MARK SCHUMANN

As previously reported, a local, anonymous blogger has twice issued online posts in which he/she purports to be a member of the Indian River Neighborhood Association.  The blogger’s intention appears to be to create the impression that the IRNA is opposed to and has worked to block the sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light.

Yesterday, IRNA leaders John Higgs and Honey Minuse issues a “Fraud Alert,” calling attention to the unauthorized use of the organization’s name and logo. IRNA leaders again reiterating the group’s neutrality on the sale of Vero Electric. According to IRNA leaders, their organization is focused on quality of life issues, including protecting the Indian River Lagoon, opposing All Aboard Florida, and addressing the short-term rental issues.

Whoever is behind “The Observer,” they listed as their address 900 20th Street, yet there is no city utility account at that address, and the Indian River County Property Appraiser’s office has no record of any such address.  It could be more than coincidence, though, that the address is close to 2001 9th Avenue. The offices of Charlie-Wilson-led Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce are located in the 2001 Building, and Wilson has on numerous occasions gone before the city council to publicly accuse the IRNA of opposing the sale of Vero Electric.

The “The Observer’s” unauthorized use of the IRNA logo was brought to the attention of the Vero Beach Police Department. No charges will be filed, though, since the organization’s logo is not a registered trade mark.

Following is the statement issued yesterday by the IRNA and below are previous issues of “The Observer”:

This is an alert to the people of Indian River County.  

The IRNA logo has been fraudulently lifted from our website and attached to a widely distributed email entitled “Observer”.   

The email is written anonymously and the best that can be said about it is that it contains no truthful information.    

It seeks to create an impression that the IRNA has taken a position to somehow work against the sale of Vero Beach Electric to Florida Power and Light. We believe this was done deliberately to gain some sort of political advantage in the upcoming City election.   

Again.    

This is tiresome, year after year, to read the same old thread.   

The fact is this Electric Utility issue does not occupy our attention.  

The fact is a statement was published April 13, 2014, written by John Higgs on behalf of the IRNA denying, yet again, such an assertion and expressing support for the sale if it could be accomplished.   

We are a volunteer organization working on land use matters for the people and neighborhoods throughout our County.  Currently, our efforts are directed to the preservation of the Lagoon, short-term transient rentals in residential neighborhoods and the proposed All Aboard Florida fast train with expanded freight transport.     

Our accomplishments are many, thanks to remarkable people who share their knowledge and experience with us for the benefit of our communities. These same individuals may also participate on different sides of issues having local, state, national or international implications but those are personal actions entirely separate from our work.     

To attempt to discredit our organization and the wonderful volunteers who work so hard on behalf of the people of this County is nothing less than despicable.      

One is tempted to ask, who could possibly stoop so low?  That discussion is best left to others. 

Below are two posts by “The Observer” attempting to position the IRNA as opposed to the sale of Vero Electric.