FIRED: Jonathan Evans, who was immediately ousted as Metropolis Supervisor in Riviera Seaside, held no grudges in his keynote speech on the banquet for Thrive for a Change.
By DAPHNE TAYLOR
Particular to South Florida Occasions
Jonathan Evans, former Riviera Seaside metropolis supervisor, mentioned Saturday evening that he holds no ill-will towards the council members who immediately voted to fireside him final fall, inflicting an uproar within the metropolis.
Evans, who had been within the place solely six months when the council made its sudden transfer, gave an inspirational speech on Feb. 17 throughout a banquet for “Thrive for a Change, a re-entry program in West Palm Seaside. Tyron Hanna, founder and CEO of the group, mentioned extra folks confirmed up than anticipated.
Cheers interrupted as Evans spoke about his destiny, his future and his staunch religion. Evans primarily based his speech on the biblical ideas of religion, hope and love, and as a backdrop used scriptures and inspirational phrases from famous people.
“Once they voted to fireside me, I thanked the council for permitting me to serve. May I’ve mentioned different issues? Sure, however I’m not that particular person. God did what he did to maneuver me into my goal and future,” he mentioned.
Evans started as Riviera Seaside’s metropolis supervisor in March 2017 and was fired on Sept. 20, in a 3-2 vote by the Metropolis Council. That vote led to citywide chaos and a resident-inspired recall effort in opposition to the three Metropolis Council members who fired him.
Evans has accepted the identical place in Madeira Seaside, Florida. He begins Feb. 26.
Hanna mentioned the circumstances are unlucky, however that Evans will succeed. “Sadly, Mr. Evans is leaving Palm Seaside County and it’s unlucky: he is a brilliant, sturdy, hardworking younger man,” Hanna mentioned, “and I by no means wavered one bit in my help of him due to that. He is a good function mannequin for our ex-felons and an ideal chief for our neighborhood.
That’s why folks stood up for him like they did–and nonetheless are.”
The South Florida Occasions reached out to the three council members who voted to dismiss Evans. Lynne Hubbard, District 1, mentioned she was disillusioned in Evans after he got here in and supported privatization of varied departments. “I assumed absolutely that he would come right here and take Riviera Seaside the place it wanted to go, however once I noticed what he wished to do relating to neighborhood improvement, parks and recreation … he began making rumblings about privatization and that town could be bankrupt in a couple of years. After I noticed what he was doing, I used to be disillusioned. My purpose is to protect the assets we have now and to parlay them into a top quality of life for the residents of town, ” mentioned Hubbard.
Daybreak S. Pardo, District 4, mentioned she by no means voted to rent Evans. “When Mr. Evans was employed in February of 2017, I didn’t vote to rent him. When he was employed, I labored to assist him succeed. I started dropping confidence in him in the course of the funds course of. He proposed: Taxing Singer Island, as a neighborhood Enchancment District, to pay for seashore re-nourishment, security prevention, Metropolis seashore upkeep and neighborhood Enhancements; A fireplace evaluation tax on ALL Riviera Seaside owners; Hiring 24 new staff whereas stating town would quickly be working at a deficit. He additionally proposed to me promoting the Singer Island fireplace station land and transferring our tools and workers to Palm Seaside Shores. Lastly, he ignored a report from the inspector common. I cannot permit any supervisor to single out a sure group of residents and demand they pay greater than their fair proportion.
For all the purpose above, and others, I supported the termination of Jonathan Evans,” Pardo said in an e-mail response.
The South Florida Occasions additionally reached out to council member, Terence “T.D.” Davis, who made the movement to fireside Evans. Davis was headed into a gathering and mentioned he would name again in half-hour, however after days, The South Florida Occasions by no means heard again from him.
Evans has moved on. “I had all of it deliberate out, however it wasn’t God’s plan. God introduced me to some extent the place I needed to let Him work by me. I’ll comply with and can let Him [God] take the wheel,” mentioned Evans on reflection.
Hanna, in the meantime mentioned Evans was a dynamic visitor for his re-entry program although Evans is not any ex-felon. Hanna based Thrive For A Change in 2014 to assist former inmates change into self-sufficient as they return to their communities to re-start their lives. It supplies rehabilitation help in all its varieties: housing, jobs, social-skills coaching and household re-connection. It’s also internet hosting a ‘Cease the Violence’ basketball sport on Feb. 24 in Belle Glade. Hanna has additionally been recognized to permit a few of his shoppers to remain in his private dwelling after they had no the place else to go. He’s additionally working for Palm Seaside County Fee, District 6. To help Thrive for a Change, name: 561-444-0355.
