Change is in the Air

CONA does not endorse candidates, but we do support policies. I was at the first Mayoral Candidate debate last Thursday (June 27, 2013) both challengers vowed to immediately reinstate the Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program, the incumbent was quiet. This program trades sweat equity from neighborhoods for City resources to enhance the beauty, livability and safety of our neighborhoods. It is a win-win. An added benefit from this program is it strengthens the neighborhood that participates by bringing neighbors together working hand in hand with tangible results to feel good about. Perhaps with a little gentle encouragement we can get the Mayor to do the obvious right thing and put it back in the budget. It shouldn’t be a hard sell, his opponents already explained the benefits to him.

The forum was put on by the Weekly Challenger and the NAACP. There were plenty of news outlets there, but none of them reported most of what transpired, oh they talked about the fireworks of Goliath Davis attacking the Mayor and Momma Tee defending him, but they skipped everything to do with neighborhoods, economic development, public safety and race issues contributing to the socio-economic decay in Midtown. Even Peter Schorsch’s editorial in the Patch (usually good sources) did not focus on the issues but it did focus on ideology, Rick’s voice inflection and Kathleen’s clothing (hopefully he has already been lectured on how inappropriate it is rate a woman by her appearance when supposedly judging her professional abilities). Since our news outlets highly filter the debates (and public hearings for that matter), I strongly suggest you come out to the debates and see for yourself.

CONA General Board Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month. Each neighborhood is responsible to send a member designated to vote on behalf of that neighborhood. No excuses, CONA does most of its heavy lifting in committees but direction comes from the Board which needs a quorum. Our meetings have become well attended, but just not from voting representatives of our member neighborhoods. We have streamlined the business portion of the meetings, the food is good and the presentations have been relevant and often lively, they have ranged from Racism to Recycling, Mass Transit and Redeveloping Midtown. Powerful Stuff! This month Rep. Dwight Dudley is coming to update us on what Florida legislature did last year and what he wants our help on this year. We may also have a City Council Candidates Forum, stay tuned and be there July 17th 6:30pm Sunshine Center, 330 5th Street N (Open to the Public).

Public Service Note: Hurricane season is upon us (and in my case leaky roof season). Please be prepared; gallons and gallons of water, canned foods (and a manual can opener), candles and batteries are a simple must.

Respectfully,