Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me ...
Politics 101 - by now it's old news that a new courthouse will be built. It's not surprising, but it's official. After the sham Courthouse Task Force (refurbish? yeah, right) and Chief Judge Tobin's ham-fisted PR campaign (see here and here), the majority of the County Commissioners simply chanted their scripted "depressed land values" and "public safety" mantras, until the voters were cheated out of the right to determine how their $328 million will be spent. As Commissioner Jacobs cynically put it, the community doesn't trust the beleaguered County Commission anyway, so "why run it up the flagpole"?
One by one the developer's lawyers and Tobin's lackeys approached the podium, singing the same song as the approving commissioners. There wasn't a single voice in opposition (more on that later), or a single community member who didn't conduct business in the courthouse. At one point, commissioner Lieberman even had the audacity to boast that the meeting was well advertised. It was sad.
We've made our own recommendations in the past regarding a new courthouse. We've also railed time and again over the downright false claims regarding the need for more litigation space, via a dozen or so JAABWALKS. Still, you'd have to be stupid to bet on refurbishment over the new courthouse horse, seeing as how it's backed by self-interest, greed, and, most importantly, endless developer dollars that will ultimately end up in some familiar pockets. It was only a matter of time before it crossed the finish line.
Which brings us to the main point. Corruption and greed exists everywhere. Nepotism, political back scratching, and dishonest, lying public officials thrive in other places too. What they don't do everywhere else, however, is hypocritically turn around and impose the most impossible standards (and maximum penalties for not living up to those standards) on the poorest, sickest and weakest segments of the community with sadistic zeal. That's the Broward difference, made all the more egregious when you consider the liberal Democratic platforms Broward's leaders swear allegiance to on the campaign trail.
Let's be perfectly clear: they can have their gleaming new monument instead of fixing up the old place, and all of their other excesses too without a peep from us, if only they'll lighten up on the poor people doing the same drugs they once did, and their kids probably still do.
In the hope of trying to get this message across, we also addressed the commissioners this morning. After having to argue our way to the podium by pointing out they skipped from Agenda Item Twelve to Agenda Item 15 (the courthouse initiative) without announcing they were taking down the sign-in sheets for public speakers, and by pointing out they had previously allowed a new courthouse supporter to speak without requiring a sign-in, we were allowed to talk.
Here, courtesy of From the minutes part 1, is a truncated version:
(*parenthesis contain parts of the speech, as best can be remembered,
that were not captured in the minutes)
IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN (no matter what)*. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT THE
VOTERS THINK, BUT I JUST BEG ALL OF YOU. THERE'S NO MONEY FOR DRUG REHAB PROGRAMS. SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL GUY. TRADITIONALLY THE SMALL GUY ALWAYS GETS (the shaft in Broward County) ... IF YOU CAN FIND 300 MILLION TO DO THIS, (then) YOU CAN FIND A MILLION FOR DRUG REHAB. (We send everybody to prison where they do drugs, come back out and continue doing drugs, until they go back) IT'S A JOKE. SO I JUST BEG ALL OF YOU TO FIND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO HELP THE SMALL GUY. THERE'S NO CRIMINAL PEOPLE HERE. IT'S ALL CIVIL PEOPLE REPRESENTING DEVELOPERS OR LOOKING FOR NICER DIGS. THE PLACE IS EMPTY HALF THE TIME ANYWAY. I MEAN WE HAVE ALL THESE JUDGES RIGHT NOW (gesturing to Judges Tobin, Tuter, Krathen, Rosenberg, and Weinstein sitting in the front row). ALL THOSE COURTROOMS ARE EMPTY. IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE AND I BEG ALL OF YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
Our little address must have touched a nerve, as no fewer than four commissioners felt the need to address the drug rehab question later. Some log rolled, stating the bond money couldn't be used for drug programs. Others were honest, pointing out the debt service on the new loans would come off the top of the annual operating funds, which come straight out of the taxpayers' pockets and obviously wouldn't be available for other uses. We even tried to argue with Commissioner Lieberman, by pointing out the sixty million in cash they were taking from reserves to build a new jail could be used for programs, only to be shouted down by commissioners citing rules of procedure that preclude any back and forth dialogue with a pontificating commissioner (even when they're talking about you). The issue of the non-bond money usage was completely ignored.
On a similar note, Commissioner Ritter, who originally set up the task Force as Mayor, enticed us into what we thought was to be a dialogue regarding the condition of the old courthouse. Stupidly, we took the bait, not realizing we really would be limited to a single word answer. Courtesy of From the minutes part 2:
(*parenthesis contain parts of the back and forth, as best can be remembered,
that were not captured in the minutes)
COMMISSIONER RITTER: HERE'S SOMEONE WHO COMES TO US TODAY ... AND TELLS US ... WE NEED PROGRAMS FOR DRUG REHABILITATION WHICH WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO CUT AND THE LIKE, SO I WONDER WHAT AN ACTIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, INTERESTED RESIDENT OF BROWARD COUNTY WOULD SAY ABOUT THE COURTHOUSE. ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? HOW WOULD YOU VOTE? JUST YES OR NO, UP OR DOWN.
(JAABLOG): YOU ALL DON'T DESERVE IT AT THIS TIME. IT'S NOT THAT I'M SAYING (... you know the safety issues are exaggerated, some of them have been in existence for sixty years ... )*
COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. SO THE ANSWER IS NO ... HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT IT'S A TERRIBLE COURTHOUSE ... BUT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE IT ...
(JAABLOG): (But you're misquoting me ....)
(COMMISSIONERS: YOU CANNOT ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME)
COMMISSIONER RITTER: SO I'M GUESSING THAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE MOST OF THE VOTERS ARE QUESTIONING TO BE IN BROWARD COUNTY, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH WE NEED IT AND STILL SAYS: YOU DON'T DESERVE IT ...
Pretty sneaky stuff, right? It was quite an education for us. These guys control the game, and if they start to look bad or lose, they grab the ball and go home. Still, it was our fault for falling for it, particularly after being shafted and ignored by Lieberman on the jail reserve funds issue a little earlier.
That's about it. The little guys can never win in these types of games, that's clear. The odds are stacked too high, and the rules are written to ensure victory for the home team. All anyone can do is try to make the money players and politicians, including the civil lawyers, open their hearts and consciousness to the unbearable plight of Broward's poor minorities over the last thirty years. If all of them as a group dedicated 1/100th the energy they invested into making the new courthouse a reality into controlling Broward's out-of-whack institutional racism, we could stop incarcerating non-violent African-American drug offenders at twice the rates of our neighbors tomorrow. Unfortunately, they just don't care, which is why they don't deserve a new courthouse, and why they'll never attain the respect from the community they think the new edifice will afford them.
DBR: Commissioners vote 6-3 on how to fund new courthouse
“Y’all don’t deserve it at this time … It’s not as unsafe as you’re portraying it,” he said from his seat before commissioners cut him off."
Pulp: Commission Forgets People, Goes With Courthouse
"Don't make a mistake, the process getting us to this vote was bogus and insultingly bush league at that. Ritter cooked up a cheering section she called the Broward County Courthouse Task Force. To give you an idea of the caliber of that body, understand that one of the appointed members was none other Scott Rothstein. It was just another piece of legitimacy paid for with his campaign generosity. The committee never investigated any of the key issues involving the current courthouse; it just decided without any further review that the only answer was to build the courthouse ...
But you have to understand that Lieberman might have more than altruistic motives to rush this project forward. In 2005, she and lawyer husband Stuart Michelson, who serves as the Sunrise city attorney, bought an office suite close to the courthouse (at 800 SE Third Avenue) for $1.35 million.
Mr. and Mrs. Michelson (the name Lieberman uses when she moonlights as a lobbyist) bought the office near the top of the real estate boom, and today it's only appraised for a paltry $855,000. So the couple is upside down on the property, which caters to courthouse lawyers ... A new courthouse, obviously, would put a charge into the area and very likely elevate property prices ... "
Sentinel: Broward residents to be taxed to build new courthouse
Herald: Gay American Heroes Foundation Announces Prestigious List Of New Board Members
" ... Video of Lee scrutinizing ballots was frequently used in national news coverage of the recount. "I was actually stunned and I was not prepared personally for that attack. I got hate mail. It's the only thing as a judge that I've gotten hate mail on. And I got threats on my answering machine from members of the gay community. It was very surprising to me when that happened. I still think I've made a contribution and I think that all that was an anomaly. I think any gay judge is going to face an issue from time to time that's going to put them at odds with their own community. But the bigger picture is that it's better that we are there because it makes the judicial process more real," said Judge Lee."
One by one the developer's lawyers and Tobin's lackeys approached the podium, singing the same song as the approving commissioners. There wasn't a single voice in opposition (more on that later), or a single community member who didn't conduct business in the courthouse. At one point, commissioner Lieberman even had the audacity to boast that the meeting was well advertised. It was sad.
We've made our own recommendations in the past regarding a new courthouse. We've also railed time and again over the downright false claims regarding the need for more litigation space, via a dozen or so JAABWALKS. Still, you'd have to be stupid to bet on refurbishment over the new courthouse horse, seeing as how it's backed by self-interest, greed, and, most importantly, endless developer dollars that will ultimately end up in some familiar pockets. It was only a matter of time before it crossed the finish line.
Which brings us to the main point. Corruption and greed exists everywhere. Nepotism, political back scratching, and dishonest, lying public officials thrive in other places too. What they don't do everywhere else, however, is hypocritically turn around and impose the most impossible standards (and maximum penalties for not living up to those standards) on the poorest, sickest and weakest segments of the community with sadistic zeal. That's the Broward difference, made all the more egregious when you consider the liberal Democratic platforms Broward's leaders swear allegiance to on the campaign trail.
Let's be perfectly clear: they can have their gleaming new monument instead of fixing up the old place, and all of their other excesses too without a peep from us, if only they'll lighten up on the poor people doing the same drugs they once did, and their kids probably still do.
In the hope of trying to get this message across, we also addressed the commissioners this morning. After having to argue our way to the podium by pointing out they skipped from Agenda Item Twelve to Agenda Item 15 (the courthouse initiative) without announcing they were taking down the sign-in sheets for public speakers, and by pointing out they had previously allowed a new courthouse supporter to speak without requiring a sign-in, we were allowed to talk.
Here, courtesy of From the minutes part 1, is a truncated version:
(*parenthesis contain parts of the speech, as best can be remembered,
that were not captured in the minutes)
IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN (no matter what)*. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT THE
VOTERS THINK, BUT I JUST BEG ALL OF YOU. THERE'S NO MONEY FOR DRUG REHAB PROGRAMS. SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL GUY. TRADITIONALLY THE SMALL GUY ALWAYS GETS (the shaft in Broward County) ... IF YOU CAN FIND 300 MILLION TO DO THIS, (then) YOU CAN FIND A MILLION FOR DRUG REHAB. (We send everybody to prison where they do drugs, come back out and continue doing drugs, until they go back) IT'S A JOKE. SO I JUST BEG ALL OF YOU TO FIND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO HELP THE SMALL GUY. THERE'S NO CRIMINAL PEOPLE HERE. IT'S ALL CIVIL PEOPLE REPRESENTING DEVELOPERS OR LOOKING FOR NICER DIGS. THE PLACE IS EMPTY HALF THE TIME ANYWAY. I MEAN WE HAVE ALL THESE JUDGES RIGHT NOW (gesturing to Judges Tobin, Tuter, Krathen, Rosenberg, and Weinstein sitting in the front row). ALL THOSE COURTROOMS ARE EMPTY. IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE AND I BEG ALL OF YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
Our little address must have touched a nerve, as no fewer than four commissioners felt the need to address the drug rehab question later. Some log rolled, stating the bond money couldn't be used for drug programs. Others were honest, pointing out the debt service on the new loans would come off the top of the annual operating funds, which come straight out of the taxpayers' pockets and obviously wouldn't be available for other uses. We even tried to argue with Commissioner Lieberman, by pointing out the sixty million in cash they were taking from reserves to build a new jail could be used for programs, only to be shouted down by commissioners citing rules of procedure that preclude any back and forth dialogue with a pontificating commissioner (even when they're talking about you). The issue of the non-bond money usage was completely ignored.
On a similar note, Commissioner Ritter, who originally set up the task Force as Mayor, enticed us into what we thought was to be a dialogue regarding the condition of the old courthouse. Stupidly, we took the bait, not realizing we really would be limited to a single word answer. Courtesy of From the minutes part 2:
(*parenthesis contain parts of the back and forth, as best can be remembered,
that were not captured in the minutes)
COMMISSIONER RITTER: HERE'S SOMEONE WHO COMES TO US TODAY ... AND TELLS US ... WE NEED PROGRAMS FOR DRUG REHABILITATION WHICH WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO CUT AND THE LIKE, SO I WONDER WHAT AN ACTIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, INTERESTED RESIDENT OF BROWARD COUNTY WOULD SAY ABOUT THE COURTHOUSE. ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? HOW WOULD YOU VOTE? JUST YES OR NO, UP OR DOWN.
(JAABLOG): YOU ALL DON'T DESERVE IT AT THIS TIME. IT'S NOT THAT I'M SAYING (... you know the safety issues are exaggerated, some of them have been in existence for sixty years ... )*
COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. SO THE ANSWER IS NO ... HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT IT'S A TERRIBLE COURTHOUSE ... BUT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE IT ...
(JAABLOG): (But you're misquoting me ....)
(COMMISSIONERS: YOU CANNOT ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME)
COMMISSIONER RITTER: SO I'M GUESSING THAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE MOST OF THE VOTERS ARE QUESTIONING TO BE IN BROWARD COUNTY, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH WE NEED IT AND STILL SAYS: YOU DON'T DESERVE IT ...
Pretty sneaky stuff, right? It was quite an education for us. These guys control the game, and if they start to look bad or lose, they grab the ball and go home. Still, it was our fault for falling for it, particularly after being shafted and ignored by Lieberman on the jail reserve funds issue a little earlier.
That's about it. The little guys can never win in these types of games, that's clear. The odds are stacked too high, and the rules are written to ensure victory for the home team. All anyone can do is try to make the money players and politicians, including the civil lawyers, open their hearts and consciousness to the unbearable plight of Broward's poor minorities over the last thirty years. If all of them as a group dedicated 1/100th the energy they invested into making the new courthouse a reality into controlling Broward's out-of-whack institutional racism, we could stop incarcerating non-violent African-American drug offenders at twice the rates of our neighbors tomorrow. Unfortunately, they just don't care, which is why they don't deserve a new courthouse, and why they'll never attain the respect from the community they think the new edifice will afford them.
DBR: Commissioners vote 6-3 on how to fund new courthouse
“Y’all don’t deserve it at this time … It’s not as unsafe as you’re portraying it,” he said from his seat before commissioners cut him off."
Pulp: Commission Forgets People, Goes With Courthouse
"Don't make a mistake, the process getting us to this vote was bogus and insultingly bush league at that. Ritter cooked up a cheering section she called the Broward County Courthouse Task Force. To give you an idea of the caliber of that body, understand that one of the appointed members was none other Scott Rothstein. It was just another piece of legitimacy paid for with his campaign generosity. The committee never investigated any of the key issues involving the current courthouse; it just decided without any further review that the only answer was to build the courthouse ...
But you have to understand that Lieberman might have more than altruistic motives to rush this project forward. In 2005, she and lawyer husband Stuart Michelson, who serves as the Sunrise city attorney, bought an office suite close to the courthouse (at 800 SE Third Avenue) for $1.35 million.
Mr. and Mrs. Michelson (the name Lieberman uses when she moonlights as a lobbyist) bought the office near the top of the real estate boom, and today it's only appraised for a paltry $855,000. So the couple is upside down on the property, which caters to courthouse lawyers ... A new courthouse, obviously, would put a charge into the area and very likely elevate property prices ... "
Sentinel: Broward residents to be taxed to build new courthouse
Herald: Gay American Heroes Foundation Announces Prestigious List Of New Board Members
" ... Video of Lee scrutinizing ballots was frequently used in national news coverage of the recount. "I was actually stunned and I was not prepared personally for that attack. I got hate mail. It's the only thing as a judge that I've gotten hate mail on. And I got threats on my answering machine from members of the gay community. It was very surprising to me when that happened. I still think I've made a contribution and I think that all that was an anomaly. I think any gay judge is going to face an issue from time to time that's going to put them at odds with their own community. But the bigger picture is that it's better that we are there because it makes the judicial process more real," said Judge Lee."
First. Well said Bill. Way to stand up and at least attempt to speak your mind and the mind of the people of Broward county. Unfortunately you are up against a bunch of cheats, swindlers and out to do for themselves. Keep up the good work.
All I wanna know is how do I get me some of that constructuion money?
First, some facts about Tuesday's vote on financing a new Broward County Courthouse, a story that only the Daily Business Review, JAABLOG and I wrote about. Not asking for plaudits, just noting it for historical context.
For those courthouse denizens who animate this blog with their constant contempt of Broward taxpayers thru your comments here, who think that a new Broward County Courthouse is very important, guess what?
The South Florida news media could hardly care less about you. You barely register on their horizon. You are insignificant.
In the days and weeks before the vote, the two daily South Florida newspapers and the four network TV stations sat on their hands and reported nothing about this issue. Neither the Herald or the Sun-Sentinel have mentioned this subject in print or online since last September, when a Guest Op-Ed purported to have been written by Comm. Stacy Ritter was published in the Sun-Sentinel.
Once again, on something very important,
South Florida's news media has shown they were sleeping on the job, and let the people down.
Did you EVER see anything last year on TV about the ties that the members of the Lieberman-led Task Force had to the Broward legal establishment, who desperately want a brand new pony?
Preferably, with a brand-new barn and a lifetime supply of feed. On the taxpayer's dime. Nope. There never was one
Watching the coverage Tuesday night at 11 p.m., actually thinking there'd be some interviews -with somebody!- this point was drive home all over again.
At 11:16 p.m. CBS-4's Antonio Mora did a 15-second read without any visuals and said the vote happened "last night," which as we know, is incorrect.
At 11:27 p.m., Local10's Laurie Jennings also did a 15-second read
with archived visuals of yellow tape and leaking ceilings.
There's the press coverage of your shiny new pony.
And why is it that so few usually well-informed people actually know how poorly Lieberman handled the rigged Task Force last year?
I wrote last year on my blog how she and the county administrators didn't follow basic aspects of the state's Sunshine Laws, and instead, tried to fool the public by arranging for the agenda and assorted relevant public docs for the last meeting, which should've been online before the meeting, to be placed online HOURS AFTER the last meeting was already over.
Not that they actually had the final public meeting listed online days before the meeting, since they didn't. Lieberman was the one in charge -the Chair. But the media didn't care -just like now.
Keep up the great work, JAABLOG!
WHERE IS THE FBI WHEN YOU NEED THEM?
ONCE AGAIN CROOKED MEMBERS OF THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION, SOME OF WHO ARE PRESENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, PUSH THE ENVELOPE ONE STEP FURTHER, WITH NO MAIN STREAM MEDIA COVERAGE IN EVIDENCE, TO FURTHER THEIR OWN STICKY AND SELF SERVING AGENDA FOR A NEW COURTHOUSE AT TAX PAYER EXPENSE.
UNTIL VOTERS THROW OUT THE PERPETRATORS OF THIS SCAM, IT WILL CONTINUE. AFTER ALL THIS IS BROWARD COUNTY AND THIS ACTION IS WHAT IT'S BECOME KNOWN FOR.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT ALL THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHOULD HAVE THEIR CONNECTIONS TO DEVELOPERS THROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND THE APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION INITIATED AGAINST THEM.
HOW CAN RITTER WHILE SHE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE SA EVEN BE ALLOWED TO CAST HER CROOKED VOTE FOR SUCH A PERPOSTERIOUS IDEA AS A COURTHOUSE THAT IS NOT NEEDED FOR JUDGES THAT WORK AT LESS THAN HALF WORK SCHEDULE IN COURTROOMS THAT REMAIN EMPTY MOST OF THE TIME?
BROWARD VOTERS SHOULD REFUSE TO PAY FOR A NEW COURTHOUSE AND PUT THE STAMP OF DISAPPROVAL ON ALL PARTIES INVOLVED BY INSURING THEIR PUBLIC OUSTER FROM THE BOTTOMLESS TAX PAYER POCKET WHILE THEY PUT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN THEIR OWN POCKETS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
Can any measure be taken at this point to repeal this commission vote legally?
The cost per tax payer is $8 per person. I know you hate the idea of people being accountable for their own actions but I didn't make these losers become junkies and I see no reason my tax dollars should have to pay to coddle then in rehab which most fail anyway. Ship em to Haiti and let them have nothing and see if they can be productive building back a society. Sink or swim.
I find it incomprehensible that Broward County in the midst of a world financial recession and after the voters of this county resoundingly rejected the idea of a new courthouse, would do such a thing as this.
I have lost any faith in our commission to do the right thing under any circumstances.
No wonder this is called the corruption capitol of the US.
I also can't understand why this was not reported on the news to any extent so members of the community could express their views on the subject. This town really is corrupt beyond anything I've ever witnessed as a taxpayer and concerned citizen.
A courthouse for all of Broward County, family, dependency, foreclosure, domestic violence, contract breaches, injuries, etc. v. druggies (self induced, voluntarily)
Which County Commissioner will be indicted next?
5 dollar buy -- deposit box by the tip jar in Hugh's.
Continuing decline in property values, worst recession since the 30s and these idiots circumvent the will of the citizens of Broward and knock this thing in anyway?
Every one of these idiots should be removed from office after their back accounts are audited.
Aren't some of these Broward commissions under investigation at this very time? How could they vote on an issue where they have such an obvious conflict of interest anyway?
The Sun Sentinel did a great job in burying this issue. I'm disgusted with how this issue has come down without the imput of "we the people" who will be paying for it.
Emergency meeting tonight at Bova Prime. All Broward County Commissioners are required to attend. All refreshments are free.
Free drinks too. Police escorts provided for all drivers who are still too drunk to drive after snorting complimentary cocaine.
There's gonna be a few more county commisioners looking for jobs soon.
Now Tobin can put foreclosure court back into a courtroom
The line forms outside Murphys courtroom at 2pm. For 5bucks anyone can sit in the judges chair and throw some people out of their homes. IFor an extra $25 you can ride in the judges elevator and park in the judges parking lot. For $100 you can have the Gardiner Package and not show up and Tuter Fruity will cover it all for you
Why were all those judges at the Downtowner today for lunch? Are they already arguing about their new offices?
We don't need a new courthouse. They would have been better off deciding a few years ago to demolish Riverwalk and put the Marlin's new ballpark or the Panther's arena there. Broward, Andrews, and Las Olas would be a very happening place on nights and weekends during games or other events. Our leaders have no vision. Either that or they're not getting greased.
Oh boy they can bury a lot of bodies when they pour the foundation. Its an easy drop from the sixth floor windows.
The County Commission lies? This is news?
The MAFIA is less brazen than our County commissioners.
I am so grateful for Jaablaw You are my guilty pleasure and I check out your website every day. It is so refreshing to read blogs written by intelligent and passionate writers. Writers that want change in a positive way. You guys are heroes. How do I join this platform?
go back to palm beach and your polo buddies raintwinkletoes!
wow.. ever since my comments concerning cops who live 75 miles from work and get free police cruisers and the cost associated with such, Officer Not So Friendly has really taken offense. Good.
GENE SIMMONS was cast as a Broward Judge / Arbitrtor / sleaze ........ others would have chosen Clyde Horky , Ganev Spechler , tom porteous , mark ciavarella , marc dreier , madoff , adria quintela or john cellucci .
First, you have some interesting points here, though I did write about their decision to approve this back in August 2009. The real problem is the media frenzy that distracts so much from the issues that people can't find what's important. Though I could have written about this more, so point taken there.
Of course, some may think thou dost protest too much: http://browardnetonline.com/2010/02/ritter-says-broward-deserves-new-courthouse/
Let's not forget Shuyster Luyster.
For those of you who would care to discuss the rumors and allegations you have heard regarding me, I would encourage you to call so that we can have a discussion. If you would prefer, we can meet. I will answer any and all questions you may have. All that is required is that you are interested enough to call, make an appointment and provide your real name. After all, it is easy to throw out unfounded rumors and allegations (or even make them up) when you can hide behind anonymity. Please have the courage to disclose who you are. To the point, however, when I arrived at the county commission over 3 years ago, I did not believe we needed a new courthouse. Having spent these past 3+ years reading countless studies, speaking to hosts of people on the issue, looking at the financing, etc., I am convinced that we need a new courthouse desperately. I would welcome a thoughful and deliberate discussion with anyone who would like to talk to me about this and why the commission made the decision it did. To do it in this environment, however, is unproductive as too many comments have been thrown out which, unfortunately, have little or no basis in fact. Please call. 954.357.7003. Let's have a chat. Coffee and bagels are on me.
There you go Billy Boy, whatcha gonna do? Lets guess, nothing. We all know you dont deal with people face to face.