Winton wants to get rid of problem appointees

From: Michelle Niemeyer 
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 9:33 AM
To: Miami City Commissioners
Subject: FW: Winton wants to get rid of problem appointees 5-26-05

Commissioner Winton,

I was shocked to learn that you have proposed legislation that makes it easier for you to remove advisory board members you appointed who disagree with you.  Working in a room full of “yes men” is not going to give you advice, but will only sustain your belief in a path others may think is wrong.   Differences in values and opinions are reflected in our community, and listening to them is what good government officials do to reach the decision that will best serve their community.  Aren’t the advisory boards supposed to be comprised of people who are experts in their fields to give you advice about their areas of expertise?  If that’s the case turning them into the court portraitist (the royal family was always painted to look beautiful even if they were truly unattractive) will not make better government and, just as the Queen will not become beautiful because her portrait says so, the result you want may not be the best one just because your “yes man” tells you it is. 

We elected you to be a leader, not a dictator.  If you listen to your advisors and still disagree, then you have the power to disregard their advice.  Firing them to replace them with people who always agree with you defeats the whole purpose of having advisors.  The members of the advisory boards will be afraid to give honest advice, qualified people won’t want to serve, and the advisory boards will become meaningless rubber stamping stops in the process of a wasteful bureaucracy.  If you are finding yourself badly out of synch with the advisors you have chosen, maybe you should consider whether you are also out of synch with the constituency you were elected to represent.  As one of your constituents who, by the way, did vote for you, I am extremely disappointed in this latest proposed legislation.

         Sincerely,

         Michelle Niemeyer
         Miami FL 33133