Letters to the Editor

Restore civility to city

I read the comments by Patrick Chapin (“Sprinkel takes the high road,” published in Letters to the Editor on March 10) asserting that my opponent in the City Commission race for Seat 2 prevailed due to a “clean campaign” while implying that I did not. Patrick is unaware that when I returned home on election night with my family, someone had surreptitiously placed rows of “Vote Sarah Sprinkel” signs numbering at least two dozen at the entrance to my street (in the city right of way). It was a tremendous effort aimed at causing pain after the polls closed, and which succeeded in hurting my children. Add to that action on Sarah’s behalf the various letters, internet posts and door-to-door comments defaming my character and spreading false rumors. Is that the Chamber of Commerce’s idea of a clean campaign? Sarah is no more accountable for the actions of others as am I, including the mean-spirited mailer about Sarah that I knew nothing about. Let’s retire the double standard and restore real civility, starting with a change in attitude by the president of the Chamber. Let’s focus on helping Steve Leary and Sarah do the best job possible for all of our residents and stop pretending to stand on higher moral ground. My congratulations to Steve and Sarah.

—Bonnie Jackson

Former Winter Park Commission candidate

Chapin clarifies recent letter

Bonnie Jackson (recent candidate) has asked for a clarification, which I am happy to provide, regarding my recent letter (“Sprinkel takes the high road,” published in Letters to the Editor on March 10) addressing the unfortunate intrusion by unauthorized third parties into the campaign for our local City Commission.

My comments were directed at the authors of the two offensive mailers, not toward Ms. Jackson or her campaign. If in any way my words suggested otherwise, I offer my apologies.

Ms. Jackson has provided assurances that she ran a positive campaign. It must be frustrating for all of the candidates to have no control over the actions of people outside their campaigns. The lesson may very well be that it takes the entire community to demand more. The Chamber of Commerce will be working toward that goal, and I welcome Ms. Jackson to that conversation.

—Patrick W. Chapin

President/CEO

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce

City needs to refute mailer

Since the heinous brochure seemingly authored by Herb Weiss concerning the alleged conditions at Fleet Peeples Park hit the mailboxes of the citizens of Winter Park, I have been waiting for a disclaimer, a refutation, any comment from our city saying that the brochure is not an official Winter Park publication. I have been waiting to hear any city representative say that it is filled with inaccuracies and pure fantasy, beginning with the size of the park — 11 acres, not 24 — and the fact that Fleet Peeples (who was not a wealthy man) gave the property to the city (he would have gotten a chuckle from that one)!

When a private individual, such as Herb Weiss, uses his position on the city Parks Board to misrepresent something to this extent and has his name all over something that looks alarmingly like the city logo, you need to say something! Because the publication gives every impression that it was produced by the city. Is this legal? Can anyone do it? Only city board members or city commissioners? This is outrageous!

This brochure/website is just the latest of a very long list of exaggerations and lies and surely has been generated for the express purpose of justifying the fact that city government officials, providing entertainment for people for miles around, have spent 200-plus hours of city time discussing a dog park.

Now, thanks to that highly informative and educational brochure that looks like an “official” publication of the Parks and Recreation Department, public perception of the park could change, and it doesn’t deserve to.

Citizens who do not use the dog park have probably been affected by the Herb Weiss brochure. People who were only sympathetic to the dog park because their attitude was “I don’t use that park, but I don’t see any reason why the people with dogs should not be able to use it” now believe that the dog park users are indifferent to the safety of their pets and are frequenting a cesspool that is harmful to people, pets and the environment.

This is a very expensive mailer; the graphics, multiple colors, licensed photographs, the size, postage, the professional website had to have cost at least $15,000. Mr. Weiss has already stated in private conversations that it was paid for by individuals who want to remain nameless — it has to have been paid for by people with very deep pockets, and I’ll bet they aren’t devoted environmentalists!

Mr. (Randy) Knight, we all know and appreciate how difficult your job is and how hard you work for so many bosses, however, you, representing the city, need to explain to the citizens who have been royally duped that the brochure is a sham and that the city has had nothing to do with it. Please, also, publish some specific information about the true condition of the park.

This should have been done before the election!

Thank you for your attention.

—Sally Simmons

Winter Park

Substantial issues only, please

“Both Sprinkel and Leary said that among their first moves would be to repeal dog fees at Fleet Peeples Park and undo the Commission salary increase voted into effect last year. ‘We have some housecleaning to do,’ Leary, 44, said.” (Orlando Sentinel, March 8).

The political process — federal, state and local — has worn me down. I’m tired but more importantly, angry. We have constant and regular “regime” changes with the newbies undoing what the last party just “accomplished.” We take one step forward and one step back. That leaves us in the same place, which right now, is not a very happy place for many of us.

I didn’t even follow this election (though I did vote as I was implored to do at every turn). I’m so disgusted that I didn’t care. Just threw all the mailers right into the recycle bin.

I don’t really care about Fleet Peeples Park — I don’t use it and really don’t care who does. But I am tired of the protracted year-on-year daily divisive debate that seems to determine who gets elected in Winter Park. Like this is our most pressing issue. I’d like to just chain the place so no one gets to use it, just like how we treat children. Everyone can take their marbles and go home.

Commissioner salaries? Goodness! Do we really need to revisit that? I supported the increase — the first since 1954 — but just like revoking the car-take-home policy of Winter Park’s finest, I assert the timing is/was bad. Commissioners’ salaries evolved to nothing more than a token of appreciation for a thankless job. No basis in reality including no COLA. But of course, no one takes that job for the money anyway, so the issue is just one of perception.

So please! Let’s move forward and leave the past to the past. We have more pressing matters. If our new commissioner disagrees with the increase, take the high road and simply forgo the last Commission’s largess. That’s a win-win for both sides.

To the new Commission, I say, only deal with substantive issues. Historically, you’re in for one term anyway. Make the best of it. Until the next regime’s “housecleaning.”

—William Shallcross

Winter Park

Participate in government

Their cousins that live around the corner have joined in, a friend of their dad’s is missing, some say he got killed in the fight; this thing is growing a life of its own!

Halfway around the world, people are saying they’ve had enough, that they want the opportunity to govern themselves, not to be ruled by an oppressive dictator. Whether driven by extreme passion or mental disability, lighting oneself on fire paints a picture few of us care to imagine.

In our comfortable corner of the globe, we can maintain this exceptional level of luxury, safety and opportunity. To do this requires a commitment of time and effort but not to the degree of the disturbing image above.

Each and every one of us of voting age should gird ourselves for the painstaking degree of research and commitment necessary, i.e., drop by Commission meetings or listen online, read about the issues a little, and write the mayor and commissioners with your thoughts occasionally. Finally, the culmination of these efforts is to endure the inconvenience and pain of taking 10 minutes out of our day to vote.

Here in Winter Park, 30 percent of the registered voters were willing to do this. Thirty percent. Now, if you’re reading this and didn’t vote, then you’re likely turning the page as being lectured is not why you pick up the Observer. Did I keep you with this last sentence?

Simple road map: a) put the Commission meetings on your calendar and drop by or listen online, b) e-mail your concise view of issues that are important to you and c) Vote.

You can put away the match and gasoline, be confident the grocery store shelves will remain stocked, and enjoy the beauty of our city. Just follow the roadmap and everything will work out.

—John T. Skolfield III

Winter Park

Civility, integrity rule

Congratulations, Winter Park! The people have spoken. We have our town back. At least those were my first thoughts when I heard the news that more than 60 percent of the voters chose Sarah Sprinkel and Steve Leary to lead the city out of the wilderness during the next three years. Obviously, not everyone who voted would agree; however, even they can’t deny the mandate: Provide us a Commission where civility, integrity and optimism rule. And given the passion and respect for the city and its residents that Sarah and Steve exhibited during the last two months, I suspect it will not take three years.

On another note, I have to say that, hopefully, the rhetoric found in your March 10 Opinion/Editorial and Letters to the Editor section will continue, as it certainly inspired me to write this letter (and probably others in the future). Specifically, “… individual perspectives arriving at a logical consensus …” and, “... citizens need to recognize value in others’ views” are thoughts we should continue to support long after Steve and Sarah are sworn in.

—Ed Sabori

Winter Park