Golden Beach Vice President writes in favor of airport development
Golden Beach VP Bill Whalen is sick and tired of middle-class slackers getting cheap golf; he wants an upscale hotel and an upscale golf course, but he'd rather you didn't learn about his views -- at least not from this web site
-- John Patten, 06/11/07
-- jpatten@veniceflorida.com

Got a comment? Make it here.

But Bill -- we'll print your letter
Complaining that  the local newspapers won't print his letters, Bill Whalen, the Vice President of Golden Beach Association, has written to council favoring both airport development and upscale golfing, an idea that is a sore point among many city residents, including some who live in Golden Beach. Whalen complained that too many people are getting cheap or free golf at the VGA golf course, which is located on airport property.

Golden Beach is an upscale neighborhood located on the southwest portion of the island in Venice. Whalen has been vice president of the Golden Beach Association for less than a year. There has been some controversy within Golden Beach as to whether or not the association should take any stance on the issue of airport development.

Venice Florida! dot com contacted Whalen to verify the authenticity of the email to council. Whalen did not mention his title as an officer of the association in his email.

Last month, Whalen sent out an email to several Golden Beach members to deny accepting a trip from one of the proposed airport developers. When asked about that email, Whalen stated that "ugly rumors" had been floating around in Golden Beach that he and other Golden Beach officers had flown at Aris Mardirossian's expense to Mardirossian's home in Maryland.

Mardirossian is the principal investor in Amalthea Investments, the company behind the Marriott development proposal. Whalen repeated that he sent the email in an attempt to answer what he called "ugly rumors."

When asked if he was friends with Mardirossian, Whalen said he has known Mardirossian for "quite a while." When asked how long "quite a while" was, Whalen abruptly changed his tone and said that he didn't like the line of questions.

Whalen then stated that he refused permission for any of the conversation to be quoted. When reminded that he was told the identity of the caller and the publication at the beginning of the phone call, Whalen again stated that he was not giving permission for his letter or any account of the phone conversation to be used in an article. Whalen then hung up.

Whalen's email indicated that hundreds are against airport development and upscale golfing, but thousands are in favor of it. He accused local newspapers of favoring anti-development voices, proof of which was his allegation that the two local papers had refused to publish letters from him.

From: "Bill Whalen"
To: [all council members, sent individually]
Date: Monday - June 11, 2007
Subject: Airport Development

Dear Council member:

I own a business on Venice Island, I live in Golden Beach, I have 2 children that graduated Venice High, and my youngest graduated last Friday. I have sent letters to the Times Herald and Gondolier in support of smart development projects at the airport, but they have never been printed. I live amongst, and know those who would like to place this city in a time capsule. They seem to capture all the local press. It is frustrating to read only what the papers want to print.

I want to voice that this city needs smart upscale development such as the proposals you heard a month ago. The greatest single action anyone on the city council could do for the City of Venice is to move this project forward. I understand there are hundreds that oppose these proposals, but there are thousands that support this development, and I am one of them. I wholeheartedly support the creation of a much needed Marina, a hotel with conference center, and a new golf course. Today, the golf course is great example of a poor income producing business, with grandfathered members paying zip, nada, nothing, all of the many part time workers play for free and their family members pay 1/2 price fees that already are among the lowest in the state, not to mention the number who pay for 9 and play 18. It is just bad business.

As a city council member, you have the opportunity to make the greatest positive step this city has ever taken. Please have the courage to stand up to the loud naysayer minority and move forward with the development plans at Venice Municipal Airport. Venice needs the income, it does not need more tax on its citizens.

Respectively,
Bill Whalen
Vacation Travel Center
109 W. Tampa Ave.
Venice, Florida 34285
 

John Patten is the editor and publisher of Venice Florida! dot com and had previously worked in broadcasting for over 12 years. He can also be incredibly rude at times.