Feb. 18, 2026, 6:02 a.m. ET
- A decline in Canadian tourism is attributed to economic factors and political rhetoric.
- Readers debate the actions of political figures, immigration policies, and the nature of protests.
- Florida’s political landscape is discussed, including candidate histories and legislative actions on guns and election fees.
- Local issues in Collier County, such as beach access for businesses and a charity milestone, are highlighted.
Canadian visits decline
Canadian visitors are down by 20%. Jay Tusa (Collier County tourism director) attributes the decline to currency exchange rates, rising travel costs, evolving travel behavior, and broader consumer trends, not destination-specific performance. Let’s not soft shoe the issue.
There are elephants in the room that deserve acknowledgement. Trump, Stephen Miller, and Kristi Noem to name three. Policies and public rhetoric coming from certain national figures have been overtly insulting, offensive, and at times even threatening toward our neighbors to the north. That kind of tone does not exist in a vacuum. It shapes perceptions. It influences decisions. When prominent leaders send messages that alienate long-standing allies, we should not be surprised when some of those allies choose to spend their time and their money elsewhere.
Yet once again, citizens are handed a tidy explanation focused solely on economic factors, as though political climate and public discourse play no role at all. That feels less like transparency and more like whitewashing. We can discuss currency exchange. We can analyze travel costs. But let’s also be honest about the broader environment we are creating. Otherwise, it’s just a bunch of baloney.
Steven Riggs, Naples
Pam Bondi performance
Pam Bondi’s recent appearance at a House of Representatives hearing was a pathetic performance. Instead of answering questions she went on a rampage of name calling and demeaning the representatives. It is quite evident that the felon in the White House has taught her well. By her own actions she has demonstrated that she has no self-respect, let alone respect for her role as head of the Justice Department.
Bob Ford, Fort Myers
Immigration reform needed
A Sunday opinion piece begins with the word “imagine.” The writer then imagines an interrogation of a child in school by a masked, armed ICE agent as to the citizenship of the child’s parents. It is her “imagination” because this is a circumstance that almost certainly has never occurred, nor will occur. When you conclude your argument with a comparison to Nazi Germany, you lose the argument.
The unfortunate chaos that we see in many communities is a direct result of the lawless opening of the border to millions of illegal aliens by the Biden administration. Among them are tens of thousands of criminals who prey upon these communities. Homeland Security and ICE have the obligation to deport these criminals; and they are making their best efforts to do that. The United States is a nation of immigrants and needs new immigrants to maintain a vigorous society. The laws related to immigration obviously need correction. The president with the cooperation of Congress can make those needed changes. Congress simply refuses to do this needed work.
Bruce Foster, Naples
When protest becomes unruly
A young lady in Naples referring to my letter about Pretti, asked me if I would compare the Minnesota riots to the January 6 riot. The answer is yes. Any time a protest becomes an unruly mob, damaging property and threatening people, they are all criminals.
If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. When the police get there they are the “boss of you” (No matter you heard in that college civil liberties workshop). Threaten them and they will shoot you… a lot.
There was also an unarmed woman shot that day at the Capitol but the left never protested that. In my opinion, I may not think that was the only solution but I understand why the cop fired.
In both situations, it was federal officers, acting alone, outside of the scope of their training with no local police assistance. The January 6 mob should have been stopped at 3d street. As for the protesters, staying home is a better option in all of these riots. I also repeat, leave your gun home if you go.
Greg Fretwell, Estero
Hypocrisy on gun violence
The other day I received an email from Senator Rick Scott’s office bragging how he and Senator Ashley Moody introduced a resolution to the U.S. Senate honoring the 17 lives lost eight years ago at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. While it was a noble gesture by Scott, it shows his hypocrisy.
Has he taken on the NRA? NO. Has he voted against banning assault type rifles? NO. Has he spoken out against the Florida Legislature for lowering the age to 18 to buy and own long guns even though as then governor at the time of the shooting he did sign legislation to raise the age to 21? NO. So, Rick, don’t play honor the memory card when you have done nothing in the eight years since to stop this type of violence going forward.
February 14, 2018, was a tragic day and should be remembered, but as someone who says he cares for the people of Florida, do something about it, not just introduce resolutions to make yourself feel better.
E.A. Blair, Naples
Trump’s accomplishments
If the left-wing media would stop all their false statements about Trump and support him for a while it’s no telling how far President Trump can revitalize the American economy and statehood. Over 77 million voters elected him to the presidency and to listen to the liberal media everything he does and his accomplishments are wrong. How about the Dow hitting 50,000, unemployment numbers are down, wages are up, taxes are lower for the middle class, inflation is down to 3.2%. I could go on and on. Everyone should take a positive look at what is going on and if you don’t like your 401K and financial future in 3 years vote him out. In the meantime, Trump is the president and there is nothing you can do about that for 3 more years.
Jim McMenamy, Fort Myers
Democracy and beach yoga
My letter is an appeal to all those who live, visit, and enjoy the beauty and serenity that Collier County beaches provide. The greatest attraction to our beautiful beaches is that Collier County practices what a democracy preaches, that is our beaches are open and accessible to everyone.
Our beaches are part of the County Parks and Recreation Department whose mission is to provide a wide range of recreational activities to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle in a safe and environmentally sustainable natural setting.
Furthermore, Collier County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 146-94; more commonly referred to the “Right to Recreate” within the Vanderbilt Beach Customary Use Area, generally governs the public’s right to access, utilize, and engage in recreational activities on the sandy beach area between the mean high-water line and the primary dune/development line.
On any given morning at any time of the year, you observe walkers, joggers, Boogie Boarders, swimmers, etc. all taking advantage of their “Right to Recreate.” You observe beach goers rent out a variety of water sports and recreational equipment from beach vendors.
For the last 13 years Lo’s Yoga has been part of the beach community that supports Collier County’s commitment to these ideals by providing beach yoga classes on Vanderbilt Beach. However, a complaint from a single Vanderbilt Beach resident led County Code Enforcement to suspend paid Lo’s Yoga Beach Classes.
How is it permissible for some vendors, who are providing a healthy and active lifestyle, be allowed to charge for services, equipment, etc. and another not charge for providing the same services that promote the mission of Collier County? How is it in keeping with the principles of a democracy where one person dictates your actions and decisions?
Virginia Segaloff, Naples
Filing fees excessive
My party − the Libertarian Party of Florida − has encouraged me to run for Florida state representative (District 79, here in Cape Coral). The suggestion is a reasonable one, I would think, since I was a state representative in New Hampshire many years ago. (I served as chair of the NH House Appropriations subcommittee on Justice and then on the Committee of Conference on the NH State Operating Budget). However, the point of this letter is not about my candidacy.
I am writing to you to point out the preposterous filing fees that are required of candidates here in Florida. Effectively, they make running for office here into a plaything of the idle rich. Ordinary working stiffs (or retirees-on-a-budget, like me) are presented with a real impediment, right at the beginning. Specifically, the filing fee for a state representative here is some $1,700. That’s more than my 2010 Jetta is worth. By way of contradistinction, the filing fee for NH state representative was a princely TWO DOLLARS (or five signed petitions) in the 1970s and it still is.
I’m gonna pass around the hat to collect the filing fee. However, you should know that getting money out of Libertarians is not half as much fun as you might think. I suspect the same is true of Republicans or Democrats.
My point is this: New Hampshire doesn’t try to scare off people from running for office. Why does Florida? Who are you afraid of?
Larry Gillis, Cape Coral, director-at-large, Libertarian Party of Florida
Candidate Chris Collins
Chris Collins, a 75-year-old candidate for Congress in our area, has quite a checkered past, which he is naturally trying to hide from local voters.
He started out as the County Executive of Erie County (Buffalo) NY, where he vetoed creation of a regional pllanning committee, strongly supported by members of both parties, because of the objection of local developers, who opposed some of its restrictions. He also was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating the civil rights of prisoners held in county jails. In the final, lame duck year of his term, he awarded $6 million to upgrade the housing of polar bears at the Buffalo Zoo at the same time as he laid off 155 employees.
After a few tries, he was then elected as the county’s congressman, where he served for 3+ terms. He voted against Obama Care, ridiculously claiming that people were no longer dying from several major forms of cancer. His main claim to fame, as an obscure representative, was that he was the first member of Congress to endorse Trump’s presidential run in 2016, perhaps impressed by Trump’s work on “The Apprentice.”
In 2018, the Department of Justice brought federal crime charges against him and his son for insider trading violations and lying to the FBI. He resigned from Congress, pled guilty and was sentenced to 26 months of prison. He served about 2 months in jail until – guess what happened? – Trump pardoned him – probably impressed by his status as a fellow “reformed” criminal, with Trump and the other January 6th felons.
So now when you see those TV ads about his endorsement by the no longer popular Trump, you will “know the rest of the story.”
Frederick Lavin, Naples
Medical profession restricts competition
Dr. Tavel’s essay (Feb. 15) presents modern medicine as the natural and inevitable product of scientific progress. Missing from that narrative, however, is the role of organized medicine in deliberately restricting competition.
The founding of the American Medical Association in 1847 was not merely about elevating standards; it was also about consolidating professional control. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the AMA lobbied state legislatures to impose licensing laws that limited who could practice medicine. These laws disproportionately targeted homeopaths, osteopaths, and other competing schools of thought. By narrowing the field, organized medicine reduced consumer choice while raising barriers to entry.
The 1910 Flexner Report further entrenched this trend. While often praised for improving medical education, it led to the closure of many medical schools — particularly smaller, proprietary, and minority-serving institutions. The result was a sharp reduction in the supply of physicians, less competition, and greater pricing power for those who remained.
Quality matters, of course. But when professional associations shape regulations in ways that conveniently align with their own economic interests, skepticism is warranted. History shows that occupational licensing frequently serves incumbents more than patients.
Rather than portraying organized medicine as purely altruistic, we should acknowledge its long record of influencing public policy to limit competition. Patients benefit most when innovation, diversity of practice, and open entry — not cartel-like arrangements — guide the health care marketplace.
In short, it is the medical profession that has been guilty of a “conspiracy” to thwart the public’s medical choices. An open, robust discussion of competing medical protocols would allow conventional medicine and long standing alternatives to be judged by the public.
Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., Naples, Emeritus Professor of Finance, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Least transparent president
During the disgusting hearing of Pam Bondi, she mentioned that our president was the best and most transparent ever. This particular person is the worst and least transparent of all time.
Does anyone actually believe that, after his years of friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, he didn’t partake in any of the doings of his pal?
After fighting the release of said files for years, he realized he had people in key positions that would cover up for him and make sure anything detrimental toward him would never see the light of day. Remember Stormy Daniels? Now, the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have been swept under the rug by withholding evidence from the Minnesota Department of Justice. Most transparent president − gimme a break.
Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral
Undermining trust in America
Just listened to Rubio talking about unity with Europe. Trusting America is turning into a crap shoot with an unstable devil. Better off believing in Canada, at least they have stable and sane, honest leadership. When Trump leaves only Miller will miss him!
Kevin D. Ryan, Estero
Alliance for Period Supplies
A major humanitarian milestone has just been reached in Southwest Florida — one with direct impact on the health, education, and economic stability of local women and girls. The Alliance for Period Supplies of Southwest Florida has now distributed 10 million menstrual products to those who otherwise would have gone without — the equivalent of 416,617 monthly periods covered.
Behind that number are lives made more stable in deeply personal ways. A middle school student able to sit through class without fear. A working mother not forced to miss a shift. A teenager spared the embarrassment and anxiety that come from not having basic supplies. When menstrual products are unaffordable, the consequences go far beyond inconvenience. Girls miss school and fall behind. Women lose wages. Stress, shame, and isolation take a toll on mental health and confidence.
Since 2019, the Alliance for Period Supplies of Southwest Florida has worked through schools, shelters, and community partners to ensure discreet, reliable access to these essential products. It is the only organization in SWFL to focus on this unrecognized need. This simple support protects education, helps women remain in the workforce, and restores a sense of dignity and normalcy that many of us take for granted.
Ten million products is not just a distribution number. It represents relief, opportunity, and participation in daily life — 10 million times. That is a milestone that strengthens our entire community.
Dustine Beaubien, president, and Sheila Kumar, vice president, Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL
We are better than this
I believe as Americans we are seeing us at our worst and possibly our best. The federal government is responsible for control of our country’s borders. Congress, the legislative branch, makes the law(s) (policy), and the Executive branch enforces these laws. Somewhere in the last 20 plus years, different administrations have diametrically opposed interpretations of “border control.” What is happening in Minneapolis is not what we should be comfortable with. I believe ICE does have a limited course of action that does not include intentionally separating minors from their parents, putting individuals in danger of bodily harm that includes loss of life or limb, or using foul or insulting language. Meanwhile the Minneapolis community has used its constitutional right to peacefully protest the actions of the ICE agents. We as Americans must not allow what we are seeing on the streets of our cities to continue. We are better than this, or so I thought!
Dr. A.L. Herstig, Naples
