Enough Already!

We awoke this morning to find The Citizen had published a refreshingly thoughtful letter from another Annex resident who wants Key West citizens to know that the TAMPOA Board doesn't represent her point of view regarding the Southard Street mess. Like many residents of Truman Annex she is fed up with the gamesmanship of TAMPOA and the City Commissioners. She has proposed a new and constructive suggestion to get beyond the finger pointing of the TAMPOA Board and the City Commissioners. In case you missed the letter in The Citizen here it is:

"Open letter to city [and] TAMPOA board

I am a resident of Truman Annex and have followed the increasing contention over Southard Street. The TAMPOA board does not represent my position on this issue, nor does my commissioner, Mr. [Bill] Verge. I am sure there's blame on both sides for the current impasse, and while I have no problem with the city and the board continuing their posturing and petty bickering, I suggest they do it in private. I'm sick of hearing about it and it serves no useful purpose.

The city and board would agree, one would hope, that litigation would be a long, drawn-out process in which the only winners would be the attorneys representing the respective sides. So, I have a suggestion. Since the city prides itself on a "participatory" form of governance, how about, for a change, letting the citizens address this problem, which affects us all. Form a citizens' committee to deal with the Waterfront ingress/egress issue. Since time isn't of the essence or we wouldn't be talking lawsuits, the committee could meet at its leisure and give serious, rational thought to the problem. Committee membership would include representation from the Annex, the Village and the city at large. City officials, commissioners and TAMPOA board members would be excluded from participation (you've had your chance) and attorneys representing either side would be asked to please stay home. Ultimately, the committee would present its recommendations to the city and board, and, of course, it's possible the posturing and bickering would start anew. However, it's also possible that given the passage of time and some rational thought, a solution might be presented that's palatable to everyone."

Conkette has learned that the open letter was sent to the TAMPOA Board members and to each of the City Commissioners prior to its publication in The Citizen.

What do you think of the idea of a Citizens' Commission to come up with a solution to the Waterfront ingress / egress issue. Do you have an idea that might solve the problem? Let us here at Tampon know what you think, and we'll pass your thoughts on to the TAMPOA Board and the City Commissioners.

If you'd rather write to them directly, here are their email addresses:

The TAMPOA Board Members:

Tom Tukey (President) tukey1@aol.com

Jim Hall (Vice President) dietcokes53@aol.com
Paula Ryals (Secretary) paryals@comcast.net
Harold Berry (Treasurer) hrb99@aol.com
Frank Serio (Director) frank@theserios.com
Phil Wilson (Director) pewtar@aol.com
Rebecca Baumann (Director) rbaumann@nc.rr.com

The Mayor and the City Commissioners:

Mayor Morgan McPherson mayor@keywestcity.com

Bill Verge (District I) bverge@keywestcity.com

Mark Rossi (District II) mrossi@keywestcity.com

Dan Kolhage (District III) dkolhage@keywestcity.com

Harry Bethel (District IV) hbethel@keywestcity.com

Jose Menendez (District V) menendezkeywest@aol.com

Clayton Lopez (District VI) clopez@keywestcity.com