Press
[Ballard said] Keep them safe if they’re not in an organized activity. There are a lot of kids, unfortunately, who are out on the streets and their parents don’t even know. I spent eight years as an attorney in the child welfare system, and unfortunately, these things do happen and happen regularly in Manatee County.
GC: She talked of kids on the street because they were afraid to go home. Some parents or caregivers are abusers, she said.
In fact, within the same week, the statewide Operation Home for the Holidays yielded 122 missing children from 23 months old to 17. Some were victims of theft or child predators. The U.S. Marshals led the effort yielding 57 kids in Tampa, for example.
The debate over the purchase, as detailed in the meeting, was a masterclass in local governance. Commissioner Amanda Ballard's pitch, where she highlighted cutting $4 million from other projects to make this one happen, demonstrated fiscal responsibility and a clear prioritization of community needs. She made a compelling case that this purchase, despite its cost, was a better use of taxpayer dollars than a parking lot or office space.