CLEVELAND (AP) – President Barack Obama strongly defended his opposition to extending Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans on Wednesday and delivered a searing attack on Republicans and their House leader for advocating “the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place.” Obama said the struggling U.S. economy can’t afford to spend $700 billion to keep lower tax rates in place for the nation’s highest earners despite a call by House Minority Leader John Boehner and other GOP leaders to do just that. Speaking in the same city where Boehner, an Ohio Republican, recently ridiculed Obama’s economic stewardship, Obama said Boehner’s policies amount to no more than “cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations.” Obama’s comments came as the administration rolled out new proposals designed to re-ignite a sputtering recovery, including new tax breaks for businesses and $50 billion for U.S. roads, rails and airports. “Let me be clear to Mr. Boehner and everyone else. We should not hold middle class tax cuts hostage any longer,” the president said. The administration “is ready this week to give tax cuts to every American making $250,000 or less,” he said. The sweeping series of Bush tax cuts expires at the end of this year unless Congress renews them. Obama wants to extend the tax cuts except for individuals making over $200,000 a year or families earning over $250,000. Related Articles Challenge to Fla. class size amendment in court Amid cuts and controversy, Lee Co. moves closer to budget decisions Class size amendment and your kids Lee considers first round of budget cuts
September 8, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=9942&cache=true " alt="Permits to build take a hit in Lee; One builder blames the oil disaster" class="alignleft" />
LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Permits for new building dropped in some key categories in August in Lee Co.?? One builder is blaming the oil disaster in the Gulf for frightening potential buyers from completing their contracts for homes here. “The end of? April, everything just went quiet.? People stopped making decisions on buying or building a home here.?? Many feared the beaches were soaked in oil, especially the Europeans believed that,”? said Bob Knight, Vice-president of Paul Homes in Cape Coral.??? “People cancelled contracts, based on what they heard about oil on the beaches.?? That oil spill really wrecked the fragile recovery, and sent us right back into a recession.” Lee Co. released permit numbers for August.?? Builders pulled only 17 single-family home permits, compared to 33 in July and 34 in Aug. of??? ‘09.???? Builders pulled no permits for multi-family homes in August, compared to 28 in July and 10 in Aug. of ?’09.?? Commercial permits went up slightly, compared to July. Still, it adds up to discouraging news for the battered construction industry.?? Mike Scullen told WINK News, he is giving up on construction.?? He used to work as a window installer.?? But he’s been jobless for more than 2 years, and says he is looking to go into sales.?? He says he is about to become homeless, because there is no work. David Vieira agrees.?? He too used to make a good living in the building trades.? Now, nothing. “I do not have any hope for construction.?? I have to get into another field,” said Vieira. Bob Knight says, the coming visitor? season should tell a lot about the local economy.? “We will know if we are on the road to recovery, or still slogging through the mud,” said Knight. ? Related Articles Fla. nursing home evacuated after pipe bomb found BP spent $93M on advertising after Gulf spill 4 people killed in 2 car crash in north Fla. Lions, tigers, bears – and a couple hundred homes?
September 1, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=9842&cache=true " alt="No new judge for Fla. man in killing of NC trooper" class="alignleft" />
NEWTON, N.C. (AP) – The Florida man accused of killing a North Carolina state trooper more than two years ago won’t get a new judge for his trial. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported a Superior Court judge ruled Monday that Edwardo Wong of Ormond Beach, Fla., failed to prove that Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Poovey would be unable to rule impartially. Wong asked for a new judge last week, saying Poovey violated Wong’s right to the attorney-client relationship by giving legal advice in a private meeting with the judge and an outside attorney. Wong is charged with first-degree murder in the 2008 shooting death of Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr. during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Canton. Twelve jurors have been selected and attorneys are selecting three alternates for the trial, which is being held in Newton. Related Articles Fla. judge ends former astronaut’s probation early Incumbent Hayward wins Lee Co. judge recount Judge ends former astronaut’s probation early Swimming advisory at Gasparilla Island State Park
August 31, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=9685&cache=true " alt="Crist reinstates 2 suspended commissioners" class="alignleft" />
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) – Gov. Charlie Crist has reinstated two Coral Springs commissioners who were charged with violating the state’s open government law in March. The governor’s office announced the reinstatement of Commissioners Vincent Boccard and Tom Powers Friday. A judge had dismissed the charges against the officials last week, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. Authorities had said Boccard and Powers met secretly with two police union representatives on March 11 at a Coconut Creek sports bar to talk about a salary freeze and union negotiations. Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law requires such conversations to be held in a public forum. Defense attorneys said the conversation focused only on past issues – nothing that was scheduled to be voted on. Related Articles School bus accident in Cape Coral Forget the Grinch – Lee Co. government could end paid holidays Cape Coral cold case to get national attention Palin criticizes Obama, Crist on abortion issues
August 27, 2010 | Posted in
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LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Lee County is nearing final decisions on next year’s budget, and on Thursday, commissioners are expecting to get a packet of material.?? It will include various options to close a huge budget shortfall – some believe as much as 60-million dollars? –?to balance the coming budget. “We are going to recommend an increase in the tax rate, coupled with furloughs (unpaid days off) for employees and managers, and some cuts in services,” said Karen Hawes, Lee Co. Manager.?? “We are looking at things like maintenance of county parks, facilities and road-sides.?? If we used to cut grass every 6 weeks along some roads in the past, we may ?move that to 8 weeks.?? If commissioners do not want to increase the tax rate, they will have to cut deeper into services.? We even are presenting other options, including a possible 10-percent pay cut for all employees.”?? Commissioner Frank Mann has proposed that as a way to help balance the budget.?? Under the current board, 3 commissioners have said they will not increase the tax rate;? two have said, they would vote that way. Hawes spoke to the SW Fl. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.?? She says that managers are trying to find the right size for county government.?? She told WINK News in an interview:? “We have had an enhanced level of government services in this community.?? We have to get that down, cut it back some.? And if people want to cut taxes, they will have to cut a lot of services.” Taxpayer and homeowner?Joe Botelho of San Carlos Park says:?? Cut away.?? “I am tired of the politicians telling us they are doing things, but they don’t keep their promises.?? I say: ?do not raise taxes, cut back like the rest of us have had to do in our budgets.?? I have no sympathy for them (elected officials and budget planners),” he told WINK. Commissioners are supposed to work up their final budget next Tuesday.?? The must approve a balanced budget for the coming year, by Oct. 1. Related Articles ‘Barechested Bandit’ caught in Charlotte County burglary Semi, SUV crash closes road in Charlotte County Spill panel probes Obama’s decision to drill more Election shifts make up of Lee County School Board
August 25, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=9217&cache=true " alt="Support for Colonial Elevated Toll Expressway appears to wane" class="alignleft" />
LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Support appears to be eroding for a Colonial Boulevard Elevated Toll Expressway. The idea would be to build a series of flyovers, so drivers could pay a toll and avoid stoplights at intersections.? It would cover a stretch of Colonial from 75 west to around Fowler. “I am cautiously optimistic, hopeful,” said flyover opponent Pamela Templeton. She spoke after a meeting of the Lee Co. Metropolitan Planning Organization.?? Dr. Joe Grubbs of Architecture Incorporated presented a study on the impacts of the expressway.???? He estimates that construction would cost 470 businesses, about 289-million dollars.?? It also would put 800 out of 6000 people along the corridor, out of work. After the presentation, several members of the MPO spoke against the concept.?? “I see no sentiment to spend millions of dollars to build something that is not needed.?? If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” said Commissioner Frank Mann. Planning for the project is now on hold.?? The MPO may entertain a motion later this fall, to kill the expressway idea.? “It’s never over until it’s over, never,” said Templeton.??? “This is just a bad idea, and it would devastate businesses along the corridor.” Related Articles Controversial Colonial flyover project discussed Commissioner Bigelow releases e-mails; DeBerry denies wrong-doing Summerlin Flyover project should be restarting tomorrow Department of Education says FCAT scores are accurate; statement from Education Commissioner
August 20, 2010 | Posted in
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LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A top Lee Co. official is promoting a plan to suspend the Conservation 2020 tax collection for 2 years, and let property owners hold on to the money. “This is a good program, but? a luxury in a recession.?? I also have a problem with taking all that land off the tax roll,” said Clerk of Courts Charlie Green. The program collects tax from property owners, ever since voters approved Conservation 2020 in the mid-1990’s.?? It collects about 27 to 28 million dollars a year.?? The tax translates to 50 dollars a year for a home valued for taxes at 100-thousand.? It has bought and preserved about 22-thousand acres of land. “We should leave that money in the hands of the taxpayer,” said Green. Lee Co. homeowner Amber Fricke disagrees.? She says her family goes back 5 generations in Lee, and she loves the 2020 program. “I consider this a sacred trust, an obligation that the county has to use the money to buy and preserve land!,” she told WINK News.?? “The voters approved it for one purpose only, and they should stick to that one purpose.” Lee Commissioners will have the final say.? They will talk about the Green proposal during budget meetings in a few weeks. Related Articles Phone Blitz rallies Charlotte County ‘Illegal Immigrant Crossing’ signs taken down in Collier County Lee County deputy driving under the influence Property tax question removed from ballot
July 26, 2010 | Posted in
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LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The manhunt for wanted murder suspect Timothy Tuttle ended Wednesday afternoon as he was arrested in a wooded area near I-75 just west of Treelive Avenue. “It sounded as if he as basically putting his hands up and surrendering after realizing he was surrounded,” described Lee Co. Sheriff’s Office Lt. Larry King. Tuttle had been spotted nearly ten hours earlier, leading to a second massive manhunt in as many days.? Tuttle was reportedly spotted just a few miles away in Estero on Tuesday night.? Deputies were beginning to scale back the manhunt again Wednesday, when a witness spotted him near a business. ? “Initially this all began, again, with a citizen’s tip,” King said. “Saw somebody suspicious standing in the parking lot.” Deputies say Tuttle dashed back into the woods, but air and k-9 units saw him too, and quickly surrounded him, handcuffing him and bringing him out of hiding to a waiting squad car. “(We’re) very thankful to the citizens that called in and gave us tips,” King said.? “Ultimately he did surrender and didn’t put up any resistance other than fleeing for the last 24 hours.” Related Articles Two-for-one Lee County pet adoptions Dengue fever surfaces in Lee County Donald Trump suing Palm Beach County Matlacha Post Office fire
July 22, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=7328&cache=true " alt="Lee Commissioners’ Budgets Show Generous Funding for own Offices" class="alignleft" />
Lee county commissioners have been very generous in funding their own offices and staffs, despite calls for others in county government to make sharp cutbacks. “I would say that is absolutely hypocritical,” said Lee Co. homeowner Donna Moore.??? “You have to begin at home, cut your own spending before asking others to do the cutting.” WINK News looked at budgets, going back 12 years.?? They show, a mostly continual increase in funding for the commissioners offices and functions.??? Their current budget, for example, amounts to 1-million, 203-thousand dollars.??? 10 years ago, it was 940-thousand.?? And in 2004, it was just over one-million.?? What’s more, commissioners have flirted with the idea of actually increasing their budget slightly for next year — boosting it to 1-million, 205-thousand. “The fact is, the commissioners have not set the kind of example on budgeting, that collectively we should have shown,” said Commsr. Frank Mann.?? “My office is the lowest of the 5, and I believe we can all cut more.? We have to.? I don’t want to ask county employees to take a hit that I myself am not willing to take.” Each commissioner makes 84-thousand dollars a year, plus benefits.? The commissioners each have one assistant, who makes 64-thousandd a year, plus benefits.?? In addition, commissioners have funding for travel, phones, subscriptions, and miscellaneous items. Commissioners probably? will have to reduce their current budget a bit? before next year.? Their assistants probably will join 2000 other county employees in taking 10-days of furlough, plus they will pay more for health insurance.? Those items will amount to a 4-percent cut.???? Mann says travel is another item that should by and large be cut.??? Commission Chairwoman Tammy Hall has the biggest budget for travel this year, just over 10-thousand dollars.? She has spent 53-hundred of that 10-thousand.??? Hall? told?WINK News that she travels only when necessary, to meet with legislators to conduct county business out of town.? She says her office has cut out subscriptions, and tries to save money wherever it can.? “We are looking for the right size of county government.?? We are committed to that task, and we will do what we must, to get to that level,” Hall told WINK News. “We have to do more.? We may have to ask employees to take even deeper cuts, and we have to lead by example,” said Commissioner Frank?Mann. ?? Related Articles Donald Trump suing Palm Beach County Local car sales on the increase WINK News compares SWFL fire stations: Did the Cape spend too much of your tax dollars to work in luxury? First look at Charlotte County Jail expansion
July 20, 2010 | Posted in
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&cat=19&pid=6996&cache=true " alt="Southwest Floridians react to death of baseball icon, George Steinbrenner" class="alignleft" />
LEE COUNTY, Fla.– “The Yankee family must be hurting right now,” said Ron Santos of the death of team owner George Steinbrenner.? He died of a heart attack in Tampa, at the age of 80. “He did so much for baseball, and yeah, some did not like him because he tried to get the best players from every team for New York,” said Santos, a former college baseball player who is living now in Fort Myers.??? “He gave to the game and fans, he gave them a winning team, a mega-dynasty.” Bill Hammond, asst. Lee Co. Manager, also remembered Steinbrenner.?? The Twins spring training stadium in S. Ft. Myers is named for Hammond.?? “I met him a number of times, he was very open and friendly.? Always a smile and handshake and a ‘nice to see you.’?? But he had an entourage around him always, so I never talked with him about substantive issues,” said Hammond. He did gain insight into Steinbrenner’s personality through Dick Howser.?? He was a good friend of Hammond, and Howser managed the Yankees for 1 year.??? “Howser dealt with Mr. Steinbrenner almost minute to minute.?? Even when Mr. Steinbrenner was in Tampa, he would get a phone line to the dugout and call and ask:?? why he did certain things,” saId Hammond.?? “I know Dick wanted to manage the team himself, but Mr. Steinbrenner really wanted to put on the uniform and be in the dugout.? That’s how close to the game he was,” Hammond added in an interview with WINK. Hammond says,? Steinbrenner’s legacy will be large.? “He was very generous with charities, more so than most people know.?? He was great for the game, he gave a lot to baseball,” said Hammond. Related Articles Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies at 80 People back in canal hours after gator attack Oil skimmer training today in Collier County High school graduates in Florida increasingly skipping college
July 13, 2010 | Posted in
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