Mayor Dennington applies FEAR of the Yakuza!
Something horrible happened last evening. I was doing a bit of never ending yard work, pulling weeds and trimming Pygmy Date Palms while listening to the live YouTube broadcast of the commissions latest budget workshop. I was standing on a platform with a large set of Loppers in my hands, reaching up above my head, carefully cutting off a palm frond when the mayor began banging her gavel and ordering an officer to remove a town resident from the building during the "Public Comment" segment of the meeting which I believe should be renamed to the more apropos "Public Comment and Mayors unhinged Rebuttal". The diatribe caused my heart to race, and I really wanted to scream words that would have caused me to be removed from the room had I been there. This momentary lapse in composure caused my concentration to slip to the point that I wasn't quite quick enough to get out of the way of a falling frond as my loppers sliced through it.
I don't know if you're familiar with Pygmy Date Palms, though I'm sure you've seen them in the local landscape. They're attractive little trees with graceful wispy fronds that sweep gently with the breeze, but what most people don't see is that the lower portion of their fronds are armed with stiff needle-sharp spines that will lash out and stab you if you're not careful. Sadly that vengeful frond reached out and stabbed me. While the resident was being removed from the community center I was stepping down onto my gravel driveway, with the tips of five little spines that had embedded themselves into the back of my hand and wrist, and snapped off as that severed frond fell to the ground. There was blood. There was pain. And there were a few words that are best left unspoken. I laid my tools down and went inside to clean my wounds and carefully remove those needle-sharp spines.
While cleaning my wounds I listened to the mayor read several emails in support of the 4.6 mill tax rate, and nothing in favor of a roll-back rate. I was almost finished... I had one stubborn vindictive little spike still buried in my wrist when I heard the mayor state that residents in favor of a rollback are afraid to come forward because they don't want to be bullied and attacked by The Fire Department Yakuza. With that my concentration slipped once again, and that spike became hopelessly lodged even deeper below my skin. I was a mess. My clothes were drenched in sweat, I was in pain, my dominant hand was bloodied, and the window of opportunity to voice my objection to the Mayor's contemptuous and inflammatory slur had slammed shut, much like the steel trap that serves as her mind.
My wrist is swollen today, and I'm still in pain. That one little mishap in my own driveway while doing yard work and listening to the the live commission workshop have proven to me once again that I am far too old to consider becoming a Fire Department Volunteer. If I can injure myself trimming a Pygmy Date tree, imagine the damage I could do trying to help put out a fire or come to the assistance of someone whose car has crashed into a utility pole. But, the mayor’s words have inspired me, and I'd like to help. I'm curious... What are the qualifications to become a member of The Volunteer Fire Department Yakuza? Is there an application to fill out, or can I simply self-appoint and participate in random acts of drive-by shouting on my own?
Credit to Melbourne Beach resident who shared this story of his experience while listening to the September 9, 2026 Town Commission Workshop. Thank you!
Resident being removed from the meeting during public comment happens at 1:03:00
Yakuza comment by the mayor happens at 1:16:12
Yakuza means a Japanese organized crime syndicate similar to the Italian mafia. Truth and Accuracy Matter is not alone in wanting clarification from the mayor for her reference to the Melbourne Fire Department as “Yakuza”. It seems quite clear that it was applied in a derogatory manner against the operations of the MBVFD, calling them “bullies” who would attack residents who were in favor of the rollback. Does this sound like anyone you know in the Fire Department? We think not.
Mayor Dennington’s unhinged remark is not appropriate for an elected official. It is not acceptable to come from the mayor of our Town, while seated at the dais no less. And it is certainly not a fair characterization of our Fire Department members.
Residents are encouraged to attend the Wednesday Town Commission meeting at 6:00 PM
Town of Melbourne Beach Community Center
CLICK HERE for schedule