Friends, I wanted to share a quick personal update as part of this weekend’s reads — because the conversation we’ve been having about our city’s charter and Home Rule is starting to matter in very real ways. First — thank you. Over the last week, so many of you took…
When I first got involved in our city nine years ago, I did what I think a lot of people do when they’re trying to understand local government: I started looking up records. I wanted to know who voted for what. Who supported which policies. Who stood where when decisions…
Friends, Have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult for Winter Springs residents to achieve real, lasting change in our city? Why, despite engagement, advocacy, and public pressure, so many issues seem to stall or repeat themselves? The answer isn’t a lack of concern or effort. It’s structural. Our city…
At last night’s City Commission meeting, the City of Winter Springs honored former Mayor Charles Lacey with a Key to the City in recognition of his many years of public service. The honor was approved unanimously by all five commissioners, reflecting broad appreciation for Lacey’s leadership and long-standing commitment to…
Jesse Phillips, founder of the Winter Springs Water Quality Initiative and long-time community advocate, has released his first book, Our Home, Our Rule. Drawing on lessons from Winter Springs, the book examines how flawed charter design and weakened accountability can undermine effective local self-government. Reflecting on years of local advocacy, Phillips…
Friends and neighbors, This morning, the Seminole County Legislative Delegation voted 4–1 to advance a local bill, giving the people of Winter Springs the right to vote on long-overdue reforms to our city’s charter. For years, residents have asked for a chance to fix our city’s dysfunctional structure — a system where…
Op-ed by Jesse PhillipsFounder, Winter Springs Water Quality InitiativeCo-Founder, Winter Springs Community Association SUMMARY: ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY There is a change to our charter being considered. Here’s what it does: • End the archaic current structure of six members, five who regularly vote, with mayor only breaking ties• New, unified…
Hey— I wanted to follow up on the news that the City is doubling the Tuscawilla Tax. Many residents asked for details, so I pulled the numbers straight from the City’s own budget and meeting documents — and attached them here so you can see for yourself. I served on the…
Hey friends, let’s keep this short: To justify grabbing $227,000 in cash and letting the Seahawk Cove development move forward unchanged, Mayor McCann spun the deposit into the Arbor Fund as an environmental mitigation effort. So we pulled the records. We reviewed every receipt the city provided from the Arbor…
Many of you have supported us in the past, and I need your help again. We just got notice that the City is about to double the Tuscawilla Tax — the special maintenance assessment tax that pays for our landscaping/fountains upkeep. They’re moving fast on this, even before they respond to our…