Showing posts with label John Rodstrom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Rodstrom. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

January 15th will be election day in Hallandale Beach and Ft. Lauderdale for the vacated City Commission seats of Keith London and Charlotte Rodstrom, as he runs for Mayor and she runs for Broward County Commission in November

I've got some news to share with you here about the election for the vacant City Commission seats-to-be in Hallandale Beach and Ft. Laudedale come November.
First, the qualifying period in Hallandale Beach will be December 3rd-5th.


The election in both cities will be held on Tuesday January 15th.

The election in Ft. Lauderdale will be for the remainder of the term of Charlotte Rodstrom's seat, as she's now running for the Broward County Commission to replace her husband, John Rodstrom, and in Hallandale Beach, the election will be for the remaining two years of the four-year term of Keith London, who is now running for mayor against ten-year incumbent Joy Cooper.

Not that you asked, but as of now, I don't anticipate running for that city commission seat myself in January if Keith London is elected Mayor, but things could always change over the next five months.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

What's the difference between clean and Broward taxpayers 'being taken to the cleaners'? Bob Norman & Brittany Wallman on firm charging Broward taxpayers a million dollars a month to clean-up Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport


Above, looking NW at the Broward County Government HQ at 115 S. Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. January 3, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

What's the difference between clean and Broward taxpayers 'being taken to the cleaners'? Bob Norman & Brittany Wallman on the firm charging Broward taxpayers a million dollars a month to clean-up Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport; 

WPLG-TV, Channel 10, Miami, FL
Broward Commission tosses low bid
By Bob Norman
Published On: May 02 2012 08:45:27 AM EDT  
Updated On: Jun 11 2012 11:58:07 AM EDT
http://www.local10.com/news/blogs/bob-norman/Broward-Commission-tosses-low-bid/-/3223354/12481944/-/6dnvn7z/-/index.html
Be sure read the reader comments!

Meanwhile, as the 13-month old Sun-Sentinel article below proves, just like the above, over a year ago, Seth Platt, supercilious flack-for-hire, and a living-and-breathing reminder of much of what currently ails the Broward Democratic Party with moderate voters, was trying to throw his light-weight around and kill the messenger.

In 2011, his target was Broward County Auditor Evan Lukic and in 2012 it's Bob Norman of Channel 10 who pops Platt Junior's balloon full of hot air, bombast and self-importance.

(This blog post today is one of the ones that got delayed by my bad service from AT&T last month, due to their server.) 

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-05-10/news/fl-janitorial-waste-20110509_1_cleaning-contract-airport-director-kent-george-county-auditor
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Broward overpaid almost $1 million to clean airport, audit says
By Brittany Wallman, Sun Sentinel
May 10, 2011

FORT LAUDERDALE — Broward visitors overpaid almost $1 million to clean the airport over the 2008-09 budget years, and the county still pays more than other Florida airport authorities for janitorial work, the county auditor says.

The new audit raises an alarm about a $63 million cleaning contract the county has with Sunshine Cleaning Systems Inc. Its 280 workers wash windows, clean toilets, vacuum carpets, and clean parking garages and sidewalks at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

At about $7.56 of cleaning per square foot, Broward's airport is paying more than twice what Miami's airport pays for similar work, county auditor Evan Lukic says in the just-released audit.

Relatively little in Lukic's audit -- about $15,500 worth -- is tied to alleged overbillings by Sunshine Cleaning. Rather, the mistakes he points to, totaling $950,000, were the county's. And county officials, including Airport Director Kent George, say they'll accept responsibility.

"Our aviation personnel did not do a great job in administrating this contract,'' George said on Monday. "Changes have been made. And it won't happen again.''

County Administrator Bertha Henry wrote to commissioners in a memo Thursday that "the underlying cause for this problem is a combination of staff insufficiency and to a lesser extent, competency.''

County commissioners are scheduled to talk about the audit on Tuesday, though the company has asked for a postponement. They will also consider extending Sunshine's contracts to clean the library and the South Regional Courthouse.

The scope of the problem with the airport spreads beyond George's turf. Sunshine's contract was vetted by county purchasing director Brenda Billingsley, placed on the September 2008 county agenda for Lukic, Henry, county attorneys and others to review at the time, and then approved by county commissioners.

George said the audit didn't shake his support for Sunshine.

"The company's performance at the airport has been very, very acceptable,'' he said on Monday. "They have done a good job with an aging facility and a growing passenger base.''

The contract included annual 4.1 percent raises for the cleaners that were higher than they should have been, Lukic says.

Just a few weeks after the cleaning contract was approved, the county changed its Living Wage Ordinance in a way that could have saved taxpayers $950,000 on the cleaning contract. On top of that, Sunshine paid its employees the lower wage but got to keep the extra that the county paid, Lukic says in his audit.

Lobbyist-attorney George Platt, who represented Sunshine in the contract negotiations, said the county insisted on creating the deal the way it was. He said the extra money was spent on employee benefits.

"It's just wonderful you can have a Monday-morning quarterback who was on the field and is now finding fault with a process he was part of,'' Platt said.

In the Thursday memo to commissioners, Henry says, "gaps still remain'' in county staff's ability to watch over contracts.

She asked staff to review the way the contracts are negotiated and said she will report their findings in 90 days. She also said she agrees with Lukic that the airport cleaning contract must be put back out for competitive bids.

Here's what happened, according to those involved: Inflation was so high when the cleaning contract was in the works, at 5.8 percent, that the county was afraid to pay for a contract that used the Living Wage Ordinance as its basis. The county's Living Wage was tied directly to increases in inflation.

So Sunshine agreed to pay $13.24 an hour in wages the first year, with a flat 4.1 percent raise each of the next four years. The contract was approved on Sept. 16, 2008.

Weeks later, on Oct. 7, the county voted to change its Living Wage to limit annual increases.

Lukic says purchasing director Billingsley knew the Living Wage law was about to be changed and asked George's aviation staff to reflect it in the contract. Yet no one followed up to make sure the contract was changed during negotiations, according to the auditor.

Henry said in her memo that after lots of explanations to her from staff about what happened and why, she heard "none that is acceptable to me and it will be addressed accordingly.''

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Chaz Stevens provides a useful and meaty primer for Broward County mayor John Rodstrom -and you- on the latest news re Lauderdale Lakes and its financial sleight-of-hand that's left their taxpayers the losers once again. Will the city be dissolved?


View Larger Map

Above, 4300 N.W. 36th Street, ak.a. Lauderdale Lakes City Hall -where the 'funny business' happened that's left taxpayers holding the bag.


Chaz Stevens provides a most useful and meaty primer for Broward County mayor John Rodstrom -and you, the curious reader- to be brought  up to speed on the latest news re the City of Lauderdale Lakes' financial sleight-of-hand, which has left their own taxpayers the losers -once again- as concerned people throughout Broward County wonder what its future might be if they can't pay their bills, dissolution?


Before you read Chaz's primer, though, consider yet again the devastating words of John W. Scott, the head of the Broward County Office of Investigator General, from his late March report on what he and his team found at Lauderdale Lakes City Hall:


We note that while audits and inquiries of the City’s finances have been conducted by other agencies, they were limited to narrow areas of concern, so that the extent and gravity of gross mismanagement has otherwise not been depicted. In short, the untenable missteps by the City administration catalogued in this report serve as a primer for how not to manage taxpayer monies, a state of affairs which simply cannot be repeated by either the City or any other Broward municipality.








An open letter to Mayor John Rodstrom
By Chaz Stevens
Published: April 14, 2012
http://www.myactsofsedition.com/2012/04/14/boner/




Chaz's previous posts on this rather amazing, headache-inducing mess, and how it all came to be that over a long time, many city officials in this central Broward town simply stopped doing the one thing that all elected officials are expected to do once elected: provide a means to hold others accountable to the citizens of the community.
(Something we have lots of experience with here in Hallandale Beach.
The NOT holding others accountable part!)


In fact, they didn't do it for so long, while they were simultaneously being lied to, that transparency as a concept seems to have largely vanished from their vocabulary:
http://www.myactsofsedition.com/category/lauderdale-lakes/


-----



South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Lauderdale Lakes report: The Highlights
7:54 PM EDT, March 26, 2012
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/sfl-lauderdale-lakes-report-the-highlights-20120326,0,1948668.story


Excerpts from the Broward Inspector General's reports about Lauderdale Lakes:


“ … In less than four years, the City went from having over $6 million in general fund reserves to being unable to satisfy $9 million in debts for public safety costs, as well as incurring a $2.5 million debt to its own Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).’’ 

‘’The OIG investigation uncovered multiple instances of gross mismanagement, including financial decisions which ultimately led to the City’s present condition.’’


“While actual City revenues were declining by the millions, [former Finance Director Larry] Tibbs employed various maneuvers to supply inflated and unsupported estimates for a fictitious revenue budget of over $18.6 million.’’




“The OIG investigation also substantiated allegations that the City’s CRA funds were improperly used to pay City operating expenses …”
“The nation-wide economic downturn hurt all governmental entities, but no other Broward municipality has realized the level of financial distress encountered by the City, which—in less than four years—went from having over $6 million in general fund reserves to being unable to satisfy $9 million in debts for public safety costs, as well as incurring a $2.5 million debt to its own Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).”
    “In November 2011, the Broward Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began an investigation into allegations that Jonathan K. Allen, the City Manager of the City of Lauderdale Lakes (City), contracted for services in a manner which violated Florida law. Specifically, it was alleged that Mr. Allen engaged in intentional bid splitting and other misconduct to undermine procurement controls, and to improperly authorize a contract for the management services of a former city employee.''
The OIG investigation substantiated the allegations.






Bid splitting is the act of intentionally dividing a purchase into two or more smaller purchases in order to avoid triggering purchasing restrictions that are tied to dollar thresholds. The practice has been widely recognized as violating public policy and is illegal in many jurisdictions. Florida explicitly prohibits the practice in relation to purchases made by state agencies.2 The criminal statutes are less explicit, but the bid tampering statute prohibits the circumvention of legally required competitive solicitations.

“By way of this report, the OIG refers this matter to the City Commission to consider appropriate administrative action to address Mr. Allen’s conduct.’’

 

"Based upon the findings of this investigation, the OIG makes the following recommendations:

1. The city should adopt language specifically addressing the requirements of a competitive solicitation process for all categories of contracts, and the thresholds which trigger the various requirements.

 

2. When an informal competitive process is permitted, documentation of market research or other price justification should be required, so that the City does not risk paying highly inflated rates for comparable services.''

 

The OIG requests that we are provided with a status report in 60 days, or by May 25, 2012, regarding the City’s adoption and implementation of these recommendations.

By way of this report, the OIG refers this matter to the City Commission to consider appropriate administrative action to address Mr. Allen’s misconduct. The OIG also refers this matter to the Broward State Attorney’s Office for its independent assessment of the application of the Florida bid tampering statute.

 

 "While actual City revenues were declining by the millions, Mr. Tibbs employed various maneuvers to supply inflated and unsupported estimates for a fictitious revenue budget of over $18.6 million."

 "We uncovered multiple instances of gross mismanagement, including financial decisions which ultimately led to the City’s present condition. Specifically, the OIG investigation determined that the City’s former Finance Director, Larry Tibbs, under the authority of the former City Manager, Anita Fain-Taylor, continued to propose inflated revenue estimates that ignored the downturn in the economy and multiple financial red flags. While actual City revenues were declining by the millions, Mr. Tibbs employed various maneuvers to supply inflated and unsupported estimates for a fictitious revenue budget of over $18.6 million. For example, Mr. Tibbs estimated that revenues would come from non-existent funds, funds that were in deep deficits, and interest income from non-existent assets. In addition, ad valorem revenues were inflated in multiple ways, and other revenue streams were estimated with complete disregard for the economic trend data that showed those revenues were falling. These methods allowed the City, on paper at least, to balance the budget as required by Florida law. As a result of the original inflated revenue projections, the City continued to budget the same level of expenses, but never took cost effective saving measures that could have mitigated the present deficit."

 

Our investigation also raised concerns about the level of communication with the City’s elected officials, who were misled about the City’s financial condition. Our investigation indicates this state of misinformation is attributable not only to the City administration, but also to the City Commission, because its members failed to properly review and comprehend written reports submitted by independent auditors, and failed to demand more frequent financial reports from the City administration.

 

Florida Statutes allow for the creation of a community redevelopment plan, to include a CRA and CRA trust fund. The CRA is governed by a Board which consists of all of the members of the City Commission. Funds allocated to the CRA may be used to finance or refinance any community redevelopment it undertakes pursuant to the approved community redevelopment plan. Florida Statutes §163.387(6) enumerates the permissible uses for the funds allocated to the CRA trust fund. In addition, §163.370(3)(c) specifically prohibits the use of CRA funds to pay for general government operating expenses.

 

This investigation was predicated on information alleging that between 2008 and 2011, officials of the City had grossly mismanaged public funds entrusted to its care. The OIG investigation substantiated the information, and also found that CRA funds were improperly used to pay City operating expenses. In addition, we found that the City Commission and others were misled about the City’s financial condition.

 

The City’s financial issues began to surface in the 2008 fiscal year when the City’s total fund balance of the general fund declined 29.6% from $6,353,998 to $4,470,755. An additional indisputable indicator of the City’s impending financial crisis surfaced in late 2009 when the fund balance further declined from $4,470,755 to $921,853, or 79.4%. Even if no one had been tracking actual revenues, a decline of almost 80% in the City’s fallback should have raised concerns. Nonetheless, the City administration again proceeded with revenue estimations of over $18.6 million for 2010 and 2011. As of the end of the 2010 fiscal year, the general fund had a deficit of $1,415,269.5 In 2011, the City found itself unable to pay $9 million for public safety services, and also owed the CRA $2.5 million.

 

Mr. Tibbs admitted that he was responsible for compiling and proposing estimated revenues for the annual budget, but stated his belief that the financial difficulties of the City were due to the City Commission’s failure to cut expenses. However, when pressed about the inaccuracy of his own revenue estimations, Mr. Tibbs admitted to OIG Special Agents that the 2011 revenues had been inflated. His stated reason for inflating the revenues was that the City Commission did not want “bad news.” Mr. Tibbs was unable to identify any support or justification for his many questionable revenue estimates, as detailed below, in the four budgets propounded between 2008 and 2011. In addition, Ms. Fain-Taylor admitted that she was not watchful of the City’s finances since she had total confidence in Mr. Tibbs.

 

OIG analysis revealed that the budget estimate for “Administrative Cost Charges” revenues in the 2010 budget projections also included $250,000 of revenue from a “recreation trust fund.” That fund did not exist, as it was not reported as a fund in the City’s financial statements. Unable to establish the existence of the stated source for these projected revenues, OIG staff asked the current Finance Director for supporting documentation. She indicated that “there are no revenues or expenditures in the recreation trust fund and that is why it is not reported in the financial statement.” In fact, the “fund” apparently never had any revenues or expenditures and was never included in any financial statements. Not surprisingly, there were no revenues received from the “recreation trust fund” in 2010. Nonetheless, in 2011, Mr. Tibbs increased the amount to be received from the “recreation trust fund” to $305,000, despite the fact that the fund was wholly imaginary.

 

The City opted to raise the millage rate each year since 2008, to the current millage rate of 9.5, which is the highest of any Broward municipality.

 

The OIG investigation further determined that when City Commissioners did ask questions about the revenue estimations, they were misled.

 

Mr. Tibbs also made misleading statements during public hearings. During the September 13, 2010 first budget hearing, a City resident asked what effect the proposed budget would have on the “reserve balance,” a lay term for the fund balance of the general fund. Mr. Tibbs stated that the fund balance would be within 8-10% of the operating expenses. When a City Commissioner inquired what that meant in “dollars and cents,” Mr. Tibbs stated that 10% would mean that approximately $1.7 million would be in the fund balance.17 At the time Mr. Tibbs made those statements, the City had a deficit of approximately $1.4 million.

Mr. Tibbs also sent misleading statements to other parties. On October 15, 2009, two weeks after the 2009 fiscal year ended, Mr. Tibbs sent an email to Bank of America, in support of a request for a revolving line of credit, indicating that the City’s fund balance of the general fund at the end of 2009 was expected to be $3.1 million. (Exhibit 5) As indicated in OIG Table 3, the actual fund balance was $921,853.

 

The City Commission, as a whole, was misinformed and unaware of the City’s deteriorating financial condition until the situation was beyond repair using normal budgeting measures. The OIG investigation determined that this state of misinformation is attributable to both the City administration and the City Commission itself. For example, multiple commissioners admitted to OIG staff that they did not comprehend the written reports and information they were provided. Further, both Ms. Fain-Taylor and the Assistant City Manager informed OIG Special Agents that the financial status of the City was only discussed at the mid-year budget meeting or during preparation of the budget. Commissioners did not request more frequent updates. All of the Commissioners also admitted that they were unaware of the severe decline in the fund balance at the end of 2009, even though the decline was documented in audited financial reports provided to each of them.

 

While Commissioners are not expected to be financial experts and understand all the nuances inherent in the estimation of revenues, the City Commission possessed sufficient information in just the financial statements from which they could have determined that the revenue estimates were inflated.

 

financial statements from which they could have determined that the revenue estimates were inflated.

 

Ms. Fain-Taylor stated that after the City Commission composition changed in 2008 when four new commissioners were elected, none of which had previous experience as an elected official, she attempted to educate the commissioners on their responsibilities and the realities of the City, but they appeared to be uninterested. She also stated that alliances between commissioners changed on a daily basis and they were influenced by special interests in the community. Ms. Fain-Taylor stated that in the months leading up to her dismissal, her relationship with the City Commission had become strained.

 

She further stated that during the mid-year 2011 budget meeting, when year to date amounts are reviewed and budget amendments are made, she suggested pay cuts and a lease buyback on City properties, but that the City Commission was not interested in her proposals.

 

As the official responsible for making educated projections of City revenues, Mr. Tibbs failed to properly execute his professional responsibilities. Although he is no longer employed by the City, the OIG remains concerned about the culture of complacency that allowed him to include revenue projections from non-existent funds and funds with deficits, and to make other completely baseless revenue projections. In addition, although the budget was the responsibility of Ms. Fain-Taylor and the City Commission, they neglected to perform their oversight responsibilities. Their lack of consistent communication and oversight of City public funds has now been transformed into an additional expense for all Broward taxpayers.




======
See also:

Inspector Gen.: Lauderdale Lakes Grossly Mismanaged Taxpayer Money


http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/inspector-gen-lauderdale-lakes-grossly-mismanaged-taxpayer-money/

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Broward's present/future problems in a nutshell: Not enough leadership, too much Kristin Jacobs-like behavior -Fighting over scraps: a meaningless job

Broward's present/future problems in a nutshell: Not enough leadership, too much Kristin Jacobs-like behavior -Fighting over scraps: a meaningless job that nobody respects.

No, not fighting over important ideas, a principle or even an issue that nobody else is willing to stand up for that demands some public illumination and a degree of long-overdue oversight,
or even fighting for something supported by her campaign donation friends, but rather a fight over a dubious position that nobody outside S. Andrews Avenue knows about, cares about or respects.
You know, just because you buy a $6.99 Captain's hat you come across at Marshall's doesn't make you a real captain or mean that Broward citizens have to salute you.

Though some will, apparently, like lobbyist Seth Platt, who Tweeted,
Seth Platt
Grats to John Rodstrom as the New #Broward County Mayor &@Kristin_Jacobs as the New Vice-Mayor
15 Nov
The same prescient Seth Platt the lobbyist who said in 2010, when polls showed Allen West doing well in FL-22, "POLLS DON”T MEAN SQUAT"?
Yes, that one.

Well, for those of us NOT dependent upon the kindness of Broward Commissioners to survive or make a living, this is yet the latest in a series of HBR Case Studies of why, in large part, Broward County government is in the mess and funk it's in.
Yes, the intersection of Dysfunction Junction, just like its colleagues at the Broward School Board.
They're in the same boat, but all paddling in different directions.
So where's the surprise that they're drifting?

Really, all this Sturm und Drang over a position as vice-mayor of Broward County that was not decided by actual Broward voters, but, like the so-called mayor's position -yes, I use lower-case for undemocratic titles- voted upon by less people than who will decide who's homecoming king and queen at any high school any of you can think of?
Decided by less people than the ones who decided who would be in charge of Rush at the Chi Omega house at FSU? (And to be honest, one less important than the latter...)

Just because nine people think something is important does not mean that I and other Broward residents who are paying attention have to agree to the pretense and say that it's important, too.
I reject the premise.

Peruse and decide for yourself - in chronological order:

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Broward Politics blog
Broward's Kristin Jacobs digs in heels for vice mayor post
By Brittany Wallman
November 15, 2011 12:38 PM

Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs is the vice mayor now, and the vote was unanimous., But that eventual result didn't come easily for her.

Jacobs had to fight for that title, even forcing her colleagues one by one to announce whether they supported her bid.

Read the rest of the post at:

BrowardBeat
Commissioners Squabble Over Meaningless Job: Vice Mayor
By Buddy Nevins
November 15, 2011

Does Goody Two Shoes, known to most of us as Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, have some mud on her soles after today’s divisive vote on who will be the next Broward Vice Mayor?
Read the rest of the post at:
http://www.browardbeat.com/kristin-jacobs-fights-for-meaningless-job-vice-mayor/


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Broward Politics blog
The ugly fight for the Broward vice mayor title: behind the scenes
By Brittany Wallman
November 16, 2011 11:04 AM

A lot of backroom deal-making, threatening and vote-gathering led up to Tuesday's Broward County Commission vote on who would be vice mayor, observers told me afterwards.

Read the rest of the post at:

Voting for a county-wide Broward Mayor who'll either show vision and leadership -or not- who's voted directly by -and held accountable by- Broward voters, is a long overdue idea and reality that has once again been dismissed by the status quo crowd on S. Andrews Avenue.
Not that it has ever really gotten a fair shake in this county since I returned to South Florida eight years ago, given who comprised the Broward Charter Review Commission.

Lots of apologists for the way things are now, save Ted Mena and Michael Buckner among a few CRC members who deigned to show any foresight and gumption for the public's right to decide those things themselves.

Though I don't know them very well, I'd vote for either one tomorrow for County Mayor before I let Broward's lobbyist crowd foist one of their longtime pals upon us as a stalking horse.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Broward Politics blog
Broward commish kills countywide mayor proposal, again
By Brittany Wallman November 2, 2011 08:09 AM

And yet for this dubious position of vice-mayor, to read the accounts, Kristen Jacobs is like a wild hog going after a bone, and woe onto anyone or anything getting in her way.

Go ahead, keep your bone, but don't be surprised when we ask publicly over the next year why of all the things that possibly could've taken the time and energy of nine elected officials, these table scraps are what YOU fought over.
No, we won't be forgetting.

Yes, Broward Comm. Kristin Jacobs, the very same woman whose staff tried to take me to task last year because I wrote on this blog that, in my opinion, she was unfit to be on the Broward County MPO -another mess of a group that gets little public or press attention that I've gone after here on the blog a few times- after she never once attended a single public Transportation forum in Broward of the many I've attended over the years, prior to July, even while hundreds and hundreds of Broward citizens could find the time and energy do so over the same time-frame.
Even on Saturday mornings at the Broward Convention Center.

You won't be surprised to discover that among this interested group of concerned Broward residents, people DID notice who were no-shows, besides anyone from the Miami Herald.

From the looks of things -my own observations and emails from others- Jacobs couldn't even be bothered to show-up and feign interest, even while officials and experts from Tallahassee, Atlanta and Vancouver showed-up at one forum in particular to inform and educate.

They didn't take it well when I told them that the word "transportation" wasn't even on her county bio website at the time, yet she was suddenly on the Board that sets policy.
Now THAT'S Broward County in a snapshot!

I hung up on her office the third time they called me with a bad attitude.
Later she/they sent a letter, one I never opened.
Seriously, how many unimpressive women politicians can one county possibly bear to have at one time.

From north near Palm Beach County to the south near me, just north of the Miami-Dade line, Broward County has some of the most unethical, unsavory, and undemocratic, to say nothing of venal female politicians in the country: this Rogue's gallery includes the duplicitous Joy Cooper, now convicted Sylvia Poitier, anti-democratic Lori Moseley, and Debby Eisinger, the latter of whom voted with members of the majority of the appointed Broward CRC against allowing Broward citizens to vote on whether or not to have an elected Broward County mayor in November of 2008.

How does an elected public official justify voting against elections that allow citizens to determine their own form of govt. structure?
Exactly, but that's just what Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger did.
The same woman who fought against tougher ethical standards for Broward municipal officials
It's why she's on that list that goes on and on...

They make me glad that there is some hope out there. that is if by there, you mean NOT here.
I do.

Because of what I've read and seen of her, her unwillingness to play the fool and swallow spin from the wealthy and the well-connected or political parties, her unwillingness to play pretend and accept illusions or fantasy for real solutions to problems, unless something unexpected happens -either to her or to me- if Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs runs for governor of Florida in 2014, I'll support her.
She's a real MAYOR, elected by real VOTERS, winning a run-off 68%-32%, despite being out fund-raised 2-1.

And best of all, Teresa Jacobs has smarts, hubris and moxie, something that can't be said about the majority of the pols in Broward or South Florida.
Just saying...

-----
For more information on this issue, see"

Broward Charter Review Comm. discussion re county-wide elected mayor and composition of County Commission, April 9, 2008, pp 68-126

Monday, February 28, 2011

Controversial red-light camera issue on Tuesday morning's Broward County Commission agenda at 10 a.m.



South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Broward Politics
blog video:
Broward County Clerk Howard C. Forman says mushrooming red-light cameras -and tickets- will create new pressures on resources/finances of Broward Courts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B-n3bKZnZs4


Article at:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2011/02/broward_courts_clerk_forman.html

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Broward Politics blog is at: http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/

-----

Tuesday morning's Broward County Commission agenda includes the red-light camera issue, which is why I will likely be there on Tuesday IF I can switch some things around in my schedule.

Regardless of whether I can attend Ruesday morning in person or not, I will post the information and photographs I want to make them aware of here on the blog by 9 a.m. and email it to them.
Please come back here Tuesday morning so you can see for yourself what this program looks like in Hallandale Beach, and judge whether or not it seems reasonable or well-executed.

Red-light cameras in Broward County is agenda item #23 for March 1st, starting at 10 a.m.
http://205.166.161.204/agenda_publish.cfm?mt=ALL&get_month=3&get_year=2011&dsp=ag&seq=233#ReturnTo0

My friend and fellow Hallandale Beach activist Csaba Kulin penned this email earlier this afternoon about this issue.



Honorable Mayor Gunzburger, Vice Mayor Rodstrom and County Commissioners,

I am not a supporter of "red light" cameras not because I want people to break the law and get away with it. I am against it because my city, Hallandale Beach has done such a poor job installing a red light camera about a year before the State actually allowed them. The City made it a "code violation" and collected about 2 million dollars for not stopping twice or three times prior to turning right on red. That is not the issue I am writing about now. We will fight that battle with our City Commission.

I understand you will vote on allowing the cities to tie into the County's traffic control system. I am not in favor of it but if you do I urge you to make a small amendment to the ordinance.

If they want to tie into the system, any intersection with traffic cameras should have a "count down" device next to it, similar to the one you see at cross walks. That would warn law abiding citizens to get ready to stop and avoid rear end collisions. Cities collect plenty of money from fines to absorb the additional expense.

I hope you decide to consider my suggestion, it would make red light cameras safer and more palatable to the residents of Broward County.

Sincerely,
Csaba Kulin
Vice President
United Condominium Associations of Hallandale Beach

Late this afternoon, a post by Brittany Wallman bout the red-light camera issue was posted at Broward Politics blog.

Broward's Rodstrom offers counterproposal to red light cameras
By Brittany Wallman February 28, 2011 06:11 PM


Drivers already hate sitting at red lights. Maybe they’ll get to hate it for two seconds longer.
One Broward County commissioner suggests that would be a better way to keep motorists safe from red-light runners than watching them with enforcement cameras.

Read the rest of the post at:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2011/02/browards_rodstrom_offers_count.html

-----


The bill in the Florida State House to repeal red-light cameras is Bill 4087, which was filed by State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, and the companion in the State Senate is Senate Bill 672, filed by Sen. Garcia, whose district is based out of Hialeah.

Broward Politics
YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrowardPolitics

Monday, October 11, 2010

Comm. John Rodstrom wants Gov. Crist to appoint Comm. for District 8 who'd approve FY 2011 Budget, or declare financial emergency and appoint receiver

Just got this news around 4:30 p.m. from a well-informed confidant in downtown Fort Lauderdale who knows what's what.

Broward County Comm. John Rodstrom wants Gov. Charlie Crist to appoint a Commissioner for District 8 to approve the Broward County FY 2011 budget, or declare a financial emergency and have Crist appoint a receiver.

Tomorrow's Broward County Commission meeting on the FY 2011 Budget will be in Room 422 at 5:01 p.m. and will be web cast.
http://www.broward.org/video/Pages/welcome.htm


Still
only works on Internet Explorer, but that's another blog post altogether.


(I won't be there myself because I'll be heading to the Community Meeting that Peter Deutsch and Ben Gamla Hebrew Charter School are hosting at 6 p.m. at the Hallandale Beach Cultural Center, behind City Hall. I expect a full crowd, and it'd be nice if someone from South Florida's news media actually showed-up tomorrow night to report on the story about what is being attempted here, but personal experience dictates that I NOT hold my breath waiting for that to happen.)

I was out all day today but am now seeing that Brittany Wallman actually discussed this story five hours before, around Noon, at the Sun-Sentinel's Broward Politics blog, complete with a video.

Broward Politics

Broward's Rodstrom seeks to take back employee pay raises, including at BSO
By Brittany Wallman
October 11, 2010 11:20 AM


Broward County Commissioner John Rodstrom will ask the County Commission on Tuesday to declare a state of financial emergency, in order to waive all contract obligations, rescinding pay raises for county employees, including patrol and jail deputies.

Read the rest of the post here:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2010/10/why_rodstrom_voted_against_bro.html

------
From Broward County website:
http://205.166.161.204/agenda_publish.cfm?mt=ALL&get_month=10&get_year=2010&dsp=ag&seq=199#ReturnTo0

Supplemental Agenda Items #39 & #40


AI-6619 Item #: 39.
Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Date: 10/12/2010
Director's Name: John E. Rodstrom, Jr
Department: County Commission

Information
Requested Action
A. MOTION TO DECLARE State of Financial Emergency, which, at minimum, would cause the following actions:

Freeze all County wide pay increases effective immediately
Freeze all non emergency capital improvements as well as those that have not yet commenced
Suspend the Living Wage Ordinance as it relates to outside contracts with Broward County effective immediately

B. MOTION TO REQUEST that the Governor of the State of Florida take one of the following actions:

To appoint a Commissioner to Broward County District 8 seat who would be committed to approve a FY 2011 Budget.
OR
To declare a State of Financial Emergency for Broward County and appoint a Receiver who would have the ability
to approve a FY 2011 Budget on an emergency basis. (Commissioner Rodstrom)
------

AI-6620 Item #: 40.
Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Date: 10/12/2010
Director's Name: John E. Rodstrom, Jr
Department: County Commission

Information
Requested Action
MOTION TO NOTIFY all rating agencies immediately of a Material Adverse Change of Condition and request that no action be taken until a FY 2011Budget is approved either by an appointed Receiver, appointment by the Governor to the vacant Broward County District 8 seat, or by action of the Board of County Commissioners. (Commissioner Rodstrom)
Why Action is Necessary

What Action Accomplishes

Is this Action Goal Related

Previous Action Taken

Summary Explanation/ Background


Fiscal Impact

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Brittany Wallman is on top of the Broward MPO scandal. Where is rest of South Florida news media?

Early this morning, I sent this email below about a jaw-dropping blog post about the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) written at the Sun-Sentinel's Broward Politics blog by Brittany Wallman to about forty people in South Florida.

All of them are transportation professionals or people who work for the State of Florida or local/county government in areas involving long-term planning and/or transportation, including some usually well-informed elected officials.

By the time I checked my email for the first time today, somewhat later than usual, there were over eight responses waiting for me, all saying variations of the following:

"There's SO much more behind this story. I'd love to fill you in on the details!
"
Clearly, this story on the inner workings and petty machinations of Broward's bureaucracy will have legs, and I'll try my best in the future to tip you off as to who in the local news media is doing a good job of connecting the dots on this story, so we can all find out what the true facts are, since it seems clear that for now, facts are at a premium.
So far, that entire news media list consists of Brittany Wallman.

-------------
1:15 a.m.

There are two articles below worth your attention.

I'm too tired and dumb-founded by the first story to say anything terribly original now, but even by South Florida's traditionally low standards, this definitely seems like something that taxpayers should've been hearing something more about this issue before it actually happened.
Like maybe actually being mentioned on the 11 o'clock TV newscasts, perhaps?

Not to say I told you so... but a few months ago, I noted on my blog
that in my opinion, Broward Commissioner Kristin Jacobs getting named to the SFRTA Board was not the greatest news in the world for people who genuinely want to see this area move forward and get out of the dysfunctional past.

Nothing personal, I just didn't think she was qualified, and still don't.
http://www.broward.org/jacobs/welcome.htm

This criticism of mine obviously bothered her, much to my surprise, because one of her staffers actually kept calling me for a few days to complain about what I'd written.

The problem for
Jacobs and her staffer was that what I said was 100% true - that for all her talk about being interested in transportation policy, Jacobs had a funny way of showing her interest.

She has been an invisible presence at every single major regional Transportation summit, forum and what-have-you that I've attended for the past 5-6 years, where I have met and spoken with so many of you, both publicly and privately afterwards.


The internal logic of my point couldn't be rebutted by her staffer, especially when I named the many transportation events I'd been at that
Jacobs was AWOL for.

Call me old-fashioned, but showing up is
Job One for an elected official, and a County Commissioner like her showing-up at least once in a while is the very least we can reasonably expect.

But to my mind, she's failed even that simple test.
And judging by what Brittany Wallman has written below, I'm not at all surprised to read that Kristin Jacobs has once again said something that was so easily dis-proven when reality came knocking.
Broward Politics
blog

County: MPO is laying off some employees, then bumping up salaries

Posted by Brittany Wallman
May 19, 2010 08:30 PM

UPDATED 8:30 p.m.
One day soon, 24 of the 25 county employees working for the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) will get pink slips. And one day soon after, the 17 employees who are fortunate enough to be employed there will enjoy a pay raise.
The head of the MPO, executive director Gregory Stuart, says the facts have been twisted and that the reality is not as bad as it looks.

Read the rest of the post at: 
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2010/05/county_mpo_is_laying_off_some.html

See also:
http://www.broward.org/mpo/ -Current Broward MPO webpage that will likely change soon!
http://www.broward.org/mpo/orgchart.pdf -Broward MPO organization chart
http://www.broward.org/mpo/boardmembers.htm
-Broward MPO Board Membe
rs