September 23rd, 2008 photo of Hallandale Beach City Commission meeting by South Beach Hoosier. Missing from photo -Mayor Joy Cooper.If you look closely enough at the mounted TVs above the dais, they show the mayor's empty chair.
Wednesday night's Hallandale Beach City Commission meeting captured mayor Joy Cooper at her absolute brazen worst: by turns condescending, accusative, arrogant, sneering, abrasive and totally full of her bullying self, once again over-playing her hand.
Naturally, as this observer has seen on far too many occasions over ther past few years, the mayor, as is her established custom, tried to turn the events into one where she could try to play the 'victim card' as well.
"I take offense at..."
She never really quites pulls off the victim card, though, because more often than not, Cooper is the aggressive bully, upset that people are remaining independent and not bending to her will.
It was all so unseemly and un-necessary, yet it's representative of why Hallandale Beach needs fresh faces of reform come November to prevent the continuing sense of democratic decay under the older, sclerotic members, who are not only not friends of government reform, accountability, transparency and increased citizen participation in city business, but are, by their own recorded votes, their sworn enemy.
They are the very portrait of status quo for the well-connected and the well-heeled in this community, who like things done one way -their way!
The photo I took above captures the moments just after Cooper stormed off the dais, while Comm. Keith London, speaking via telephone, explained for the second time, his personal rationale for voting No on the city's proposed budget.
By late Thursday afternoon at Hallandale Beach Blog, you'll be able to find much more context and analysis on this mind-blowing meeting, this mini-Rorschach test, along with some well-chosen comments on some typically short-sighted and self-serving remarks by ethically-challenged Comm. William Julian, who once again showed his lack of character and class by his words and behavior.
I just wanted to let you know since you weren't there.
Pity.
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