A tale has played out in Boca Raton. Concerned citizens created the ‘Save Boca’ movement and defeated the entrenched political interests of Boca’s old guard. On election morning it became clear that voters had not been swayed by shiny flyers promising a utopian transit district. The final hand count of votes came down to single digits for mayor but when the dust settled it became clear – the residents had won.
Save Boca’s civic activists led the charge to reject the former mayor’s gold-plated plans to bestow a ninety-nine-year lease of public land to developer Terre Frisbee. Their vision for our city campus was a downtown metropolis with sky high buildings and bustling traffic that added a hotel, apartments, office and retail space crammed into 8 acres of public land.
The Save Boca vision is more in line with Addison Mizner’s dream of a beachside resort community where commerce supports residents and travelers. Public city buildings, parks and open space would serve the the public.
Simply put – the development vision is for continued growth for growth’s sake, while residents see a city that provides quality services and livability.
What do we do now?
Although we do not want to lose our hard-earned civic engagement, it might be time to take a deep breath and reflect upon the unity created by Save Boca. The city’s issues have not changed, we must deal with a neglected city hall, an outdated police station, an antiquated community center and a dated Memorial Park.
Remember, these are just a few of the challenges requiring the full attention of our freshman city council. Our patience and support will be needed to help nurture newbie council members, and ensure decisions made will focus on quality of life for Boca’s residents.
Our task remains the same, maintaining momentum and staying unified. Paramount to the cause of Save Boca is sharing information regarding city projects. The goal is worth the effort – to play a part in shaping the future of the city we all call home.
