Mayor Henderson on Ft. Myers' Poverty and Violence

The community of Ft. Myers started fighting to eradicate poverty because poverty was seen as a cause of crime and violence.

Eradicating poverty is not the only way to fight crime and respond to violence.

Police departments take a more heads-on approach. While we hope our police department will be sensitive to the community and prone to choosing escalating violence as a last resort, police officers are trained to take some action when necessary. Action may mean taking a split-second to make a decision that can save or take a life on the streets or it may start with an investigation after-the-fact that tries to figure out what happened and who might be legally culpable.

Randall P. Henderson Jr. has been mayor of Ft. Myers since 2009. He is the 61st mayor of Ft. Myers. Howell A. Parker became the first mayor when Ft. Myers became a town in 1885. Louis A. Henry was mayor in 1911 when the Town of Ft. Myers transitioned and became the City of Ft. Myers. (See footnotes.)

Apparently, being mayor of Ft. Myers is not a full time job because Randy is also:

• President of the Corbin Henderson Company, with operating responsibilities
• Director, First Community Bank of SW Florida
• Director, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce
• Salvation Army Advisory Board
• Ex Officio Member, City of Fort Myers, Conference and Convention Council
• Member, Edison Pageant of Light
• Member, Fort Myers Kiwanis Club
• Member, First United Methodist Church
• President's Council, Hodges University.
(Corbin Henderson Company Investment Real Estate accessed 8/9/2016, Cache)

This combination of personal and public interests may raise concerns in political science classes, but to me - at least with Randy in Ft. Myers - it may make sense. Since the mayor is supposed to make sure that laws are applied equally, to everyone, and that everyone is afforded the due process of law, for the mayor to be in a business like real estate and belong to organizations that focus on charitable activities, the mayor's mind might more easily remain focused on the needs of those whose needs are greatest and who are economically vulnerable (including the working impoverished), as well as those who have resources and abilities to help themselves.

The current mayor of Ft. Myers may be a good example of the type of person the "founders" were thinking about when they structured a republican form of representative democratic government that rewards competition and includes checks-and-balances that restrain unbridled authority.

Randy, personally, has been involved with this community's search for answers to violence. But, as mayor it is his job to get re-elected (if he chooses) so he must be responsive to:

• Voters and their views of community needs,
• Donors and their views of their own needs, and
• The governmental organization he leads and the various views of his employees, including the police.

It is a balancing act Randy seems to perform easily and well, while shouldering the heavy responsibility of doing it right.

Video 4, below, shows Randy explaining to the community gathered for a P4CP breakfast meeting how difficult it is to solve these problems without input from all stakeholders. He expresses an understanding of concerns community members may have about helping his police and urges people in attendance to work actively to replace fear with trust. Significantly, he promises to enforce the law when it comes to his police. If, with due process, it is determined a police officer has put their own prejudices above the requirements of their job, they will be "moved out."

In other words, Randy is doing his job and he hopes other leaders in that room will see that it is in their own best interests to carry on their activities in a more peaceful and productive city and that they will continue to actively engage in conversation and pursue conciliation.

Shoot with a camera

While this website is a work in progress in space donated by the 24/7 Caregiving Products Company, LLC for demonstration purposes and membership in the Life Now community is beta with no expectations, no guarantees and no warranties, it is not too early to step back from your daily life, whether living in poverty or non-poverty, and make a photograph that says something about what you are experiencing; a photograph you would be proud to show someone. Stepping back from a problem may provide greater objectivity.

Then, register and - for free - become a member of the Life Now community. Think of an issue, create an album, upload your photograph and share your purpose.

When we bring our photographs together we will create a montage that may bring new perspectives to a problem.

Now that this project is underway, it may be used to record and create views of other issues, such as Alzheimers and aging in place.

It is hoped that this website will be the catalyst for better pics that achieve the goal of photography with a purpose.

Click Here to Enter The Life Now Gallery and Experience the World of Focused Photography

The Life Now Gallery

Email the website Manager
© 2015-16. All rights reserved.
Product names and various content (including but not limited to audio, video and graphics)
are trademarks of their respective owners.
Website founded November 26, 2015 to give thanks for the blessings of liberty and the responsibility that comes with freedom.