Commissioner Putz Writes Again

On November 11, Polk County, Florida, Commissioner Bill Braswell took yet another opportunity to punch down at his constituents over our understanding of tax breaks for corporations. He wrote a fairly long article about it in a hyperlocal newspaper, wherein he covered the superior revenue the county would make when a data center gets built into the Fort Meade area. In it, he also mentioned “how disconnected most citizens are from local government” and that we do not see “the larger picture.” He said that “people are busy living their lives” and that is why we don’t understand whatever “larger picture” he’s talking about. Really!?

When you, Braswell, say that “people are busy living their lives,” you are the one who doesn’t get the bigger picture. You see, us peons are not just “living” our lives, many of us are desperately hanging onto them, because of the incompetence of leaders like you.

Braswell said that the new data center represents $20-billion in capital investment as opposed to the “negligible” $4,000 in taxes that Polk is collecting now. If he only knew what a poor family of four in Polk could do with all that negligible money, which brings up the question: What are our commissioners planning to do with all that investment?

The only “larger picture” item Braswell mentions is increasing teacher pay. Oh, yes, and that the data center would create a whopping 50 jobs! Whoo-hoo!

Will everyone of those jobs go to a current Polk resident? Is there anybody who, right this minute, lives in Polk Country and is qualified for even one of those jobs?

Braswell also said that data centers do not attract huge numbers of semi-trucks into the construction area, which is pants-on-fire not true. Just watch the video here of one such center in Louisiana.

We already know that Braswell does not respect his constituents. He certainly doesn’t show it by the way he writes about us. Is it not likely that any of this $20-billion investment will go to those who actually need it because, you know, Braswell doesn’t like the poor? (As thought it is all their fault they are poor.) Will Braswell implement a plan to drive the nearly 1,000 homeless people on Polk streets on any given night towards permanent homes? Or, will they do something more like putting up a new minimum-wage-only sports arena to appease the masses?

How about those who are unable to work, for whatever reason: Will you help them out too with all that investment? Will Americans in Polk County see anything like free healthcare for all, or will you excuse yourself by calling it a federal issue?

Oh, tell us, Great Bill, the one who thinks he is smarter than Polk County residents, what are you planning to do with all that money?

Below is Bill’s letter. What a putz.