Tuesday, June 28, 2005

from JULIA LOMBARDI

TO THE TOWN COUNCIL:

MY HUSBAND (CARMINE LOMBARDI) AND I RESIDE AT 4112 SOUTH EAST 8TH AVENUE, CAPE CORAL. OUR BACKYARD IS THE THIRD HOLE FOR THE GOLF CLUB.

WE PURCHASED THIS HOME NINE YEARS AGO AS A RETIREMENT HOME BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS ADJACENT TO THE GOLF COURSE AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

NOW THE CITY MANAGER, TERRY STEWART AND THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM US AND OUR NEIGHBORS THE SECURE FEELING THAT WE ONCE ENJOYED AS PROPERTY OWNERS IN CAPE CORAL.

HOW CAN THE TOWN COUNCIL JUSTIFY MR. STEWART'S ACTIONS?

HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY WAS PUT INTO RESEARCHING THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY TO THE LEE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS SALE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

DID ANYONE WHO IS INVOLVED WITH THIS UNDERHANDED SALE EVER CONSIDER THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE ADJACENT TO THE GOLF COURSE AND THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO RESIDE IN THE GENERAL AREA?

AS A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED ON THE SPOT IF I EVER DID ANYTHING SO UNDERHANDED AS NEGOTIATE A DEAL WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE MANAGEMENT STAFF THAT I REPORTED TO. I BELIEVE THAT MR. STEWART FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY, HOW CAN THE COUNCIL TRUST HIM AFTER THIS.? CAN YOU AFFORD TO ENTRUST MR. STEWART WITH FUTURE DEALINGS THAT INVOLVE CAPE CORAL?

I AM VERY INVOLVED WITH THE CAPE CORAL SOCIAL CLUB. I AM THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF MEMBERSHIP, AND ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO BOAST ABOUT CAPE CORAL AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO LIVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. I SINCERELY DON'T THINK THAT I CAN PASS ALONG THIS SENTIMENT TO ANYONE. PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MOVING TO LEE COUNTY TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED MANY LETTERS REGARDING THIS SUBJECT AND I AM SURE THAT THEY ALSO VOICE OUR CONCERNS.

AS PROPERTY OWNERS AND VOTERS, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT OUR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF CAPE CORAL NOT JUST DEVELOPERS.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO JUST CLOSED ON A CONDO IN BAYAN TRACE AS A INVESTMENT AND A HOME TO LIVE IN ON WILDWOOD. AT THIS POINT SHE IS SO UPSET THAT SHE IS CONSIDERING SELLING. IS THIS HOW WE CONVEY THAT CAPE CORAL IS PARADISE? WHY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO THE RESIDENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD?

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS LETTER.

THANK YOU.

JULIA LOMBARDI