Democracy Watch

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) developed a four-stage recovery campaign to promote tourism in Lee County by spreading excitement as the current focus. “The goal is to show that the destination is bouncing back,” Tamara Pigott, the director of VCB said. “While things may not be “normal” just yet, there is still an opportunity to have an enjoyable experience and support the community they’ve so enjoyed visiting in the past.”

The final day of Lee County’s annual census count of the area's homeless population concluded with the Homeless Service Day and Veterans Stand Down. The event was hosted Saturday by the Lee County Homeless Coalition at the City of Palms Park and Sports Complex.

After protests from landlords and the county’s board of realtors, Collier County commissioners repealed a requirement that landlords raising rents give tenants 60 days notice. Commissioners had approved the ordinance, requiring the notice if rental rates increased by more than 5%.

At the January 18 Bonita Springs city council meeting, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), who which commissioned the research for the project, presented multiple alternatives for the trail. The two most favored alternatives, according to the study, would replace the existing Seminole Gulf Railway (SGR) with a path that runs through Bonita Springs and Estero. It would start at Bonita Beach Road and end at Alico Avenue.

Some Lee County beaches will be getting a new look after Hurricane Ian, Stretches of beach at two locations are getting new sand, but other public beaches remain closed because they haven't been cleared of debris and haven't been renourished.

Southwest Florida is a hotspot for new construction. In Fort Myers alone there are more than 89 development projects, according to the City of Fort Myers development report. Before development happens, companies have to remove gopher tortoises to relocation sites to comply with Florida law – and Lee County is running out of room.

The developers of Margaritaville Beach Resort hosted a topping off celebration to acknowledge the DeAngelis Diamond construction team and how Fort Myers Beach is progressing since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida 114 days ago.

The efforts to help Southwest Florida recover from Hurricane Ian damage extend far outside state lines.A company in Maryland has been selling T-shirts to help the Gulf Coast Humane Society with repair costs and to make up for lost revenue.

Democrats in Collier County gathered Tuesday night to celebrate their candidates and watch election returns. Members of the party said they believe their efforts are critical in protecting American democracy.

Florida voters will decide the fate of Amendment 3 in this year's election. The proposal, approved by the Florida legislature, would grant additional property tax breaks to teachers and some public service workers who own homes. But the amendment has a limit on the values of the homes covered by those breaks.