Accountability

Finished reading this weeks "I Slander” and Sun Newspapers editorials. For the past ten months the articles about Harry Stoltzfus have been regurgitated week after week, with various inflammatory headlines. I don't mind his picture in every issue or in the border of the online edition; he is eye candy for me. He appears as often as ads for the Sand Bar, Mar Vista, The Beach House and PAR. They're paying; Harry gets in for free.

I will begin with the “I Slander”. I've included direct quotes from the current edition.

This week’s editorial is reckless, libelous, slanderous, irresponsible and without any factual basis. Given the tone it is not a stretch to know who is responsible for writing it, easy to figure out who is behind it. I think of a wooden puppet with an ever growing nose, the strings controlled by a few whose goal is clear: get rid of Harry Stoltzfus.

In fact, at a recent city meeting, a rather rotund bald man, wearing flip flops and toying with his ever present cell phone, leaned in to his attorney and was overheard saying, "Get rid of that son of a bitch! The man, Micheal Coleman.

Hit the "Please Read More" link below...


Two respected citizens met recently with Ed Chiles, owner of a restaurant popular with tourists, aka "Wedding World" to discuss the political climate crippling the city...the result of the meeting, Ed proclaimed: "I will do whatever it takes to bring him (Harry Stoltzfus) down". This editorial has the audacity to claim: "the mayor will likely veto any plan to halt development and require on site parking for developers". To the 250 that signed the parking initiative, she is saying your voice won't count, your wishes will be ignored. The mayor will decide what's best for you, not the commissioners.

"He had the audacity to confront merchants on Pine Avenue and tell them they're not wanted here". Never happened. After a city meeting on June 24, 2010 my family headed north, driving all night to attend a wedding in West Virginia on June 26. On Friday afternoon I checked the commissioner's cell phone messages and there was a message from the owner of the Olive Oil Outpost, asking Harry to call her. I do not recall her name. I returned the call, explaining Harry was driving but, as soon as he could he would return her call, which he did. I overheard the entire conversation, cell phones tend to echo and of course I have the ears of a Mom. She asked him why he told others to boycott her business. He told her he'd never suggested anyone boycott any business. She told him she was doing quite well and Harry congratulated her for her success. At no time was it suggested business was not wanted in Anna Maria. Prior to this trip Harry also got a call at home from another Pine Avenue proprietor suggesting he was "ruining" her business. He assured her did not have the power to ruin her business and had not , as she suggested told anyone to boycott the business. Two calls within two days and a follow up story in the “I Slander”, seems contrived to me. The audacity here; Bonner printing these untruths to advance her own interests and keep her advertisers happy. Isn't that a form of prostitution?
"Wanton violations of the Sunshine Laws". There have been no violations, no charges, no basis for these continuing claims.
"egregious behind-the-scenes effort to secretly promote, join and fund a lawsuit". He did not promote or fund a lawsuit, period.
"clearly had ulterior motives" Clear to whom?. What are the motives? The commissioner has no financial interest in development in the City of Anna Maria, does not work for a developer. The motive? To represent the citizens who overwhelmingly elected him. Corny huh?

The following quotes are from the Sun Newspaper‘s editorial:
”... disturbing and blatant disregard for the state’s Sunshine Law...”
“...secretly discussing city business with another commissioner...” ...”a clear bias...” A reckless use of journalism, slanderous, libelous, irresponsible and egregious.
Who was the other commissioner? Why is he or she not being censored? Or is this a case of clear bias? Seems audacity has company.

A few months back I offered an employee of The Sun newspaper a ride as she was walking home and it was pouring. We’ve known each other a number of years; our children had been on the same little league team. She volunteered she felt so badly about the way Harry was being treated in the press. She said others felt bad too, but pressure from advertisers was great.

Last fall Tom Aposporos, at the time a paid PAR consultant, contacted Harry, through an intermediary. He'd been sent by Ed Chiles to "chat" with Harry. A brief exchange, they agreed to disagree.
Tom in his recent letter asserts Eugene Aubry is fair and balanced. Of course he does. And Aubry will say Tom is fair and balanced. And Coleman will say they’re both fair and balanced. Of course they will. They all work for the same company.
How fair, balanced and objective can Eugene Aubry be as an advisor and paid consultant for PAR.? How fair, balanced and objective can Eugene Aubry be as "the architect' working with the developers?

Some excerpts from a letter to Harry from Janet Aubry dated February 12, 2010; she says "...Gene and I are always in conversations with PAR..." "...Harry, I think you are one of the good guys...", "...you have to literally get in the boat and row with the rest of us-and you won't get it all your way- but you will get somewhere better then where we are now...” "...you will need your patience, your charm, your brains and-most of all-your sense of humor...” She further states in the letter, "...Gene and I are actively involved in a lot of the work being done in the city...", "...We could achieve a lot working together Harry and I think you would find, as I have, that being inside the tent offers an opportunity to effect positive change rather quickly without cumbersome public meetings..." “...I don't think any of us are that far apart on coming up with good solutions...” “... It's just the process at City Hall isn't conducive to it..." Wow, they want Harry in to get in the boat and row with them and then get in the tent...Talk about egregious behind-the-scenes efforts. Sounds like a way to secretly promote a personal agenda. Cumbersome public meetings? The "process" at City Hall. I think its called democracy. Eugene Aubry, fair and balanced?
I have to agree with Janet; Harry has brains, charm and a great sense of humor.

While on my scooter heading down Pine I noticed a car parked the wrong way, stopped and called it in to the Sheriff's office. Within a week John Donovan called Harry at home to question him about reporting his illegally parked car. Of course, Harry did not call, I reported it, on my own, without conversing with Harry. Soon there after the "I-Slander" had an article about this specific complaint, with my phone number and the phone number of another family member with the same last name included in the article. Fact, the other house is a rental and no calls were made from that number. Fact, there were 57 violations reported that weekend. Fact, only my complaint made the newspaper. Fact, the car was parked illegally and received a citation. Fact, I will continue to call in violations and concerns as I think it is a civic duty. Mr. Donovan you did not experience harassment, you experienced due process.
Mr. Donovan is a relative of Michael Coleman, a principal of PAR.

I'd be remiss not to mention Michael Coleman and his many efforts to destroy Harry's character. It can't be done Michael. You can continue to make baseless accusations, you can continue to run to Bonner' office and tell her about them. Michael says "print it" and Bonner asks "YES" You can continue to follow your detractors about town or show up within 10-15 minutes of our arrival to the many businesses in town Harry and I frequent and patronize. Your ability to know where Harry and I are at any given time is just uncanny. We have a little game we play now, how long will it take for him to show up.
As the now rarely seen Mr.. Cagnina once said "...we're on to you..."

I wrote a letter to this very blog prior to Harry being elected. I am providing some of the text as the same sentiments apply:

"... So many friends have supported me, have given hugs when sorely needed, have lent an ear and a shoulder, have encouraged me not to react to the many intentional attempts to discredit the love of my life, to try and ignore the junk mail, both snail and wireless..."

...I would rather jump in the fray and come out bloody, scraped and bruised, standing proud. The high road is a more difficult path, the scrapes and bruises are internal, the hurt and pain may not heal. I won't forget and I am proud..."

I am doing great, and I am still proud.

"...One of my favorite songs from the album "LARGO" released in the late 1990's, contains a cut called "SOMEONE GIVE ME A STONE". It is about this little guy, David, taking on this big guy, Goliath...well you know how it goes and you're smart enough to make your own conclusions and comparisons..."
"...I will continue to embarrass my daughter by dancing in the aisles of the Publix as the mood strikes and walk her to the bus in my nightwear (after all it is dark). I will welcome my new granddaughter, teach her life lessons and warn her of the good, the bad and the ugly..."

I now dance at the Wal-Mart too. It is still dark at the bus stop, the granddaughter arrived and the lessons have begun.

I thank our many friends for their continued wisdom and support.

Harry, I love you more. I am so very proud of your integrity, honesty and your refusal to be bullied. I really am the luckiest woman.
Cathy Stoltzfus