This popped up on my feed:
What Happened on July 10
On July 10, I reported that the $5 million expansion of the Galvez Landing boat launch had been dropped from Amendment 4 for the RESTORE funding plan, and public beach access has been retained. An amended Amendment 4 was approved by the Board of County Commissioners later that night.
Background
At his June 30 town hall, Commissioner Stroberger encountered fierce opposition to his support of the $5 million Galvez Landing expansion project. What began as a confident defense of the RESTORE-funded initiative quickly devolved into uncertainty as residents made their voices heard.
- Stroberger initially maintained that residents “might not understand” the project, explaining he was briefed on it after his election and thought it sounded beneficial. However, the community’s response was swift and unified. Residents argued that the boat ramp area was perfect “as-is” and questioned whether the commissioner truly understood its current use and value.
The pushback clearly caught Stroberger off guard. He emphasized that the project wasn’t his creation, noting it was staff-identified and had support from other commissioners. He defended the expansion’s goals of improving access, safety, drainage, and water quality, sharing personal anecdotes about enjoying ice cream there with his grandchildren.
- Yet as more residents spoke against the project, Stroberger’s certainty wavered. By the meeting’s end, he acknowledged the need to “reevaluate” the project, suggesting perhaps there were “too many parking spots” planned.
What Happened on July 17
In July 17 issue of Inweekly, my Outtakes, “The Power of the People,” discussed the controversy over the proposed Galvez Landing boat launch expansion and it serves as a powerful reminder of why meaningful community engagement remains the cornerstone of local government.
- What began as a $5 million project championed by Commissioner Steve Stroberger collapsed under the weight of unified community opposition—a testament to democracy in action at its most fundamental level. Read more.
Maybe the next PNJ story will be about former Police Chief Eric Randall having low support among police officers – something I reported on July 11: What caused Mayor Reeves and Chief Randall break-up?
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