Views expressed here are mine and should not be construed as the views of other members of the city commission, or of the city. The editor of Winter Park Voice, Anne Mooney, has stopped her pretense of providing “news” and has gone public with her true purpose, that being to use her blog and Facebook page to promote her policy prescriptions for Winter Park. Notably, these prescriptions are underpinned by conspiracy theories and based not on fact, but on suspicion that those who actually spend their time serving the city must have some unjust ulterior motive, because they don’t share her views….
Category: Parks
Electric Undergrounding is Key to Winter Park’s Future
My letter below was published in the Winter Park/Maitland Observer on April 30, 2014. ______________________________________ A former Winter Park resident who now lives in Missouri for unknown reasons offered a recent letter in the Winter Park/Maitland Observer proposing that we back off the current plan to underground all overhead electric lines in Winter Park. I offer an opposing view, and some more focused facts. It is important to first understand the strategic context. Winter Park is a self-governing residential oasis at the very center of the population growth in Central Florida. The Orlando area MSA population (Orange, Seminole, Lake and…
Tree Trimming Realities
May 1, 2012 Given City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper’s recent politicization of tree trimming I find the following email I received from City Commissioner Steve Leary reassuring. The majority of our city commission seems appropriately committed to making thoughtful judgments for the long term benefit of Winter Park. City staff reviewed the city’s tree trimming policies and reasoning during the April 23, 2012 city commission meeting, including this slide presentation. Regards, Pete Weldon From: Winter Park City Commissioner Steve Leary Date: April 30, 2012 Friends, We have an issue with our tree canopy, though it may surprise you it is not…
Cooper’s Folly
May 1, 2012 City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper spends her time distracting citizens, city staff, and the city commission with her continual politicization of any issue that smells of potential controversy. The problem is that our self identifying white knight gets it wrong almost every time. I offer as evidence Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C. There are other episodes I could point to but I think these three are sufficient to make my point. I harbor no ill will toward Ms. Cooper. I just believe our city should have sensible people in positions of responsibility. Ms. Cooper’s behavior does…
Carolyn Cooper Emails – Exhibit C
May 1, 2012 City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper sent this email concerning tree trimming to at least 1,200 Winter Park residents on April 22, 2012. City staff reviewed the city’s tree trimming policies and reasoning during the April 23, 2012 city commission meeting, including this slide presentation. Comparing Ms. Cooper’s email with the city staff presentation, it appears Ms. Cooper is more interested in carpet bombing our citizens with pictures of dead babies than being part of a well considered effort to assure our tree canopy is managed intelligently and with an appropriate balance between aesthetics, public safely, electric reliability, and…
Carolyn Cooper Emails – Exhibit B
May 1, 2012 The following is a message I sent to City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper on October24, 2011 concerning her reaction to draft minutes of the October 11, 2011 city commission meeting and the substance of her city wide email sent on October 9, 2011. There are over 3,500 email addresses on Ms. Cooper’s distribution list as provided to me under a public records request. Carolyn, Here is what was offered in the draft minutes of the October 11, 2011 commission meeting that you conclude “accuses” you of a Sunshine law violation (prior to being modified in today’s meeting): Mayor…
Carolyn Cooper Emails – Exhibit A
May 1, 2012 The following is a message I sent to City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper on August 6, 2011 concerning inaccuracies, incomplete information, and questionable assertions contained in an email message she sent to Winter Park residents in early August 2011. There are over 3,500 email addresses on Ms. Cooper’s distribution list as provided to me under a public records request. Carolyn, Everyone appreciates selfless contributions on matters that impact our city. You may wish to consider, however, that the presumption of contribution may not actually constitute contribution. Your latest “newsletter” (see here) presents a false juxtaposition, “Efficiency versus Your…
Don’t let your vote be manipulated.
March 1, 2011 City management noted material falsehoods (see below) in the Fleet Peeples Park mailer sent under Herb Weiss’s name. Herb Weiss acknowledges that the the mailer was paid for by people who wish to remain anonymous. The most sensational points about “environmental devastation” in this mailer are totally bogus, fabricated, a manipulation to support an intentionally inflammatory conclusion designed to influence your vote on March 8. Don’t fall for it. Our city deserves better. We as voters need to see through the curtain of fear and elect people who are motivated to serve our city, not their personal…
Herb Weiss Speaks (but what is he saying?)
(Be sure to check out this follow-up post from March 1.) Herb Weiss authored the six page mail piece Winter Park residents received recently that details his concerns about Fleet Peeples Park. The following is my letter to Herb on the subject after speaking with him at length about these issues. February 24, 2011 Dear Herb, First let me thank you for investing so much energy into something you believe is important and for your time on the phone discussing these issues. As you have likely noted, I have been at it for several years and appreciate those willing to…
Cleaning up after the dog fee
October 18, 2010 Monday, October 11, 2010 our city commission approved fees to use Fleet Peeples Park with your dogs effective December 1, 2010. Commissioners Dillaha, Cooper, and McMacken voted for the fees. Commissioner Anderson and Mayor Bradley voted no. (I am not a dog owner.) Hundreds of Winter Park residents and non-residents take advantage of Fleet Peeples Park weekly to exercise dogs off leash and socialize with other dog owners. This has been going on for over ten years. Dog owners are a constituency whose needs should be addressed just as the city addresses needs of other constituencies ranging…