Leading To A Better Future (Pt. 2)

Our elected politicians are just that and differ from elected leaders. Pay close attention to the difference of persons; an ELECTED politician and an elected LEADER. In differentiating the two, there is a simple question that begs to be answered and addressed in shaping the future.
An elected politician would have the audacity to read a letter to the citizens and expect praise in spite of the turmoil. An elected politician makes excuses and blames others or takes the high road and simply focus on how THEY have solved all of the problems. An elected politician wants us to buy into their charade that all is well for the future. An elected politician assists special interests and touts big business as successes for all.

An elected LEADER would blow off a letter from a paid employee (by accepting a contract, MTAS is a paid employee) and accept the gesture as kindly, but still understand and introduce the fact that much work is needed to be done to regain the trust of the citizens. An elected LEADER takes full responsibility for problems that happened under their watch and makes no excuses, except for the laying out and implementing a solution for those problems. An elected LEADER never accepts mediocrity and not only wants and plans, but GURANTEES mistakes of the past will never resurface. An elected LEADER says enough to the huge retail and the large home developments, as they create a huge burden to the infrastructure (a word still not actually understood by the enlightened BOMA, although they have carefully crafted a plan for current and future growth) of the community and worries more about solving the problem of why so many of the small businesses are going under at an alarming pace. As this is not a focus of our BOMA, it will be a focus of upcoming posts because it is an epidemic here in Spring Hill. For a moment, a brief digression needs to be invoked to look at this problem. An elected POLITICIAN had the EDC have the newspapers garner solutions and input as to how to create jobs, where and elected LEADER leads the EDC by having the brightest and best serve in that capacity to understand and implement plans to sustain the small business and understand why real estate is more here than in Green Hills. That is what an elected LEADER does. An elected LEADER brings business together and roundtables the discussion as to how and why our businesses are in the plight they are in. It is reprehensible that the BOMA looks to line the pockets of a GM and has no plan to solve the small business crisis. Not only do they have no plan, they have not even identified nor addressed that there is a problem. Going back on point, that is what an elected LEADER does.

You can spin the facts and situations as much as possible. As those are tactics of politicians, it serves no place in positively affecting the future. You must ask yourself the next time you read an article or listen to the self-serving praise of our BOMA, “DO YOU WANT AN ELECTED POLITICIAN OR LEADER SERVING YOU?” That is the double and triple TRUTH, RUTH!”

Reflections on the Past and Present.....(Pt. 1)

For almost immediately after the audit was made public, our elected officials have been quick to pat themselves on the back on a job well done. The spin is absolutely making people dizzy. We have heard in the recent days that the audit was an effective tool; the audit allowed us to correct our weaknesses; the citizens of Spring Hill are in better hands; and that the government has adapted well enough to address the needs of growth and responsibility to the citizens. If you believe all of that, I am sure that there is a fabulous deal on oceanfront in Arizona.

It is almost unfathomable that our elected officials can take the stance that all is now well and that through their guidance, coupled with the results of the audit, our City is much better off in moving on in the future. It is still of wonder how no one, not a single person, has stepped up to the plate to admit that there was fault and that they take responsibility for that. It is often said that a person is better respected for admitting their faults and taking responsibility and then doing something to rectify the past. That is what parents teach their children; it is a way of life for many honest and decent individuals. It was said in one quote that where the City has addressed the concerns of the audit, the great question remains as to why Spring Hill fell into the predicament necessitating the audit. Without spin and innuendo, the citizens of Spring Hill DESERVE THAT SIMPLE ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION FROM ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY! How could you stand by and let this happen?

The responsibility attached with being our elected officials is not one that should be sought because it is “FUN” or you are trying to show off or add a notch to your resume. This is a REAL job solving REAL problems and serving REAL people. If you have no idea as to the working of municipal operations then you have NO business attempting to guide and lead the taxpayers. On one hand you ask the citizens to trust you, however, you have no expertise as to how to competently represent our issues. So keep on patting your backs for a job well done, but in the meantime learn about real budgets and how to ask real questions and for some, even learn how to ask questions and speak up during your BOMA meetings instead of either pontificating about what you think is right for you or just sitting silent in the corner. Seconding motions and moving to adjourn are only secondary tasks that you are charged with. Impress us all and make a motion to approve something meaningful and tangible that would benefit Spring Hill and just perhaps allow us to begin to heal and trust you. Forgotten in all of this is OUR healing. Tired are the days of hearing about how grand and strenuous the task you had as Alderman and Mayor in addressing the audit. THAT IS YOUR JOB! Focus on healing us, the citizens and the poor position you collectively placed us in.

It is funny how at the recent BOMA meeting that the Mayor would read a letter praising his leadership and that of the Board’s. Where normally a letter of that magnitude would be impressive, it is hard to look at it as such because didn’t the City just approve a contract for the company that wrote the letter. Hmmmm, a paid contractor lavishing praise on a client, now that must be what they want us to believe to be the epitome of consummate leadership. Are we as citizens so simple and ignorant to be taken by such a ruse? ABSOLUTELY NOT! THAT IS THE TRUTH RUTH!

To be continued……