UPDATE: VB Vice Mayor Removes FB Post for Donations of Used Sex Toys. Issues Statement.
Post was not a hack as initially suggested. City Council members react.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Vero Beach Vice Mayor and owner of the restaurant and wine bar, Kilted Mermaid, released a statement regarding her now removed Facebook post asking for donations of “used sex toys” to be dropped off “at Kilted.”
Posting just after 6:00 PM Moore wrote, “So yesterday I made a post, which I have since deleted. It was meant in a spirit of fun for a wacky art project, but I really didn't stop to think how some people might be offended by that post. And as the Vice Mayor, it was inappropriate.”
Comments have followed that Vice Mayor Moore was “being bullied” by Moms for Liberty. One person hoped Moore “would never have to apologize for something like this ever again” while admiring her “sense of bringing much needed eclectic art to the community.”
At around 4:30 PM on Tuesday, April 9th, Vice Mayor Moore published on Facebook what she described as an odd request. She wrote, “Does anyone have any used sex toys (preferably dildos)? Any size/color. For a large art project. Asking for a friend. Drop off at Kilted or message me and I will come get. Need a bunch.”
Citizen of Indian River County, Jennifer Pippin, who is a registered Certified Nurse - Operating Room (C.N.O.R.), discovered the controversial post and immediately informed the City Council of Vero Beach and other elected representatives. As a trained medical professional, Pippin was highly concerned about the spread of disease or infection. Reached for comment, she said, “I wasn’t offended by the post. It’s disgusting and everyone should cringe at ‘used sex toys’ going into a restaurant. Genital fluid isn’t appropriate for a restaurant where a family could be eating.”
As owner of the Kilted Mermaid, Moore seemed unaware of the potential of health code violations resulting from her request even though some responded in the Facebook thread with one word, “gross.” Vice Mayor Moore is set to host Coffee with the Mayor this Friday at 8:00 AM. The event is put on by Main Street Vero Beach at The Vero Beach Heritage Center on 14th Ave. “Ask about her vision for the major projects happening now in Vero Beach,” reads a posted invitation. It remains to be seen if someone will ask for the schematic of the “large art project.”
Reached for comment was newly elected City Councilman, Taylor Dingle. Dingle will be hosting his own after hours event with citizens tomorrow evening at the Vero Beach Heritage Center at 6:30 PM to discuss the Three Corners Proposals for Development. “We must all acknowledge that we are an extension of more than just ourselves. The residents of Vero Beach have placed their trust in us, and in return, we are committed to serving them diligently, making sure that their trust is justified,” he said.
At first, some assumed the post was a hack. But its legitimacy became clear as Moore did respond to some of the comments in the thread below the post. The Sunshine Journal’s breaking news article made the thread in a crosspost. However, there isn’t evidence of it being the cause of Moore removing the post. Reached for comment, city council member Tracey Zudans said, “In retrospect, she probably regrets it as a City Councilman.”
Do politicians bury their brains for safe keeping when elected?