This reporter was pretty much on the mark concerning a cacophonous summer. Indeed, the warnings concerning our Sewer System and ground water did finally emerge as a public health nightmare. Beaches were closed, taxes raised, utility rates increased, pubic warnings sounded and nearly every street torn up to get at the problem.
And, as predicted, the TDC funding story gained far greater attention than the political races in the city throughout the summer months. In fact, it highlighted the quality of life issues against the big money special interests.
An informal Pais Report Survey finds an unsettled and worrisome mood among City Hall insiders and community leaders. A new, independent and complex group of commissioners has made it clear that they are fed up with special interests that may (or may not) control the new mayor. It is more than mere speculation that Mayor Jimmy Weekley will now turn his back on all those big time check- writers that underwrote his election. Chances are he can count on commissioners Anthony and Oosterhoudt to push a quality of life agenda.
Of course, Weekley's direction will be forged only by how hot the two new commissioners will make it for him. Be warned— Weekley will be throwing out all sorts of confusing signals to test just how much he can get away with. He would be wise to get back to the mainstream before the big boys drag him down under.
Things may start heating up for the Historic Architectural Review Commission. There has been concern over substance and process of this important preservation group. The mayor will be pushed in both directions on controlling the HARC. With the support of the new commissioners we can expect Weekley to come down firmly in favor of a strong and independent HARC.
Those hoping that the new administration would go soft on transient rentals are in for a big surprise. Weekley does not have the special interest votes of Messrs. Ingram and Menendez needed to ease up on transient rentals. Seeing the wind shifting, Weekley is scrambling to distance himself from his own political promises to this group. His big development friends, of long standing, will be putting the pressure on, but so will the new commissioners.
The mayor has no concrete plan for the Naval Property scheduled to come aboard. If he treats it like the Key West Bight you can look forward to pumping a lot of tax dollars into tacky enterprises. Commissioner Turner will be watching like an eagle and things could get pretty mean.
There is little doubt Weekley is well prepared for his new job— no one is better trained for it. Free of the special interest commissioners he might have been strapped with, Weekley can try to make this a better Key West for everyone living here. The new faces on the commission are hoping the mayor will propose quality of life programs. Weekley will also have tremendous support from the community in these efforts.
At this early stage, the new mayor needs all the help and support he can get. It is not easy being a leader in Key West. We must all listen to Mayor Weekley's plans for the future of this island. He did not need all our votes— but, he needs to have us all working together as one people.