In memory of that noble band, who have crossed the mystic stream, and are resting now in that happy land, where peace and pleasure reign supreme.
“The heroic deeds will never fade, from memory’s brightest page, and their brave defense of country and home is left as a glorious heritage.”
“This monument was erected by the Lakeland Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy In memory of the noble Sons of the South. A.D. 1910”
At the beginning of the American Civil War, Caroline Douglas Meriwether Goodlett’s brother, Edward, enlisted to serve in the Confederate States Army. After his death in 1861, Goodlett focused on aiding the Confederacy. She converted her tobacco barns into workshops where women from her community would gather to make bandages and clothing for Confederate soldiers. Goodlett also nursed wounded soldiers that were housed on her estate until they were taken to hospitals and brought medicine and other supplies to Confederate troops.
After the war, Goodlett sold her property and moved with her son to Nashville. In 1866 she founded the Benevolent Society with the purpose of funding medical treatments and artificial limbs for wounded Confederate veterans. She became a charter member of the Board of Confederate Monumental Association, funding the construction of Confederate monuments in Nashville.
FAST FORWARD 111 YEARS……
Lakeland, FL (November 20, 2018) During the Monday, November 19th City Commission Meeting, a decision was made to use red-light camera citation revenues to move the Confederate Monument located at Munn Park to Veterans Memorial Park. The Commission voted 5-2 to revisit an earlier decision made on May 7th that limited funding for the monument relocation to private funds.
Mayor, you said you wanted to honor all people,” Smith said. “Allowing the people to vote is honoring all people. Now $225,000 is going to be spent to move the statue, with no guarantee of its safe arrival. That money could have been used to do something for the community. It’s just a total disregard for the voters of this community.”
QUESTION: WHO WAS THE MAYOR DURING THIS TIME?
ANSWER: BILL MUTZ
https://www.theledger.com/news/20180527/red-light-fine-money-back-up-for-grabs
Mayor Bill Mutz, who now oversees the Mayor’s Council on the Arts grant program, said he thinks a portion of the red light camera fines for art is appropriate. But, he added,“the commission needs to consider other worthy alternate needs and uses. Personally, I’d like to keep a significant portion available to link to alternate transportation opportunities we are pursuing.”
City Commissioner Michael Dunn said he would support using up to $250,000 for funding arts grants.
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE ARTS GRANT PROGRAM?
ANSWER: The primary mission of the LMCA Grant is the enhancement, promotion, and support of Lakeland’s arts community and its associated creative economy. Artistic enterprises headquartered within the Lakeland city limits are eligible to apply for funding through this process. Depending on the number of award recipients and total funds available, individual grant awards will consist of up to 5% of each organization’s prior year operating expenses.
FASTFORWARD 3 YEARS LATER…..Friday, October 1, 2021, at THE DEBATE……
TIME STAMP 1:38:05 – MAYOR BILL MUTZ CLOSING REMARKS
“I am a huge believer in dealing with facts than not fear as well, and so, I spent ZERO amount of time working, uh worrying about the influence of George Soros, uh marxist, marxism in our community, and the many allegations that, and this is not attacking Saga, it’s attacking comments that have been made, that aren’t real. They don’t exist. And we don’t have, and we don’t spend any time trying to counter any of those efforts that are not here. (IN AUDIBLE STATEMENT FROM CROWD) They’re not here, and if they are, you can give me an arena where it’s happening. So what I can tell you is that we work every day on the facts sides of the opportunities infront of us, and those opportunities for Lakeland are huge and we are at a pivotal point for the next decade of setting a tone in terms of what we’re doing. Continuity and experience and listening well to people in this regard matters greatly. It is not a time for us to think about, um uh, the fact that we are not funding the police well. The irony is there was no greater advocate at City Hall than myself for the increased raise that our police got, and the elimination of steps,um, from the commission side, and they got the benefit of that which is why they are now paid the best of Central Florida’s Agencies, and that was because of the work that we did in the background. Not to get the endorsement is kinda like, ‘oh well that’s interesting’, but nonetheless, I wouldn’t change anything because I want them, I want this to be a place people can be attracted to and we will fund it at the level we will. For being concerned about defunding police, why would we not be concerned about giving them all the opportunities we have to equip them to be the best that they can. And so, we look forward to what keeps Lakeland safe and the investments that need to be taken. I don’t shy away from any of the decisions that were made as a commission, and I think that they were the result of listening well, and applying Biblical principles in the process, and I am proud to stand on that record.”
QUESTION TO LAKELAND:
1. Did Mayor Bill Mutz look to any facts and truths about the monument and the history that was moved because of CANCEL CULTURE?
2. Did Mayor Bill Mutz listen to the citizens of Lakeland who opposed the move of the statue?
3. Did Mayor Bill Mutz WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY (that was supposed to be used for the LIVING people of Lakeland) by moving a non-living, 111-year-old statue who never bothered anyone?
4. Will you vote for Mayor Bill Mutz on Nov 2, so he can continue LYING TO LAKELAND AND SETTING THE STANDARD OF CANCEL CULTURE AND THE BLM MOVEMENT?
Definition of cancel culture: the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure. For those of you who aren’t aware, cancel culture refers to the mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that aren’t socially accepted today. This practice of “canceling” or mass shaming often occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
5. Do you agree that Mayor Mutz and the commissioners voted ‘yea’ on the body cams for LPD, when Chief Garcia did not want them? Is this disrespectful to the Chief of Police?
While Police Chief Ruben Garcia touched on the benefits of body cameras — saying “it’s another dimension that will help us determine what has occurred on the street” — he said “NO” when asked if they were needed today.
IT IS UP TO YOU LAKELAND!