COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll recently demonstrated a shocking lack of knowledge of the broader meaning of Humanism, and of the First Amendment, for that matter.
Given that Carroll and her husband have received two warning letters and now a formal citation for allegedly violating city code, she has also demonstrated, either a loose grasp of the meaning of the words in the city code, or a brazen willingness to ignore them.
Though Carroll once delivered a mini sermon on the importance of exercising civility during City Council meetings, it is the Vice Mayor who clearly has the quickest draw, and it is she who is the most likely to turn what could otherwise have been civil discourse into verbal jousting.
It should come as no surprise, then, that in a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to Inside Vero, Carroll recently used the terms “self published” and “advertising circular.” In the Vice Mayor’s world, words mean whatever she wants them to mean, and when they no longer serve her purpose, words and their proper meaning are simply ignored, as in the case of the city code prohibiting short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods.
From the publication of the first print edition of Inside Vero in April, the full cost of freelance writing, graphic design, printing, postage and handling has all been covered by advertising revenue. Even though Inside Vero has twice the circulation of the island tabloid and is reaching twice as many homes within the city as is the local daily, the publication has been profitable from its first issue. This is hardly “self publishing.”
By any reasonably measure, Inside Vero, which is available in print, online and on the radio once a week, is a substantive, multi-platform news magazine, offering readers and listeners news, features and commentary, all focused on Vero Beach and Indian River County. Perhaps the Vice Mayor should at least “Google” the terms “self published” and “advertising circular” before she uses them again.
Increasingly, readers are expressing support and appreciation for the content we are offering. “Keep it up,” I hear. My colleague, Milt Thomas, and our freelance writers are receiving similar affirmations.
The Vice Mayor may not welcome our reporting on the recent citation she and her husband received for allegedly violating city code. She may also be less than grateful for our reporting on the firestorm cause by the now-infamous comments she and Mayor Craig Fletcher made during the June 4 City Council meeting.
Carroll, who clearly does not welcome scrutiny, will continue to belittle those who do not agree with her, and she will be particularly critical of any effort to report the fuller story of the likely consequences of her policies.
Who can forget her effort to turn over land now used as a popular dog park for a boathouse? Carroll’s vision for Vero Beach, perhaps formed and informed by her years in Ft. Lauderdale, is clearly not shared by everyone.
What Carroll does not seem to understand is that her attacks on those who hold differing views will not bring about the compliance and submissiveness she seeks. Truth does not go quietly into the night.
Indian River Guardian 
A $50 fine for “allegedly” violating local code hardly seems worth the effort to collect..even a simple traffic violation relieves a person of far more than that. If I were receiving thousands of dollars over time in short-term rental fees, $50 would just be an itch to be scratched. And thank you for all versions of Inside Vero. We’ve been hungering quite some time for a really good news professional.
Isn’t it interesting that she uses her political office to trash local businesses such as Inside Vero? It is another shameful example of how she uses her power, to shut down citizens, further her friends’ careers, and belittle everyone with whom she disagrees. Petty indeed.
Nor does appreciation for her elitist attitudes… that aside, I’m sure she reads every word.
Thank you for reminding us about her attempts to do away with the dog park. It seems like all other issues are forgotten because of the storm over the sale to FP&L. Doing away with the dog park would have been a disservice to both man and our beloved dogs
Tracy Carroll does not understand that political leaders are expected to lead by example. Also, she obviously does not understand that she should be encouraging businesses in the community rather than make feeble snide negative comments.
Tracy Carroll DOES understand, but clearly does not care. This city ordinance, or “city code” is crystal clear to understand, but the elitist in Ms Carroll refuses to embrace the paltry commoners laws and after THREE notices, she continues to violate the LAW.
As a representative of The City of Vero Beach, Tracy Carroll has an OBLIGATION as an ELECTED OFFICIAL to adhere to these laws, not violate them, repeatedly.
Don’t get me started on when Tracy Carroll tried to get access to her street shut down from A1A because of traffic.
SOMOENE down there voted for her. They should be ashamed.
InsideVero is the only source of the truth in Indian River County, city government specifically. The daily either “softens” the good news about the city (which it clearly abhors), slants their “reporting” to make the city look as bad as possible, or just does not report major goings-on at the city. (The shaded, off-to-the-side mini-article about the Humanist Proclamation played down the horrendous actions, statements and views broadcast for all to see, while InsideVero reported the debacle and its resonance in full.) The “elite” weekly publishes whatever it wants to paint city government to be dastardly. Was it Abraham Lincoln who said that if you tell a lie often enough, it eventually becomes the truth (in perception)?
No, that was Hitler’s minister of propaganda. His name is Adolph Eichman.