WEEK OF JULY 24, 2024
VOLUME 40, NUMBER 30
Town, county to keep flood insurance discount By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Fort Myers Beach and Lee County will keep their National Flood Insurance Program discounts through FEMA for now following an appeal of a decision by the federal agency which would have stripped away their 25% discount. FEMA said the town and county will be put on a 121-day probationary period “to address any remaining deficiencies” while plans are formulated by the town and county.
The FEMA News Desk responding to media inquiries, declined to address what the deficiencies were or what the cause of the probation was. FEMA had initially downgraded the National Flood Insurance Program rating of Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Estero over concerns about permitless work throughout the county after Hurricane Ian. The FEMA news desk handling the inquiry, signed its responses anonymously and referred followup questions back to the town and county.
“We’ve made progress with each of the five communities over the past two months,” the FEMA news desk said in an email responding to questions about its latest decision. “Policy holders will be able to maintain their regular flood insurance policies at a discounted rate. Our goal during the next few months is to continue meeting with each community and making progress to ensure standards of the program are being met so they are more resilient to future disasters.” According to Fort Myers Beach Clerk Amy Baker, there is no written record from
FEMA regarding its decision to reverse the downgrade. According to spokespersons for the town and county, FEMA restored the county's rating while the town and county continue to work on a plan to address “some continuing issues.” That plan will be due Nov. 18. “We feel as though we responded to FEMA’s request for information and felt that the information was accurate while meeting the requirements that were estabSee DISCOUNT, page 12
Biden drops out of race, backs Harris
New poles running afoul of town ordinance By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
ince reopening, the newly-renovated U.S. Post Office building on Fort Myers Beach has been operating with a bright new look. Too bright actually. The new lights attached to tall poles in front of the building, the parking lot and in the rear of the property violate the town’s lighting ordinance, including the sea turtle lighting ordinance. The lights have been shining throughout the night into the morning, in violation of the town's ordinance to protect threatened sea turtles that nest and hatch on the island.
Town of Fort Myers Beach Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz issued a warning letter to the property owner for the lights on June 26 though the lighting violations have continued unabated from the property during the middle of sea turtle nesting season. See LIGHTS, page 14 NATHAN MAYBERG
The new lights at the renovated U.S. Post Office building on 200 Carolina Ave. in Fort Myers Beach have been violating the town's sea turtle light ordinance.
ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election. Minutes after his announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Joe Biden Kamala Harris. Harris is believed to have secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party’s nominee against the Republican nominee - former president Donald Trump. Harris worked to quickly lock up the support of her party’s donors, elected officials and other leaders, and has so far received support from at least 2,214 delegates according to an Associated Press Survey. However, the AP is not calling Harris the new presumptive nominee. That’s because the convention delegates are still free to vote for the candidate of their choice at the convention in August or if Democrats hold a virtual roll call ahead of that gathering in Chicago. The decision by Biden to drop out of the race comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president misspoke multiple times. Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on Jan. 20. “It has been the greatest honor of my
Beach Living............................................8 insidetoday Opinions.......................................4 Business............................................6 Beach Bulletin..................................19-23
See BIDEN, page 16
Classifieds.............25