About the Placement of that Zaluski...

I can tell this story by naming names or by not naming names.  I think it's easier to follow if I name names.

Last month, in Barbara Watts' absence, the Commission tasked the Manager to find a place for the Zaluski sculpture.  We reminded the Manager, Heidi Shafran, that the last time this happened, the then Manager convened a joint seating of the Parks and Parkways, Planning and Zoning, and Ecology Boards, invited the "public" (a number of whom showed up to voice opinions), and received and accepted a conclusion as to where to place the first sculpture.  It stands in Griffing Park.  Heidi did in fact convene exactly such a joint Board, a few of us non-Board members came and opined, and the joint Board unanimously decided to assign the Zaluski to the same Griffing Park.  I can confess, since it's not a secret, that Heidi hoped for placement in front of Village Hall, as did Chuck Ross, and I hoped for placement at the Recreation Center.  But we got outvoted, so to speak, and Griffing Park it was.  I think frankly that we are more satisfied with the process than we were disappointed that some of us didn't get what we wanted.  After all, Chuck and Heidi and I didn't want Griffing Park, so that's three people, one of whom doesn't live in BP, and nine Board members did want Griffing Park.

Last night at the Commission meeting, Heidi presented the conclusion to the Commission for its affirmation, or perhaps just rubber stamp.  In theory, of course, this was not necessary, since the Commission had already asked Heidi to solve a problem, or answer a question, and she did it.  Case closed(?).

Barbara Watts was, by some estimations, fit to be tied.  She didn't dislike the sculpture, or at least she seemed to suggest she didn't dislike it, but she disliked extremely the decision to place it in Griffing Park.  She had a couple of reasons, the most relevant and salient of which was that the subject matter of the sculpture lent itself to the Recreation Center.  You're preaching to the choir with me, there, Barbara.  David Coviello similarly thought the piece was a natural for the Rec Center.  Roxy Ross was a bit on the fence, feeling Village Hall was a charming spot for the piece, but noting the joint Board had made the statement it was asked to make.  Bob Anderson liked Griffing Park, which he also suggested should be set aside as an "art park."

I've already said that I think we are in a special position to have and generously use and elevate resident Boards, and that my inclination would always be to act in accordance with what our Boards recommend, absent some overpowering reason to ask them to reconsider.  Having a different opinion or different taste is not, in my opinion, an overpowering reason.  So I said I agreed with Barbara and David, that the most natural-seeming placement, and the one I prefer, would be the Rec Center, but that the process by which (Griffing Park) placement was chosen had been perfect, and I would under no circumstances vote for anything but to affirm the joint Boards' conclusion.

At this point, Barbara turned to me and asked if I was saying that I would vote for the Boards' conclusion, even though I personally thought some other conclusion was better.  Correct.  Dave asked if I wouldn't rather urge a more "optimal" placement, which was roughly the same question as Barbara's.  I pointed out that my opinion is not more "optimal" than the Boards'.  It's just different.  It's no more than my opinion.  If opinions can be right or wrong, how do I know who's right and who's wrong?  I had my reasons, and they had theirs.  We all said what we thought.

I accepted being outvoted by our joint Boards.  There were nine members.  They all live here, just like I do.  Some of them donated to prior sculptures, and some will most likely donate to the Zaluski.  So they all care.  They all agreed with each other.  Now, I'm given an opportunity to out-muscle them, by invoking the power of the Commission, of which there are only five members, one of whom agrees with the joint Boards anyway.  I would decline such an opportunity every time.

I'm very happy to report that Roxy and David changed their minds about the chance to set aside the conclusion of the joint Boards.  Bob already agreed with the Boards.  So four of us voted to support the opinions of nine of our neighbors, who are devoted members of our volunteer Boards.  That's the way it should be.  Unless it could be argued that it should have been all five of us.

Board members are chosen by the Commissions, and they are entrusted with a serious responsibility in Biscayne Park.  As they are entrusted, they should be trusted.  Some of us didn't get our way?  Not exactly big news.  I realize all of this sounds pedantic, and I'm sorry for that, but it's a point I made when I was running, and I will take every opportunity to reiterate and demonstrate it.