Page 8 - august2017lifeinnaples

MAYOR’S

CORNER

MAYOR BILL BARNETT
T oday being July 1st, 2017 and having not done an honest mistake
It was an
article for a few months I didn’t have much of an
issue with what is on my mind and what I want
by a staff
to write about. As of today, I have served a total
of a combined twenty-six years both on City Council (12 member and certainly changed. What
years) and as Mayor (14 years). From the start of my political they totally missed is the
career in 1984, I understood that our local newspaper would it was rectified simple fact that the City
on occasion write an article that had my name mentioned in the very next of Naples is not Collier
it and it was in their opinion critical of a decision I had made. County. We are still very
day to the
That was just politics and it happens to all of us sooner or later seasonal and I can guarantee
that serve in the political arena. If I felt they were justified satisfaction of you that our city residents
which in some cases they were I didn’t whine and complain or would not like us to meet
go on the defensive, I agreed with them and moved on. both parties. during the summer months.
Of course, as a Council member it happened but as Mayor As my fellow Council
and understandably so it was and is a lot more frequent. It member Doug Finlay so aptly stated in a letter with regard
goes without saying there were positive articles as well. I to Summer meetings, “I know many of our residents would
learned how to get along with the editorial staff and sincerely not want that to happen. In fact, they often become critical
tried and still try to be straight up when asked a question from when we hear items out of season.” He goes on to correctly
the news media and I’m not too full of myself to simply say I say that because so many of the items that we deal with are
don’t know but I’ll find out if I don’t know the answer. controversial ones that involve redevelopment and land use
So where am I going with all of this? Within the last six they don’t like these matters heard with Council chambers
months it seems that our local newspaper has been extremely being empty.
critical of not just me as Mayor, but about the city as a whole. The population in the City of Naples is roughly 21,000
Articles that could be spun as positive are spun as negative. people and the County is roughly 365,000 and is continuing
Our wonderful Baker Park which hopefully will be breaking to grow rapidly. I don’t see that number changing in the city.
ground in late December or early January is moving along We are and will remain a seasonal small town city. When
nicely. An unfortunate misunderstanding took place a few the newspaper refers to time off for us they have totally
months ago where we had two donors for the same amenity. missed the boat and as far as I’m concerned, I’ll give that
It was an honest mistake by a staff member and it was rectified “Kick” right back to them! They make it sound as if when we
the very next day to the satisfaction of both parties. However, finish our last meeting in June we all head for the hills and
the paper made it read like we were the bad guys and put the are never heard from until we reconvene in August. Nothing
blame on me. Another article about our new city dock which could be farther from the truth. I don’t know of any of my
is in the process of being built came out negative portraying fellow Council members including myself who isn’t in touch
the city as being uncaring concerning one of the former on a daily basis with our City Manager and staff. E-mail,
dock’s tenants. It just wasn’t so. The list goes on but I suppose Facebook, telephone and a myriad of others are available
the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for me is to us. As we all know the technology today is amazing and
the newspaper’s obsession with our city summer vacation communicating with constituents has never been easier
schedule. We break for our vacation in mid-June and return or more effective no matter where we are. I don’t see that
in mid-August. They were very specific two weeks ago when schedule changing anytime soon.
in their “Kudos & Kicks” Saturday publication giving our city Next article will be a complete summation of projects
the largest kick for taking time off this summer. Very simply that will be happening to finish 2017 and ones that we
put their reasoning was that times have changed and we need anticipate in 2018.
to meet during the summer months. Well, in one sense they Enjoy the rest of your summer wherever you are!
were correct that since I moved to Naples in 1973, times have Email me at mayorbill@naplesgov.com I do respond!

8 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2017