Bill Barnett presents Naples Potpourri

It’s hard to believe that spring is almost over and another busy Naples season has ended. I hope that it has been a good season for those of you that spent your time here and I’m sure you have noticed the increased activity in Naples no matter where you look, I hear about it every day.

I don’t sit and watch every City Council meeting. I will occasionally watch one and it seems the mayor has a habit that I think is as disrespectful as one can have. When you are an elected official in Naples or for that matter any town, city, village or whatever it is that requires an official election there comes with that elected position a word called respect. To make it easy they are officially called the Rules of Procedure, and when the elected officials speak or ask to be heard they are to be addressed properly by their title, period. I have been a part of many City Council meetings and served on many other boards but never have I ever been addressed by a board chair by my last name, and never would I ever consider doing that during a meeting, but watching the mayor of the City of Naples Florida during a Council meeting address her fellow council members by their last names and not their title during the entire meeting is just plain Disrespectful. Some think it’s funny while others will ask me what the matter is with her and why doesn’t one of her elected officials speak up when being addressed by their last name. This little game of hers has been going on for years, and the bottom line is that it’s simply a slap in the face for those called on and the City of Naples. I wish I had an answer and perhaps someone who reads this article will enlighten me.

For me this is the. toughest time of the year to write an article, because normally just about everything in the City of Naples and Collier County have been covered one way or the other. They are all inclusive of everything from new restaurants to new developments. However, this year so far has been anything but boring and I wonder what all of you that read Life in Naples are thinking right now about the world outside of your doorstep? I have never written about hardcore politics outside of the City of Naples and Collier County, I’m not sure I could but I can’t take my mind off of what I see and read daily. I’ll share a few thoughts with you; they are strictly mine and they change daily. It does not matter whether I’m a Republican or Democrat. Although it’s extremely difficult to single out just one incident with everything going on both nationally and, in the world. If I had to pick one issue that just makes me ill it’s the TSA one. Just watching those good people go without paychecks and not just that but the trickle-down effect it’s having on so many more of us is horrific. Just how insensitive can a person be? It seems as if we have totally forgotten who we are and what we stand for. When I watch on TV a mom crying and insisting she doesn’t want to take from her sixteen-year-olds bank account so they can get food and supplies for their table because she can’t get her paycheck. It makes me sad. I do know that many of you who read Life in Naples share different opinions about the above and I’m eternally hopeful that we can resolve this because the damage just seems to continue with a lot of promises, but not much in results.

It’s of course that time of year after Easter and Passover that we begin to see the first car carriers in Naples ready to head to different parts of our country and enjoy some of their spring and summer weather. The traffic will dwindle down so it will be manageable and restaurants that you wouldn’t have dared try to get a seat in on short notice are glad to see you now! They might even offer an occasional 2-1 special for a limited time. All in all, it was a good season and work in the City on many projects will continue. I used to say when Council took its summer break it was the happiest time of the year for our city staff. They can finally get caught up with uninterrupted work!

Have a great summer and for some of you Fall, be safe and stay well.

Bill Barnett

All the Best,
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
239-777-7952

I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com