By Susan Bartizal, Holmes Beach
I was appalled when I read the Jan. 18 article, “State Rep drops bombshell on AMI cities.”
While nothing surprises me about Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who should be voted out of office as soon as possible, I was disappointed to learn of state Rep. Will Robinson Jr.’s proposed bill to overrule the Holmes Beach commission’s parking decision and to compound that insult by suggesting that the state dissolve or consolidate the AMI governments.
What arrogance!
When did our government operate from the top down? Are we not a government by the people, for the people?
All this over a parking dispute that Holmes Beach is clearly within its rights to decide!
Perhaps the residents of Holmes Beach, represented by our city commissioners, and obviously not by Van Ostenbridge or Robinson, would be more willing to open up parking on our streets if visitors would not leave their detritus on our lawns and sidewalks. It’s a two-way street.
Come live in my house during tourist season’s months before you condemn my actions. And stop threatening me by withholding money generated by my city and my neighbors’ cities or by dissolving our governing bodies. Who do you think you are?