It is a sad commentary that we, the American public, can simply use social media to make claims that cannot be substantiated, and may in fact be false. It is even sadder that so many believe the claims.
People believe the claims because a.) they want to believe it or b.) they are clueless or c.) they don’t care about truth because it doesn’t fit their agenda. Or all three.
The latest claim, that developer-supported “thugs” have taken over Next Door social media to silence a candidate for SJC Commissioner who was ostensibly only posting a notice about a neighborhood Food Truck Friday, is really over-the-top.
The post carrying that claim goes on to say that “It’s imperative that we start looking NOW for a candidate for District 2 to run against developer-funded Commissioner Arnold in 2026.” Apparently, these folks making the claims really want a super-majority (majority + one) of “slow the development” commissioners. Could that be so they can bring in their own staff leadership?
Who uses this tactic?
Tactics like this aren’t new and generally, they are used by people who want power to propel a specific agenda – their own personal agenda. History shows examples of when propaganda caught the attention of people who were disenfranchised by their government. The propagandist, knowing full well that disenfranchisement could be a powerful tool, created enemies on whom the people could heap their hatred.
They used their communication tools to pour gasoline on the hatred, to the point where the people no longer used their own brain but became puppets of the propagandist.
The SJC Tactic
What is fascinating about the propagandist’s agenda here in St Johns County is that the “enemy” that has been created is the very industry that drives our economy – the land developers. The “slow-the-development” folks claim that the land developers themselves are evil.
These developers have been propagandized as paving over the County, as paying for elected officials to support them, as individuals with horns and a pitchfork.
We know that St Johns County has grown fast, and the infrastructure has not kept up. The current Board of County Commissioners knows that too and has worked diligently to use the law and Florida statutes to address the issue. That is the right way…the legal way…to make change in the government.
The reason it is the right way is because the County serves not just those residents who want “what used to be” but everyone including commercial business since that provides jobs and goods for residents. After all, this is huge and diverse county.
Where will SJC go now?
The Board of County Commissioners will turn over in less than a month. The Board will become a majority of “slow the growth” Commissioners.
This new Board may very well achieve what they campaigned on – slowing the growth. Most residents can probably relate to that. Everyone feels the effects of the explosive growth.
And the tactics were used simply in the name of gaining power so they could make changes quickly and boldly and have things their way. It will take years to determine if this approach helps or hurts the county.
And so, the question remains – will this “slow-the-growth” Board of County Commissioners put St Johns County in legal jeopardy as they fight the developer community? Let’s not forget, Florida law looks kindly on land developers.
Perhaps they will find loopholes in state law that can allow them to fulfill their campaign promise. Will that be the right thing for the whole County? How will that impact our economy?
The campaigns of this past year have been brutal. The lies about developer-funded commissioners have sullied the reputations of good public servants. They have fueled an angry mob that lashes out at fellow residents.
They have taken precious time at Board meetings to campaign while important business is pushed aside.
They have turned neighbors against each other, all in the name of wanting the power to do exactly as they want things to be done, without regard for anyone who doesn’t go along with the agenda.
The Tactics Worked – to a point
The propaganda spewed in social media seems to have worked, with the results detailed above.
The tactic has been used elsewhere with disastrous results. What might be the long-range result of these recent County tactics and propaganda?
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