GALVESTON
District 2 council candidates running in the May municipal elections all said they’d make the needs of islanders a high priority when making decisions for a city with a booming tourism industry.
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(16) comments
Looks like these guys are competing to be the most "developer friendly". Have they even considered asking what the residents want?
Ralph, I had a long discussion with Mr. Finklea last week. He's more neighborhood friendly then the others running in District 2. And not being promoted by local 'special interests'.
Everyone is a “Special Interest” Bill. Even you, you are very “Special”! I encourage you to keep promoting David Finklea - you are the best friend his opponent could have. Keep up the good work!
Exactly Ralph, two wrong candidates running to ruin what's left of a good life on the island.
I really am perplexed - are you folks reading the same article that I’m reading? Regardless of the candidate - I see “residents” and “community” mentioned in the article over 12 times. What points from this article lead you to the conclusion that any of these 3 candidates are more about development than residents? As a side note - curious that I didn’t seen any of your names on the ballot. Since the three of you seem to know best. I give all 3 of these candidates credit for stepping forward with a vision and the courage to put their names on the ballot, so folks like you can tear them down.
I have a question for the 3 wisemen commenting above. How much more are you willing to pay in property tax to completely halt future development and growth of commerce on this island? 10% - 20% - 30% - 40% - 50% - more?
The only way we stop the rising tide of property taxes is to either grow the tax base or generate more sales tax. There are only a limited number of choices.
Maybe next time you can run for council since you are so wise and tell your neighbors that their property taxes are going up 40%, but you will allow no new development and no new businesses on the island. See if you can get a seat on council with that platform.
Mr Dagnon, I'm just curious. Didn't you state in this forum that you were going to run for District 5 City Council? I was disappointed that you didn't.
First, I know only one of three candidates in the D2 race. He is an incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent person. And has done an excellent job on city council. I can’t vote in D2 but have friends and family that can. So I would like to meet all of the candidates. From a D3 person, I would like to say my issues are limiting STRs and compliance and limiting cruise terminals to four terminals. I also support industry and living wage jobs.
Cruises are most impactful on my neighborhood as it’s closest to the port. When I was growing up, it was a community filled with long term residents living and working for the betterment of our community.
Thank you three gentlemen for volunteering for public service.
[thumbup]
Charlotte, your comment here leads me to ask - the candidate that you know, must be the incumbent. Is he the same councilman that formed a committee outside of the city council and drafted in STR owners, operators and staff of the Park Board, but none of the affected residents? A committee formed OUTSIDE of the City Government so it would not attract Open Records Requirements and transparency requirements? Is transparency only good when it is applied to an organization like the Wharves Board where you have an axe to grind. You can’t have it both ways Charlotte!! So he is such a great councilman, but purposefully circumvents your beloved “transparency”? Makes me say hmmmmm?
I already posted my comment when the article ran in the GDN. I thanked David for starting the ball rolling. If 3 entity members meet (which this one has only 2] then that is a city or port committee and it needs to be posted. PB=4 Trustees.
I like the short term rental properties and owners. It keeps the properties maintained. But I’m hoping for some type of upper limitation threshold if the market does not SELF regulate and I want compliance enforcement. Anna or Mary and the PB can help the city accomplish those goals. Resident input will be very helpful.
I also like the chamber folks, many wonderful people belong to the Chamber, but don’t use public money to endorse/lobby. It’s not a good look for business or the Chamber.
As to the port, the board doesn’t get to vote on important issues. No votes - on option for CT 16 and on putting in corrective action for FEMA in 2022 with no vote that was less than what was required in 2019 and wasn’t revealed by staff for 8 months. Not a good look for open government.
We need some 101 government basic training.
If it is going to be an autocracy, dissolve the port board and put it under the city.
Otherwise, the board needs a big stick and to wield it like Teddy Roosevelt. When a topic is requested and not on the next agenda …. Whop goes the stick and no more carrots (raises) until everyone understands the port director works for the board. The board doesn’t work for the port director.
Charlotte,
Everything for you revolves around the port and your clear and unequivocal blind hatred of the Port Director. Why don’t you just come out and say it and then you can just comment on every column. “I Hate The Port Director”, in case anyone forgets your feelings, and save a lot of typing?
It is curious that the Wharves Board, an entity appointed by City Council, seems to have no issues with the way things are going. You may be tuned in to a different channel or have it on with subtitles, but I see the Wharves Board have good, spirited debate and vote on lots of issues at every meeting.
Charlotte, are you honestly suggesting that 7 very smart, very capable members of the Wharves Board aren’t doing their jobs? I hear them very happy with the performance of the Port Director - not even one deserting vote most times. They approved his compensation package and seemed happy to do it. Even your personal Svengali, Diamond Jim pats the Port Director on the back and gives him a hearty “Attaboy”.
So I’m curious, do we need to call in an intervention team? Not sure whether to send them to the Wharves Board Meeting or your house?
As for the FEMA liability - please ask Ted, since it happened when he was Chairman of the Wharves Board and when he was signing off on the financial statements.
You asked about the port and transparency expectations and I responded. Hate for people is different than expectations of ALWAYS voting in public and having public records as a governmental body is LEGALLY required to do.
The BOARD sets policy and strategic direction in PUBLIC.
Not one workshop on strategic direction has occurred since the master plan in 2019.
Yet, CT16 was moved up without the interior road and traffic plan and forced Del Monte to move to Freeport. There is a mystery puppeteer pandering a fifth cruise terminal and hotel taking more maritime property instead of building it east of 28th.
So no, Robert, I’m not happy with the way the port is operating.
And I’m especially not pleased that after signing the MSC contract which I thought heavily favored MSC, one month later, the port kicks back another $2 per day per car on parking facilities that the company contributed NOTHING to obtain. This was after recently taking away the same type of agreement from Carnival.
If the port wants to move forward earlier than planned without operating reserves, necessitating $200 million of debt and risk, the least it can do is have a GREAT deal putting up-front, skin (MONEY) in the game. Not kick back more than the city gets on parking.
Ted speaks for Ted. Charlotte speaks for Charlotte. Women have their own voice.
Maybe consider sending your resume to Port Miami, Port Canaveral, Port of Long Beach and all the other large ports in the US. Since you are so much smart than the 7 member Wharves Board and a Port Director with 30+ years of experience and success under his belt. All who are responsible for guiding us to new heights and record accomplishments.
The Port had a record year last year and it exceeded the previous year, which was also a record year.
When you were in then Wharves Board, the place was struggling to make payroll. Hmmm, who do we want leading the Port. We want Rodger Rees. You stand along in your dissatisfaction Charlotte.
This is my fourth post (my bad) … your sixth not counting the deletes.
Record net profit, and yet, the port would have gone down in FLAMES 🔥 in 2023 without that $53 million in cash from the city because the port flew by the seat of their pants by failing to timely sign the Carnival contract and then approving construction contracts WITHOUT having funding. I wonder how close we came to the edge.
I don’t mind standing alone for transparency, voting publicly, audits, and clean books.
River boat gambling, endorsements and lobbying using public money …. no thanks.
World views? LOL.
Robert, so you think that a police union PAC is going to endorse a candidate even though they know he's not going to vote for a raise for them. Naive.
World views? LOL.
Robert, so you think that a police union PAC is going to endorse a candidate even though they know he's not going to vote for a raise for them. Naive.
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