We are writing because we are unable to attend the upcoming public meeting on voting rights.
We have previously expressed to the mayor and commissioners that we were alarmed by a seeming rush to dilute the rights of current, often long-standing taxpayers and voters. (Whatever the political and legal justifications, that is, in point of fact, the effect of what is being proposed.)
The haste to pass these voting rights changes in the off-season with an initial lack of advance public notice made the motives and conflicts of some of its strongest advocates suspect. Finally, a bizarre initial suggestion to grant voting rights to even people with 30-day leases, hastily discarded in embarrassment, gave the entire proposal a whiff of giveaway (or payback) politics for the real estate industry and outside investors.
Recent and ongoing disputes over pools, noise, parking, overtaxed city services, and the proliferation of so-called mini motels in neighborhoods zoned residential all highlight inherent conflicts with outside investors. And, to be brutally honest, why should an outsider give a fig for the history, politics and neighborhood traditions of Rehoboth Beach? Even when our town's gold coast qualities - which were preserved and improved by the hard work of citizens, officials and city employees over time - are what attracted their investment? That is the ultimate question raised by your pending action.
If those hiding behind legal duck blinds in LLCs must now be granted the same voting rights as the rest of us, all of you in power must take responsibility that an essential change in the character of our community now faces us. We hope the new voters responsibly embrace citizenry and community. And we trust this dilution of existing voting rights is a one-time and final measure.
Stan and Betsey Heuisler
Rehoboth Beach
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