Phil Collins Treasure Island Florida

Gulf Beach News

Commissioner Phil Collins

With Richard Kraus mercifully deciding not to run for re-election only the unseating of Phil Collins stands in the way of this community having a promising future rather than the continuation of the Dark Ages that descended on Treasure Island with the coming to power of a group of misguided malcontents led by a handful of Sunset Beach residents.

Phil is campaigning on a slogan of “A better Treasure Island, not a Taller Treasure Island.”, the same slogan, in fact the same signs he has used for his first two campaigns. Let’s take a look at the past 4 years and see for ourselves if Treasure Island is better and not taller.

While Phil has sat on the Commission there has been an unprecedented decay of our business community which at one time had an abundance of tourist related shops that have been replaced with tattoo and palm reading parlors.

While Phil has sat on the Commission Treasure Island has lost more than 250 motel rooms.

While Phil has sat on the Commission the City can no longer afford to put on such activities as the Sun, Sand and Symphony.

While Phil has sat on the Commission the City has had two City Managers quit.

While Phil has sat on the Commission Gulf Coast Recovery has opened even more rehab centers in our neighborhoods and there is no end to this problem in sight.

While Phil has sat on the Commission he has ignored safety studies paid for by the taxpayers and has done nothing recommended by the experts to make the streets in our neighborhoods safer.

While Phil has sat on the Commission he wanted to allow gasoline engine powered hang gliders to have full and unregulated access to our beach.

While Phil has sat on the Commission he demanded that the owner of a Segway tour company operating his tours on powered Segways to be conducted on the beach at the ecologically sensitive water's edge.

While Phil has sat on the Commission he refused to listen to residents and voted against allowing a drug store to build knowing the alternative was a six story condo.

While Phil has sat on the Commission the city has not acquired any additional property for parks nor has the City made any noticeable physical improvements initiated by this Commission.

While Phil has sat in the Commission the city has become littered with vacant lots where thriving motels once stood.

While Phil has sat on the Commission numerous one and two story motel buildings have been replaced by six story condos.

While Phil has sat on the Commission the Sheriff tried to take over Treasure Island’s law enforcement duties and Phil pushed for the Sheriff to make a presentation and appeared to be pro Sheriff until the community made it clear they wanted to keep their own police department.

While Phil sat on the Commission, Phil lied, under oath, while testifying in Traffic Court. Phil, who was defending himself from being ticketed for passing a stopped school bus while that stopped school bus’s red lights were flashing, told the magistrate overseeing the trial that he, Phil, had a clean driving record. Unfortunately for Phil the magistrate had a file with Phil’s driving record that listed Phil’s seven prior citations. I guess Phil’s vision of a clean driving record is similar to his vision of a better not taller Treasure Island.

Tattoo and palm reading parlors, a loss of more than 250 motel rooms, two city managers quitting, drug rehab centers in our neighborhoods, numerous vacant lots and even more numerous six story condos, how can anyone say Treasure Island is better and not taller?