years and you increase mine I have a problem with that.

Yet again, your argument comes back to the premise that one who owns real estate is more worthy of a citizen than one who does not.

Written on Marco Island approves 15 percent tax rate increase, limits oil spill reserves:

in response to islandeye1#236971:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

based on what? That they don't own any real estate?
Next logical step would be taking away the right to vote from those Marco citizens that don't own real estate, huh?

Written on POLL: Group opposes proposed Marco charter high school during Collier School Board meeting:

“I think there is elitism and racism among supporters,” he said. “Most families who live in Marco can afford private school education if necessary.”

Well, Mr. Swiacki I would suggest you visiting administrators at both schools on Marco and ask for some demographics. At least at Tommie Barfield every third child receives free or reduced price lunch, meaning that those kids are from low or very moderate income families.
It is so funny that so many people think that Marco is inhabited with millionaires. Yes, there are plenty of wealthy old people here, but young families with children, people who have to make a living by going to work are very far from being wealthy and can only dream about private schools for their kids. Plus, there are plenty of private schools in Naples.

Written on Big laughs: Capt. Brien's and Off the Hook celebrate 10 years:

I stop by for oysters and 2 for 1 drinks once in a while.
However, I've heard that it is the worst place to work at on all Marco. Very few same faces.

Written on BP stops paying tourism claims on lower Gulf Coast, angering hoteliers:

Can all these hotels and restaurants provide numbers from 2009 that we could compare with this year?
Most of the people coming to Marco/Naples in the summer are from the east coast Fl and they know very well what goes on here.
I spent some time up north this summer and as somebody said before, people up there don't care about oil spill and have heard very little about it. Same story with the Arizona law. Nobody even knows about it. I felt like I'm in some foreign country.

Written on PHOTOS: Rubio blames Obama policies for slow job growth during Marco visit :

I don't like this guy. Plus he is broke. He has absolutely no personal assets, his net worth starts with a minus. That says a lot.

Klabautermann, I am in my late 20s and I love living on Marco, because it is small, quiet, people are old, there are no drunks yelling in the middle of the night. If one does not like that, well, Miami is only 2 hours away, Key West is not that far either.

However, this area is the area of passive wealth. If you have no "connections", all you've got is low-paying seasonal jobs in hotels, restaurants, and list of other $10-13/hr-no benefit gigs. I know lots of not-76-year-olds who would love to live here, but... cost of living is very high, yet job market for jobs that pay living wages is extremely bad.

Written on Marco Island holds meeting on water rates: Condo owners fear getting soaked:

in response to kosherdeli:

It's about time Condo Owners start to Pay the same as Home Owners for there Water & Sewer Rates. What do they think there Special because they live in Apartment Building?

Sir, I don't know why are you saying that, but I live in a condo where utilities are not included and I pay close to $100/month. There are two of us there. I cannot imagine paying more than that!!!
I believe that real problem is condos where utilities are included in association fees. Their residents do not save water nor electricity.

Written on Public meetings scheduled in Marco to discuss contentious utility rate increases :

There are two of us living in the condo. I cook at home maybe twice a week, therefore have very little dishes to do. I do maybe two loads of laundry a week. I take short cold showers. Yet my bill is always close to a $100. Why am I paying that much???

Written on Taking away the keys: Marco, other agencies reduce employee take-home cars:

"She is without a doubt the most disliked person on Marco Island."

Really? I cannot think of any other person on this island whom I like more than her.

Written on Collier deputies, Marco police discuss speeding danger on Collier Boulevard:

I believe that the biggest problem in this are is that left lane is the slow lane and right one is a passing lane.
Just the other day I was going back to Marco. There was one car in front of me and one behind me. We all were in the left lane, all doing 50. At the Capri light there was a car waiting to turn right. Because three of us were in the left lane car from the Capri light started turning right into the right lane. At the same time car behind me decided to pass me and the car in front of me by moving to the right lane. Well and exactly at the same time that car from Capri light pulled out. So I slammed on my breaks that car from behind me could get back to the left lane in front of me and avoid the collision. It was a matter of seconds.
I keep thinking, who is an idiot here. One who pulled out of the Capri light or the one from behind me who decided to pass me... Probably both.

Written on Gov. Crist signs Back to School Sales Tax Holiday bill:

Well, my kid is in elementary school, but last year I barely spent $100 on school stuff and that included clothing. Gee... those 6 bucks will really help us this year.

Written on Marco resident sent e-mail to council before manager fired, saying plan was 'no secret':

in response to sailingby:

"Sacher said Friday he first heard about the plan to fire Thompson from Marco Island Taxpayer Association President Fay Biles the week before council made the decision."

Biles egotistic power trips are legendary. She has been honing her skills of behind the scenes manipulation for over a decade and has apparently managed to pull off a coup d'etat while also managing implausible deniability. “I took no part at all in this,” Biles said.

Biles has been stacking the Council Chambers for years with dissidents and misanthropes and those who just like to bash the powers that be for amusement, species that unfortunately thrive when thrown together and who are especially shortsighted.

Biles organizes behind the scenes letter to the editor campaigns and emails to City Councilor campaigns so she can hide behind her aloofness and Ph.D. and self appointed status as President of MITA (Marco Island Taxpayers Assoc) since its inception.

She is not only self distructing now but she is also attempting to take down the City government of Marco with her.

Recker seems to have lost his ability to think clearly and is reacting to Biles con job of creating a smoke screen with her angry followers so that he cannot see beyond it to the vast majority of the Islanders who are shocked and outraged by his actions.

Sad day for Marco Islanders.

Riviere would be well advised to slow down and be cautious at this point in time. Hopefully he will rely on a long view and what is best for Marco Island by considering that Biles voice is more shrill than substantive. And that the rest of us who have been bullied by her and her angry mob are looking for someone who will fight back and be thoughtful and reasoned in the midst of chaos.

WOW!

Written on Collier district changed high school grading system, but not everyone was told:

in response to Detslady106:

Collier County is the WORST county I have EVER seen in my LIFE!! 4 schools in the county were named as the WORST in the country. Geeh, I wonder why......

wonder why?... maybe because so many parents and kids in this area have trouble communicating in English, let alone do not give a blasted about education nor own a single book.
Although, I would agree that CC administrators blow.

Written on Christine Harrison special to the eagle Stan Gober, left, with his son Steve Gober look forward to c:

class a act we will see u there not many restaurant owners as great as stan

Written on Taste of Marco offers feast of festivities:

famous fish is there wow heard great things about it melvin just read the trip advisor

Written on VIDEO: To catch a thief: Marco police need your help:

ha ha ha

Crazy Flamingo has become a hangout for Mexicans, Romanians, etc. It was only a matter of time when smth of this nature would happen.

Marco police dept should visit that place once in a while. I'm sure INS would find things to take care of as well.

Written on New records released in Somer Thompson's death:

class a dirtball throw away the key please

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