Tuesday, June 6, 2017
I Was Wrong, and Harvey Bilt Was Right.
I made a mistake a month or so ago. The matter of Will Tudor's new pet Boards was presented, and I made the mistake of speaking against them. I completely disoriented Janey Anderson, who was mindlessly compelled to disagree with whatever I said (either she got this from Bob, or he got it from her), and she spoke in favor of these useless and meaningless Boards. Well tonight, when the second reading of the Ordinance for the Boards was presented, I didn't bother to say anything. I see how the bobbleheads act, and there's no point in trying to communicate with them. They just do whatever they want, regardless of what any of us think.
So this time, since I didn't present a target or a distraction, probably half a dozen of our neighbors, including Janey, arose to speak strongly against the Ordinances. Janey even remembered that she had spoken in favor of it before, but I don't know if she remembers why she did. Not tonight, though. Janey, Bob, the Kuhls, Dan Keys, and I think Chuck Ross all spoke against it. And they offered a variety of reasons the new Boards were a bad idea. No one spoke in favor of it.
Harvey Bilt, in reviewing his experiences with Commissions, talked about Commissions that don't listen to non-Commission residents of the Village. And he was right. Sometimes, they don't. Harvey and the bobbleheads gave us a good dose of it tonight. They completely ignored a collection of their neighbors, in favor of no one, and they passed the Ordinances everyone who expressed an opinion asked them not to pass. Jenny Johnson-Sardella made some reference to positions she took when she was running for Commission. She didn't seem to remember the bit about listening to neighbors. Neither did Will Tudor. And neither did Tracy Truppman, who was talking about something else later when she mentioned "complete disregard." Yup, that's what it was: complete disregard for neighbors and the neighborhood. Harvey sure was right about Commissioners who don't listen. Well, four out of the five didn't listen. Or maybe they did listen, but they just didn't care. It was actually somewhat comical, in a twisted and pathetic kind of way. Poor Roxy Ross. On the short end of two more 4-1s.
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Are you suggesting that the same small group of individuals that speak at every commission, represent the whole of Biscayne Park? Are there not residents who would rather make a phone call, or send an email regarding their concerns? I would hope the commission is representing the community as a whole and not just the individuals that show up at every meeting to make their monthly speech. Personally, I believe the boards are a good idea if they have direction, and if the members have the credentials / ability to meet the objectives set by the manager. Thank you to the commissioners for acknowledging that the residents are wanting speed control, and spending the time to research possible solutions. I feel that this commission is listening to the residents far better than the last commission. Our new police chief and city manager seem to be very motivated, and with the support of the commission and residents, possibly we can find solutions and take the necessary steps to lower the speed limit and get some speed platforms installed in areas that are a safety risk. It is expensive, but public safety should be a priority. Speed platforms or cushions (whatever you want to call them) are the only permanent 24/ 7 solution to the problem. If there is grant money out there and worth spending the time obtaining, why not try? Are there not professional grant writers that will write their fees into the grant? There is certainly nothing wrong with suggesting boards and exploring options.
ReplyDeleteBrad,
DeleteI don't know if I could say the group who spoke last night represent the whole of the Park. But they represented the whole of opinions expressed last night. You were there. You heard them. If you had a contrasting opinion, there was more than ample opportunity for you to have said so. I wouldn't necessarily say that the embarrassingly paltry turnout at the election to replace David Coviello represented the whole of the Park, either. But the few votes were counted, and a winner was declared. Do you object? The Commission last night didn't say it had heard from some unseen groundswell of Village residents. As far I have seen, this Commission doesn't represent residents of the Village, except maybe by accident. It represents first three bobbleheads, and now four of them.
Sure, some residents want lower speeds. You know that. I know it, too. But not because some new Board opined about it. Neither you, nor I, nor our new Commission needs a new Board to know that some Village residents want lower speeds. And if you appreciate that the new Commissioners spent the time to research (whatever that means) the matter, you understand that's what we pay them to do, right? As Harvey described, he didn't love making 35 phone calls, and he just wants someone else to do it for him, for free.
You like our new Manager? Did you like the new one immediately before this one? We all did. Except for Tracy Truppman, who mysteriously disliked Sharon from before the word go, before we even hired Sharon. I like Krishan, too, but that's not the point. Your liking this Commission, because you like Krishan, is like relying on the broken clock that's right twice a day. And it really is, twice every single day.
You're concerned about the expense of things? Aren't we all. During the Meet the Candidates event last fall, every one of the candidates, including the three who won, identified Village finances as our biggest problem. Do you want me to summarize for you what our new Commissioners have done to improve Village finances?
Fred
Brad,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the boards lack clear direction and there is no guarantee that properly credentialed members will be seated. The fact is that those that spoke against are rarely all in agreement on anything, that alone should send a message.
I sent you info some time ago about the procedures required to install speed bumps, tables etc. Unless speed cushions fall under some exception then a traffic study will need to be accomplished to determine if there are areas in BP that will allow for traffic calming devices, including among other requirements 2/3rd's of the property owners/residents in the vicinity will need to sign off on the installation.
Edit:
ReplyDeleteI meant to say rarely or ever in agreement on nearly everything, but we were on June 6th. It just occurred to me we met on the anniversary of D-day, Hummm!