Written by Rob Williamson
For those who say
ITS NOT ABOUT THE SIGN!!!
I agree.
You disagree with my actions, fine.
You think I could have gone about this a better way, agreed.
Commissioners should openly direct and express their frustrations at me, it’s justified and deserved.
Is it true we had a long process developing a new tourism brand and no one had a single negative comment before Thursday, Ok, got it.
Does that make it OK to ignore the will of the Navarre community and so many who obviously have a strong emotional connection to what a sign represents?
I don’t believe it does.
You want to slam me for the decision I made, fine. Once you’re finished doing that, there is still the need to respond to the will of the community. Human nature says that in a few weeks this will likely die down but the strong feelings many in the local community have on this issue will not be forgotten nor should they be.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A SIGN.
It is about much more than a sign.
It’s about the will of the Navarre community being ignored.
Why, because you believe social media and email is not valid? If that is the case, what type of communication should we use?
If Facebook is good enough to use when campaigning for political office, it should be good enough to use once you’re elected to political office.
There are a few justifying their attacks based on mathematical calculations to explain how insignificant the number of people was that spoke out on this issue. By that rationale, how statistically relevant does that make your attacks?
Please tell us how many citizens must speak up before their voices are heard. 100? 200? 1000? What is the target percentage to reach?
How many citizens is an acceptable number before it’s real?
Where is the honesty in telling people there “was only 58 people that posted against the sign” or there were “only a few negative comments on Facebook?” Anyone who has the ability to spell Facebook knows that statement is, at the very minimum, a gross mischaracterization of the truth.
How many comments on social media, how many emails, how many attending a meeting, how many phone calls are required before it reaches an acceptable level that would warrant consideration?
Social media may not be the only source for communication but, since a large number of people use it, it should be included into the mix.
As a husband, father of a family with two young kids and a small business owner, I understood everyone’s lives are busier now than ever before. Most folks rarely have time to sit in hours long meetings as the work of local government gets done.
However, just because folks can’t attend the meetings doesn’t mean they are apathetic or don’t care about the decisions being made at those meetings impacting their lives or livelihoods.
It’s the responsibility of public officials to reach people where they are and seek out new and creative ways to communicate with constituents by any means possible.
Why is it important to seek alternate sources of information? Well, for example, If you were only reading the Navarre Press version of events, you would believe there were only 58 people who commented negatively about the sign on Facebook before midnight, that the sign was removed with a hammer, the original Welcome to Navarre Beach sign is “20 years old and hardly a landmark,” laws were broken and Facebook is fake.
Here’s the problem,
NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.
We need to use as many forms of communication possible to keep the agenda-based, fake news media outlets like the Navarre Press honest, to keep the conversation going in a direction that produces good work, better outcomes and helps people engage in what their government is doing with their money.
AND, when the local community decides to let its elected representatives know an issue is important to them, it’s the responsibility of those in public service to listen, consider and respond.
We should not chastise the public for waiting too long to weigh in or not using a method of communication we prefer or find more convenient. There is no question that reaching and serving the often “concerned citizens of Navarre” and District 4 can provide some unique challenges for any leader. That said, I love the people of Navarre, I have a feeling their voices will be heard and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
For all who say
ITS NOT ABOUT THE SIGN!
I agree.
