To the editor:

Our city website contains approximately one year of council meetings and documents. We can’t look back to see how Council has governed and how our hard-earned money is being squandered. We won’t know who acted on our behalf, except for one year. Should this and other deceptive practices continue, the public will see a corrupt organization, not individual Council members.

Fort Myers’ website includes videos and documents from 2019; Bonita Springs, 2015; Port St. Lucie, 2019, North Port, 2014; Venice, 2013 and Sanibel, 1974.

Our utility rates, impact fees, the stipend and salaries were determined by using data from other municipalities, some of which are above. Consultants gather data from other municipalities to generate studies that justify increases in taxes, fees and other charges. If cyber security is a problem why not retain consultants to bring us into compliance and help our city clerk ? Or is there something Council and/or staff doesn’t want us to see?

Voters will push back in 2024 and 2026. I intend to use any legal means necessary to defeat any referendum that codifies Council’s illegitimate stipend, no matter how it’s framed.

Apparently, Council doesn’t want working people at the meetings. Why else would Council consider 9 a.m. meetings, a draconian move? Why not charge $100 admission and keep the “pesky residents” away? This appears to be another self-inflicted wound, like the stipend, destroying the Yacht Club and Jaycee Park. Council shoots itself in both feet while implying, through rule changes, it’s the residents fault.

Good luck in November.

John Sullivan

Former mayor

Cape Coral