- April 25, 2024
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+ Business Assistance Center is an admission of overregulation
Dear Editor:
When I first saw the picture on the cover of the 2011 Annual Report / Palm Coast, I almost fell out of my chair! Roads and bridges and bike paths to nowhere. What an embarrassment for the city of Palm Coast. We are in a time, as a country, where hard work, self-sacrifice (austerity), personal responsibility and pulling together to help each other are the order of the day. Rugged individualism. Not frivolous spending.
We have had the highest unemployment rate (or been in the top two) in the state of Florida for how many months running? Creating a business or finding work is made more difficult by stifling overregulation and taxation. So much overregulation that our own city, in an act of tacit admission, created another bureaucracy called the Business Assistance Center! Their job? To help you, the struggling entrepreneur, slog your way through the regulation morass created by our benevolent leaders. Incredible!
Overregulation and the BAC are perfect examples of what needs to be cut immediately in order to quell the “need” to raise taxes. We only have one because of the other. When business flourishes, the tax base grows and revenues increase! Get out of the way.
To all city officials: Let go of power. End smothering polices. Trust the people you represent. Add a little water and let this tree grow!
Timothy Hall
Palm Coast
+ Palm Coast Historical Society is a big enough ‘fish to fry’
Dear Editor:
A note to City Councilman Bill McGuire: Your comment from a recent City Council meeting was quoted in the Palm Coast Observer: “I don’t see this as an issue that our staff should spend time and money on. We have bigger fish to fry.” The comment was made while the City Council was discussing the options for a regular home for the Palm Coast Historical Society. I found the remark disturbing.
When our first city budget was adopted in 2000, I was quoted in the paper as saying, “I would not vote for any budget that did not contain some funds for the advancement and encouragement of the city’s cultural organizations.” My theory was and is that unless we support cultural endeavors, we will never achieve first-class status as a place to live, learn, play and work.
The discussion about support for a future home for the Palm Coast Historical Society may not have a high personal priority for you, but it was not a waste of time.
Dr. James V. Canfield
President of the Palm Coast Historical Society; Mayor of Palm Coast, 1999-2007
+ Upgrade government vehicles to use compressed natural gas
Dear Editor:
I recently read your Palm Coast Observer article related to the purchase of nine trucks by the city of Palm Coast.
I have 50 years of automotive engineering. I very strongly recommend the city th purchase vehicles already prepped to use with compressed natural gas. It is only then we can say it is an upgrade to the fleet.
The implementation of CNG in vehicles is not a nice-to-have amenity. Nowadays this approach is mandatory. Cost of natural gas will continue to drop.
Carlos Iovannitti
Palm Coast
+ Unfair for tenant to be paying stormwater fees
Dear Editor:
I own property in Palm Coast. My tenant will be paying stormwater fees. This is not fair.
I really believe the Sunshine Law should apply to city and county managers. Deals for new laws and regulations should not be discussed by the City Council or County Commission before they meet with the public.
Giulo Lancia
Flagler Beach
