Commissioner's Corner: Vice Mayor Ed Martinez                                         

Spring Break is in full swing! I hope that you are enjoying the warmer weather.

 The parking garage is close to completion and thanks to a donation by Dr. Kristin Smallwood; an 18 foot high statue will be placed on a pedestal near the entrance. I look forward to seeing how this garage will encourage new business in our downtown.

Cocoa Beach is slowly becoming a place for foodies. We now have many choices when it comes to a place to eat. I encourage you to take a stroll and enjoy some of the amazing restaurants that have opened in the last few months.

Home Rule is under attack once again. Tallahassee has introduced HB3 which prohibits local governments from imposing or adopting new regulations on businesses and business entities. This is one of many bills that attempt to define our local policies. Cocoa Beach should be able to determine how we deal with vacation rentals, safety and businesses. The state policy makers do not know what is best for our community. What works in Miami or Tampa will not work here in Cocoa Beach. The broad-brush approach across state municipalities just doesn’t work. We need to keep our decisions local. I encourage you to reach out to your state legislators and let them know how important local government and Home Rule are to you.

Please call or email me with your concerns and suggestions. I can be reached at 321-205-7521 and emartinez@cityofcocoabeach.com. Thank You!