The Kissimmee City Commission took up the issue of funding the 2008 All-America City entry themselves, after Osceola County declined to continue with the funding process last week.The opening salvo was interesting. In the early afternoon news, WFTV reported on the agenda issue. The City PIO took the position that the runner-up status in 2007 and a potential win in 2008 were a good marketing tool for the city. Meanwhile, City Commissioner Carlos Irizarry called the entry a "waste of money" and said that we had "Mickey Mouse" to draw people to the area. WFTV did their homework, contacting the Osceola County Economic Development Department to gauge any impact (none shown), as well as Polk County, a 2007 winner (data inconclusive). WFTV also noted thatlast year's competition costs would have paid for almost 3 police patrol cars. Yes, we know that police cars come out of a different funding source than tourism junkets.
The debate on the issue of funding the award pursuit was somewhat lively during the commission meeting as Commissioner Irizarry stayed on message and continued to support a curtail in government spending. The rest of the commission pushed to pass the expense item with a small caveat that they would seek private (business) donors to fund the actual competition participation, should the city be selected as a finalist. And with a 4 to 1 vote the City of Kissimmee is again in the race for the All American City award. Perhaps some of our rapidly-expanding payday extension service institutions will want to contribute to the ..."Kissimmee... Your OK with us."
14 comments:
As a private donor, I will be more than happy to contribute. I will give them my 2 cents. Wake up Kissimmee. The commissioners are wasting your money.
maybe those that voted for this waste can have their pictures taken in front of some of the empty commercial properties along 192.
FOLLOW THE $$$
It's Puppet Time!!!
From last nights meeting, I would say that the city has declared war on the downtown business organization. I guess you are not supposed to speak up when a new tax is going to hurt your businesses.
Just had to cut budgets and impose a Fire Fee to pay the bills and they vote to give $10,000 to Home for the Holidays when no money was requested from the group. They spend like drunken sailors on shore leave. Can we really afford these guys?
Isn't that amazing? The research proves Carlos right when the other commissioners act like he is an idiot. Carlos seems to be the only guy with a clue when it comes to lowering taxes and cutting the spending. He has my vote.
Didn't Carlos say at the meeting last night that Mayor Swan and himself had talked about an issue they were getting ready to vote on before the meeting? I think that is a Sunshine Law violation isn't it?
We might be able to win the All America City award if we can install the homeless bathing station (fountain) in time. Considering more and more of our residents our heading into the homelessness the new bathing station might be just the community wide helper we need to secure our victory.
I guess we will have the $200,000 tax dollar Farmer's Market next... Way to control that spending!!!
WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF KISSIMMEE/OSCEOLA POLITICS.
JEANNE VAN (SHIPLEY) METER AS SHE IS NOW KNOWN AS, HAS THE NERVE TO RUN FOR OSCEOLA COUNTY COMMISSIONER. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
LOOK AT WHAT SHE'S DOING. TAXES RAISING, WASTEFUL SPENDING OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS AND FOUNTAINS TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY. SHE'S GOT SOME NERVE TO EVEN THINK OF RUNNING FOR CITY COMMISSIONER AGAIN NOT ALONE COUNTY. USELESS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE HER IN THE POLITICAL FIELD. SUNSHINE WAS SHINNING LAST NIGHT. IT WAS NOT CARLOS. IT WAS SWAN, GEMSKIE AND VAN SHIPLEY OOPS I MEAN METER. REVIEW THE TAPE AND LISTEN CAREFULLY YOU WILL HEAR HOW THEY GAVE THEMSELVES UP.
ESPECIALLY WHEN VAN METER SECOND CARLOS IRIZZAARY'S MOTION FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY AND GEMSKIE SAID THANK YOU FOR OPENING THE DOOR FOR ME.
DBA announced they had stopped promoting and advertising the Farmers' Market. Why should the Commission leave it in the hands of a group that will not support it. Give it too Main Street, they will at least advertise it.
Retardo Montalban, I mean Carlos, makes one vote you like and you all forget his consistently stupid behavior meeting after meeting. He almost always misses the point, he ask questions to try make others look stupid (which is rich on so many levels)and he is the worst kind of politician, he votes to appear as popular as possible, not in the best interest of the City. Don't forget, he voted for the fire fee and no one on this blog sees that as a good thing.
This is a total joke. we will never be awarded the All-American city. yes, just go drive thru 192 and see all the vacant, deserted buisnesses some which have been closed for years!!!!
The fire fee was just another tax created by the city. it was just a tool used by the city...not one penny goes toward the fire department...all the money goes into the general fund... calling it a "fire fee" was just a legal mumbo jumbo to get the "tax" passed.
I have never been so upset and angered to be a citizen of this city. Swan, Gemskie and Van Meter SHOULD NOT, MUST NOT, WILL NOT be re-elected if they so choose to run in '08. Irizarry and Grieb will have a couple more years to try and impress the voters.
Where does Kissimmee Main Street make it's money? I thought they were a budget item on the city's budget?
Post a Comment