I just want to note that were over 200 written comments submitted by citizens. 100% were in opposition to the parking ramp on Manatee Beach. The only way that this will be stopped is by replacing several commissioners.
Roughly 30 years ago, I read a series of articles on the effects of common chemicals on young people and developing nervous systems. Studies at the time were showing that chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers were retarding neurologic growth, as well as brain development. It was also shown to be more so when the chemicals are mixed.
Working in the furniture industry years later I learned that we regularly expose ourselves to a long list of chemicals that are not great for us, and that us regulation requires a chemical be proved to be detrimental to be removed from the market, rather than proved to be safe. According to Dr Sanjay Gupta, about a decade ago, less than 2% of the chemicals on the market have been effectively tested for safety by the FDA. There are over 800,000 chemicals on the US market.
That is the tip of the iceberg. There will be effects from chemical exposure, and it's a bit ironic to me that many people are wondering why birth rates are going down, and insurance health problems is going up... We literally have no sources of water in the United States that are untainted by chemicals or pharmaceuticals. What else is going to happen?
The island has legal city charters to keep county government OUT of their affairs. If you want the county to step in and deal with city misdeeds you get an answer of no, they have a charter and we can't step in to help you. But when the county wants something to aid developers then the BOCC can step in for them. That parking garage is the result of overdevelopment, meant to ensure all Beruff, Neal, Robinson and NDC's homebuyers can access the beach. This is not for long time resident taxpayers. There was this thing called The Accord that could have at least managed growth. That is until Commissioner Joe McClash was railroaded, lied about, harassed and threatened out of office. Damn the powers that be ever since. Thanks Joe for giving us The Bradenton Times.
This is like Bayshore High School and Tallavast poisoned land, water, people. Why does 13th Ave need a school all the way by the airport? It's not even close to their neighborhood. Why do the the black and brown kids (and citizens) so often have their schools or neighborhoods built on dump sites, water, air, soil industrial poisoned sites? Because the good ol boy club that rules this county are Bigots with a capitol B.
We ALL know it's declined. The recent white paper BIA is proof. Public meetings notice, last minute agenda changes, department heads meeting with board outside of Sunshine, unfair board appts in lack of correct notice for comments on meetings, all proof the BOCC thinks they are an entity all to themselves; like God.
Thank you Manatee LWV for including the good governance section each week. Citizens this is a template to write criminal ethical, Florida Bar and civil complaints. The LWV and you can file these complaints. I've filed many some with success some with disastrous results. You don't know until you try, succeed or fail until you can learn to do it right. I am only a citizen like you.
It is inexcusable with all the lawyers who practice in this area and suck us dry for money, that not one steps up to to give citizens some pro bono help.
If the school superintendent and school board were meeting outside of a public meeting that could be a criminal violation of the Sunshine Law open meetings rules. File a complaint with law enforcement. The League may do so as well. We need to file, file, file these type complaints. It may be the only resource we have to hold our corrupt officials accountable. Remember hot them in their wallet and reputation. That they understand.
This sounds like a familiar Tallavast or Bayshore High School situation. Why do (13th Ave kids are mostly black/brown) we send poor or disenfranchised children to schools built on polluted landfills, industrial poisoned sites? Because the good ol boys who plan these projects are Bigots! With a capitol B.
No child should be present on this disparaged land.
I happen to be a disgruntled white, not brown or black citizen. The people who planned this should face a DCF investigation and charges.
Manatee County spends a lot of money sending our elected officials and leadership staff to FAC (Florida Association of Counties) conferences where they learn how to put the the needs of the public above all else. Ethics is a part of their education, and the FAC Code of Ethics for County Commissioners has been created by and for elected county commissioners. These principles apply to the day to day conduct of both elected and appointed officials - and employees of county government.
Here is a link to the FAC reference guide.
https://www.fl-counties.com/themes/bootstrap_subtheme/sitefinity/documents/2011_11_corrected_code_of_ethics.pdf
In my opinion, this will never be viewed as a judgement error, a close call, or a simple mistake. If our wetland policies are gutted, those who were a part of making this happen will be remembered as a part of the corruption in this dark moment of Manatee County history.
In other words while we're being gouged for example garbage and water fees, the county has money to address the situation but are sitting on it while considering once per week pickup and a 30% rise in water fees. So that means a monthly $63 water bill will go to $93 and only once per week trash pick up. Plus fees for stuff not in a can like a fridge or mattress.
This is all because of poor planning and most of all overdevelopment.
I no longer care about property owners rights to develop. I care about inverse condemnation, our property values and assessments, the effects on our environmental health. I care about enough Co2 and oxygen, green space. They say build and they will come, they are coming....I say don't build and they have to go somewhere else. We had a county smart growth plan until they harassed and slandered Joe McClash from office. Damn them to hell.
There is no longer meat on the citizen rights bone because government has stripped it off the bone like a pack of grey nasty rats.......The constant violation of open meetings law which includes timely notifications, accessible venues, rights to speak etc.are big weaknesses/ failures for county and city government as described by the Manatee County League of Women Voters article here. Thanks for explaining the good governance violations to us. The League could;
If the public meetings law is violated there are criminal penalties. File a complaint with local law enforcement. Stay with it. Get a case number. Your complaint will be resisted perhaps ignored. Do not let it go by the way. Get that bone like a dedicated dog. Criminal complaints have the power to negate government action, put them in jail or probation, cost them personal money , wreck their reputations worse than they have already done themselves, and much more.The Since the League has laid out the violations of school board open meetings law violations so adeptly, they should file first.
However, their article is your citizen complaint template. The more complaints the better. The key is Florida Sunshine Law/open meetings rules. A Florida Commission on Ethics Complaint will be returned if it refers to statutes that carry criminal penalties. So file with law enforcement.
Discrimination in meetings, untimely or no notice, accessibility, venue and more are against the law. So also complain to DOJ that the county government is discriminating in open meetings law and violating your constitutional rights. Your rights to redress government, free speech and more are being violated. . Put a lid on that pressure pot. The more collateral damage the better. Pressure them to watch their pees and ques. After all, when you comment at BOCC and COB officials at meetings all you get is a blank look with no questions, comments or replies to your concerns. If you want their attention go criminal. Besides open meetings laws, Florida statute 838 come to mind, 'Misuse of Public Office'.
Go get them you dear, citizen pitbulls. I'm here for questions
Barbara Elliott
Stone Soup Manatee
stonesoupmanatee@yahoo.com
941-447-9929
Suggestion - those making the decision should contact the Pasco County commissioners and leadership team to ask about Don Rosenthal’s performance as county administrator in Pasco. Seems like an easy way to understand if he’s the right guy for Manatee. The others are very interesting.
I’m proud of the Planning Commission’s vote! I know the commissioners are under a lot of pressure to strip the wetland regulations or face the political hack’s postcard campaign. A lying postcard campaign isn’t so bad - in contrast, a legacy of environmental destruction is pretty tough on the family name. I hope they make their kids proud and do the right thing.
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