Times have changed; UEP also should
To the editor:
My daughter owns a home in section 6/7. She and her fiance purchased the home two years ago. Her day is spent going to the career service center, applying for jobs, dropping in at the HUD office in the Cape, signing up for college, applying for recovery funds to pay for college, and being on the phone with Bank of America/Countrywide trying to find out the status of their mortgage which is in review. I know, because I teach at a Cape school and during the summer I have been able to accompany her as she attempts to deal with these issues.
I was not able to attend the last meeting but after speaking with my parents, who have lived on Palm Tree for many years, I felt I an obligation to write and share our family’s opinions. My husband works for the county. My daughter was born before Cape Hospital was set up for deliveries, but my son, who attends FGCU, was delivered here. We appreciate many things that the Cape has given us and have done our best to support the area. My children received quality education, good health care, and a safe place to play in Cape Coral.
To Ms. Bertolini: We disagree with your statement that “I paid my water assessment and I do not want to pay anyone else’s”. My mother said, “I would gladly pay double my water bill if it kept just one family from losing their home.” We feel you are comparing apples and oranges. Paying the $12,000 that it cost my husband and I when we bought our home for $80,000 is not comparable to paying $17,000 in this economy. My husband and I made enough of a profit from the sale of a Cape Coral home which we owned for 12 years to assist in paying the assessment. You are asking people who have no money to end up paying $65,000 (assessment + interest) for a home which they could not sell for $60,000 in today’s market. They have no way to even make a dent in this assessment.
Suggestions:
– Drop the project for two years
– Find a way to remove the contractor form the project. How can we have confidence in a contractor who has charged $10,000 for one area and then $30,000 for the next area, down to $17,000 for this area? Pay a fine and get them out of our area.
– Find and hire a local contractor who will use local workers.
– Find a way to offer 0 percent financing to homeowners. Find a grant that will pay the fees for hookup for all residents.
– Fire the city manager. He is pompous and arrogant. He does not speak well for our city and its residents.
Sheryl and Al Terepka
Cape Coral