Float Party -St. Pete Beach Mayor Maria Lowe blows it with Blow

St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin

If you missed the Fox news interview/conversation between Forgiato Blow and St. Pete Mayor Maria Lowe, here is the link. St. Pete Beach Mayor and Rapper talk over controversial float party.

Up to this point, it seemed like Mayor Lowe was handling Blow “Float Party” with reasonable decorum.

Saturday morning the Mayor pretty much came unglued grasping for a solution to the problem Rapper Forgiato Blow created with his social media post inviting everyone to his Don Cesar/Pass-a-grille Beach Float party.

I completely understand the problem and there is certainly a reason for public officials to be concerned, but to go into a full panic mode on television does more to create the problem than solve it.

Once again, we see a situation where social media has been used to create a public event beyond the immediate control of a local government.

No doubt there will be a mess in traffic, parking and on the beach but adding near hysteria by the leading public official in St. Pete Beach only adds fuel to bring more people to see what will happen.

It is way too late to put this horse back in the barn. What is needed on all sides, including the City of St. Pete Beach, the Pinellas County Sheriff and any other would be governmental “helpers” is calmness.

This is one of those situations that could go pretty well if everyone keeps their cool, but it could turn into an ugly mess that could affect the City of St. Pete Beach and its reputation for years to come.

Did Blow put one over on the City of St. Pete Beach?

Probably.

But trying to get even by taking it out on those coming to the “Float Party” would be a typical and dumb reaction.

The right approach would be for the City, the Sheriff and everyone else to help get people to the beach in as safe and orderly manner as possible.

You can be sure there will be those there who just want to start a problem.

One of my Grandfather’s best sayings was, “Don’t give them the bat to beat you to death with.” That really applies in this case.

Shutting down the roads or restricting public beach access would be a serious mistake.

Government and law enforcement need to take a deep breath, and everyone will get through this.

Calm should be the order of the day.

We can figure out how to deal with these instant social media problems on Monday.

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Disclosures:
Contributor: Bob Gualtieri for Pinellas County Sheriff