DELTONA BONA FIDE

Freedom of speech: Wanting it and welcoming it are two different things

Deltona citizen uses freedom of speech to express his upset over Commissioner's use of freedom of speech.

January 31, 2007

Deltona citizen Robert Bello gets vocal when he feels his right to free speech is being suppressed. In a recent email to City Commissioners, Bello wrote "you... should know better then [sic] to try and supress [sic] the free speech of the citizens."

Last year, while not in any official meeting, Deltona Commissioner David Santiago exercised his freedom of speech when he vaguely used the term "wacky" to describe "some" people. Although Santiago did not mention any names, Mr. Bello took offense to his comment: "i [sic] assume that if he isn't refering [sic] to the 'Hyltons',then he must be refering [sic] to me..." he wrote in an email to some Commissioners.

Whether or not Mr. Bello can be considered "wacky" is a matter of opinion, but one thing is obvious: he does not like being called names. He said that maybe it is time for a recall.

More recently, at a City Commission meeting, Mr. Bello voiced his opinion that Commissioners should have limited opportunities to speak. Bello then became disruptive after Commissioners Michelle McFall-Conte and Zenaida Denizac began to exercise their right to speak. Bello became so disruptive while the Commissioners were speaking that Mayor Mulder ordered the Sheriff's deputies to remove him from City Hall.

Just before Mr. Bello became disruptive, the two female Commissioners were expressing their thoughts on some scathing emails allegedly sent by Mr. Bello to the Commissioners. In those emails, Mr. Bello referred to the entire Commission and the City itself as a joke and as fools, and Mr. Bello went on to say that the City "is an insane asylum run by the inmates." Mr. Bello also referred to all of the Commissioners as "school children." He accused Commissioners McFall-Conte and Denizac of being "nothing more then [sic] 'santiago's' [sic] puppets."

A review of the Commission's voting history since November 14, 2005 shows that Commissioner McFall-Conte has voted against motions 55% more often than Commissioner Santiago has, and Commissioner Denizac 18% more often.

Mr. Bello continued his attacking emails with comments that some consider to be sexist, by writing "I think... you set womens [sic] rights back 40 years like when women just stayed home with the kids and dad went to work..." He reiterated with "And im [sic] sorry if your [sic] offended by the fact that both you and commissioner 'Denizac',were [sic] and are responsible for setting women and womens [sic] rights back 40 or 50 years but the fact is that you have done it and you both continue to do it and the responsibilitys [sic] fall squarely on you both. Maby [sic] we should have all the women just sit home and have child after child and only become secretarys or housewives and not dare go outside the home for fear their husbands wont [sic] like it."

Bello then claimed that "...for the record setting womenhood [sic] back 40 or 50 years is not my statement but one that was said to me by about 6 or 7 women that claim they will never attend meetings again because it is useless to do so why bother."

However, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, during a recent interview Bello said he stands by his feeling that both commissioners set women's rights back.

Commissioner Denizac, a local high school teacher who holds a Masters' Degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor's Degree in Education, and is the former president of the Volusia County Hispanic Association, says "I think that any citizen has the right to speak at City Hall. I also understand that criticism comes with the job. But in my opinion, our mayor should not allow the blatant disrespect that goes on at City Hall."

Commissioner McFall-Conte, a local special education teacher who holds a Master's Degree in Exceptional Student Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Radio/Television, said "There are many citizens in Deltona who I don't agree with all of the time, but [they] always show respect for the office of commissioner, and for me as a woman, and as a person. So, in return, I show respect for them."

But regarding the abrasive emails McFall-Conte says "I have had sexist comments, and disrespectful attacks made against me by Mr. Bello... I will not be bullied."

Commissioner Deyette, the only other woman on the Commission, said "I feel that we commissioners should not speak during the public forum. That is the time for citizens to speak. Mr. Bello was finished and was wheeling away from the podium. It is my opinion that if none of the commissioners had spoken, nothing else would have happened. The complaints about his emails were beyond the scope of his comments at that time and should have been handled either one-on-one or during "commission comments" at the end of the meeting."

Commissioner McFall-Conte explained "Normally, I will not respond to a citizen during public participation, and will save it for commissioner comments. The recognition of commissioners to speak during public participation is ultimately up to the Mayor. After he recognized Commissioner Denizac, and she began responding to his emails, I felt that was the best time to respond."

Commissioner Michael Carmolingo, who was also a recipient of Bello's highly critical emails, declined to comment.

Mayor Mulder said "things are very out of hand and they need to stop." Vice Mayor William Harvey and Commissioner Santiago agreed.

Discuss it at Deltona's online discussion forum DeltonaChat.com