41 ARE 31 TO CHARLOTTE COUNTY. AGAIN, I-75 BLOCK TO TUCKER’S GRADE. >> CONGRESS IS LEAVING DC DEADLOCKED ON A DEAL TO END THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. JUST A FEW HOURS AGO THE PRESIDENT SAID TSA WORKERS COULD START GETTING PAID AS EARLY AS MONDAY. WHILE LEGISLATORS LOOK FOR AN OFF-RAMP, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STEPPING IN TO HELP THE GULF COAST. REPORTER BRITT LEONI IS IN THE STUDIO FOR TONIGHT’S STORY TO SHARE KELLI PETER YESTERDAY AND THAT WITH DAN WHO OWNS A LAUNDRY SHOP IN CAPE CORAL. >> HE’S GRATEFUL FOR THE TSA WORKERS WHO LIVE ON OUR GULF COAST AND HE’S SHOWING THAT GRATITUDE BY PUTTING HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS. >> KEEP CLEANERS CAPE CORAL PARKWAY 16 SORTING AND FOLDING OWNER DAN WITH FLEXEN HIS SUCCESS. WE WIN BEST THOUGH. >> THE BREEZE EVERY YEAR WHEN BEST OF THE >> NEWS PRESS. WHILE PELAIAH FEELS PROSPEROUS. NOW HE’S NO STRANGER TO LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. IT DECADES. HE’S ALSO NO STRANGER TO GOING WITHOUT A PAYCHECK AT ALL OF THE DAY, I CAME HOME WITH THE BIG ORANGE SHERIFF’S SALE SIGN ON MY FRONT DOOR. AND HAD TO GO THROUGH A BANKRUPTCY. IT IT’S LITTLE PTSD OVER IT’S A PAST DOESN’T WANT TO REVISIT, BUT ONE THAT FUELS HIS COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO FACE IT TODAY. AND WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT AT SOME AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A LONG LINES AT SECURITY CHECKPOINTS. AS MANY TSA AGENTS ARE QUITTING OR JUST NOT SHOWING UP FOR WORK. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN A CHURCH THE STORE THAT THEY’LL GET ALL THAT BACK RIGHT? >> WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO NEED PAY THE IDEA BY THE GROSS? >> THAT’S WHY IS DOING HIS PART TO HELP KEEP CLEANERS IS GIVING TSA WORKERS UP TO 30 BUCKS A WEEK IN DRY CLEANING OR LAUNDRY SERVICES EVERY EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. AND THE SHOW SOME APPRECIATION FOR WORKING FOR FREE. >> AND WE’LL GET PAID IN THE END. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE THE SHUTDOWN ENDS AND UNTIL OUR LOCAL TSA WORKERS ARE PAID, PELAIAH WILL KEEP OFFERING THE PROMOTION AS HE BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK. >> AS MUCH AS HE’S RECEIVED, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS US. >> ANYTIME I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK. IT’S A COMMUNITY THAT
Cape Coral laundry shop owner shows gratitude for local TSA workers
Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Mar 27, 2026
At Cape Cleaners off Cape Coral Parkway, through bouts of steaming, sorting, and folding, owner Dan Puleio reflects on his success. “We win best of The (Cape Coral) Breeze every year, best of the News Press,” Puleio said.While Puleio feels prosperous now, he’s no stranger to living paycheck to paycheck and going without pay at all.”Oh gosh, pick a decade,” Puleio said. “The day I had to go through bankruptcy, yeah, I got a little PTSD from that.”It’s a past Puleoio doesn’t want to revisit, but one that fuels his compassion for those who face it today.He’s doing his part in helping Transportation Security Administration workers in our Gulf Coast community.”Sure, my understanding is when paychecks are restored, they’ll get all their back pay. What do you do in the meantime? How do you pay the rent? How do you buy groceries?” Puleio said.Cape Cleaners is giving TSA workers up to $30 a week in dry cleaning or laundry services. “Every little bit helps,” Puleio said. “I want to show some appreciation. I mean, they’re working for free. Yeah, they’ll get paid in the end, but they’re all working for free.”Until the shutdown ends and until our local TSA workers are paid, Puleio will keep offering the promotion, as he believes in giving back as much as he’s received.”Our community supports us, so any time I get a chance to give back to the community that puts food on our table, we try and do that,” Puleio said.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. —
At Cape Cleaners off Cape Coral Parkway, through bouts of steaming, sorting, and folding, owner Dan Puleio reflects on his success.
“We win best of The (Cape Coral) Breeze every year, best of the News Press,” Puleio said.
While Puleio feels prosperous now, he’s no stranger to living paycheck to paycheck and going without pay at all.
“Oh gosh, pick a decade,” Puleio said. “The day I had to go through bankruptcy, yeah, I got a little PTSD from that.”
It’s a past Puleoio doesn’t want to revisit, but one that fuels his compassion for those who face it today.
He’s doing his part in helping Transportation Security Administration workers in our Gulf Coast community.
“Sure, my understanding is when paychecks are restored, they’ll get all their back pay. What do you do in the meantime? How do you pay the rent? How do you buy groceries?” Puleio said.
Cape Cleaners is giving TSA workers up to $30 a week in dry cleaning or laundry services.
“Every little bit helps,” Puleio said. “I want to show some appreciation. I mean, they’re working for free. Yeah, they’ll get paid in the end, but they’re all working for free.”
Until the shutdown ends and until our local TSA workers are paid, Puleio will keep offering the promotion, as he believes in giving back as much as he’s received.
“Our community supports us, so any time I get a chance to give back to the community that puts food on our table, we try and do that,” Puleio said.
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.