When Did Residents Become the Problem?

Simple question: How do we make sure Marco Island remains a great place to live while managing the pressures of tourism and growth?

Of course, tourism matters. Local businesses matter, but the balance with the residents’ interests has gotten out of balance.

Too often, residents who speak up about traffic, over-development, noise, infrastructure, or the changing character of our island feel like they are being treated as the problem.

I’ll never forget comments made by former city councilors such as: “If you had wanted an HOA, you should have moved to a gated community for 55-plus” and, my personal favorite, “how anti-intellectual you people are.”

Really???? The residents are the problem?

Wanting responsible growth doesn’t mean you are anti-business. Wanting a reasonable noise ordinance doesn’t mean you are against visitors. And, most importantly, wanting our city councilors to listen to us doesn’t mean we want to live in an age 55-plus community.

It means we want a responsible, responsive government, served by elected officials who have personal integrity, no personal agendas, and who deeply love our island.

That is why I support Teri Somerfeld, Rick Woodworth, and Dennis Bartolucci for city council. They understand that Marco Island is first and foremost a community and that residents deserve our voices to be heard.

Marco Island does not need to stop growing; it needs to grow responsibly, while protecting our quality of life.  Please vote for Teri, Rick, and Dennis!