Letters: Real reason for the GIBA bridge authority about access to island
To the Editor:
I read the brief excerpt and felt that the author left out some important points regarding the creation of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority.
In my 47 years as resident of Charlotte County, I visited the small quaint fishing village with the phosphate train, hundreds of times, years before all the new development.
I think that the main concern of the founding members was not the maintenance of the bridge once it became state owned, but the looming possibility of unlimited access to the pristine island by hoards of general public. So it was no surprise, it took two legislative sessions and lot of lobbying by the influential residents of the island.
Also, calling GIBA a ‘public entity’ is a bit strong as the ever-increasing toll surely doesn’t serve the general public as much as the island’s residents. The continued effort to keep the general public access to the island ‘manageable’ was evidenced several years ago with the proposal to limit or stop visitors parking on many of the unpaved public roads leading to the beaches.
Sincerely,
Milo Karpisek
Port Charlotte
