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Former Village of Palmetto Bay Council members denounce the Village’s attempt to circumvent the “Shannon Melendi Law.”
We, the undersigned members of the original Village Council, respectfully request that this Village Council enforce The Shannon Melendi Act. We enacted this ordinance after careful deliberation which included hearing personally from the late Shannon Melendi’s family. Shannon, a college student who worked as a scorekeeper at youth softball games, was raped, murdered, and dismembered by a man who worked as an umpire. The emotion and testimony were heartbreaking and reinforced the necessity of finding out what type of person is working near children.
It was the obligation of the original Village Council to do everything possible for the safety of our children. It should remain the obligation of the current and successive councils.
Why is this ordinance so important? It takes a Village to raise a child. We believe that every child is important. Please review the “Whereas” clauses of Ordinance 08-10, known as the Shannon Melindi Act to understand our purpose in enacting this Ordinance as well as why we remain strong advocates for it.
It is our understanding that the Council intends to change the name of the ongoing weekly Farmers’ Market to a “festival” in an attempt to circumvent the provisions of this Act, so that vendors who are exposed to children in our parks do not need to have background checks. Changing the name does not change the fact that this is an ongoing weekly event where children are drawn to the parks and come into direct contact with these vendors. We have to wonder who the Council seeks to protect by not requiring background checks.
The State of Florida, through the Jessica Lunsford Act, requires background checks of school staff, volunteers, and even single-day event visitors such as presenters at their schools. If one of us wanted to volunteer at our own child’s or grandchild’s school, we would have to submit to a background check. Why should children within the Village of Palmetto Bay parks not be protected to this same extent? Are transient popcorn vendors less likely to be human traffickers than PTA moms?
This is not the time to act as if human trafficking or violence on children is not an issue. It is also not the time to play politics at the expense of children’s safety.
Respectfully submitted, as members of the original village council and strong supporters of The Shannon Melendi Act:
Signed by,
Former Vice-Mayor Linda Robinson
Former Councilman Paul Neidhart
Former Mayor Eugene Flinn
