WOW! Cape Coral planning to spend $1,000,000 to build places for youth! (homes, rent)

[FLANATIVE1]

I never thought I would see this day. Cape Coral, the city famous for doing absolutely nothing to create areas for kids to enjoy, is actually going to build areas specifically designed for youth? I guess maybe there is ONE good thing to come out of a rising crime rate.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs....20330/1003/ACC

What do you think they should build?

[Milabs]

Dont hold your breath..Cape Coma has never ever showed any interest in it's youth...I will be very very surprised to this plan carried out. I grew up Cape Coma back when there wasn't a crime rate they didn't care then and I doubt they care now..crime rate or not. It just behooves me to see that ppl still think the Cape is a safe place to live. Yeah..sure whatever...read the News Press and see for youself.

[FLANATIVE1]

Well, comparatively speaking, Cape Coral is safe. Its crime rate is rising though. Up 14% this year. There was another article about it today. I think they are going to go through with the plan (only because the city isn't footing the bill). Maybe they will realize that putting more cops on the street isn't going to do anything, and they will start creating more of a "cultural." Ok now I'm just dreaming

[121804]

It shouldn't be the city's responsilbity to entertain youth. Things such as parks & trails can be used by all age groups & get a lot out of tax payer's dollars. I hope Cape Coral schools have extracurriculars & sports for the students. Other than that, spending a million dollars isn't going to keep the riff raff from doing what they do. That lies in the responsibility of parents. Parents need to do their job instead of dumping it on the city & school system. Cape Coral is hopefully trying to figure something out to make their city more family-oriented due to the constant bad press, excessive home inventory & groups of kids that have chose the wrong path in life. Other than that, one can't blame the city for the problems of the youth.

[FLANATIVE1]

Originally Posted by 121804

It shouldn't be the city's responsilbity to entertain youth. Things such as parks & trails can be used by all age groups & get a lot out of tax payer's dollars. I hope Cape Coral schools have extracurriculars & sports for the students. Other than that, spending a million dollars isn't going to keep the riff raff from doing what they do. That lies in the responsibility of parents. Parents need to do their job instead of dumping it on the city & school system. Cape Coral is hopefully trying to figure something out to make their city more family-oriented due to the constant bad press, excessive home inventory & groups of kids that have chose the wrong path in life. Other than that, one can't blame the city for the problems of the youth.

I agree. They can build a place for families, but they can't force the families to use it. Unfortunately, I think youth crime is the fault of the parents.

[121804]

Cape Coral needs to take the blame for a lot of things [water/sewer tax assessment, etc] but to blame the city for youth crimes is irresponsible on the part of those placing the blame. I grew up in a town with nothing to do & ended up just fine. Same with my husband. Sure, it would be awesome for a completely family-oriented city, but there are some realities that come with that also. I've seen some cities build amazing skate parks & playgounds only to see them vandalized by someone. There is no perfect answer. Being a teenage isn't the best time in one's life & it can be really tough, but most of the time, the ones causing the most problems are the ones with the worst family problems. Should someone blame the city for that? Would a park or community center keep them from problems? Maybe or maybe not. I think we all now the real answer to that, though. Not saying kids in better home situations are perfect but hopefully I am getting my point across.

[FLANATIVE1]

I get what you are saying. I'm not expecting this to cut down on crime. I'm just glad that the kids who actually do the right thing will have a place to go.

[NYBill]

I think it's great that City does something for the youth. They do produce some good baseball teams that have been involved in state championships. I have only lived here for 2 years but owned for over 5 years.

Cape Coral is tough for kid cause you have to be driven there and it todays society, not just C/C homes, families are driven by 2 incomes. Give any kid idle time with no supervision/guidance and anyone would/could get in trouble.

Not the kids fault.


My son just fisnished 10th grade and still 15. Now he is out of school, has all the credentials for driving buy just not the age, he will 16 in September. Guess we will fish a lot this summer, but he also has friends coming down from where we lived.

All his friends are 16 and looking for summer jobs and he can't can not get any work till he is 16.

Once 16 he can drive, get a part time job as long as his studies stay where they should be and star learning about life.

I am a retired Steamfitter from NY who retired early due to an injury and had a child a little later in life ( 39), but it affords me to look at what all young couples go through today. I am 54 now and watched my sons friends grow up and now teenagers. It was a lot different from when I was raised an IMHO
A lot better family wise. back then.

2 parents working, shoping, taken care of the home, meals etc..makes me tired just thinking about it..LOL

Society has changed all of our lives.

[hiknapster]

Hi NyBill! Hope the fish are biting!

Publix hires 15-year-olds. It's a great place for teens to work. As far as I know, it is one of the few, if only, places that will hire that age group. Remember when kids could make cash being paper girls and boys?

[Donna-50]

Originally Posted by FLANATIVE1

Well, comparatively speaking, Cape Coral is safe. Its crime rate is rising though. Up 14% this year. There was another article about it today. I think they are going to go through with the plan (only because the city isn't footing the bill). Maybe they will realize that putting more cops on the street isn't going to do anything, and they will start creating more of a "cultural." Ok now I'm just dreaming

Still the third safest city in FL with 100,000 and over. Violent crimes went down, but overall went up 14%.