“People are Watching” - Marco Rental Ordinance

After the Rental Ordinance fireworks at the City Council meeting, Councilman Palumbo nailed it, “People are watching.”  And boy is he right! Citizens of Marco Island watched quite a show the last couple years. What we’ve witnessed is utterly embarrassing, but not all members hold blame. Four lawsuits, two attorney’s opinions signifying the Ordinance is illegal and $1mm of taxpayer dollars. The fact that two councilmen voted to keep this misguided Ordinance is mind boggling. Let’s dig a deeper hole for the taxpayers!

Councilman Blonna, your prepared remarks after the vote were the grand finale of misguided stupidity. You spoke to healing the community. You then proposed banning all rentals completely with immediate enforcement by the MIPD, thus eliminating the ordinance that minutes earlier you voted to keep. Community healing? Your fellow members could not move fast enough past your proposal, and the look on the City Attorney’s face said it all. Asking your fellow Council members to vote on your proposal that night was absurd. 

My letter to the editor in July of 2022 now seems insightful, “City Should Take All Sides into Consideration.”  Chairman Folley, the blame falls to you for ignoring the problem and not ensuring the Council was listening to ALL constituents. You will not get my Vote for State Representative.

This issue will not disappear. The City Council should buckle down and come up with a plan because you’re right, “people are watching."  This time let’s work with constituents on BOTH sides.