Pulse tribute idea, location concerning
Dear Editor:
It was a surprise to most that our Osceola County Commissioners recently announced plans for a 49-foottall monument to be placed in Brownie Wise Park in Kissimmee. It purports to be a “tribute” to the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. Some of the survivors and family of that horrible day felt they should have been privy to that decision. Although we sympathize with the victims, family and community of this tragedy, it seems odd and out of place for Osceola County to take on such a project. The tragedy took place in the city of Orlando which has not yet completed its own memorial. Shouldn’t the city of Orlando be given the opportunity to complete their own memorial before our commissioners step in with their own “tribute” piece?
Osceola County officials claim that the sculpture is intended to be a “tribute piece” and not as a memorial because a memorial belongs at the site of the tragedy. The rationale is that as a tribute piece it will not refer to the events that unfolded on that day as a memorial would. However, one might argue back that a 49’ “tribute piece” stands as a memorial in any case.
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to provide a plaque, or some other commemoration at the burial sites of victims who were from our own local communities? Couldn’t funding for this type of project come from the donations of those in favor of it?
Also concerning is the designated site. Choosing Brownie Wise Park isn’t practical. Altman Road is narrow and without sidewalks which runs through a residential area. People riding their bikes, or walking their dog are vulnerable to an increased traffic pattern.
Even more troubling is that the $250,000 comes from unspent federal covid relief money. Shouldn’t these funds be used to benefit those in our community still struggling to pay their bills because they lost their jobs due to COVID? How about using that money to increase assistance to those who can’t pay their mortgage, afford groceries or child care? Shouldn’t designated relief funds be spent to relieve those it was intended for and not the pet project of a few?
It appears that this idea was never voted on but decided by consensus only. It seems to be just another unaccountable misappropriation of funds which doesn’t reflect the desire or needs of Osceola County.
Charles Owen
Kissimmee
