BOTH SIDES PREPARE FOR HIS TRIAL. >> RIGHT NOW DEBATE IS GROWING IN CAPE CORAL ABOUT A PLAN TO SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO FLY AN AMERICAN FLAG ATOP THE LARGEST FLAG POLE AND THE ENTIRE STATE. CAPE CORAL WANTS TO BUILD A POLL 250 FEET HIGH RIGHT NOW. THE BIGGEST ONE IS 200 FEET IN FORT WALTON BEACH. THE CITY SAYS IT WON’T BE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS. THE PROJECT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS, BUT SOME TELL GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER JACKI GUNTHER. THAT MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. >> HEARING THAT IT’S LIKE $500,000. I JUST THINK THAT THAT MIGHT PLAY IN PART TO THE WASTEFUL SPENDING VETERAN AND RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WARREN CAPS LOVES HIS COUNTRY, A MARINE I AM HUGELY PATRIOTIC. LOVE MY COUNTRY. BUT HE DOESN’T LOVE CAPE CORAL’S PLAN TO USE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. >> FOR A GIANT FLAGPOLE TO DISPLAY THE STARS AND STRIPES JUST SURPRISED THAT THAT MONEY IS NOT BEING BETTER USED IN OTHER SITUATIONS. THE FLAG WOULD TOWER OVER EVERY OTHER BUILDING IN THE CITY’S STANDING AT 250 FEET TALL. YOU SEE THE FLAG AS YOU DRIVE OVER THE CAPE CORAL BRIDGE. THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE IT THE TALLEST FLAGPOLE IN THE STATE WHICH WOULD BE DOUBLE THE HEIGHT OF THE ONE HERE. NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS, CAPS BELIEVES THE MONEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. JUST THINK THERE’S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER CAUSES THAT MIGHT BE BETTER SUITED FOR THIS TYPE OF EFFORT. I TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CAPE CORAL WHO DON’T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT FUNDS THAT ARE BEING DONATED ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO WHAT’S BEING ADVERTISED THIS CASE. THE TALLEST FLAG IN FLORIDA. AND I THINK THAT’S WHERE IT SHOULD GO IN SOME WHO SEE BOTH SIDES JUST JUST. >> THERE’S A PLETHORA THINGS THAT THAT 500 GRAND TO BE SPENT FOR. BUT I ALSO SEE OTHER PEOPLE’S POINT OF VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE NOTHING BETTER THAN TOP FLAGS REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY. CITY MANAGER MICHAEL, IS IN SAYS THE PROJECT WOULD GENERATE ATTRACTION FOR THE CITY AND MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSI
Cape Coral residents divided over 250-foot flagpole project proposal
Updated: 8:34 PM EDT Oct 7, 2025
Cape Coral’s proposal for a $500,000 flagpole, intended to be the tallest in Florida at 250 feet, has stirred mixed reactions among residents, with some questioning the allocation of funds despite the city’s plan to fund it through donations. Veteran and retired police officer Warren Capps expressed his surprise at the cost, saying, “I was a little shocked when I heard the news about it.”Capps, who is a Marine and deeply patriotic, supports the idea of wanting to implement patriotism in the city but believes there are bigger fish for the City to fry, saying, ” I think that there are certainly enough issues that are more important or germane at this time than this particular idea. And I’m extremely patriotic and love Cape Coral.”The city plans to fund the project through donations, aiming to make the flagpole visible even from an airplane. It would be 43 feet taller than the current tallest flag in the state.Despite this, Capps believes the city should focus on other issues. “I just think there’s a whole lot of other causes that might be better suited for this type of effort, on behalf of the city,” he said.Other residents, like Lisa Arnold, who is also a veteran, support the initiative. She says that if people want the money to go elsewhere, they should reach out to the city, saying, “If people have other desires for projects around the city, then they can talk with city leaders and have them perhaps start a fundraising campaign for other specific projects.”Chris Velez sees merit in both perspectives, acknowledging ongoing renovations in the city and the potential impact of the flagpole. “There’s just just there’s a plethora of things that that 500 grand can be spent on. I also see other people’s point of view that there would be nothing better than a tall flag to represent your country,” he said.City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn previously stated that the project would attract visitors and leave a lasting impression.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral’s proposal for a $500,000 flagpole, intended to be the tallest in Florida at 250 feet, has stirred mixed reactions among residents, with some questioning the allocation of funds despite the city’s plan to fund it through donations.
Veteran and retired police officer Warren Capps expressed his surprise at the cost, saying, “I was a little shocked when I heard the news about it.”
Capps, who is a Marine and deeply patriotic, supports the idea of wanting to implement patriotism in the city but believes there are bigger fish for the City to fry, saying, ” I think that there are certainly enough issues that are more important or germane at this time than this particular idea. And I’m extremely patriotic and love Cape Coral.”
The city plans to fund the project through donations, aiming to make the flagpole visible even from an airplane. It would be 43 feet taller than the current tallest flag in the state.
Despite this, Capps believes the city should focus on other issues. “I just think there’s a whole lot of other causes that might be better suited for this type of effort, on behalf of the city,” he said.
Other residents, like Lisa Arnold, who is also a veteran, support the initiative. She says that if people want the money to go elsewhere, they should reach out to the city, saying, “If people have other desires for projects around the city, then they can talk with city leaders and have them perhaps start a fundraising campaign for other specific projects.”
Chris Velez sees merit in both perspectives, acknowledging ongoing renovations in the city and the potential impact of the flagpole. “There’s just just there’s a plethora of things that that 500 grand can be spent on. I also see other people’s point of view that there would be nothing better than a tall flag to represent your country,” he said.
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn previously stated that the project would attract visitors and leave a lasting impression.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.