Though important and persistent, facts prove no match for the island weekly

“Island worshipers of Vero Beach 32963 can and will believe what they want to believe. But the facts are what they are…”

COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

With each new outrageous statement by Donald Trump, his followers and supporters become still more devoted. The outlandishness of Trump’s claims and promises suggest he is operating on the assumption that his supporters are not interested in the truth. They want a candidate who will tell it, not “like it is,” but like they want it to be.

Seemingly, the reporters and editors at Vero Beach 32963 are operating under a similar assumption. Week after week, issue after issue, the island weekly twists and spins the truth about Indian River Shores’ increasingly expensive and so-far botched legal challenge to Vero Beach. Many island readers, especially those living in Indian River Shores, swallow the propaganda hook, line and sinker.

The island weekly’s latest story on the power issue, headlined “Vero council warned not to bank on electric windfall,” is just the latest example of how the Shores-friendly “newspaper” is misleading the public about the Town’s chances of prevailing in a legal challenge that has now cost Shores taxpayers close to $1 million.

The island weekly seems determined to convince its readers that Vero Beach is now backed against the ropes with little hope of prevailing in court or before the Florida Public Service Commission.  Shores leaders  are seeking to force Vero Electric to either stop serving the town later this year, or to sell its Shores customer base at a price that will increase rates for the remaining customers. Having spent more than a year and already nearly $1 million dollars, Town leaders have yet to gain a hearing, either in court or before the PSC, on the merits of its claims.

Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Cox dismissed three of four counts in the Shores amended lawsuit. If Shores leaders choose to do so, they are still free to seek a trail in which they would hope to prove Vero Beach’s rates are unreasonable. Instead, the Shores has now turned to the PSC.

Vero Beach has filed a motion to dismiss the Town’s challenge. A ruling on the City’s motion to dismiss may not come until mid-summer. If the motion is denied, any hearing on the merits of the Town’s claims is not likely to come until late fall, though Shores leaders and lawyers would have the public believe otherwise.

With its legal challenge taking an exceedingly expensive and circuitous path, Shores leaders, aided by the island weekly and Vero Beach City Councilwoman Pilar Turner, are now mounting a public relations campaign designed to pressure Vero Beach leaders to sell off its Shores customers.

The sticking point is that FPL is only offering a price that would be leaving remaining customers obligated to cover costs incurred and commitments made on behalf of the Shores. It isn’t fair. It isn’t right. And unless Shores leaders are able to fund Turner’s re-election and buy another seat on the Vero Beach City Council, the fire sale they seek should not and will not occur.

The island weekly’s “reporting” should be seen for what it is, pure propaganda.  In an article full of half-truths and distortions of fact, comments made by City Manager Jim O’Connor were taken out of context. Further, reporter Lisa Zahner ended her story by claiming Vero Electric’s rates are “30 percent higher” than rates charged by Florida Power & Light. Based on the latest state-wide bill comparisons, FPL’s rate for 1000 kWh is $94.30 a month. Add to that the 6 percent franchise charge by nearly all counties and/or municipalities served by FPL, and FPL’s rate is $99.96. Vero Electric’s rates, including the 6 percent transfer to the general fund, is $119.50, for a difference of of 16.4 percent, not the 30 percent Zahner claims.

But there is more to the story. As the power plant is decommissioned in the very near future,Vero Electric’s rates will come down further. In contrast, FPL has proposed and is seeking approval for a $1.337 billion rate increase, which will add some $13 dollars to FPL’s typical monthly residential bill. If approved by the PSC, FPL’s proposed rate increase will all but eliminate any rate differential between the utility giant and Vero Electric. (These facts, though exceedingly relevant, have yet to be reported by the island weekly.)

Island worshipers of Vero Beach 32963 can and will believe what they want to believe. But the facts are what they are; and unless Shores leaders are successful in using their considerable wealth to control the outcome of the next Vero Beach municipal election, there will hopefully still be three Council members (Pilar Turner and Harry Howle excluded) who will be looking out for the residents and taxpayers of Vero Beach, as well as for the customers of Vero Electric.