Election Prediction and the Community Relations Board

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Out of Touch and Out of Tune

I never bet on stuff because when I do, I undoubtedly lose. So instead I am making a prediction:

1. The Dais will change on November 8
2. The Dais will change next year too.

After last night and what I had to sit through in order to listen to three commissioners and the Mayor justify having an anarchist on the Community Relations Board (CRB), who is now its Chair, and who believes that we live in a "police state," only shows to me that this commission is out of touch and out of tune. I can agree when Panagioti, the Chair of the CRB, says that public safety costs way too much. But to refer to PBSO's policies as "mafia-esque," and putting an end to industrial civilization and having the freedom to do what you damn well please are not ideals that I want for a member of any city board.

Many citizens spoke to Commissioner Maxwell's issue-- that of striking all references regarding law enforcement from the Ordinance of 2009 that created the CRB as part of the CRB's focus. Maxwell stated that under Florida Statutes 112.533, we had no right to investigate the PBSO, something Chair Tsolkas wants to do and something that Maxwell says would put the City in peril. It ended up that the city attorney would not give an opinion until she read the Statute and understood it. Cpt. Silva was encouraged to come before the body and speak to the issue and he said that it was up to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw on how the PBSO would accept or deal with the CRB and its demands.

It was voted that the entire issue concerning the CRB's desire to investigate law enforcement policies will move on to a joint meeting of the CRB and the PBSO. The reasons given were that the Commission did not have the back-up and supporting documentation, had not seen the Panagioti e-mail, no member of the CRB was present and they were unfamiliar with the Florida Statute. I would imagine that the Commission will be there too but there was no mention of that. I certainly hope that they will be a party to the meeting as they need to learn what in heck is going on and take responsibility for nominating a re-known anarchist/jail-bird, who has no use for government or its laws, as a member of the Community Relations Board. It was this very appointment that prompted the Zack attack and Dustin Zacks, a young smart lawyer, to enter the mayoral race.

It was a cross of political views throughout the City but predominantly conservatives such as myself...people who believe in law and order and are offended by those who advocate anarchy who spoke out last night. I honestly got the feeling that the Commission was just putting up with it all. The expressions and the looks on their faces as we all spoke were telling. Maxwell sat stone-faced, adamant on the direction that this Board should take and shouldn't take. The other four Commissioner's minds were already made up before that meeting. What was glaringly evident was that not one member of the CRB was present, probably told to stay away--another excuse the Commission could use to delay.

In defense of their actions, the Vice Mayor said that she was impressed with Panagioti's interview for the Community Relations Board and that perhaps we were making an issue on something that wasn't an issue. If you recall, a few years ago she backed Javier for Mayor for the very same ideals held by Panagioti. We, in the chamber, sat stunned. Mayor Waterman questioned whether the e-mail sent by Panagioti, wherein he claims all sorts of radical ideas, was personal. It doesn't matter whether it was a personal e-mail or sent as Chair of the CRB. The fact remains he IS Chair and should conduct himself as such, a representative of the entire City, not just anarchists. The egregious action, in the minds of the citizens, was that he was appointed to this Board to begin with. This was an outrageous decision by this Commission and one that has brought divisiveness to the City.

As John Pickett, Chair of the Finance Advisory Board said, "There is no shame in making a mistake. The only shame is in defending it."

Enough is enough Commissioners.

Read the Palm Beach Post article.