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How do you send a message of discontent when the only available option is a nuclear bomb?

This is the dilemma I face with BREC’s request that we renew its 10-year, 3.96 mill property tax. It’s a bill we’ve been paying for years, and it’s one that funds about half of the recreation department’s operating budget. It’s not about building new parks or splash ponds, but cutting the grass and paying the light bill.

In short, it’s money BREC has got to have if we’re to have the kind of vibrant parks system that’s so important to our quality of life and economic development efforts.

On the other hand, the political shenanigans that continue from certain BREC commissioners and the Metro Council goons who view BREC as their personal political playground have got to be stopped—like, yesterday.

Here’s the truth: There’s no way to stop them short of the Armageddon of not renewing BREC’s tax.

You tell me how to get rid of “the nut job,” formerly known as Darrell Glasper. The public doesn’t get to vote yea or nay on “the nut job”—he’s appointed. Forget that “the nut job” is the only commission member lobbying against this tax renewal, my issue is he’s been creating havoc and discontent since the day the Metro Council put him there.

So why not vote out the council member responsible for “the nut job?” Great, except I no longer live in Byron Sharper’s district and I’m not willing to move back in just to take Sharper out.

And what am I supposed to do about that wild and crazy guy named Wayne “Spider” Carter? The councilman who wants to be our Ag Commissioner is as scary as his nickname. I give Carter credit for this much: He makes no secret about his vendettas and executes them with stunning precision. He wanted friend-turned-enemy Danny Spencer off BREC and—wham!—he’s gone. He wanted new friend-turned-campaign treasurer Dan Kyle on BREC’s commission and—bam!—he’s on. He vowed to remove Carroll Breeden and—thank you ma’am!—the term-limited commissioner, who had public support from numerous council members, only received one vote. (I could care less that Breeden was removed, he was term-limited. My concern is the method of execution.)

I don’t live in Spider’s web and have zero desire to move into his district, so how do I get him off the Metro Council? At least his ego is huge enough to believe he’s ready for statewide office.

Seriously, is it really right for me to have to move from one single-member district to the next voting against Metro Council members to make a point? Especially when the point in this case is BREC?

I’ve had numerous discussions with BREC Chairman Collis Temple and BREC Superintendent Bill Palmer on this issue. And every time we meet they assure me the situation is improving. And to some degree they’re right. But there still are problems, and what if the relative calm of today exists only until the tax is passed?

The nut jobs and Spiders may be the symptoms, but the disease is a hopelessly flawed system.

As long as I can only vote for one council member who represents my district, government entities with taxing authority, like BREC and the Public Library system, should have board members or commissioners elected by a vote of the people. (Parishwide, by the way, not single-member districts.)

But until that happens the only way to let BREC and the Metro Council know we’re mad as hell is to vote down a key tax.

That’s why I will vote not to renew the BREC tax. It’s a painful decision but a clear message must be sent: business as usual ain’t cutting it anymore.

If the tax goes down to defeat this Saturday, I will vote for it a few months later when it goes back on the ballot.

My goal isn’t to shutter BREC, but rather simply to send a message.

It’s not my fault the only effective method of delivery is to drop the big one.