Another Resident Fires Back At Tampoa

Here is another letter we have obtained written by a Truman Annex resident and sent to the TAMPOA Board in response to the Board's letter of September 27, 2006 to the Truman Annex residents. As was the case with the previous letter we obtained, we have withheld the name to protected the resident and our sources.

To: Sterling [Christian Tampoa Operations Manager]
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 6:36 PM
Subject: Re: Letter from the TAMPOA Board of Directors

Dear TAMPOA Board of Directors,

I am writing to express my disapproval of your most recent actions on Southard Street.

The actions of the TAMPOA board reflect on every person who lives in Truman Annex and it has certainly not created a favorable impression of our community. I am embarrassed to admit where I live in Key West. My husband and I usually just say we live in Old Town when asked. Whenever a person lives in one of the most beautiful well maintained communities in the Florida Keys, he should be able to have pride in that fact.

Why has the board never polled the members about this issue and several more concerning Southard Street?

Is there any interest in finding out how much money the individual owners/members are willing to spend to fight this? We already know the board believes there are unlimited funds. We have already had a $600 assessment. Will these assessment for legal fees continue? Should the members not have a say in when it ends?

Does anyone on the board care if the members have an opinion about installing a gate on Southard Street. I have never been asked. For the record, I am against it. Again, at what cost (good will in the community and financial) to the membership to install this gate? Is there any gain to another gate other than because we can?

Why are funds suddenly available to staff the gate during the day to check Id's? We have lived quite safely with no guards during the day for the past year or so.

Also, for the record I am vehemently against checking Id's, asking anyone's' destination or anything of the sort. This is not the business of any neighborhood or community. Taking this checking a step further, are there plans in the works to restrict access to Southard Street based on an individual's ID. Will TAMPOA begin keeping a "list of undesirable persons"? What good could possibly come of this?

In conclusion, I feel that the entire TAMPOA community deserves a say in this matter and I wanted to express my opinion to be board.

Thank you for your time,
[Name Withheld]
[A Truman Annex Resident]