Saturday, November 18, 2006

The Debate About The TAMPOA Board

To the three-time commenter who suggests we haven't attended TAMPOA Board meetings, we say: Wrong! But even the commenter has to admit, it's a little hard to attend them or be effective when the meetings are closed to TAMPOA members, and even at the open meetings it is clear that the Board members have had secret discussions among themselves about almost everything controversial might come up. Our objection to Board secrecy was the point of our post, which apparently the comment poster didn't understand. We'll try to be more clear next time.

It's too bad the Sunshine Law doesn't apply to the TAMPOA Board. They are willing to invoke it against the City Commissioners, but don't adhere to even its spirit when dealing with their own constituents.

We're glad, however, that we lit such a fire under the commenter that he or she felt compelled to post the same message three times. We want you to know, Commenter, that we heard you, and see that you seem to care about something. Our purpose is to get people to care and those who care to speak up. We accomplished our purpose with this commenter.

But, we don't agree with the commenter when he or she says we are "part of the problem." We're not sure on what problem the commenter is focusing. The commenter also wants us to be "part of the solution," without stating what the comment poster's version of "the solution" is. Obviously, we'd want to know what the commenter's version of "the solution" is without willy-nilly signing on to it.

Another difficulty with the position taken by the commenter is that the while we applaud and appreciate the fact that the TAMPOA Board members are volunteers, we (and many others) simply disagree with some of their thinking and actions. Despite their efforts, some of the Board members don't seem to recognize or understand the full dimension of the problems with TAMPOA's relationship with the rest of the Key West Community. They have used poor judgment (e.g., the full page ad in The Citizen, which Board President, Tom Tukey, now admits was not a smart move). They have acted on bad advice (e.g., the gate). They have run up exorbitant legal bills. They have made a mess and seem unable to clean it up. They appear to be out of touch with their constituents. And they seem generally to be out of control by TAMPOA members.

Our "solution" to the problem of the out of control TAMPOA Board members is to stimulate debate about this deplorable circumstance. Apparently we are having some effect in getting people to pay attention to what the Board is doing. While that may upset some folks, like the comment poster (who we assume is either on the board or closely aligned with one or more of its members), such debate is good for the Truman Annex community. So we don't intend to "shut up," as the comment poster wants, and we hope our readers will not either.

We'll be right here to report on the Board and other interesting news and opinion affecting TAMPOA members. After all, TAMPOA doesn't seem to be doing it. Have you taken a look at the TAMPOA website lately?

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

once again conchette, why don't you give all of us the benefit of your considerable insight and run for the board? you seem to have your finger on the pulse of the community so why don't you run? could it be that you in fact have little support and just enjoy throwing bric-brac from the peanut gallery. if you feel so strongly then run. put up or shut up.
this entire issue is property rights and contract law. you have a commission willing to ignore both. you unbelievably seem to be willing to accept this. mediation has not worked.
the board to their discredit gave away almost everything the city wanted and in spite of this the city unanimouly rejected the mediation agreement in 2006. this city's bad faith and deviousness is so blantant it boogles the mind.
the only way to resolve this is through the courts. unfortunately justice is very expensive. hopefully in the end the city will have to pay for their perfidy.

11/18/2006 12:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That may be "perfidy" clear to you, but who can believe somebody who won't even capitalize the first words of their sentences? Loser!!!!!

11/18/2006 03:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i guess once a school teacher always a school teacher.
e.e. cummings was a baaaad booooy too.

whoever you are anonymous, you're obviously pretty petty if a lack of capitalization tics you off. too bad.

11/18/2006 05:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nobody capitalizes e-mail notes except for obsessive compulsive alpha hotels

11/18/2006 09:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CAPTIALIZATION IS GOOD!!1!! iF U D

11/19/2006 07:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CAPTIALIZATION IS GOOD!!1!! iF U d0n't like it, your stupid.

11/19/2006 07:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

YO alpha hotel. IS this what you mean by capitalizing the first words of the sentence? WHAT an interesting way of writing. DID you learn this in school?

11/25/2006 09:18:00 AM  

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