After 8 months of non-stop cheerleading, and $100,000 plus in taxpayer funds spent on outside attorneys and consultants, a majority of the Monroe County Commissioners had a most unlikely epiphany – work on the Charter Government proposal must stop immediately.
Monroe County Mayor Holly Raschein suggested to the other four commissioners that they “hit the pause button,” on promoting the charter government initiative at their Jan. 31 BOCC meeting. Commissioner Michelle Lincoln proposed putting the charter initiative on the “back burner” for now, adding, “I think the community doesn’t understand it.” Commissioner David Rice argued there are “a lot of benefits” to a charter county, but, “I doubt the average voter understands all of the benefits.”
Commissioners offered no motion to formally table the measure. There was no vote to kill the proposal. The charter government proposal can be revived any time commissioners deem it advantageous to its passage. This delay, delay, delay is a common tactic Monroe County County commissioners use when dealing with issues they want passed but their constituents oppose.
Just look at the monster Publix supermarket proposed in Tavernier. The decision to approve or deny has been delayed, delayed, delayed. As soon as the citizen anger surrounding the issue cools, it will suddenly return to the agenda, and likely be approved. Vocal, vigorous and legitimate concerns of Keys residents are often ignored.
Monroe County residents must remain vigilant to ensure that efforts to expand county taxing and regulatory powers, like the charter government proposal — now lurking just out of sight — do not suddenly reappear.
Sincerely,
Patrick Foley
Keys Accountability Project
keyskap.org
