MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS — A Form of Disenfranchisement
Dear Editor:
My wife and I proudly cast our ballot this morning [Tuesday] for our choice for Deerfield Beach city commissioner. Upon arriving at the assigned voting place, we were surprised to see that no one was in line ahead of us to sign up. No one was in line at the voting booth and no one was in line at the voting authentification area. We virtually had the place to ourselves except for the six or so workers who were very friendly and courteous. We were also reminded that there was only one item on the ballot.
At this point, I’m wondering why the city is willing to expend funds for the March elections when it is apparent that very few of the electorate are motivated to take the time and effort to vote for only one item. It almost seems like the city officials like the prospect of being voted in (or not) by a small minority of the city’s voters (as few as 10 percent by some reports).
Is this a form of disenfranchisement cloaked in the message that perhaps we as voters are not able to handle multiple items that normally appear on the November ballot? Do those who advocate the March municipal elections really believe that we couldn’t have handled ONE MORE item on the ballot last November? Do separate municipal elections favor incumbents? I think they do and I believe that is the only reason the mayor and the commission continue to support them.
Should we as voters and taxpayers continue to support a budget that perpetuates excess spending and possibly disenfranchisement like the separate municipal elections while cutting programs that directly affect our citizenry or raise taxes to support such waste?
The budget allows for $74,384 for elections. Could we save $25,000 or more by combining municipal elections held in March with general elections held in November? Would that allow for a higher number of voters to cast ballots for city officials? Boy, what a concept!
David Nace
Deerfield Beach
Security at City Hall
Dear Editor:
Why is the public being denied access to the entranceway that is closest to the second floor elevator [near city commission chambers at Deerfield Beach City Hall]? I had occasion recently to go to City Hall in an attempt to conduct business with the City Clerk’s office. I have a bone spur in my right heel which makes walking extremely painful. I was forced to walk to the only public access entrance and then walk down the entire corridor to get to the elevator. Who makes these ridiculous decisions? I am sure there are other more disabled citizens that will find this completely unacceptable. What is the reasoning behind such a stupid regulation? And how much did this insanity’s implementation cost the taxpayers?
Don’t tell me it is for security reasons. If the reason for this fiasco is because some intruder was caught in the staircase leading up to the second floor, then why wasn’t something done to secure the stairway instead of inconveniencing everyone who wished access to the first floor and the elevator? Who are you afraid of, and do you feel more secure when everyone is forced like cattle to use one doorway?
Who decides who is entitled to an entrance card? This city seems to be getting nuttier and nuttier every day.
Jean M. Robb
Deerfield Beach
Editor’s note: Since Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, the doors at the northeast entrance of City Hall have only been accessible to the public when there are meetings in City Commission Chambers. During normal business hours, the public has free and open access at the main lobby through both the east and west entrances. These measures were put in place as a complement to implementation of an upgraded city identification access card program, according to Rami Altherr Musto, marketing communications manager for the city.
Many municipalities across the nation have tightened security following the incident involving U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which occurred Jan. 8, 2011.
Getting out the vote
Dear Editor:
There, obviously, were more votes AGAINST Joe Miller than FOR Joe Miller. It seems as though he thinks the complete district lies on “the island.” Maybe District 1 needs to be divided so that we, on the ‘wrong side’ of the water, also have representation.
Sneaky how Mr. Miller parked his company vehicles in the library’s parking lot on Election Day. Sneaky, but not surprising.
Lynne Newberry
Deerfield Beach
