Residents urge Fort Walton Beach to find humane charging solutions as outlet locks loom

Residents at a Fort Walton Beach neighborhood meeting pushed back on plans to secure park electrical outlets, saying the proposals risked harming people who rely on public power to charge phones and mobility devices.

A first-time attendee told the city manager she found his description of "channeling" or "funneling" people who use park utilities dehumanizing and asked officials to treat constituents as humans rather than subjects of a logistics plan. "Like it's so dehumanizing," the attendee said, arguing many people who use outlets are not homeless and need to charge phones during the day.

Another resident warned that without a reliable way to charge phones, people without resources could lose access to emergency networks. "If their phone goes dead, they can't call the police or anybody else to help out," the resident said, urging the city to find a solution so people have a "lifeline."

Cortez Craig, who identified himself during public comment, said the manager's presentation answered his earlier questions about Chester Park's electrical line and requested a copy of the manager's notes; he also said he runs a 501(c)(3) and could host a free annual event.

Councilwoman Riley told attendees she is "open ears" and encouraged constituents to bring organized proposals and place items on the council agenda, noting she is one vote among several on council decisions.

The meeting closed with staff reiterating options under consideration, including padlocks and breaker-level fixes, and noting that more expensive alternatives such as solar-powered charging tables would require council approval and budget allocation.