LETTER: Mayor Thomas should be professional or resign

[Van]

After reading the article published Friday, July 27th titled “PCB mayor jokes not to hire people who are fat, smoke or would ‘get pregnant’”, I found myself feeling compelled to respond.

What I read in the article is Mayor Thomas apologizing for a joke; apologizing that many people did not understand his humor.

What I didn’t read is Mayor Thomas apologizing for unprofessionalism in the workplace.

Mayor Thomas cites his fatigue from a 3-hour-long budget meeting as the reason for his misplaced humor; And I quote: “We had a three-hour budget meeting, and we were tired,” Thomas said.

Mayor Thomas: Do you consider a 3-hour budget meeting a lot of hard work...? You’re speaking to a demographic of residents whom the majority of work two jobs; maybe three.

A ‘long 3 hours’ is hardly a reasonable explanation for a performance as unprofessional as this.

And to say that to our Police Chief, which can be argued is one of the hardest and most taxing jobs in this entire city, is honestly just deplorable.

You want to be perceived as a ‘Down-To-Earth’, funny, no BS guy - We get all of that

But you’re our mayor.

And you took a leadership position in this community.

If you can’t speak or act like a leader, please resign - And we’ll find someone who can.

Cindy Ursu

Panama City Beach, FL

[Andy Jones]

all jokes aside it was the truth, but it had no place there. I agree the guy should step down

 

[MamawPCB]

I could care less what he said.  He is doing a good job for my city. And, he just said what those of us that have hired and fired have done for years but did it silently.  I don't know why people are getting their panties into a wad because there are no laws in Florida that say that smokers, obese or women of child bearing age have a protective status.   In fact, most hospitals in the north won't hire you if you smoke.   Maybe instead of calling for his resignation those people (most of whom I notice don't even live in PCB proper) should look up the laws.   

Group health insurance (that I as a taxpayer pay for) is higher when there are smokers.   

So, if someone who lives in PCB wants to start a recall petition, that is how it's done.  Not some ridiculous Petition that 90% of the signatures don't even live in PCB.  Just my opinion