|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Sam Densler (no email)
Date: Sun Oct 08 2006 - 15:00:52 EDT
I may be naive but I think they are genuine in there interest to do what
is right. A few things to consider:
1. Shannon is a friend of mine, she hangs out on the dock with us,
drinks with us, sails with us, and even plays on my softball team. She
is sincerely trying to do the right thing. As a matter of fact, she
sees this as a good opportunity for some good press for Melbourne to get
the town "on the map" with the sailing community in a time when our
downtown area is going through a serious revitalization. She sees
benefit in correcting a bad situation.
2. The City Manager is also a sailor. He seems to understand what we
are fighting for and just wants the ordinance to keep the derelict boats
out. Which, by the way, I agree with 100%. I don't want my playground
littered with other people's abandoned trash and I don't want the
hazards to navigation. He is asking for help/suggestions and I think we
fail if we don't make the effort to contribute.
3. I am fighting this because it is the right thing to do, not because
there is a huge benefit for me. I live here, I keep my boat in a local
marina. I don't have to anchor here. I want things to be done
correctly. I don't want anyone to be harassed in my home town. I love
it and I want others to want to visit me here.
4. Oh yeah, I still live every day thinking that there are honest
people out there with integrity that want to make things right. And I
am willing to do whatever I can to support that ideal.
Fight the good fight...
Sam
Ron Rogers wrote:
> Boy, how to screw up a good thing! No wonder we can't get anywhere as a
> group. These people say that they are willing to change and they would
> simply like some facts to go on. Jees!
>
> Right now, in Florida and elsewhere, as recorded here, various
> liveaboards/cruisers are subjected to targeted enforcement by upon
> complaints or the predilections of the officer in a boat. The town is
> saying, "Tell us how we can write this so that we can get rid of the
> derelicts and leave well-cared for liveaboards (as defined by list members)
> alone."
>
> What can we lose? Cooperation is worth a try.
>
> Ron Rogers
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom" <>
>
>
> | Sam,
> |
> | This is certainly not directed at you as a critisism, but you have been
> | treated to a picture-book example of burecratic double-speak.
> |
> | Here is how they manipulated you, all the while seeming to be
> | sympathetic. (This was first class manipulation, by the way, very well
> | done for small town politicians, but I digress.)
> |
> | See below:
> |
> |
> | At 11:24 PM 10/5/2006, Sam Densler wrote:
> | >Looks like we finally have the City's attention over the anchoring
> | >ordinance. I have been told that the ordinance is not even enforced
> | >unless there is a complaint.
> |
> | Which places the boater in the clutches of any moron with a
> | telephone. Let's see... "I hate Sam, and I happen to know he is anchored
> | out at (fill in the name of city here), so I'll just call the cops there
> | and complain."
> |
> |
> |
> | >I have also been told that they cannot remember the last time a citation
> | >was written for an offense. They are concerned that we are exaggerating
> | >claims of abuse. They want to get the truth so they can address the
> issue
> | >and change the ordinance to something that keeps the derelict boats from
> | >being left at anchor while also allowing responsible boaters to anchor
> | >where they choose.
> |
> | Ah, the arbitrary law, randomly enforced. Enough to warm the hearts of
> | law-abusers everywhere.
> |
> | Let's re-word this:
> |
> | "We have a law that says we can shoot undesirables on sight. It is up to
> | us to determine who is an undesirable. We won't tell you. Oh, by the
> way,
> | any anonymous phone caller can report you as an undesirable, so we will
> | also shoot you then. HOWEVER, this occurs so seldom we are amazed you are
> | so ungrateful as to complain about it. The problem is OBVIOUSLY yours,
> not
> | ours. No one here ever complained, just you. YOU ARE EXAGGERATING."
> |
> | So now we need someone to stand up and take a bullet before they will be
> | convinced they are doing something wrong. Any volunteers?
> |
> | The problem is placed back on the shoulders of those who point it out, not
> | those idiots responsible for enacting the moronic law in the first place.
> |
> |
> |
> |
> | >The Chamber would like specific details regarding actual incidents that
> | >have occurred so that they can present them to the City Manager. He is
> | >very interested in hearing of any incidents or abuses.
> |
> | "Will all those that have been shot, please step forward and complain. We
> | will be happy to un-shoot you as soon as your complaint winds its way
> | through our bureaucracy. See us in 2 or 3 years for an answer."
> |
> | Sam, I wish you luck in your endeavors. Stupid laws CAN be changed. The
> | expense of effort and will is tremendous however, and the outcome always
> | uncertain. Further, any change now is at the tender mercy of those
> | bureaucrats that come later, so it is an on-going battle.
> |
> | It is MUCH easier for people that can just buy their politicians
> | outright. A bought politician will stick to you and your cause like a
> | limpet. You couldn't shake'em off if you tried. Unfortunately, people in
> | transit are seldom willing to buy their very own local politician as the
> | expense mounts up.
> |
> | Tom
> |
> |
> | Tom & Jackie O'Meara
> | ex-Seaskate, Searunner 40 Tri
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________
> || The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
> || in body of message to: ||
>
-- **************************** Sam Densler mailto: http://www.islandfx.com/SSCT S/V Lady of the Lake PDQ 36, Hull #15 Melbourne, FL S/V Stories She Could Tell Endeavour 37, Hull #454 Destroyed by Hurricane Frances 2004 **************************** "If you ever wonder why you ride the carousel, you do it for the stories you can tell." Jimmy Buffett "Stories We Could Tell" A1A ___________________________________________________________________________ || The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request || || in body of message to: ||
|