I urge those who are reading this newsletter to send an email expressing their opinions on subjects. When a reader sends one, it will be included if I find it relevant and I have adequate space. I may edit the letter because of length and clarity. You don’t have to agree with me to have your letter in Friends & Neighbors. All you must do is send it to TOM CAMPENNI or fill out the form on the website.
Rusty Roberts:
Tom,
I read your Friends and Neighbors and noted your mention of me and my new Trump Administration appointment at FRA. Thanks for the shout out!
I hope to do some good up here...as you are doing every week there.
Thanks for keeping everyone informed.
Best regards
Rusty Roberts
My answer:
Rusty:
Thank you for the compliment. I know you know what you are doing when it comes to infrastructure and rail in particular. You were always a straight shooter even when I and others did not want to hear the truth about passenger rail succeeding.
It has come true, and the trains are running. Martin County needs to have service. I hope the president and FRA realize that.
Thanks for being a loyal reader for years now.
Daniel Braden:
I must point out to you that the heralded Duany plan came because of a presentation to the City of Stuart Commissioners by the local American Institute of Architects. We met and discussed uniform signage, sidewalks and restoring the
original buildings. Being the youngster of the group back then I am one of the only ones left.The meeting and presentation sparked the commission to approach Mr. Duany and Mrs. Jefferson followed through. However the plan had its genesis from
a group of local concerned Architects. Their spark has been overlooked too long.
Sincerely,
Liz Reese:
Good afternoon Tom,
I would like to clear up some discrepancies in your reporting of my comments.
Since you are not familiar with the close out of Seawalk I can understand why you made the comments you did.
First of all Rick Carey, the Towns previous attorney, made the comments in 2012 in the Newspaper that with part time employees the Town would end up having disgruntled homeowners. Due to the Towns inability to cover such a big project. We all understand that they are allowed to have 3rd party inspectors.
Second, This conversation had nothing to do with our homes. If you had been better informed you would know this was about the PUD infrastructure not individual homes. Such as common areas, landscaping, irrigation, storm drains, roadways and on and on.
Third, I am uncomfortable with the tenants of the resort not understanding what our property tax bills entails, because they do not have one. They only see what we pay to the town, not the Total 16 plus percent we pay for our properties to Martin County plus the town. Raising the millage rate for them has a very small effect.
Fourth, I did not say I want out of the Town. I said perhaps the Town should consider a future without Seawalk as a part of the plan. We absolutely asked the Town to hold off on the Charter work until after the Seawalk development had completely closed out.
If you would like to talk further I would love to have a conversation with you.
Sincerely,
My Reply:
Liz:
I don’t know if there are any discrepancies by my reporting of your comments.
I could not find anything in the newspaper in 2012 regarding Mr. Crary’s comments. Whatever those comments were, your subdivision wasn’t built then so it would be hard to fathom what he meant.
The close out of your subdivision’s infrastructure was inspected under whose auspices? Indiantown also uses contracted professionals. The town has always used contracted services for their needs. And if all inspections were done by the developer, then whether the town had people on staff or not would not have made a difference.
It is true that the resort residents pay no direct real estate taxes but being uncomfortable with the concept is not paramount to making decisions regarding the town. It is hard to say what raising the millage rate means to the resort residents. But it is not material as to the town government.
If you say that the town should consider a future without Seawalk, are you not saying that you want to unincorporate?
I have written for years that there is no reason to have the Town of Ocean Breeze. The town provides nothing for its residents. There are no public works, parks, police, or fire service. Almost the entire budget goes to pay for the expenses of being incorporated.
It would make more sense to me if Ocean Breeze could annex downtown Jensen Beach. The benefit to them would be they could have a different set of LDRs and zoning than the county and develop their waterfront. This likely will not happen.
I do sympathize with your plight. As to the town charter I agree there is no rush but if they want to do so, I don’t see how you stop them. You should have stayed on the council.
I would love to get together with you and understand your points better. Send me a few dates and times after July 8th and we could go from there.
Kimberlie Lehman:
What is the Solution?
“And if they entered the country illegally, they should be subject to deportation after receiving due process.”
Wondering three things…how would due process work for 15-20 million people who entered the United States illegally? What is your solution to this massive problem? Secondly, I was not a subscriber during the Obama years which saw much higher deportation numbers and without due process at that time…were you as equally concerned for and advocating for these non citizens receiving due process? Lastly, I have read several legal position papers that state foreign citizens that have entered our country illegally are not entitled to due process…what is your LEGAL argument for due process in this circumstance?
My Answer
It is immaterial what number of people you are categorizing as here illegally. They all have the right to due process under the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Without due process how are we to know if the federal government are deporting legal residents or even U.S. citizens. How do we know whether the deportations are subject to the proper interpretation of our immigration laws. That is why there is a separation of powers.
As to the Obama Administration and what were called “Rocket Dockets” They all saw an immigration judge before deportation but because of the speed of the process and most lacking attorneys they were deported. Rocket Dockets were ruled unconstitutional by a judge but that was for criminal charges. Obama then switched to prosecuting people for civil infractions which means they didn’t even need an attorney which is a 6th amendment right (again equally for both citizens and non-citizens.)
Most of the deportations you are speaking about occurred during the first Obama term by the second term they had placed three priorities for removing immigrants:
Priority 1: National security threats, noncitizens apprehended immediately at the border, gang members, and noncitizens convicted of felonies or aggravated felonies as defined in immigration law.
Priority 2: Noncitizens convicted of three or more misdemeanors or one serious misdemeanor, those who entered or re-entered the United States unlawfully after January 1, 2014, and those who have significantly abused visa or visa waiver programs.
Priority 3: Noncitizens subject to a final order of removal issued on or after January 1, 2014.
By 2013 87% fell into Priority 1, 7% Priority 2, and 1% Priority 3.
t doesn’t make any difference what party an administration is. If it is wrong, it is wrong. Both Justices Scalia and Ginsberg representing two different judicial viewpoints said anyone in the United States is entitled to due process. The difference is that a citizen cannot be deported while any person that is here legally or through some sort of visa can be found to have abused their privilege and thus be deported.
During the Obama years F&N was a constituent newsletter.
Rosie Portera
The League of Women Voters of Martin County Wins Big at State Convention!
On June 7th at The League of Women Voters State Convention in Orlando, the Martin County League received two distinguished awards. The first was for their work on Fostering Civic Dialogue. They went from a small league to a medium league now boasting over 130 members. Over the past two years the League of Martin County has brought together Martin County citizens for their dynamic and inclusive initiative; Imagine Democracy. Imagine Democracy brings neighbors together to learn, listen, and practice the civic skills of empathy, understanding and engagement. With a deep desire to get people talking to each other to share and value their different perspectives, the League enlisted one of their esteemed members, Bliss Browne, creator of Imagine Chicago. Bliss has led trainings like these to bring opposing sides together around the world.
The final award of the evening, The President’s Award of Excellence, also went home with Martin County. Debbie Chandler, Co-president of League Florida called the Martin County League “A shining example of what is possible when vision meets commitment, and when members believe that democracy is worth rebuilding.”
Co-presidents of the Martin County League, Linda Horstmyer and Rosie Portera.
The League of Women Voters a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government, working to increase understanding of major policy issues, and advocating for legislative changes and policies for the public good. Martin County League meetings are open to the public and welcome nonmembers are welcome to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Learn more at: LWVMartinCounty.org
