A warmer Thursday start with stray showers this afternoonFTC issues refunds of over $5M to Ring customers; are you eligible?
Lee County schools to begin affordable housing FORT MYERS, Fla. The Lee County school district is considering a new housing plan for Southwest Florida teachers after rent prices continue to increase. Rent prices in Fort Myers have increased more than 38 percent from 2011 through 2016, according to Lending Tree, causing many teachers to struggle keeping up with their rent. Anna Whitten, a kindergarten teacher, and her daughter have lived in Lee County for sixteen years. While she has no desire to leave the area, she considered moving into her parents’ home. “It would benefit the both of us, so that way we were back into our routine,” she said. “Our plan as a stance right now is to save money and buy a house.” While some teachers see this possible change as a benefit, others disagree. “To me, it’s kind of an embarrassment in a sense that teachers are professionals, highly-educated, and yet our salaries have simply not kept up with the respect that professionals should receive,” Teacher’s Association of Lee County president Mark Castellano said. It is unclear when the plan will come to fruition.