Last night's Commission Meeting

Rep Joe Abruzzo shaking hands with Betty Anderson and
former Mayor and Commissioner, Ron Exline

Rep. Joe Abruzzo visited our Commission last night. He is always personable and friendly, coming over immediately to shake my hand. I am sure he did not remember my name but he did remember my face. Rep. Abruzzo gave a short presentation on his accomplishments in the Florida Legislature this term and told us why he voted against the new State Budget with the main reason being that it “uses $3 billion in federal economic recovery money but fails to utilize another $444 million of federal stimulus for Florida’s unemployed.” Does anyone understand this?

Last night’s city commission meeting was one of the shorter ones. Everything on the Consent Agenda passed…nothing was pulled for discussion. Public Hearing on the granting of a revocable permit to Martin Commerce Center Condo Association was postponed as was the sidewalk café new rules and regulations. Several people talked about the Comp Plan and urged that it get transmitted soon.

There was the second reading of a new Ordinance to create a Community Relations Board which will consist of 7 members plus 2 from the Neighborhood Associations. This is a Board set up to provide “amicable relations among the racial and cultural groups within the community…and advise the City Manager and the City Commission in matters affecting law enforcement policies and community relations.”

OK, that’s the definition of the board. Having two members on the Board from the Neighborhood Associations will be a tricky one as someone in College Park sure can’t represent me and the simple fact that we have 13 neighborhood associations, 11 others will be left out. The Condos on Lake Osborne fall in the cracks.

The Mayor said it had nothing to do with the Police. It has everything to do with the police. This is why it is being formed. Perhaps the Commission can fool themselves and can fool the general public in believing that this Board was formed for some lofty ideal. Commissioner Jennings wants to be assured that the Sheriff does not overstep its authority and harass illegals. That’s what prompted this Ordinance. Everything else is subterfuge. Commissioner Mulvehill said that she was very interested to learn why people put their clothes out to dry on bushes, as an example. Who in the heck cares, Commissioner? These people come here illegally. They should be fitting into our culture, not the other way around. Commissioner Jennings even brought up the possibility of subpoena powers for the Board. Can you imagine Suzie Homemaker with subpoena powers and out there getting in the way of our Sheriff Department that is working under the law protecting everyone’s rights here, even the criminal—the illegal?

Other than that, I honestly do not believe we have racial problems in this city. If we have any, I am not aware of them. What we have is one half of our population who live here, ILLEGALLY creating all sorts of problems and if they were not here our “problems” would be cut in half with nothing left but the normal criminal and the gang-banger. And I don’t need some silly, self-righteous Board telling me how I should want to live with this illegal problem that elected officials have created.