David Strong’s first campaign mail piece has the headline: “Let’s Continue Moving Forward.” This is a bizarre, cynical, and disturbing act of propaganda. Is exposing our city to a $25,000,000 liability and spending $4,000,000 of our money to make the post office redevelopment project go away “moving forward?” Is virtually wiping out our general fund reserves by spending the $4,000,000 of our money to make the post office redevelopment project go away “moving forward?” Is voting to increase our millage rate while our property values have fallen as much as 30% “moving forward?” Is voting to decrease the value of…
Misrepresentation
David Strong’s campaign Web site says, “Winter Park remains financially strong, even as Central Florida has entered uncertain economic times.” This is complete baloney. Our general fund reserves had to be bolstered by the $1,000,000 sale of land owned by our water company and the cancellation of over $500,000 in previously approved capital projects (among other “adjustments”). Our reserves would be $5,500,000 higher and would have been available to soften the shock of the economic downturn if David Strong had not mismanaged the post office redevelopment controversy. Currently, revenues and spending (and thus service levels) are falling faster than projected…
Super-Duper
History of super-majority voting in Winter Park: Since 1971 – Any rezoning request denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission requires a super-majority vote of the City Commission to approve. Since 1991 – (same as 1-1.1.5 below) Any proposed amendment of this Comprehensive Plan denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission, shall not become effective except by a super majority (4 votes) of the City Commission. Several new super-majority voting requirements have been added to the Comprehensive Plan finalized in February 2009 as detailed below. These new super-majority voting requirements are intentionally designed by David Strong and his friends to…
Your property is about to be devalued.
In August 2008 David Strong, Margie Bridges, and Beth Dillaha voted to reduce the maximum residential Floor Area Ratio to 38% in the Comprehensive Plan (see page 10, here). What’s the big deal? The big deal is that: The existing maximum Floor Area Ratio is 43% for lots less than or equal to 11,600 square feet. The 43% ratio is only available if the second floor side setback is increased to reduce the mass of the home and its relationship to neighboring homes. This new rule will reduce the buildable square footage of renovated and new construction on over 60%…
Beth Dillaha: Hypocritical. Unethical. #2.
Beth Dillaha, 2007 Campaign Pledge: “In the absence of state or City reform, I’ve implemented my own concept of campaign finance reform. ‘One voter, one contribution.’ Corporations do not have the right to vote, nor do LLC’s. They should consequently not have the right to financially influence an election or public policy in direct proportion to the size of their checkbooks. Accordingly, I will accept no corporate or LLC contributions … only individual contributions. In addition, I am placing a limit on contributions of $250 per person as opposed to $500.” October 9, 2007: Beth Dillaha accepts $8,000 in campaign…
Beth Dillaha: Hypocritical. Unethical. #1.
Beth Dillaha, Fall 2007 Campaign Pledge: “Individuals elected to our City Commission are delegated a serious responsibility by the voters, and must gain and maintain the trust of those voters. When differences arise, such officials must have the ability to subordinate their personal philosophies to those valued by the citizens, who they represent. I can, and will, do that.” Beth Dillaha, Fall 2008 campaign position on Commuter Rail: “In March [2007], the citizens approved a commuter-rail stop in Winter Park, and I fully support the citizens.” Beth Dillaha, January 2008 candidate forum: When asked if elected would she vote to…
David Strong and Political Reality
Our resident anti-growth militant Beth Dillaha has been trying to kill the Central Florida Commuter Rail initiative and Winter Park’s participation in it for years. If you did not know this it is because she intentionally hid her motives from you. Dillaha has been consuming endless hours of City Commission time for months since her election, predominantly on trying to gin up public support against the existing commuter rail agreement with Orange County. Well, Dillaha finally got her chance to call for a vote to terminate the commuter rail agreement on Monday, January 26, 2009 and it failed 3 to…
Hypocrisy and Ethics Defined
Barack Obama – January 21, 2009 “However long we are keepers of the public trust we should never forget we are here as public servants and public service is a privilege. It is not about advantaging yourself. It is not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It is not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organization. Public service is simply and absolutely about advancing the interests of Americans.” Here are some relevant definitions: ****************************************************** hypocrisy Definition: claiming to adhere to certain moral principles or beliefs, but not actually doing so. Synonyms: duplicity, insincerity,…
A History of Slander
January 2009 Through most of my twenty years as a Winter Park resident I did not pay much attention to our local politics. I began to explore the realities in early 2006 when I received the infamous anonymous flier concerning David Strong’s legal troubles related to his smearing dog poop on his neighbor. I realized at that moment we were in trouble. What on earth happened to rational discourse and respect for process? The answer is David Strong and a small group of people called “One Winter Park,” their supporters and sympathizers. Winter Park used to have a City Planner….
2008 Citizen Survey Results
The survey results are in. Read the Executive Summary Read the Detailed Written Report I asked the City Commission members some time ago whether they believed the survey design was unbiased because I was concerned the questions were focused more on personal political agendas than on issues pertinent to the long range interests of the citizens. Margie Bridges and Beth Dillaha assured me they believed the survey was as reasonable and unbiased as they could make it. Here are some quotes from the report: Residents’ preferred strategic initiatives are: Continuing the underground power line initiative Continuing financial support for the…