Here’s The Scoop … Local News That You Can Trust … That Is If You Too Spell February …”FEBUARY” …OOPS!…
February 13, 2010 by Barbara
RUNNING ON FEAR AND STUPIDITY … WILL VOTERS FALL FOR IT?…
Dear Readers… How sad it is that the new owners of the By The Sea Times have sunk so low in their dual role as Owners-Publishers-Editors of the Times and Campaign Managers to Candidates Silverstone. Evans and Couriel that they purposely put out what appears to be false article after false article to try and make up for the impact they are feeling from the opposing Candidates Sasser, Vincent and Minnet!… These fine candidates are going door to door and meeting the voters one on one …These long time residents are being welcomed into condo after condo and walking away with growing support … These candidates have shown that support is growing in their required G1 and G2 reports…Their donations are from individuals who live in the town and from local businesses who know they can count on the candidate’s longtime support…..All who want a positive change and a way out from under the Furth led majority that has kept us all from having a solid plan to move forward while keeping this town in good stead…
A look at the G2s (G1s prev.post/ G2s post to come) show a huge lack of support and funds from the residents and businesses of this town for Silverstone, Evans and Couriel in their first two reports … and it is now said both Couriel and Evans are putting in $5,000 each of their own money to continue to run…for the next three and a half weeks…
The BTSTimes have reached another new low in putting out their latest edition of BTSTimes with Bert J. Harris placed squarely on its cover…with the date “Febuary 12, 2010″……The Furths are running the very campaign this writer posted they would long ago….They running against “Ghosts”…The previous candidates backed by the previous UOT …Why?…Because they cannot run against the the present candidates…and win!…
The Furths have spent much of the paper recounting the previous election and using old campaign materials from the former candidates to mislead their readers……Is this an attempt just to see how fearful and stupid their readers are?…How sad if they are right…What does that say about their readers…and them?…
Why disparage two fine upstanding family men who are anything but “Newcomers”…How long do you need to live in town to not be a “Newcomer” in the eyes of the CIC and the Furths anyhow?… As stated before Chris Vincent has lived here since 2002 and Scot Sasser since 2003 … Perhaps these candidates should say all “newcomers” who have lived in LBTS since 2002 should NOT vote for Silverstone, Evans and Couriel…These “Newcomers” can join all those unwanted voters Comm. Silverstone stated he didn’t want votes from…those who have never volunteered in town…The combination of “Newcomers” and “Those who never volunteered in town”…should offer Sasser, Vincent and Minnet a landslide victory!…
From the Editorial written by the Furths it’s almost like no one has the right to vote…or the right to run for local office if you have not come over here on the “Mayflower” aka belonging to the the CIC …How very inclusive and limiting a place this LBTS has become!… Funny when you realize that if the same criteria the Furths want us to use for a commission seat in our little town were used to elect the President they would have voted for Obama’s opponent…OUCH!…
Lets clear up some things inside this pre-election edition…(paid for by the candidates…CIC and the VFD…a post to come on the advertising questions that seem to be election time deja vue for the Times)…
First, Candidates Sasser and Vincent chose not to answer the question sent to them by Cristie Furth after she sent them the question ….She contacted them on Feb 4th…and they each responded with an e-mail that day……Mayor Minnet responded on Feb 2nd…As you will the Furths chose to leave the responses them out of the paper and instead to falsely print the three agreed to respond…Candidates Sasser and Vincent did not agree …and Mayor Minnet declined due to her letter for a retraction…Her retraction letter does not appear in the new edition…
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BTST
Thursday, February 4, 2010 9:23 AM
From:
“Scot Sasser”
Dear Mrs. Furth,
I appreciate By The Sea Times offerring me the opportunity to answer the candidate question. However, I want to set the record straight that I never agreed to answer or committed, in any way, to participating in any activities whether written or otherwise with By The Sea Times.
Please let this email regretfully serve as my declination of participation.
Regards,
Scot Sasser
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From: Christopher Vincent
Date: February 4, 2010 10:35:29 AM EST
Subject: BTST
February 4, 2010
Dear Managing Editor By the Sea Times;
I am in receipt of your email regarding the question sent to me for your next edition of By the Sea Times. While I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question at no time did I commit either verbally or in writing to do so. Please let this email serve as my notice to decline.
Sincerely,
Chris Vincent
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“ROSEANN MINNET
2000 S. Ocean Blvd. #llE
Lauderdale-By- The-Sea, FL 33062
02/02/10
By the Sea Times Publishers and Editors:
On January 26, 2010, I sent a certified letter to your office asking for a
retraction and correction of misinformation the By the Sea Times printed in
the January 22,2010 edition of the paper regarding my voting records. I
am in receipt of the notification that you received the letter on January
27,2010.
As of today, I have not received a response from you. Accordingly, I
cannot respond to your questions until I have seen the correction printed
in your newspaper.
Roseann Minnet, Mayor”
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Not quite what the Furths printed in their paper …OOPS!…
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About that question….
“From: “Marc Furth”
Date: January 28, 2010 11:58:16 AM EST
To: , , “Joe Couriel” , , , “Jim Silverstone”
Subject: Question to candidates.doc
Reply-To: “Marc Furth”
Question to candidates:
While the maximum town wide height limit is 44 feet, the current zoned height limit in the RM25 zoning district – which extends east and west from El Mar Drive to Seagrape Drive and north and south from Palm to Pine Avenues – is 33 feet (3 stories).
Where do you personally stand on increasing the existing zoned height limit of 33 feet to the maximum allowable height of 44 feet in the RM 25 District?
Please submit your answer (200 word maximum)along with a photo by Wednesday, February 3 to http://bytheseatimes.combytheseatimes.com
Thank you,
By the Sea Times”
Jim Silverstone states…”Therefore the only reason I can see the maximum height of 44 feet in the RM 25 district is for those properties that by State or Federal regulations, would not be allowed to build or continue to use ta habitable first story. Currently, I am not aware of any such properties in Town.”…perhaps Comm. Silverstone forgot the property approved last year…by his running mate Mayoral Candidate Joe Couriel (prev. post -boards)…and the Commission for the single family home next to the Oriana…It is to be built higher than 33 ft. due to the first floor being uninhabitable…and the grade …Joe Couriel himself says “I would oppose any effort to increase the current zoning of 33 feet in the RM 25 district.”…Same house…same vote …more than 33 feet!……YIKES!…
BC- According to the 1998 heights vote the secondary reason was to alleviate the back out parking on El Mar Drive and A1A…courtesy of former Mayor Parker…It had nothing to do with the Overlay Districts…not yet in place… The real question should be this one…Does that 44 feet still apply in those two RM 25 zones …without the Overlay Districts… Marc Furth says no…while another well informed old timer says otherwise…Hmmmm….Who will put this to the test and when?….It will be quite something for Candidate Joe Couriel to deal with since he stated at the 1/19/10 well attended MPSC he spoke at length that he was very concerned with being hit by cars backing out on El Mar Drive if he becomes Mayor!…OOPS!…
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The Mayor’s voting record …check out the previous post “Here’s The Scoop … 2/9/10 LBTS Commission Meeting … Walks Like A Duck Local News ….”…and see what her real voting record…
#1 was the following …
1- The BTSTimes – 1/22/10 printed…Minnet voted No to awarding fire suppression services to the Volunteer Fire Department.
Mayor Minnet -1/26/10 letter sent- 1. Mayor Minnet voted no to awarding fire suppression services. to the Volunteer Fire Department. This is false. In fact I voted yes to approve the contract with the Volunteer Fire Department on September 12, 2008.”
Mayor Minnet 1/26/10 Comm. comments- “The first one that they said I did not vote for the VFD contract. On September 12, 2008 in fact I did vote Yes for the VFD contract.”
Editor Cristie Furth 2/9/10 public comments-”I stand fully behind the story on your voting record regarding the VFD”
Town Minutes – September 12, 2008 -pg 11-”Consent Agenda b. Commission approval of Volunteer Fire department Contract for Fire Protection and Fire Prevention Services (Manager Colon) pg 12- Commissioner Dodd made the motion to approve the Volunteer Fire Department Contract of Fire Protection Services commissioner Clottey seconded the motion. In a roll call, the motion carried 5-0″
BC- The Mayor voted YES for the VFD “fire suppression” services …The By The Sea Times was incorrect…
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In this edition they added in a few votes to confuse those who cannot spell February…
The original printed vote again…1- The BTSTimes – 1/22/10 printed…”Minnet voted No to awarding fire suppression services to the Volunteer Fire Department.”
In this issue they put in the following…”For the record, we did not write that Minnet voted against the final contract approved on September 12, 2008. By then it was a done deal and only the details in the contract and costs were the main issues.” They added this “As you can see on 6/12/08, Minnet voted against the selection of the VFD with transitional funding budget, did she forget about this vote? Over a month late she did vote to approve the transitional agreement, but the funding had already been approved.Funding needed to be provided to the VFD so that they could hire and administrator and immediately resume training. Without proper and intense training, the VFD would not have been prepared to take over as the Town fire suppression provider on October 1, 2008. Time was of the essence and Minnet was stalling for time.”
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Really, the VFD had no funds to get their training up and ready?…Hmmm….The same fire dept. that was set to buy 2 trucks at that same 6/12/08 meeting for approximately $100,000 …. The same VFD that wrote a check for $150,000 for a ladder truck without batting an eye in 2009 ?…OOPS!…
The Mayor as posted previously did not vote for monies for the VFD before they were hired …and again here is why…
Town Minutes- February 19, 2008-pg 9 “New Business e.Discussion and/or action of Lauderdale By The Sea- Volunteer Fire Department (Commissioner McIntee) -pg 10.”In a roll call vote, the motion carried 2-1. Vice Mayor McIntee and Commissioner Silvsertone recused from voting. Mayor Minnet voted no.”
Also included in the Feb 12, 2008 minutes- right above the vote on pg 10- ” Mayor Minnet believed the commission was a bit premature and felt it was important to have an agreement in tact. She said it was imperative to have a workshop and listen to the people. Commissioner Silverstone said the people had spoken during the election.”
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Back to the Times …yesterday…”6/12/08 (continuation of 6/11/08 meeting) Award the RFP #08-04-03 for Fire Services to VFD (VFD only proposer) P (4-1) Minnet-o”
Town Minutes- pg. 10 Old Business a. Award of RFP # 08-04-03- Fire Services (Manager Colon) ATTACH DRAFT CONTRACT … Both the minutes and the video shows absolutely no discussion on the contract being voted on…The attachment is not included in the minutes …read aloud in the video…..The discussion is about Sea Ranch Lakes and what would happen with the funds coming from our neighboring town if the VFD wins the position…(They did not, due to the interference of VM McIntee and TM Colon)…Also discussed was the purchase of the 2 trucks…by the VFD and the Town Manager’s assertion that all fire and police apparatus should be owned by the town…Town Manager Colon said it was leased back to the VFD but the Town should own it in case we ever replaced the department…That quickly changed and was no longer brought up by the Town Manager after the VFD under McIntee’s control quickly kept buying more and more equipment..OOPS!… The exchange with Chief Perkins continued with the fire hydrants and who took care of them and condo drills along with VM McIntee talking of making a referendum to never remove the dept before the VFD was even rehired….Commissioner Clottey who still had a mind of her own in those days…to a certain extent… called the VM on putting the cart before the horse…and holding off on the idea… The Mayor asked the questions that were still of concern for those supporters who voted her in…She spoke of a “Citizen Review Board”…”She believed there was some diversity as far as what people wanted to see”…and after more discussion…but NONE on the contract itself…the vote was taken 4-1..Mayor Minnet did vote no…
The Mayor, certainly may not have recalled what the Times on 1/22/10 called “awarding fire suppression services to the Volunteer Fire Department” and most likely did not think the Times was referring to this 6/12/08 vote which according to the BTSTimes “was a done deal” …especially when the contract itself was not discussed at all at that time..
More confusing is the Times on 1/22/10 referring to it as “fire suppression services to the Volunteer Fire Department.”… It’s quite different then the actual 6/12/08 vote “Fire Services to VFD” and the 9/12/08 vote for “Volunteer Fire department Contract for Fire Protection and Fire Prevention Services”…Neither one of these two votes are found under the Times “header” of “fire suppression services to the Volunteer Fire Department.”..easily leading to much “Febuary” confusion…OOPS!..
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This writer must have struck a nerve with the”Staff Writer” on the Master Plan Steering Committee meeting and the “Staff Writer” either has a loss of memory, a lack of ability to count or feels revisionist history is allowed due to MPSC meetings not being kept online or tape…The hall was full on the left side and the camera showed it…The MPSC members made note of the unusually large group…and the outcome of the meeting and its aftermath had Cristie Furth eating her words …from that 1/19/10 meeting “As a stakeholder on El Mar Drive I’m all for it and a lot of my neighbors and friends are. I don’t know who’s talking to you but my people that I know love the idea!”…along with her candidate’s “flip-flops” after the overwhelming response of those against the El Mar Median walkways… Talk about loosing a grip on reality…No one will fall for this lame attempt to cover up a major failure on the Cristie Furth’s part…She blew it…big time…It must be “Febuary”… Hey, just a note to the Editors Furth each and every time you include me in your paper…my readership goes up!…Thanks for the Valentine!…
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“What if …Mayor Minnet had actually been in charge….”by Cristie Furth…
“A Minnet Majority would have maintained developer -incentive overlay districts”… Just because Oriana built over their setbacks…does not mean it would happen again…
“A Furth-led Majority” meant we were too quick to throw out the baby with the bathwater…never aware that the “Furth-led majority” had an alternate agenda to stop the MPSC and the P &Z for 2 years from addressing the Master Plan or any alternative to allow for “planned” alternatives to revitalize the Town…Nope, the Taco-Bell motel is the status quo in the eyes of the Furths…and LBTS should be stuck in 1973 …for the duration…until and unless they follow their pal McIntee and head out of town…
“With Minnet in the Majority” …Cristie Furth goes into the VFD not being the “Fire Suppression Provider” …again using the wrong terminology (see above)…BUT Mayor Minnet voted for the VFD…in the final contract…What Ms. Furth leaves out…The VFD would not have even been an issue if it were not for their demise courtesy of then Comm. McIntee (per Marc Furth)….. Ms. Furth states the Mayor would have funded the Palm Club sewers…interesting since it was John MacMillan and Jerry McIntee and the Furths themselves that fought with Candidate Stuart Dodd, this writer and John Thompson to back the sewers for the 99 votes and the MacMillan’s real estate sales.in the club….OOPS!…
“Under a Minnet Majority there would be no beach patrol”…this is likely true …at least at the beginning …..due to the Mayor feeling it offers up a liability to the Town…A view shared by many, even those supporters …and even more so with Candidate Silverstone’s assertion they are the “lifesaving” Beach Patrol…A false and misleading campaign ad…in this writer’s opinion…
With a Minnet Majority There would be no new public safety complex”…So true…and that would have been a blessing!… We spent $2 million on a crappy old hotel that the BSO did not want to move in and the VFD now tells this writer they did not want either!…OUCH…Commissioner Silverstone says a new complex would have cost $10 million…Ms. Furth says it would have been $7 million…and if we were under a Mayor Minnet Majority…we might have found we had it!…$2 million from not buying the hotel…$2 million for actively selling the west warehouse…and the millions from the sewers funds that were designated for “Capital Improvements”…YIKES!…
Cristie Furth had to dig deep to fault Mayor Minnet on her stance for the Bel air signs…Her vote was never about the signs for Bel Air ..It was about the process of the signs for Bel Air and any neighborhood in town…And as for the pier 2-way traffic in the alleyway……Ms. Furth stating that it is “the busiest pedestrian beach access” …only to to one person does that ring true…..The Vice Mayor who used it as “payback” against the owners of the Pier…with a big Furth-Colon- Silverstone assist…
“Biased Ethics”…Cristie Furth wouldn’t know ethics if it bit her on the you know what…and “bias”…again …Owner-Editor- Campaign Manager…enough said…
Mayor Minnet would not have returned 15 stories to the north…and as for Mayor Minnet’s voting record…looks good to most….that is if you see her real voting record… and the reasoning behind each and every vote…fiscally responsible and upholding the Charter and Town ordinances…
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Jimmy “He’s not a nice guy” Silverstone is full out fearmongering…it is said, going door to door, in condos and now in his comments… He knows the candidates he and his “slate’ are running against are NOT for 15 stories…he knows the candidates he and his “slate” are running against are NOT for more density…He knows the candidates he and his “slate” are running against SUPPORT the VFD… He knows the candidates he and his “slate” are running against are NOT going to raise taxes…and he should know that residents do NOT debate Commissioners… just as he should know you cannot READ pictorials”…(He actually said he read a pictorial in the 2/9/10 commission meeting!)… JIM SILVERSTONE… In my opinion “THE WORST EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA’S GOVERNMENT”…a totally inept elected official who cannot speak, cannot lead and cannot think on his own…A pseudo “finance professional”l with no finance education…no training …who skews his “numbers”…An elected official that either lied about the Town Manager’s contract or did not know what he voted on…left only to make up a story using one of his skewed charts to try and redeem himself…A candidate that should now withdraw after revealing a $3 million dollar “deal” only to change his “fanciful” story when faced with yet another potential violation of Fl. ethics for ex parte communications……Time for him to be “swept aside”…
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And finally all of the Anonymous letter writers included in this campaign issue says it all…..It’s “Febuary” …for the Furths…
more to come….
