The TRUE meaning of Virginia Street
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Dec 31, 2011
So what is the real deal with the outcry over the Virginia Street wall fiasco that has gone on in Key West recently. This isn't about an ADA compliant sidewalk, nor is it about the destruction of the character of Key West. It isn't about the waste of federal tax dollars we don’t have, and no, it’s not about the City sidestepping HARC and barreling through a project without their approval as any other peon would have had to have done.
Virginia Street is about an overbearing government that wants to oppress opposing opinions. Virginia Street is about free speech. Virginia Street is about what differentiates us from banana republics, and totalitarian regimes. It’s about cowboy government officials that want not only to silence, but want to penalize those residents that might not agree with them. For those that may have somehow missed this latest debacle of Keystone Cop City Officials at their best, here is a summary.
The City, in dire need of wasting some Federal stimulus money, bulldozed through a project to “revitalize” Virginia Street to include ADA compliant sidewalks. The project, which required removal of numerous trees, and the destruction of neighborhood character, also called for the need to remove a wall that had stood for decades on the City right of way. Gary Ek, who rents the house where the wall was located invited community activists to paint their opinions of the project on the wall before it’s scheduled demolition. His only request was that those participating avoid profanities.
Much of the artwork on the wall was clearly critical of public officials that had approved and supported the street project. But then, in a blatantly antagonistic maneuver, the City consumed the labor and materials to paint over the wall scheduled to be torn down only eight days later. It seems some of the officials criticized on the wall have fairly thin skins.
But to add insult to injury, the City, in it’s infinite wisdom and concern for the application of justice, consumed Key West Police Department time by investigation those that had painted on the wall and then issued criminal citations. Fortunately, for those of you like myself that appreciate free speech, State Attorney Dennis Ward says he will not prosecute these contrived charges, and recognizes the waste of public resources this folly has been. Ward deserves praise for this, as does City Commissioner Clayton Lopez who immediately fired volleys of disgust over the abuse.
Someone had to issue the orders on this one, so I began pecking up the food chain to try and ascertain precisely who called the shots behind this. Community Services Director Greg Veliz, who managed the crew that actually whitewashed the wall claims that he was in support of it. So much so that he purchased the extra effective primer Kilz for the job. Can’t chance letting that free speech appear in any way whatsoever for the NEXT EIGHT DAYS, now can we?
He then facilitated a response to me from Assistant City Manager David Fernandez, who as acting City Manager on December 21 actually directed Veliz to paint the wall. Fernandez forwarded an email he had sent to City Commissioners on December 22 outlining the contrived reasoning behind the whitewash. Apparently an “anonymous” complaint had been received, and Code Enforcement actually cited the City on December 21 due to the fact the wall was on City property. Having already consulted vacationing City Manager Jim Scholl before he left, they felt that the City would be violating Code if they didn’t paint the wall within seven days, a time frame expiring only one day before it’s scheduled demolition. Better get right on that, then!
This coming from the same clown car brigade that illegally annihilated large swaths of mangroves...twice.
Spare me. We all know what happened here. Anyone that condones this, or even remotely supports it needs to find their way out of public service. Government creates a myriad of rules and regulations, so much so that any one of us are probably in some violation at any given moment. If such abusive public officials want to flex their muscle they can get anyone for anything at anytime. It’s just that simple.
Community members write blogs, speak on the radio, write op ed pieces, hang political signs, and yes paint their opinions on walls scheduled to be demolished. The day we start letting public “servants” decide which opinions they will tolerate is the day we lose everything. We only need to look 90 miles south for a glimpse of what that slippery slope leads to.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Dec 31, 2011
So what is the real deal with the outcry over the Virginia Street wall fiasco that has gone on in Key West recently. This isn't about an ADA compliant sidewalk, nor is it about the destruction of the character of Key West. It isn't about the waste of federal tax dollars we don’t have, and no, it’s not about the City sidestepping HARC and barreling through a project without their approval as any other peon would have had to have done.
Virginia Street is about an overbearing government that wants to oppress opposing opinions. Virginia Street is about free speech. Virginia Street is about what differentiates us from banana republics, and totalitarian regimes. It’s about cowboy government officials that want not only to silence, but want to penalize those residents that might not agree with them. For those that may have somehow missed this latest debacle of Keystone Cop City Officials at their best, here is a summary.
The City, in dire need of wasting some Federal stimulus money, bulldozed through a project to “revitalize” Virginia Street to include ADA compliant sidewalks. The project, which required removal of numerous trees, and the destruction of neighborhood character, also called for the need to remove a wall that had stood for decades on the City right of way. Gary Ek, who rents the house where the wall was located invited community activists to paint their opinions of the project on the wall before it’s scheduled demolition. His only request was that those participating avoid profanities.
Much of the artwork on the wall was clearly critical of public officials that had approved and supported the street project. But then, in a blatantly antagonistic maneuver, the City consumed the labor and materials to paint over the wall scheduled to be torn down only eight days later. It seems some of the officials criticized on the wall have fairly thin skins.
But to add insult to injury, the City, in it’s infinite wisdom and concern for the application of justice, consumed Key West Police Department time by investigation those that had painted on the wall and then issued criminal citations. Fortunately, for those of you like myself that appreciate free speech, State Attorney Dennis Ward says he will not prosecute these contrived charges, and recognizes the waste of public resources this folly has been. Ward deserves praise for this, as does City Commissioner Clayton Lopez who immediately fired volleys of disgust over the abuse.
Someone had to issue the orders on this one, so I began pecking up the food chain to try and ascertain precisely who called the shots behind this. Community Services Director Greg Veliz, who managed the crew that actually whitewashed the wall claims that he was in support of it. So much so that he purchased the extra effective primer Kilz for the job. Can’t chance letting that free speech appear in any way whatsoever for the NEXT EIGHT DAYS, now can we?
He then facilitated a response to me from Assistant City Manager David Fernandez, who as acting City Manager on December 21 actually directed Veliz to paint the wall. Fernandez forwarded an email he had sent to City Commissioners on December 22 outlining the contrived reasoning behind the whitewash. Apparently an “anonymous” complaint had been received, and Code Enforcement actually cited the City on December 21 due to the fact the wall was on City property. Having already consulted vacationing City Manager Jim Scholl before he left, they felt that the City would be violating Code if they didn’t paint the wall within seven days, a time frame expiring only one day before it’s scheduled demolition. Better get right on that, then!
This coming from the same clown car brigade that illegally annihilated large swaths of mangroves...twice.
Spare me. We all know what happened here. Anyone that condones this, or even remotely supports it needs to find their way out of public service. Government creates a myriad of rules and regulations, so much so that any one of us are probably in some violation at any given moment. If such abusive public officials want to flex their muscle they can get anyone for anything at anytime. It’s just that simple.
Community members write blogs, speak on the radio, write op ed pieces, hang political signs, and yes paint their opinions on walls scheduled to be demolished. The day we start letting public “servants” decide which opinions they will tolerate is the day we lose everything. We only need to look 90 miles south for a glimpse of what that slippery slope leads to.
You give the idiots that run this city too much credit. This isn't about the oppression of free speech, this is about quickly - but obviously not quietly - funneling federal grant money into the pockets of Charlie Toppino and Sons, with no regard to anything else or anyone else's opinions. As the saying goes, follow the money.
ReplyDeleteMy only question - that no one seems to be asking, by the way - is why Virginia St? There are other streets in town that are in much more need of repair, not to mention streets with considerably more businesses and attractions that would actually benefit from better sidewalks. Why disrupt the lives of people on Virginia St (and the adjacent side streets) and cut down ancient trees for a sidewalk
that is neither wanted or needed there? Why there and not somewhere else?