A WHOLE PACK OF THEM ….
Dear Readers … Snickers abound in LBTS we are told … and this writer agrees … that one after another those in the know are snickering…bar none!…
SNICKERS #1….
Let’s begin with the ByTheSea Future editorial in this week’s Dec. issue written by Publisher Michael Arker… Surely his three paragraph ode to the former UOT Chair, self promoter Bob Fleishman whose inflated claims of the role he played in the last election met with fodder out of earshot and had to be a “snicker” in print above the fold ….. This writer received the same such big headed claims via an email from Fleishman’s wife and “snickers” were the result of that one as well…….(see e-mail exchange below)…
Excerpt of the Arker BTSF editorial 12/16/11…. link to online BTSFuture below…
“With these realities in mind, I would like to take a moment to reflect on all that
was done to make our town a better, more peaceful and loving community. This
is now our reality, thanks in large part to the strong actions, tireless campaigning
and diligent work behind the scenes of Mr. Bob Fleishman.
As leader of the Unite Our Town movement in 2009-2010, Bob took a real hands on
approach to making the dream of a peaceful LBTS a reality. Yes, it was Bob who
led the way toward bringing us where we are today.
Fleishman’s supreme power of persuasion, gift of oratory, unique command of the
English language, passionate zeal and charismatic personality made it possible for
us all to live in this harmonious new realm, free from the strife and discord we
once knew.’
http://www.bytheseafuture.org/
…………
Below is the e-mail exchange between the Mrs. of the holder of “supreme power of persuasion, gift of oratory,unique command of the English language, passionate zeal and charismatic personality and this writer after my behind the scenes account of the Cindy Geesey candidacy fiasco previously posted…. (email address has been x’d out by this writer)
“Thank goodness you finally got a bone to chew on
“FROM:
cyng143xxx
TO:
[email protected]
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 8:21 PM
Barbara:
The only part of that “ole bone” is that it has caused me to endure “snickers” in this town and become the supposed “butt end of a joke”. As you know Bob and I sometimes have differences of opinion and definitely express them differently. I choose to go to the “Horses mouth”. I did. Although you would like to portray my letters an indication of endorsement for Ms. Geesey, it wasn’t. Old Guard, New Guard, Old Guard. You are very aware that when UOT first came into being, that there was no Bob Fleishman. Bob became active when the Town needed and got a New Guard and was instrumental in aiding and leading, as Chairperson of Unite Our Town, the fight to remove the Old “Dais” Guard.
What Bob inherited in UOT from its Old Guard was improper filings that led into a Hearing by the State of Florida. Thank goodness he and UOT were “cut a break” and the Committee in Tallahassee voted to drop the case against the PAC committee UOT. My one intention and only intension was to avoid a similar occurrence this year, if the PAC organization was found guilty in actions, that would promote another such insident. I didn’t know for sure; however, it is better to be safe than sorry. Since Cindy was making such accusations of an unfair vote occurring against protocol at a UOT meeting, I felt that I should forewarn Ray and then sent out the second E Mail to the Board and a few active UOT members, along with the other Candidates, when I was ignored. It is very interesting how well-meaning guidance to past experience, became a possible endorsement (not) and blackened my thirty-nine year residency here. Even if Cindy were playing “both ends in the middle” as you insinuate, there was still protocol being tested for the UOT PAC. You can imagine just how upset I was to learn, less than 24 hours later, that all of this could of been avoided, if your time line is right and mine wrong. Nonetheless my concern was with UOT, not the Candidates. After all, the UOT Old Guard after Bob’s New Guard, that was instrumental in the last election, financially and fervantly, is now the Old Guard back in charge, offering up their same ‘ole apathetic attitude.
I agree with you, their has been no UOT fundraiser, no phone committee’s that raised just under $10,000.00 for you Barbara, yes, you to direct the payment of the mailings that went out for our three endeared seats. So who was Bob’s Puppet Master – spending the bucks. Guess it was you, huh? So many loose words. I’m a bottom line type person, myself, once you cut through the “petty gossip”, our three Candidates were elected.
Now for my “Town Crier” and Numbers Man”, as you call him – Bob. I hardly think you would of attached those empty words to yourself, would you? After all aren’t you, “The Blogger”, more of a town crier, than Bob Fleishman? Weren’t you part of the back door “Kitchen Cabinet” that worked the numbers for votes (Numbers Gal)?!?!?!?! Sounds like the “pot calling the kettle black” to me. But I, being a little older than you, would rather simply call it POLITICS, as usual.
You seem to feel that unless someone is drinking your flavor of the Kool-aid today, after all you have been for all sides (McIntee, Silverstone, Dodd & Clottey running as the old Dais Guard) (and then against that bunch in the next election), as it fancies you; we are subject to your BLOG. You have the “power of the pen” or computer key pad, as it is, but have a very subjective view.
Just try to stay away from the rumors and ask the “horse” before you go to print.
Your friend,
Cynthia ”
……………..
“Re: Thank goodness you finally got a bone to chew on
FROM:
Barbara Cole
TO:
cyng143xxx
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 9:22 PM
Cynthia, I am fully aware of the past and why Bob became the UOT Chair.It is not quite the version you put forth but so be it. I am also aware of the PAC problem with the state because if you will recall Bob called me to walk him through the answers on the phone a few times and forwarded the information to me which was risky to do at the time. I think you were privy to those conversations even joining in the discussion. I agree he helped get the candidates elected in a certain capacity and at the same time caused the need for multiple “clean-ups” throughout the election from actions he took. There was a core campaign group that met throughout the campaign and were involved in the day- to- day strategy with the candidates. It was the candidates and their hard work who were the most responsible for their big win followed by that core group with the various other extended groups such as the Future paper/ UOT/ Louis and Athena and others who made it what it was. This is the norm in campaigns. We won due to that, multiple strategised preemptive strikes from mailings and signage to debate prep as well as oft needed quick responses to charges made by the CIC et al and finally due to the incredible luck of timing that put Ray Walowicz and Scot Sasser in Anne Siren’s Pompano Pelican office at the exact time of the yellow journalism BTSTimes paper put out door- to- door by the Furths et al. Due to that meeting we were able to get the Pelican front stuffer page that tipped the scales one last time and countered what could have really cost us big time on election night. On the subject of this election and Cindy’s actions I found the timeline and those actions incredulous as they caused weeks of painful uncertainty for some people that was totally uncalled for. I do believe you were duped. That being said I have seen in the past that you sometimes acts in haste whether or not it is done with the best of intentions sending out emails. I remember the first one I was involved with was the one about Rev Hunsaker while we were at Athena’s with Bob early on in the campaign and the fallout afterward. As far as switching sides or drinking the Kool-aid as you stated I have consistently been upfront about why I worked to get the CIC majority out of office after they made the decision in 2008 to act just as badly if not worse than those they replaced on the dais and in the administration. I have also repeatedly made it clear that once a candidate is elected and begins to govern only then do you see what they will really do. Sometimes it works and other times it does not. If they do not govern as this voter or this supporter feels they should then they should be called on their action or inaction and replaced when their term is up. Isn’t that what is happening right now on the Federal level as you yourself pointed out in your email? Lastly two final points, I often offer those who email me the option of printing their emails on my site. If your would like me to post your response I will do so and you can always choose not to read what I write. Barbara”
BC- I did not hear back from Cynthia but after hearing that further attempts are still being made to revise who was responsible for the big win of the 2010 slate of UOT candidates by Fleishman and wife and I was also informed Cynthia blindcopied her email to me to others …I decided to print the email and my response to set the record straight… “snickers” will continue to come the Fleishman’s way if they continue down this path… perhaps not to their faces but not too long after they are done spewing …in my opinion…
……………
SNICKERS #2….
The 1st LBTS Candidate Treasurers Reports are in …They were due December 16th …Mark Brown delivered his first with his opponent Edmund Malkoon turning his in in the afternoon… First I was told the cost I was told for my public request for Brown’s would be $2.10 …When I responded I would wait for both and heard back after Malkoon’s arrived I was told the cost would be $2.70 so I immediately knew there was a vast difference in the reports these candidates filed!…
Below are the front pages of each candidates report with content below…
Candidate Mark Brown’s page 1…
Candidate Edmund Malkoon’s page 1…
Brown had a 14 page report done by his treasurer James Corgee… Mark reports he received $7,870.00 ….His donor list contains 67 names …. It included 26 donors from LBTS including many of his condo neighbors which speaks highly of him due to his time on the condo board as president and as a member and what he’s accomplished on the board…He’s received donations from former Commissioners Clark and Wessels which certainly has weight attached their decision to do so …The former president of the Chamber of Commerce /former Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee Paul Novak per his High Noon motels also chose to support Brown with a donation which is interesting when you take into consideration that Mark’s opponent Edmund Malkoon was Novak’s Co-Chair for a while before the committee was disbanded …Hmmm……He received donations from some UOT members while his opponent also a UOT member shows no such donations made to him…. This report also shows that I too made a donation ….My support can be summed up in the answer Mark wrote in the current BTSF question posed to both candidates…as well as the time I spent with him during the last election finding him to be a fair and honest man who is always open to listening to all sides of an issue even going so far as to offer those who oppose his the space in the paper to get their position out…I believe he will do the same on the dais…
The BTSFuture Election question… Excerpt …(llink to current online edition is above)…
“Which do you feel are the most important issues facing the town?” …..
Brown excerpt-
“If I have the honor of being elected to the LBTS
town commission, my first official act will be
to sign the code of personal conduct which the
commission enacted last year. To me, ethics
and personal conduct are the single most important
issues in town. The town government
cannot function properly unless residents have
confidence in the honesty and integrity of their
elected officials, and know that they will always
be treated with respect.
I was appalled by the conduct of the town commission
just a few years ago. That is why I
worked so hard as editor of the town’s newspaper
to support passage of both a strong ethics
law to prevent conflicts of interest by commissioners,
and the code of personal conduct to
prohibit personal attacks on town residents. It
is also the main reason why I am running for office
now. If I am elected, I can assure everyone that there will be no going back to
the dark days when commissioners abused their power, wasted our money, argued
for hours over nothing and treated people with disrespect.
As far as other issues are concerned, I strongly support the effort which the current
town commission has undertaken to fix up the town’s infrastructure. I have
knocked on a lot of doors and spoken to many residents in recent weeks. One
message I have heard over and over from residents is fix the drainage problems
on our streets. That will certainly be one of my top priorities, along with road
resurfacing and better lighting in neighborhoods which need it.
I also support the ongoing effort to spruce up the main traffic corridors in town,
especially Commercial Boulevard and A1A. If the town looks better, property
values will increase and people will feel better about living or working here. I
will work diligently to assure that the projects we approve are necessary and
cost-effective, that they truly reflect the highest priorities in town, that they have
public support, and that we don’t do anything which is inconsistent with the basic
look and feel of the town.
After all, we are not Delray Beach or Ft. Lauderdale or Key West. This is Lauderdale-
By-The-Sea. We have our own look and image which has evolved over the
years. We need to fix up the town, but we have to do so in a manner which does
not undermine our basic character or compromise the uniqueness of our community.”
BC- Mark stated as well he will push forth public bathrooms as a priority… While I am not for them at the current time I do know that he offered up some viable alternatives as a sort of test as to their success at the time this heated subject was headlined in 2010 having to do with the structures themselves and the location which struck me as something that might be worth looking in to… I can assure readers that Mark did wholeheartedly support Comm. Sasser’s Code of Personal Conduct plan and in its final form when it was signed by all 5 commissioners …Mark’s answer to the question shows his time out on the campaign trail provided him with the oversight many see of not including their neighborhoods in any future capital improvements and was pleased on his take of the need to keep LBTS distinctively different from other municipalities as we refresh our community …
Mark shows in his first report as well his expenditures which include his website/mailing lists/postage/printer/registration to run/advertisements/yard signs…He hit the ground running in his campaign by sending out an introductory mailer containing not only his introduction bio but supplying a portion of it that could be used to obtain an absentee ballot …He was the first candidate to go door-to door with handouts, stickers and chip clips that we hear are a hit with those voters who received them… He was the first to have signs which are already up at many properties including those whose doors he knocked on and met for the first time …He has put in two ads in the BTSF paper …Nov. was his bio and Dec. was a holiday greeting…and we hear his keeping the customary election time red/white/blue motif is also being noticed and commented on positively over his opponents green- bird rendition for mailers/flyers and T-shirt(s)…
Edmund Malkoon’s first Treasurer’s Report was 4 pages in total done by his treasurer…his mother Rosalee Malkoon …He collected donations in the amount of $790.00 ….Malkoon has 6 names of those that donated to him… 3 are from LBTS … they include former CIC Commission candidate in 2010 Marjorie Evans as well as current Commissioner Chris Vincent and one other resident … Malkoon shows expenditures for a portrait at of himself Sears/registration to run/newspaper advertisement/printing/t-shirt(s) for $21.20 at LBTS T-shirt shop Beach King…We heard some UOT members said they were going to donate to both candidates but that has not shown up thus far according to their absence in Malkoon’s report…Mr Malkoon’s ad in the Dec. issue of the BTSFuture was an election ad which stuck out and seemed very odd considering his opponent as well as Mayor Minnet and Vice Mayor Dodd all put in the customary holiday greeting ads as did the candidates in 2010… In his election ad Malkoon put forth he majored in International Finance and Marketing but does not say if he received a degree …He puts forth he was Co-Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee .. In fact that was the first time such a title was used and it was most likely not supposed to be …. I have previously posted my change of any support for Edmund came from watching him on this committee and seeing he did not have what it takes to serve on the committee much less the dais… He puts forth he is a member of the LBTS Chamber of Commerce …In fact he ran for the Chamber’s board and did not receive enough votes to get on it… He also puts forth his Bel-Air Civic Assoc. roles as a past president and current vice-president …We heard that many neighbors in Bel-Air had problems with him and the group for some actions taken on behalf of all and presented as such to the commission only to find out they were none too pleased with those declarations made at the podium and in letters … Malkoon shows only two donations from his neighbors and none from the Chamber of Commerce or his Bel-Air Civic Assoc. fellow members in this report…that doesn’t bode well for a candidate in this writer’s opinion… Malkoon chose to use Facebook for his campaign site …I have regularly looked at it …It is also very telling with photos of events Edmund has attended showing him with Mayor Minnet and Broward County Comm. Chip LaMarca which could be construed as receiving their support… Were they asked beforehand?…After all this is Malkoon’s campaign site vs. his personal Facebook page…Hmmm… Other than that he has a few updates and comments that seem to be from his young nieces?… As previously posted we have been informed that Edmund was looking for support from the Furths and the Carrs who are a few of the active members of the CIC board representing a PAC that has no candidates to run for office in the 2012 election …After seeing his donation from their former candidate Marjorie Evans perhaps those reports have some validity …Any chance he will attend the CIC holiday party tonight?… Many have commented and this writer tends to agree that Edmund Malkoon is running the race he was going to run in 2010 when the UOT cast him aside and Beverly Kennedy jumped in briefly before Scot Sasser was persuaded to run because she and others did not want Malkoon… His answers to the BTSF question seem to concur with this take on his candidacy… (see link above)….”Snickers” will surely come from those in the north if Malkoon is seen pandering in the south as some claim he is doing to get the votes and perhaps the donations he has not received according to his report…
……………
SNICKERS #3….
Comm. Sasser excerpt from Dec. 16, 2011 Pompano Pelican article by Judy Vic (link below)…
“In my opinion, all this centers around pineapples vs. pelicans. It’s childish,” Sasser said vehemently. “In the future, anything we do with Sea Ranch Lakes should come before this commission before we do it.”
http://pompanopelican.webs.com/
The Pompano Pelican reported the “snickers” made on the dais by some LBTS Commissioners such as Comm. Sasser and VM Dodd played hardball with Sea Ranch Lakes on the A1A FDOT project last month concerning a laundry list of changes SRLakes wanted at the 11th hour of this project including changing the benches from pelican motifs to pineapples… Getting no love from the dais our neighbors decided to send via their Town Atty. a cease and desist letter implying legal action if LBTS proceeded with their plans… They got what they wanted and we the taxpayers of LBTS will be left with paying the price…of change orders etc… leaving us with a bad taste for some time to come for many as a result of sour pineapples …
………………..
SNICKERS #4 …
DID THE MONARCH OF MUNICIPAL FIRMS NOT SERVE US PROPERLY?….
Some time ago when this writer first began this blog I posted often about our Town Attorney and his law firm…I posted that they were called the Monarch of Municipal firms in Florida for the many towns and cities they served as counsel … At the Dec. 13, 2011 Regular Commission Meeting Commissioner Clottey stated that the referendum on districts which was placed on the ballot in 2003 and to be entered into our Town Charter was improperly done and the statute of limitations on any fixing it had passed as of this year… I previously posted Comm. Clottey heard this from Marc Furth who had contacted John Thompson on the subject … I also posted that John did not find such dire straits as Clottey claimed…I have since been informed that our current Town Atty. was the one to disclose the statute of limitations portion of this latest faulty charter inclusion which will be added on to a long list given some months back at the podium by consultant Cecelia Ward… This is the second one that was a referendum issue improperly done by the counsel at the time which was our former Town Atty. Cherof and firm… I have not seen the details of anything the Town Atty. provided in her assertion as passed on to me but that being stated I am quite confused and hope that when this is on the agenda in January at the first Reg. Comm. Mtg. as Clottey said it would be that not only is it presented with plenty of backup but also some input from the former Town Atty. on how this could be so!… If a referendum vote by the people can be subject to a statute of limitations of seven years leaving whatever was either put in its place to be legal or no way to remedy an act done purposefully or due to an inept act is beyond comprehension …If either scenario is fact then would not some municipalities enact such actions as these in order to essentially over turn the will of the people until the people have no choice but to follow the charter alternative as is being suggested from what info I have thus far?… With this districts referendum coming on top of some serious questions concerning the referendum on heights and how that too was placed in the Town’s charter shouldn’t the Town put our former law firm on the hot seat?… After all just as we will be stuck paying for the mess SRLakes has left us…we will definitely being paying for the changes we can make for the mess our former Town Atty. may have left us with so many years later …This bar comes with a note on the wrapper…fool us once shame on you…fool us twice …shame on us… fool us more than that… “snickers”….
more to come….
Excerpt from Sentinel in 1998 …link below…
“Some firms rarely give to political campaigns, yet snag government business anyway. They bank on their strong reputations or relationships with local officials.
Among them is the monarch of municipal firms: Josias, Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol.
Tight with a campaign buck, Josias, Goren and its attorneys have contributed about $1,400 to the Broward County Commission and School Board races since 1993. The firm also bars its attorneys from contributing money to candidates in cities it represents.
“We think it’s a conflict,” said Jim Cherof, one of the firm’s partners. “That’s not our role.”
“Cash And Connections
A Group Of Lawyers With Political Ties Appears To Enjoy A Monopoly On Local Governments’ Legal Work.
January 12, 1998|By JENNI BERGAL and JAY WEAVER Staff Writers
Still, Josias, Goren has been successful by combining decades of municipal experience with political clout. Josias, Goren, which earned $1.56 million last year from local government contracts, is is city attorney in eight cities.
The small, nine-lawyer Fort Lauderdale firm was founded by Steven Josias, a Citadel graduate who was chairman of the North Broward Hospital District in the 1980s.
Josias is closely aligned with U.S. Sen. Bob Graham. He first served as Graham’s campaign chairman in Broward County and later became the senator’s legal adviser in Washington.
“He is a very political person,” said Scott Frank, a former associate at Josias, Goren who now works for a Tampa firm. “He’s got power and is a very engaging person in that arena.”
Josias also has close ties to Pembroke Pines, where he is city attorney. His relationship with the city dates back 22 years, when he linked up with former mayor Ron Villella, another Citadel graduate. And it was Villella who brought Graham and Josias together.
The firm’s other founding partner, Sam Goren, has fewer political ties but also delivers business.
Goren joined the firm in 1977 after serving a brief stint as an assistant attorney for Broward County. He has been able to transcend the firm’s Democratic profile, serving as general counsel to the Republican supervisor of elections for about 20 years.
These days, Goren appears to be more directly involved with his government clients than Josias, who lately has been spending much of his time traveling aboard his 58-foot yacht.”
more to come….
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