Thank you, Denny, for your words of support in yesterday’s Stuart News (6/8/2014).
Maintaining Stuart’s Unique Charm AND Economic Prosperity
I am a strong proponent of economic development for our city. I believe that we can maintain our unique “old Florida charm” and still bring new businesses, jobs and residents to Stuart. However, I am not in favor of changing our 4-story height limit (which, according to code, can be as much as 60 feet from slab to peak). I do not want to see Stuart become Delray Beach or City Place. If we are to stand out from the rest of South Florida, we must maintain and enhance our strengths not try to emulate others.
If elected, I will strive to enhance our Economic Development Department. I would like to see it act as an ombudsman with every city department for anyone trying to open a business or construct a building. Most interactions between the public and city departments are informational and problem solving. Every employee should be customer centric. The city government should not be seen as an obstacle but as a resource.
That is not to say that we do not enforce our rules, regulations and laws. Bad projects are still bad projects. Those rules, etc. are there for the safety of all. We do need to treat everyone the same whether they have just come to town or their family has been here for generations. There is no room for favoritism at City Hall. Cronyism will sabotage our efforts to increase our economic development.
At the same time, I am not in favor of subsidies for any individual or business regardless of the promises made for expansion or bringing employment. Subsidies come from tax revenue collected from our citizens by the city, and tax revenue should not be used to benefit a favored few. The role of government is not to pick winners and losers, but to make our city a good place for every business and family to succeed and thrive.
Within the framework I have outlined, I will work with anyone to accomplish his or her dream of starting or expanding a business in Stuart. I will sit down with any developer who wishes to build here as long as what they propose is in keeping with Stuart traditions. New residents are drawn here because of our water front, neighborhoods, parks and way of life. We cannot destroy any of it in the name of economic progress. Actions that do will only be counterproductive and lead to the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.
Stuart’s Long-Awaited Smith-Turner Park
For most Americans, Memorial Day is the first day of summer. We have a cook out or go to the beach. It has evolved into just another day off from work, but in truth, it is the closest we have to a religious observance in our secular country. For it is on this day we, as Americans, are to honor all those that have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms.
As a kid, I can still remember old timers referring to it as Decoration Day. This was conceived as a day to remember the fallen of the Civil War. But eventually it became a day to remember all those that died in every American war. Veterans in their ill-fitting uniforms marched in parades. Children took part as did anyone that wanted.
Parades and memorial services have ebbed and grown over the years to match the mood of the nation. The day hit its nadir during the height of the Vietnam War when all things military, including past and present service members, were held in low regard by many. Fortunately, those days have receded into memory and the military people are thanked for their service.
For nearly 50 years, two young Stuart service men that died in the Vietnam War were never honored. Richard Smith and Larry Turner each gave his life for the United States in a war that most Americans hated. And that was one of the reasons that their sacrifice was not rewarded. But that was not the only reason they were unrecognized.
For these two soldiers were African-Americans in a place still mired in racism at a time that still had some sanctioned segregation. It was not fair or right…it just was. The armed forces were long integrated by then, but unfortunately not our community. In some ways, it still isn’t. But on this Memorial Day, Stuart took one step closer to righting this particular wrong.
Through the efforts of Commissioner Jim Christie, City Manager Paul Nicoletti, and so many others regardless of race, we came together to honor these fallen soldiers almost 50 years after their deaths. On Memorial Day, we dedicated Smith-Turner Park in final memory to their sacrifice. But it was more than that. It was an opportunity to help heal the sins of our past. Some of us in Stuart spent the day as it should be spent remembering our fallen heroes.
Written For Florida Not All Aboard Website
As a kid in the mid-to late-1950’s, I vaguely remember taking round trip train
rides from New York to Hollywood, Florida. For the first meal on board, which was
either made by my Florida grandmother or my New York grandmother, the food
was pretty good. Subsequent meals, however, were not. I either slept sitting up
on a bench seat or my head was in the lap of a parent. I couldn’t tell you if it
took one day or three for those journeys.
Travel by rail did revolutionize our country. But, it never was free from
government subsidy. From their very early days, railroads received free land from
state and local governments. In the mid 19th century alone, the total was over
200 million acres. The railroads used that land as collateral to sell bonds to
investors.
Railroads were losing money and going broke from their beginnings, and in the
Panics of 1873 and 1877, many railroad companies became insolvent. The Panic
of 1893 was largely brought about by overbuilding and shaky financing of
railroads. Nearly 25% went bankrupt. This resulted in consolidation of lines into the
hands of a few men like J.P. Morgan and James J Hill. Ultimately, the
government tried to break up these monopolies but only partially succeeded.
In the 20th century, railroads began their long decline because of our interstate
highway system and easily affordable air travel. What I remember as a child
was the last gasp of widely available interstate rail travel. While I am sure some
Americans may think with nostalgia about train travel, like airlines today it was a
way to get from point A to point B. Railroad travel though shrouded in mythical
romance like so much of the American past was never very romantic.
All Aboard Florida is just one more myth. It is one more fantasy which is being
spun out to Floridians and especially to those of us on the Treasure Coast. When
our country was young and we had boundless stretches of unoccupied land,
where the tracks were laid didn’t matter. We are a hundred years past that.
Stuart and Martin County are not places on the 19th century prairie or Florida
Savannah. We are in the 21st century with cars, trucks and planes not horses
and wagons.
When do our governments in Tallahassee and Washington begin to take into
consideration, we, the people, instead of big corporations with the right
connections? The supposed property rights of one hedge fund cannot trump
the rights of 19 million Floridians. Laws that may have been apropos in 19th century America cannot be allowed to be used as an excuse to ruin the lives of
the people of Stuart and Martin County in the 21st century.
Sensible City Growth
Stuart is now entering a growth phase which will accelerate with the improving economy. The task of the City Commission will be to guide that change so that it will be positive for the entire city. Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century British Prime Minister and author, wrote that “Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” No truer words were spoken.
I am running for City Commission to help maintain Stuart’s “old Florida charm and life style.” At the same, time I realize that we must attract new residents, new jobs and new businesses to maintain and expand our tax base. These two points are not inconsistent. However, we cannot allow any single project to misdirect that vision.
Sometimes we may lose sight of the ultimate goal. We may see any individual project as the end rather than only one means to the final achievement. That is why our city government must examine each development project not in a vacuum but rather how our future will be enhanced by any single project. It is not enough that a project is viable. It must contribute to our ultimate goal.
There are some in and out of government who want to take Stuart and make it Naples or Delray or City Place. The majority of our citizens have spoken loudly and often that we do not want to be those places. So, instead of trying to be we should look to what we can be.
That does not mean that downtown remain frozen as is because Disraeli’s maxim is correct. We can have a vibrant restaurant, entertainment and arts scene while remaining true to our values. We can have new residential and retail opportunity throughout our city without disrupting our way of life. We need to have a City Commission that will make sure that our government adheres to our wishes.
Working Together Yields Great Results
To be successful, any civic project requires the involvement of our city leaders and employees but the project also must be embraced by the residents. Stuart’s centennial birthday celebration was such a civic endeavor. We are proud of our rich heritage and proud that we came together as a community to honor this important year.
There were many historical lectures and shows given by the Stuart Heritage Museum and the Stuart Women’s Club. A sold out show at our historic Lyric Theater, the “Century In Review,” was orchestrated by those two organizations and proved to be an overwhelming success. The best part was that the well over two hundred cast members were local resident who gave of their time, treasure and talent.
The City of Stuart itself put on three main events during “Centennial Week.” The city commission appointed a task force to plan the week. As the Task Force Chair, I worked closely with a remarkable city staff to plan events that would allow the greatest number of people to participate and attend.
Our Task Force decided that the first event would be a formal gala. Up until this point, the centennial had been focused on the past. The gala would focus on the present. It was priced to allow the largest number of people to attend. As our kickoff to the “Centennial Week,” it was a huge success with over 200 people attending.
May 7th was the actual centennial birthday of Stuart. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., we had a ceremony at City Hall raising our Centennial Flag. We then proceeded to our outdoor stage in downtown overlooking the Saint Lucie River where a program featured the pre-school children of Gertrude Walden Day Care serenading the crowd. Our speakers included dignitaries … the Bahamian Consul-General, where we will soon have a sister city, and our state legislator, Gayle Harrell. Our mayor, Troy McDonald, and two other citizens, Joan Jefferson and Jean Law Scot spoke on our past, present and future. We also had a time capsule filled by Stuart school children and also artifacts from other citizens.
The final Centennial Task Force event was this past Saturday, May 10th. It began with a pancake breakfast for all by our local Kiwanis Club in Kiwanis Park. We then had a parade that included our city commissioners, task force members, city employees, county and state officials, local stakeholders and residents. But the real stars were the hundred cars representing almost every year from 1913 to the present. After the parade, the City hosted a free festival in our Memorial Park with events, music, food, games and fireworks. One of the musical personalities was an ex-Stuart resident who returned from Nashville (at his own expense) to be here and perform.
Many businesses and individuals became sponsors donating not only their money but their time to make Stuart’s Centennial a grand event. Our entire city pulled together to celebrate an important birthday. This should be what communities do and are about…a spirit of togetherness pervaded our city this year. Residents, present and past, came together for our birthday.
Public Art Enriches a City
With some fanfare earlier this week, Building Bridges and Women Supporting the Arts dedicated their tile project on the East Stuart sign, located on Martin Luther King Blvd, and at Building Bridges itself. The tiles were hand painted by the children of Building Bridges and some remarkable seniors from the East Stuart community. This was the idea of Mary Ann Loomis of WSA and Commissioner Eula Clarke to bring public art to East Stuart. Ollie Harvey of Building Bridges quickly warmed to the project and the idea became a reality.
Though based and nourished in East Stuart, this tile project encompassed the energies of the entire city. Maggie Blizard, a snow bird, was the mentor to the children and adult artists. She enlisted the help of Stuart Ceramics to fire the tiles. Brenda Leigh, a local artist whose murals dot the county, did the heavy lifting of being in charge of the placing, cementing and grouting of the tiles. Others assisted where needed and made contributions to make sure the project was completed. I was honored to be among those who lent assistance.
Public Art transcends a neighborhood or community and brings together each of us regardless of age or race. Looking at works of beauty stirs the hearts of individuals. It makes for better people and cities. Each time I pass that wall or Building Bridges, I will appreciate all those who had a part in bringing this to Stuart. For a city is more than just houses and offices. It is a place where people live and call home. Women Supporting the Arts and Building Bridges made our homes a bit more beautiful this week.
FECI’s Plans are Wrong for Stuart!
I was at the “Not All Aboard Florida” rally on Sunday at Flagler Park. There was an enthusiastic crowd of about 350 people. Congressman Patrick Murphy and County Commissioner Sarah Heard were two of the speakers. K.C. Traylor did a remarkable job in putting the entire thing together. She passionately spoke in support of our homes and way of life on the Treasure Coast. It seems for the past few years we, the people, have had to continuously defend our homes and communities against being rolled over by big government and business.
The few ultra-rich corporations and individuals are buying our state and federal government officials with campaign contributions to our detriment. Our entire estuary is on the verge of collapse. There is pressure to develop our western areas by a few developers who really won’t care what happens to us when they have turned the natural landscape into additional half-empty developments and strip malls.
Now, a railroad that we are told can do just about whatever it wants because of rights granted and laws promulgated in the 19th century. Never mind that entire counties, peoples and cities have happened in the intervening years. We are told we must accept our fate and be quiet. These are property rights and they are sacrosanct. What about the impact to OUR properties?
We are not the same place we were the last time passenger trains were on those tracks 50 years ago. Stuart, Fort Pierce and Vero were very small places. There were no interstate highways. Communities like Loblolly and Mariner Sands were not in existence. The entire world has changed. A corporation cannot expect to claim rights granted on and for another time which will destroy our time.
They want us to just shut up and move over. What’s more, FECI wants to do it with our tax dollars. Governor Scott is giving away our land and the loans are coming from our federal taxes. Is there any bigger insult than to ruin our waters and our towns with the very tax dollars that we pay?
The Spirit of the Centennial Gala
On Saturday night, there were over 200 people at Stuart’s Centennial Gala. There were past and present commissioners, city managers and other elected officials. It was a time of celebration without a trace of contention in the air. Everyone was just having a good time.
It is now Monday morning and everyone is back to their own lives. While we may still have a bit of the birthday feel, the problems of the city remain. If we could harness the good feelings we enjoyed on Saturday toward our city and each other, then it would be easier to find solutions to our problems going forward. Saturday did not exist in a vacuum. Everyone was truly happy to see a celebration of Stuart.
We now need to remember this and work together. The vast majority of our citizens want to reach solutions to move the city forward through consensus with a spirit of good will that would be achievable. Civility, courtesy and open-mindedness would serve all of us better as a community to find that consensus. There are no simple solutions, only hard work, to find tolerable outcomes.
The Centennial celebration will continue for the rest of the week with speeches, a parade and a festival. But also continuing will be our problems of budget deficits, taxes, the train and our river. As we move forward to tackle those and other problems, let’s remember the feeling we have toward our city expressed in the joys of her birthday.
Our Indian River Lagoon
Another summer is fast approaching the Indian River Lagoon. With the humidity of our tropical season will come the rain. In spite of all the protests, the rallies and the work by so many people, are we any closer to ending the dumping into the rivers than we were last year? On paper and with the politicians’ promises, we are. But, in actuality, if we have a rainy summer, the same thing will happen again.
The people on the rivers have been complaining for over 80 years about the degradation of our marine and animal life. But somehow the problem persists. There was a funeral for the lagoon on Saturday morning, and we had speakers promising to end the death once again. They say recovery is a slow process and they are right. I can accept the slow return of nature’s life, but when do we stop the causes of her death to allow the rebirth?
Rachel Carson said “The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.” The United States is sacrificing so much of its birthright so that a few corporations (with the help of our government officials) can supplant the future for the sake of short sighted financial gain. Man does not have the right to allow greed under the guise of economic development or jobs to destroy our environment.
Our boating, fishing and recreational industry brings many billions of dollars in income and thousands of jobs to our state. Most of us would not be here without the water. We do not have the right to allow its death at our hands. We need to change the people who make the laws if they do not stop her death. Promises of a future time when pristine water will return are no longer enough without meaningful programs being enacted and sufficient funds being allocated.