Stronger fertilizer ordinance needed
To the editor:
As a resident of Cape Coral, I have been following with great interest the debate between industry and environmentalists regarding fertilizer ordinances.
Folks like Ben Bolusky who represents the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, advocate the state model ordinance as sufficient to protect our waters. The environmentalists claim that our area of Southwest Florida has waters that are impaired and that is the reason why we need a stronger fertilizer ordinance than what the model ordinance requires.
I enjoy living in the Cape because of the water. I like to boat, fish and swim and that is why I chose to live in this area of Southwest Florida. I don’t want to see red tide or algae in the water (and I am sure that my friends and neighbors don’t want to see it either.)
I know the hotel and restaurant owners don’t like red tide or green algae either; it hurts their business!
I am impressed with the way Sanibel, Lee County and other counties and municipalities are trying to protect our waterways with fertilizer ordinances that have stricter regulations. Cape Coral is the only city in the county that hasn’t adopted a landscaping ordinance and I think they should get with the program and adopt an ordinance like the ones that are already in place.
We need to clean up our waters, and need stronger laws to protect those waters, not weaker ones. I like the color green, but not in my canal or river.
Beverly Saltonstall
Cape Coral