We continue to work diligently to educate the public regarding local issues that impact quality of life, our fragile environment and our limited infrastructure.
We continue to make rational suggestions. Is anyone in Village Hall listening?
While running for office last year, all of the candidates for Village Council pledged to protect our environment, our quiet enjoyment of life, and our limited infrastructure.
All seemed opposed to those who want to keep building, and to the unfettered establishment of businesses and tourism.
It is no secret the Village is deeply divided on these issues. I believe that the majority of residents want to preserve our lifestyle and environment. And all the candidates last fall seemed to support that philosophy.
Once in office did things change? I always judge people on what they do, not what they pledged in order to get elected.
At the very first Village Council meeting last November, the newly elected Council waived their Meeting Rules in order to reconsider the number of additional BPAS building allocations Islamorada would request from the state of Florida. The limit has always been based on assuring all residents can be evacuated within 24 hours in case of a major hurricane. But perhaps adding a half hour, 24 1/2 hours, would be safe.
Our prior council, after months of workshops, studies and input from residents, requested 104 additional BPAS units. Council Member Steve Friedman expressed concerns about overdevelopment and the environment and noted his displeasure at the effort to overthrow the past council’s decision of adding another 104 homes.
In a 3-2 vote, with Friedman and Sharon Mahoney dissenting, the newly elected council nearly doubled the prior request for 104 permits. They voted to ask for 199.
Why? Who demanded this? The prior number of 104 was derived by ceding middle ground, a staple of good governance. The revised number of 199 was strictly a display of power by the new council and their intention to use it.
Middle ground be damned! Our politicians focus on defeating their political enemies, not governance for all.
Too many residents refuse to speak up no matter how strongly they feel. By not calling attention to themselves, residents don’t face the contempt from those who wield political and commercial power. And these are real fears.
Those council members who support middle ground are voted down. Residents who disagree with the elected officials in power are considered political enemies, not simply citizens of Islamorada with a different point of view.
I think that the mark of a leader is one who encourages the public, listens to their concerns and reaches middle ground.
We have seen what demonizing one’s opponents can do. It creates deeper divides.
Of great concern to all is the effort to silence those who disagree, instead of reaching compromise and uniting a fractured village.
Another indication of eliminating minority opinion: the Council changed the selection process for Village citizen committees.
In the past, each member of council could select someone from the community to serve on the committees. Now committee selection is by majority vote of Council. Three votes rule. No minority opinions allowed!
That means that those in the majority on Council control everything, including the voices of some residents who’d like to serve on a committee, but have differing philosophies from the majority on Council. This further weakens our village government processes.
Polarization isn’t just an obstacle to tackling serious problems, it’s preventing our community members from seeing their partisan rivals as friends and equals.
We pledge, at the ICA, to educate voters on the issues and call out those who do not perform and try to hoodwink voters.
You can count on us.
Elections have consequences.
Tom Raffanello
