Southwest Florida is in hot water because we have ignored our water: your say

Hot water

Millions of people and billions of dollars are attracted to Florida for her twin gifts of climate and clean water. We are now in deep doo-doo, because we have neglected the water.

Red tide (saltwater) and blue-green algae (freshwater) are normal organisms. But their overgrowth this year is catastrophic: uncountable deaths in fish, turtles, manatees, shellfish; unlimited dollar losses in tourism and
hospitality; no end in sight.

The explosive growth has one base: too much nutrient. We have fed them nitrogen and phosphorus in overdose amounts, and they flourish. Their red-and-blue disaster threatens our Florida dream.

Let’s not point fingers: we all add nutrients to our groundwater. We all want green grass, so we fertilize our lawns, parks, golf courses, highway medians. We all produce sewage and most have municipal facilities. But
thousands of private facilities, uninspected, may be leaking.

We spread tons of fertilizer (principally phosphorus and nitrogen) on gardens, orchards and fields, without regard to minimum needs. Farm fields, commercial gardens, orchards, cane fields all contribute excess (and excessive) nutrient to our estuary. Big Sugar is a major offender.

So what can we do? In a previous letter, I proposed a universal one-year ban on chemical fertilizer.

Drastic? Yes. Do you have a better idea? 

S.R. Maxeiner Jr., Fort Myers

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Educated voter

Amendment 10 seems to provide feel-good goals for the most part. But, as there is always a but, the proposal to provide critical protection for our overall public safety is laughable.

Let’s create an Office of Domestic Security and Counter Terrorism. This office would not increase the size of government or increase taxes according to the three proponents statement.

Each new amendment must be read and understood by each voter. Do not be swayed by guest columnists or TV ads. Become an educated voter. 

Catherine Donnelly, Fort Myers Beach 

Privatization bias

It’s bewildering that Rick Scott leads Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate race among older voters (Poll: Nelson, Scott in Virtual Tie, The News-Press, Oct. 5), because these Floridians rely on Social Security.

If Republicans retain control of Congress next year, President Trump’s economic adviser Larry Kudlow promises to “tackle” one of the great political achievements of the 20th century: Social Security.

Why? Republican politicians are funded by wealthy people who can make millions off the “personalized” accounts of the rest of us. Don’t enable them. Social Security is a dependable, risk-free base of income that tracks inflation in a world where pensions are disappearing, savings can be depleted and investments can erode.

Sen. Nelson opposed President Bush’s 2005 attempt to privatize Social Security. Scott is vague and doesn’t even mention Social Security under “Issues” on his campaign website, but he once stated that he “want[s] everybody in a 401(k).” Scott favors privatization for Medicaid, Medicare, the VA, Florida schools, and Florida prisons. If Social Security were an exception to his privatization bias, given the demographics of our state, don’t you think he would be shouting it from the rooftops?

Protect Social Security and vote Nelson.

Connie Holzinger, Fort Myers

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Yes on 9

As we approach election day 2018, the long list of amendments can be intimidating. I want to call attention to Amendment 9. This is a must vote yes. It would ban drilling for oil on Florida's coasts.

Secondly, if you have a chance to interact with candidates for the Florida Legislature, grill them on what they propose to do to clean up Florida's terrible record of preserving conservation lands. Funds for a constitutional amendment that was passed in 2014 to protect water and land for conservation have been diverted to funding state operations, a misapplication of millions of dollars. The Florida Wildlife Federation has sued the Legislature, but looking to the future, we need to know that the legislators will honor the wishes of the voters.

Thirdly, support the Florida Wildlife Federation. They're doing good work to help preserve the quality of our precious surroundings. Check them out on the web, maybe give a little.

Theodore Brown, Bonita Springs

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