Rick Erickson: Cape Coral Mayor Candidate - Transparency, Growth, & Housing Crisis

[00:00:00]People had their voice back.

[00:00:01]>> I think that's a big problem. I've noticed you know, people being tossed out of the meetings, stuff like that.

[00:00:06]It's like you can't ask questions anymore, so you're very transparent. You want people to know the truth, right?

[00:00:11]>> 100%.

[00:00:12]We had two people shut up sitting on Wednesday just for speaking their voice.

[00:00:17]They weren't arguing, they weren't doing anything else, but they were thrown out.

[00:00:20]Two veterans.

[00:00:21]>> Two veterans.

[00:00:22]>> Yes. Just tossed out.

[00:00:22]>> Just tossed out.

[00:00:24]>> So, when it comes to we we all know Cape Coral is kind of like one of the fastest-growing cities in the US right now. Um how do you tend to kind of give it let it stay that small-town feel, but at the same time grow?

[00:00:39]>> We got to slow down the high-density buildings.

[00:00:41]And the and we're doing too much building, and it the high-density buildings are here, and infrastructure is still right here. We have to level it off somehow.

[00:00:49]>> Yeah, cuz you notice well, I notice a lot of houses going up, but >> [clears throat] >> no one's living in them. You know what I'm saying?

[00:00:56]>> They I don't know what happens. They start them, and they leave.

[00:00:59]Like we had uh as of yesterday, I found out we had uh 18 foreclosures, and we had seven sales, and then we have about 400 foreclosures in Cape Coral right now.

[00:01:10]>> Cuz that's another thing like especially >> That's another thing like especially >> Well, my generation, the younger generation, it's becoming harder to to own a house. You know what I'm saying?

[00:01:18]Especially here in Cape.

[00:01:19]Cuz like when I first moved here about 7 8 years ago, it was pretty affordable.

[00:01:23]You know what I'm saying? It wasn't terrible, it wasn't great. You know.

[00:01:26]After COVID and all that stuff.

[00:01:27]>> Well, how long have you been in office?

[00:01:29]>> Six six years.

[00:01:31]>> Yeah, so.

[00:01:32]Housing needs to become more affordable.

[00:01:34]That's basically what I'm saying. So, uh you know, like rent prices are through the roof.

[00:01:39]Everything's just expensive. So, a lot of us you know, I got three kids. I'm only 28, but a lot of us are having a problem having the stay-at-home mom, you know what I'm saying? Or stay-at-home parent.

[00:01:50]Like everyone has to be working, and it's just like you don't see your kids.

[00:01:53]So, what do you think you're going to do that will what can you do, me should say to lower the housing costs?

[00:02:00]>> I know people working two and three jobs just to pay rent.

[00:02:03]And sometimes they have two or three families in the house cuz they can't afford it. I would have to get with council because once again it's a it's a weak mayor system, but we have to go with council and come up with some kind of idea to lower that. We have to.