With clipboard clutched in my hand, I set off down 2nd Street during the Seafood Festival yesterday to get as many signatures as possible for a petition.  At age 59, I'm convinced I've always been an activist on various issues....but was held back due to circumstances. 

During the mid and late 60's when my Baby Boomer friends were marching on college campuses and on Washington.....I was a young mom more involved with filling Playtex Nursers with Similac than I was with political and current events.  Oh, sure....I watched some of it on the News but my priority was more focused on choosing Beechnut or Gerber baby food.  I'd watch those college students protesting and demonstrating and I fleetingly envied them.  I envied them their passion....which I knew I had, but at that time in my life, my passion revolved around that 7 lb. 12 oz. bundle and all the care and responsibility that went with it.  But by the time I reached my mid-30's that passion began to emerge in a myriad of other ways......resuming my own education, seeing the world beyond the small scope that had enveloped me and social issues.  Since that time, more and more I speak up and speak out when the opportunity arises.  But that opportunity had never involved anything beyond the verbal......until recently. 

When we moved to this island 18 months ago, we knew the taxes here would be double what we were paying in New Port Richey.  Fortunately, we were able to handle that.  My thinking was hey, it's an island, it's gorgeous, it's paradise.....you get what you pay for.  And then I began to hear the horror stories of people that had lived here through 5 generations being forced out due to the horrific tax increases.  Property that was paid for many years ago didn't guarantee these people any security.  Why?  Because the taxes were becoming so unrealistic, they simply couldn't afford to live here anymore.  Plain and simple.  Now I don't know about you.....but I found a real problem with this.  And I think it's pretty simple to see that the main reason is because of the greedy, shark, developers that would just love to come in here and turn our slice of paradise into a paradise reaping mega dollar signs into their bank accounts.  One of the things I loved about Cedar Key when beginning to visit here 15 years ago was the strength of the people.  The strength, the resilience and the determination.  Brought about by many years of pitching in and coming together as a group.  Most of which have always made their living from the water.  Cedar Key is a small fishing village.  So despite what many might think..... for generations, living on waterfront property hasn't been a luxury for them.....it's a necessity and their livelihood.  And yet.....developers would love to take this away from them.

And just to clarify, this tax increase is of course throughout Levy County, not just Cedar Key.  After a meeting where tax payers stood up and offered realistic solutions for the proposed property tax, the County Commissioners, with no debate, voted on their proposed token 1 point roll-back of the mill-rate.  This amounts to an outrageous 43% increase in revenue over the previous year!  Most of Levy County is asking....when was the last time YOU had a 43% raise?

What's being proposed is a 26% increase...mind you, this is down from the original proposal of 32%.  And just to put this in a better perspective.....my friend and hairdresser, Dottie, has a mother living here on the island.  Dottie is 5th generation.....all born and raised here.  Her elderly mother now resides in a very small house that's in need of major repairs.....so no, it's far from anything you'd probably even consider purchasing.  And no....it's not even waterfront.  And what are her proposed taxes?  $10,800.....yes.  Ten thousand, eight hundred dollars a year!  This small house sits on one acre of property.....property that's been in her family for those 5 generations.  But some developer sees a golden opportunity here.....well, hell, they could squeeze 12 condos on that property, couldn't they?

And so....like many times in the past, the people of Levy County and specifically, Cedar Key, are banding together, standing up, making their voices heard.  And I'm very proud to say that yesterday I was one of them.  The purpose of the petitions is to "Oust/Fire" the Property Appraiser and the elected commissioners.  Since the Governor is the only person that can achieve this goal, the petitions collected this weekend will be presented  to our soon-to-be-elected in-coming Governor. 

And I'll leave you with a quote from Abraham Lincoln that I think says it all......"No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent."

The people of Cedar Key do NOT consent........wish us luck.