New Year’s Catch-up Continued
By Mark Howell KONK Life Columnist
Last week, Mark Howell shared the responses by several Key West city commissioners and the city attorney to a request by Konk Life hat they give us their predictions and resolutions for the New Year. The responses by two of those asked arrived too late to include in the piece, so we are publishing them here this week:
From Commissioner Clayton Lopez of District 6:
“There are a number of issues such as the placement of a homeless shelter. Although we have a plan for assisted living facility now, it won’t be enough in short order. I want to work on those issues. I want to work more toward green initiatives. Even though I was one of those who it seemed went against that (in the garbage contract), the fact is that if we had voted the other way, there was a lawsuit headed directly toward us. Staff was even telling us that they had intended to renegotiate the contract after we approved it if we approved it for the other guy! That’s illegal!
“This year in my district is one wherein I want to begin the Douglass Gym project. And I want to work directly with staff to complete the access planning and infrastructure to the Truman Waterfront project. That will include ensuring the street names there will be primarily named after those African American names of historical note from Key West.
“I want to work with some of the young men in the community who have an interest in serving the community and in leadership. I have two or three in mind already. I look forward to seeing one of them sitting in the seat I now sit in someday!
“I want to work more closely within the community and with the police to bring about a better-than-we have-had relationship in the Bahama Village area, and hope to spread that into the city at large. But I need to begin in Bahama Village where the problem is not new and did not begin last year!
“I have no delusions that I will accomplish all of this in one year. But it is a new year and with a new start, who knows what we can accomplish together if we work hard enough and work together? Happy New Year!”
From the City Manager, Jim Scholl:
“We look forward to another positive year for the City of Key West. The new fire station will open, City Hall construction will start and the Truman waterfront will see phase 1 construction begin.
“We wish everyone a prosperous and healthy new year.”
— Jim K. Scholl
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Clayton’s goals are commendable and I understand the desire to maintain civility in order to work with the other players involved in Key West politics. All well and good, but the gloves need to come off in regard to the KWPD attitude and behavior in Bahama Village. Like the rest of the nation there seems to be a double standard exercised by some on the force.
http://thebluepaper.com/article/could-key-west-reach-the-ferguson-flashpoint/