Above, looking north on North Beach, Hallandale Beach. April 8, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved
Maksim Samartsev's game of self-deception won't succeed: Next shoe finally drops in Hallandale Beach as WPLG-TV reports that 20-year old Estonian Samartsev -who can't swim- and who was saved at beach by lifeguard Tomas Lopez and other Good Samaritans -resulting in Lopez famously being fired two weeks ago- is now planning to sue and shake the local money tree in six months; #HallandaleBeach, #TomasLopez
Man rescued from drowning considers lawsuit, Attorney says victim was 'close to crossing over'
By Todd Tongen
Published On: Jul 17 2012 05:07:30 PM EDT
Updated On: Jul 18 2012 01:23:04 PM EDT
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -A man whose rescue resulted in a lifeguard's controversial firing now plans to take legal action.
Maksim Samartsev, who was rescued by lifeguard Tomas Lopez on Hallandale Beach, claims certain areas along the shore are left unmonitored and could be dangerous
Read the rest of the story and see the video at
Not mentioned, probably due to the attorney not wanting Maksim Samartsev to speak and sabotage this flimsy case:
Why was someone who couldn't swim so far out into the ocean?
As for the father, Was the area where his son entered the ocean a property where he himself lived? Yes or no?
If no, why was Maksim swimming there instead of at the public beach north of there?
If yes, why is that not the condo association's problem, instead?
The City of Hallandale Beach and its taxpayers, like all ocean side cities in Florida, are not obliged to provide lifeguards or monitors for every single stretch of beach or water next to private property -which is precisely what those condos and apartments in that area are, just like an ocean-side hotel- any more than they are required to have guards on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway for residents of the city who want to jump into the water on hot days after buying something at the next-door Walmart.
Above, looking north on the Intracoastal Waterway from next to the Hallandale Beach Walmart. Tallest buildings are, left-to-right/north-to-south, on the east side of State Road A1A: Trump Hollywood, The Ocean Palms, Diplomat Oceanfront Residences and The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. April 8, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.
With this legal stunt, this family is quickly becoming persona non grata in this area for daring to shake down the money tree because of the son's own negligence and immaturity.
They have a funny way of showing their gratitude.
Todd Tongen's report on last night's Channel 10 newscast was precisely why I wrote what I wrote last week:
Outsourcing isn't the real problem with beach safety in Hallandale Beach, but rather the actions -and in-action- of David Jove, Mike Good and Mark Antonio at HB City Hall; #HallandaleBeach
The longstanding problems at the public beaches lie entirely with the past two City Managers and the last City Attorney -Mike Good, Marc A. Antonio and David Jove- none of whom were known for their hard work, much less the sort of work ethic that inspired confidence among either taxpayers or their colleagues.
No, these three administrators were the type of boss who routinely showed-up at City Hall
late and left early, forcing their highly-paid underlings to have to stay longer than normal to pick up the slack.
And it's not like any of them were known for showing initiative in the first place that helped residents or taxpayers, so...
These three were the ones in charge who wrote and approved the terms of the contract and thereby creating the specific parameters which Jeff Ellis and Associates was obliged to respect and enforce.
That's something that Todd Tongen's colleague at Channel 10, Glenna Milberg, in her completely unexpected knockout-punch of a report, did a great job of connecting the-dots on, completely demolishing the feeble alibis and excuses of Mayor Joy Cooper and former HB commissioner Bill Julian, both of whom voted FOR the contract.
Lifeguard company resigns amid firing scandal
Fired lifeguard receives key to city
By Glenna Milberg, gmilberg@Local10.com
Published On: Jul 09 2012 06:39:57 PM EDT
Updated On: Jul 10 2012 11:12:48 AM EDT
Article and video at:
In short, three highly-paid city employees who were well-known for NOT paying close attention to detail and for NOT looking-out for HB taxpayers best interests, once again went thru the motions and didn't consider something that was entirely foreseeable -sometimes the contractor life guards would have to leave the city's lifeguard stands to save/help a swimmer not in their zone.
Above, looking east at the Atlantic Ocean on North Beach, Hallandale Beach. April 8, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.
It had nothing to do with the subject of outsourcing and everything to do with the longstanding garbage-in, garbage-out, HB-style public administration.
The sort that explains why months after lifeguards told me that the city's two lifeguard stands were still NOT grounded, a fact I know because the lifeguards told me so months ago.
Below are my other three previous posts on the Tomas Lopez firing controversy story that made Hallandale Beach an international punchline two weeks ago, which, unfortunately, also led to hundreds and hundreds of bad and inaccurate stories, essays and columns being written by people from hundreds and thousands of miles away who DIDN'T know the true facts.
In many cases, lots of people who should know better used the incident as a pretext to resurrect old ideological arguments against their own personal hobbyhorses, which didn't inform or illuminate but only served to remind us all over again how truly desperate some reporters and columnists are to win an old argument, no matter the facts, no matter how far away from the action their nice air conditioned desk is.
Fortunately, Channel 10 saw the story for what it was.
Tomas Lopez, the Fired Lifeguard at the Center of the Storm in Hallandale Beach, will be a guest on Sunday's "This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney" at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 10, after ABC News "This Week"; #hallandalebeach
Tomas Lopez story results in predictably anemic response by Hallandale Beach City Hall as growing public outrage re harsh treatment of lifeguard Lopez by his company, Jeff Ellis & Associates -an unpersuasive form letter- shows City Hall's longstanding myopia remains. Story has touched a nerve all over the world about moral imperatives and importance of doing the right thing despite strong possible negative consequences. We desperately need to change the culture and personnel at City Hall ASAP!
Lifeguard Tomas Lopez helps save the day at the city's public beach but get's fired for his trouble. Meanwhile, Hallandale Beach City Hall continues to act neglectful and NOT do what it's legally supposed to do around the beach areas, and nothing happens. Nobody is fired. Just more mindless bureaucratic apathy and incompetency from the same old crew!
Above, looking north on North Beach, Hallandale Beach. April 8, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights ReservedMaksim Samartsev's game of self-deception won't succeed: Next shoe finally drops in Hallandale Beach as WPLG-TV reports that 20-year old Estonian Samartsev -who can't swim- and who was saved at beach by lifeguard Tomas Lopez and other Good Samaritans -resulting in Lopez famously being fired two weeks ago- is now planning to sue and shake the local money tree in six months; #HallandaleBeach, #TomasLopez
Man rescued from drowning considers lawsuit, Attorney says victim was 'close to crossing over'
By Todd Tongen
Published On: Jul 17 2012 05:07:30 PM EDT
Updated On: Jul 18 2012 01:23:04 PM EDT
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -A man whose rescue resulted in a lifeguard's controversial firing now plans to take legal action.
Maksim Samartsev, who was rescued by lifeguard Tomas Lopez on Hallandale Beach, claims certain areas along the shore are left unmonitored and could be dangerous
Read the rest of the story and see the video at
Why was someone who couldn't swim so far out into the ocean?
As for the father, Was the area where his son entered the ocean a property where he himself lived? Yes or no?
If no, why was Maksim swimming there instead of at the public beach north of there?
If yes, why is that not the condo association's problem, instead?
The City of Hallandale Beach and its taxpayers, like all ocean side cities in Florida, are not obliged to provide lifeguards or monitors for every single stretch of beach or water next to private property -which is precisely what those condos and apartments in that area are, just like an ocean-side hotel- any more than they are required to have guards on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway for residents of the city who want to jump into the water on hot days after buying something at the next-door Walmart.
Above, looking north on the Intracoastal Waterway from next to the Hallandale Beach Walmart. Tallest buildings are, left-to-right/north-to-south, on the east side of State Road A1A: Trump Hollywood, The Ocean Palms, Diplomat Oceanfront Residences and The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. April 8, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.
With this legal stunt, this family is quickly becoming persona non grata in this area for daring to shake down the money tree because of the son's own negligence and immaturity.
Outsourcing isn't the real problem with beach safety in Hallandale Beach, but rather the actions -and in-action- of David Jove, Mike Good and Mark Antonio at HB City Hall; #HallandaleBeach
The longstanding problems at the public beaches lie entirely with the past two City Managers and the last City Attorney -Mike Good, Marc A. Antonio and David Jove- none of whom were known for their hard work, much less the sort of work ethic that inspired confidence among either taxpayers or their colleagues.
No, these three administrators were the type of boss who routinely showed-up at City Hall
late and left early, forcing their highly-paid underlings to have to stay longer than normal to pick up the slack.
And it's not like any of them were known for showing initiative in the first place that helped residents or taxpayers, so...That's something that Todd Tongen's colleague at Channel 10, Glenna Milberg, in her completely unexpected knockout-punch of a report, did a great job of connecting the-dots on, completely demolishing the feeble alibis and excuses of Mayor Joy Cooper and former HB commissioner Bill Julian, both of whom voted FOR the contract.
Lifeguard company resigns amid firing scandal
Fired lifeguard receives key to city
By Glenna Milberg, gmilberg@Local10.com
Published On: Jul 09 2012 06:39:57 PM EDT
Updated On: Jul 10 2012 11:12:48 AM EDT
Article and video at:
Below are my other three previous posts on the Tomas Lopez firing controversy story that made Hallandale Beach an international punchline two weeks ago, which, unfortunately, also led to hundreds and hundreds of bad and inaccurate stories, essays and columns being written by people from hundreds and thousands of miles away who DIDN'T know the true facts.
In many cases, lots of people who should know better used the incident as a pretext to resurrect old ideological arguments against their own personal hobbyhorses, which didn't inform or illuminate but only served to remind us all over again how truly desperate some reporters and columnists are to win an old argument, no matter the facts, no matter how far away from the action their nice air conditioned desk is.
Fortunately, Channel 10 saw the story for what it was.
In many cases, lots of people who should know better used the incident as a pretext to resurrect old ideological arguments against their own personal hobbyhorses, which didn't inform or illuminate but only served to remind us all over again how truly desperate some reporters and columnists are to win an old argument, no matter the facts, no matter how far away from the action their nice air conditioned desk is.
Fortunately, Channel 10 saw the story for what it was.
Tomas Lopez, the Fired Lifeguard at the Center of the Storm in Hallandale Beach, will be a guest on Sunday's "This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney" at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 10, after ABC News "This Week"; #hallandalebeach
Tomas Lopez story results in predictably anemic response by Hallandale Beach City Hall as growing public outrage re harsh treatment of lifeguard Lopez by his company, Jeff Ellis & Associates -an unpersuasive form letter- shows City Hall's longstanding myopia remains. Story has touched a nerve all over the world about moral imperatives and importance of doing the right thing despite strong possible negative consequences. We desperately need to change the culture and personnel at City Hall ASAP!
Lifeguard Tomas Lopez helps save the day at the city's public beach but get's fired for his trouble. Meanwhile, Hallandale Beach City Hall continues to act neglectful and NOT do what it's legally supposed to do around the beach areas, and nothing happens. Nobody is fired. Just more mindless bureaucratic apathy and incompetency from the same old crew!
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