Get rid of the double dippers
To the editor:
Re: “Double dip still legal, still wrong”
The article clearly states that this change in the law goes into effect on July 1, 2010. Sen. Fasano wanted it this month, but he had to compromise to get this bill passed because some state lawmakers are due to collect the double dip program and it would have affected them.
In other words this problem was not stopped immediately, as in most states where government would have stopped it after the first person applied for it. This has been going on for many years in Florida and has been accommodating legislatures, (state government) and city government employers just to name a few. Superintendent Browder, (public schools), all city workers, principals, teachers, janitors and bus drivers and on and on and on!
When you consider all of these people are drawing pensions and salaries all the way to top government officials and we the people are being threatened with higher taxes, mileage increases, LCEC rises which affect our well being it goes beyond just being a little dishonest.
Under the “Freedom of Information Act” I would like the statistics regarding how many people here in Cape Coral are double dipping and how much money goes for paying these people who double dip. Where does all this money come from? I think this information should be published in the paper exposing the dishonest practice and under-handed manipulation and misuse of authority and spending of both city and state funds. This should be made public knowledge. Where is the annual report that reflects how all of these people slipped through the so-called cracks for all of these years?
As many people are not working now due to this economy, I am certain with proper recruiting and advertising we can replace our so called, “great superintendent of schools” who is a double dipper, not to mention all of the principals, teachers, janitors and bus drivers. Government that is this dishonest should be replaced when elections come up. We need to know “who” these people are and how long we will have to pay for their aiding and abetting.
Is it any wonder that our city council spends our money like water through a sieve. Example of that would be the Utility Expansion Project. It is a known fact that similar cities have put sewers and water and irrigation in for under $10,000, tops. Whose friend got the bid in Cape Coral? I remember a local contractor attending a city council meeting with a list of 25 contractors that he knew personally and not one in Cape Coral got contacted. He said anyone of them would be cheaper, including himself.
I’ll bet it would amaze all of us if we knew how much money goes to these people yearly and comes out of our taxes. I wonder, is Cape Coral the “melting pot” where being dishonest is the accepted way of life?
By the way, the last city council meeting I attended one of the Cape Coral city council members expressed, “I have a vision for the City of Cape Coral.” Has the mayor asked its citizens what we envision in Cape Coral? For me personally, I would first like to work on getting rid of the waste of money in this city and the people who threaten us with more of the same.
Marilyn L. Andrews
Cape Coral