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This image captures the essence
The last time I checked, we still lived in America--the land of the brave--and that we were last night.
Assembled in a room with impossible odds, with hostile commissioners and some of their unpleasant supporters, we gathered to speak to the ballot initiative for Respectful Planning PAC. As citizens entered the chamber, we soon found out that the clever Commission at the last minute pulled the item from the Agenda. There was no notification to the public. There was no notification to anyone in the PAC. There was no notification to several members of the Commission. They were as surprised as we.
We were given a trumped up explanation by the City clerk (a main reason why we do NOT want to turn in our petitions to her) that the petitions had to be all certified by the Supervisor of Elections before this item could be on the Agenda. No they DID NOT. This could have been decided right then and there to adopt the language and place on the November ballot and to stop the nonsense. Staff was all in collusion with King Maxwell, Queen Triolo and the pawn. Bornstein and Maxwell looked like they were playing footsie, giving each other grins and smirks. "How sly we are," they said to themselves.
The Mayor began the meeting with an angry tone, accusing McVoy and Mulvehill of playing politics because of this agenda item. She had absolutely NO clue that the petition was started because it was they playing politics, Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso, a commissioner who just follows along. Triolo further stated that "divisiveness is causing pain." She had said at one previous meeting that anyone using the word "divisiveness" was the one who was divisive. She said that she was "insulted and wanted to do everything respectfully." They said everything that they could to impugn the integrity of all those who petitioned. They, as well as some of their diehard supporters, even had the gall to call us liars too.
Respectful Planning PAC volunteers were respectful last night as we were beaten up by the very people who represent us. However, near the end of the night after listening to a lot of crap, the Mayor was having no part of us defending ourselves from their abuse. We had to sit there and take it. We had to listen to lies coming from the dais from the King as well as political rhetoric by the Mayor and just overall nasty dispositions from them both. Later, even a PBSO deputy had to tap someone on the shoulder who was in the chamber even though the back row was at times unruly, their MO.
Volunteers have collected 1300 signatures in 22 days. This equates to 80% of our goal. If we did this in 3 weeks, we can now take our time and collect the next 267 signatures plus a cushion that we need to ensure certification of the correct number as we will not make the November ballot. We will, however, be able to call for a special election if we so choose. The people will not forget what their own elected representatives did.
There are no people alive who petition for a Charter Amendment unless they believe in the principle behind it and the circumstances that drive them to it--unreasonable decisions by a body of elected officials with no regard to what the people think other than their supporters and special interest friends. The Mayor's complaint that people go out and petition every time they don't get their way is so far fetched--another political bull shit sound bite that no one will buy.
Other than 2 to 3 people for whom I encountered, NO one wants our city buildings to be 65 feet. We are going forward until our goal is met. Three commissioners who accuse people of being divisive when they don't agree with them, are the only ones dividing this city. Our signers spoke. We know what the people are thinking. They don't want 65 foot buildings in our downtown.
P.S. The Charter amendment to change the name of our City that was proposed by Scott Maxwell was rescinded last night. This was a good political decision on his part. NO one in this city, not ONE person with whom I have spoken, wanted to change the name. This would have been a landslide defeat at the polls and Maxwell would have been remembered for just another stupid idea.I was hoping that this vote would have gone forward.
8 comments:
Federalist No. 10 - The Framers of the Constitution were altogether fearful of pure democracy. Everything they read and studied taught them that pure democracies "have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths"
Therefore the United States is a REPUBLIC, not a democracy. "Accurately defined, a democracy is a form of government in which the people decide policy matters directly--through town hall meetings or by voting on ballot initiatives and referendums. A republic, on the other hand, is a system in which the people choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf."
Therefore you were not denied ANYTHING. You never had a right to vote on every single thing that crosses the Commissions dais. You have a right to vote on the representatives that vote for you. If you don't like them, then vote for someone else. This is why Amendment 4 FAILED.
Hey Pat-
You sound like some sort of an expert here--Have you read your Constitution lately--the First Amendment?
Get a grip on reality if you can.
You have no clue why Amendment 4 did not pass. None whatsoever. If you ever want to get informed, give me a call.
In the meantime, knock of the crap and the standard argument all politicians give when anyone citizen challenges their decision.
So, a thoughtful reader provides a short lesson on why the framers of our constitution established our system of governance as a representative republic, and you call him a "polititician"? It's not a standard argument... it's what our establishing document codifies. Have you read the Constitution lately, or choose to deny parts that don't fit your IDEA of what it says?
The first ammendment is short and succinct: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
You've not been denied anything. Amendment 4 failed because a majority disagreed with the notion of the public at large making land use decisions rather than the representatives they elect. That is the case with Lake Worth's LDR and comp plan, disjointed as they are. We have a choice, every cycle, to alter or affirm those decisions.
Representative democracy is admittedly a messy business, but it sure beats the alternative.
Oh thanks. Just what I need--a history lesson on our Constitution that gives me the right to petition.
Amendment 4 failed because of millions of dollars of developer and Chamber of Commerce money was used to defeat the amendment and confuse the electorate. The Supermajority amendment here failed for the very same reason. Those same groups came into Lake Worth with the bucks to defeat the grassroots. Money talks.
Don't bother coming back over here with this stuff. We have heard you.
The City Clerk read directly from the City Charter regarding the petition issue. The PAC did not provide the required number of signatures certified by the PBC Supervisor of Election for the petition to come before the Commission. Staff put Item 12-G on the agenda in anticipation that the requirements in our City Charter would be met by the PAC. No one can know what would have happened if the PAC had fulfilled its obligation and Item 12-G had been discussed on and voted on by the Commission.
Speaking of respectful, the entire chamber heard your "FUCKING ASSHOLES" comment at you left. Certainly makes you lood like the A... And why did you get so upset about the discussion of the flyer being distributed by the PAC?
At that point near Midnight, they were FUCKING ASSHOLES. Actually, I am wrong. They made that very clear in the beginning of the night when they deleted Respectful Planning from New Business.
No matter what Pam Lopez says, a ballot language could have been approved WITHOUT one petition signature. ONCE WE GET THE REQUIRED AND CERTIFIED SIGNATURES, they will have to put it on the ballot.
The Flyer was being taken out of context by Mr. Evil himself. When we are referring to 65 foot heights downtown, we are talking about the COMP PLAN. That is what this petition is all about--the commissioner voted for 65 feet in the Comp Plan. I thought you knew that!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are petitioning to change the Charter to 45 feet and 35 feet6.
Thank u for standing up for our city and low rise buildings in our downtown.
"I believe in the initiative and referendum, not to destroy representative government, but to correct it when it becomes misrepresentative."
President Theodore Roosevelt
The avidity with which Lake Worth voters are signing the petition protecting our low rise downtown indicates three elected officials misrepresentation of the people's will by voting to allow 65' buildings.
Both the United States Constitution and the Florida Constitution protect the people's right to petition their government.
In addition, Florida Statutes 166.031(1)sets forth:
"The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, or the electors of a municipality may, by petition signed by 10 percent of the registered electors as of the last preceding municipal general election, submit to the electors of said municipality a proposed amendment to its charter, which amendment may be to any part or to all of said charter except that part describing the boundaries of such municipality. The governing body of the municipality shall place the proposed amendment contained in the ordinance or petition to vote of the electors at the next general election held within the municipality or at a special election called for such purpose."
"Shall" is the operative word here, and the reason the Commission trio is squealing and posturing since they will have no discretion, only a ministerial duty to place the amendment on the ballot once the 10 percent threshold of valid signatures have been certified.
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