Dear Palmetto Bay residents,
Last night, during our Village Council Zoning Hearing, dozens of residents filled the chambers to voice their concerns regarding Councilmember Steve Cody’s recent comments on social media in response to the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. Councilmember Cody’s remarks were inappropriate, offensive, and were far removed from the standard of conduct expected from an elected official. In the best interest of our community, I publicly called for him to resign after first learning about his social media post. During the Zoning Hearing, our Council passed a resolution censuring Councilmember Cody and formally requesting his resignation. Click the link at the bottom to view the resolution.
Residents spoke passionately for more than two hours during the meeting, with many standing because of the overflow crowd, and the overwhelming majority called for Councilmember Cody to step down. Their message was clear: the values he expressed in his comments do not reflect the values of Palmetto Bay.
When Councilmember Cody was asked by members of the media after the meeting whether he would resign, Councilmember Cody declined. As a reminder, under Florida law, the Village Council does not have the authority to remove a sitting member of the Council. That authority rests solely with the Governor or, alternatively, with the residents through the recall process should enough petition signatures be gathered.
Once it became clear that Councilmember Cody was not going to resign during last night’s meeting, Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer moved to adjourn the meeting after stating that the Council should not be conducting normal business functions while Councilmember Cody remains a seated member. His motion failed, and Vice Mayor Merwitzer and Councilmember Marsha Matson then left the chamber during the meeting and before our three zoning ordinances could be voted on.
I want all residents to rest assured that I will continue to perform my normal duties and meet the needs of our community while also working to heal the harm caused by Councilmember Cody’s actions. Dedicated officials should step up during a crisis, not step away. The safety and prosperity of our Village will always remain my top priority, especially during challenging times such as these.
I understand that this is a difficult and deeply troubling moment for our community. Please know that I will continue to ensure you remain informed every step of the way, and that I am committed to leading with transparency, integrity, and respect for all residents of Palmetto Bay.
I am here to answer questions or lend a helping hand. You can reach me directly at kcunningham@palmettobay-fl.gov or at 305-799-0695. Together, we are making Palmetto Bay a better place to live, work, learn, and play.
Respectfully,
Karyn Cunningham
Mayor of Palmetto Bay