COMMENTARY

LYNNE LARKIN

Have you noticed how, if you are a “run-of-the-mill” citizen and you are charged with giving secrets to the US press corps, you get several years in jail?  Has it also been noted that if you are buddies with the upper echelon of government, you get a sharp warning and no jail time?

The two-tier system of government.

If you live in Indian River Shores, you certainly understand it.  A majority of Shores residents have vocally, and continually, opposed the re-zoning of property along A-1-A from residential to commercial.  The former Spectrum building, just south of the Village Shops, is also adjacent to several single-family homes.  The traffic, noise, lighting and other disturbances are an unwelcome surprise to many homeowners, as well as all residents who know how bad traffic already is on A-1-A.

The Shores Town Council, just as their Planning and Zoning Committee did, voted to let the developers have their exception granted.  When asked, the Council stated that they were local builders/speculators, so it was okay in spite of the loud opposition at both meetings.  In other words, they’re our friends.  They get what they want.

The regular citizens, who don’t have a friend to help them, resorted to that democratic grass-roots option, to spread the word.  They sent out mailers to residents of the Shores informing them of the upcoming strip-mall in their neighborhood.  Hundreds had already signed petitions, hundreds more stepped up to organize against the special favors being granted.  They held a meeting at Town Hall on two Sundays to offer information and seek further support.  Out of this first meeting came a lawsuit filed against the Town for improper process of making this change to the zoning laws.  That suit is in the courts here in Indian River County.

At the second meeting of this citizens’ group at Town Hall on February 8, the residents were surprised to see two people in the large meeting hall ahead of their arrival.  A woman, who claimed to be “the Treasurer” of the Town, stated that the group had failed to pay for the meeting room on time and that they were having a birthday party in that same room.  That same day.  With two people.  No cake.  No decorations.  No presents.  [Note: The finance department is comprised of two ladies, neither of whom is a “treasurer” for the Town – Heather Christmas and Darlene Wiltzius.]

Taken aback that the Town had not informed them that their deposit or rent money hadn’t been received, but rather had rented it [allegedly] to another group, the organizers gathered in the courtyard to discuss their dilemma.  One resident tried to take some chairs out of the meeting room so they could all gather outside and some of the older attendees could sit, but Birthday Girl objected.  The group then noticed that the Council Chambers were open and empty.  Since they weren’t going to be long, they filed in there.

Birthday Girl was having none of that.  Seeming to be more interested in the opposition meeting than her own festive gathering, she got on her cell phone to talk to the City Manager, Robert Stabe, and also made several calls to the police.  Meanwhile, the opposition meeting was moving forward quietly.

After awhile, and a bit reluctantly, members of the Town Police Department arrived at the meeting chambers.  The City Manager had called the cops and according to the officers, they were on the phone with him.  They’d been instructed to clear the council chambers.

The group asked the officers for just a few minutes, as they were almost done, so the officers agreed to wait five minutes while the meeting concluded.  Enter the birthday lady, who loudly demanded that the group be thrown out immediately and arrested!  The officers complied with the first demand, not the second.

While the group was departing, Birthday Girl and her gentleman guest stood having a laugh with the police officers.  Birthday Girl’s guest stated that now they had to cancel their “party” because it had been disrupted.

To re-cap:  Developers get millions of dollars worth of gifts from the Town Council.  Residents get the boot.  Happy Birthday to the developers!  You’re not invited, residents of the Shores.  Friends of the Council only.