Mayor’s Corner

Mayor Bill Barnett

Every few years I look for and find this article that the late comedian of the 70’s and 80’s George Carlin wrote shortly after his wife passed away and reproduce it. It is as valid today as it was then, if not more so. I’ll let you be the judge after you read it and would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways but narrower
viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more
conveniences but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet
more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late,
get up tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We added
years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet
a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom but not our prejudice. We write more but learn less. We plan more but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or just hit delete—. Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because it is the only treasure you can give with your heart
and it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our
breath away.

Last month I mentioned that City Council has an election coming up on April 2nd, due to the fact that one of our Council members resigned. I didn’t know how many candidates there would be, and it turned out that there are four candidates competing for the one available seat. I have always given kudos to any candidate that runs for public office and have also said and proven that whomever the voters choose I will welcome them and help them in any way possible to be a good Council member.

Of the four candidates and much to my surprise and pleasure one stands out to me as a great choice, Bill Moss. He was my former City Manager and worked for the City of Naples for almost eleven years before recently retiring. His name is well known and respected in our City and County as well. He in my opinion would be the ideal candidate to fill the vacant seat. No learning curve, up to date on current issues, and his knowledge of the City in general is a pure bonus for the voters. I hope he is the one you select.

Please vote on April 2nd, it is a big deal!!!!! I hope that those of you who are heading out at the end of April have safe travels and have enjoyed what Naples had to offer you this season. We will continue to work hard and keep Naples the beautiful City that she is.

I respond to e-mail at: mayorbill@naplesgov.com