To County Commission: We are entitled to be heard
Dear Editor:
It is with hesitation I write my opinion. I am so tired of our uphill battle with the elected officials of Osceola County. I believe they have overstepped their authority. The County Commission has, for the past year, ran ramped; they are accountable to no one, and no one can question their actions. For fact, COVID-19 has been assistance to the county.
The changing of the county logo was another sneaky deal. They were printing the new logo on a printer in Orlando before the public knew there was going to be a change. They were so sneaky they didn’t use a local printer.
They have been controlling meetings by limiting the public to what they can speak on and speak only on agenda items. I was forcefully removed from a County Commission meeting led by Brandon Arrington, who told two Deputy Sheriffs to have me removed. They tried to take me by my arms to remove me. Now I ask you, are we not entitled to be heard at our county meetings?
They (the County Commission) say to e-mail or call for an appointment. Sitting in my folder are e-mails, and the dates I tried reaching them. They answer with that suggestion only to shut us up at a meeting, knowing they will never answer you. They sit up on their thrones, nasty, condescending, and arrogant, while they are guilty of failure to perform their duties servicing their constituents.
Mr. Arrington didn’t show up at the meeting following when he had me removed. So (Commission Vice Chair Viviana) Janer at that meeting read a two-page letter on proper procedure at their meeting.
We will continue to be there with signs for our heritage logo and to exercise our Freedom of Speech. We live in a democracy and not a dictatorship. We haven’t surrendered to communism, and we do not intend to. All the liberals on the board are not going to push its New World Order on us, where the government has total control and the residents have none. Nice try, but you’ve awoken a roaring lion.
“For the People, By the People.”
Joann Colonna
St. Cloud
Comment to Commission Regarding Logo
Dear Editor:
Sergio Ortiz recently submitted a general comment to our Board of County Commissioners offering his sentiments regarding the new county brand symbol/logo. He followed their process for submitting general comments as defined in BCC Resolution No. 20-162R. At the Nov. 8 meeting the Chairman was gracious enough to share Mr. Ortiz’s comment with all board members but did so silently “for the record.” No other commissioner was willing to consider it and share it with the audience in attendance or with those listening in. As the saying goes, “The silence was deafening.” So I have decided to share Mr. Ortiz’s comment with your readers.
“Mr. Chairman, committee members and administrators, thank you for giving me the time to be heard during ‘Hear the Audience.’ I am submitting a comment and here in person today to speak to it (if allowed) about the brand identity this commission has chosen for Osceola County. You have described it as, ‘A color palette, alongside a brand narrative that encapsulates the current community spirit.’ I have to ask some questions.
“Please tell me, how does a set of colored triangles and pyramids set in circles encapsulate the current community spirit? Do you actually know what the community spirit is? Can you even define or explain it? How did you define it to the architect and artist who came up with this ‘masterpiece?’
It seems to me, to the audience in this room, to the people protesting in front of your building and to over 3,000 people who have signed an online petition opposing it at Change.org, that you have not encapsulated the spirit of the community because you don’t really know it. In my opinion, there is nothing in this new logo that captures any spirit. There is nothing in this new logo that represents the Native American the county is named after. And there is certainly nothing in this new logo that represents the heritage and culture of Osceola County.
In reality, it completely erases its Native American namesake and obliterates the legacy and heritage of the founding families of Osceola County. A legacy and heritage built and nurtured by six generations. It also seems to me and others that over the past decade some elected officials of our county, our state and our country as a whole, have no interest in cultural heritage. They have chosen to bow to the interests and whims of those who promote cancel culture. Bowed in submission in order to attract global investments. As a man of business, I have no problem working to attract the investments our county needs. But I do have a problem with elected officials willing to trade our heritage for that money.
“Please tell me, tell this audience and tell the public that this committee will be willing to work with other elected officials and interested constituents who are willing to work with all of you to make an effort to come up with a brand symbol that truly captures the spirit of the community and honors the county’s namesake and heritage.”
Frank Castiglia
St. Cloud
