Let me start by saying I know anyone who's been checking this blog lately has been disappointed by the lack of new content. Isn't the whole idea of a blog to post current, timely information? Yup, it is and I appologize for not keeping it that way. If you see me around town, bug me about it! I deserve it! I'll try to improve even before I get any harassment.
March was a pretty light month at the HC. We got to review the latest plans for a new, improved Lagoon. We seemed to agree on a couple things. The water feature should be as large as possible and under no circumstances should we give up any park land for parking.
Mike Witzansky explained that it was just there in case we needed to swap some space to Decron, the current owner of the leasehold that borders the lagoon. I liked that explanation better but still believed the public will never stand for any deal that converts that gives away a portion of the park.
It's tied to the boat ramp. I'll rant about the ramp later, but for now let me just say that I'm tired of ramp advocates trying to ram their concept down everyone's throats. There is no plan for a ramp. There has been no approval. Anyone who tries to tie a ramp to the lagoon is playing a very risky game. They may lose a lot of friends when their fictitious connection between a ramp and the lagoon gets exposed for what it is, fiction.
They've become very aggressive and they seem to have bamboozled a few city officials, but not all of them. My advice; recede into the background and wait for the right time to fight your battle. Otherwise risk the very real possibility of getting tarred with the "kook" brush.
In the end, the HC approved one of the plans, I think it was #3. It doesn't matter much because the City Council approved the same one after lengthy discussion about how there was almost no possibility of coming up with the $11 million to build it.
City government's funny, in a frustrating, illogical sort of way. When you get to the state and federal levels you lose the funny and all you've got left is the frustrating and illogical. City government's a picnic by comparison.
