Commissioner Differs with Mayor Jacobs, Pushes County Role in Saving Tinker Field

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Watch: Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke differs with Mayor Teresa Jacobs and pushes a County role in saving historic Tinker Field. (video)

The Vice Mayor of Orange County was at odds with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs at the February 11th Board of County Commissioners meeting regarding the responsibility and role of the County in preserving historic Tinker Field.

“I think that we do have somewhat of a responsibility to see this through,” Commissioner Pete Clarke said during a Commissioner discussion. “I mean, we are partners with the City. We are partners in the Venues.”

Commissioner Clarke differed with Mayor Jacobs, who attempted to claim Orange County was powerless to do anything. She said that the County has no jurisdiction, despite the fact Orange County is funding and enabling all of the City of Orlando projects causing controversy. Jacobs also forgot that as Mayor, she has already sent hundreds of millions of dollars to the City — and we all know the City will need even more funding in the future for these very venues. When you pay the money, you control some strings.

“We are giving them hundreds of millions of dollars to build these venues and I think that it’s only fair for them to look at some of our constituents who have an issue with what they are doing and take that into consideration,” Commissioner Clarke added. “I don’t think that’s much to ask. I don’t think that’s much to ask at all.”

Commissioner Clarke has been the main local elected official championing and his January 31st memo to Jacobs spurred the discussion at the BCC meeting.

“I think we owe it to the community to preserve it.  It is a part of our history, our heritage. And if we do destroy it, it is never going to be recovered,” Commissioner Clarke declared at the meeting.

“At the end of the day, I would like to be able to engage with the City that we do preserve this. I know it is not our field, but we do represent people who live in this community. We saw people today from all over Orange County who have a history there and have a desire to see it saved. So I don’t think it’s out of our purview to continue to discuss it with the City, to continue be with a partner with them in trying to save it.”

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