Vice Mayor Linda Moore, under investigation by the Florida Attorney General for adult-themed entertainment at her Vero Beach restaurant, may have been bolstered by vocal supporters during a challenge to her office last week, but she also heard the distinct voice of “Keep Vero Vero” at the July 22 city council meeting.
Former mayor Tony Young spoke out against Moore and her recent business practices, making Vero Beach nationally famous for trashy drag shows, and Councilman Taylor Dingle told Moore he loves her restaurant, but that in his opinion, she’d crossed a line.
Even if a 2023 state law prohibiting drag shows with children present can’t be enforced right now due to a stay pending federal appeal, a push for Moore to be cited for violating city code or zoning could potentially dampen the Kilted Mermaid’s entertainment lineup. Questions remain whether the performances Moore promotes are what city officials intended for the Old Dixie Highway downtown business corridor.
Young, a combat veteran of the Gulf War, Iraq War and Bosnia, and a career U.S. Army officer, a grandfather, a devout Catholic, a tireless community servant and descendant of Vero Beach’s first mayor, represents people who don’t speak out at city council meetings.
He stands for local residents and business owners who frown on Vero Beach becoming known for anything other than pristine beaches, friendly people, safe streets and quiet neighborhoods.
He thanked the council for the opportunity to speak, explaining that he wanted to address the council as a body and the only way to do that is in a public meeting, due to Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
“I need to say up front, I think there’s no one here who does not appreciate the fact that I have high regard for every one of you. Linda, I have voted for you twice, and you bring special talent to this community. But, you know, this is my home, and this means a great deal to me,” Young said.
“And as you may realize, a lot of my life is invested in protecting the liberties that we have here,” he said, referring to his military service. “In no uncertain terms, is this an effort to diminish one group versus another group or whatever. It absolutely is not. Dedicating 30 years plus of my life in parts of the countries and across the world to defend these liberties is very important to me.”
Young had extended family in town for Independence Day and the county centennial festivities, and had hoped to enjoy some fireworks and fun around town. But everywhere he turned, Young said, he encountered a friend or neighbor who wanted to talk about the festering problem at Moore’s Kilted Mermaid bar.
He said he had experienced “shock” seeing photos shown to him from Moore’s Pride festival performances the previous Sunday.
“I was provided images and videos that I thought were extremely disturbing, and I didn’t want to respond without context. And so that began an effort for me to do homework across the board to see the nature of what I was attempting to understand.”
Young said he reached out to stakeholders in the community, including faith leaders, to get their input – to see if maybe he was just out of touch, or too old-fashioned. “Was it just Tony being a wacko or what?
“Clearly the input back to me was, yes, this was important,” Young said. “Then I looked at the faith communities that I have trust in and that I know. And the faith communities unequivocally said, ‘Yes, this is a concern for us.’”
People knew Young had the courage to speak out, where so many do not dare. Nobody’s going to cancel Tony Young on his own turf in Vero Beach.
“I’m not an attorney. I don’t know the code. I can’t interpret the code. But to have what I see to be a cabaret-type performance at the conclusion of the day when there is no protection for those under 18 seems to be at least skirting this city code or in violation,” Young said, acknowledging that the state law was clearly on hold.
“So my request to the council is simply very straightforward. I think that the community expects that there should be an understanding that in these forms of entertainment, that the law, or the age requirement, be applicable.”
Councilman Taylor Dingle, to his credit, carved out time on the council agenda for Young to speak last week – setting the former mayor above the fray of the general public comment portion of the meeting, which grew circus-like at times.
Prefacing his remarks, Dingle said he loves Moore’s restaurant, that he frequents it with his wife, and even went there for a special occasion – to celebrate finding out they were expecting.
“This is not about drag shows. We live in a country built on freedom. What this is about is how we as a community address uncomfortable questions that challenge our values, our public spaces, and how we define what is appropriate, especially in areas like the downtown district.
“I take no pleasure in asking this, and it pains me to, but is it appropriate for individuals, male or female, to appear nearly nude and perform acts that could be described as lewd or adult in nature in venues such as within our downtown area? That’s the core of it. For me, not about the politics, not about the personalities, just the question of standards,” Dingle said.
“What kind of community do we want to be? What’s appropriate in terms of content, age and location? How should businesses and citizens help shape those expectations? And should this be a case reviewed by our code enforcement if it did violate section 67.06?” Dingle said.
“I believe in the truest form of representative self-government, no matter how uncomfortable that makes me. And believe me, I’m very uncomfortable,” Dingle said. “I’m here to do the people’s work, and I must be the voice for the city residents, business owners, neighbors, and families who have reached out to me with serious concerns about what took place.”
Moore is under subpoena to provide Florida Attorney Gen. James Uthmeier’s office with all photos, videos, security camera footage, attendee and reservation lists, contracts with performers, employee lists, company ID verification policies and other records by Aug. 8.
Dingle, Young and island Realtor Carolyn Lange all asked for the city to take a hard look at zoning restrictions and city code that Moore might be violating – beyond and apart from whatever investigation Uthmeier might be conducting.
“I’ve been in Vero Beach for 56 years. I’ve been a member of this community. I’ve listened to everything everybody’s had to say so far today. I have a couple questions and a question for you, John,” Lange said to City Attorney John Turner.
“What is the ruling about the man mentioned that Mrs. Moore’s business should be in a different (zoning), yes. Can you answer that?”
“I can’t, Carolyn, right now,” Turner said.
“OK. Well, I’d like to know,” Lange replied, saying she would follow-up with Turner for an answer.
“Linda, it’s very nice to hear how people respect you in your job or think it’s OK for the things that you’re doing. What we’re talking about is we’re talking about children. That’s what we’re here for,” Lange said.
Turner left town for a government legal conference that started Thursday, and according to the city clerk, did not issue any sort of written guidance or interpretation of city code before he left.
So the questions posed by Dingle, Young and island Realtor Carolyn Lange – who said her reading of the code was that adult entertainment shows are permitted only in heavy industrial zoning such as on airport property – go unanswered as of press time.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
