By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
It's been a rough few days for Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson on local social media.
That's the kind of thing that happens when you make statements like this one during the City Council meeting, when asked by Commissioner Diane Velazquez why public comments come before the invocation, pledge of allegiance, and fact of the day:
"The reason I do it is because the developers don't have to come for the public comment... they can wait, and yet they would still be there when we do the prayer, pledge, and the fact of the day. So, it's for all... our staff doesn't have to be there if they don't have issues until their item comes up. It's more about getting people in the right spot at the right time."
You will never catch me taking advantage of an elected official misspeaking and twisting it into something it isn't. Sometimes, under the pressure of a public debate, people say things they don't mean.
But this wasn't that.
Nelson's response was thought-out and prioritized developers' interests over those of people who are invested in the well-being of Apopka enough to take time out of their day to comment before the Council and the city's residents. Nelson, it appears, rearranged the Council's business order to ensure he didn't inconvenience developers.
But is that at the core of this decision?
Look, let's be honest. I'm pretty sure that Nelson doesn't have anything against public comments. If everyone came up and talked positively about the administration and events in Apopka and thanked him for all he does, I'm sure he would be happy to restore public comments to their rightful place. It's because the comments are often aimed at him, insulting, and profanity-laced.
And as long as we're being honest, I don't like the expletives and insults either. I prefer that a person's comments be respectful and supported by facts. However, it's the cost of doing business as an elected official to deal with criticism in meetings and on local social media.
And Nelson is not the first elected official in Apopka to be criticized.
I won't call them "Nelson's people", but during the runup to the 2018 election, I recall his supporters relentlessly attacking then-Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer on social media and in public comments. One instance grew so tense that a youth group leader took his group of about a dozen kids out of a City Council meeting because of the disrespectful tone of the debate.
Despite the criticisms, Kilsheimer never moved public comments to a less prominent position.
I recall former Apopka Area Chamber President Cate Manley telling Velazquez 'it wasn't her job to educate Velazquez about business matters.'
"However, I will just caution and say that for you, you guys are commissioners, this is your job," she Manley-splained to Velazquez and the other commissioners. "This is your part-time job, some of you, but it is your job. And it's your job to understand what is the process that people go through for RFP. That is not my job, you can Google it, you can check, you can do workshops, but you can find out other ways, and then also grants. It's not my position to come in and teach you how to do it. It's yours. It's your position to learn it. And it's not the responsibility of the community to teach you how to do it before you vote on it."
"No, that's not what I was talking about," said Velazquez, but she didn't call for a change of public comments despite the criticism.
Then there was the notable tirade of Tony Benge, developer of the Floridian Town Center, who went off on former Commissioner Kyle Becker because he voted against his proposal for Station Street. It's a classic 760-word rant that bragged about bringing a James Beard award-winning restaurant (Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ) to Apopka and threatened to sue Becker and the City over civil rights violations.
Ultimately, Benge didn't sue Becker; he sold the undeveloped land associated with the Floridian Town Center, and no, Apopka didn't get its James Beard award-winning restaurant. It turns out Rodney Scott never intended to come to Apopka, but Benge retains his civil rights despite Becker's vote against his RFP.
And despite the threats and insults, Becker never called for a change in the position of public comments.
Sorry to digress and rant. My point is that other elected officials in Apopka have dealt with criticism without overreacting.
Velazquez's point was simple: the invocation and pledge of allegiance are spiritual and patriotic moments that remind us why we're here and who we serve. They should always go first in a meeting and set the tone from the outset. That's how it used to be and how most cities do it. And, honestly, that's how it should be.
Can you imagine standing for the National Anthem after the first inning of a baseball game?
When residents show up early, sign their names on a card, and wait for their three minutes to speak, they are not an obstacle to being worked around. They are not an inconvenience that developers should be shielded from. They are at the heart of this city, which is why there is a council chamber in the first place.
That's not the correct chain of command in Apopka. Residents are always at the top, while developers are here to make a profit.
And believe me, developers will be alright if they hear a few rants - even if they are aimed at them. After all, they make a decent amount of money here in Apopka with relatively little pushback.
I'm not going to give you political advice, Mayor Nelson. After all, you are undefeated in elections. But I will caution you that if a candidate puts developers over residents, don't be surprised if they return the favor on Election Day and vote for a candidate who puts them first.
