The Tropical Storm Isaias Bread & Circuses show - Palmetto Bay edition. A few sandbags do not provide our residents with what we need: affordable windstorm/flood insurance, our largest expense in homeownership.

No homeowner insurance relief, but have a sandbag or 5 (while very limited supplies last)!

What am I referring to? Our local State Representative partnered with Palmetto Bay officials to hand out sandbags at Coral Reef Park. Officials are poised to raise taxes this year, perhaps so they can fund ‘free sandbags” for a limited few. Pictures are worth a thousand words; you can see that there was a mere small truckload for the “lucky residents” that drove up for up to five sandbags (each weighing up to 30 pounds each). So, you got about $15 dollars of sand for your use to offset the probable tax increases for this coming year. Sounds like an awesome plan, right?

They also hope you don’t see the pictures and the waste of employee time in distributing these sandbags in this “voluntary giveaway ‘But like my grandpa taught me; nothing in life is free. Village employees were involved. Let’s be honest. It was merely an election season photo op. It certainly was not even a band aid. I certainly feel that the latest actions of Government fall far short of addressing crucial needs under a threat of a potential storm. Examples: where were the crews making sure the drains were not covered with clippings? Or in documenting houses that left debris piles in the front or even documenting potential trees that would be at risk during a storm? How about the crews needed to ensure our roads would be open after the storm? What was the contingency plan?

This is part of the new form of government embraced by the voters where results are no longer expected. There are no metrics to determine success. Instead there is a steady diet of ‘bread and circuses’, ‘thoughts and prayers’ and one heck of a campaign photo op for all involved (again, ultimately funded by the local taxpayers).   

What do we need versus the deliverables?

• We really need affordable windstorm/flood insurance, our largest expense in home ownership. Instead elected officials offer a limit of 5 sandbags 'while supplies last.' (paid for by taxpayers). 
•  I need affordable car insurance, instead elected officials offer a few sandbags. 
• We need proper funding for SFWMD to fix the drainage canal for flood control, instead elected officials offered us 5 sandbags to a household, again, while supplies last.
  
  
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And where was the current Mayor of our village? Was she in Tallahassee or DC over the year fighting for any of the above? Nope, the current mayor of my village was helping to fill the 5 sandbags. Bread and circuses. $15 of sand for the lucky few to offset the tax and fee increases for all. Fair?

The real use for the 5 sandbags? Placing on your roof to hold down the post storm blue tarp. Too many people will be unable to afford a new roof out of the post deductible and post depreciation insurance settlement - again, a gift to our pro-industry legislature.

The real question is if we voted carefully for elected officials would we, the homeowners who find their pockets constantly picked, get what we truly need.

I have an idea. I know it is a crazy idea, but an idea nonetheless: Elect officials who will actually work to reduce the overwhelming burden taxpayers face in trying to live here in South Florida. We can then afford to buy our own sandbags  (as well as in the number that will actually be useful for the purpose intended) instead of paying the higher taxes charged to fund their self-promotion foolishness!

Why can’t the legislature work to make home ownership affordable? Bring down the cost of Homeowner, Windstorm, automobile and Health Insurance. There are people who are paying $10-15K or more for home and flood insurance, as well as paying some of the highest rates for automobile insurance in Florida, if not the nation.

150 pounds of sand broken up onto a mere five sandbags does not make up for the huge financial burdens that our State government refuses to address. I know some will find the gesture worthy but I do hope most really see it for what this really is, a distraction from the lack of results for the taxpaying, insurance stressed residents.