NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS
YEAH,
IT WAS!
NOT TO BE...."
WAS IT TOO SOON TO
CELEBRATE ABOUT THIS?
It's on, it's off, it's on, it's off, it's on, it's off.........
It's no secret that some back room politics (and some political personalities), which few
people understood or were aware of, complicated the issue.
Trial balloons were floated (and are being floated again!) to use the property for a new City
Hall, affordable housing, or even a luxury condo project.
The property is surrounded by one of the oldest and best preserved historical neighborhoods
not only in Key West, but in the State of Florida, and in the U.S. at large.
The Public can only surmise the kind of thinking that has brought about the "spin, crash,
and burn" of what looked like a progressive idea.
What Can We Do?
There isn't much we can do at this point, except keep an eye on the situation.
Scroll down for more....
Apparently the governor and his friends have decided that they weren't interested in
this political football at the far end of the state.
E - MAIL ADDRESSES FOR KEY
WEST
CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Go to this page for all City Commission
e-mail links
(THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, ALL OF
WHOSE NAMES AND E MAIL ADDRESSES
ARE LISTED AT LEFT, CAN ALL ALSO BE
CONTACTED C/O
PO BOX 1409
KEY WEST, FL
33041-1409 )
Their phone numbers and individual Email links
are at the bottom of this page:
Click Here
THANKS FOR HELPING KEEP KEY WEST
A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE!
"Mangrove Mike," an observer of the passing scene, once again graces us with his social commentary.
KINDA WISHING I WAS WRONG ABOUT IT,
THOUGH!
What can we do?
Realistically there isn't much we can do except keep an eye on the
situation. We can make sure there aren't any drastic zoning changes.
We can try to keep the density and intensity
of use of the property at an appropriate level.
We can try to convince others that the property is worth more to the
community as some type of educational or civic institution,
than as another condominium development.
That's about all we can do.
TWO SINCERE
BUT OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS
ON THE FUTURE USE OF THE HARRIS SCHOOL
WHICH IS NOW A DEAD ISSUE.
Based on recent correspondence I have had with the School Board, it appears there is little chance that
the Harris School will become an art and culinary center funded by $5 million from the state and a $5
million investment by the Rodel Foundation. The state and the board appear to be dug in and the citizens
and students are the losers. Apparently the state will not write a check for $5 million without restrictions,
as the board desires, but wants the money to be used for affordable housing, a need here. The board
rejects that "mandate" out of hand and, while their position may have merit, shows no commitment to
finding an alternate solution.
At least one board member is basing her opposition on a lawyer's opinion, which "has suggested that
housing may not be within the board's mandate."
"Suggested" and "may" are flimsy reasons for a rejection, but if the state is asking the board to exceed
its legal mandate, then is it not asking for an illegal act to be done? Is that not the basis for a complete
revisiting of the process rather than withdrawal?
Another negative argument is that the investment return on state's contribution must be reinvested in
housing in perpetuity. Does state really expect us to build housing for a hundred years and more? Did
anyone demonstrate the unreasonableness of that restriction in the face of dwindling enrollments?
... It seems those educators must know of precedents wherein state has not put astonishing limitations on
the use millions of dollars. Why not get examples that could be used to prove a capricious or arbitrary
requirement? Clearly there is no mutual love here. Within the past year at least one board member has
indicated that "we won't be pushed around." Let's remember that not too long ago, Superintendent [John]
Padget was appointed by Gov. Bush over very strong board opposition and he manhandled the board until
his ouster at the polls. Hopefully, that memory is not a sub-rosa factor here, but the human family has
human frailties.
One board member has indicated she could not vote against the superintendent's recommendation. The
superintendent is a man with admirable accounting and educational experience, but this is a matter of law
and the board has access to lawyers. The board has suggested that citizens and Rodel lobby Tallahassee.
Why? We have the will but cannot negotiate. No doubt the board members are following their consciences,
but they have neither demonstrable passion nor an alternative plan to create a world-class educational
institution. The Harris School was designed as an educational institution and should remain so and not
become a city hall, nor an affordable housing dormitory with community bathrooms, and surely not another
condo. Time is drawing short. I urge citizens to make themselves heard now and the board to take a
creative new look at options.
Al Sachs, Key West
on Harris School
I am writing in reference to the unfair campaign being tossed around concerning the Harris School deal.
Especially the vicious things being said about the superintendent and board members.
These individuals are looking out for the best interest of our community unlike others who have a
self-serving agenda.
I agree that some of the monies that would have been made from the sale of the old Harris School could
have been used to help our teachers and/or School Board employees achieve the American dream of
owning their own homes, but they (the board) should be the ones to make that decision.
It was an insult to our community to have the people in Tallahassee asking a person not associated with
the Monroe County School Board "What are you going to use that money for?" Does this individual
have any authority that we (the taxpayers) are not aware of? Thank goodness we had Ms. Eileen Quinn
present at this meeting and happened to overhear the conversation. I wish that Mr. Padget and his
Rodel cronies would leave us along and go elsewhere to do their dictating. Has it not sunk into their
brain that the people of Monroe County do not want them around? Remember, you lost the election.
I said it before and will repeat it again, with all of the grant money available for the preservation of
historic buildings, maybe our School Board could look into the possibility that Harris School would
qualify for rehab funding. If the funding is available they should consider fixing up that beautiful
building to be used as the Monroe County School Board administration building. It would be a sturdy
building with enough parking for employees and guests.
The land currently being used to house the Monroe County School Board administration building was
purchased from the Navy for a total of $1. So why not use that nice piece of property to assist the
teachers/school board employees in achieving the American dream of owning their own home?
I believe that the School Board should retain ownership of the land itself and just lease it to those
individuals who choose to build a home on this property.
There should be stipulations attached to the lease, such as, homes cannot be rented out to anyone (they
must be lived in by the owners) and when sold it must be to another Monroe County School Board
employee.
And most importantly, it must be kept affordable. This can be accomplished by restricting the profit
from the sale to no more than maybe 3 percent per year of ownership.
And please make these true homes and not some Cracker Jack boxes that are not suitable to live in.
Our teachers/School Board members deserve a nice comfortable home which is more than 600 square
feet.
School Board members, please do what is best for our community (which by the way includes our
children) and tell those individuals wanting to direct from afar to stay afar.
Cilia C. Vidal
"TRANSIENT RENTAL SETTLEMENT"
MANY OF US DO NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS ACTION. A NUMBER OF
ATTORNEYS MAINTAIN THAT IT COULD PERMANENTLY
DAMAGE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITY
GO TO THIS PAGE
CLICK HERE
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