Residents air concerns at WINK Listens event in Punta Gorda

More than 100 residents gathered Sept. 22 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda to share their concerns directly with WINK News anchors and reporters during a You Talk, WINK Listens event. 

Residents raised issues ranging from high property taxes and rising insurance premiums to hurricanes, roads and flooding, WINK Anchor Russ McCaskey and Reporter Jillian Haggerty said. Other hot topics included the proposed Buc-ee’s in Port Charlotte and a sewer line project. 

Environmental Reporter Bridget Bruchalski heard from Mark Jackson, a Charlotte County native who described himself as a “tree hugger.” A former contractor, Jackson suggested better ways to recycle Styrofoam and voiced frustration over rapid development. He said overcrowding has worsened as people move in from states such as New York and New Jersey while developers continue clearing land for new homes. 

Bruchalski, who grew up in New Jersey but has Florida roots, responded with a smile, prompting Jackson to clarify that newcomers like her were not his concern. Jackson also blamed Big Sugar for polluting Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River with fertilizer runoff, hurting the Everglades and the state’s water quality. 

Infrastructure was another common theme. Sandra Fry, who drove from Englewood to attend, said Olympia Avenue in Punta Gorda was riddled with potholes that were poorly repaired. She also cited safety concerns on State Road 776 near Charlotte Sports Park, where she said a pedestrian bridge is needed, similar to one in Venice. 

The event drew participants from outside Charlotte County, as well. Chuck Mueller of Cape Coral said he attended the first WINK Listens session in his city and wanted to continue engaging. Others, such as retired teacher Robert Richard, used the event to highlight positive developments in their community. 

Inside the conference center, the mood was upbeat. Attendees mingled before filling out paperwork and waiting for a chance to be interviewed on camera. Selected participants moved to a nearby room transformed into a TV set, where anchors and reporters conducted interviews in multiple sections at once. 

The conversations often stretched beyond the scheduled time. McCaskey’s final interview ended after 1 p.m. 

Some residents said they had nowhere else to turn with their frustrations, while others confided that they often feel unheard by local officials. For many, WINK offered an outlet to be taken seriously. 

Concerns about overdevelopment have long been a point of contention in Charlotte County. Residents have repeatedly packed county commission meetings to oppose new communities they fear will overrun their neighborhoods. 

Jerry and June Donofrio, among those interviewed on camera, said they feel ignored by local leaders and appreciated the opportunity to be heard and were grateful WINK is listening. 

The next WINK Listens event is scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Quality Inn & Suites, 1320 Business Way in Lehigh Acres.