Voting and Citizenship
If you are reading this on or before November 4, please tell everyone you know to vote on November 4. If you are reading this after November 4, no matter who has won, it is time to move on as a nation and as a community.
I recently attended the Congressional debate at the Center for the Arts, and I was disappointed. The rules for the crowd called for us not to clap, cheer or jeer. Despite repeated efforts by the moderator, there were enough people in the audience that expressed their passion disrespectfully on several occasions. If you are one of those disrespectful attendees shame on you. On the other hand, I appreciate the vast majority who attended and were respectful of all five candidates. Thank you also to the League of Women Voters and to the City's Customer-Involved Government Committee for sponsoring the debate and to the Center for the Arts for being a great host.
Unfortunately, we're all facing these tough economic times. Fortunately, we have an opportunity to band together to face these economic challenges as one community and help one another. Our city, along with other community partners, want to help business owners thrive in tough market conditions and beyond. The Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation has called 60 business owners who confirmed survey results about types of services they want from the City. These services include: business planning, marketing, obtaining capital, creating networking opportunities and forming strategic alliances.
Soon, business owners (including those that work outside of the City) will be able to go online to the City and EDF web sites to obtain valuable assistance. You will be able to select from a menu of services and choose how you would like to receive this training. You can choose between such methods as college classes, seminars and workshops. Service providers include not only the EDF and City of Coral Springs but also the Florida Sterling Council, Work Force One, Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, all Coral Springs College and University Partnership institutions, and the Small Business Administration.
Another initiative in the City's 2009 Business Plan is called Buy Coral Springs, an effort to keep local dollars in local business that will provide additional support to our Small Business Sustainability initiative. The City, along with the Chamber of Commerce, will utilize various promotional tools to encourage residents to spend locally while strengthening the City's economic base. For more information about the City's business outreach efforts, call Robyn O'Donnell at 954-796-9922.
The City is working together with Representative Ari Porth and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to provide new convenient ways to acquire driver's licenses and identifications. The Mini-FLOW (Florida Licensing on Wheels) team will set up shop at the City's Commission Chamber on the last Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No written or driving tests will be given at this site. Residents will be able to change an out-of-state license to a Florida license, renewals, duplicates for lost, stolen license, address/name changes, children ID cards, reinstatements, and emergency contact information registration. Tentative dates are scheduled through the end of 2008, including November 24 and December 29. No appointments are necessary. For more information, visit www.flhsmv.gov or call 954-344-1000 or 954-346-2810.
Lastly, thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Mayor for another two years. It truly is the best job I have ever had and it is an honor to serve so many appreciative and intelligent citizens. And to work with so many caring people. Please email me at Scottbrok@scottjbrookpa.com if I can assist you with any matter. As always, please visit our website, www.coralsprings.org, for information you can use.
Mayor Scott J. Brook
City of Coral Springs
9551 W. Sample Road
Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954)344-5906 p
(954)344-1043 f
(954)494-9872 c
Posted: Friday, Oct 10, 2008