By Brad West
I wanted to take a moment to express how utterly irresponsible and how much of an embarrassment to this community your behavior was at the recent State of the City, as it has been since you took your seat on the Palm Coast City Council.
What this community witnessed on April 10 at the State of the City was a spectacle best described as a childish temper tantrum. That event is intended to highlight city achievements within the community to residents. But it is often used by businesses considering coming here. So to use that event to air your personal grievances did a disservice to every single resident of this community and those actually working to bring businesses and organizations here–in other words, doing the very thing you claim to want to do.
Yes, we have challenges. We always have and we always will. Show us a community that doesn’t have challenges. It is important to be honest about that. But unlike past mayors, you missed a key opportunity to highlight what the city is doing to address those challenges. Instead you chose to just complain. What does that gain anyone?
You are not “president of Palm Coast.” You are one seat and one vote on our Council–a Council right now consisting of three other members working very hard to do what is best for this community, with no help from you.
While they were working to find ways to reduce the water rate increases and debt load, you were busy trying to boost your embattled political popularity by pulling a ridiculous “moratorium” stunt. While they travelled to Tallahassee advocating for this community for state support you hid here in your home. And while they and the city administration were working hard to present to the community and outsiders who we are, where we are, and where we are going, you stood up before cameras and audiences and disgraced your fellow Council members, city staff, and community members.
You are not a victim of anything other than of your own actions. The complaints against you are worrisome: Good that city staff had the courage to speak up. Good for Council Member Charles Gambaro and local media for bringing the allegations to light for public awareness. Good for the Council Members that supported investigating these matters further, ensuring due process and giving you the chance either to clear your name or be held accountable.
It is absurd to suggest that anyone is conspiring against you. Your position and role do not afford you, any elected official or anyone in a position of leadership the right to abuse, harass, and demean others or be above accountability. Even accepting your claim that there was no malice behind your misfiring “jokes” and demeaning statements, it isn’t others’ responsibility to accommodate your strange brand of humor or misplaced exercises of authority as it is your responsibility to control yourself and maintain professionalism in all circumstances.
You are not a victim of past councils and others that you keep insisting “failed” this community. The past councils since incorporation in 1999 have all faced enormous challenges and have done a great deal of hard work to bring us to the point we are today. To suggest nothing has been done in the past 25 years is utterly absurd and completely false, to not say contradictory of your own reverence for the city you call home.
I have seen all that’s been accomplished in the 21 years I’ve lived in Palm Coast. Yes, there is more to do and there will always be more to do. That is simply the nature of cities and communities. It never stops. There’s no such thing as taking a breather so we can catch up. One of the best lessons I learned in life, that you might want to give some thought to, is that when you point the finger at others for your problems, three fingers point back at you.
Enough is enough. You raised your hand to be elected mayor and you were. The position calls for selflessness and service to community, not catering to your ego, bowing to your agenda, or allowing you to be above accountability.
You have a choice to make at this point. The responsible and mature thing to do is to truly ask yourself if you are honestly up to and able to fulfill the duties of your position on the council, to serve this community to the best of your ability, and to do so within the requirements of the city charter.
Because that is what the residents and the hard-working business community are entitled to from their mayor, a title you have been bearing neither honorably nor responsibly on their behalf.
Brad West is a Palm Coast resident.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Thank you! Can’t agree with you more. You cant hide from the truth.
Jackson says
Total disgrace.
We can do better!
Gooze says
Isn’t this written by a guy that quit on Palm Coast too?
Cisco Williams says
my only comment is maybe the original charter might need to be amended to give the council more control of the day to day management of the city, and also put more scrutiny on the council also on their votes to see if they are under the influence of any corporate persuasion that is allowed under Florida law now, because they are not representing the majority of the voters in Palmcoast. The whole city departments probably should be scrutinized to see if they could be reduced in their budgets and their productivity in their workforce and their purchasing budgets,even the Sheriff Department that Palmcoast mostly pays for because alot of our future debts could be paid for by savings today and strengthen our reserves and reallocation of budget dollars today. The city today and it’s departments are like kids at Christmas when requesting their budgets asking like spoiled rich kids,but a recession could be right around the corner where the savings will be needed more,so amend the charter where everything is open to the council and the citizens to see where everyone of their tax dollars are being spent on,so let the sun shine on our government here in the sunshine state.
John Walsh says
Brad, Bravo.
John
FlaglerLive says
Brad West was a senior communications officer with the city between 2020 and 2021.
YankeeExPat says
Presidente de Palm Coast!, …………got to love it, …how Trumpinian !
Charlie N says
Just one man’s opinion.
I’ll leave it as that.
PeachesMcGee says
Brad, I love you and want a million of your babies!
Hunter says
Look at the salaries of our local government in 2024, which are 30 percent higher than Florida state average. That’s what we should be worried about, where our taxes go, not partisan intrigue.
https://govsalaries.com/salaries/FL/city-of-palm-coast
Annoyed Resident says
The moratorium is not a stunt,it’s something that is definitely needed in this city! Stand up to these developers and certain politicians who favor them. Stop letting them rule this city! Kudos to you Mr Mayor and continue doing your job at your best!
NJ says
The SWAMP Leadership in Palm Coast and Flagler County NEEDS to be REMOVED!! Common Sense Leadership is the only answer to SAVE us Taxpayers from the Greedy Swamp Peddlers! Mayor Norris has the Strength to us the TRUTH about the “Mistakes of Past Leadership” that are forcing Palm Coast/Flagler County to be known as the “SHIT HOLE” of Florida! MY God, what SHIT4BRAINS votes for more house lots when there is NO place to receive their Waste Water? We can thank the last Mayor and Vice Mayor for DESTROYING the Quality of Life in Palm Coast! Trump should DEMAND that the RINO former Vice Mayor RESIGN from the Trump Club!
Justbob says
Time to say so long… happy trails to Mr. Mayor.
MAGGIE M. says
Thank you Brad West. This is exactly how many of us feel. We knew he was trouble from the beginning, but as Palm Coast is a MAGA town, he got voted in. Hopefully he will do the right thing (just this once) and resign. I don’t know what he was thinking when he attacked everyone, the Council, his co-workers, city employees, and residents of Palm Coast, I mean seriously, what WAS he thinking. He has admitted to having “anger issues”, and also PTSD, perhaps we can blame his actions on those things, but, if that is so, he really needs to accept his limits as our Mayor, and leave office as gracefully as he can. His need to be leader, king, and ruler over the city is quite obvious. His support, are the radical right people who will do anything to keep him in office. I find, he and them a little intimidating as you never know how far they will go to keep control.
blondee says
Mayor Norris is not afraid to tell it like it is. Finally we have a mayor with some b*lls and who isn’t in the developers pockets.
Villein says
The feigned moratorium is the only thing I like about this guy. We all see everyday we leave our homes the enshitification of palm coast due to lack of planning by every previous council. If the growth had been better managed, the juice would have been worth the squeeze. As it is, the developers have drank the juice while the long term residents have gotten squeezed.
Ironically, the moratorium is coming as a recession, or possibly depression, is brewing. Perhaps Bunnell, Flagler Beach, and the County can learn from the consequences of not properly planning, funding, and managing growth. But that probably will not figure into their short term mindset.
Critical Eye says
Brad West every word you wrote is true. I would like to say Thank you for your clarity and honesty
Mike Norris. The answer is easy if you take it logically
I’d like to help you in your struggle to be free from all your troubles
It’s easy for you to do.
We won’t miss you
Slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don’t need to be coy, Roy
You just listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
Jump in your truck Chuck
Ride your bike Mike
You don’t need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
Adios Muchacho!
Hammock Bear says
“Maga Town, Moratorium, radical right people, are just a few of the descriptions in the comments here with the letter to the Mayor.
The builders with their big ole dump trucks all lined up to greet all who went to attend a public meeting. Appears the Mayor has hit a few nerves and that is a good thing. The reactions are hateful and ignorant. Seems many were never taught the meaning of Respect. Time to stand tall and get to work on the many items of Palm Coast’s needs for now and the future and do so in the manner of respect for each other. Name calling is for grade school and it is time for Adulthood. I add that Pierre works hard at Flagler Live and allows our comments. Time to show him some gratitude and thanks for all he does for Palm Coast and Flagler County. Play nice folks. This is not dress rehearsal.
Greg says
We love Palm Coast so much, we just listed our home for sale. Just hope it sells so we can leave
Rm says
Mr. Norris stood up to serve the people’s and his concerns. Mr Norris I want to thank you for serving. In a world that that does not allow TRUTH, to be spoken, but excepts the lies for truth, this is exactly what God said, would happen in the end times. In a city of self serving developers, Mr. Norris you tried and they shut you down out of fear of what would be revealed. If everything is on the up and up why the attacks on one man asking for review for building and a city audit. I have been here 4 years and watched the green areas be bulldozed down. I don’t recognize this city. The city says imagine 2050, they have sold their souls , left any morals they had on the table, and joined the agenda of lies setting this city up for the global agenda whether they realize it or not. How weak we have become as individuals, not willing to take a stand for the Truth! If you don’t stand for Truth now when will you? So look to the one that will Rule and Reign one day. HIS name is Jesus. HE sees the hearts of man and will judge accordingly. I pray for those in office not to be manipulated by power and money. Very disappointed !
Rm says
I Disagree, takes courage to speak Truth of where the city is at. You can dress up a pig but it is still a pig. Keep speaking Truth Mayor. You can’t fix a problem without understanding who, what, and when and assessing the damage, in order to make corrections and change the direction of the city. For all city leaders you have a hard job but do what is right for all the people.
James says
The mayor is paranoid?…
When the city council proposes a building moratorium and the city hall parking lot is full of dump trucks on the morning of the vote?
That there is some kind desperate “last push” to develop whatever and where ever one can?…
When a house being built a few blocks over had a crew of over ten laying down cement block on a slab that had just been poured two days earlier?… Across the street from a newly constructed home that has been sitting empty and apparently unsold for months now?
celia pugliese says
Enough is Enough of you Brad West always in the opposite side of what we the residents need and your favor /push of what is “conveniently wanted” by special interest aka developers, builders, their contractors and their influenced city administrators!
Your only goal thru the years in our city has been mouth piecing in pursuit of also a high paid one more “do nothing” seat ;like you had in 2021 after doing the same thing as you do in this ridiculous attack letter against our Mayor just for telling it like it is! Too bad for Pierre this time affording you the lime light of a Head Liner unfair diatribe editorial. One more time we disagree Pierre! Takes a lot of courage for a mayor to step over the boundaries of political correctness and speak the truth. Same courage that takes me to post with my name and not punch and hide like some cowards behind aliases. This mayor is really shaking the so called “stake holders” floors as he and we, his electorate, moved the local builders, that have made themselves wealthy thanks to Palmcoasters, to show and park their heavy equipment taking up needed parking spots for those unusual amounts residents showed in support of the mayor in that past meeting. Never seeing before such push against a Mayor Moratorium proposal. Meanwhile at the same meeting myself at 81 years old attending shockingly, found parking restricted to the west of city hall and roped under a frivolous excuse by the city administrators that I pointed to city manager while lining up long wait to enter city hall given the crowd and was resolved. Really were the political correctness was erased by association to discourage residents attending the meeting in support of Mayor Norris. Same lack of civil responsibility of an individual to his fellow Palmcoasters that voted and support a Mayor that is working hard to achieve needed clean house. The audacity of the city staff is shown with our displeasure in the State of the City video placing a so far till now controversial non elected cand disliked councilman first on it. Probably if he will be in the ballot today will be defeated. But current city staff arrogance has free reign upsetting the very hand the feeds them. Brad you still looking to convince the city administrators to rehire you? Maybe you need to run for office so finally feel the wrath of what you sow among Palmcoasters. Keep up the good work Mayor while hearing us, as you did with the Fuel Farm, error of judgement as no one perfect. Also please lets keep those speed humps installed that took us 15 years of city council pleads to achieve as mostly the same city elements want to remove now! The city has become a Daytona speedway and just a 65 y/o was killed by a 19 y/o speeding and passing in double yellow line in Belle Terre. Accidents and speeders daily are a safety issue and when Speed Humps or other items deemed needed and installed they should stay!
Survival-Choice says
Wow, I’ve been in Palm Coast since the 1990s and I heard all the promises made to entice voters to vote to become a city. “All existing residential neighborhoods would be (PROTECTED).” Really! Are all those existing neighborhoods, now have well-kept residential roads and still have the peace and quiet you once had? If you don’t then it must be your fault! Mike was pointing this out, that there are too many that wants to make the city the victim and prior existing residents as collateral damage. Founding residents that help Palm Coast get established are now asked to fund more and more for possible new residents to the point it is making it impossible for them to survive here. Mike sees this and has the courage to speak up. All I can say, we are not collateral damage, we are the victims of those that see growth “”as a means of their survival”” and will fight for it at the expense of others. Those are the choices the leaders have left us; Mike is courageous to lay it out. Help residents exist and survive or help growth continue its destructive course.
Critical Eye says
Celia Pugliese. Enough is Enough of you!!!. Clearly you are full of hate for Palm Coast and everything in it just like Norris. Brad West is spot on. I admire is knowledge of the inner workings of Palm Coast. You shouldn’t be so obvious with your jealousy of Brad it really doesn’t suit you well at all. In fact it shows you lack of maturity and communication skills. Through all the years I have read your posts here and on other public platforms you do nothing but speak of your hatred for Palm Coast and all the wonderful things that have been done making it a wonderful place and destination for others . Anyone that disagrees with you do everything you can to undermine their position and integrity. You attract full force with childish name calling and telling falsehoods and giving misinformation. You and Norris are two peas in a pod. With no respect for your fellow citizens Always looking to start trouble where there isn’t any point. No evidence to support your illogical claims. Do the city and citizens a favor for once, pack your bags and leave this town you find so disgusting and dangerous.
You brag about how wonderful and better Arizona is where your son lives. Move out there!!! You won’t be missed here at all. You should watch yourself speaking at the city council meetings on YouTube. Barnum and Bailey are waiting for the two of you . 🤡 🤡
BuBye Celia and Mike.