Neighbors are sticking their heads in the sand
There are grumblings in the neighborhoods by neighbors who feel that the Cocoanut Grove Village Council is not serving their interests. It might be a good idea if the neighbors start attending Village Council meetings and perhaps their voices will be heard. Avoiding the Village Council is just a case of putting their heads in the sand -- avoiding the issues they don't like.
We do feel that the Village Council does care about the North Grove and South Grove, but keep in mind that we are a small village surrounding a village center which consists of businesses. Everyone needs to be heard and if at some point certain issues are being discussed by the Village Council, that is just a point in time and an issue of the moment, it does not mean that the neighborhoods are forgotten.
The Village Council members live in the neighborhoods. Don't they want what's good for their neighborhoods since they do live here, too?
At the last meeting Crime Watch had a comprehensive report, this is largely a neighborhood group. Also the Playhouse, which I would assume concerns neighbors and the Mariah Brown House and Charles Avenue and most importantly the Glass House. If neighbors want the Glass House to become a community center and place for the neighborhood families and kids, it would behoove them to let their voices be heard at Village Council meetings and other places, but especially in public meetings, where it all can be seen, heard and recorded.
We do feel that the Village Council does care about the North Grove and South Grove, but keep in mind that we are a small village surrounding a village center which consists of businesses. Everyone needs to be heard and if at some point certain issues are being discussed by the Village Council, that is just a point in time and an issue of the moment, it does not mean that the neighborhoods are forgotten.
The Village Council members live in the neighborhoods. Don't they want what's good for their neighborhoods since they do live here, too?
At the last meeting Crime Watch had a comprehensive report, this is largely a neighborhood group. Also the Playhouse, which I would assume concerns neighbors and the Mariah Brown House and Charles Avenue and most importantly the Glass House. If neighbors want the Glass House to become a community center and place for the neighborhood families and kids, it would behoove them to let their voices be heard at Village Council meetings and other places, but especially in public meetings, where it all can be seen, heard and recorded.
posted by Tom Falco at 11:00 AM
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10 Comments:
It's a shame people feel this way. We actually have very good representation Grove-wide on the Council. David Wells is an extremely apt representative of the North Grove, Renita and I in the West Grove, and many in the Center Grove.
One thing I find interesting about South Grovites complaining is that our Commissioner brought his department heads directly to that neighborhood to talk about traffic calming, circumventing the Council altogether. We would have been more than happy to hear that issue but as far as I know, no one brought it to us and that meeting went forward without us anyhow.
As I have said many times on this blog, we are only as relevant as the residents decide we are. Our members come from many different backgrounds and are here to listen to your concerns and to help make sure those concerns are addressed. That being said, we need you to demand a fair voice for our Board (which received a higher voter turnout than the 2007 district commissioner's race in Coconut Grove precincts) and bring issues to the table to be discussed.
I agree with everything Stephen said. We are involved because we care about the Grove, we live in the Grove, and we want the Grove to be well served by City services and to be the best place to live it can be. We volunteer our time for that purpose. In addition to David, Kate Callahan and Patrick Sessions live in the North Grove. To say the North Grove is unrepresented or we don't care is really unfair. As for the South Grove, we have addressed South Grove issues in the past but frankly need residents to make us aware of their issues if we are to make any difference. Members of the Village Council are elected Grove-wide. It was out of our control that south Grove residents did not support their neighbors who ran enough for them to be elected.
If you have issues you want discussed, please contact our Chair, Patrick Sessions, to ask him to put your issue on the next agenda or come to the meeting and raise the issue as new business.
We care but we are not psychic.
I agree with Stephen's comments. We're not perfect but we stand ready to try and help with any iussues affecting the Grove but we need your input to bring those issues to our attention and as importantly, let city hall know you expect them to listen to the Council's recommendations when they are presented.
We're only realevant if you work with us to make us so.
Patrick Sessions
Chairman
I've never attended a meeting, primarily because the meetings tend to be held in the late afternoon to early evening. Like many professionals, I rarely finish work before 7 p.m. The result is that attendance may skew toward those with more flexible schedules.
The meetings re always held at 7pm, so try and make it.
Is there a website for the Council?
We need real Bike paths, better sidewalks for runners, South Bayshore Dr. repaved and repaired, open Waterviews, Mangrove trimming, Zero Seaside Mahoes, a decent Chinese Carry-out joint, Calypso music on the tropical repainted "info" booths with the friendly dancers, more events on Peacock Park, music and more art on the streets and every night, and free parking sometimes. Officers on foot and horses, The "Spoil Islands" renamed as Coconut Grove Islands, with white sand, star telescopes and skuba trips, fishing peers, palm trees and all,.. And freedom from Papa Sarnoff to stay out late. Oh and the Historic theater better than ever! Thanks Village Council, j/k... CI.
No problem, you got it!
Pat
Our Commissioner always talks about the safety of children...can we please put a sidewalk on the front part of the dog park and directly in front of Marc's house? Every time my son and I walk down Virginia to get to the kids park adjacent to the dog park, we have to walk 3 or 4 hunded yards in the road which is always filled with cars btween 4 and 7 pm ... Very dangerous.
Chris
Chris - have you ever been on Tigertail? Give it a look sometime.
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