The Rodney Mayo I Know
Posted by Sandy on January 18, 2023 · Leave a Comment
By nature, I am suspicious of government. I’m talking federal, state and city government. As I’ve written before. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason, whether good or bad. As the city is aware the court found on behalf of Keith James, and by the judge’s ruling the residents of West Palm Beach have lost.
Keith James, who the residents elected has done more harm to our city while Rodney Mayo has done nothing but help the residents who needed help the most.
During the coronavirus he fed the hungry and the homeless and kept his businesses open and running so his staff never went without a paycheck.
Keith James on the other hand shut down Henrietta Farms. A farm that was located in an area known as a food desert where the closest supermarket was two or three miles away, and people had no transportation to buy vegetables and fruit to feed their families.
After George Floyd was murdered by a police officer, people were protesting on Clematis St. It was a peaceful demonstration while protesters on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. were smashing windows at the Target store and burning vans that belonged to Best Buy. Thats where the trouble was, not on Clematis St.
Police chief Adderley notified the mayor at 8:00 o’clock on a Sunday night asking for a curfew. The mayor gave the chief what he wanted.
A curfew was to start at 9:00 o’clock Sunday night and end at 6:00 AM. When police officers with loudspeakers told the crowd to disperse because there was now a curfew in the city. Protesters were confused. Why are they breaking up the protests? Everything’s going fine. It was peaceful. It was friendly.
The crowd didn’t break up quick enough for the police and while dressed in riot gear they started firing rubber bullets, and set off canisters of tear gas, which only inflamed the protesters. When it was all over the police and the mayor denied using tear gas. They claimed they were using smoke bombs until Rodney Mayo showed the Police chief an empty canister of tear gas. The Chief admitted tear gas was used by accident as the canisters for tear gas and smoke bombs lookes the same. Mayor Keith James made no comment, or admitted a mistake was made.
The worst the protesters did was throw road signs into the into the middle of the road and threw rocks at the police. By the Grace of God, not one Police officer or protester was seriously injured. Our city got lucky that Sunday night. I share this story to lead up to what happened next between the police, the protesters and Ronnie Mayo.
In an attempt to make peace between the protesters and the police, Rodney Mayo applied for a permit to host a peace rally. The city told Rodney what had to be done to hold the event and he went above and beyond what the city required. He rented chairs, tables, tents, umbrellas. He supplied all the food and soft drinks, hired a band and then bring the police and the protesters together, for conversation and forgiveness. This is the Rodney Mayo I know.
A good plan was spoiled when Mayor Keith James cancelled the permit the day before the event. This is the Keith James that I know.
Well, no one heard the fat lady sing yet, so I guess it isn’t over. The good guys lost the first round, but regained their momentum and will be back in the fight to bring fairness and justice to the city of West Palm Beach. I hope residents stick with Rodney. You couldn’t do any better. Below is Rodney’s comment and explanation of recent events and plans going forward.
Rodney, my friend, word of advice. Watch your back and expect retaliation going forward. We all are aware how vindictive James can be when crossed or challenged.
There Should Be No Uncontested Elections in a Democracy!
“Unfortunately, despite our efforts, that is the result of the Judge’s decision today. One man made a decision today that led to our election on March 14th being canceled. Even saying our election is canceled seems discomfiting, but that is the result. The Judge ruled that I did not qualify as a candidate. Most of you know I was not excited about running for Mayor. However, I felt obligated to do so, witnessing the complete disregard for the citizens’ voice by our current Mayor.
Mayor Keith James and two of our commissioners, Shalonda Warren and Joseph Peduzzi, will go unopposed, and there will be no election. What is a democracy with no elections? What do these politicians have in common?
If a citizen like me who moved to Northwood in 1974, opened his first business in 1987 on Clematis street, has ten businesses operating in the city with an 11th on the way, owns several properties in the city, has started several local charities and helped assist folks who lost their income due to COVID when the city failed to do anything does not qualify to run for local office then what individual would?
Next time you see one of your commissioners, stop them and ask them if they have voted their conscience in every vote since they have been in office. Then, ask the commissioners to look in the mirror and ask the same question. If the answer is yes, then we deserve the politicians we elected. If the answer is no, vote them out no matter how many ads, mailers, or billboards they throw at you. Warning that’s only if you can if the election is not cancelled.
There is a common denominator with our Mayor and the two commissioners, as well as our other three commissioners, and that is unlimited access to money.
Most may not be aware, but there is a political consultant group called Cornerstone Solutions
https://www.csteam360.com/team that is responsible for getting Mayor Keith James and every one of our commissioners elected.
I was told 12 years ago that the Cornerstone group and influential developers had a 12-year plan to own this city by owning the Mayor and all the commissioners. I couldn’t believe it at the time, but almost exactly 12 years later, they own our city government. I would be remiss to mention that Judges are also elected officials; in this case, our Judge is up for election in 18 months. Does anyone want to make a friendly wager as to whether the Cornerstone Solutions group will handle his campaign? (see the list of Cornerstone Solutions candidates they are proud to list on their website)
It all comes down to money. Years ago, the average commissioner campaign was $30,000, and a mayoral campaign was $100,000. Thanks to Cornerstone Solutions, fueled by money from a few influential developers (if you want to know who they are, look at the cranes dotting our skyline), these numbers have ballooned to $150,000 and over $500,000. When I decided to enter this race and met with a few political campaign advisors, I was told, “money equals votes; are you willing to match your opponents’ money?”
Two things I have learned in the past 60 days running our “take the money out of politics campaign” are 1) the money Cornerstone Solutions and the developers threw at their hand-picked politicians have indeed scared off any potential opponents. 2) I have learned they are wrong; money does not buy votes!
Money and the threat of what it can do scare many qualified concerned righteous individuals from getting involved in politics leaving only unopposed candidates and no elections.
In the past 60 days, I went from thinking we had some chance of winning to, in the past two weeks, believing we would win this. Our grassroots campaign worked. Today we have over 500 volunteers signed up to help us change things for the better in our city. The outpouring of support was from all sectors and all communities. I was humbled by the people stopping by our campaign office and offering help, from the wealthy to the forgotten. We had a former homeless person that got himself off the streets wanting to help, a contractor who lost all income during Covid and had to rely on some of our food-giving efforts with H3, a grandmother who has been a resident for 60-plus years concerned about the high-rise proposed across her street and of course the traffic. All walks of life in our community wanted a change for the better. It has been truly inspiring.
I am fearful of many things to come. I’m afraid our out-of-control, laissez-faire attitude toward development will go unchecked. It is assured developers will get their way, and our skyline over the next four years will change dramatically. I am afraid more residents will be forced to move elsewhere as the rental rates continue to skyrocket; I am fearful that our forgotten communities will be wholly ignored until it’s time to bring in the bulldozers and hand the land over to the developers, I am afraid the small businesses will suffer and will be forced out in exchange for larger corporate operations that can pay the escalating rents, and I am fearful of retribution. Mayor Keith James is a vindictive person. Anyone who did not support him may suffer. Many folks stayed out of this race because of that fear. For those that stood up, we applaud you!
Many have asked me about appealing this case, and I have been advised it would not be a wise decision. In an appeal, I would be required to post a bond equal to an amount dictated by the city to cover the cost of an election. This could quickly run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, appeals take time to win and are a long process that must be expedited in time for March 14th.
What we are going to do is to start a petition to recall the Mayor. The required number of signatures needed is 3,500. We want to double that! We want to send a message that we want our city back! We deserve to have an election and have a choice in our future.
We will notify you shortly on how to sign the petition and share it with your neighbors.
So, will you join us? Will you help us? Let’s take back not only our city but our democracy. We have no choice for the sake of our city, communities and our future.
Our campaign slogan still stands.
Get Involved, Get Excited, Expect Change!
Thank You to all our Volunteers and our Amazing Team who stuck it out through thick and thin, Jody, Chris, Max, Lia, David, Maria, Adam, and a special thanks to my heroes, Sandy and Larry, who keep me going.
If you did contribute to our campaign and would like a refund, please message me and I will gladly return your donation.
