Opinion

Fort Myers Beach wants post-Ian recovery on pre-Ian terms — that won't work

Developers being labeled villainous on Fort Myers Beach is inaccurate says one loval broker — and hurting the town's post-hurricane recovery, not helping it.

  • By Justin Thibaut
  • | 5:00 a.m. June 2, 2026
Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in Lee County, including this part of Fort Myers Beach in a 2023 photo.
Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in Lee County, including this part of Fort Myers Beach in a 2023 photo.
Photo by Stefania Pifferi
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There’s a truth about Fort Myers Beach that everyone sees, but few are willing to say publicly. Everybody says they want recovery. Everybody says they want the island rebuilt after Hurricane Ian. They want stronger infrastructure, restored tourism, new businesses, resiliency improvements and a stable tax base that can support the future of the island. 

 

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