Open Letter to Candidates

From West Winter Park Residents

Editor's Note: Articles written by citizens reflect their own opinions and not the views of the Winter Park Voice.  

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The following letter was sent to Commission candidates Weldon and Macejewski from three residents of West Winter Park. As of this writing, the residents have not received a response from either candidate.
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February 15, 2016

Greetings Candidates Lambrine Macejewski & Pete Weldon,

We are writing this letter regarding the lack of concern and respect shown for the West side community referencing the debate held at the Winter Park Community Center. Candidates Lambrine & Weldon thought it was in THEIR best interest not to be engaged.  How shameful.  It was very disappointing to all the residents who took the time to come out and who may not have been able to attend any of the other debate locations due to work, conflicts, etc.

While reading these two candidates’ reasons for not attending, it is not and should not be acceptable to ALL Winter Park residents who showed up for A DEBATE to listen to All the candidates.

These candidates’ “No Show” displayed that the residents were not more important than what they perceive the Voice may or may not be guilty of.  All candidates were asked the same questions and given a chance to answer those questions. Certainly this would have given each resident the opportunity to hear each candidate’s response respectfully.

We read Lambrine’s open letter of why she did not attend as quoted below:

  “ I made the tough call to withdraw from the Winter Park Voice Candidate Forum after learning some of their unsavory information and activities. Please view my open letter to Anne Mooney of the WPV and also attached is her personal poll responses.  Again, I don’t mind that she has a bias. What I object to, as demonstrated in her last article defending my opponent, is their activist nature.  Winter Park Voice is acting more like a PAC not a paper.”

 “Upon hearing I pulled out of tonight’s forum, seat 4 candidate Pete Weldon, echoed our sentiment and said he would be withdrawing as well unless the Winter Park Voice to release all of their financiers in the name of transparency.”

As an alumnus of Rollins, I went to the Rollins Forum/Debate, and I’m so glad I did.  I clearly heard Lambrine say how she’s walked the communities and understands the needs of the people.  Weldon says he is taking an oath to protect ALL Winter Park residents.  Clearly these two candidates have personal interest in the West Side Accelerated Development. Clearly they have been asked to run to continue the City’s 2020 Vision to include the West Side community to be wiped out as is and become a Higher Density community.

Unfortunately, I ask the questions that have continuously been ignored:

 Will the current elected city officials continue to promote & allow gentrification of the West Side Community?

 Will the city officials continue to say there are not two Winter Parks?  Your agenda is to continue to exclude West Winter Park neighborhoods and community as being a unique part of the rich historical cultural that contributed in the city of Winter Park becoming incorporated as a town and later a city. West Winter Park should be preserved as a Single Family residential community allowing All residents affordable living.

Perhaps you can address these issues. The questions were asked but unfortunately never made it to you at the Community Center because of the No-Show. They were asked again at the Chamber, but never made it during the citizen input questions read by Patrick Chapin.

Best Regards,

Maria Bryant CEO/Director, Olivia’s Performing Arts Organization, “Where Dreams are nurtured and Visions Explored” www.mariaoliviabryant@gmail.com

Martha Bryant Hall, Property Owner

Mary R. Daniels, Resident
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