It is interesting to note an agenda item that the Florence Commission of Santa Clara County wants to put up for discussion. Commissioner Gliozzo wants to discuss during a “workshop” meeting what the Florence Commission should do about “inaccurate remarks” made on the Internet about her group. What is really hypocritical is that she wants to “discuss” what can be done about such remarks but she’s not willing to put it on the public record. A “workshop” meeting means that there will be no public record available of this “discussion”. This again proves that the Florence Commission should be spun off as a private organization because many of these folks are simply not prepared to serve in the public’s interest for something as simple as promoting the virtues of Italian culture, as derived from Florence, Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Some of these commissioners are the exact opposite of the humanist spirit that imbued the Renaissance, which became a type of movement that enlightened the world through art and science. The Florence Commission acts too much in the spirit of Omerta, a code of silence that requires its membership to go along with the status quo. Progressive new ideas are simply not tolerated. They act in a spirit antithetical to the spirit of the Italian Renaissance.
They think they should not have to endure “inaccurate remarks” about their activities and decisions made on behalf of the county of Santa Clara. Clearly, Commissioner Serpa, the chairperson of the Commission, would love to silence the critics of the Commission. The modus operandi of the Florence Commission under people like Serpa has been to silence those who do not go along with their program. They threaten and intimidate those people who challenge them on ethics and conflict of interest issues. They just don’t get it.
Alas, the Florence Commission demonstrates behavior similar to the Medici Family who ruled over Florence for decades starting in the 13th century. While the Medicis were patrons to artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Brunelleschi, to name but a few, they also used their wealth and influence to silence their critics. Many of the old guard on the Commission are not used to being called to account for their actions. They believe that they are entitled to use county resources to promote their private interests when their charter clearly states that they must act in the spirit of serving the public, all of the public and not just some of the public.
If they could, the old guard on the Commission would throw their critics in the dungeon, just like the Medicis did to Niccolo Machiavelli, who spoke truth to power and was rewarded with torture and isolation. This Thing of Theirs, known as the Florence Commission, should try to accentuate the more positive aspects of the Medici legacy. When they meet for their “workshop”, their so-called “discussion” should include something on how they can change their way of thinking and show respect to the democratic process. If they want to serve on a public county commission and wear the mantle of commissioner, then they must hold themselves to a higher standard, especially one worthy of the virtues of Italian culture.
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