The Estates should break off from unincorporated Collier County and form its own City. Perhaps then, we could get some things built, get some things made a real priority (on/off ramp at I-75 and Everglades Blvd.), and guide CCSO on the things we want law enforcement to accomplish (HINT: it's not creating more speed traps)throughout our rural community.

The City of Golden Gate Estates. Kinda got a ring to it!

I would settle for paved roads?

I am interested in joining a neighborhood association and volunteering my time. I am a new homeowner in the estates. I have been to both groups meetings. The homeowners have a lot of community spirit. I think the homeowners care more because they are home owners.

Don't have a ten foot pole long enough to respond to these comments, but they were interesting.
I am thinking of "unjoining".

Maybe if these two groups had everyones best interests at heart it would be a different story...

Why oh why would you want things like an on/off ramp built out here!! People move out here for the peace and quite not for convenience!!! For the most part people moved out here to get away from the city not to build a new one! If you moved out here b/c it's cheaper than you should have been smart and lived in Golden Gate City that way you could have been right by the ramp there. Associations are a joke it's really just a bunch of people who want everybody to do things thier way, while the get a big power trip of of it...Ok I'm done , I promise I am not negative all the time but some people just don't get it:)

While I do agree with some of your points #7 Ryan555. I would like to see an on/off ramp at Everglades Blvd. and I-75 again.
It was there once before you'd know if you've lived here in Collier long enough.

Don't take this as me being negative either, but might I suggest spell check before you post next time?

When I-75 was built, (it was 2 lane Alligator Alley with access from major north-south Estates roads), the approval was based on no access roads allowed on I-75. This was a concession to enviromental concerns. I-75 was going to generate enough growth as is was along the coast, it wasn't meant to answer local traffic needs for eastern Collier.
This will be the same thing that happens if 951 is extended north to Lee county. They'll sell it to us as a limited access road and after it's built the developers will have future commissioners allow increased access to accomodate growth in an enviromentally sensitive area.
When we're paying huge water bills because we have to have desalienated water, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.

******PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES******
VOTE FOR HONESTY!
VOTE FOR FAIR REPRESENTATION!
VOTE FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY!
VOTE AGAINST OVERSPENDING OF OUR TAX DOLLARS!
VOTE FOR JUSTICE AGAINST CORRUPTION!
VOTE FOR LOWER TAXES & IMPACT FEES!
VOTE FOR BETTER ROADS!
VOTE FOR PARKS!
VOTE FOR BETTER LEADERSHIP FOR THE PEOPLE!
VOTE FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS!
VOTE FOR BETTER SERVICES FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS
VOTE FOR ROBERT "BOB" ALONSO AS COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSIONER!!!!!
THE PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE BETTER LEADERSHIP!
http://www.bobalonso.com/

Two "Great Groups" leading the community "together", now all we need is a good County Commissioner added the equation and we will be able to reach our endeavors maybe for once. Lets make this the election year the year that brought "change for the better", get out and Vote don't stay home this time around. I have done my homework, I have researched everything possible and have made-up my mind, I voted for Mr. Alonso because I know our groups and everyone else in the Estates without losing his way down the road.

Lets see, Colletta wanted to toll I75, Mr. Alonso wasn't involved in that.

Alonso has my vote for that one reason, and the other reason he has my vote, is that he isn't an encumbent.

Vote against all encumbents, local, state, and federal. They are the ones that have gotten us into the mess we are in right now.

Speaking of Alonso, I e-mailed him and asked what business experience he has. Details about where he was in charge of a P & L statement. His people sent a message that he was working the hurricane. Hopefully he will respond because many people want to know more about him. The storm is over. The election is soon.

ALVAREZ:

The storm is only "over" weatherwise, but in actuality there are County Departments such as Public Utilities and Public Services still out assesing damages, cleaning-up, restorations, directing traffic, assisting in power and cable service restorations, and then there are many flooded areas. The county still has a 12 hour shift in effect for most departments. We had the man from Tallahassee touring the areas. According to a local news station Alonso was in Immokalee last night helping-out though I'm not sure if he was working in his police capacity or in civilian volunteer services with the community up there.
FYI:
You can find information on all the Candidates, including Alonso at the Supervisor of Elections website www.colliervotes.com and they also have links to their campaign websites on there too. Not sure of you are aware of this but you have stated in the past that you are new to the area? A new voter? Well welcome to Collier County, get your information, get involved, and go out and vote.

Thank you,
I have researched the candidates thoroughly. There is much information out there about Coletta, but not too much about Alonso. Only his job experience, awards and some sports volunteering. According to his bio on both sites, he has no formal business degree or education. All of his experience is as a LEO. There is little to go on here. Nice awards, but is he qualified to run our county?

Alavrez:

You see Coletta has qualifications? But what has he done?

Great comment Jadip811 in #6.
I now will use the "ten foot pole" to add one more thing.

This is ALL about politics. One group got "tic"ed off and another formed. One group is backing one candidate and the other the Commissioner. It is pretty clear in this muddy all too divided world.

I am unjoining for sure. So one group will not have 300 members. I am sick of the rather bizarre emails I have received as bulletins and a very condescending attitude by at least two of those in leadership. My wife shares my sentiment. Will I join the other one? No way.

I have already voted (privately) via mail in ballot. I am SICK of politics.

So, divided we sit. Neither group has our interests at heart. Neither one.

NaplesCracker,
That is what I believe the Homeowners are trying to do. They are fighting for what people that live in the estates want. The developers and commercial people shouldn't dictate our needs. After what Mr. Vole said, I am going to join the HOAGGE. Maybe more people should too.

PS. I agree about breaking off, the density is too low and we would pay large taxes here.

Too bad not enough people will get involved and make a difference. Only a handfull of people are active in these groups. Doesn't really matter how many members you have.

Thank god I don't live in Collier any more. Between the school board and eastern Collier issues, what a mess.

Estatesdude is right. (Too bad for us you moved.)
Numbers matter in some things, effective leadership is key, however.

As far as being active goes. Many residents are trying to balance families and multiple jobs. Time commitments make active involvement difficult.

I wasn't going to mention the bulletin which advocated for an appearance by citizens wearing sandwich boards with a picture of a personal lubricant on the boards. I found this to be totally bizarre. However since PIEFACE wanted to know...well, that was the frosting on the unappetizing cake for me.

I have no intention of sending this group any more dues or do I even care to be on their roster.

If what HOAGGE is against commercial development and urban infill, their numbers should increase. I may have to check them out sometime a bit more thoroughly. I just see too much politics going on right now. After being very involved in another part of Florida on an HOA Board and on assorted county panels, committees and sub committees...I am DONE with all that jazz. For the most part the HOA stuff was not because I wanted the role, but because the developer left residents in a big pickle. The other baloney was because I was a leader. Most of the input from citizens holds little influence unless the issue generates a LOT of publicity. Even then, if the special interests are strong...tilting at windmills is pretty unproductive.

So, I have done (and still actually do) more than post PIE and more than most, too. I still have involvement and input in a way that is more effective, in my experience. No bulletins, no egos...just results.

Lots of things to do. Cut up that pesky tree which crashed into our lights and clean up debris from the storm.

GG Estates property owners all need to join some Association for representation as a group.

Another tax year, and assessed values in GG Estates hardly went down, two units didn't change at all.

Units 40 and 43 $47,000/acre in 2006, $47,000/acre in 2007 and $47,000/acre in 2008

Taxation without representation!!!!!!

Unit 51 down 3.85%
Unit 42 down 5%
Unit 41 down 5.66%
Unit 52 down 6.25%
Units 27 and 28 down 8.89%
Units 80 and 81 down 3.85%

only 4 units are down over 40% and only one over 50%,otherwise average decrease in Assessed Values in GG Estates is about 17%.

I still own property in the estates (land). I have always said that there are people who live outside the estates who are trying to take advantage of the people who live in the estates. Many of the board members of the civic association do not live in the estates. They have a special agenda.

NaplesCracker: I have long respected your comments and opinions. I fully agree with you about the pressure to change the Estates to something other than the rural/semi-rural/agricultural setting.
Estatesdude, as you know, I also respect what you have to say and am glad you are not entirely out of the picture.

Thanks to both of you for your comments. I will probably attend a meeting in the future, also. Will you know me? Probably not. But this discussion could bring out more people to see what HOAGGE is all about. Might not be a bad thing.

Bravo (and ditto) JYD! I have lived in Florida almost as long as you have...just not in this part. But I moved to the Estates for the reasons you posted.

Smokin hot - lol
The only agenda of a homeowners association is to be an "association". That is members working with and for each other for the betterment of the estates. Do you have an anger problem? These are the kind of people that killed the civic association. We all watched it happen. Meetings where people attack each other and the government. How can you do anything for the community when there is such a negative atmosphere? Low humidity here today, 58 degrees tonight. Got the windows open. Fished in the creek today. Life's too short people, get out of the rats nest!

Makes sense now that I joined the HOAGGE. See the personal attacks that accompany the "civic" people? People who want to make a difference and protect the Estates from outsiders and developers should join the HOAGGE so you can have a voice.