Patty Whitehead 20791 Tanglewood Lane Estero, FL 33928 pbackos@hotmail.com / (239)289-4000 July 20th 2011 Mr. Frank Jackalone Senior Organizing Manager/ FL & PR Sierra Club 111 Second Avenue, Suite 1001 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Dear Mr. Jackalone: Attached please find my resume and portfolio of some of the environmental activism I have been involved in over the past several years submitted towards consideration for the Fort Myers based Field Organizers position with The Sierra Club. The strengths I can bring to this position are a great ability to communicate and connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. I possess an honors degree in Communications from Villanova University and have found that it has served me well over the years in engaging and expressing complex arguments to a target audience. My exposure to issues of wanton environmental degradation through irresponsible development and the lack of the use of Smart Growth principles in 20th and 21st century development practices, makes me keenly sensitive to the compelling issues of habitat preservation, responsible growth management and clean, efficient energy production and utilization that are guiding principles of the modern-day Sierra Club. I came to Lee County in 2002, after having traveled the country working as a Construction Project Engineer. While most of the work I was involved with in other states were urban commercial development or re-development construction projects, it was not until I came to live and work in the Southwest Florida area that I was struck by the vast amount of sprawl either developed or semi-developed and abandoned that is permitted in highly sensitive and diminishing native habitat corridors. When Sid Kitson proposed the development of 25,000 acres of the Babcock Ranch for a city rivaling the size of Naples, FL, I became galvanized in applying my efforts as an environmental activist to oppose the addition of vast amounts of new development and sprawl in pristine and undistributed green corridors that are vital to the preservation of the Florida Panther, scrub jay and other gravely endangered native species. In addition I learned that the responsible water management practices of the Babcock family and previous stewards of the Babcock lands were potentially threatened by Mr. Kitson’s vision of a ‘city’ in the midst of this pristine rural wilderness. Having had an excellent mentor in Marti Daltry who never fails in making a solid and well-reasoned argument for every campaign that we have worked on; who emboldens me take our position assertively yet diplomatically to the public, I feel I can make a difference and have a positive effect in raising the level of public advocacy for green causes in Southwest Florida for the Sierra Club. I believe that my project oriented work background, while not strictly in environmentalism, actually works to my strengths and gives me a unique perspective and sensitivity to the issues.

I can see and cut through a lot of the propaganda put forth by developer's who tout 'green' initiatives in their development plans when all the while the net degradation to habitats and biosystems caused by their plans when weighed into the matrix of changes made to the land, clearly reveal dramatic losses to the natural environment. At the same time I am fully cognizant of the delicate political tightrope that the Sierra Club walks in trying to effectively communicate its message to the public and feel that I can deftly handle the contrary positions that I will encounter.

As keen as I am in communicating my position on environmental issues in this correspondence to you, is as much as I enjoy enlightening others: laypeople and students alike to our positive message of sound stewardship of the environment and an espousal of a change in our day to day habits towards more circumspect use of natural resources and preservation of the earth's unique and precious characteristics and forms of life.

I look forward to exploring these matters further with you and hope that you will give me the opportunity to show you what I can do for the Sierra Club as its Fort Myer's Field Organizer. I am available to travel to your office in Saint Petersburg for a face to face interview at anytime. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Respectfully Submitted

Pa:zzz; w~ Patty Whitehead

- 1 -

PATTY WHITEHEAD 20791 Tanglewood Lane Estero, Florida 33928

239-289-4000 pbackos@hotmail.com

Summary of Qualifications: Diversified experience in the Construction Industry, encompassing involvement in both Field Management and Computer Based Project Cost and Schedule Management. General: Conversant with all aspects of the construction process necessary to bring a project to its successful completion. Focused on the objectives of this industry, which are safety, quality, time, economy and efficiency. Specific: Experienced in creating and working with estimates for both residential and large scale commercial

construction projects. Proficiency at document control and expediting of Shop Drawings, Submittals and RFIs. Ability to

thoroughly inspect these documents for compliance with contract documents and maintain current status files and logs.

Ability to maintain an effective & professional working relationship with Owners, Architects, Engineers, Subcontractors & Suppliers and to implement assigned duties with a high level of accuracy, timeliness and cost effectiveness.

Skilled in preparing all Change Order requests and agreement change orders, maintain change request documents, files and logs, job close-out procedures

Experience: Project Coordinator/Engineer and Construction Qualifier, Newport Bay Corporation (Semi-Custom Residential Builder at Fairwnds a 77 lot Infill Residential Development in Bonita Springs off of Old 41): August 2002 to October 2010 Responsibilities include: Job Cost tracking and reporting, Sub-contract and Scope of work preparation, Accounts Payable and Lien release management, Change Order Management. Additionally: Construction document review, Quality Control of Architectural documents for Permitting and Constructibility. Permitting preparation and expediting, Close-out documentation and implementation. July 2001-August 2002 Project Cost Engineer, Gibbs Construction:Researched, prepared and estimated costs for over 250 proposed change orders, processed into 5 major Owner Change Orders for a 42 million dollar, 14 story, 513 room Crowne Plaza hotel project at the world-renowned corner of Bourbon and Canal St., the Gateway to the French Quarter of Historic New Orleans. I directly reported to the Assistant Project Manager and Senior Project Manager and in some instances the Vice President of Operation. I was brought into this project in mid-stream in June of 2001. There were no approved Owner Change Orders and few submitted PCOs when I arrived. I was required to quickly and accurately gain a total knowledge of the Contract, sub-contracts, major purchase orders and Construction Documents in order to accurately document and prepare costs for over 700 RFIs, 100 ASIs (Architectural Supplemental Instructions) and 140 SDPs (Supplementary Drawing Packages). In short time I was able to comprehensively assimilate all this information while efficiently handling a daily influx of change order requests from the Owner, Architects and the field. From a cost accounting stand point, I basically turned this project around and created a positive cash flow in the monthly construction draws, for a project that was seriously under-budgeted and faced with an immense number of scope changes. I gained the utmost trust and respect of the Owners and Owner’s Representative, so much so that I was called back to the project by the Owner’s

- 2 -

rep. and Gibb’s VPO (after being reassigned to help another project in crisis and failing in its change order process) when the final change order negotiations were taking place for the hotel. July 1998 to July 2001 Engineer: Level 1 with Linbeck Construction: Theatre Project with Linbeck : Texas Nextstage Theatre – 62 million dollar project budget,

197,500 square feet, 6630 seats.

Initial Project with Linbeck: Cook Childrens Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX I successfully completed the fit-out and FF&E of the 43,420 s.f. South Extension addition to the Cooks Childrens Medical Center, in Fort Worth, TX, one of the leading pediatric medical facilities in the North Texas area. This wing included the new clinical and pathology laboratories for the hospital, plus a brand new Dining/ Servery facility styled after the cutting-edge commercial eating establishments: “Eatsies.” My daily routines in this position involved continual interface with the Hospital administrators and department managers, the Design Architects of David M. Schwarz and Associates and the Architects of Record, FKP of Houston, TX. Many items on the Construction Documents were not fully detailed and coordinated in the construction documents and had ‘constructibility’ issues. This shortfall in information required the remedy of constant interface and problem-solving sessions between the Architects, Field, and End-Users. I learned to put solutions on paper which would then be approved as constructible RFI responses by the Architects / Designers and Consultants, while also meeting and satisfying the functional requirements of the Client’s user groups. March 1995 to June 1998 Project Engineer and FF&E Supervisor for MBK Construction Ltd. (Formerly Birtcher Construction Ltd.) for the Nationwide AMC Theatres expansion Program:

Project - AMC-Highlands Ranch 24-Plex Theatre AMC-Pleasure Island Expansion: Expansion and remodeling of the AMC Pleasure Island Theatre in Disney World from a 10 Screen Theatre having no stadium seating to a 24 screen theatre. AMC-Leawood 20 Plex AMC-Carolina Pavilion 22, Charlotte, N.C. AMC-Woodhaven 10, Bensalem, PA

January 1994 to December 1994 Customer Service Manager with REALEN HOMES, Ambler, PA.

Complete on-site warranty management responsibilites for Farmview, a 255-unit executive single family home Community in the Yardley / Newtown Bucks County Area of Pennsylvania. Semi-customized, luxury residential construction ranging in price from the mid $200,000.00 to $400,000.00+ . Accountability to senior management in the resolution of subcontractor and supplier performance issues and the timely completion of warranty claims towards customer satisfaction and positive referrals.

February 1991 to November 1993 Twelve Oaks at Mullica Hill:

Harrison Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Construction Project Manager and Field Supervisor for a Multi-Unit Townhouse Project in Harrison Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Responsible for hiring, coordinating and supervising all sub-contracting trades and suppliers. Expediting all Township related permits, scheduling and job costing customized units as well as base models. I.e. Full, Broad-scope project responsibility. Developed aptitude at handling field and site related issues with Soil Conservation, State DOT and Township Engineers as well as Township Construction and Zoning Officials. Proficient

- 3 -

interpersonal skills in dealing with the Home Buying public,before, during and after construction. Excellent rapport and directive abilities with sub-contracting trades.

Original Employer at Twelve Oaks: VRG Corporation Subsequent Employer at Twelve Oaks: Corestates Bank/Centre Properties February 1990 to December 1990 Glen Eagle Square Inc.: Chadds Ford, PA.

Developer's Project Manager in charge of Tenant Fit-up for Major Regional Shopping Center, Chadds Ford, PA. 150,000 s.f.with Genuardi's Supermarket, GAP, and Provident Bank as Co-Anchors. Responsible for Tenant Fit-up Budgets, Sub-contractor coordination and scheduling of individualized custom fit-ups. Represented Glen Eagle Square Inc. at bi-weekly job meetings in a decision-making capacity.

Glen Eagle Square received the 1991 Commerce Bank Tri-State Building Excellence Award.

Education: Graduated Villanova University, Cum Laude, June 1988. Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts, emphasis in Communications. Extensive coursework taken towards a secondary degree in Construction Management from Spring Garden College and Drexel University. GPA 4.0. Other Accreditations: State of Florida Certified Building Contractor since 2002 (CBC1251054) 16 hours of accredited training in Microsoft Project (Scheduling).

A.G.C. Construction Safety Specialist Series – 12 sessions, 4 hours each, covering all major OSHA subparts dealing with construction safety. Completed University of Florida Wind and Hurricane Mitigation Inspector Training. Performed many Wind Mitigation Verfication Inspections, 4 point Inspections and Citizens Insurance Roof Certification Inspections for various Insurance Agencies.

References: Can be furnished upon request.

RE: Sale of Babcock Ranch From : jflytle@naplesnews.com on behalf of letters to editor, NON (letters@naplesnews.com) Sent: Man 7/25/05 2:18 PM To: 'Patty Backos' (pbackos@hotmail.com)

great letter. can you trim to 250 words and resubmit?

-----Original Message-----From: Patty Backos [mailto:pbackos@hotmail .com] Sent: 07/23/2005 3:42PM To: letters@naplesnews.com Subject: Sale of Babcock Ranch

Like many (hopefully the majority in the S.W. Florida Community), I was deeply saddened and disappointed to hear of the acquisition of the Babcock Ranch/ Habitat by private development interests. Reading between the lines of the all the recent articles published in the NON , I can't help thinking that the Bush Administration in Tallahassee allowed (possibly even encouraged ) this to happen. Most telling, the following quote from Lee County commissioner Bob Janes: "The frustrating thing is that we were only $50 million apart on an offer and the state never communicated that to us ... That to me was the big disappointment. What could have been, was not because the state just didn't know how to handle it. Janes continuing: "(The state) played it close to their chest and didn't want to involve anyone .. . At one point they told me that they would involve us in the process. I asked them what that meant and they said they would tell us when the deal was inked."

Is this an administration really concerned about protecting the little remaining pristine natural Enviroment in Florida and the Publics best Interests in Land and Water resources ? Or are th~eally all about the enrichment of powerful private investment interests, with their crony connections and big-shot lobbying tactics, who can easily rob precious Resources, because of the State§ (intentionally?) sloppy negotiations with the Babcock family and its poor communication skills with local government entities (Lee & Charlotte County) and concerned Florida Citizenry represented by such fine organizations as the Babcock Preservation Partnership.

In public speeches made in the past Bush kept on referring to other tracts of land where Florida Forever money would better be spent. Who's fooling who on this matter: yes there are probably vast swathes of marshes, wetlands, swamps in private hands that the state can easily purchase because these lands hold no value to private development, cannot indeed be developed on at all, and therefore can be bought at a bargain price as compared to the price tag the Babcock family placed on their bio-diverse 91,000 acres. The whole point is Babcock is an ecologic eden for Florida containing within it rare wild and pristine upland areas and hardwood forests. That the state allowed this private acquisition to happen is a total disgrace. If ever there was a call for government to exercise its powers of eminent domain for the greater good and preservation of a priceless natural resource this was it. Jeb Bush you really blew it for Florida Citizenry, if you were really representing us at all in this matter.

Patty Whitehead

Bonita Springs

239-289-4000

1ttp:/ lbl162w .blu162.mail.live.cornlmail/PrintMessages.aspx?cpids=05549305-4b2e-4 f09-994b-fc57 e.. . 7/20/2011

The following emails and articles are based on commentary that I made to Syd Kitson' s Q and A Session with Bonita Daily News Readers regarding Mr. Kitson's development plans for the Babcock Ranch (Published October 5, 2005).

I felt that the questions posed and the answers furnished did not get at some of the hard environmental and social issues surrounding development of the Babcock land and so I added my comments online at the bottom of the web-based version of the article. I use the handle 'Indyvote' for blogging comments. See page 4 of 5 Babcock Developer answers readers questions for my commentary.

Consequently Brent Batten columnist for the Naples Daily News picked up on my comments and framed an entire article around them-basically defending Mr. Kitson and lambasting me as a member (in his words) of "the fringe environmental movement'. But he must have thought that my words held enough weight to warrant this rebuttal.

Unfortunately he didn' t bother doing his research to question who I was and what my background was before making assumptions about me in his article (he could have easily done this by emailing me through my 'Indyvote' blog account with the newspaper before firing off his article).

To set the record straight (as much as you can with the press) I sent Mr. Batten an email explaining who I was and why I took the position that I did. Basically to let him know that there are people who function in the world of construction and development who do not see every piece of land, no matter how enticing because of size, topography or location as appropriate for development. And also that being a constructor of the build world does not preclude one from being a strong advocate for preservation of the natural world.

- -o- - - - -

. 'i

0 to The Dog Paril

lndyvoie ~ 5 (Logout) I Manage Account I Mobile I Contact Us I Customer Service I e-Daily sne

Web Searcn powered oy YAHOO' SEARCH

News Soorts Business Opinion Entertainment Lifestvies Jviedia Jobs Homes Cars Ciassified

Todav Local Bonita State NationaiNiforld Cr ime Education Weather Columnisis Community Obiwaries

K.~h~"ock R~nch rlPvP1nner anc:\_1\.TPt'~ ~~'-'"-" ..... ""..:..... '-'l...t..- "--- ~"- • '-'.L'.../ ..t-' ...:... ..t...J..!-1 ~, '-'-- ;._;

questions DaHy News staff

Posted October 5. 2005 at 7:08p.m.

Email Discuss Share >> Print _A P.. A

Syd Kitson, the developer purchasing the 91,000-acre Babcock Ranch in Lee and

Charlotte counties, answered questions Wednesday that are on the minds of

BonitaNews.com readers.

WEBIF!ED

RELATED STORY: Cabinet defers vote on Babcock Ranch (10,5-05 ) RELATED STORY: Commissioners skeptical over Babcock land proposal (1 0-4-05) RELATED STORY: Babcock developer encouraged by Lee meeting (9-13-05)

Bonita News. com asked readers earlier this week to

submit questions for Kitson to answer during his

Wednesday visit to the Daily News offices. Kitson

answered those reader-submitted questions Wednesday

afternoon.

The following is the full text of Kitson's response to

questions posed by readers of BonitaNews.com.

Question: What is your vision for the Babcock Ranch?

The vision that we've put together here is, one, to preserve as much of the ranch as

possible. Right now we are negotiating with the state of Florida to preserve 74,000

acres, plus, within our own community that we hope to develop, will be another 4 ,000

or 5,000-plus acres. So you have as many as 80,000 acres, over 85 percent of the

ranch to be preserved forever. Most importantly, again, is the fact that we're going to

preserve this land.

We're proposing a self-sustaining community on 17,800 acres that would include

19,500 homes and up to 6 million square feet of office, retail and commercial space.

That will be a self-sustaining community. What we are going to highlight in this

community are several things. One is going to be an environmentally responsible

development. We've talked about, in the past, how we're going to put greenways

through the community where you can literally walk four, five , six, seven , eight miles,

right outside your back door you can walk through these greenways where you don't

Most Popular

Viewed Commented Emaiied

Principals shuffle coming to Collier County schools ?ublished 7118/201 1 at 5:55 p_m 111 comments

Big Cypress parents: Transfer of principal will 'split up our family' ?ublished 7/19/2011 at 6:52p.m. 30 comments

In the Know: Where did Artichoke & Company go? Published 7/19/2011 at 6:43 u.m 10 comments

Collier schools reorg axes job of last administrator brought by fonner Superintendent Thompson Pubhshed 7/19/201 1 at £-·15 p.m. 22 comment:

No death penalty for 17-year-old accused of killing parents, partying ~ubhsheC 7/19/201 '1 a~ 12: 53 o.m 16 comment:

http:/ /www.naplesnews.com/news/200 5/ oct/05/babcock _ranch_ developer_ answers_ reader_ questions/ 7/20/2011

el ~ - . -

have cars whizzing by your ears, if you will , and take It right up into the

Caloosahatchee or right into the ranch itself, so it will be a great natural environment

for people to walk and to be.

Second is education. We're going to work with the boards of education,

superintendents of schools, and we're going to have a school system that we think

that is absolutely phenomenal here. The high school and the middle school are going

to be featured in the community, in the center of the community. It's going to become

a focal point of the community. That's the big difference. We're going to make

education absolutely the forefront. We're going to put the town center right next to it

so that people will be able to go from the events at the high school into the downtown

where they can eat and have an ice cream with their families . We're going to supply

workforce housing. That's very, very important. I don't think there's any place around

here that does it. We're going to do that here.

Technology. We have fiber right outside our door. We're going to wire this entire

community and we're going to make it wireless. It's going to be one of the most

technologically advanced communities, we think, anywhere in Florida.

Jobs. Six million square feet of office, commercial and retail space. What we're going

to do is, in working with the local community, working with the local educators, we

want to create a workforce so that we can attract new companies, biotechnology

companies, environmental technology companies, so that we can literally have a

workforce here that will enable us to attract companies. You need two things: you

need housing and you need workforce. What we're hoping to do is take the existing

workforce and be able to train them so they have good, high-paying jobs. We want to

take our youngsters, in colleges and high schools, to be able to give them careers

with high-paying jobs, and even to attract new workforce into the area.

I could go on for hours on what the vision is, but that is very, very important.

Question: Many citizens of Charlotte County live on the west coast of Florida

because of the quality of life offered here. We like that Charlotte County has

maintained a mostly small~town, rural life style. Why is it so important to

develop the Babcock Ranch area and what benefit will It give the citizens who

have chosen this area for what it is - not for what It is nol

1 agree with that statement. The Babcock family is going to sell the Babcock ranch to

a private company. They are not going to sell it to the public because of the issues

they have with their tax situation . It is going to be sold to a developer. The choices

are, go forward with the way that I'm proposing to do it, which is to only develop a

relatively small part of the ranch, versus developing the entire ranch with ranchettes.

What we're trying to with the self-sustaining community is to do exactly what that

individual has stated, is to create a small-town atmosphere right there at Babcock

Ranch, which would be a self-sustaining community. That is precisely what we are

trying to do.

Question: I am considering buying acreage for investment close to the area you

are proposing to. Where are you most likely to build residential and commercial

units? For example, can you tell me the current street names or intersections of

planned development?

Photo Galleries

Collier County arrests 07·19· 2011

Weather

Offshore fish, some dead, sho ...

Southwest Florida home sale ...

Currently 36-Hour· Your Photos

Currently Today

goo Fai r Wmc: Calm

More Weather»

Calendar

JUL

20 JUL

21 JUL BROV\!SE

22 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY MORE

Class: TRX Suspension Training 5 a.m Body Grafters

Summer Camp • Eco-Enforcers e a.m. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium

Summer Camp · Planet Protectors 8 a.m The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium

Traveling Exhibit: Sharkabet 9 a.m. Roo~.ery Bay Environmental Learning Center

Estuary Kayak Tour with Up A e a.m.

Creek Kayak Tours Shell Island Road

More Events »

Today ·s Big Deal

Get it while It lasts

Nat'l Bartenders & Casino School - $50 Gift Voucher for $20

~ Gift voucher may be used for a 90 minute Bartending Seminar

or a $50 credit towards the 40 hour Bartending ..

See more Deals >l

http://www .naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/05/babcock _ranch_ developer_ answers _reader_ questions/ 7/20/2011

. . - - · ···- - - - . . - . -- - r - - - - . . - - -------- ,------- ........... -· .... ~-.t'.-.-""' ....... -... ... J J,. .. _ ,,.....,

No. It's just too early in the process. It will be the southwestern comer where this is

going to be.

Question: Please explain in general terms the long-term conservation strategy

for the 81 percent of the Babcock Ranch offered to the state of Florida?

That's a great question. We're working with the state of Florida right now to come up

with a management plan that leaves the existing employees in place and the existing

uses in place so the ecotourism will continue, the cattle operations will continue, the

timbering operations will continue and hunting will continue. There will be other uses,

such as camping and bike trails and hiking trails and those sorts of things that will be

introduced into it also. It will be opened up the community. The stewardship of the

land is going to continue the way that it is right now. That is what our agreement with

the state currently is going to say.

Question: We, like you, are very concerned about a proposal to permit a

regional landfill in Charlotte County immediately north of Babcock Ranch.

Could you share your concerns with the audience as to why this sort of development is a potential threat to ground and surface water quality, as well

as increased threats to wildlife by increased traffic, etc.?

I think they just pretty much said it all. Their points are great points. It's right next to

some of the most pristine wildlife property in the entire state. There's a tremendous

water supply thafs going to be supplying water to the counties. So, it is of great

concern.

Question: Within the portion of the ranch slated for future development what

conservation conditions will be made permanent, such as deed restrictions, wetland conservation easements, retention and augmentation of native

vegetation?

The greenways that we've been talking about will be permanently preserved. The

mechanism that is used for that, whatever legal mechanism we do -we just haven't

determined -but it would be put into preservation forever. So the greenways, the

wetlands, the areas that are not going to be developed will be preserved, and

preserved either through conservation easements, through deed restrictions, through

HOA restrictions, you know, there's a series of ways that we may go about doing that.

Question: My understanding is that part of your plan with the property is to

have It come under a Rural Land Stewardship Program. As I understand the RSLP, credits from environmentally sensitive lands in a stewardship area are

transferred to land that Is approved for development

If that is the case, where will you be getting your credits from to develop the

property you intend to hold? Do you plan to repurchase credits from the state

after you sell the environmental lands to them or, alternatively, will you sell the

land to the state net of those credits? If It is the latter, will the price that is paid

by the state be adjusted and presumably lowered to reflect the transfer of those

development credits?

There is a process that has been agreed to with the state so that when these

transfers occur, the value of the land is not diminished through the transfer of- what

:>on 't mis~ a deal! Sign up fo r daily deals emails

i=' ind us on Socia! Media

News Alerts

Naples Dally News Fan Page Headlines & updates from naplesnews.com

Naples Dally News Facebook Application Add this app to your Facebook profile

The Marco Eagle Fan Page Follow The Marco Eagie on Facebooii

PrepZone on Facebook Follow PrepZone on Facebook

GoNaples on Facebook Follow GoNapies on Facebook

Vista Semanal Fan Page Follow Vista Semanai on Facebook

The Banner Fan Page Follow The Banner on Face book

The Collier Citizen Fan Page Follow Collier Citizen on Facebook

Business Directory

Search Browse

Business: e.g. salon

Location : e.g Naples , FL

Naples, FL

Search

Powered by Local.com

http://www .naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/05/babcock _ranch_ developer_ answers _reader_ questions/ 7/20/2011

they're saying is there's a sending area and a receiving area. That's the sending area

that would literally take the credits that come from the resource values. This is very accurate, whoever wrote this really is very, very knowledgeable. The bottom is, is that the rural land stewardship and how it's going to be implemented will not diminish the

value of the land so that the price the state will be paying will be based upon

appraisals that have to stand true.

© 2005 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,

broadcast. rewritten or redistributed.

Email Discuss Share>> Print

Recommend Be the first of your friends to recommend this.

Also in State Legislature More

Organizers celebrate Orlando commuter rail signing

Mike Harldopolos drops out of US Senate contest

Fla. Dems urge feds to reject Medicaid overhaul

Comments » 2 Hide

october 5. 2005 indyvote writes: 10:49 o.m.

Suggest removal

Reply to this post

Apri l 25 . 2006 :· 11 p rr.

Mr. Kitson's 'visions' are nothing but hollow air castles. He means to fully explott

the Babcock land he proposes to acquire, to introduce vast urbanization and

sprawl, regardless of his lovely visions. We didn't fall off the turnip wagon

yesterday Mr. Kitson.

#1) How can you propose to build an 18,000 acre community, in fact a sprawling

urbanized mini city in the middle of nowhere and yet be so coy as to oppose a

landfill that would vital to serving that city.

#2) You can't drop this sprawling mini city in the middle of virgin forests and

weUands and not profoundly effect the surrouding natural environs. Wrth

urbanization comes air pollution, noise pollution, disturbances to water quality

and water distribution, etc. Aside from the fact that you will inevitably be

displacing the little remaining natural habitat, the last home, for many rare and

precious native wildlife and wild flora.

#3) Who is Kitson fooling-with this talk of affordable housing. The companies he

is proposing to attract to his development will be in the advanced bio-tech areas

etc., offering positions in career oriented fields for highly qualified and educated,

specialized workers, that will be required to have at least a four year degree if

not greater university training. Your typical worker seeking affordable housing

works in light industry, manufacturing and service fields, so where are those jobs

going to be coming from???

Mr. Kitson, leave well enough alone and walk away from Babcock. It is a

precious natural resource to the people and native species of Aorida, it must be

preserved in its entirety to be meaningful and sustaining for the future.

There are vast tracts of land in Aorida, previously clear cut and subdivided in

great swaths by developers of the past who failed for whatever reason. Exploit

what has already been disturbed and has the mark of man upon it. Leave well

enough alone the little remaining eden in Aorida, that is preserved within the

91 ,000 acre Babcock tract.

http://www .naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/05/babcock _ranch_ developer_ answers_ reader_ questions/ 7/20/2011

--·-- -- r --- ~ ... ·-r"""- ..... - -....J ... ·- "' 'IJ.i

- .com ReaC: more at naplesn<:ws.com

Brent Batten: Developer deserves benefit of doubt over Babcock Ranch plans BRENT BA TIEN. bebatten@naolesnews.com

Sunday, October 9. 2005

Developer Sydney Kitson's online question-and-answer session with Naples Daily News readers over his plans for the Babcock Ranch property drew this response from

an anonymous writer:

"Mr. Kitson, leave well enough alone and walk away from Babcock. It is a precious natural resource to the people and native species of Florida, it must be preserved in its entirety to be meaningful and sustaining for the future.

''There are vast tracts of land in Florida, previously clear cut and subdivided in great swaths by developers of the past who failed for whatever reason. Exploit what has already been disturbed and has the mark of man upon it. Leave well enough alone the little remaining Eden in Florida, that is preserved within the 91, 000 acre Babcock tract."

Thank you, anonymous writer, for demonstrating so effectively why the fringe environmental movement remains on the fringe.

Yes, we'd all like to see Babcock Ranch remain as it is, a vast tract of undeveloped, well-preserved old Florida punctuated with bucolic enterprises such as a working cattle ranch.

The problem is, we don't all own the Babcock Ranch. The Babcocks own Babcock Ranch. And all indications are they intend to sell it.

In America, owners of property get to decide, within reason, what to do with their land. Anonymous writers may wish land to remain in a certain state, but then again anonymous writers aren't responsible for paying taxes on the land they want left alone, don't have to foot the bills associated with protecting land from invading exotic species

and don't have to forgo the opportunities the value tied up in the land would offer. All of these burdens fall to the owners, and anonymous writers are only too happy to leave them there.

Kitson maintains the Babcock family is unwilling to sell the land to government.

Taxes associated with the sale hang like the sword of Damocles over their heads and the sale triggers that sword to fall.

b.ttp:/ /www.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/09/ndn _brent_ batten_developer _deserves_ benefit_ of_ do... 7/20/201 1

· · ·· -- r ---- ~- ·-r--..... _ ............ .; .... ,_, ,._.

Kitson says if he buys the land, he'll pay the taxes for them. Government doesn't have

the ability to do that, making a sale to the private sector much more attractive.

Recent history supports Kitson's claim.

A coalition of the state, Charlotte County and Lee County has been trying to strike a

deal for the land with no success. In April, the state's offer of $455 million was rejected

by the family. And on Sept. 26, Dick Cuda, president of Babcock Florida Co., issued

this statement about his company and the land that goes with it: "It is important for

those who share that vision to recognize that years of hard work and efforts by state

and local officials and the Babcock family could not result in public ownership of the

Babcock Florida Company, therefore leaving the only option of selling the Company to

a private buyer."

There is much to like about Kitson's vision for Babcock Ranch: He'll sell74,000 acres

back to the state for use as a preserve open to the public. Of the 17,000 remaining

acres, about 4,000 would be greenways within the development. One scenario, the

entire 91 ,000 acres carved into 1 0-acre home sites, would be avoided.

There are also reasons for pause: The level of development on the 17,000 acres 0

19,000 homes and 6 million square feet of commercial space o far exceeds what could

be built on the entire 91 ,000-acre tract under current zoning.

The sale price to the state has not been set.

Kitson's vision is ambitious and optimistic. Perhaps too much so, with talk of attracting

high-tech business and research, 25,000 jobs, community-wide wireless Internet, a

town with schools as its focal point, moderately priced workforce housing and

environmentally friendly buildings.

But as he explains it, the burden to meet the goals falls on him. If Charlotte County

amends its growth management plan to allow the sale to go through, government can

monitor his activities to make certain the community he promises is the one being built.

It would be naive to accept a developer's word on issues of such import, but government has skyscrapers full of lawyers and regulators. They can be put to good

use crafting agreements that ensure Kitson does what he says he's going to do and

sanction him if he doesn't.

Responsible environmentalists in Southwest Florida have displayed of late a particular

knack for meeting their counterparts in the development world part way.

The results D a growth management plan for rural Collier County that diverts growth

from sensitive areas and directs it to more suitable acreage, a dramatic reduction in the

size of the Saba I Bay development, and other examples o represent realistic outcomes

in a region where demand is high, the environment is important and private property

rights still carry some weight.

Kitson's plan at least merits further consideration from the counties and state.

lttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/09/ndn _brent_ batten_developer _deserves_ benefit_ of_ do. .. 7/20/2011

- . - --- -·--- - -- - --- r---- ~ .... · -..t"' ... _ .... --~J .• ·- ,..~

The haranguing of an anonymous writer bent on imposing his or her will on someone else's land does not.

EDmail Brent Batten at bebatten@naplesnews.com. To order "Batten 1 00," a compilation of some of Brent Batten's best humor columns, visit http://web.naplesnews.com/batten/. The book is also available at area bookstores.

http:/ /www.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/09/ndn _brent_ batten_developer _deserves_ benefit_ of_ do... 7/20/2011

. -- - --------- --- ·- ·-- - --c-

RE: Your 10/9 Article 'Developer deserves benefit of doubt over Babcock Ranch plans'

cram : Batten, Brent (bebatten@naplesnews.com)

Sent: Fri 10/14/05 6:59 PM

To: 'Patty Backes' (pbackos@hotmail.com)

thanks for writing and elaborating on your comments and background. i don't really have any say over letters to the editor. if you'll send your submission to letters@naplesnews.com with a brief note explaining the situation to editor Jeff Lytle , I'm sure he'll consider it. BB

-----Original Message-----From: Patty Backes [mailto:pbackos@hotmail.com] Sent: 10/14/2005 2:31 PM To: bebatten@naplesnews.com Subject: Your 10/9 Article 'Developer deserves benefit of doubt over Babcock Ranch plans'

Dear Mr. Batten:

I am the writer of that commentary concerning developer Kitson's Answers to readers Questions about is his plans for Babcock. I read your Sunday 10/9 NON article, Babcock Compromise .. . in which you comment on my comments, and I must tell you that your assumptions about me are wrong and that your characterization of me as belonging to the 'fringe environmental movement' could not be further from the truth. I am a licensed Contractor in the State of Florida and I work for a family owned Building and Development company that concentrates on doing in-fill residential projects , we are currently focused in Bonita Springs at the Fairwinds Project. We see many opportunities for in-fill development in S.W. Florida, either completing existing distressed projects or developing raw land that is already surrounded by other growth in an existing urban or suburban setting. These opportunites are often overlooked by large-scale developers because of their desire to gobble up vast tracts of raw land for longer term projects were they can ram-rod for zoning changes to create much greater density than currently allowed thus maximizing their profits, case in point the Babcock Ranch and Kitson's plans. I am a developer, but I believe in well-thought out balanced growth, I believe the folks at Lee County government call it Smart Growth. I care about Panther habitat, water resources, etc. and what Man does to the environment, and I don't believe it conflicts with my line work. Mr. Batten, I think you would agree development is pretty much a one-way street, Man develops land, habitats are gone forever, what little (and I stress precious little) pristine habitat that is not intentionally preserved through great effort on the part of the conscientious branch of Humanity will eventually be bulldozed and consumed by the rest who simply don't care or are driven by motives that preclude them from seeing the bigger picture. And as far as the Babcock family is concerned , yes I understand their desire to get the most monies for their land, well if I am not mistaken a lot of money was offered, nearly half a billion dollars is not something to sneeze at. If the State of Florida and the Governor (with the help of the Feds, because heck, Babcock with its size and bio­diversity, has the earmarks for becoming another National Park) been a little more creative in fashioning a special deal for the family I might not be hunkered over this computer now. Jeb could have made an effort to pull strings to grant the family special tax breaks or deductions, in exchange for agreeing to place the entire tract in Public hands. Instead we are looking at a scenario of 20,000 residential units, A city to easily compete with Naples, add to that 6 million square feet commercial, office, retail etc, etc, development and we are not looking at a minor impact to the surrounding land. You can't just say growth or the impact of growth stops here and draw a hard line on a site plan. Vast amounts of water will be needed in that city, to be drawn from surrounding wetlands within the remaining 'undisturbed acres'. Wildlife habitat corridors cannot be realigned like roads. There is so much we don't know about Kitson's plan and its potential impact to the land and the wildlife habitats, that wasn't addressed in the NONs Q&A exchange. This much I know, its not worth it for Kitson to make an effort to buy the Babcock Ranch to do something on a smaller contained scale using the existing zoning. Lee and Charlotte Counties must keep to the existing 9,000 unit plan, but condense it to 1 unit to the acre or less, enforce that and then see how Kitson approaches the deal. Don't Compromise on the side of Development , this land is far to valuable for Starbucks and barrel-tile roofed houses. Believe me there are many others who hold my opinion, there is a place for development and a place for conservation. Babcock is the latter kind of place.

I hope you allow me to clarify my position to your readers , by at least printing this response in the NONs Letters to the Editor section. Thank you for your time.

tlttp:/ lbl162 w. blu 162.mail.live.com/mail!PrintMessages.aspx?cpids=9834 3fd4-222 7-4 314-b6ee-69d0 ... 7/20/20 11

- - -o - - - - -

Sincerely

Patty Backos 24978 Paradise Road Bonita Springs, FL (239-289-4000)

http:/ /bl162w. blu 162.mail.live.com/mail!PrintMessages.aspx?cpids=9834 3 fd4-222 7-4 314-b6ee-69d0 ... 7/20/2011

RE: How to protect panthers at road crossings [Incident: 100530-000025]

t=rom : P Whitehead (pbackos@hotmail.com) Sent: Tue 6/08/10 7:36 PM To: ecronel@gmail.com

Hi Ellen, Thank you for your encouragement. My soul and spirit are never really discouraged, but you can wear your mind out trying to convince obtuse people to care. I blog alot of commentary online on provocative articles written in the Naples Daily News site, CNN, etc., its unbelievable how stupid and objectionable people can be, how little compassion they show, how little they understand that these issues we deal with effect the overall health of the environment that they live in as well. ... But occasionally I get someone who responds back who thanks me for making an eloquent or inspiring comment and then it makes it all worth it.

Marti Daltry and Marci did get a response from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida (pasted below with my new comments) . You can see in my comments I am still pressing the issue. I think I can frame a very good letter to the editor around this issue (just have to keep 250 words) .

Hi Marti and Marci--Thank you for directing this to their attention and I thinks its wonderful that they responded so quickly. I understand where they are coming from advocating for the underpasses as the safest means of passage for the Panther from one side of a busy street or highway to anothe~ but they fail to mention that it is only effective if coupled with fencing running the length of the roadwaJ!t to route the creatures to the underpass. I still think the warning signal idea could be a viable approach to the problem, maybe not in high traffic areas such as 41 but on lesser roads in far Eastern Collie~ Lee etc. Maybe it could be triggered by any creature crossing an invisible infrared signal at a certain heigh, between two points at a great distance to each other that then triggers warning lights along the length of the road So there are refinements that could be considered to maximize its effectiveness. One way or another ensuring the ongoing safety of panthers as they cross roads through THEIR habitat has to be a paramount issue to be tackled I am running into a wall trying to get a high-resolution photo of an oiled bird for my protest poster to be displayed at Hands across the Sands. If you guys can think of any resource for such a photo please let me know, I am hoping one of the environmental agencies may have already licensed the use an image or two and would be willing to let us use their licensing for just one poster. I already have a graphical person lined up to help design the poster and print it! He said he is at the ready as soon as I can get a good image for him to work with.

Sincerely

Patty

Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 13:23:41 -0400 Subject: Conservancy response to your panther protection idea From: marti.daltry@sierraclub.org To: pbackos@hotmail.com

Hi Patty,

The message below was sent to me from Jennifer Hecker and I just pasted it to this email.:

Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 1:14PM subjectRE: How to protect panthers at road crossings [Incident: 100530-000025} hide details 1:14PM (5 minutes ago)

tttp:/ /bll62w.blul62.mail.live.corn!mail/PrintMessages.aspx?cpids=60f3a8f4-1 Od2-4cb9-a99f-cc4 7ea... 7/20/2011

Hi Marcia and Marti: We really appreciate you sending along this information and certainly share the sentiment of all involved in wanting to prevent these tragic road deaths.

The triggered lighting idea (which would go off when collared panthers approach) is actually already in the works ... to be implemented along US41, though unfortunately, in leui of a panther underpass crossing at that location. Because so few panthers are collared and the agengy predisposition to look at road signs and flashing lights as a substitute for bonafide underpassing crossings which would protect both collared and uncollared panthers, we feel our limited resources and objectives would be best served in focusing on our current policy priorities relating to panther protection: avoidance and minimization of impacts through proper project placement and design (incl. development and road projects) and critical habitat designation as well as getting bonafide panther underpass crossings and other forms of appropriate mitigation where impacts are truly unavoidable.

We wish you the best of luck in your efforts, and look forward to continuing to work together to further the protection of the panther. Please also feel free to call me if you would like to discuss further. SincereiYt Jennifer

Jennifer Hecker Natural Resource Policy Manager Conservancy of Southwest Florida 1450 Merrihue Drive Naples, Rorida 34102 Phone: 239-262-0304, ext. 250

Also tonight I am going to this vigil protesting the oil spill and I will be passing out Bobbie Lee's announcement for the Hands Across the Sands event on the 26th.

Tomorrow in Estero: Vigil for the Gulf Coast

From:Andrew T. (moveon-help@list.moveon.org) Sent: Man 6/07/10 7:45 PM To: Patty Whitehead (pbackos@hotmail.com)

Estero Oil Spill Vigil: Stand with the Gulf Coast

Where: South County Regional Library (in Estero)

When: Tuesday, Jun. 8, 2010,at 7:00PM

What: MoveOn members are gathering tomorrow, the 50th day since the start of the spill, to stand in solidarity with those affected by the BP disaster and call for an end to America's addiction to oil.

Can you make it to this vigil?

Click here for more details and to RSVP:

1ttp:/ /b1162w. blu 162.mail.live.com/mail/PrintMessages.aspx?cpids=60f3a8f4-1 Od2-4cb9-a99f-cc4 7 ea. .. 7/20/2011

May 4, 2011

Ms. Patty Whitehead 29791 Tanglewood Lane Estero, FL 33928-3150

Dear Ms. Whitehead:

Ed Frick 410 6th St. N. E.

Naples, FL 34120-4016 Phone (239) 348-0388

Email efh::k ?T·edti·ici-..author.co:TJ Web Site: \n': \' . . edfrici. author.com

This is being written under the assumption that it was YOU that wrote that great letter which appeared in today' s issue of the NAPLES DAILY NEWS.

In any bastion of the self-absorbed, a letter such as yours has several things wrong with it: 1) it is intelligent, 2) it makes sense an~ 3) you used facts! We can't have that!

Hopefully this letter will encourage you - at least: in some small way - to write more often.

Get at th• 'rGOl pi'C)blems ail~?ditionally,subsidies for fossil fuels cur-

di. ail N · t investment in green alternative-energy E tor, p . y . ews: sour tm' 1" . Despite clever ads put oriby the ciil and gas . · ce~, crea g supp y-.and-demand-side

industries, otir current fossil fuel addiction distortions that emerging green-fuel tech­and.aiitiguated:transportation sy.stem keep n~~es cannot eas~y over~ome. . us :dependent on volatile wor1d oil :QJarkets 15 all -~00 ?by10us ~tb the federal __ ·___,.._ ... -. -·--'- _ .. ..:._ __ - - · governments exiSting policy, accesstosHb-

"· ··~·Y"· :::: :._ ,~ -· -~- -:-- ·~;__:.. .. . · ·. sidies 1s often a function more of politk3:! while also putting us:at nsk for another BP- ,power than of true need.

___trt>e ~Sll.St~r. . .. . :·· .. · '.. ' To .effectively move beyond oil' we need This dan,gerou.s dependence ·on oil f31so :convenient transportation choices that re-

drains over half a billio~ do~ats from. ~ur duce our need to drive and interconnect economy each day, while ?~ compames high•speed rail with light rail, bu.s service m~e record profits and families:see record -and Redes~ and?~cycle access ways that pnces at the pump. . . . . . . . sempe heavily utiliZed commercial .and

President Barack -Obama w~s .. nght to residential-travel corridors. · call for eJl.ding subsidies to the oil mdustry. · 1htly.heiD.ous is that in a furie of the grea~est \ - Patty -Whitehead economic crisis -since the Great DepressiOn Estero and a record deficit :bar none, oil giants . ___ _ .. _ ·- --_ _ . -· _ _ _ _ continue.to benefit from these ''handouts" bv the federal government in -the form of deep tax breaks and other moneta..ry and Iio.n-n;t_Qn~~r mark_~t -~~an,~e. · .. _. · _

Windows Live Hotmail Print Message

From news-press

From: Hill, Martha (MHILL@Fortmyer.gannett.com)

Sent: Fri 3/04/11 6:05 PM

To: pbackos@hotmail.com (pbackos@hotmail.com)

Hello :

Page 1 of2

Your letter is running online today. We don ' t have space on print but we want to make sure it ' s published. Thank you .

http : //www . news ­press . com/article/20110304/NEWS0102/ll0304025/1015/0PINION/Bonita - Estero- soud - off - Fr - Stan- St - Matthew- BSU- taxes - more

Martha C . Hill Community Conversation Link The News - Press P . O. Box 10 Fort Myers , FL 33902 239- 335 - 0362 mailbag@news- press.com

From : <pbackos@hotmail.com> Date : Tue , 1 Mar 2011 22 : 41 : 12 - 0500 To : <mailbag@news - press . com> Conversation : Your request for news services at the News - Press Subject : Your request for news services at the News - Press

Request for : mailbag Request made by : Patty Whitehead From : pbackos@hotmail.com Business Name : Address : Address 2 : City , State Zipcode : Estero , Florida 33928 Dayphone : 239-289- 4000 Evephone: Information : Despite clever ads put on by the oil and gas industries our current fossil fuel addiction and antiquated transportation system keeps us dependent on volatile world oil markets while also putting us at risk for another BP type disaster. This dangerous dependence on oil also drains over half a billion dollars from our economy each day , while oil companies make record profits and families see record prices at the pump . President Obama was right to call for ending subsidies to the oil industry . Truly heinous is that in a time of the greatest economic crisis since the great depression and a record deficit bar none , o i l giants continue to benefit from these 'hand­outs ' by the Federal Government in the form of deep tax breaks and other monetary and non- monetary market assistance. Additionally subsidies for fossil fuels curtails investment in green alternative energy sources , creating supply and demand side distortions that emerging green fuel

http://bl162w.blu162.mail.live.com/mail/PrintMessages.asox?coids=effDc 1 fl-4689-11 e0-9... 7/30/2011

Windows Live Hotmail Print Message Page 2 of2

technologies cannot easily! overcome. As is all too obvious with the Federal Government's existing policy: access to subsidies is often a function more of political power than of true need . To effectively move beyond oil we need convenient transportation choices that reduce our need to drive and interconnect high speed rail with light rail , bus service and pedestrian and bicycle access ways that service heavily utilized commercial and residential travel corridors . Press release information: Name of group: Speakers: Type of event : Cost to attend : Date of event : Time of event : Phone number for publication : Location of event : Description of event :

htto:/ /bl162w.blu162.mail.live.com/mail/PrintMessa2:es.asnx?cnids=efffic 1 f1-4oR9-11 e0-9 ... 7/i0/?0 11

t l

I

MONEY FOR STUDENTS

Art League paves thewayfor

student artists with scholarships

PAGE11B

WWW.MYBANNERHUB.COM

GOVERNMENT

YO-YO GAS PRICES·

1F.uel pri~e~going up, hut dori't blame oil

.; spill

PAGE~A · I ' . ' .•. ,.

Serving Bonita Springs, Estero, South Fon Myers, North Naples

IN MEMORIAM Long-time Bonita Springs resident Ben Nelson, Sr. passed away Wednesday

PAGE6A

~iAYIS, 2010 I VOW! I NO. Z7

Ordinance keeps gathering areas for kids safer By Tara Mclaughlin tmclaughlinOnaplesnews.com

Lee County Commissioners unani­mously approved an ordinance once struck down as unconstitutional.

'The Child Safety Zone ordinance was first passed in March 2009 to keep reg­istered sex offenders and predators

· from children. But two circuit court judges said some

ofthe language was too vague and strik-

ing those phrases could make it consti­tutional.

'The rule made ita punishable offense for offenders to be within 300 feet of a place where children.gather, such as parks and day care centers.

"We're not trying to be invasive," Com­mission Chairwoman Tammy ilall said. "We have to protect our citizens. We don't want to come back here and find our inability to take action has caused

harm." In December, after two men identified

as sexual predators or offenders filed suit, two judges agreed the ordinance needed changes.

Certain definitions of restricted loca­tions included the following phrases ''but is not limited to,'' "or other similar cype places where children congregate" or "regularly congregate."

'The judges said those phrases were

NO-NO, 'DRILL BABY, DRILL'

too broad and "could have a chilling effect on the exercise of fundamental constitutional rights."

The original ordinance would have prohibited sex offenders from shopping at stores that sold music marketed to teens or children. It could have also kept offenders from movie theaters and fast food restaurants.

• see ORDINANCE on8A

Cost of Olympic pool being explored By Tara E. Mclaughlin TMdaughlinOnaplesnews. com

Lee County commis­sioners agreed to enter Into talks with Austin, Texas-based National Swimming Center Corp. to convert the City of Palms Park intO an Olym­pic training center.

Tuesday's 4-0 vote kicks off a 120-day due diligence period during which county staff will investigate financial and logistical feasibility.

Although all four com­missioners offered yes votes, two added their note of skepticism.

TRISTAN SPINSKIISPEOAl. TO THE BAANER

Patty Whitehead, lett; of Estero and a volunteer with the Sierra Club, chats with Bayshawn Bolhar, of Madison,_ Wis. last Saturday as he signs a petition against offshore oil drilling in the wake of the oil rig explosion and oil spill off the coas_t ?f Lou1s1ana. Local _res1dents gath­ered on Fort Myers Beach with the Sierra aub and several other environmental groups to pass out pet!t1ons and ra1se pubhc awareness to the hazards of offshore oil drilling.

"I don't know much about the corporation,'' Commissioner Frank Mann said. "I haven't seen financial statements, what other projects you've done . ... 'There's a lot more I need to know about it"

Commissioner Brian Bigelow also made his concerns known.

Photo: Patty Whitehead , left, of Estero and a volunteer with the Sierra Club, chats with Tracy Jones, center, of East Otto, N.Y., and Atm Reinhardt, right, of Salamanca, N.Y., on Fort Myers beach on Saturday, M ..

http://www.naplesnews. com/photos/201 0/may/08/221740/(7/2 1/20 I I 12:19:50 PM]

:i 'I

;I

~

A20 I Orlando Sentinel TUesday, Dec:ember 21, .2010

Opinion --- -- - -- - - - - - -- - _.....,. -- -Something ~

Orlando Sentinel on your mind? @ Mall: 633 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, F.L 328()1

@ E·mall: lnsight@orlandosentlnel.com Rowal'CI Graeaberg, Publisher

Mike Lafferty, Opinions Editor

Ideal letters to the editor are brief and to the point. Letters may

be edited for clarity or length. Submissions require the writer's

name, address and day and evening phone numbers. @ Web: OrlandoSentinel.com/letters

WHAT YOU THINK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gun laws not an issue In School Board shooting

After reading S1mday's letter to the editor from Oren Spiegler, I am once again amazed by the naivete of the anti­gun faction.

Yes, the Panama City School Board shooting was a tragedy. However, lax gun laws had no bearing on the situation. In fact, had one or more of the School Board members been armed with a handgun instead of merely a handbag, the situa· tion could have been handled decisively.

As for the perpetrator of the School Board attack, he could have just as easily been armed with a butcher knife or a chainsaw. Would Spiegler whine about lax regulations relating to these items?

A gun did not attack the board mem­bers; a deeply disturbed man did. Any­one with any common sense knows that gun bans affect only honest citizens, denying them the ability to fairly defend themselves and their loved ones. Crimi­nals pay no attention to such laws.

Spiegler should be thankful that there are institutions like the National Rifle Association that are willing to speak out for our right to bear arms, because with­out such institutions, he may one day not have the freedom to complain about anything at all.

-Timothy W. McHone Apopka

We need to shine light on homeless situation

They are out there. Hidden sometimes, hidden on purpose. But they definitely exist in our society. So what are we as a nation going to do about it? The situa-

tion is going to get worse long before the homeless situation gets better. The econ­omy is in a downturn. The. president offers liberal-backed programs that only put a heavier yoke on the common worker.

Take a walk in downtown Orlando. You will see them. Many are homeless because of illness, both physical arid mental. But many are homeless because of the economy. Taxing the rich will not eliminate the issues. Too much of the taxes end up in a place that was not intended.

The solution? The president needs to create a credible jobs work program.

We need a leader who will take control of the economy and make quick deci­sions and quick progress.

Our president does not fill the bill. He is a good man. But this is a challenge that is above even most men and women. It will take a human being with unusual insight into the problem, as well as cour­·age to face those in Congress who do not want to "play ball."

Put them outside, bundled up in rags, pulling a shopping cart full of "treas­ures," and they will see the light. ­

-Ronald Mlrowskl Orlando

DREAM Act would compound problems

The so-called DREAM Act, disguising amnesty for illegal immigration as a humanitarian gesture, is a ploy to cover up our national negligence in enforcing immigration laws.

Certainly there are innocent victims who will take the brunt of Congress' failing to take action in this lame-duck session. However, Sen. George LeMieux

of Florida has the right idea, stating he "could not grant 'amnesty' ... as long as the nation's borders remain insecure." ("Backers vow new DREAM Act fight," Orlando Sentinel, Sunday).

If the DREAM Act were to grant am­nesty to people under 30 who were brought illegally to the United States before the age of16, thousands of people from abroad would be tempted to il­legally bring their children to the U.S., assuming that they; too, might be grant­ed amnesty sometime in the future.

Unless our borders are secured, as are those of other developed countries of the world, we cannot afford to make it any easier for illegal immigrants to absorb our resources without being an integral part of our citizenship structure.

- Harry s. Westcott Kissimmee

By any other name ... Since the tax-cut measures formerly

known as the Bush-era tax cuts were signed into law by President Obama, are they now to be known as the Obama-era · tax cuts?

lt will be interesting to see if the liber­als attack the cuts as much now as when they had another name.

- Lewis Evans Lake Mary

Cartoon on the mark Don Wright is spot on with his render­

ings of the American and Chinese kids' brains. And we wonder why our students don't perform well in school?

Until parents instill the value and necessity of a good education in the minds' of our children, we are doomed to mediocrity and worse. Take charge, Mom and Dad. Our future depends on it.

- Ethel Danhof Longwood

ft;!~f~ HOT TOPIC· tm··· · J 'U'ollll"!tl. d &l .. .aA6A.-spee ~ rail lans ti'l I read ~great dismay that ~ incoming Gov. Rick Scott is J1f opposed to the long-awaited f~~ advent of high-speed rail for ~;}: F1orida. High-speed rail is part r::r. ofamuch-needed2lst-century i~ transportation plan that not rj only will green our options for t;( ,l cross-state travel, but will equa­~~ te to vigorous job creation and 1;fp lead to tremendous community f.f,! revitalization projects along ~.l( the rail lines and station stops. ~~il If Scott succeeds in growing ~~~ the economy and the job mar­\rl ket with ~e san:e v@; ~e ,1,~~ touted dunng his camprugn, w~ then high-speed rail will be r,gi, more vital than ever to support ~~i this vibrant growth and the

~!~~~ I.Pjl

I ~l~ ~A i~ i1~.~ ;m \\~~

I ~~~ ' v

I .,., ;t.~I

f~~ demand to move people quic~ ~~ between the metro centers of . ~'ifj urbanized F1orida. ·,,.. , ~,Jf,l· Efficiencies will be reaped · · k~. not only in fuel consumption, 7 ··' .91$ the demands placed on infra- . : i'l structure and the individual's iffjf automobile usage, but in the ~ traveler's ability to catch up on ""' l~' worlt while in transit, un- ~ ~~ encumbered ?Y the pressures ~~ ·,.~1 of concentrating on the road ,~ f~4t and traffic conditions. ;~p,J t'":i Scott should consider the •:~~i ~ IJ?Sitive offsh?<Jts ofb~ {~~ tif1 high-speed rail to F1onda and tlli! lW delay no longer in green-light- "¥11 ~; ing this vital project. &,~ :'/A -Patty Whitehead Port , .. >~i! W;~;\':l Orange '"'~ill

:~ 'I l 1. ~

tQ:

THE FLORIDA SENATE COMMITIEES: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities, Chair Budget - Subcommittee on General Government

SENATOR LIZBETH BENACQUISTO 27th District

June 30, 2011

Patty Whitehead 20791 Tanglewood Lane Estero, Florida. 33929

Dear Ms. Whitehead:

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 Appropriations , Vice Chair

Budget . . Budget - Subcommittee on Transportation, Tounsm,

and Economic Development AppropnatJons Education Pre-K - 12 Governmental Oversight and Accountability Reapportionment Transportation

Thank you again for taking the time to visit with me at the South County Regjonal Library on the 15th. Your input on R,enewable Portfolio Standards was appreciated and I will take to heart what you said.

I understand that you had a follow up conversation with Luke Givens from my office who spoke to you at length about Florida's energy policy and how Renewable Portfolio's Standards play a role in other states. I also understand that you spoke to Luke about roof top solar production and third party sales. As Luke mentioned, Florida's Investor Owned Utilities are regulated monopolies and are subject to oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission. In order to provide for third party sales, the state would have to redo its regulatory structure to accommodate the sale of electricity by non-investor owned utilities. Given the time constraints put on us this past legislative session, this was not possible.

It is input like yours that I value and that is vital in making our community a better place to live, work, grow a business and raise a family.

Thank you again for your time and I hope to see you again in the near future .

Sincerely,

~m~r Senator District 27

REPLY TO: 0 12150 West Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite 200, Welling1on, Florida 33414 (561 ) 753-2440 0 17595 South Tamiami Trail , Suite 200-9, Fort Myers, Florida 33908 (239) 433-6599 0 326 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5356

MIKE HARIDOPOLOS President of the Senate

Senate's Website : www.flsenate .gov

MICHAEL S. "MIKE" BENNETI President Pro Tempore

SIERRA CLUB CALUSA GROUP

SERVING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

July 19, 2011

Mr. Frank Jackalone Senior Organizing Manager/ FL & PR Sierra Club 111 Second A venue, Suite I 00 I St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Dear Frank

The Sierra Club-Cal usa Group is submitting this letter of recommendation in support of Patty Whitehead's application for the position of Fort Myers Field Organizer for the Sierra Club. Patty is an active member of the Calusa Group and I can attest to the strengths that would make her an ideal candidate for this position.

PattY is highly dependable and outgoing and always strives for excellence in all that she does. Her verbal and written communication skills are impeccable. Furthermore, she is a people person who has a knack for developing a rapport with others and facilitating their understanding of complex environmental issues.

I believe that Patty is well-suited for the position of Field Organizer because of her general knowledge of environmental matters in Southwest Florida, her ability to learn quickly, and her strong organizational skills. I am also confident that she has the personality and poise to recruit and develop positive relationships with volunteers.

It is without reservation that I recommend Patty for the Field Organizer's position. I have the utmost confidence that she will represent the Sierra Club exceedingly well and be a tremendous asset to your team.

Please do not hesitate to contact me ifl can provide any additional information regarding Patty's qualifications. I can be reached at 239-206-4393.

Sincerely_£/~ /"_/ ~ Ellen Peterson Chair Sierra Club-Calusa Group

"Not blind opposition to progress, but opposition to blind progress"

PrintFriendly.com: Print web pages, create PDFs Page 1 of 1

Florida needs freedom from oil- cape-coral-daily-breeze.com 1 News, sports, community info. - Cape Coral Daily Breeze http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content .detail/id/525440.htmi%23.TjRW1WnhHPw.printfriendly July 30, 2011

To the editor:

Like many South Florida residents, I'd like to spend Independence Day lounging on the beach and watching fireworks. I'd like to be able to enjoy the sand beneath my feet and that brilliant rush of freedom from floating upon the ocean . But this Fourth of July, I felt anything but free as America's oil addiction is only getting worse and traces of the BP oil disaster still scar our beaches and community more than a year later.

This is why I joined hands with more than a million concerned citizens along America's shorelines last week for the second annual Hands Across the Sands Event. Our diverse crowd assembled along the coast all stood in solidarity for two things-the protection of our coastal communities and our nation's freedom from oil.

As most residents of southwest Florida live along the coast, you would think it would be easy to reach this event by taking public transportation or by bike. It should be simple- hop on a bus, go up Hwy 41 to the edge of one county, transfer to another bus, and then continue on your way. But inter­county transit is non-existent. You'd have to walk or bike five miles until the next bus station to reach your destination.

Even if you braved Florida's sweltering mid-day humidity for this trek, you'd be lucky to survive your voyage on foot or bike. In 2008, Florida accounted for more than 17 percent of the nation's bicycle deaths and 11 percent of pedestrian deaths, making it one of the most unsafe states for alternative transportation. Thus for many, driving is still the only way to get around in Florida.

Florida's beaches and tourist attractions have caused the state's population to skyrocket in recent decades. But instead of building communities around smart transportation choices like bike lanes and walkable communities, we've fueled our oil addiction by creating sprawling suburbs that rely on massive highways. Completely and utterly reliant on oil , our home to "The Happiest Place on Earth" is increasingly more polluted and economically vulnerable as more cars hit our roads and prices continue to skyrocket at the pump.

I believe in a brighter future than this for Florida that is less addicted to oil. Investing in public transportation projects will create more jobs and boost the economy. It will also clean the air-the planet can't take any more carbon pollution. With the current jumble of Florida roads, getting more electric cars, fuel efficient cars and hybrids on the road will be the key to reducing our dependence on oil , improving our economy, and ensuring a healthy world for our kids to inherit.

With the downtrodden economy, I'm currently between jobs and involved in independent contracting. It's not much money, but every bit helps. I'd ultimately like to buy an electric car and install solar panels for my roof-it would put people to work! But I don't have the money right now. Only effective standards will lower these costs.

The good news is that President Obama has a historic opportunity to move us beyond oil and provide a ray of hope for Florida's future. In September, his administration will propose new fuel efficiency standards as strong as 62 MPG by 2025. That would cut the number of trips to the gas station in half compared to driving today's average cars, which means more savings for Florida's families and more energy independence.

When you're standing on Florida's beaches taking in the beautiful views, the need to end our oil addiction and protect our shores from drilling couldn't be more apparent. We need to build better communities for walking , biking and taking transit. We need cars that get at least 60 MPG by 2025. Mr. President, we're counting on you to make it happen.

Patty Whitehead

Estero

' •• ·· - ' '-- -- - - · __ :_ ... ~:~~ ,:n .. ,.,........,,.., .. ; .... t/"'J?nrl=httn% 1A %2F%2Fwww.cape-coral-daily-breez... 7/30/2011