To the editor:

There is a place called Fantasyland, but now it is really the entire state of Florida.

Like all theme parks, the lighting and special effects make everything seem magical, beautiful. But behind the scenes it isn’t always so clean and nice.

Unfortunately, Florida Fantasyland is the same.

Even though the waters might appear clean and safe, ready for fishing and swimming, kayaking and boating, they are really polluted and dying. The beaches are said to be ready to welcome tourists, even though they may be occasionally covered in dead fish and storm debris, but we just pretend this doesn’t happen. We just clean up, move sand around, and say A-OK. Red tide, blue-green algae, fecal pollution. No problem: It comes and goes, it’s only temporary, not a big health issue. And if your restaurant or motel can’t survive the hurricanes and cost of restarting all over again, no problem. Big Money is all set to jump in and make it all newer and better. Come to the Free State of Florida!

If any of this sounds uncomfortable or tragic, it should. Of course, things change over time, but not all these changes need to happen. Our waters can get better. Fishing, boating, swimming, and kayaking can be safe again. Blue-green algae and fecal pollution can be remediated.

You can help make this happen by signing the petition for clean and healthy waters. Go to FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org, download our petition, sign, and mail it in.

Mary Tracy Sigman

Fort Myers