Think I'll pass on the conventions

Let’s see how this goes.

Going to be honest: By late Tuesday afternoon, I’d given up any hope of stringing together any cogent message today. That makes it a rambling thought day:

— What I’m not doing this week: Watching the Republican National Convention. Don’t take it personally, GOPers. I won’t watch the Democratic convention either.

---

Never been a convention fan. For years as a Chronicle reporter, I attended the annual Citrus County pep rallies of both parties. Republicans have a Lincoln Day Dinner. Democrats, it’s the Unity Dinner.

Both have the same purpose: Pump us up while tearing them down.

I’m not raining on their parades. Conventions and county political party events encourage the membership and gets people involved. I’m all for that.

It’s the chest-thumping that bugs me. Last I checked, neither political party is doing a stellar job in the leadership department. These things always seem like sleight-of-hand to me.

I’m not totally shut off to the process. I’ll plan to watch Donald Trump’s and Joe Biden’s speeches. The rest of it is just window dressing.

Today’s photo, by the way, comes from Citrus County Republican Chairman Mike Moberley (top far left), a delegate to the convention in Milwaukee. That’s the former president’s son, Eric, casting Florida’s 125-delegate vote.

— I heard Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach mention on the campaign trail that the proposed development off Cardinal Street near the Suncoast Parkway would be perfect for affordable apartments (she uses a phrase other than “affordable” that means the EXACT same thing but is easier on sensitive ears).

Two things about this idea.

One, the county has no “affordable housing” zoning. We have multi-family zoning, which is where apartments and townhomes come from. And, yeah, it certainly seems logical that apartments are more affordable than a new house.

But it’s no guarantee. And this developer can talk all he wants about building an affordable place for teachers, sheriff’s deputies, and healthcare workers. Unless the county can set rent limits through the planned development process — I’ve never even heard that subject broached — this is just another developer looking to make a buck off Citrus County.

Don’t talk to us about the need for apartments for teachers, and then approve a development that sets rents higher than Citrus County teachers can afford.

That’s the first thing. The second is one I’ve mentioned previously: This is a terrible location for new development.

The ONLY reason anyone wants to build houses there is because of the Suncoast Parkway interchange. That is not a good reason for development on a rural stretch of roadway. There has been no discussion on the County Commission’s part about fallout of allowing development on Cardinal. 

I realize growth is coming at Citrus fast and furious, but for crying out loud, let’s get a handle on it where we can, OK? Any commissioner who supports a multi-hundred home development on Cardinal better be able to explain why.

(I'm not without solutions. Great location for workforce housing? C.R. 486 at the parkway interchange. On a major four-lane road, close to shopping and medical facilities.)

— Congrats to those Floridians who correctly knew the location of Tuesday’s JWC photo: Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, site of the annual Epiphany Cross Dive. There is much beauty in Tarpon Springs away from the touristy sponge docks.

— My routine is totally messed up. Buddy had been with me for just six months (not counting the first few hectic potty-training weeks), but we had a schedule.

I leave the house most mornings at 7 to visit with friends, and always made sure I was back by 10 to feed Buddy and take him for a walk. Then I’d get some work done until around 2, when it’s walk time again. Feed/walk again around 5:30. Another stroll at dusk.

He rarely whined or barked, but he’d let me know when it was time to wrap up the day’s work. I’d be furiously writing and see him walking over around 7 p.m. with that, “OK, you’re done” look on his mug.

I suddenly now find myself with large pockets of nothingness during the day. While I appreciate suggestions to bring in Buddy 2, we’re just going to let that sit and see what happens organically. I wasn’t looking for a pet when I found Buddy. God provided him to me. 

I’m not on my game, I can feel it. It might take a while. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit.

Have a great Wednesday, friends.

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