NNNO: Tops or Flops?

By Linda McKinney

August 3^rd’s National Neighborhood Nite Out “event” at the PSJ Community Center was publicized as having a lot of things going on. It was supposed to have demonstrations; McGruff, the Crime Dog; lots of fun and games, like last year’s event.

This year, however, people stayed away in droves. McGruff didn’t show, nor did any Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputies. Parents came to watch their children perform, some ate a hotdog or two, then they all left. There were times the Community Center seemed like a ghost town. And the weather can’t be blamed because it was worse weather last year than this year.

Politicians were all over the place at last year’s NNNO. This year the sole politician to show up was County Commission candidate for District 1, Jeff Rainey, and his campaign manager, Al Barrett. According to my sources, after getting her ear bent by someone in the kitchen, PSJHOA President, Helen Dezendorf, told Rainey that they would have to leave, and then said they could stay, but couldn’t campaign.

Al Barrett said, “Jeff and I were very surprised by the greeting we received from Helen Dezendorf. We understand, though, that she is not typical of the great people of Port St. John. Jeff is looking forward to hearing from all of the people of the area, not just the small group who have the present Commissioner’s ear at this time.” Candidate Rainey obviously believes the PSJ vote is important enough to make the effort  [to] visit our community.

Can anyone remember what the PSJHOA homepage says about a friendly neighborhood? Has the PSJHOA leadership forgotten that part? And have they forgotten the “Free Speech” part of the First Amendment yet again? What if Jeff Rainey’s attendance at the “event” could have brought more people in?

Last year’s event had many local businesses participating: Laggoonz, McCotter Ford, Domino’s Pizza, BJ’s Wholesale, Winn-Dixie, Subway and many door prize donations from local businesses (source: PSJHOA Newsletter dated September 2003). The announced neighborhood businesses that supported this year’s event: Publix and Laggoonz for food donations. However, a generous children’s prize contribution of $100 by the PSJ Bulletin was refused .

This year’s lack of an event (if I may call it that) begs several questions:

1)      Is the PSJHOA’s reputation getting worse and preventing the public from wanting to associate with them?

2)      Is the PSJHOA’s reputation preventing support from local businesses?

3)      Is the PSJHOA’s reputation being helped by the leadership asking people not to speak, take notes and barring them from public meetings?

4)      Is the PSJHOA’s reputation what you think it deserves to be?

5)      What will next year’s NNNO event be like if the same people are in leadership positions within the PSJHOA? Will anyone show up at all?

The PJSHOA’s NNNO “event”: which was it? Was it Tops? Or did it Flop?