I do think that Pensacola is lost at least for now. The poll results released this week are horrifying;
Fifty-four percent of Escambia respondents and 52 percent of Pensacola residents believe the area is on "the wrong track" and likely to stay there. Only 22 percent in Escambia and 23 percent in Pensacola believe it is on "the right track."
The latest initiatives that have risen to the surface are encouraging like Mr Studer's sponsoring of the Mason Dixon survey and Mr. O'Sullivan's call for hiring a team of experts to address various issues for the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. Here are two leaders stepping forward with action or calling for action now in contrast to most of the politicians. I like County Commissioner Grover Robinson but his reaction to the devastating results of this poll was vague at best and at worst pure mush...."we've got to work together". At least Gene Valentino outlined in the news article the action taken on his watch and with his leadership. He ran on promises to promote economic initiatives and then saw that an economic development plan was put in place and an economic development director was hired. More work is to be done. I have extolled his work before, in full disclosure I am a supporter of Gene's, but we need to have the wholesale change to get more action. More work is to be done! I think this possibility got a boost from the defeat of Mike Whitehead in the latest primary but it will take years to get around to all of the regime changes still required.
What is especially disturbing is the City Manager's response. AL Coby was quoted as saying "The City Council will probably bring these issues forward" Probably.....Probably??? John Fogg's retort cited the same old defense. We are just defenseless, little, underpaid, waifs unable to get up the gumption to shake up the status quo. Then why take the job, why run for the office? The old saying goes "either lead, follow or get out of the way'".... and after the latest election I think the electorate will have a solution to this in the coming elections. That is if the alternatives are viable. Case in point; Mike Wiggins is running for Mayor. His quote?? "It just validates things we've all known were problems". Mr Wiggins, you are a City Council member. If you knew these were problems what have you been doing since you were elected? Wringing your hands with Mr Fogg over in the corner?
I am being tough on most of these folks, maybe a little too flippant and cynical since at least some things have progressed like the movement of the water treatment plant (after more than 20 years of haggling) and I truly believe we will get a the Marine Park.... eventually. I am convinced however that the current political leadership will not produce the results desperately needed, sooner rather than later, as evidenced by the Mason Dixon survey that concluded:
"Supporting the findings of dissatisfaction with the county’s and city’s leadership is the fact that a majority of voters expressed little familiarity and confidence with any vision or plans for the area’s economic development and revitalization."
Clearly we need new blood like John Hosman and Jason Crawford of the Pensacola Young Professionals.
The Better Pensacola Forum folks that have joined with Mr. Studer would be a good place to look and we can only hope others of like mind and talents will join them in their quest. As for me, and I hope all of the folks I can touch in this blog and elsewhere, I am going to make noise, support change, attend more gatherings of the powers that be, and financially support "new" initiatives and voices in our community. Please join me.
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