Official bullying in Palmetto Bay - voters have a chance to change the culture from toxic to community

This council acts like high school bullies. It has not escaped notice that there are members of the "in crowd" granted rights above all others.  

Read some of the comments on community Facebook sites (where residents can speak without fear of retaliation) - one recent comment:

If anyone does not believe the extent of the bullying in our council (and there are three bullies), please watch the videos of past council meetings and you will see it for yourself. The worst kinds of role models for our kids.

Comments from a resident troubled by this council. Far from #PalmettoBayProud

(Editor's note - original source of video :A Better Palmetto Bay. No claim made as to the author of the letter read by the Clerk or any statements from the mayor, village council members or the village attorney)

Note that at 0.44 – mayor Cunningham stops the clerk from reading the resident’s comments and attempts to squelch the opinion being read.

Note further -  The Mayor solicited a legal opinion from the Village attorney to try to stop the reading of the comment.  0.51 The Village Attorney opined that the comments contained in that letter were protected.  Not getting the opinion she was seeking, she cuts off the village attorney from completing his statement regarding this item of first amendment right.

Of course the mayor and a majority of the council stopped any further embarrassment by voting to remove the reading of any emails at future council meetings, but that is another unfortunate situation to be discussed at another time. 

My opinion is that under this current mayor and council; its not what is said, but who says it.

Elections matter.  Your vote is important.  We incorporated Palmetto Bay to serve ALL residents, not the insider approved few.  

This is not an isolated incident - please take the time to review this PRIOR RELATED POST:  

June 4, 2024, Council Member Dr. Marsha Matson said it best - "No second for anti-bullying - wow"

But the mayor and other members of the Village Council say no - in the worst way - too chicken to second and publicly discuss the bullying and combating bullying in Palmetto Bay. And to what? Here is what they even refused to discuss: item 14-F of the agenda for the regular village council meeting of Monday, June 3, 2024.  This was a simple resolution sponsored by Dr. Matson:

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE COUNCIL
OF THE VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA;
AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE MANAGER TO DONATE TO
THE VILLAGE’S YOUTH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TASK
FORCE FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,500.00) FOR
THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) BUDDY
BENCH FOR ITS ANTI-BULLYING PROJECT, AND TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF RECEIVING A SECOND “BUY ONE, GET
ONE FREE” BUDDY BENCH; TO JOIN WITH THE TASK
FORCE IN OPPOSING BULLYING AT VILLAGE PARKS AND
PROPERTY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Councilmember Marsha Matson)

The resolution merely sought support for a $1,500 contribution from the village for the Buddy Bench - a project that is being sponsored by Dr. Matson. Council Member Matson moved it forward but it failed for lack of a second.  The council had previously been in support of Buddy Benches, but apparently not if it is sponsored by Dr. Matson. 

That means the request was DENIED.  In effect - each and every member of the village council - other than Dr. Matson - opposed this request.

How's that for institutionalized bullying? #PalmettoBayProud