Access Denied: The City's Ongoing Obstruction of Public Records

Cape Coral residents are growing increasingly frustrated—and rightfully so. Despite Florida’s strong public records laws, many who seek basic transparency from their local government face an uphill battle. Whether it's the denial of records that exist, excessive fees, or delays, the City of Cape Coral has shown a disturbing pattern of making access to public records unnecessarily difficult. So, what exactly is going on with the lack of transparency in Cape Coral?

Denied, Delayed, and Overcharged

Florida’s Constitution guarantees every person the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with the official business of any public body. And yet, Cape Coral routinely denies the existence of certain records, only for them to magically appear after pressure is applied. Even when records are acknowledged, residents are often met with high fees, sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars for materials that are digital and easily shareable. In many cases, requesters are left in the dark. Communications go unanswered. Timelines are ignored. The city seems to operate with the mindset that transparency is optional, when in fact, it’s the law.

Who Works for Whom?

Let’s be clear: city employees are public servants. Their salaries are paid by taxpayers. The records they generate in the course of their duties are not private property; they are public documents. It is not a favor when they provide these records. It is a legal obligation and a moral responsibility. So why do residents have to fight so hard to get what they already own?

A Culture of Concealment

Whether it’s due to incompetence, understaffing, or a more deliberate effort to conceal inconvenient truths, Cape Coral’s behavior erodes public trust. When a city makes it this difficult to access information, it sends a clear message: “We don’t want you to know what we’re doing.” That’s not just unacceptable. It’s dangerous. Public records can shine a light on mismanagement, wasteful spending, ethical violations, or even outright corruption. When access to these records is obstructed, accountability disappears, and bad governance thrives in the shadows.

The Legal & Moral Failure

Florida’s Sunshine Law is one of the strongest transparency laws in the country. It exists to ensure that the government operates in the open, where it belongs. Cape Coral’s persistent obstruction flies in the face of that law. Public records are not the city's to withhold. They belong to the people. Charging outrageous fees, burying requests, or denying records without cause is not just poor practice; it's a violation of state law. And if that’s the case, city officials and employees should be held accountable.

Citizens Deserve Better

The people of Cape Coral should not have to lawyer up or file complaints just to get basic information from their own government. Transparency should be automatic. Accountability should be expected. And when that doesn’t happen, it is the public’s right and duty to demand change.

Where did it go?

Redact Much?

Redack Much?

Redack Much?

Was staff told to deny the project?

You won't be charged $1,000 unless it's something we don't want you to see.

• The information for the Jaycee Park subcontractors definitely exists.

• The Embers Parkway project did happen and was acknowledged by the mayor. After pushing back, we finally got the proof!

• Why would the city redact a bill for the software used to manage the city manager’s appointment schedule?

• Over $1,000 for a copy of a schedule that’s just a basic report generated from calendar software?

Cape Coral must do better. It must stop treating transparency like a threat. Because the real threat is a government that forgets who it works for.

All information has been thoroughly investigated and reported by the Take Out the Trash Committee of Cape Coral and/or its authorized volunteers!