Trouble on Marco

In 1986 I was invited to Marco by a friend. As with most, I instantly fell in love, brought my family for the following vacation, and bought our first condo. All along I knew this would be our retirement destination. That happened three years ago and we are now full time Marco residents/homeowners. I have always loved the island and feel protective of it. And now there is trouble. Of 8,000 single family homes, one fourth of them are STR and horror stories abound. I have traveled from one end of Marco to the other speaking to owners and listening to their sadness and stories of excesses (noise, garbage, disrespect, over the edge parking and traffic) and am active in trying to get the referendum passed to LIMIT and REGULATE STR. Not end it as many realtors would like you to think. Just make it safe for the renters and safe and peaceful for the people who call Marco their home. I received a phone call from an angry woman the other day, telling me why I must vote no on the referendum. That life as we know it here will end. And the island will be “ravaged” if this passes. My answer is, this island was already “ravaged” by inconsiderate people looking to sacrifice our safety and peace of mind for their wallets. Well, they will still have business and if it costs them a little more to be responsible, that is what is desperately needed. PLEASE VOTE YES!!!