Response to a Councilman’s Email to Vote No

Although my husband and I voted for you in both previous elections, although I loved how you kept us informed during the Covid pandemic, we disagree with you on this issue for several reasons. 

We have a number of STR's in our neighborhood. Many of these people have no idea what is expected of them. They party, make noise, and do not behave like they are in a neighborhood, respecting the neighbors.

We question whether some of the council members are themselves involved in these short-term rentals, or their family members are, or they are in an LLC, STR? Until full disclosure by every council person is made, we remain in the dark subject to rumors. 

We have always believed the elected officials should represent the people in their communities. My husband was a Planning Board, Board of Adjustments, Councilman, Council President for 18 years in the community we lived in. Each year he completed a disclosure statement. It listed our assets. Do all the Council people do this on Marco Island? 

We believe in small businesses; my husband owned a small business. We supported them before the pandemic, during the pandemic and after the pandemic. We love our restaurants and eat out three to four times a week, and we have lived here on Marco for 16 years. 

People on this Island can't operate a beauty salon or barber shop in their homes. How can STR's operate a business where people come into homes without checking who they are? 

I also question if people claim Marco Island as their residency and continue to rent their homes for the six month and one day to be a resident. How would we know?

Going public with this is surely not easy, but I hope I speak for those of us who have remained silent on this issue. Be grateful for the people who have done this research and brought this to an upcoming vote. Let the people speak.