Don’t want a recycling facility next to your community? How about a landfill? What about wetlands being bulldozed over and filled in? If you are someone who says no, no and no − take notice!
Recently, the City of Cape Coral has taken a controversial stance of suing its own taxpaying citizens, The Three Fishermen, because they challenged Cape Coral’s decision to remove the Chiquita Lock (which Cape Coral tried to do once before and lost because of the environmental implications). This legal action could signify a broader strategy of intimidation aimed at deterring residents from voicing opposition to future developments.
The lawsuit raises concerns − especially because it’s NOT a “winner take all” scenario. I am not a lawyer, but as I understand it, Cape Coral must prove that The Three Fishermen were behaving “frivolously” for an “improper purpose” in their decision to challenge the removal of the Chiquita Lock due to the implications for local ecosystems. Why would anyone think that three environmental advocates, including one who has won awards for his advocacy and volunteerism, would be acting “frivolously” or without merit by trying to protect the very waterways on which all we all thrive?