Community News: The Day After
Pictured above is Rev. W.J Ford, Rev Allen Jackson and to the top Pastor Anthony Pelt.
Under pressure from community leaders local and outside of Deerfield Beach, the right thing was finally done to bring closure to a situation that threatened to bring more bad publicity to Deerfield Beach. Local 1010 Union leader Joe Metts, told a packed Church room that acting HR Director Linda King met with him and advised him that the situation with city employee Cassandra Moye will be made right. Metts also told the crowd that Acting Parks and Recreation Director George Edmunds called him on the phone to finally end the grievances procedure that the union had filed. ( I believe in seeing the documents first).
The pastors all came with a hope of resolving this issue, some wanted the City Manager and Edmunds fired and other pastors asked that the eye for a eye approach not be taken. In any event, the community leaders asserted one thing and made it clear that City Manager Mike Mahaney does not return their phone calls and does not seem to care about the needs of District 2 residents. Many residents expressed that Mahaney seems to be too protective of his managers when wrongdoings occur by them.
The residents also spoke of the double standards with upper management and the Firemen in respect to discipline. What troubles me this morning, is the threats and intimidation by so called political insiders, by trying to discouraged residents and pastors from having and attending this meeting. One thing was evident, tempers flared too. We were able to agree and disagree at the meeting.
I think that a new light was turned on last night, and the residents are looking for new younger leadership in this community. The threats and intimidation made to Pastor Pelt for speaking out on this issue, example: Trying to threaten the new construction of his church. I commend him and Rev. Ford for standing/speaking up for what's right and wrong in Deerfield Beach. I knew the behind the scenes operatives would finally show their hands with false rumors, fear and intimidation to the black community, it has been historically done in our community ( This fear factor came from within our own community).
At the end of the day, we came out to support what was right. My hope is that this energy can continue to resonate all the way into our community and continued involvement into our local government.
The pastors all came with a hope of resolving this issue, some wanted the City Manager and Edmunds fired and other pastors asked that the eye for a eye approach not be taken. In any event, the community leaders asserted one thing and made it clear that City Manager Mike Mahaney does not return their phone calls and does not seem to care about the needs of District 2 residents. Many residents expressed that Mahaney seems to be too protective of his managers when wrongdoings occur by them.
The residents also spoke of the double standards with upper management and the Firemen in respect to discipline. What troubles me this morning, is the threats and intimidation by so called political insiders, by trying to discouraged residents and pastors from having and attending this meeting. One thing was evident, tempers flared too. We were able to agree and disagree at the meeting.
I think that a new light was turned on last night, and the residents are looking for new younger leadership in this community. The threats and intimidation made to Pastor Pelt for speaking out on this issue, example: Trying to threaten the new construction of his church. I commend him and Rev. Ford for standing/speaking up for what's right and wrong in Deerfield Beach. I knew the behind the scenes operatives would finally show their hands with false rumors, fear and intimidation to the black community, it has been historically done in our community ( This fear factor came from within our own community).
At the end of the day, we came out to support what was right. My hope is that this energy can continue to resonate all the way into our community and continued involvement into our local government.
Finally, one pastor summed it up. He told the crowd to take this renewed energy back into our community and not sit and wait on our black commissioner and elected leaders to keep us informed on issues, but to empower ourselves and start attending meetings and stop sitting and waiting on a ineffective black commissioner to lead us and start our own committees to tackle our own problems. The moral of the story " Let's Roll!
The Black Perspective- Wayne Adams, 08-18-09
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