Phil Buchanan deserves better
To the editor:
Groucho Marks once said, “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” I expect Phil Buchanan’s reaction to the recent decision by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to deny a request to rename the Galt Preserve on Pine Island in his honor would have been similar. Like Groucho, Phil could be irreverent, confrontational, sarcastic – even rude – sometimes all in the same sentence.
But, like Groucho, Phil had a passion for the things he believed in deeply that was unmatched, and did not suffer fools lightly. Given the recent performance of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on issues he cared deeply about, I’m sure Phil would be very happy with the result.
There is no doubt that Phil was a thorn in the side of the BOCC on many issues – the Pine Island Plan and the Ceitus Barrier among the best examples. He was unrelenting in his passion and advocacy for quality of life on Pine Island and Matlacha and quality of the environment for all citizens of Lee County, the state of Florida, and the visitors who support our economy. That passion and advocacy put him at odds with those more interested in serving the needs of the special interests that put them in positions of power than serving as guardians of this unique corner of the world.
Voting against renaming the preserve in Phil’s honor is certainly within the rights of any of the members of the BOCC. But hiding behind the “recommendations of staff” or financial concerns over signage is cowardice, pure and simple. To Commissioners Manning and Mann: Thank you for standing up for what is right. To the remaining members of the BOCC: If you didn’t like Phil just say so. Naming a trail for him is fine, but it’s a cop out that unfortunately seems to be the best we can expect from politicians at every level. I, for one, would respect you far more for being honest.
In the end, it would cost nothing to honor Phil in this way. Denying that honor to a man who dedicated his life to making things better for all the inhabitants of Pine Island – people and animals – shows more about the character of those voting against it than they realize. But, if Phil were here, I’m sure he would not be surprised. And – like Groucho – perfectly happy to be excluded from the club.
Bill Hartnett
Matlacha