- April 18, 2024
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Editor’s Note: We offered 50-word rebuttals to those who were singled out in last week’s letters. That seemed too few, so we offered 100 words this week. We will continue to be transparent with you, our readers, as we continue to improve our process. Submit letters to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please provide sources if you are using facts that have not previously been reported in the Observer. Thank you for letting us share your thoughts with the community. — Brian McMillan, editor
Dear Editor:
The winter months usually bring many snowbirds down to Florida, but I suspect the pandemic will influence how many make the trip this year to warmer
weather. We welcome snowbirds because they are an integral part of our communities and our economy. With unemployment numbers bouncing up and down as we try to get a grip on COVID, I feel the only way to stabilize our economy and ensure Florida’s tourism industry can return to normal is with a science-backed vaccine.
Florida’s governor has made strides to boost in-state travel and reopen, but there remains uncertainty within our business communities, uncertainty which further drives home the need for the stability a vaccine could provide. Right now, we need to renew focus on supporting the pharmaceutical researchers, scientists and manufactures who have gone all-in on finding treatments and cures that can help us. The health of our state and our economy depends on it.
I will be voting for the candidate that seems to be most inclined with these initiatives — one who trusts science and who wants to reopen safely. Now is exactly the time we need to be careful and make sure we have a thought-out, science backed plan that will beat COVID, instead of taking a backseat-position on ending the pandemic and implementing politically charged policies that put future pharmaceutical and medical advancement at risk.
Mike McElroy
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
I see where candidate Rob Bridger has criticized our present Mayor Bill Partington for supporting the beautification effort for Ormond Beach. Compare the beautifully landscaped roads leading into our city with other cities that don’t have this type of vision. Ormond Beach is a vibrant city and the quality of life here is second to none.
Incidentally, as chair of the North U.S. 1 Coalition, whose purpose in coming together was to enhance the beautification of the north entrance to our city and county, almost the entire cost of the landscaping along North U.S. 1 was through grants from the budgeted portion of FDOT’s landscaping program.
I just can’t get over how Mr. Bridger is so critical of just about every aspect of Ormond Beach. I urge you to focus on all of the positive qualities of our community that our Mayor Bill Partington has supported and worked towards, and to vote to keep him in office.
Peggy Farmer
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
The election for Volusia County chair and an open seat on the Volusia County Council surfaced four candidates. For County Council chair: Deb Denys who's been on the county dais for eight years and her challenger Jeff Brower, a small businessman and father of nine children. For the District 4 seat we have Heather Post for re-election and her challenger Barbara Bonarrigo.
I had hoped for a civil discourse so we can all be privileged in learning what their platforms are, keeping in mind that these are the folks we are trusting with our tax dollars to be our stewards. What a shock and disappointment! Deb Denys decided to not only form her own PAC, ($265K deep pockets donations.) which she chairs but also, engage the services of a political hack from Sarasota County. As if that was not bad enough, she pursued with character assassination of her
challenger, which, in our 21st century I find it to be unacceptable, offensive, egregious, and a desperate attempt to be elected because you have no platform. We will remember the $500,000 tax money Denys voted on to conduct a special election for us to have the privilege of raising our own taxes. If that is leadership, I pass!
Sadly, Barbara Bonarrigo capitulated to the same diabolic despot tactics with her character assassination of Heather Post. It's quite simple folks; If you can lie, deceive, cheat and fabricate yourself to an election, you will do the same when officially in office!
Chuck Collins
Ormond Beach
Editor's note: The PAC referenced in this letter is Volusia Citizens for Good Governance, which was originally chaired by Denys. However, state campaign documents show that the chairperson was changed to Eric Robinson of Venice, Fla. on Oct. 7.
Also, both candidates were given a chance to respond to this letter. Only one did.
Dear Editor:
The floating boat dock at Cassen Park cost $1.3 million. The new bait house estimate is nearly $1 million. Unanimous City Commission approvals raise numerous questions:
Who benefits from these two projects? The bait shop owner-operator who contributed $1,500 to the four incumbents seeking re-election? A handful of wealthy out-of-town transient boat owners who we guess will patronize downtown restaurants? Why are locals prohibited from using the dock? What citizen groups pushed for the boat dock and new bait house?
Why are boats at the dock ignoring prohibitions against overnight stays and the five hour time limit? Why has a houseboat been allowed to moor near the boat launch for the past year while utilizing the boat dock 5-6 days at a time? Have trespass warnings been issued? Who has the responsibility for enforcing rules at the dock? Will enforcements require a boat dock employee or overnight security with budget impacts? Will the dock limit boat size? What provisions in the ordinance specify how to deal with dock users found to be in non-compliance? Why give the city manager the power to unilaterally change the rules?
We have heard that the floating dock is an "enforcement nightmare".
In regard to the mayor’s call for citizen input, what input led to unanimous commission approval of the $47,000 design contract? Have the design specifications been made public? What is the purpose of the adjoining pavilion? Does the design include laundry and shower facilities? Will the bait house become an eating establishment with alcoholic beverages? What will happen to Cassen Park trees and parking? Does the city intend to commercialize the west end of the Granada Bridge? What cost-analysis of the $2.2 million Cassen Park expenditures supported projects that provide so little benefit to Ormond Beach citizens?
Finally, what happened to the long-standing land development code specification that “all land on the river shall be residential or public park with access to the waterway”, prohibiting commercialization? Was the code changed?
We believe the city’s public riverfront lands are a great asset and deserving of enhancements. But $2.2 million is being spent by the few for the few. The many unanswered questions indicate a need for greater citizen input in the decision-making process.
Ken and Julie Sipes
Ormond Beach
