Obama brings message to Lee County
Harborside Event Center in Downtown Fort Myers was packed with 1,500 people waiting in rapt attention for President Barack Obama to appear. Obama is in Fort Myers today to push his economic stimulus bill, which is currently was being debated in the Senate.
the bill was passed by the Senate during Obama’s appearance in Fort Myers. He was given a slip of paper with that message on it when it shared it with the audience which applauded.
The White House traveling press corps also descended upon Harborside, and was duly screened twice by local law enforcement and the Secret Service before being allowed entrance. The Cape Coral Police Department also was aiding the Fort Myers Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to provide security for the event.
Among the most intent listeners in today’s audience will be Cape Coral Mayor Jim Burch, who lobbied in Washington earlier this month for more stimulus funds be sent directly to cities and counties without first being routed through the states.
Afterwards, Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey told a TV crew that he delivered a lettter to the President from the people of Lehigh Acres advising the President what they would do with the stimulus package if passed by the Senate and the House and put on Obama’s desk.
It was not immediately known if Bo Turbeville of Lehigh got to meet Obama and had been scheduled. Turbeville received a call earlier today from the U.S. Secret Service informing him he would get to meet Obama.
Turbeville is one of Lehigh’s leaders who signed the letter telling the President of the plight in Lehigh and how Lehigh residents wanted stimulus money spent in their community. The letter was signed by 150 people in addition to Turbeville and other Lehigh leaders of five agencies.