People just do not have the money
To the editor:
On Tuesday evening I arrived at the Cape Coral utilities meeting place at 6 p.m. I stood online for over an hour before I and hundreds of others finally cleared the security check and were allowed to enter. At my request I was given a number allowing me to stand in line to address the city council and staff. My number was B65. Needless to say I did not get the opportunity to speak because I had to leave the meeting at 9:15 p.m. when number A65 was on deck.
This is what I would have said:
As you see I do not wear a stop or a go button on my chest. I have already paid utility assessments two times therefore I do not want to pay more. I feel for all the people who cannot afford to pay the proposed utility costs. In today’s economy many do not have the financial resources to pay a mortgage and put food on the table at the same time. City council must sincerely take this into account when you reach your decision.
In support of council and staff I must point out that they were caught between a rock and a hard place. They were planning for the future in good faith until the economy tanked and without question it tanked for all of us. I realize that no matter what decision our council makes on Monday, it will be an unpopular decision for one side or the other.
If council puts a hold on the project it will mean an increase in my utility rates. However, I am willing to pay more under the following conditions. My rate increase will be paid as a loan to the city and must be returned to me or my estate in the future, with interest, when the majority of homes within city limits are connected to the utility system.
Further more, the city of Cape Coral utilities and maintenance department has enough experienced skilled trade employees to take over the installation of the utility expansion. They are the ones who are maintaining the system already in place. They could complete this project at half the price. Lee County has hundreds of skilled people out of work who would be more than willing to do this installation section by section. Come on city council, put on your thinking caps and make the right decision that will benefit the present and future of this great city.
Has city council looked into federal or state funds to help finance this project? If our government can bail out foreign auto companies with our money, why can’t they bail out the Cape?
Brian Whitehouse
Cape Coral