Cape Coral Taxpayers are aware of the current leadership’s incompetence and lack of transparency. Residents are sidelined by leaders ignoring their concerns. What follows are many examples of citizen complaints that are spotlighting an current need for change.
Dishonesty in Cape Coral – Thomas Shadrach
Original article courtesy of: Cape Coral Breeze – May 24, 2024
In his letter to the editor, Thomas Shadrach, former Chair of the Cape Coral Budget Review Committee, argues that while the term “corruption” may be controversial, the city government has repeatedly exhibited dishonesty—defined as actions by officials that mislead the public, hide the truth, or serve personal or political interests over citizen transparency.
Shadrach provides multiple examples that he believes demonstrate a pattern of dishonest behavior by Cape Coral’s City Council and city management:
1. Council Pay Increase via Consent Agenda
He states that the Council doubled its own pay by slipping the approval into the Consent Agenda, avoiding public discussion. He argues that this method was intentionally deceptive.
2. Certification of Patty Cummings’ Election
Shadrach claims Council members knowingly certified the election of Patty Cummings despite awareness that she did not reside in her district. He labels this a clear case of dishonesty.
3. Misrepresentation of Tax Increases
He accuses the City Manager of falsely stating that the city passed “zero tax increases,” pointing out that:
- Taxes and assessments increased by over $30 million,
- The approved millage rate was 13% above the rolled-back rate, and
- Three tax assessments were raised.
He argues these facts make the “no tax increase” claim blatantly misleading.
4. Dan Sheppard’s Comments on the Cummings Report
Councilmember Dan Sheppard dismissed Vicky Sprout’s independent investigation of Patty Cummings as false. However, the State Attorney’s felony indictments against Cummings supported the report’s findings, not Sheppard’s statements. Shadrach believes Sheppard should resign and that the Council’s failure to address his misinformation sets a dangerous precedent.
5. Plans to Rebrand Jaycee Park
Shadrach questions the City’s motivation for rebranding and redeveloping Jaycee Park since:
- It was not in the 10-year parks plan or the GO Bond list,
- Over 7,000 citizens signed a petition opposing it,
- More critical park projects are behind schedule or unfunded.
He argues the city appears poised to neglect the existing park to justify redevelopment—a form of dishonesty.
6. Unsolicited Public-Private Partnership Proposals
He expresses concern about the City exploring sole-source or unsolicited proposals for projects like Jaycee Park and Lake Meade. He suggests this raises suspicion of hidden agendas.
7. Yacht Club and Boathouse Restaurant Lease Issues
Shadrach claims the City is ignoring the Boathouse Restaurant’s long-standing lease—granting exclusive rights to food/beverage operations and parking—while proposing changes to the Yacht Club property. He suggests that undisclosed conversations with the restaurant reflect a lack of transparency.
8. Council Gatherings After Meetings
Council members allegedly meeting privately after official sessions for dinner and drinks creates, in his view, the appearance of Sunshine Law violations and encourages suspicion of behind-the-scenes decision-making.
9. Reduced Citizen Involvement
He criticizes decisions to eliminate boards, committees, and limit public input during meetings. He argues that reducing oversight and controlling speech invites dishonest behavior.
10. Narrative Control by the Mayor
The mayor’s attempt to restrict council members from speaking publicly or to the press is presented as another effort to control messaging—especially concerning claims that GO Bond park projects are “on time and on budget,” which Shadrach disputes.
11. Quiet Subsidizing of Charter Schools
Shadrach asserts the city has been quietly supplementing its charter schools with about $5 million annually in tax dollars without public awareness or debate, which he views as non-transparent.
Overall Message
Shadrach concludes that while the actions he describes may not all be illegal, they collectively reflect a serious lack of honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior within Cape Coral’s city government. He argues that these patterns raise troubling questions about the motives, integrity, and accountability of current city leadership.
All City Voters Participate in the Open Races Regardless of Which District They Live In.
If you are a registered voter in Cape Coral, you will see all three district races (1, 4, and 6) on your ballot. You can vote for one candidate in District 1, one in District 4, and one in District 6 — even if you don’t live in those districts.