Letters to the Editor

Jackson is divisive

Want a glass of wine during a concert in Central Park? Not if candidate for Winter Park City Commission Bonnie Jackson has anything to say about it. Even with an organized event with police officers, Ms. Jackson does not trust you with wine in Central Park under any circumstances.

Reflect on her 2010 “accomplishments” as vice chair of the Parks and Recreation Board.

She led efforts to tie up the City Commission with 200 hours of “dog talk” in 2010. Her “leadership” disallowed the concerns of 50 residents and business owners on the Parks Board’s recommendation to ban dogs from city parks and not allow permits for “dog-centered” events in the downtown. If “doggie doo-doo” is a concern, ask your City Commission to pass a $500 fine for not picking up after pets as they do around Lake Eola.

Ms. Jackson vacillates between tantrum-throwing bully and drama queen victim. If you want more Court TV entertainment in City Hall and greater divisiveness in your neighborhood, vote Bonnie Jackson! It’s all public record — her letters to the City Commission and even excerpts on YouTube. Note the “attack, accuse, threaten” tone of all her letters and public deliveries.

Her intent is not to ban dog-centered events, it is to ban dogs from all public spaces. Her intent was not fees at Fleet Peeples Park, it is to “tear the fence down!” The wrath of Jackson is focused on the Friends of Mead Garden in addition to the Friends of Fleet Peeples Park. Look out all “Friends”.

Want isolated incidents of code violations to be the focus of meetings? Bonnie’s your girl! Pretend the masses are doing it, don them all criminals and over-regulate with a police-state mentality.

Thank you for considering the morale of Winter Park residents and the livelihoods of business owners in the voting booths on March 8.

—Brian Wettstein, Co-owner

The Doggie Door, BullFish

Jackson is a real leader

Was the Observer actually at the debate for the Winter Park City Commission candidates ? Bonnie Jackson and Sarah Sprinkel “vary wildly” in their knowledge and approach to city issues. One huge difference: Sprinkel wants to make it easier to change the comprehensive land-use plan of our beloved Winter Park and Jackson wants to keep the high standards in place, so that we don’t face another Carlisle project, which polarized our city.

As far as Sprinkel being described as “personified and making jokes” and Jackson “spoke using specific figures and numbers” — as a citizen, I want a real leader, not a cheerleader for my city.

—Felicia Howell Kennedy

Winter Park

Thanks to Jacobs

Thank you to Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs for choosing Winter Park to hold a recent Job Summit. During this informative and productive session, a group of panelists spoke passionately and universally about the importance of having the support of the local elected officials in job creation. They all put “having a positive business climate” at the top of the list and had endless examples of how their successful businesses expanded and thrived because of positive, business-friendly policies. They made it clear that local leaders must understand that when we build a healthy business community, we are able to create a strong foundation for our city and advance the quality of life for all of us.

I expect our Winter Park mayor and commissioners in attendance received this message loud and clear. It was a timely reinforcement to their important decision to offer incentives for the recruitment of companies to our community. This vote was a key step in creating an atmosphere that shows our city’s support of the business community. With leaders like Mayor Jacobs and with local leadership focused on issues critical (rather than distracting) to our lives, I feel optimistic that we are heading in the right direction.

— Patrick W. Chapin, President

Winter Park Chamber