Candidate: Bebe Kanter

When did you move to Florida? My husband and I moved full time to Naples as renters in 2015 and became residents in 2017. We formally lived in Chicago from 1977 until 2016.

What is your educational background? I am a 1974 graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A. and a 1977 alumni of Harvard School of Design with a Master’s in City and Regional Planning.

Since 1970, I’ve studied and worked various aspects of city and urban planning as an intern to being a loan officer Loan Officer for Multi-Family Housing:Department of Housing and Urban Development in Chicago and Norwest Bank (later merged with Wells Fargo). I founded and ran 3 businesses after the first of three sons were born. Quiet Collier, Inc. Current  www.QuietCollierInc.org, Let’s Speak English/SpeakIQ  (consulting for SE Asian/American immigrants and expatriates, in Chicago and Asia. Renaissance Properties (owning and managing rental housing marketing to Section 8 voucher holders in Skokie and Evanston Illinois).

Some of my game changing volunteer experiences since 1980 include Science Olympiad,  Advocate for Cleland House, a 100% Income Restricted Rental Building in Wilmette,  Program Co-Chair 21-22 Naples Native Plant Society.

As Bebe Kanter, and later as the Founder of Quiet Collier, Inc. I've advocated for zoning and code enforcement. Code compliance and mitigation would protect Collier County residents from extreme weather events. 

My top priority in terms of Collier County’s environment? The possible death of the Gulf of Mexico is an existential threat to current and future generations. As Commissioner I will reduce costs for algae control through voluntary compliance with existing Ordinances and Guidance by transitioning to Florida Friendly plants which consume substantially less water, chemical and fertilizer. Without voluntary compliance, Collier can bring action against the national landscaping and pond maintenance who willfully ignore out County and Florida and OSHA Ordinances and Laws. 

We can stop further Eastern Collier County by meticulously calculating infill and rural impact fees.  If at any time the county cannot afford to put in a road, school, etc, they can call a moratorium on building.

Discouraging the development of Rivergrass by making it pay for negative externalities itself reduces profits and discourages other commercial, retail or residential proposals.
Bond issues are ponzi schemes that work as long as the county keeps growing and the taxes keep coming in. It’s how the Rust Belt became bankrupt. Collier has a triple AAA credit rating.  Burdening future taxpayers with the responsibility of paying for infrastructure out in the middle of nowhere is the path to bankruptcy.

We can improve the livability of my district with a moratorium on building new parking lots. Out of County tourists will have to walk and bike, be dropped off or park and tram to the beach.I  will protect Ma and Pa fishing, boating and swimming preventing harmful algae blooms in the Gulf  from occurring so frequently. I will propose making infrastructure investments to reduce the number of harmful algal blooms fueled by sewage nutrients, and the number of beach closures due to high fecal pathogen counts, while meeting our growing water demands through optimized treatment and recycling.

Long range Dream: buying another access point to the beach to take the load off Vanderbilt Beach.

To finance infrastructure investments the County should cut overhead costs. Solid waste disposal is expensive. We can reduce the cost of solid waste management by reducing the volume of solid waste. 30% cost savings are possible when rigorous sorting and recycling is implemented.

As Commissioner, I will vote to 100% Affordable Housing application applications only, until 10K units are completed. Bonus points will be awarded based on a new metric... walk ability to large employers such as the Ritz-Carlton. Applications to convert residential land to commercial uses,  such as gas stations or self storage facilities should be strongly discouraged. We all know that we don’t have enough space for additional affordable condo and rental housing buildings without building higher. We also observe that we have too many underutilized strip malls and vacant office buildings.  

We are united as a people in the desire to save our water and Panthers. I have confidence in the agency of Collier voters. Vote for the candidate who is most qualified to lead you.

Contact Information: Website: www.CommissionerBebe.com | Email: barbkanter@gmail.com | Facebook: Commissioner Bebe | Linked In: Bebe for Commissioner