VIP's For Seniors

Last night's City of Kissimmee Commission meeting was host to an ironic set of events that left the WayneWho staff wondering about what part of "for the public good" the commission does not understand. Smiling for a photo opportunity with the dedicated staff of the Council on Aging, praising their efforts, and talking about your commitment to their cause does not mean you are doing what is best for your community. It is political double talk and means you are looking at a re-election bid.

Thus the evening went last night. The commission first gave a proclamation raising awareness for the March For Meals program, and then voted to create government subsidized food vouchers for the board members and volunteers that serve the City of Kissimmee. What is really interesting to us is who is going to profit from this monetary shell game.

First, as was identified again last night, a budget of $25,000 was set aside so Commissioner VanMeter could help plan the Birthday Celebration for the City of Kissimmee. Additional funds have been spent outside of this amount for the Birthday Celebration, but this $25,000 of taxpayers money was put aside in her own personal party slush fund. We are not adding in the money spent on the pretty banners through the downtown area, the commemorative 125th Birthday Books, or the money that was separately given to groups to put on the events whether or not the City of Kissimmee was involved with the Birthday Celebration. Of course last night Commissioner VanMeter not only worked to distances herself from the slush fund of tax money, but showed the true lack of monetary controls on the expenditures from that fund. Her ignorance at what the Chamber of Commerce's downtown group had planned for the celebration probably came as no surprise to anyone except the WayneWho staff whom believes that, at some point, government will make the right decisions.

Before we get to the heart of our argument, we must point out the other side of the commission's decision last night. The city commission just OK'd giving money to a business group that will profit by selling food at an event that will be in competition with the restaurants that are already in the downtown area. Sounds like sound economic development to us!

Our article yesterday pointed out that since the commission had already lost track of the money spent for the Birthday Celebration and that it appeared that there was $650.00 that had not been spent, that maybe we should divert this money to the March-For-Meals fund raiser since March is also Kissimmee's Birthday Month. If there was a functioning brain cell left on the commission, or with the chamber for that matter, they could have used this to the advantage of the seniors in our community by creating a public call for matching monetary support from businesses and the public alike. Another opportunity missed.

The staff at WayneWho was obviously disappointed that the City of Kissimmee Commission voted against the seniors of our community last night, but we believe that there is always a way to recover a fumble. WayneWho would like to make a public plea for support for "VIP's for Seniors" where the government subsidized food vouchers that are going to be given to board members and volunteers for the City of Kissimmee are instead given to seniors in need. Take the food voucher that the DKAC is going to send you and give it to a senior you know is having a hard time or give it to the Council on Aging so that they can give it to a senior who is on the Meals-On-Wheels waiting list. Make sure that the City of Kissimmee's 125th Birthday is more than a spectacle of betting on which square a cow is going to poop in. Let us all make sure that we remember the true sense of community that built our city and has kept it strong for 125 years. In Kissimmee, we put needs of others before self and we take care of our own. Let "VIP's for Seniors" be the start of a campaign of public and financial support that bypasses the ignorance of elected officials and returns the power of giving back to the people. The WayneWho staff thanks you in advance for your support in this cause and appreciates you working to spread the good word.

God bless.