- April 22, 2024
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Dear Editor:
It's our 18th summer here, and it's obvious that the city of Palm Coast faces a defining moment in its history.
How matters are handled by the City Council at this time of unprecedented growth — busier even than the 2004-2005 boom — will resonate for decades.
The question is whether Palm Coast will maintain its unique character and identity, which has drawn so many here, or devolve into the neon blur of just another Interstate-95 exit.
The prospect of the latter is extremely worrisome — more than just possible, due to the state of our council. It isn't just dysfunctional, but a circus of potential tragedy for residents who love this place. It is also sobering for those who want their property to maintain its value.
Are voters taking note at all of what's going on, or only voting in knee-jerk fashion, based on the number of signs? Meetings are now verbal jousting matches that have integrated the chaotic mood of the past several years in national politics — the childish, in-your-face, smash-mouth approach — into our locality, which back in 2004-2005 was run by people who were measured, civil, well-informed, experienced, foresighted and serene.
It is now the polar opposite, at the worst possible time. What quality company or corporation would want to move into an area with a City Council like the current one? Councilmen shout at and insult each other. Face masks with political slogans on them are worn, or a councilman goes maskless, defying city rules. The chief issue is suddenly whether commercial vehicles should be allowed in driveways, which would be a step — perhaps a small step, but still a step — on the slippery slope toward diminution of this beautiful city's defining attributes.
All this is transpiring at a time when there are massive housing developments (seemingly a new one each week), significant new apartment projects, substantial development of the town center (finally), a new hospital in the works, two clinics and important road projects and traffic-flow issues. Kudos to one councilman who at least gave lip service to the litter problem ("Keep it classy," he proposes as a slogan), and to two of the mayoral candidates, Cornelia Manfre and David Alfin, who at least have mentioned the importance of controlled growth and the city's quintessential character.
It's up to you, voters. It's up to you, Palm Coast. Do you really want a City Council that has to be admonished and reminded repeatedly by the city attorney of its legal responsibility to conduct itself civilly?
And so here we are, in that jewel called Palm Coast, suddenly and far too often amid the bizarre and burlesque. A crossroads — or a defining moment, one that will be defined by those who vote in the special mayoral election?
Michael H. Brown
Palm Coast
