NEW TIMES ON EMPTY COURTROOMS
Gardiner Norman
BROWARD NEW TIMES:
Mold? Rats? Yikes! Tear the Place Down!
"The courthouse must be replaced! says an unholy alliance of judges and downtown landlords" (10/25):
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007-10-25/news/mold-rats-yikes-tear-the-place-down/full
I owe Judge Gardiner an apology. It appears her statements to the County Commission were truncated in the Sentinel and the Herald.
The New Times states that she was speaking specifically of felony criminal courtrooms when she mentioned "we don't even have closets".
There were, of course, numerous empty criminal courtrooms, particularly during my second courthouse jaunt. In any event, I still believe this is simply a matter of inefficient management of resources, and not a lack of facilities, as it may have been portrayed.
Bill Gelin
To Mr. Norman: Although until now I haven't been an avid reader of the New Times or your column, I intend to add it to my list of daily must-reads in the future. Your understanding and grasp of the subject of the proposal of a new courthouse could not be any more comprehensive, forthright or honest. You have struck the GONG of AWARENESS squarely at its center culminating in a resounding RING of TRUTH about the shameless actions of public officials concerning the manipulation of the "NEW COURTHOUSE ISSUE". I will continue to look for your articles and applaud your efforts for exposing the TRUTH of the matter. There are RATS in the courthouse alright, and the taxpayers pay their salaries!