Failure at the top
I watched the Animal Recovery Mission press conference about a huge animal cruelty case that was not prosecuted.
As a former Assistant State Attorney who prosecuted animal cruelty cases, I now have concluded the following:
- Our local prosecutor's office again is afraid and failing to prosecute serious criminal cases.
- State Attorney's office felony supervisor Larry Justham should be immediately fired.
- There is a desperate need for change at the State Attorney's Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
- Amira Fox spends more time campaigning for political office than at her Chief Assistant no-show job at the State Attorney's office.
The current people in charge of the State Attorney's office have mismanaged the office, spending more time concerned about local politics than actual prosecuting crime. It is time for a change.
Christopher Crowley, Fort Myers
Women's pay in Florida
I take issue with comments made by Dr. Christopher Westley, director of FGCU Regional Economic Research Institute, in your recent news feature titled Women's Pay in Florida Worsening, but Gap Closing. (April 9, The News-Press)
I agree with Dr. Westley, that discrimination is not the only factor contributing to the wage gap. However, we must not simply excuse the wage gap away with dated statements that women are attracted to different types of work and men often take on riskier, higher-paying jobs. Contrary to Dr. Westley’s contention, men out-earn women in 119 of 121 of the most common occupations, according to The Gender Wage Gap by Occupation 2017. We need solutions based on facts vs politicized and paralyzing polarization.
Dr. Westley warns pushing too hard for equal pay could bring backlash. Qualified women should not need ‘political protection’ to compete for any job and earn equal pay regardless of gender. We need policies fair to both men and women. Preventing employers from asking salary history during the hiring process is one key solution to level the field and avoid pay inequity.
I hope Florida Gulf Coast University is educating its female students toward a path to equal opportunity and earnings with men. We don't want them penalized by the multi-faceted reasons for the gender wage gap.
Brenda Tate, Bonita Springs
First Amendment editorial
After reading News-Press Views editorial article pertaining to the First Amendment, I was compelled to comment on some of the words used by Tom Hayden. ("How 45 words keep journalists inspired, involved", March 18, The News-Press)
At the very beginning of the article, he writes "You want fair and balanced stories on critical issues. You want our opinion, direction and leadership on topics that form the character of communities."
I couldn't agree more with the first sentence. We absolutely want fair and balanced stories. I would add "honest" to this statement.
As to the second sentence: Mr. Hayden (and so many of our present-day media sources) needs some education. We do not expect nor want our journalists' opinions. We do not expect them to give us direction. And we most certainly do not want them to assume any power of leadership on these topics.
Having said this, I did continue to finish the entire article and found it very well written and enjoyable.
Tom Johnson, Estero
Local treasure
On April 11, my wife and I attended the performance by the National Dance Company of Siberia. The show was part of the Community Concerts series at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The show was spectacular! Unbelievably, though, the show itself was not the highlight of the evening.
My wife and I had purchased our tickets fairly late and were seated well up in the balcony. During the intermission, Mary Lee Mann, President of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association, came walking up the stairs near us and asked us whether we like better tickets for the second part of the show since some of her guests had not been able to attend. (She made similar offers to others seated near us.) We accepted and heartily enjoyed the second part of the show from beautiful seats in the fifth row, orchestra!
Her thoughtfulness was impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that she herself brought the tickets up to the higher reaches of the balcony – a fairly strenuous climb – rather than having a staff member do it. Fort Myers is fortunate to have Mary Lee Mann as a leader in our community!
Rick Poss, south Fort Myers