11.26.18- Palm Bay’s Night Before Turkey
‘T was the night before turkey and down in Palm Bay
The council was restless and had something to say;
The fees and the taxes had gone through the roof
They needed a scapegoat, the public to spoof!
And then came Jeff Bailey, the mayor and one…a new Democrat to the body of fun;
We’ll blame it on Lynk; it just takes votes-three,
And then they won’t blame it on you or on me!
So votes they did cast and the vile deed was done,
Gregg Lynk was ousted, now wasn’t that fun?
The election was over, but would turmoil now stop?
No, not with Jeff Bailey now holding the mop!
11.27.18- A favor for a friend, please
I admire Florida Today Executive Editor Bob Gabordi. No, we don’t always agree, but we agree more than some folks think we would. I’ll take that.
I’ll also take Bob’s amazing attitude and work ethic as he fights a most serious challenge for his life.
A couple of weeks ago Bob had a stroke. It was a doozy. It’s explained in his column from earlier in the week.
Yes, in his column from EARLIER IN THE WEEK. While he can’t eat, has been in need of assistance to be mobile and struggles to overcome the impact of this event, he also took the time to use his craft to make the event meaningful for this community.
By sharing his circumstance and surrounding events, Bob has made us aware of our own conditions and his honest wishes are for his event to spare others from having to endure the same.
He’s a dedicated journalist and a man who loves mankind.
He has our prayers for the best as he recovers.
11.28.18- Rock the Boat…don’t rock the boat, baby!
Interim as a preface to a title has certain implications, like temporary, settling and waiting. Apparently that is lost on Palm Bay’s Interim City Manager.
The placeholder has decided to be decisive and take bold, quick action while those steps are within her power. Maybe she knows something we don’t, or maybe she’s acting on orders from a city council faction or the mayor. But interim must be the furthest thing from her mind.
Lisa Morrell, instead of steadying the ship of Palm Bay government, is rocking the boat hard as she summarily fired two assistant city managers in her first hours on the job.
This raises a question or two- was this a unilateral action by the interim? If so, why? Or was it directed by an individual elected official or group of them? We are aware of no vote on this. Are members of council again acting outside their lawful authority in city matters?
We have questions; we won’t have answers until the ship steadies with a new City Manager that isn’t interim and activist.
11.29.18- Hammer Time…or not!
Oh, no! A Democrat has been elected Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and concealed weapons permits are run through that department! NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer is scared to death and fighting to have the service moved to another department.
Funny, incoming Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried also wants the duty removed from her jurisdiction. What, the NRA and a Democratic official desiring the same thing? Not exactly.
Fried wants to move the permits to FDLE, an agency that is involved in the process anyway and is overseen by an appointed commissioner who reports to the governor.
Hammer wants it moved under the CFO Jimmy Petronis, a Republican. For Hammer it appears to be a game of partisan politics and for Fried it seems to be a move of efficiency and common sense.
For my money, and they get my fees on this permit, Fried has the better idea and Hammer looks petty. I hope the legislature sees this because…
At least this time it’s not Hammer time!
11.30.18- Rudolph the Marginalized Reindeer
Nothing is safe from the PC police. In the Christmas Season it’s now the classic Rudolph, of red-nosed fame. The Huffington Post shared a video in which the lamentations of Rudolph and most of the song and movie cast were shared.
We know Rudolph was bullied for his differing appearance, yet overcame that to be the hero of the story. Somehow the Huffington Post left that part out.
Today we must consider the oppressive nature of Rudolph’s world. His mom was banned from searching for him as that was man’s work. There is also Santa’s Sweat Shop of Elves to consider and Clarice’s dad refusing for his daughter to be seen with the red-nosed reindeer. There are misfit toys and Herbie the employment nonconforming elf who was shunned for his desire to be a dentist.
When the naysayers want to trash tradition it’s usually by applying standards of today to yesteryear. That’s not smart. Why don’t we just watch the movie, sing the song and enjoy them for what they are?
Oh, and have a Merry Christmas!