1.) Broward Mayor/Big Spender Ken Keechl with Clerk of Courts Howard Forman.  The New Courthouse Task Force met Friday afternoon, to block the wheels of progress by continuing to gut social and rehabilitation projects in favor of an unnecessary seventeen story courthouse tower, to be built where the judicial parking lot currently sits (and they call themselves Democrats).  The room was crammed with developers and construction company types, since the entire purpose of the Task Force is to rubber stamp the 328 million dollar plan the builders came up with in between the Task Force's quarterly meetings.  Make no mistake about it, this ship has sailed. 

For instance, check out what Chief Judge Victor Tobin said in his "State of the Circuit" address last Thursday, as reported by The Daily Business Review:

"Broward Chief Circuit Judge Victor Tobin is recruiting lawyers to attend a Broward County Commission meeting on a bond issue for courthouse construction and is considering legal remedies to ensure the county provides a safe and adequate building, he said Thursday in his state of the circuit speech ...

The judge focused on the safety hazards of parading shackled defendants — both juveniles and adults — through the courthouse in the same corridors as the public and jurors. He said anyone could hand a defendant a weapon, or a bystander could be head-butted or body-slammed by a defendant ... (Sound familiar?)

He encouraged members of the audience to attend the County Commission meeting Feb. 2 on a $120 million bond issue to fund a new $281 million courthouse. Other money already is in hand ... "

Commissioner/Mayor Keechl initially addressed the Task Force Friday, before making a quick exit:

"I'm a true believer that we need to put this to rest ... The project has gone on way too long ... I am adamantly opposed to waiting until August or September for the voters to decide if they want to tax themselves for a scaled down courthouse .... We can do this from existing funds ... The voters will say no ... (The Commission) will meet on February 2nd for discussion and a decision ... (The project can be funded) by non-voted debt ... four of my colleagues agree ... don't take a chance that somewhere, sometime voters decide to tax themselves ... This can be done without raising taxes ... If we don't make a decision now we will miss an opportunity we won't have again for a long time ... "

Commissioner Ilene Lieberman (pictured #2), chaired the meeting.  She seemed mostly concerned about parking issues pertaining to the new tower, hoping plans could be approved to buy some existing lots near Publix while the real estate market is still depressed.  Lieberman announced that Tobin recently resigned from the Task Force, based on his continuing close involvement with the construction project and concerns over potential judicial Sunshine issues that could arise.  Federal Prisoner #872874 (Scott Rothstein) also had been replaced on the Task Force.

There was a nifty Power Point presentation detailing the new building, while some Task Force members obliviously made suggestions, despite their obvious non-importance to the planning.  Quite simply, they are mostly RRA type props abetting the scheme, which, to be fair, most of them recognize.  The Power Point file was promised to us via email for publication, but it has yet to arrive (It was delivered Monday.  The link is below.  Our thanks to Ms. Burnell).

If you want to have your voice heard, plan on attending the County Commission meeting on Tuesday.  Granted, many people hate working in the leaky (and often empty) old building, but no one seems willing to consider repairing and rehabbing it, especially when so much money can go into the pockets of the decision makers, land owners, power brokers, and developers who stand to make an absolute fortune off the backs of the taxpayers who already have resoundingly said "NO NEW COURTHOUSE". 

It just doesn't seem right, particularly while the county continues to send non-violent, drug offender minorities to prison at nearly twice the rate of our neighbors.  While Satz's Broward continues to act like it's the 1950's, we simply don't deserve a 2010 courthouse.

3.) Tobin and Lieberman share a private word, following an earlier kiss hello; 4.) Attorney Eugene Pettis and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.  Seiler was uncharacteristically late.  Was it this bit of lunchtime bad news that caused the delay?; 5.) Debo Ramsden is a survivor, and she always has a smile for everyone; 6.) Shout out to Jay Spechler and Doc Brannon: Sculpture: "Wrestler", 1929.  By Dudley Talcott, shown at the Tenth Olympic Games, Los Angeles, 1932.  Part of the collection of the amazing Wolfsonian Museum in Miami Beach.

*MEET YOUR NEW COURTHOUSE* - click the link for the Power Point presentation detailing plans for the new courthouse.

YES, TWO MORE JOBS FOR DONNELLY:

Paging Dr. Donnelly - Cleanup on Aisle 4

Pulp: BSO Major Influenced Investigation Involving His Son

BACDL & SAO - Satz, Morton, Marcus, Donnelly, and L. Cohen met with BACDL reps R & T Williams and B. Cohen Friday.  The meeting went on for a couple of hours.  Incoming BACDL President Bradford Cohen will be signing a letter for the members summarizing the topics of discussion, and the efforts the SAO is making to fix some of the Brady problems.

BrowardBeat: Judicial Candidate Lloyd Golburgh’s Open Letter

(Responding to this)

'Gate fever' cripples inmates

"When inmates step into the sunshine on their release day, some suffer "gate fever." Moving from a highly controlled environment to complete freedom, they may immediately be exposed to high-risk people, places and situations that lead them to relapse on drugs, alcohol or a life of crime.

Some newly freed inmates have no home, no job and often no friends or family. They are anxious, anchorless and adrift.

Now, however, a Guidance/Care Center Inc. specialist will help ex-offenders -- literally as they exit Monroe County jails (FL) -- and walk them through their first day of freedom and beyond. By helping clients change their criminal thinking patterns, the clinic improves the effectiveness of its complementary mental health and substance abuse counseling ... "