- March 22, 2025
Dear Editor:
Are we looking at a mayoral sinking ship? It’s not clear yet, but it sure is taking on a lot of water. With just a few months in his new role, Norris has racked up a lion's share of controversies including a serious ethics investigation, allegations of abusive and profane harassing interactions with city staff, anger management issues dealing with constituents, reckless unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, policy proposal missteps and flip-flops, etc.
There is not enough room in this letter to detail them all. Hopefully those following the local news reports have paid attention. But suffice it to say that a significant number of folks have lost confidence in his leadership. Those that did not originally support him now have “I told you so” bragging rights. And his more thoughtful and intuitive supporters may now be saying “oops” we blew it.
From the start, Norris was pretty much a one trick pony dwelling relentlessly on the rampant real estate developer hysteria that has taken over the city. In the 1950's, Joseph McCarthy inflamed the country with the “there’s a Red under every bed.” Now, according to Norris, there is a boogie man developer lurking in every city hall closet handing out bribes, sparking wild corruption conspiracy theories that have divided the city in much the same way they have sadly divided the country.
And, although the other controversies and allegations are very serious and potentially damaging to Norris and his future as mayor, this reckless fear mongering can linger and become the most divisive and damaging to the city in the long run if it remains a populist drumbeat.
Bob Gordon
Palm Coast
