A Cape Coral business owner helping feed the hungry has seen an outpouring of support after she received a city citation for having an appliance in front of her building last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something good for the community. Why all of a sudden is there an issue?\u201d Lee County Plumbing and Supply owner Dionne Lopez said about the Community Fridge she installed about five years ago. \u201cThe whole city and everybody in the community is in an uproar. I am overwhelmed \u00ad- grateful \u2014 for all the emails, phone calls, and texts messages. The insanity \u2013 I am so grateful that everyone is backing me up on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
On March 5, a citation was put on the door of the business at 532 S.E. 47 Terrace citing \u201cshelving, litter, and appliances in front of the building.\u201d The Cape Coral Code Compliance Municipal Ordinance Violation stated that the appliance must be stored inside, and garbage thrown away. The citation also stated that failure to comply within five days could result in a citation of $150 if not completed.<\/p>\n
Lopez said she is still waiting to hear what is going to happen. As of Wednesday, the fridge was still located outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are bullying people to make them do whatever,\u201d she said. \u201cIf there is a code, let\u2019s go by the code. I still don\u2019t know what code has been broken. This is what has been going on \u2014 OK for five years and all of a sudden there was an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city said it attempted bring the cited area into compliance before posting the violation notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe recent citation issued to Lee County Plumbing and Supply is related to a Land Development Code violation involving outdoor storage and site conditions at the property, not solely the \u2018Community Fridge,’\u201d City Communications Manager Melissa Mickey said in an email Monday morning in response to a query from The Breeze. \u201cThe items in question include multiple pieces of equipment and materials that have been stored in front of the business, which is not consistent with the code requirements for that area. Over the past several months, city staff met with the business owner to proactively seek a solution that would allow the Community Fridge to remain accessible while bringing the property into compliance. City leadership even suggested alternatives, such as relocating equipment to a paved, fenced-in area at the rear of the building, which could accommodate these items and still allow for community-serving uses at the front of the property.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mickey said that despite the efforts, the owner has declined to implement the recommended changes, and the conditions on-site have remained out of compliance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result, and consistent with our responsibility to enforce the Land Development Code fairly and uniformly, a citation was issued. This is not the only property in the CRA area that has been cited for similar issues; Code Compliance has issued multiple violations throughout the district as part of a broader effort to clean up and improve the area,\u201d Mickey said. \u201cThe city supports community-based efforts to help residents in need and remains willing to work with the business owner on a solution that both serves the community and complies with City Code.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lopez, reached again after the city provided its statement, said she did not hear anything about alternatives and the relocation of the fridge until today. She said also said no one told her or suggested moving the Community Fridge to the back of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know when they were here, or who they spoke to. They didn\u2019t speak to me about relocating it to the back,\u201d Lopez said, adding that any offer of different solutions before she got the five-day notice did not happen.<\/p>\n
She said Mayor John Gunter stopped by the business Monday, and they went over different things.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a different story. The first-time hearing of anything we can do was today with the mayor. Any solution to the problem was today. Prior to today, no mention of how we can move stuff, make it better and adequate here,\u201d Lopez said.<\/p>\n
With that said, about a year ago, she said Police Chief Anthony Sizemore suggested moving the Community Fridge to the Cape Coral Caring Center. Lopez said she was fine with the idea, but the center did not want it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere we are. After that, no one has ever come to complain or \u2018Hey let\u2019s do this or that,’\u201d she said, adding that it resulted in \u201cwait for it to blow up in order get something done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Community Fridge is an outlet for people who are in need, as paychecks do not stretch as far as they did once upon a time, Lopez said. It offers a supplement 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t ask for names, information, or income. We are helping the community. Taxes are still up on housing. Gas prices are going down, coming up. The food prices are still up. There are a lot of people that unfortunately aren\u2019t making as much money as they need to in order to feed themselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The refrigerator is in front of the building, so people can open the fridge, take what they want, and leave what they want.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Lopez has had numerous phone calls saying \u201cBecause of you, I ate last night,\u201d or people that were once out on the streets now have a job and are bringing food to say thank you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat little bit is enough to supplement them to help them to their next level. Sometimes even that little step helps to get to that next step,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n