Letter to the Editor

Some friends recently visited us from out of town. One of the first things they noticed after crossing the bridge was the number of Trump signs and flags on the island.

Real estate agents know what it’s like to show a home across the street from a house sporting a Trump 2024 or a F*** Biden sign. Such signs don’t enhance curb appeal.

I can’t help but wonder how veterans feel to see neighbors celebrating someone who helped plan and lead a violent insurrection attempt and who recently promised to pardon the mob who participated.

Obviously, it’s a free country. We have a right to express ourselves. But we also have laws that put limits on when, where, and how we do so.

I’m not a lawyer, but I decided to check the Marco Island zoning code. As I understand Ordinance 12-13, the City Council said in 2012 it was “in the best interest of the residents” to permit political signs, but to limit them in certain ways. Specifically, residential signs must be less than four square feet and they “shall not be erected more than 60 calendar days prior to an election or political event” and must be removed seven days after.

The City Council was right. It would be in our best interest not to have political signs and flags flying perpetually. I hope the City Council will decide that nobody is above the law, Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal.

Brian McLaren

Marco Island, Florida