Island weekly joins FPL’s local allies in misleading voters
“To describe the island weekly’s opinionated “news” reporting as propaganda just doesn’t cut it, for the paper has resorted to twisting the truth beyond recognition.”
COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
In his latest regular email newsletter, one utility activist and FPL alley wrote, “Do you know what the NEW OUC CONTRACT is going to cost you in increased rates and/or delayed rate reductions, total costs and/or City giveaways, or impediments to an actual sale to FPL? THE NEW OUC CONTRACT IS VERO BEACH’S IRAN TREATY!”
In truth, there is no “new” OUC contract, and the writer of the newsletter has, himself, previously acknowledged this fact.
More importantly, though, even Pilar Turner’s appointees to the Finance and Utilities Commission recommended approval of revisions to the City existing wholesale power agreement with the OUC. Why? Because the renegotiated terms of the agreement lower rates and shorten by six years the City’s commitment to the OUC.
In a story published this week, the island weekly reported the City is, “bogged down in a new troublesome entanglement with Orlando Utilities.” Pushing candidates Moss and Howle in a story NOT labeled as “opinion,” or “commentary,” reporter Lisa Zahner wrote, “Both Howle and Moss also spoke on Monday before the City Council’s vote to approve the latest bad OUC deal.”
What is “troublesome” about revisions to a contract that will lowers rates for all customers of Vero Electric and will allow Vero Beach to walk away from its commitment to the OUC six years earlier than called for in the original 2008 agreement?
To describe the island weekly’s opinionated “news” reporting as propaganda just doesn’t cut it, for the paper has resorted to twisting the truth beyond recognition.
The pro-sale crowd is finally discovering facts are stubborn things. They have a way of sticking around. So, when the facts cannot be overcome, these fanatics resort to, how else can you said it, lies.
Witnessing these grown men and women sink into desperation is really quite tragic. For the sake of their sanity, it is time to accept that the proposed sale to FPL simply cannot go forward. It is time to move on.
After all, things have become so absurd that FPL’s CEO, Eric Silagy, who is responsible for a $1.5 billion company, is proposing Vero Beach’s leaders bankrupt the City as a way of skirting contractual obligation to the Florida Municipal Power Agency and its bondholders.
Silagy may have a free hand in running the state’s largest investor-owned utility, but you’ve got to wonder if some of his board members will eventually begin to raise questions about such antics.
Indian River Guardian 
Having reviewed in full, each successive version of the OUC contract revisions, I can assure you that your “Utility Activist” is either quite ignorant or dishonest to the core (likely both). His claim is patently absurd. The exact opposite is fact. The Finance and Utility Commission votes bear witness to that.
Do these fools really expect us to believe the trash they write? I don’t think these so called writers believe what they write, how can they when the financial facts in the revised OUC contract show a savings of $750,000 per month. It adds up to a savings of $171,000, 000 over the reduced life of this contract. I can understand the Press Journal’s putting out false statements since Amy Brunjes , FPL “Big Shot” is the wife of the publisher. Their motives are obvious in all of their stories. When it comes to 32963 and their outrageous ,twisted writings we see that it is nothing more than a pulp magazine bent on manipulating the facts to suit their owners purposes. FACTS and TRUTH mean nothing at 32963.