Democracy Watch

ULTRA On Demand is a LeeTran service that debuted February in Bonita Springs. Riders can use the Uber app to request a pickup and drop off anywhere in the service zone that spans from Lovers Key to the east part of the city.

Uber-style LeeTran service makes debut in Bonita Springs

Samantha Roesler

LeeTran is using technology to serve riders better. The public transit agency is trying out an Uber-style service in Bonita Springs, while also working on a new park-and-ride location near the Bell Tower Shops.

Construction site located on Ben Hill Griffin, across from Florida Gulf Coast University's campus. When land is cleared, wildlife is forced to relocate and pushed out of their natural habitat.

Increases in development in SWFL cause some to question the preservation of wildlife

Katiuska Carrillo

Cleared land and construction sites are commonplace in Southwest Florida. According to U.S. Census data, Lee County is the second fastest-growing county in the state. The increase in population leads to the need for more development, which raises the question of how to preserve the wildlife that makes this region so unique.

Pelican Landing and Bonita Bay, Bonita Springs' two largest homeowner's associations, could potentially both be part of District 4 depending on how City Council votes. Redistricting has created a socio-economic discussion between the two communities and the rest of the city.

Bonita Springs HOAs could merge into one city district

Samantha Roesler

Bonita Springs is facing a controversial decision on how to make up city council districts for the next decade. Socio-economic issues are being raised about possibly combining Bonita Bay and Pelican Landing in the same district.

The City of Sarasota is home to over 50,000 people. The conservative stronghold has a booming tourism industry.

The City of Sarasota takes next step toward 100% renewable energy goal

Sabrina Salovitz

The City of Sarasota has announced that it will move forward to meet its goal of 100% renewable energy generation by 2045. In collaboration with the Sierra Club, the Race to Zero campaign and local partners and communities, the city will be working to identify how to create a more affordable and equitable clean energy future.

Conservation 20/20’s Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC), discussed last week if they would like to pursue a purchase of what used to be the Bonita Springs Golf and Country Club, which Barron Collier has offered to sell for a price between $15 million and $19 million.

Bonita Springs golf course land denied for Conservation 20/20 consideration

Samantha Roesler

Lee County likely will not pursue a possible purchase of the former Bonita Springs Golf and Country Club, now owned by Barron Collier Companies. An advisory committee of the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition program voted against further consideration of buying the land. People who live around the property fear more flooding and other problems if homes are built on the land.

JetBlue Park on the Boston Red Sox's first spring training game of this year on February 17, 2022. The area around the stadium on Daniels Parkway was expected to get developed for the past decade, but little to no development in the area has appeared throughout the years.

Development around JetBlue Park in question for a decade; fans weigh in

Katiuska Carrillo

Acres of trees, pasture and a few storefronts surround JetBlue Park, the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox located on Daniels Parkway in Lee County. The stadium opened in 2012 and some predicted it would create a trendy, highly-developed area east of I-75. However a building boom of hotels, restaurants and retail outlets has not happened around JetBlue in the past 10 years.

Kat Heinlein and Sharon Rodgers chat at the intersection of Eleanor Way on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Rodgers saying hello to her neighbors. She knows the names and histories of nearly every person in the community.

North Fort Myers neighborhood provides a sisterhood for lesbians

Sabrina Salovitz

Carefree Community is a lesbian neighborhood in North Fort Myers that was developed by married couple Gina Razete and Cathy Groene. Resident Sharon Rodgers has lived in the community for over twenty years, and she describes it as a sisterhood. There are still the usual spats between neighbors, but at the end of the day everyone is there for one another, and that’s what she thinks makes Carefree a special place.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers from the Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation work together to build partnership place. Six homes will be completed by summer thanks to volunteers from multiple organizations.

Habitat for Humanity brings more affordable housing to Bonita Springs

Samantha Roesler

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry counties is known for working to provide affordable housing for cost-burdened families of Southwest Florida. One of the current focuses for the local organization is Partnership Place.

Fulbright Scholars Abir Ghenaiet, Vijay Kumar and Inna Korytova chat in a Florida Gulf Coast University classroom. They are part of a class of international students studying teaching techniques in the United States.

FGCU’s Fulbright Scholars wrap up 6-week program

Sabrina Salovitz

Each year individuals from around the world receive Fulbright Scholar awards for advanced research and university lecturing in the United States. At Florida Gulf Coast University, the current class of scholars is closing out their time in the 6-week program.

Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Commissioner Ray Sandelli, and Commissioner Brian Hamman at the LCSO press conference in reference to the expansion of the Narcotics Unit. The expansion of the Narcotics Unit is intended to combat crimes related to drug, gang activity, and narcotic deaths.

Lee County pays to expand sheriff's narcotics unit

Katiuska Carrillo

The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved $1.7 million for the expansion of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Narcotics Unit.Sheriff Carmine Marceno requested an increase in funding for his Narcotics Enforcement Unit to combat crimes related to drug and gang activity. He also hopes to see a decrease in narcotic deaths in the county.