In response to Jeremy Wallace's Political Insider blog (Sarasoata Herald Tribune publication/NYT), this is the long version.
I'd like to see Vern Buchanan put a specific statement of intent in front of this local Feinberg event. His current statement, as reported today by Wallace, is a complete waffle that demonstrates Vern's gift for rhetoric without results. There is no accountability to his representation of our interests in "go a long way" or "concerned" or "damaged by the perception." WeThePeople he represents are not dealing with concerns or perceptions. We have been living the local reality of a desolate, barren national economy for years. We were hurt and tired before BPeed on us.
We need and expect to hear the FL13 Representative's measurable objectives for our return to a thriving local economy. We need and expect to hear his definition of our interests, the issues and and obstacles, and his intentions for actionalble solutions that yeild measured results. We need new industry and new investment. BP must pay, and we must look beyond immediate survival and compensation for immediate damages to long-term economic growth and prosperity. We need national communication campaigns that change perception.
Vern, are you actually doing for us? What is your plan? Intention? What are you doing to make it happen? When? How?
How do you solve a problem like Florida?
I don’t want another call from out of state asking, “What is wrong with you people?” after one of Vern’s Town Hall Brawls or bad vote counts. Or one that asks, “Are you OK? Was there any damage to your home?” after a category 1 storm makes landfall 500 miles away. I’ve already received, first hand, two questions about tar on Sarasota beaches.
It is too late to get in front of perception. Perception is reality, and however flawed the national perception of our state and area might be, the rest of the country perceives everything south of our Georgia/Alabama border to be nonexistent at best, and a money-sucking financial vampire at worst. How long before we're voted off the continent? We have time only for economic leadership and innovation. Our only reality-based option is to find and fight for our own economic recovery and long-term sustainability.
Five years from now, will Florida be looking for it’s next entitlement check, or will we be enriching the communities that thrive around our Geriatric Medicine Centers of Excellence? Will we still be counting the pennies due to us from BP, or will we be extending the rail lines that lead directly from major hubs to Florida destinations in order to keep up with demand? Will re-purposed fishing boats be giving tours of Gulfside Ghost Town tours, or will they be ferrying passengers of new global obsession: Beach Hopping? These are not ideas backed by facts, but merely my own top-of-mind fantasy-based stretch goals. Or BHAGs, if you will.
And why not? How many times must we be told that we put a man on the moon in less time than JFK’s challenge? How many times will we follow inadequate leadership before we ask our leaders to lead by following our lead? Isn’t that what representation really means?
If Vern Buchanan can't get in front of us with a specific agenda, then let's invite him to follow in our wake. Let's throw a few things at the wall and see what sticks. I'll go first:
Passenger Rail
What's the latest on passenger rail investment and project timelines? Do we want a rail hub at one of our I75 ramps? What spur transportation to SRQ International, downtown, hotels, beaches, etc. might we need or want in order to optimize this opportunity? If we want it, what cities are we fighting to get it? What are Sarasota's competitive differentiators?
BP Lemonade (a.k.a. the new Harvey Wallbanger)
Have any of our national representatives (or anyone, for that matter) approached Vengroff Williams Associates on taking on part or all of the BP payment/collections process? Does VWA want the business? Does Sarasota? I know I do. Sure, it'll spawn a few longish-term project-based jobs, and in the big picture I'd like to see one of our our local heros, Harvey Vengroff, given the opportunity to advocate for every compensation dollar due to every hotel owner, taxi driver and fisherman from Corpus Christi to Key West to Cuba. Vengroff has alread put his own assets to work for locals who need help either getting a good business idea moving or saving thier home. Those who think he and his firm are wrong for the national interest are wrong for Sarasota.
Perception Management
Have any of our national representatives suggested, applied for or created a revenue stream from the economic recovery funds, BP or whatever to FL13 marketing and advertising firms for a national communcation campaign to increase/restore long- and short-term tourism? We need marketing results that fix global perceptions of Florida as a hurricane-ravaged wasteland of spilled oil, tar balls and rotting toxic fish.
Leverage Assets Currently Hidden in Plain Sight
There is likely more Gerontology knowledge and experience in Sarasota than anywhere else in this country. As the Great Waldo Proffitt has said much better than I about the field:
There are a few of my ideas. Your turn. Come on, people, how hard can it be?
I'd like to see Vern Buchanan put a specific statement of intent in front of this local Feinberg event. His current statement, as reported today by Wallace, is a complete waffle that demonstrates Vern's gift for rhetoric without results. There is no accountability to his representation of our interests in "go a long way" or "concerned" or "damaged by the perception." WeThePeople he represents are not dealing with concerns or perceptions. We have been living the local reality of a desolate, barren national economy for years. We were hurt and tired before BPeed on us.
We need and expect to hear the FL13 Representative's measurable objectives for our return to a thriving local economy. We need and expect to hear his definition of our interests, the issues and and obstacles, and his intentions for actionalble solutions that yeild measured results. We need new industry and new investment. BP must pay, and we must look beyond immediate survival and compensation for immediate damages to long-term economic growth and prosperity. We need national communication campaigns that change perception.
Vern, are you actually doing for us? What is your plan? Intention? What are you doing to make it happen? When? How?
How do you solve a problem like Florida?
I don’t want another call from out of state asking, “What is wrong with you people?” after one of Vern’s Town Hall Brawls or bad vote counts. Or one that asks, “Are you OK? Was there any damage to your home?” after a category 1 storm makes landfall 500 miles away. I’ve already received, first hand, two questions about tar on Sarasota beaches.
It is too late to get in front of perception. Perception is reality, and however flawed the national perception of our state and area might be, the rest of the country perceives everything south of our Georgia/Alabama border to be nonexistent at best, and a money-sucking financial vampire at worst. How long before we're voted off the continent? We have time only for economic leadership and innovation. Our only reality-based option is to find and fight for our own economic recovery and long-term sustainability.
Five years from now, will Florida be looking for it’s next entitlement check, or will we be enriching the communities that thrive around our Geriatric Medicine Centers of Excellence? Will we still be counting the pennies due to us from BP, or will we be extending the rail lines that lead directly from major hubs to Florida destinations in order to keep up with demand? Will re-purposed fishing boats be giving tours of Gulfside Ghost Town tours, or will they be ferrying passengers of new global obsession: Beach Hopping? These are not ideas backed by facts, but merely my own top-of-mind fantasy-based stretch goals. Or BHAGs, if you will.
And why not? How many times must we be told that we put a man on the moon in less time than JFK’s challenge? How many times will we follow inadequate leadership before we ask our leaders to lead by following our lead? Isn’t that what representation really means?
If Vern Buchanan can't get in front of us with a specific agenda, then let's invite him to follow in our wake. Let's throw a few things at the wall and see what sticks. I'll go first:
Passenger Rail
What's the latest on passenger rail investment and project timelines? Do we want a rail hub at one of our I75 ramps? What spur transportation to SRQ International, downtown, hotels, beaches, etc. might we need or want in order to optimize this opportunity? If we want it, what cities are we fighting to get it? What are Sarasota's competitive differentiators?
BP Lemonade (a.k.a. the new Harvey Wallbanger)
Have any of our national representatives (or anyone, for that matter) approached Vengroff Williams Associates on taking on part or all of the BP payment/collections process? Does VWA want the business? Does Sarasota? I know I do. Sure, it'll spawn a few longish-term project-based jobs, and in the big picture I'd like to see one of our our local heros, Harvey Vengroff, given the opportunity to advocate for every compensation dollar due to every hotel owner, taxi driver and fisherman from Corpus Christi to Key West to Cuba. Vengroff has alread put his own assets to work for locals who need help either getting a good business idea moving or saving thier home. Those who think he and his firm are wrong for the national interest are wrong for Sarasota.
Perception Management
Have any of our national representatives suggested, applied for or created a revenue stream from the economic recovery funds, BP or whatever to FL13 marketing and advertising firms for a national communcation campaign to increase/restore long- and short-term tourism? We need marketing results that fix global perceptions of Florida as a hurricane-ravaged wasteland of spilled oil, tar balls and rotting toxic fish.
There is likely more Gerontology knowledge and experience in Sarasota than anywhere else in this country. As the Great Waldo Proffitt has said much better than I about the field:
- Gerontology is one of the least populated and practiced specializations in the US
- Gerontology is one of, if not the, most in-demand medical specializations today
- The demand for Geronotology is expected to grow exponentially in coming years
- Many patients who need the specialization do not even know it exists
- Medical professionals who know they need Gerontology expertise do not know where it is, who has it or how to get it
- Some medical professionals are not aware of the value Gerontology expertise can bring to their practices and thier patients' lives
There are a few of my ideas. Your turn. Come on, people, how hard can it be?
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