Letters: Boycott threat should not be tolerated

To the Editor:

Bravos and kudos to South Beach Grille’s Bart DeStafano’s letter to the editor of the Boca Beacon of May 30. Every issue Bart addressed was SPOT ON! I encourage everyone to REREAD IT. 

But one thing in particular did concern me greatly and should concern everyone who believes in honest and respectful debate of the issues facing this island, not least because of the inherent danger of introducing into the community nothing short of mafia tactics when one side wants its way or the highway.

Let it be clear to everyone: there is no legal or ethical way to force someone to sign a petition. If someone advocating for adoption of the parking restrictions threatened a local business owner with a boycott of his business if he didn’t sign that petition to be presented to a government authority for action, thereby threatening financial harm to his business, that may be a violation of Florida statutes. This thuggery SHOULD NEVER AND MUST NEVER be tolerated by residents and business owners in Boca Grande.  And certainly not acceptable to Lee County in its consideration of the parking ordinance.

The person who reportedly threatened the boycott should be ashamed of themselves because that kind of behavior has no place on this island or in our body politic.

Rita Kitenplon

Port Charlotte