A Puzzling Question for Marco Islanders

I’ve a “puzzlement” that maybe some reader(s) can explain. For some time now, City Councilors Irwin, Palumbo, Grifoni and Blonna have been “pushing” to have private property owners permit public parking on their property for a fee. Supposedly, this would accommodate and increase Marco Island visitors, tourists, beachgoers, etc.

Coincidentally, increasing Marco “visitors” could also increase the sales potential for local restaurants and realtors like the above-mentioned Councilors Grifoni, Irwin, and Palumbo. Thus, their interest is understandable. However, the reasoning(s) of Councilor Blonna, a retired Professor Emeritus who usually supports Marco residents’ interests, completely escapes me. I’d welcome a logical explanation.

BTW and as an afterthought, I seem to recall Marco Island Deed Restrictions saying something like: “Public parking for other than the use of the residential structures and, on church property for other than the church’s mission, is not permitted.”

What say you, Marcoites? – Are we okay with hurrying up Marco’s eventual transformation from the quiet, respectable residential community it has been to a flashy, transient, tourist/vacationers’ destination for the benefit of some local businesses…or are we not?

To their credit, councilors Brechnitz, Rola and Folley oppose the “Pay-to-Park-on-Private-Property” idea, but sadly they are outnumbered 4 to 3.