EDITORIAL: Will the people still come when the service workers can’t stay?

Retirees and investors may still be flocking to Florida to find that “perfect life” or great investment opportunity, but unless more insurance regulation bills are written and passed, or more insurance assistance programs are offered for workers, those who live here will find few people left in the stores, shops, hospitals, law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It has been well known by many “locals” in this area why there are few hometown kids who continue to live or start businesses here when they finish high school or return from college. It’s because this is one of those places where, unless their family has a business they can jump into or has enough of the right contacts to help them along in finding a job. Small towns like Port Charlotte, Englewood and Placida are not places where it is easy to get a solid initial foothold on your own. The good-paying jobs just aren’t here, particularly when you’re faced with big-city costs of living at the same time.