Letters to the Editor of the Stuart News.

Listed below is a collection of letters sent to the Editor if the Stuart News, listed by permission of the authors.

08/11/2006

There is something happening here.
What it is has become very clear.

For what it’s worth, the people of Jensen Beach and Martin County have had it. Regardless of one’s address, there is a wave of opposition to the irresponsible growth in Martin County.

There is something happening here. People are discovering a new “SHARED VISION.” This shared vision was articulated very clearly at the recent LPA meeting where the recommendation for Pitchford’s Landing comprehensive land use amendment was defeated 4-1. You see, a “shared vision” is one in which many people see the future of their lives together and want to create or build a way of life or “ quality of life” for years to come.

Some leaders have personal visions that do not match the people they represent.
Their picture of the future is not the picture in the minds of the people. When the “trust me I know better” proclamation does not “pan out” as in some of the horrendous projects found around the county, people begin to talk about change and a shared vision develops.

Make no doubt about it. You cannot force people to change they must want to change. You cannot force people in our great country to quiet their voice of opposition and you cannot stop the momentum of the “Shared Vision” of the people of Martin County.

Therefore, it is very clear. The people of Martin County want responsible growth. Leadership must recognize there is something happening here countywide. More importantly, what sustains this shared vision lies outside the advocacy of each group, neighborhood, and political district. It is found in the capabilities of community leadership that communicates with those closest to the market…the people.

Therefore, commissioners must reject the Pitchford’s Landing Amendment on August 15.
 

Dr. Thomas Fullman of Jensen Beach

8/07/2006

Punished for Participation

The County of Martin, the State of Florida and the United States of America encourage public participation.  We are encouraged to vote.  We are encouraged to participate in the democratic process.  Without involvement and participation what would our country become?

Occasionally someone, some group or some entity may not like your involvement as it does not lend itself to their particular agenda.  Fair enough.  Everyone has an agenda.  Unfortunately sometimes your opposition will go to extreme measures to prevent you from exhibiting your constitutional rights.  Lawsuits, accusations without merit, collusion and back room deals sometimes interfere with public participation.

On July 26, 2006 Reily Enterprises, LLC, William Reily and Nancy Reily filed suit against the Jensen Beach Group, Inc., myself and nineteen other good people seeking an injunction against our First Amendment Rights.  The lawsuit is petty, frivolous and a blatant misuse of our legal system and is exactly the opposite of what our founding fathers would have wanted.

This letter to the editor is to make all of Martin County aware that when you speak from the heart about quality of life, educating the public and public participation that it does come at a price.  You do become susceptible to scrutiny and your opposition will analyze every word and comment you make but if you believe in yourself and your cause you can and will make a difference. 

As president of the Jensen Beach Group, Inc. I will continue to actively pursue our continued goal of preservation and protection of the quality of life for all of Martin County’s citizens through education and awareness.

Mike Cilurso

President, Jensen Beach Group, Inc.

05/19/2006

Dear Editor:

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Deed - CRA – Community Redevelopment Agency – “From Neighborhoods of the Past, Come Neighborhoods of the Future” – Sounds good?  Right?  Clean up the areas that need to be cleaned up.  Revitalize.  I’m in!!!

Punishment – Renar.

Deed – Participating in the NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee) to assist and educate developers on what the CRA was formed to do.

Punishment – Developers not listening.  Commissioners not listening.  Watching a vision you created become completely ignored, side stepped, overlooked and laid to waste.

Deed – Forming a group of concerned citizens to educate and create awareness about growth in our community and giving people the opportunity to form their own conclusions.

Punishment – Being labeled hooligans.  Rebels.  Trouble makers.

It saddens me to see that when you try to do something good there are people that deem you bad.  As a member of the Jensen Beach Group I have spoke with many, many people concerning what is going on in our community.  The verdict is out.  Our neighbors want to keep our density low, the way it is, the reason we moved here in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and so on.  My opinion is that our developers within and outside the CRA don’t share my/our view.  How could they?  Agencies from Miami, Venezuela and all over don’t understand what our community is about.  I would love for the CRA and the companies that are developing outside the CRA to listen to the community then act in the best interest of everyone (not people who are planted at meetings).  A collective happy medium that is best for our community and its citizens could make everyone a winner here. 

Communication is the key.  Commissioners.  Developers.  Citizens.  Lets work together for responsible, thoughtful growth that benefits us all.

Mike Cilurso

President, Jensen Beach Group, Inc.

04/05/2006

Dear Editor:

I attended Tuesday night’s unveiling of the “New Pitchford’s Landing” that had supposedly been in the making for the past three months.  Imagine how excited I was as I anxiously anticipated this “new and thoughtful” plan.  Now imagine how sad I was when I realized it was almost the exact same thing I have been seeing for the past four months.  In fact, the only changes were a reduction in single family homes (by three houses) and some repositioning of the condos east of the train tracks.  Essentially there was no “new proposal”.  What troubles me is that by having the community provide feedback for a proposal that has so many holes in it (railroad, density, land use, displacement of residents, emergency access) is putting the cart in front of the horse.  What I would like to have explained to our community is why is there an assumption by everyone on the development team including some commissioners that the land use is going to be changed and rezoned from the existing Mobile Home Park status.  Does somebody know something we don’t?  I believe it is time for a town meeting; not sponsored by Pitchford’s Landing, not sponsored by the Jensen Beach Group, not sponsored by Tony Romas Place for Ribs but sponsored, held and facilitated by our commissioner.  In this meeting I would like all of these aforementioned issues discussed and challenged in a productive manner in which I would gladly participate.  It is time to step up to the plate and quit wasting everyone’s extremely valuable time and allow Jensen Beach to go back to being its laid back self.

Mike Cilurso

President, Jensen Beach Group, Inc.

03/15/2006

Dear Editor:

I have been to several NAC (Neighborhood Advisory Committee) and LPA (Local Planning Agency) meetings lately and there is a vibe, a feeling that I am getting.  This feeling is that the members of both these agencies are caring, realistic and concerned people.  The vibe that I am getting is that they are not happy.  I believe that, as citizens, becoming involved has jump-started some members of our county’s elected and appointed officials to become more critical when analyzing proposed developments.  I also am starting to get the impression that some of our growth is NOT what these people envisioned.  It was very obvious at the last Jensen Beach NAC meeting that some members were not supportive of the project they were reviewing that night.  The NAC has stated that the vision of downtown Jensen was not being represented in the building plans that were placed in front of them Monday night.  Commissioner Smith had stated at a previous NAC meeting that the vision of Jensen Beach CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) was that the area would have an eclectic mix of shops, businesses and residences.  I don’t think that they ever thought that parcels of land that have been bought and proposed for development would be so massive.  The CRA’s current direction is a train wreck waiting to happen; a characterless concrete jungle in a county where “character counts”.   It will, in fact, do the exact opposite of what I believe to have been the county’s vision.  Over priced retail shops, thoughtless boxes posing as town homes and condos and no place to park is where it is headed.  I applaud the NAC and LPA for its scrutiny I observed over the past month and for specifically recognizing the issue with developers.  My opinion is that some members of the aforementioned groups feel like their hands are tied.  I urge the Board of County Commissioners to reevaluate the Jensen Beach CRA and compare the vision with what could sadly become the reality.  It is not too late to keep our City quaint, our County controlled and the constituency elated to live where they do.  It’s time to step up to the plate and fix the problem.

If we wanted the artificial "main street" from Disney's Magic Kingdom, we'd all be living in the Orlando area!

Mike Cilurso

President, Jensen Beach Group, Inc.

SAVE MARTIN COUNTY!

Our Citizens are concerned!!!!