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Public commenters urge more housing support and oppose 287(g)-style enforcement agreements
Summary
During public input residents urged more affordable temporary housing and services, and a group of speakers urged the council to reconsider collaboration with state or federal immigration enforcement agreements, citing family separations and community impacts.
Public input at the Aug. 18 Fort Myers City Council meeting featured calls for expanded housing options and services for people experiencing homelessness and several speakers urging the council to withdraw support for agreements that enable local involvement with federal immigration enforcement.
Willie Jo Schottmiller told the council she and others with disabilities need affordable transitional housing and suggested using Heritage Park or other city properties for low-cost lodging or a hostel-style model run with nonprofit and faith-based partners. Jerry Miller spoke in favor of coordination between planning firms for Midtown and encouraged a stronger emphasis on implementation so plans do not sit on shelves.
Several commenters spoke against local cooperation with immigration enforcement. Jared Ray told the council he opposed ICE-style raids and urged local political courage to protect vulnerable community members. Nicholas Basanti and Genori Alvarez — the latter identifying as raised near Fort Myers and active in local organizing — described arrests in nearby communities and called on the council to rescind or oppose 287(g)-type agreements. Speakers described families separated and community members missing after recent enforcement actions in nearby towns; speakers asked council members to use city influence to oppose practices they described as harmful to families and workers.
Mayor Anderson closed the public-input period after the last speaker. The council did not take an immediate vote on immigration-related policy during this meeting; several councilmembers had previously discussed related items at an earlier meeting.
