Last night's CRB meeting was jammed packed with residents waiting to hear all about the Agenda items that were to be discussed.
Jennifer Vanfosson, a Board member who was appointed on June 16, 2011, accused Tsolkos of having a personal agenda and she moved to "receive and file" 6 items under New Business. She acted as if she were new to the Board when she did not remember that Panagioti Tosolkos, Chair, reminded the Board that its Plan was presented to the City Commission in September 2011. She dominated the meeting even going so far as to suggest that the Board have elections every 3 to 6 months with the excuse to have other volunteers take over the secretarial job. That idea was shot down.
The items that we all came down to listen to and have discussed and that were voted to Receive & File on a 4/2 vote:
1. Youth harassment from police
2. Hate groups in Lake Worth
3. Rights and Liberties of immigrant residents
4. Firing the City manager without proper notice or public input
5. Austerity and social cuts
6. Accepting the UN Declaration of Human Rights
The irony of receiving and filing the above is the fact that many of the above are definitely under the purview of the Community Relations Board to discuss and make recommendations per their mission statement. Ms. Vanfosson, after having rejected item #3, Rights and Liberties of immigrant residents, suggested that the Board look into giving immigrants identification cards, a subject that definitely falls under that category.
This is the first CRB meeting I have attended in the past year and I found Tsolkos respectful and dedicated to the CRB and its goals and reasons why it was formed to begin with-- that of promoting amicable relations among the racial and cultural groups within the community as well as advising the city commission and city manager in matters affecting law enforcement policies and community relations. I got the feeling that this Board might have some hope--was finally working together and progressing-- but it was not going to allow Tsolkos to lead when Ms. Vanfossen accused Mr. Tsolkos of a personal agenda and three other members followed her vote.
24 comments:
The commission never approved the CRB plan.
It was a presentation--not an agenda item to be voted. Also, the Commission did not REJECT the plan. Personally, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this Board.
Just great. Illegals with ID cards now. What in the H**l? What about a big I printed on their forehead.
Lynn you are clearly out of your mind. Tsolkos was pushing his agenda and that of Cara and anarchists. Get a grip!
Scott Maxwell is behind the dissension on the CRB board. He is a ruthless bully.
Anonymous at 10:28, thanks for the word of confidence. You see it your way; I see it my way. Reminder--No personal attacks here. Debate the subject not whether you think I Am out of my mind. Do you think you can REMEMBER THAT? THAT IS THE WAY i SAW IT LAST NIGHT. As no discussion was allowed, I can't tell whether there is any "personal agenda" involved here or not. And neither can you.
Lynn, you might find it interesting, that according to the minutes of the CRB December 2011, none of the items brought forth last nite were even mentioned.IMHO, it leads me to believe a personal agenda is definately in play. Mr Tolkas has never been a fan of PBSO, and several years ago while commissioner Jennings was in office , he handed out Cop Watch fliers to people in the hall way at a commission meeting.
Thanks, Sylvia--you definitely COULD be 100% correct.
Lynn, on Sept 14th, 2011 Captain Silva spoke in front of the CRB Board, there is no mention of Mr Tolkas's concerns in their minutes. Am I missing something here?
You will have to ask the secretary, Jennifer Vonfosson. It doesn't look like she includes comments in her Minutes?
Lynn, if you had stayed until the end of the meeting, I think you would have a different opinion of how it went.
Thank you. Please elaborate.
Why is that you continue to refuse to accept that Cara and her cohorts refer to themselves as anarchists and their agenda is to keep Lake Worth a slum? Hasn't there been enough proof and evidence for you to believe this to be true? Isn't the fact that Cara calls herself an anarchist enough proof?
Or is it because the group of people you hate so much in this city continue to speak out against them?
Get on the right team Lynn. Like their attempts to get rid of PBSO and to delay the NSP2 program they will soon be an afterthought in Lake Worth. Their stranglehold on the city was officially removed in November and the job will be finished in the next election.
The meeting deteriorated quickly as Mr Tsolkas tried to push forth his agenda without providing any backup material. One particular item was unfair treatment by PBSO against the youth of LW.
The Board questioned if this had even been established as a problem in LW and Mr Tsolkas seemed to come a bit undone...as if questioning his word was extremely frustrating to him. Hands were raised and he very obviously only called on certain people - Mr Amoroso tried numerous times to tell him that in order to take action on anything, he needed to present factual evidence that a problem exists.
His demeanor quickly became rude as after one public comment he said, "thank you for your misinformed comment"
He then tried to quickly end the end the meeting with numerous hands still raised. The Board overruled his hurry to adjourn and agreed to allow the remaining public comment to be heard.
He was flustered and honestly acted like a spoiled brat.
It was not pretty, nor professional.
Anonymous at 11:43--
I don't "hate" anyone in this city. Let's get that one straight.
Next, as far as Cara being an anarchist, how does that really affect our City? Dissolve the CRB if it is a threat to your sensabilities.
Why would Cara be against the NSP2 grant when it is nothing but give-aways to poor people? Your logic here is illogical.
Cara was never against the PBSO being our public safety but it was the loss of control and the cost. Can we ever get that one straight or do you want to continue to spin that forever? They mistrust the police. It doesn't matter if it's PBSO or our own police. I happen to disagree with them on this issue but there certainly has been abuse of power by police from time to time.
As far as Chair Panagioti is concerned, while I was there he acted very dignified and straight forward. I believe that anyone who tries to thwart free speech is the problem, not the other way around. Why do you fear what he has to say? Let him say and be done with it.
The distinctions you try to maintain about the point that no one is allowed to distinguish between a position and a person is a valid and problematic one. Glen Greenwald speaks to it here: http://www.salon.com/writer/glenn_greenwald/page/2/
It is not acceptable to have an issue arise and be dismissed with "the anarchists are for it" or "Cara Jennings is at it again". It matters little to me if Cara wanted it under her holiday tree(a pagan relic, that) or if Emma Goldman wrote about it. That is the use of fear and intimidation, and no democratic process at all.
Are we afraid to discuss openly the fact that minorities might have a different experience with the police than a white guy like me? Or is that an issue worth keeping on the table when every night I see Syrian soldiers killing their own citizens?
When something is uncomfortable to talk about, perhaps it is so because we should have been talking about it a long while ago.
I live on 12th Avenue south, and there are no slums in the city I live in. There are richer and poorer neighborhoods, and lots of people working to make their homes better. Others are just trying to survive hard times and don't do much.
As a new board, the CRB is finding its way. Remember that thing about babies and the bathwater.
Sam Goodstein
I think the idea of the CRB is a good one in that we are a multicultural city, one of the pros (possibly a con at times too), and reaching out to all members of our community is important.
Should the police be challenging minorities or youth minority more than the rest of us? Possibly, look at crime statistics and the populations most likely to commit crime. Is it fair to a black kid who is law abiding, no? But as a tax payor, resident, and landlord I want my police to be interacting with as many people as possible if they don't belong in my neighborhood or are causing trouble in the neighborhood where my rental property is. I'd rather have the police out there interacting with folks in the neighborhood than stopping car after car on a Sat. morning when holiday visitors are on their way to the beach or the green market (anyone else watch that fine use of 10 PBSO this past weekend?)
We have a large immigration population. That is a positive in that the majority of these folks are hard working/peaceful folks who are simply looking for a better life. But this is also a negative in that the bulk of these folks are here illegally and hence violating the laws of our country. Many of them don't understand our laws, i.e. overcrowding, jay walking, biking in the middle of Dixie (how many times have you almost hit an immigrant on bike in this City?) Would it be a good idea to reach out to this popualtion to educate them on things like bike safety? I'm all for it. Residency cards, not so much.
Sam, I think you are missing the point. Many believe Mr Tolkas has a personal agenda. The fact that he brought all this up in an email from Greece, without the support of other members of the CRB, makes anything he says Suspect. Add to that the fact that he provides no proof of his allegations, further confirms my suspicions. Peter and his comrads have been singing this tune for a long time. Why have they not officialy met with Captain Silva with evidence of their claims? If any of his allegations are true, he has done a real disservice to the victims.
Cara has been against PBSO from day one and has never supported them. It never had anything to do with money. As a commissioner Cara could control the police and the police budget. Her goal has always been to limit the power of the police. Cara and her friends have been arrested by PBSO numerous times and they hate police authority. We all know this is true and we all know that Panty has no business being on any city board. It's said that some folks have fallen for or used Cara and her gang to get what they want.
Pa-leeeez Lynn. You are too much. Cara and her little group did a little dog and pony show, pretty nicely done, about..... Can we all say "GENTRIFICATION"?
It was brought up at the P&Z meeting where she did her best to stop the lofts project.
Even nice new buildings built for the low to medium income people displace poor immigrants who are again pushed into another area bringing down the property values there.
"I don't agree with this and I don't agree with that, but I still think that even if she is an avowed anarchist, what does that have to do with anything?"
It just doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure Bin Laden did some good things in his life too. Anarchists strive for the total downfall of our government. Not working within the system because the system is corrupt, so they want to cause .....ANARCHY!!!!
Panty went to Greece to "help out".
What is so hard to see here?
Ok, Ms. Paleeeeeeez--How do you cause it without participants in power? How is that done? Is that sort of like the Occupiers who are running their mouths and getting arrested? Do you think that they are making any headway, taking from the rich and giving to themselves? You give too much credit or discredit, depending upon where you're coming from, to Cara and friends. IMO.
Lynn, Tsolkas went so far last to (in a very snarky manner) question the other Board members reasons for being on the Board when all they asked for was proof of his allegations against PBSO.
Everyone left that room shaking their heads in disbelief at the way he handled himself and the meeting.
Wish you had stayed to see it yourself!
S.Williams,
I am sure Mr.Tsolkas has an agenda, everyone does. He has a controversial one, and if he can't make the case for it it will fade away and the fact that the case had a forum for discussion will save the commission having to waste time on it. That is the point of a committee like the CRB, making sure that things get heard and not repressed. Based on what I've heard there's a lot of overreaction to the very instance of the accusation but I think our law enforcement can hold up to scrutiny, it should be watched closely, and those serving actually expect to be watched closely.
Sam Goodstein
Mr Goodstein, Did you attend the CRB meeting?
There was no 'overreaction of the accusation' - regarding PBSO brutality toward youths. There was a qualified and questioning reaction when no proof was forthcoming from Mr Tsolkas on this. He kept saying he had photos, etc, but did not produce them. He wanted the Board to take him at his word and if anyone overracted it was him when he saw that he was not going to get his way.
He became rude and insolent - and questioned the other Board member's reasons for wanting to be there, as he saw he was not getting his way.
His agenda is not everyone's and as such, the hope is the Board will be able to control that.
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