Page 8 - LIN M-J-J-2023 web-low

BILL BARNETT

always think the May, June, and July article in Life in Naples is Naples along with businesses, restaurants, hotels and everything and
I
the Season wrap up for me. I guess I’m in a different time zone. anything that would cause more traffic happened. Roads were being
In a brief recap I remember so well like so many of us do where built to keep up with the growth but not fast enough. “What are
we were last September when Ian dealt its damaging blow to Florida you going to do about this traffic?” It was a question then and is a
and points North. Over the years I specifically remember dealing with question now. The City of Naples invested in every new piece of traffic
former hurricanes and remember them well but none like Ian. I was technology from synching lights, road design plans, and a myriad of
in New York on vacation just about two days away from driving my solutions. Some worked and some didn’t but over time and as the
car from Buffalo to Naples. Watching the broadcasts on television growth continued the traffic saturation point during season reached
and the picture that was unfolding its max. Collier County has done its best
before me I knew that number one, as well, but it was too late. The old saying
I wasn’t going anywhere and number “trying to stuff 10 pounds of potatoes in
two we were going to be in for a rough a 5 pound bag” sums it up. I could write a
ride with this one. I’ll fast forward now lot more about traffic, but the bottom line
because we all know what happened is it’s not like driving on the Long Island
and many throughout Florida are Expressway, the Freeway in California,
and will be dealing with the effects of I-4 in Orlando and many more like the
Ian for many years to come. The most above. So, add 10-20 minutes to getting
important thing to not forget is that to your destination in the city, or the
many of our friends and neighbors still county, and understand it’s not going to
need our help even though it's not at get any better during the Winter Season.
the top of the conversation list for us, In closing our May, June and July
it is for those who still suffer from Ian. article, I just want to say that it has
It’s not often that during my been a decent season considering what
political career I would be stumped by we have been through. Looks can be
a question because there literally was deceiving and not all business friends
no answer and it was a valid question. There is an organization in that I am in constant touch with are happy. Although we had a lot
Naples called Naples Better Government that has been around for of traffic and the restaurants and places of lodging looked very busy,
30 years. Its main objective is to interview political candidates from that wasn’t exactly the case. There were more vacancies than usual
local to state, it is non-partisan, and simply makes recommendations and folks weren’t spending like they normally do during the season. I
based on the information gleaned from their interviews and their suppose this was expected but it sure looked busier than ever to me,
backgrounds. It also does a follow up with candidates they have but I’m not an expert on crunching those numbers. I wish you all
recommended and were elected after a year just to see how they are a great summer whether you’re staying here or traveling, make the
doing and are they living up to their campaign promises. I am pleased most out of it. Naples is nice during the summer, you can go to any
to be a member of Naples Better Government. Recently we did our restaurant you please, no reservations needed, and they will be glad to
follow up interviews with some Naples City Council members and see you. Lots of places to park, some great summer sales, and nobody
it was nice to be able to report that they were doing a commendable will honk their horn at you.
job. After their interviews and they had left, our board discussed what We will take a vacation and head to Buffalo where we have a lot
we had just heard and made our recommendations. One of our board of family and rent a cottage in Angola, New York. Once again, I will
members was unhappy with an answer to a question that he asked, it eat way too much local corn, eat enough chicken wings so when I get
was about what can we do about the traffic? (Specifically in the City back to Naples I won’t eat another one till the following summer and
of Naples but basically everywhere) The Council Member answered the same goes for pizza and some very good restaurants. No, I’m not
the question exactly how I would have and basically said not a lot being a hypocrite after that Naples in the summer intro and then I
which was an honest answer. leave, we don’t go till the end of July so I can enjoy both!
I can’t pinpoint exactly when traffic became an issue, but I will tell Thanks,
you that as the city and county really started to grow in the 1990s the
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
traffic grew along with it. The influx of citizens that had discovered
I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com
8 Life in Naples | May/June/July 2023