LBTS RESIDENT YANN BRANDT….

(Photo: from left: Bruce Kershner, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association; James Rose, Network for New Energy Choices; Gwen Rose, Vote Solar; Gov. Crist; Martha Duggan, Solar Alliance; Yann Brandt, AGT electrical contractors. Photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Crist)

Dear Readers….Many of you may recognize LBTS longtime resident Yann Brandt…He has grown up in our town….He was a VFD member in our town…and he has been quite vocal and informative in offering up suggestions for the town and its residents with energy programs …and asking the commission to start a committee to move the town in the right direction…Unfortunately the only thing green that came from his offers…were that of the “green- eyed monster”…political in nature from the “Gang of 3″ on the dais who have heard Yann might consider a run for a seat on the Commission next March….So shortsighted were they that they shot him down…Others have not ……Such as Governor Crist…and Congressman Klein….Hmmmm….

http://blogs.tampabay.com/energy/2009/03/crist-gets-solar-energy-award.html

BC- On the floor of Congress…Congressman Kleins speaks of  Yann  Brandt and AGT …..(youtube link below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMf5J0snAI8

Excerpt from Reuters….

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Jun 01 (MARKET WIRE) --  Advanced Green Technologies
 (AGT), one of the world's leading providers
of solar energy systems, today announced a strategic alliance with CTC Resources, Inc.
(CTC), one of industry's leading financiers.
 The alliance enables AGT clients to select, install, manage and finance complete
 photovoltaic systems that are inclusive of the
 system components, software, maintenance and installation, while realizing an
unparalleled return on investment
through their 0-0-3 Financing Program.     
"AGT is committed to assisting businesses realize significant savings on their
 purchase of solar energy systems
and services with flexible offerings, highly competitive rates and superior
 product and investment protection,"
 said Yann Brandt, VP of AGT. "AGT is pleased to offer our clients the industry's
 first 0-0-3 Program, which reflects
 $0 down payment, 0% financing with the first 3 monthly payments of $0, for qualified
borrowers. With $10 million allocated
to provide financing, AGT has now made going green easier for consumers."

Full text link below…

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS200432+01-Jun-2009+MW20090601

BC- Maybe next time Mr. Brandt offers his expert opinion ….the dais will be all ears?…

more to come………

Tags: AGT, congressman klein, Gov. Crist. Solar energy, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, News, Politics, Scoops, Web News, local government

“IT’S NOT POLITICAL”….Vice Mayor McIntee/Comm. Jim Silverstone…

Dear Readers…This front and center self promotional July 4th float says it all  ( 1 of 2 in the parade)…It was definitely political…It was narcissistic….. And it was unbelievably  tone-deaf to the Town and where we find ourselves in at the present time!…

From the opening blunder of applying for a special event permit as a Town/CIC/VFD co-sponsored event …the sole control for the event for Coordinator Marc Furth…and the secretive and suspect planning …( a far cry from the co-chaired transparent event the year prior)….the 24 hour notice limited posting of meetings…( done with the Town Manager being fully complicit)… …The Mc-Furths went against the DEP’s known recommendations by planning  the fireworks display smack-dab on 3/4 plywood on the beach in the center of town…closing down the entry…along with a  280 ft. radius  perimeter…..requiring  Nova University monitors to be assigned to watch for any disturbances in the area to the sea turtle nests…  The Mc-Furth’s told the DEP untruths for why it must be on the beach…Coordinator Marc Furth made demands per a letter to the Town Manager/Commissioners that he reprinted in his  Mc-Furth BTSTimes accusing the Mayor and Comm. Dodd when they did their due diligence in checking out the facts…The Vice Mayor made “bloated” statements from the dais…and at the July 1st volunteer meeting…throwing out “garbage numbers” of who was volunteering for the event…going so far as to say his wife “turned away volunteers”….and the response from the VFD had been tremendous…(with Chief Perkin’s having to promise Comm. Dodd that the members not participating would not be fired as a memo said they would be …per the Dep. Chief)….Mark Conn and Cristie Furth spoke of a entries in the parade and for the afternoon party that never appeared….(Pompano FD engine/NY FD Engine/Antique Fire engine/Traveling Vietnam War wall)….Mark Conn said there would be 80 entries…(was an “entrie”counted as a person, a bike, or a trailer?)… The participants were as follows…….The Furth Float (LBTS Artificial Reef Project)….The  Marines…The American Legion- Thomas P. Johnston Post 222…VFD Captain Mark Conn on VFD-ATV (with a Sal’s towing ad on the side..a permanent ad)….NYPD car….The Mayor…(CHEERS)…VM McIntee and wife…(SILENCE)….Com. Silverstone….(SILENCE)…Comm. Clottey…(SILENCE)…Comm. Dodd and wife…(CHEERS)…2 vans with veterans….Army truck with disabled veterans…Congressman Ron Klein…….State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff….The VFD members walking in front of ATV-Jet Ski….3 VFD-Firetrucks…(Squirt 12 was called to an alarm at the Mayor’s building!)… the VFD-pickup pulling the hurricane trailer…(with the strange permanent lettered sign of Commander Mikos Angeles on the side of it…HUH?)….2 AMR ambulances…Republican David Maymon …(running for State Rep. Dist. 91)…….2  classic cars….The LBTS -Community Church Noah’s Ark float….Lord’s Realty car…Bel Air Assoc. car….Cindy Geesey- POA Hometown Hero car (see below)….By-The- Sea- Future car….Kids on bikes etc…1 classic car…1 classic truck…Choice Environmental truck…and 2 BSO Mounted Police…(which produced a large amount of shock…sadness and anger from the parade attendees for their placement in the parade…behind the garbage truck!)……Political?….OUCH!…They were also the end of the parade… (28 entries)…No Senator Jeff Atwater?…Hmmmm……The crowd on the street was down from prior years…and Publix parking lot was empty…something very unusual for a LBTS parade…Just as the paltry donations (June 24,2009 memo $5,600) …small amount of volunteers …(despite unprecedented excessive measures taken to recruit both)…and silence the “Gang of 3″ received as they drove by…it continued on to the afternoon El Prado event…Residents not affiliated with the CIC/VFD stayed away…resulting in an attendance of half of the year before….and we hear that at 3 pm the total cash was also half of what was made the year before…..Those privy to the borrowed City radios used for VFD communication……heard VM/Dep. Chief McIntee yelling at his “troops” for not showing up and helping at their required 4 hour minimum assigned jobs in the park….Included at the event…Pep Boys tent with a sponsored raffle…a Johnny Depp look- a-like pirate… a single tent for selling merchandise ….Pirates of the Treasure Coast…(an out of town vendor)…VFD T-shirts for sale…($5)….Choice Environmental tent for recycling information and getting to know the residents…a Dunk Tank…(at 11 am it was CIC- Mermaid Cristie Furth)…The 2 water slides…and 1 kids ride…classic cars…a band…a beer truck…sno-cones…3 veterans tents…and finally…the Anglin Monument wasn’t the only thing moved out of the park for the Furths…the Town Manager’s gift from last year… …the “United We Stand” sign remained in front of Town Hall…OOPS!…

BC-This writer wrote repeatedly that this “Gang” was in trouble from the start….but with the upheaval reverberating throughout the town as a result of the Town Manager’s “reassignment” (WITH CAUSE!….in the press)….of BSO Police Chief Scott Gooding… on June 26th ….(a move that was and is wholeheartedly supported by them all)….one can only wonder if any one of them is having second thoughts about their future endeavors …political and otherwise…for today’s response should tell them loud and clear….”WE WILL NOT FORGET!”….

2009 POA HOMETOWN HERO….CINDY GEESEY…..Mayor Minnet…State Representative Bogdanoff…..Resident Judy Jones…..

‘Cindy Geesey — Cindy has been part of LBTS for 55 years and has worked very hard on many projects in LBTS for over a decade. She has been a board member of the Chamber of Commerce for eight years, was President of the POA for eight years and introduced many new programs.  She has been on the boards of Sister Cities and the LBTS Performing Arts Center and served on the Board of Adjustment and as Chair of Planning and Zoning for four years.  She’s been a member of LBTS Kiwanis and the Assumption Altar Guild.  She co-chaired the 4th of July festivities for 3 years.  Cindy also does volunteer work for Broward Humane Society and organizes a group from LBTS for the annual Doggy Walk. This event raises thousands of dollars for the shelter.  Cindy is an editor for By The Sea Future newspaper and reports on town happenings to our residents and visitors. Her newest project is bringing military families to LBTS for a free weekend of fun and sun. She collects donations from all of our great merchants and puts everything together for a much needed R & R for families that protect our country.  All and all Cindy is there for LBTS and works hard for the town she loves.’

COMMISSIONER STUART DODD and wife Penny….

More to come…..

Tags: BSO, Candidate Maymon, cic, congressman klein, July 4th 2009, local government, local politcs, POA, Rep. Bogdanoff, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Civic Organizations, Clubs, Local Politics, Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, local government

BSO…”IT’S EASTER EGG DYE”….

An update…(previous post…scoops…targeted)…A call was made to the BSO who arrived within minutes…The Deputy took a look at the blue substance and the sample and declared it blue Easter egg dye!…HMMMM… And who we said was in charge of Easter in LBTS?….HMMMM….And the Deputy explained it looked as if the perpetrators drove up at an angle and tossed it from their vehicle as to not hit the Town’s property…HMMM….I made it known that after the egg incident some months back……this one could not go unreported!…Too, too coincidental!…

Guess there was no leftover YELLOW DYE?….

more to come…

Tags: Local Politics, update
Posted in Local Politics, Politics

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER…

A look at the LBTS Commission “Field Trip” on Noise…( 5/15/09)….currently being shown on Comcast ch. 78…(available on the Town website later today…http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/) shows that McIntee like MacArthur makes sure to have his personal photographer ( Marc Furth) following behind him to photograph his every move!….

By the way what was the decibel meter reading on the wind?….

This is one outing you don’t want to miss seeing!…

more to come on the content later…

Tags: local governmennt, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, Opinions, Politics, Scoops, local government

LIGHTS…CAMERA….ACTION…THE RESCUES…BY THE LBTS-VFD AND GOOD SAMARITANS…

Dear Readers…It was quite a day yesterday in LBTS… a look outside this writer’s window in the morning…showed a sea wrought with whitecaps….A troublesome sight to behold as we watched all the swimmers going in despite the treachery that awaited them….

As previously posted we saw that evening the familiar white T.V. Camera trucks from Channel 10 and Channel 6 news…

Below…the text from both interview with links to the sites which may have the videos on soon…

CHANNEL 10 NEWS…. 5/17/09…. 11 PM

Channel 10 news showed in their opening the photo of LBTS-VFD Capt. Ron McGirr and an unidentified FF on the LBTS-VFD Sea Doo…as the Anchor Charles Perez said ” Rescue at sea caught on camera after a day of rough surf”…

At 11:07 pm…Charles Perez said ” High winds made for rough conditions on the beach today where several people had to be rescued after nearly drowning within hours of each other.. Julie Sommers (standing in front of the newly installed post #7) joins us now live from the beach in Lauderdale- By- The- Sea with the pictures of quite a dramatic rescue,Julie”…

Julie Sommers said ” Good evening to you Charles. This lifer preserver post here behind me is one of several installed just three days ago and already today proved priceless. Because on this stretch of sand alone five people who would have drowned this afternoon were saved.’

BC- Next was the interview with the young men previously posted across from the LBTS fire station around 8 pm….

Julie Sommers-” As the sun set this evening surfers strapped in their boards and described the thrills of a rough day on the water can bring”

The young man responded -” It was pretty fun”

Julie Sommers- ” Fun for you guys though can be dangerous for swimmers who aren’t strong enough for rip tide.”

Young surfer- ” I actually warned a couple people today about the rip current.”

Julie Sommers-” You were warning some of the swimmers out there?”

Young surfer-” Yeah, some of the kids, so yeah they didn’t really know what they were doing.”

Julie Sommers- ” It was not just kids that needed rescuing. These photos capture some of the terrifying moments when two tourists from Holland (Photo shown of FF Mark Conn) were rescued this afternoon by volunteer firefighters who patrol the sand here .” ( Photo of Dep. Chief McIntee/ Cat. Ron McGirr and 5 FF by life ring)…

Julie Sommers-” Because the city cannot afford lifeguards.”

BC- Looks like the Dep. Chief came back to the station this evening for an interview…

Dep. Chief/VM McIntee- ” The rips, I watched them take them like a rubber duck in the river, right out and my eyes just popped out. I watched it.”

Julie Sommers- ” And then he and others raced into the water as couples screamed for help and yes that gash on his cheek is from the rescue effort, a rogue wave he said that slammed into the rescue board. A minoe injury worth the bigger pictur.” ( Videos shown by ATV with closeup of McIntee’s cheek )

Dep. Chief McIntee- ” If the volunteer fire department wasn’t there as fast as we were those people wouldn’t be going back to Holland in a plane, they’d be going back in a box.”

Julie Sommers- ” Just before that couple was saved firefighters pulled another woman to safety and moments after the rescue to the north good Samaritans pulled two other people to safety.” ( She held up the life ring that says “property of LBTS”) ” And Charles in that case they (the good Samaritans) used these life rings that had just been posted here on the beach.”

Charles Perez- ” Very lucky to have the right people there at the right time.”..

http://www.justnews.com/video/index.html

CHANNEL 6 NEWs……5/17/09…. 11 PM…

11:05 PM…

BC- Channel 6 showed the same photo of Capt. Ron McGirr on the Sea Doo

Anchor- ” Dangerous rip current threatened the lives of several beachgoers across the south Florida coast today including a group of five in Lauderdale- By- The- Sea. Thanks to some quick thinking by volunteer first responders they all survived.”

Reporter- (on the LBTS beach in front of a group of warning signs) ” This is an unsupervised beach area so you are really swimming at your own risk and that’s exactly what these swimmers were doing and five nearly drowned.”

Vice Mayor/Deputy Chief McInteee- (on the beach in the afternoon) ” As we walked towards the beach approximately 20 feet from the beach we observed two people to our right on the ocean side hit the water and the riptide just picked them up and took them right out like a rocket. They started screaming for help.”

Reporter- ” There are no lifeguards here at Lauderdale By The Sea beaches, but the volunteer fire department happened to be nearby, they were nearby at another emergency”

BC- A photo was shown in the Minto sales office beachfront parking lot of VFD photog Marc Furth, Dep Chief McIntee, FF Mark Conn, Capt. Ron McGirr and an a VFD- FF…and a photo of McIntee and VFD-FF’s with the 2 ATVs and AMR )

Reporter- ” The volunteer first responders on jet skis were able to reach these two swimmers in time.”

Dep Chief McIntee- ” The bottom line is if the volunteers were not there those people would not be going home in chairs, they’d be going home in boxes.”

Reporter- ” The two people rescued are tourists from Holland spending the weekend in South Florida. The rescue was captured by the department’s photographer.”

VFD- Photog Marc Furth- ( Video with McIntee) ” I shoot pictures for the volunteer fire department and they use those for training purposes. I was able to be there in the very beginning to the very end of this.”

Reporter- ( as pictures of a rescue boat was shown) The other three swimmers who had close calls on Sunday were rescued by other beachgoers. Now officials are putting out these life preservers all over on this stretch of beach just in case anyone needs a rescue.”

BC- While we are all thankful that all those swimmers were saved today, a closer look at these reports shows that the VFD  were on patrol yesterday and were able to save some of the swimmers…but the others were saved by “good Samaritans”…and the report from Channel 10 stating …” Because the city cannot afford lifeguards.” along with Channel 6 reporting….” This is an unsupervised beach area so you are really swimming at your own risk and that’s exactly what these swimmers were doing and five nearly drowned.”…and…”The other three swimmers who had close calls on Sunday were rescued by other beachgoers. Now officials are putting out these life preservers all over on this stretch of beach just in case anyone needs a rescue.”…should make it time to put the Clottey recommended referendum item for LBTS lifeguards on the March 2010 ballot!…After all…today is Monday…when the VFD does not patrol as often as on the weekend…and we also face the Memorial Day weekend…and much larger crowds of swimmers…

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/

UPDATE…In today’s Sentinel Local section…including a photo of LBTS-VFD Capt. Jud Hopping making a  rescue… by ‘ Marc Furth,correspondent’ ( Really? McIntee BFF-BTSTimes Editor/Owner-Town photog-VFD photog- 4th of July Event coordinator…now he’s called a correspondent? )….with the accompanying text…

‘Firefighters make Rescue’ ‘ SAFE RETURN: Capt. Jud Hopping, left of the Lauderdale-By-The- Sea Volunteer Fire Department, works to bring Tine Kristensen back to shore after a  rip current dragged her and Brian Spencer out to sea. Hopping and another firefighter who were on the beach near the 4300 block of El Mar Drive, rushed on a water scooter to save the pair. They were assisted by four other firefighters. The victims whose hometowns and ages were not available, did not need medical attention. “These people would be deader than a doornail if we weren’t there,” said spokesman Deputy Fire Chief Jerry McIntee, who is the vice mayor of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.’

BC- Again, it is time for some serious discussion about how this town is portrayed…our P.R….perhaps Comm. Clottey was correct after all concerning  Town PIO d’Oliveira being ready in such circumstances…A look at the comments made by VM/Dep. Chief  and now (according the the Sentinel) VFD Spokesman McIntee in the last 24 hours…should give rise for great concern to the Town, VFD and for businesses that rely on tourism ….On the one hand we cannot be talking about charging $400-500 a night to become a “resort destination” ( VM McIntee/ Cristie Furth previous 5/13/09 meeting LBTS agenda/meetings cat.)…and then have comments made such as these by McIntee about our beach and what awaits the travelers!…

more to come…

Tags: lifeguards, local government, Local Politics, News, riptides, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Places To Go, Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, Updates, VFD, local government

Dear Happy,

I read with great interest your letter to the Mc-Furth Times. I find it most interesting since you have told me in the past you do not have a computer.

I also find it interesting because the words I wrote were the facts, and were witnessed by all when you stood at the podium in speaking to John Olinzock, saying “What a man!”…bringing forth a room full of laughter…

I would also like you to recall that I stood by you when you had your trees removed, and you were beside yourself with grief over their removal and the pain you experienced when you believed then- Comm. McIntee and Comm. Silverstone and their promises made to you on the Seagrape Sidewalks. I took all your calls when you were dealing with your neighbors, after these two Commissioners turned around and let you down. I was there for you when you dealt with the Town staff, the botched tree removals, and the anger you expressed along with your sorrow.

I wrote a letter of thanks for you at your request for you to copy and deliver to the Town Administration.

I implored you to step up to campaign in your area for candidates Clottey and Dodd despite your misgivings over what had transpired with Comm. McIntee and Silverstone.

I took your calls and listened when you were furious at Cristie Furth and her interference over the Yanni signs put on your lawn. You said you feared for the properties you own in town.

So Happy,  I am standing behind the Marchelos brothers who I feel are being treated as you once were, unfairly…Only this time it is on a much larger scale than your treasured palm trees,  because it involves their livelihood, their businesses.

Don’t be afraid of the Mc-Furths…this time next year they will no longer be in charge.

Sincerely,Barbara

NOTE TO READERS….I will take the “facts” and Truth” challenge everytime…For I do print the facts, I do print the truth and if there is something incorrect, unlike the Mc-Gang it is quickly rectified.

Tags: Local News, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in Local News, Local Politics, Politics, Scoops, VFD

CAMPAIGNING 2007 VS CAMPAIGNING 2010….

Here’s the “story” kiddies….Now sit down in a circle to listen to this “Tall Tale”…A tale of campaigning against the “Evil” Old Guard in 2007 and early campaigning for 2010…..

It’s the difference of $6,240,067  in long-term debt……and who is running against whom…that determines whether the “Sky Is Falling” …and we in LBTS are “bogged” down in “evil”debt…or we can all hold our heads up high because we are “Now in the black, WOW!”….

BC- The recent $31,000 2009 LBTS audit report done by our long-term no-bid auditing firm…says ….’The Town of Lauderdale-By-The -Sea has outstanding debt of approximately $8,500,00′ while the ‘Town of LBTS Changes in Net Assets-Comparative’…lists the long-term debt at $8,674,307…in 2007 it was $13,914,917

Now we know how too many numbers makes it easy for young minds to become confused….but as Commissioner Clottey and Vice Mayor McIntee have said…it’s “Government accounting”…HMMM…We’ve seen a lot of that lately in the news…..

BC- a footnote dear readers of all ages……it was “Government accounting” in 2007 as well…same “2-Hat” wearin’ Financial Director -Town Manager Colon that sits up there on the dais today…

But alas…as a Candidate…Commissioner Clottey went along with the CIC party line…”We are $13 million in debt”…The CIC standard political line on the campaign trail…in the condos…at the meet and greets and the well planned “drive this point home” at the debates…

Now with her seat firmly held for a year…and a  nameplate that says Commissioner……$8,675,908 equals “being in the black”….HUH?

Nap time now dear youngins’ as the grown-ups take a “gander” at the exchange on being “in the black” at the 3/24-25/09 Commission meeting right after Commissioner Comments…

Com. Dodd- “Point of information here, two Commissioners have said and I’m not trying to get at you Jerry.” (The VM made the “in the black” declaration in his comments…Comm. Clottey had done so previously from the dais) “I just want to clarify this once and for all. Two Commissioners (VM/Clottey) have said from this dais we’re in the black. I don’t actually think that’s right. I’d like to ask the Town Manager though she has done a fantastic job with the finances, we had about 13 million in debt, we were somewhere in the region about 8 million. We aren’t actually in the black. We haven’t paid off all our debts yet so could you possibly clarify that Esther.”

Vice Mayor McIntee-”Wait a minute! Point of order! That’s not on the agenda! Put it on the agenda to discuss it. It’s not fair to have the Town Manager have to come up with figures like that.”

Comm. Dodd-” I’m asking for a point of information.”

Mayor Minnet- ” Town Attorney I’m going to refer to you on this one. Commissioner Dodd has asked a question for point of information.”

Town Attorney- ” I think you can choose to whether to recognize it or move on with the agenda.”

Comm. Dodd- ” Never mind Mayor, I’ll put it on the agenda for next time. Thank you.”

Commissioner Clottey- ” Can I say a point of information? Ah, Commissioner Dodd, I think um, you have to understand what the term in the black means. In the black means that we stayed within out budget. We haven’t had to raise taxes, that kind of stuff. It does not mean you don’t have any outstanding bonds.”

Mayor- ” Point of information, we don’t have outstanding bonds, debt yes.”

BC- So children, time to come back…and learn the moral of this story…. one of those “Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten” kind of lessons…… You cannot have it both ways…in 2007…we stayed within our budget…and did not raise taxes…and had $13+ million in debt…along with the same Town Manager-Finance Director …In 2009 we stayed within our budget…and did not raise taxes….and have $8.5 or 6 in debt…along with same Town Manager-”de-facto” Finance Director….and never did we have bonds…Comm. Clottey……So why oh why are we now suddenly “in the black?”….

The moral of this “story”….for LBTS  “Folks”of all ages……is as the Vice Mayor so often likes to say…This “Tall Tale” from the pre-CIC 2010 Campaign…

“We’re in the black”…well “That just doesn’t fly”….

The Chickens come home to roost!….

more to come….

Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local governmenscoops, Local Politics
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local News, Local Politics, Politics, Scoops, local government

Earlier this evening a car chase took place… even going up Imperial Lane with 4 police cars in pursuit…

Later the car hit a sports car…and the driver ran from the car to enter a building near the Chamber …

The man is holed up inside…

The amount of police has increased with a swat team along with police cars everywhere and helicopters overhead…

The LBTS BSO and the LBTS VFD  are on scene….

Thanks for all the calls from faithful readers …who witnessed some of it…

more to come….

Update…Sentinel online….

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA – A man armed with two knives who authorities say ran a Broward Sheriff’s vehicle off the road with his car may have barricaded himself inside an apartment.

A SWAT team is currently circling that apartment building, located in the 4100 block of Bougainvilla Drive, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Officials say they received tips that the man was holed up in the residence, but the SWAT team had still not been able to verify that.

full text link below…

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-bn-0327barricade,0,4578659.story

Tags: BSO, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local News, Politics, Scoops

THE CALLS……..THE QUESTIONS……THE INFERENCES….THE FACTS……

It’s been an ongoing drumbeat from Commissioner Clottey with an assist from Vice Mayor McIntee…the “fear” of calling the BSO…the “retaliation”…the absurd assertions from these two have many scratching their heads wondering what’s up with these two…and do they and their  pals have any idea how off the wall they sound?…

It began at the CIC Town Hall meeting …small in attendance …only CIC…(previous post…civic organization category)…with Comm. Clottey making this weird assertion…and McIntee making ridiculous claims…”standard” McIntee fare that BSO was letting the “bad guys” go and going after the wrong ones…Bad “testing ground” for this line of battle with the BSO…and possible pre-election platform for 2010 ….Of course the “kool-aid” drinkers would buy whatever was thrown out at them…but to take it “on the road” to the 3/24-25/09 commission meeting…didn’t pass the “smell test”…and made Commissioner Clottey look off the wall!…

She brought it up at BSO reports the evening of the 24th…and BSO Chief Gooding set her straight…

Commissioner Clottey asked for the Chief to come to the podium…where she said “you and I have spoken several times about there’s no problem unless somebody calls the police, um repeatedly people have called me and said they’re afraid to call the police.”…She said they had gone back and forth about this and again said “people are afraid to call”…Chief Gooding said “I’m not sure, afraid of what? Afraid of the police, afraid of retaliation?”….Comm.Clottey  answered back that the ones that will tell her say it’s “retaliation”…Chief Gooding  said they had spoken about this and gave an example of of calling in a noise complaint…not giving your name …a domestic dispute…not giving your name…it is not required and is common practice no matter what city or state…the BSO just wants the calls “By not calling or calling you (Clottey) three days later does not help that situation, doesn’t help us respond.”…He spoke of the previous month when they had the same discussion and said he didn’t know what else he could say to assure her…going on to say they they receive anonymous calls everyday, all day…for suspicious people….water restrictions not being observed by neighbors that are done anonymously…The Chief said the “retaliation part must be from the person or the business they’re calling on”…saying the operators are used to taking calls from people who do not want to leave their names…Comm.Clottey ” Well Chief my concern is my constituents seem to be uneasy, this is a problem we have to solve.”…adding it was going nowhere for her to continue to discuss it with him…she went on to two other questions…”There were some comments made the last time about no police reports for Silver Shores the southern part and you said you had no reports.” Chief Gooding responded that was not what he said that it was said (to him) there were five or six car burglaries …”and even as I stand here today there wasn’t five or six car burglaries”…Comm.Clottey “Because I had gotten some e-mails from people who beg to differ with what you had said.” The Chief ” Let me tell you the fact, the fact is there were two and then there was a third one reported ten days after that, so there were three.”…He went on to say that at the previous report he gave to the Commission last month there were two reported “not five or six ,that’s a big difference.”….”So that’s the fact, Now you know rumors abound and I hear things around town that we’re getting killed in a certain area and if people would call me as opposed to you or another commissioner maybe they can get the facts.”…He told her he can only tell her what the reports that they take say….Comm. Clottey had one more question…She asked about the businesses who hire BSO police for events…she said ” I was kind of surprised to see the police chief directing pedestrian traffic while the three hired cops were enjoying themselves. I was surprised at that.” She wasn’t sure what to call them (Detail Deputies)…and she went on to say this ” I asked him (the detail deputy) um, are you going to do anything about everybody, the people running around with these open containers and he said where, and I said right there, he said no. If these guys see the law being broken whatever it is, do they just sit there and do nothing? I don’t know what their job is. If you could enlighten me as to what their job is?”…The Chief clarified the difference between on duty for the BSO and detail duty…and who does what…basically detail while being paid by the businesses is to keep the peace…no fights, no “blatant violations”…adding the detail for Jazz on the Square is usually two deputies…and for Tuesday (St. Patty’s Day) there were 5 deputies…any big occurrence they contact on duty BSO officers…and as far as open container “It’s basic standard blanket direction from me, from the Lieutenant on down.” saying they know people will be walking between the bars and restaurants during certain nights….adding that maybe the detail deputies need some extra reinforcement to deal with it …and it could be easily done….Comm. Clottey said it went beyond the bars…she had seen “spring breakers” walking with three or four open containers on El Mar and in parking lots…The Chief responded ” I got to tell you Commission you see much more than me, I’m out a lot during the day and I haven’t seen that.”…again reiterating that she and others need to call then…not bring it up in this forum…after the fact…so they are prevented from acting on it…

The Commission meeting continued the next day at 3:30 pm …and first up was Commissioner Comments…

Comm. Clottey- ” You probably heard the exchange between me and the Chief, ah by this I mean the Chief of police. Ah, ladies and gentlemen as you know we do have a problem and I feel like I kinda caught right there in the middle at times. I have heard you loud and clear, many, many people have called me and sent me an e-mail and I know I’m not the only one it’s everybody up here too. (Mayor Minnet /Comm. Dodd have not had the same calls or e-mails)..And they give me, they keep telling me that they are afraid to call the police for various reasons, they say reprisal. I, I believe it’s not that they’re afraid of the policemen but is afraid they’ll be going on public record saying they filed a complaint and when a lot of people tell you this story you have to put some credence in it. If it’s one or two, but when a lot of people tell you this, I wonder what happened in the past that makes people afraid.”…She again said all of the Commissioners received complaints last weekend..and spoke of a restaurant that was playing music until 2 am (101 Ocean)…saying people have the right to be angry…saying it was long past the 10 pm cut off…and then saying ” Ah, we get the complaints, for some reason I do not know and I can’t fathom, the police will not do anything, unless they have a complaint. Now if people are afraid to call the police what are we supposed to do?”…The Commissioner went on to explain her noise item agenda entry was to change the current ordinance to allow our code personnel to do “decibel” tests which they cannot at this present time….and her “take” on LBTS…”You know we are not a honky tonk town, we’re not supposed to be a destination for late night entertainment, that’s not what Lauderdale By The Sea is all about. We’re not an amusement park on the ocean. Most people who bought into this community thought there would be a certain amount of peace and quiet.We all like to go down to the square and have a good time. But that has to be limited to a certain time frame. It cannot be going on all day and all night into the wee hours of the morning.That is not what most people want.”…continuing on about the need to change who does the decibel monitoring ” It’s something the police are not going to do. If they wanted to do it they would have done it.”….

BC-  As one observer said after the meeting can the you imagine what the “Vigilante” will do with a decibel monitor at his disposal?…YIKES!

Later under New Business, Commissioner Silverstone was discussing the BSO and lack of beach patrol by the Sheriff’s office ( another CIC Town Hall kick-off vs the BSO police)…Lt. Angelo Cedeno took the opportunity after the initial subject matter was addressed and answered to set the record straight…Speaking to Comm. Clottey he said ” I just want to reiterate, I know Commissioner Clottey brought up the fact about the residents calling for complaints and issues. This in my twenty one years, this is the first town that I come to where residents do not call 911 and do not call the non emergency number. So this is, I can’t understand how, the town doesn’t take advantage of that service, not only the documentation of the call, the response times. It’s proper protocol to receive police service, emergency service. I know that cell phone is a luxury or initially started as a luxury to the town for supervisors to make contact with the supervisor. But I can’t stress any further the need to call those emergency numbers. And it kind of offends me to hear that the residents are scared to call the police because when I hear that it’s perceived to be either there’s a public corruption issue, there’s a use of force issue, there’s some kind of cover up issue. We are not, I have twenty one years of exceptional service. I bled for this state agency and it somewhat offends me to think that my residents can’t call me for service, because of some sort of retribution, the retribution is not on behalf of the Sheriff’s office or members of my staff or my troops. I would like to dispel that concern, and I hope it is taken as seriously as I take it, really strikes a nerve with me to hear that.”…The Lt. continued on speaking about the fact that the noise complaints should not usurp the positive things the BSO does and offered to brief any members of staff and the dais in the proper forum away from the camera at anytime about what is really being done by BSO in this town…Comm. Silverstone lamely tried to say he put his Beach Patrol item on to allow the Lt. to come up and say what he did..(according to the Lt. after the meeting, he waited for the right opportunity on his own)…The Vice Mayor tried to back peddle as well repeating the “it’s not the police they’re afraid of”…saying everyone respects the Sheriff’s Dept. (not the same story as at the CIC Town Hall meeting)…

The Lt answered ” Believe me I understand that, but perception is everything and for you to hear that in an open forum, it drives a stake through my heart.”

The Vice Mayor tried to have the last word saying the citizens support the police…the police are honest, but that in this town there is a history of retaliation for making a complaint…HMMMM….YEP…HE SAID IT…and he ought to know!

BC- The drumbeat is getting louder…the CIC seems to have their election issues…33 feet and the BSO Police…

Now unfortunately for this Town…the “2-Hats” have a “guaranteed” ” 3rd vote from Comm. Clottey……( seen with the removal later at the meeting of Louis Marchelos from the hall) who  in the end…never offered the Lt. her apologies…In this writer’s opinion that apology should have been forthcoming ….She did exactly what he (Lt. Cedeno)  said…in giving the public the perception that LBTS residents are afraid of the police…feared retribution from the police…despite the few and far between slight clarifications to say that wasn’t what she or the Vice Mayor meant …those  statements were lost below the glaring headlines they have made each and every time she went after the BSO….. apparently their intent!

more to come…..

Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Politics, Public Safety, Updates

A “BROMANTIC COMEDY”….

So Monday night this writer got roped into going along to one of those godawful bathroom humor comedies as the BCbythesea #1 daughter and son-in-law were in town….A new low…in which 30- something guys have friendships that make “metrosexuals” look like construction workers!….These “friends” have “man-dates”…and talked to each other in ways this 50-something gal…who grew up with 2 brothers and lots of “guy pals”  with loads of testosterone …. had never witnessed before in straight guys……(How about those Cubs…it’s not!)

The paper said it was a “Bromantic” Comedy…about  a guy that puts his “guy-pal” above his gal….YIKES…

Flash forward…24 hours later I witnessed it up close and personal…on the LBTS dais…the “2-Hats”…a LBTS “Bromantic” Comedy…starring Vice Mayor McIntee and his “Bro”-Jimmy Silverstone…Whether it was moving up the public comments…(Are Commission meetings really meant to listen to the public first?)..or giving stereo convoluted doublespeak for cutting the price of beach parking permits back down yet again to a paltry $20 from $50 annually…just to appease their shrinking base of fellow CIC supporters…

They completed their final 360 on the vessels in the north end of town…coming back to where they started …after putting their “re-election fingers in the wind”…It remains to be seen if they earned any votes…for their upcoming “sweep”…The “Broom Boy”-Bro’s McIntee …Silverstone…and don’t call me “Peanuts”anymore……it’s “Lawrence Wick”…the  CIC re-endorsed Mayoral candidate ….sweeping your way…in 2010…running on 33 feet and getting rid of the BSO police platform!….

These “2-Hats” went all out in their “slap-stick” shtick with their utterly ridiculous attempts to stop the Waste Haulers RFP…The Vice Mayor brought one representative from each company up to the podium to ask each a rat- ta…tat…tat  litany of questions…including the age of the trucks…the size of the trucks…how many yards they hold…the biggest city they service…their terminal location….where they dump……the age of their truck drivers…their turnover……and asking if they would accept a shorter contract…Trying mighty hard to stop the process in its tracks…The “investigator” would go to each of the 5 companies to see if they  had just lied to him about their trucks…threatening to check the registration year of their trucks…..and telling them…if it did not pan out….it would  take away his vote…WOW!….A resident in the hall said…. “He’s not a paid  investigator…he’s a commissioner”…His “Bro” was ready to play along…piling on….wanting to put on the brakes as well…Watching this unnerving display of ineptness was worth the price of admission though……especially as the “2-Hats” caused the Town Manager some grief…( She certainly gave her share earlier in the evening)… Guess she wasn’t privy to their “Bro-feelings”….when she pulled the plug on their plot…. along with the temporary Town Attorney…who explained to these two “comedians”…. they were here tonight to choose a contractor and keep to the schedule to hire the Waste Hauler…OOPS!…The VM  always quick to “bounce back”…added that these guys (waste reps) had all done their homework…and it was “our job to pick one”…(Atta Bro!) for Esther to negotiate…saying it didn’t matter how many garbage men or trucks they had!…(Wasn’t that his opening monologue?)…They did get one last “assist” from their new “Gal Pal” Commissioner Clottey…playing the 3rd wheel by telling the “bidders” at the podium…she was “a little disappointed in them”…likening them to “used car salesmen”……The reps sitting throughout the audience grumbled…saying they had never sat through anything like this…This was a new one for them……It’s a  “Bromance”… guys…It’s “Bro-mance!”….. The Commission votes were being tallied…and the Mayor read a statement…She recused herself…citing a business conflict…saying she would file the paperwork required…Bro-Jimmy Silverstone…asked “if that was proper?”….His pal the VM said “you( the Mayor) asked questions”…(She did not…she only made some statements)….Recusal…conflict of interest…to these “man-friends”…this was something of a “mystery”…. The numbers were finally  tabulated with the lowest bidder winning …Choice Environmental…But the Vice Mayor…wasn’t done yet…the credits hadn’t rolled…He wants new trucks… (Flip-flop again!)..and told the Manager he was serious…She said she wrote it down….And for his final “bow”…this scene stealer…McIntee came off the podium to give a big handshake to the highest bidder …and now former service provider Waste Management…leaving many observers in the audience shaking their heads in disbelief….but leaving the door open for the Bro’s to attend year 3 of  $500,000. “Waste Management Gala” in Orlando!…

Ahh…those silly “2-Hat-Bro’s” they couldn’t stop the garbage..(pun intended)….despite all their  pratfalls…But never fear…they had more “stunts” up their sleeves…….We call this one….”SAVE THE TOWN FROM LIABILITY”……a “Fairy Tale” to keep us out of a “crisis” when it comes to the Anglin Pier Fishing sign…standing in the same “historic spot” since the 1960’s ( 40+ years is old enough to be considered historic) It’s time to get a title search….”Will the real owner please stand up”……..It’s “preventative”…. We need to “clear it up”…We could have an “aggressive lawsuit” on our hands…the “plot” thickens….

The final Bro- “trailer”……”It’s not a breakaway sign”…you know like in the movies!….

More “stunts” to come this afternoon………

“I Love You, man!”….

More to come…

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/movies/orl-movie-review-i-love-you-man,0,3253167.story

Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local News, Local Politics, Politics, Scoops, Updates, local government