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Open Letter to Southside: Residents Called to Action

While the city has "done quite a bit in the last few years, we know there is still more to do and we want to hear from all of you who have invested so much of yourselves in this great historical area ..." Commissioner Julie Ward Bujalski writes.

 

Dunedin’s Southside is one of our oldest and dearest neighborhoods. While it doesn’t necessarily have a defined boundary like some neighborhoods, it does have wonderful people with strong connections to their neighbors. 

Folks have created their own mini-neighborhoods within the Southside, generally by a street or group of streets. There are a mix of retired seniors and young families just getting started and the folks that live there are culturally diverse. But the most important attribute these residents have is pride in their neighborhood.

Over the past few years, we’ve heard from many in this area of the city. We heard about the need for better drainage, lighting, safety, recreation, code enforcement, and the list goes on.

We started out by having a group of Southside Neighborhood meetings. We received some great feedback and took action on many items. We increased targeted law enforcement, completed several major drainage projects, reconstructed some roads where needed and added sidewalks where desired. We worked to add the PAL (Police Athletic League) program at Dunedin Highland Middle School, added a playground at the library, and are presently working Patricia and South Douglas avenue beautification projects.

While we have done quite a bit in the last few years, we know there is still more to do and we want to hear from all of you who have invested so much of yourselves in this great historical area of our city. 

Please join us next week on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hale Senior Activity Center on Douglas Avenue for our latest Southside Town Hall meeting.  We will discuss drainage and street projects, safety issues, neighborhood watch opportunities, code enforcement and foreclosure problems, Dunedin Highland Middle School’s progress, recreation needs, and beautification projects. 

Attendees will have plenty of time to express their concerns and future needs on all of these issues. We’ve also invited officials from the City of Clearwater to join us so that they can hear directly from you about your concerns around Union Street. 

The most important element of this meeting is you!    

Come work with us to make our Southside an even better place to live.

P.S. Got kids? No worries. We’ll provide onsite babysitting. Worried about dinner?  We’ve got that covered, too. Hot Dogs, chips, and drinks will be served.  

Related Topics: Public Safety and Southside Dunedin

Stacy Rush

9:43 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

We will be there. Many neighbors had not been aware of meeting are informed now. We are proud of our city. Thank you Julie for getting message out.

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Julie Ward Bujalski

1:00 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

No problem Stacy. I know you'll work hard to get the word out and it's greatly appreciated.

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Ron Barnette

6:11 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Nice message, Julie, as residents' involvements in their communityis cenral to our city's improvements for their quality of life and prosperity. Please express my regret for being unable to attend this meeting, as I will be out of town for a previous guest lecture I'm scheduled to deliver at my former university in Georgia. Needless to add, though, is my dedication to the enrichment of our wonderful Southside, as I will continue to work closely on their behalf with our City Commission. I appreciate your assistance with this.
Thank you much,
Ron Barnette
Dunedin City Commissioner and Vice-Mayor

James T Bryson

7:51 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Whoa! Easy on the spin. That description is a self-serving fiction. Request you review the video from the NOV 2009 commission meeting where Dave Eggers appointed an organizer/area spokesperson without any public discussion of the propriety of that appointment. Later Dunedin residents would learn this appointee was a former city employee, who was known to be a longterm- domestic partner with a current city employee. The hints of misrepresentation and conflict of interest had a profoundly negative effect on meaningful communication with the city. As you move into this NOV 13 meeting, an opportunity exists to invest in honest dialog. Recommend you give it a try.

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Julie Ward Bujalski

4:15 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Thank you for your feedback James. The person you are referring to volunteered to try and rally her local area. There was no official appointment made. We would be more than happy to support you to do so as well. I look forward to that honest dialog and would happy to meet with you after the meeting with any of your concerns. Kind Regards, Julie

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Lori

10:03 am on Monday, November 12, 2012

City of Dunedin...HONEST?! Yea, hot bed of deceit...Good suggestion tho.

-Ed Harris-

2:22 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Mr Bryson, while I agree with you that it is a bit early to be handing out hand shakes and kisses, also agreeing conflicts of interest should always be avoided.
However, it is a good sign that Julie, Julie, Dave, Ron and Heather are all are taking a renewed interest in improving the Southside of Dunedin, this is a first step for the new commission with hopefully many to follow and build on the good that has been done in the past.
As for the appointee you mentioned and their private life, it has no bearing on anything and for you to state, "who was known to be a longterm- domestic partner with a current city employee." is not only offensive but will tend to cause most to disregard the remaining points you have made. If you do not like Domestic Partnerships then don't engage in one, why bring it up. As for working for the city? So what! That simply means the person has already had their background checked and are worthy to of worked for the city, which should be seen as a good thing. A conflict cannot be based on religion, race, sexual preference, gender or age and especially if someone is in a domestic partnership.
This is a new day for Dunedin, the voting is over, people have spoken and it's time to move forward together, all of us, residents and business owners alike for a better Dunedin. Keeping a mindful eye is great but we all need to give the new commission a chance to run with ideas and try new things. If it does not work we start over or try another idea.

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James T Bryson

4:34 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012

Appointing "former employees" who have a interpersonal relationship with "current city employees" is laden with conflict of interest...especially, if the current employee has frequent contact with the commissioner who made the appointment. You kind of wandered off point.

Melissa

9:29 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012

It is so obvious, it is campaign time for some people, l need your vote in the future - combing this website as a vehicle to find disgruntled people

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Lori

10:03 am on Monday, November 12, 2012

Sooo...Is the NEW 11/11 ARMED BURGLARY in Dunedin going to be discussed at the all important meeting?!!!!

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Jake Mackinhanan

10:42 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012

You people amaze me! Crime usually occurs in low income/poverty areas. South Dunedin is just that, coupled with the fact South Dunedin borders North Clearwater, which is also low income/poverty area. The SCUM that live in these areas are lazy, jobless and SELL DRUGS! and ARM themselves while committing a BURGLARY Lori! The Sheriff's Office can only do so much, which was what was told to you at the meeting. You people should step back a few steps and work with the Sheriff instead of bashing him and his Deputies. The drug problem will never go away, never!

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Lori

12:23 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

S^%$W you Jake....MY NEIGBORS AND I ARE NOT LOW INCOME NOT DRUG DEALERS AND LAZY JOBLESS....! LEO can only do so much? They haven't done CRAP!

connie brown

6:56 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Connnie
You know Jake there is medicine that can help you control those outbursts. May you never be humbled enough to need help from the folks you refer to as Scum. Get a health check up and try to be kinder to your fellow man.

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