NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE? - Gaylan's Corner! - Opinions, comments and Notes from the field - by Gaylan King - BED TAX/CONFERENCE CENTER HISTORY OF EVENTS - The Freedom Committee's goal is to repeal county ordinance 89-23 that has spawned the Tourist Development Counsel (TDC) and bed tax (increase), and is also designed to fund the proposed conference center.  The TDC was created with this ordinance and therefore, by law, will be disbanded with OR 89-23's repeal. In order to do this, a referendum must come to a vote before the people. There are four major areas on this website that are designed to do four things: 1. Present the FACTS supporting our case that the Conference Center will be a financial burden to the taxpayers of Okaloosa County. 2. Provide a HISTORY of the entire Bed Tax increase/Conference Center and give an historical scope to the issue. 3. To present OUR POINT OF VIEW as an opponent of the Bed Tax Increase/Conference Center and it's supporters. 4. To provide a FORUM in which others can share their point of view.

Here We Go, Again - Today's NWFDN, Nov. 6th, Letter To the Editors featured a letter entitled, "The TDC is our best bet". It's not my best bet, nor is it the best bet of any citizen of Okaloosa County who detests government entities operating at the expense of "the rest of us," and of our God-given right to have a voice in our own affairs.

The author states that I, "was one of the TDC's founding committee members", and that I now, "lead an effort to destroy a productive branch of our government".  What Balderdash! To begin with, I worked mightily to form a TDC in 1986 and, I believe, 1987.  Never in my dimmest moment would I have approved a TDC capable of becoming a political entity,  an extension of the BOCC and a paid-for tryst between the TDC and the Chambers of Commerce. Never would I have favored a TDC Special Taxing District allowing a TDC  to operate outside of our gaze and authority. Never would any of us have considered a TDC that could operate forever, without constant public approval through regular countywide referendums and audits. Nor would any of that initial group have fostered a TDC comfortable enough to slander legitimate opposition, that misuses bed tax funds to "advertise against Gaylan King and his misguided Freedom Committee." (See last Column) You see, anyone who disagrees with them, and their ilk, is "misguided."

As to the TDC being anybody's "best bet" for anything, I would suggest that issue is best determined by your position on two points:

1.) Do you believe in government's right to interfere in private enterprise through such councils, especially when backed by a distinct minority, and,

2.) Do you get "free money" or business advantage from them?

I talk to a lot of people and business owners, particularly in Destin. I have yet to find anyone who can tell me what it is the TDC does that is so indispensable. The beach cleaning could be managed on the current contract by a couple of entrepreneurial 11-year-olds. The local environmentalists have volunteered to do the Turtle Watch program. TDC support of museums, festivals and art smacks of political fealty and the NEA. Do you believe they would support MY festival? C'mon, tell me, what is it that's so indispensable and only available through the current TDC?

The answer is simple: unfettered political clout through a not-so-cleverly-masked extension of the BOCC, that features purchased fealty from the two Chambers and many of their members. That's a good deal for the BOCC, who can step away from the TDC and publicly say, "shame on you" if it gets out of hand or if we catch on!

None of those early visionaries would have conceived an arrogant, expensive, bullyish TDC, an obedient extension of the BOCC, unresponsive to the majority and more political than functional.

Go peddle that trash elsewhere, Mr. Holdman.

Cheers!
Gaylan

 TOP