Thank you for voting
To the editor:
First and foremost, I want to thank all the voters who came out and voted in the Primary for John M. Carioscia Sr., for City Council, District 2.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the choice will be clear.
I, John M. Carioscia Sr., stand for growth, progress and, most importantly, results. Over the last four years, I have voted to restart the UEP. The result: For the first time ever, base water rates were lowered and locked in for 10 years.
And what about city employee pension reform? Over the years, many Councils have talked about it, all candidates have promised it, but I voted for the pension reform resolution. The result: A savings of 185 million tax dollars, over the next 25 years.
We have also directed the City Manager to take advantage of the extremely low interest rates and to refinance City debt. The result: A savings of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars in interest.
We have reviewed all the positions on the City payroll. The result: We now have almost 100 fewer employees on the payroll, than we did when I was sworn in four years ago.
We have diversified the City’s revenue stream. The result: We now have economic sustainability. Just like an investment portfolio, we no longer rely on just one source for revenue. To buffer the Fire Service Assessment and before I would agree to a Public Service Tax, we would lower the millage rate by 1 full millage point. The result: Over 16 million real estate tax dollars were saved by our residents. With this new revenue stream we will be able to address our declining and dilapidated infrastructure, comprised of roads, bridges, City vehicles and City equipment. We are paving residential streets for the first time in decades. We will also be able to add more street lights, begin to beautify our medians, address our alleys and add more sidewalks.
Presently, with the hiring of an engineering firm, as well as appropriating the necessary needed funds, we are closer than ever before, to the removal of the Chiquita Lock. The land owned by the City, known as Academic Village, located at Kismet and Del Prado, is awaiting further review by the Army Corp of Engineers, so we can move forward with proposals for the Mall, that we have always wanted, here in the Cape. We hope to break ground next year for that mall. And let me mention something about that beautiful Boat House restaurant located in the Yacht Club. The decision to take the bid for that Boat House, allowed us to increase our revenue for that beach front site, from $12,000 a year, from the previous business, to the City receiving over $200,000, since the opening of that new restaurant, just 18 months ago.
Now, regarding the LCEC contract. I have an obligation to gather and vet any and all information relative to the facts of the matter, both negative and positive, so we can decide, who is to provide electrical service for the residents of Cape Coral. Once the residents have received all the information on the issue, I would support a referendum for that final decision and then support the choice of the residents.
We currently have a civil and effective Council, one that I am proud to be a part of, so, let’s keep the Cape moving forward.
John M. Carioscia Sr.
Candidate for Cape Coral
Council District 2