Showing posts with label Carli Teproff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carli Teproff. Show all posts

Friday, September 2, 2011

Speaking of diversity, will 2012 mark the end of the All-White Hollywood City Commission? And the introduction of more common sense ideas?

Speaking of diversity, will 2012 mark the end of the All-White Hollywood City Commission? And the introduction of some more common sense ideas?

In a city that proudly wears its sometimes competing intentions and aspirations of sophisticated, urban liberal AND upwardly middle-class family-friendly 'beachy' in some pretty obvious ways, whether thru lip service or actual votes for govt. programs borne by all city taxpayers, there's always lots of talk about diversity in and around Hollywood City Hall.
(Personally, I'm a bigger fan of diversity of well-informed, fact-based opinions, but that's just me.)

What there actually HASN'T been, though, since I returned to South Florida from the Washington, D.C. area in late 2003, is any actual diversity on the dais of the City Commission of Broward's fourth-largest city.

Though it has taken some time -longer than I expected- some informed residents of S.E. Broward County that I've spoken to this year are beginning to wonder if 2012 might finally be the end of the All-White Hollywood City Commission.
Wondering if some new faces and new ideas might do wonders to shake things up there, and get the City Commission more tethered to city resident's everyday reality, financial and otherwise, and a lot less worried about the creative pretensions of some.

I'll have more to say about this topic soon, when I discuss what's going on with Hollywood's September 13th referendum that aims to close a $38 million budget gap by giving Hollywood voters the chance to clip the pension wings of the city's Police and Fire Dept. members, and bring them more into line with what is financially reasonable for Hollywood beleaguered taxpayers, some of whom have chosen to leave rather than stay, due to either taxes, schools or crime.

Be sure to take a look at the Balance Sheet Blog if you haven't in the past month to see their take on Hollywood's financial problems. Reporters and columnists read it, why not you?

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Hollywood's Wi-Fi promise goes unfulfilled
By Carli Teproff, The Miami Herald
7:37 PM EDT, August 28, 2011

HOLLYWOOD

More than three years ago, the city borrowed $16 million to pay for a wireless communications platform that would give residents free computer network service, as well as automate the water-meter reader system and solar-powered parking meters.

But the system, meant to improve residents' quality of life, isn't completely functional.

"It is definitely not working the way we hoped it would," said Hollywood spokeswoman Raelin Storey.

The idea was simple: install transmitters throughout the city that would allow water meters to be read and sent digitally, and parking meters that would accept credit cards. There would also be a secure network for police, fire and code enforcement officers.

The bonus was a wireless network for residents.

But Johnson Controls, the company hired to handle the project, ran into problems installing enough access points — similar to antennas — throughout the city that would allow the system to work.

Although money for this project didn't come out of the city's general fund, but through separate enterprise funds, residents say the city's failed attempt at creating citywide wireless Internet is yet another example of why the city faces a $38 million budget deficit.

"This is typical Hollywood," said longtime resident Joe Joynt. "We get promised something and we don't get it. They just spend money for no reason."

Some recent projects that have faced criticism include:

• The water tower: Earlier this year the city completed a $680,000 restoration project on the city's water tower. Residents criticized the commission for adding a clock and temperature reader which frequently don't work properly.

• New police cars: Last year, the commission approved spending $655,000 for 26 new police cars. For two months, the vehicles sat in Hollywood's parking lot while the city looked for ways to pay for them.

• New safety complex: In February, the commission approved a $7.9 million safety complex on the beach to serve the new Margaritaville Beach Resort. In July, just months after declaring a fiscal emergency, the commission considered stopping the project, but decided to continue after learning $1.6 million had already been spent on the project.

Storey said Hollywood's deal to bring Wi-Fi to the city has nothing to do with the budget gap.

"Even if we had not done this, our general fund would not be in any better shape than it is currently," she said.

Indeed, none of the projects facing criticism were paid for by money out of the general fund: the water tower was paid for out of the city's Water and Sewer Utility enterprise fund; the police cars came from the central services fund; and the safety complex is being paid for by money from the general obligation bond and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Storey said Hollywood's budget problems are no different from other cities' across the state and the nation. She blames the recession, the investment market crash and rising pension costs for the budget hole.

"That is something we never anticipated," she said.

When the city signed the contract with Johnson Controls in 2008, the agreement called for the city to see $23 million in savings over 15 years — otherwise the company would make up the difference.

Hollywood took out a $16 million loan in 2008, figuring the money it saved each year by having the system would cover the loan payments.

"At the time it sounded like a great deal for the city," said Commissioner Heidi O'Sheehan. "You never go into a contract hoping it's going to fail."

But Johnson Controls was met with problems. The automated meter reader system would not work because the digital equipment would not transmit through concrete caps. The company then placed the caps with plastic ones, but when it rained the caps floated away, Storey said.

After months of trying different caps and methods, the automated reader system should be online any day, said Storey.

Storey said the parking meters are also working, but with cellular modems instead of wireless, which is being paid for by Johnson Controls.

The Wi-Fi portion, however, will likely not work, said Storey.

There aren't enough public places for access points to be installed without having interference from buildings and other signals, she said.

Johnson Controls could not be reached to comment for this story.

Storey said the city is negotiating with Johnson Controls to get back money for the parts of the system that aren't working.

"If this would have worked as we hoped, we would have been considered ahead of the curve," said Commissioner Beam Furr.

Hollywood is not alone in trying to offer free citywide Internet.

Miami Beach embarked on the journey in 2005, and nearly four years and $5 million later it was complete.

There were some challenges along the way, acknowledged the city's Chief Financial Officer Patricia Walker in an email. But now, Walker said, the system is very successful, with more than 158,000 subscribed users.

Hollywood residents wish that the city came through with its promise.

"This is just a grand fiasco," said Charlotte Greenbarg. "It's sad. Really, really sad."

But Storey said residents have to understand the city is getting its money back and the point of the project was to have an automated meter reader system, which will work.

"It is disappointing to say the least that it hasn't worked," Storey said. "But people shouldn't be left with the impression that $16 million is down the drain."
Reader comments at:

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While you were away this summer...


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Developer sues Hollywood for $1.3 million after not repaying $3.5 million loan
By Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel
1:19 PM EDT, August 13, 2011

HOLLYWOOD

A developer who borrowed $3.5 million from the city and never repaid it is suing the town for $1.35 million — a move seen by many as unspeakably outrageous.

"There are a lot of people out there that have a lot of chutzpah," said City Commissioner Fran Russo, who vowed not to give developer Gary Posner "5 cents."

Technically, the suit, like most of its kind, is about contract language and legal definitions.

But the simple filing of it — asking for another million-plus after what the city views as defaulting on a taxpayer-financed loan for three times that — raises questions for many.

"Galling," is how Terry Cantrell, president of the Hollywood Lakes Civic Association, describes the suit.

The city and Posner disagree on whether he still owes $3.5 million. The city says he does. He says the land was sold to another firm that was supposed to repay the loan, but didn't.

Hollywood, in an effort to stimulate development, released that company from the debt. But it contends Posner is still on the hook.

Louis Arslanian, the attorney who has filed the suit on behalf of Posner, recognizes the public relations problem the claim for $1.35 million presents. "It kind of makes me look like a really bad guy," he said. "I am so not a bad guy."

The lawsuit, against the city's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), is expected to be tried soon before a Broward County jury.

The agreed-to facts are these: Between 2004 and 2005, Posner's company, HART District Ltd., borrowed $3.5 million from the CRA to purchase and improve a drab corner, including the landmark Bread Building, at South 17th Avenue and Harrison Street, off Young Circle.

The plan called for a performing arts theater, condominiums, shops, offices and a school.

None of that materialized except for the charter school, the Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science. It takes up four floors of the Home Tower, a previously existing office and residential high-rise.

In addition to the $3.5 million loan, the redevelopment authority gave HART District more than $1.6 million in "incentives" through 2008 to start and run the school.

The payments were required under the city's agreement with the company.

But in 2009, after the HART District defaulted on its loan payments and the redevelopment project collapsed, the city refused to pay an additional $270,000 a year for the charter school through 2013.

The Community Redevelopment Agency contended Posner's company breached the contract by failing to meet school enrollment targets and not providing audited statements of how it spent the incentive money.

HART District sued. It wants the city to pay $270,000 a year for the five years from 2009 through 2013, or $1.35 million in all.

The city agency countersued.

"We are asking to have the $3.5 million repaid. That is our suit," Hollywood City Attorney Jeffrey Sheffel said.

Posner's camp is arguing that he is no longer duty-bound to pay back the $3.5 million. "The HART District doesn't owe any money anymore," Arslanian said.

That's because in 2007, HART District sold the development project to WSG Development Co. of Miami Beach, which under terms of the purchase agreed to assume the debt for the $3.5 million CRA loan.

But in August 2008, the CRA released WSG from the obligation.

In return, the developer agreed to downsize the proposed residential tower, from 420 units to 390, to placate residents upset over its scale.

City officials say HART District, however, is still on the hook for the money it borrowed from the city. "HART was never released from the debt," Sheffel said.

HART District disputes that, arguing in court papers that the "CRA has completely eliminated the debt."

Today, with $3.5 million in taxpayer funds still unreimbursed, Hollywood's municipal finances are in disarray and the HART District parcel, known as Block 58, is an eyesore. Because of the economic downturn, WSG hasn't built anything. Last year, the company's lender foreclosed on the property.

Construction barriers block off a stretch of sidewalk. The Bread Building is locked tight, with vacant storefronts. A hulking and largely unused parking garage sits next to a vast lot with sparse patches of grass.

Said Cantrell: "That block is representative of the city's failed efforts at downtown redevelopment."

Meanwhile, Posner's suit is pending. It was on Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell's calendar for trial in early June but was postponed and must be rescheduled.

Russo, the city commissioner, said she can't fathom how Posner can go forward with the suit. "He owes us money that he doesn't want to pay, and he wants us to give him money for that charter school. … just hope he doesn't win."

If Posner does win, Arslanian said, the lawsuit proceeds may be used to pay a $476,400 judgment against HART District in a separate, drawn-out legal saga involving the Home Tower building that houses the charter school.

"Another whole mess of a situation," Arslanian said.
Reader comments at:

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Hollywood gives initial OK to putting pension reform on ballot
Police and firefighters protest agreement
By Tonya Alanez, Sun Sentinel
8:11 PM EDT, July 18, 2011

Hollywood City commissioners tentatively agreed Monday to let voters decide whether to reform employee pensions as part of an effort to close a $38 million budget gap.

After the unanimous votes — one pertaining to each of the city's three unions — a deep, loud chorus of "Shame, shame, shame on you," rang out from police and firefighters who had packed into City Hall.

Vice Mayor Patricia Assef said the city's state of financial urgency has forced some difficult and unpopular decisions. "Nobody wants to do this, but it's either this or how are we going to pay them?" she said.

The proposed pension changes are specific to each union, but each would increase retirement ages, eliminate cost of living adjustments, and alter the formulas that calculate pensions. For example, under the current plan, a general employee hired in 1996 who retires in 2021 would have received an annual pension of $45,000. Under the new plan, that employee would get $34,500 a year.

The reform would also eliminate the DROP plan — or Deferred Retirement Option Program — which allows long-time employees to defer retirement for a set period and "bank" retirement benefits they can later take in a lump sum.

"This is not reform of the pension, this is gutting of the pension," said Michael Braverman, attorney for the Police Benevolent Association.

Because the unions have not agreed to the changes, the city by law must put it to voters. So on Monday commissioners gave initial approval to spending $400,000 to put the item on a Sept. 13 ballot. If voters approve, that would allow the changes to go into effect Oct. 1, the beginning of the new budget year.

A final commission vote on the matter has not yet been scheduled in the hopes that the sides can come to an agreement.

Matthew Lalla, director of the Finance and Information Technology Department, projected pension reform would save the city $8.5 million. "That's a pretty substantial piece and we're definitely counting on it," he said.

Earlier this summer, commissioners laid off 16 city employees, slashed pay for most city workers by 7.5 percent, and cut salaries for police and firefighters by 12.5 percent.

If pension reform is not achieved, said interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark, the city would have to cut employee pay by an additional 25 percent, lay off 150 employees, cut and privatize services.

Ralph Dierks, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said he believes commissioners are using financial urgency as a tool.

"I think the city commission and management is being driven by the ability to use financial urgency to make gains against the employees that they would never achieve through negotiations," he said.

Dan Martinez, president of Hollywood Professional Firefighters Local 13-75, said, "It needs to be negotiated amicably. It shouldn't be thrust into the public's hands to make this decision."

Painful as it is, mending the city's budget is critical, Mayor Peter Bober said.

"We're dealing with people's livelihoods, so I totally understand the anger and frustration,'' Bober said. "But I have to close a $38 million gap and there is no easy or pleasant way to do it."

Aug. 12 is the latest commissioners could cancel the election and not have to pay the total $400,000, though there would still be some costs for sending out absentee ballots, posting legal notices and training poll workers, said Mary Cooney, director of public services at the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office.

Reader comments at:

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Hollywood delays vote on erasing Holocaust education group's $1.7 million debt
By Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel
July 18, 2011

HOLLYWOOD — — Faced with a chorus of disapproval from residents, city commissioners couldn't bring themselves Monday to agree to write off a $1.7 million debt owed by a group that hopes to open a Holocaust museum in the heart of downtown.

Instead, they postponed the issue until October to give staff time to find a more palatable way to help the Holocaust Education & Documentation Center, which has collected the oral histories of 2,400 survivors of Nazi genocide.

"At least they didn't deny [assistance]," said Aron Halpern, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Hollywood.

The center bought its building at 2031 Harrison Street from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency in 2004, and was lent the purchase price by the CRA, but has yet to repay a cent. Now, it's asking the city to be released from its obligation, saying unexpectedly costly renovations have hampered its plans to open a gallery on the first floor that would draw tourists and much needed business to the area.

It's a tough time for such a request. The city is facing a $38 million shortfall in its operating budget in 2012. City redevelopment money comes from a different pot, but the distinction was lost on residents and business people who jammed the meeting room Monday.

"To give away money in such dire times makes absolutely no sense," said resident Charlotte Greenbarg.

Commissioner Fran Russo said she could not support forgiving the obligation when "we have foreclosures by the minute in the city of Hollywood."

Commissioner Heidi O'Sheehan expressed the hope that the promised museum would open, but said she was disappointed in private meetings with the center's leaders that they were unwilling to pay back any amount, "not one penny."

Without the loan forgiveness, the center could be forced to sell the building and move elsewhere, warned attorney Jonathan Jaffe, who is assisting the center in its negotiations with the CRA.

In its lobbying efforts, the center turned to former mayor Mara Giulianti, now an unpaid board member for the Holocaust center. She interrupted a vacation in Maine last week to return to Hollywood to champion the project and has emailed officials and staff about it.

The prospect of Hollywood losing yet another asset — on downtrodden Harrison Street especially — did not sit well with Commissioner Beam Furr, who led the charge to delay the vote.

Hollywood, he said, needs "destination power" — more reasons for people to visit.
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Meanwhile, once upon a time, in 2005...

The Florida Masochist blog
Something fishy in Hollywood Florida?
July 10, 2005

See also:
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Sunday, August 28, 2011

City of Hollywood presents its side Monday night re Hollywood's Sept. 13th referendum re Police & Fire pension costs

Hollywood civic activist and blogger extraordinaire Sara Case recently sent the following note out to folks to remind everyone in SE Broward about Monday night's HCCA meeting on the referendum taking place in two weeks.

From: Sara Case
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:23 PM
Subject: HCCA's Public Education Meeting on Pension Referendum

Hi All,

Here are the details of HCCA's public education meeting on the Sept. 13 pension referendum election. Please notify your all your association members and friends as this meeting will provide a good opportunity for voters to learn the implications of this special election.

Date: Monday, August 29, 7 PM

Place: Fred Lippman Multi-purpose Center, 2030 Polk Street (large meeting room)

Purpose of Meeting: To provide fact-based information on how the referendum will affect city operations, city services and employees, and city taxpayers -- both if it passes and if it is defeated.

The Interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark will make the presentation.

The exact ballot language can be found at this link on the city website:


Sara
See Sara's July 20th Balance Sheet Blog post titled Financial problems in Hollywood

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Why-oh-why can't the union officials who represent the individual members of the City of Hollywood Police and Fire Dept., Jeff Marano and Dan Martinez respectively, accept the fact that no matter how many times they say it to reporters or their members, the City of Hollywood CRA funds are not "found" money for the Hollywood City Commission to do with as they choose for whatever purpose?

(For that, you have to go to where I live, Hallandale Beach, There, things are so upside-down in the logic and common sense dept., that a perfectly preposterous idea for putting TVs/monitors -that run nothing but local ads- in HB businesses and public areas of condos NOT even in the CRA zone, got approved 4-1, with little to show for it but money down a rat hole. Money that the city is NOT trying very hard to get back from some of the individuals involved, once it went kerplunk.)

Over-and-over for years I have heard whining from them and Hollywood beat cops about there being this magic pot of gold over the rainbow.
But showing in many cases the very poor value of a Florida public school education, many persist in ignoring the facts and constructing arguments that result in them getting more, more, more.
It's NOT your money!

Given that taxes in Hollywood will still go up 11% even if this is approved, I believe that if it is rejected, the City Commission should fire about 300 City of Hollywood employees, not the 170 or so suggested in the Herald article below by Carli Teproff that appeared in this morning's newspaper.
Consider the extra people fired both a margin of error and a shot across the broadside that there are far too many people in the city's employ who are NOT earning their paycheck.
I know, I see it every week with my own eyes and have experienced it many times.

The condescension is the worst part.

People with Masters Degrees who think they know everything and are NOT interested in what you say about something, even when you have photographs that show that THEY are doing something that is NOT appropriate or safe, and even likely to lead to injuries to the public.
Nope, they just can't be bothered with your facts, they have workshops to go to.

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Miami Herald
HOLLYWOOD
With YouTube video and city mailings, Hollywood residents are learning about upcoming pension referendum
The gloves are off and both sides are coming out swinging with their campaigns to educate Hollywood voters on why they should or shouldn’t vote to change the city’s pension system
By Carli Teproff
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Please be sure to read this excellent overview of the government employee pension situation by the Tallahasse Democrat's Senior Political Writer and Columnist Bill Cotterell.
I meant to mention it here weeks ago when the controversy over whether or not the City of Hollywood and the Police and Fire unions would work things out without a referendum being necessary.

Tallahassee Democrat
Things are tough all over
Government employees everywhere feel the pinch
Bill Cotterell
July 25, 2011

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Here's an interesting article from a year ago that I circulated at the time via an email.

New York Post

City taxpayers foot 90% of municipal pensions
By Susan Edelman
Last Updated: 10:31 AM, July 11, 2010
Posted: 2:10 AM, July 11, 2010

Taxpayers kick in an average $8.60 for every dollar that city employees contribute to their pensions, a sweet deal costing the Big Apple a bundle.

Even though their own retirements are less secure, as private businesses have shifted from traditional pensions to riskier savings plans like 401(k)s, taxpayers' support for rock-solid public employee pension plans is growing. That's because pension funds are guaranteed to grow 8 percent a year -- and taxpayers have to make up the difference if they don't.

Taxpayers' share of city pension costs has skyrocketed more than 900 percent in the last decade -- from $703.1 million in 2000 to $6.5 billion in 2009, according to the city comptroller's annual reports.

The cost is expected to hit $7.6 billion this fiscal year and $8.7 billion next year.


"It's a double-whammy for taxpayers," said E.J. McMahon, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

"If they're privately employed, they shoulder the risks of saving for their own retirement. At the same time, they have to pay a steadily mounting cost of guaranteed pensions for government workers."

Teachers get the biggest bang for their pension contributions -- the city puts in $15.50 for every $1 they contribute.

Taxpayers pay $10 for every $1 firefighters put in, $9 for every $1 from cops and $5.60 for every $1 from transit, sanitation and other civil servants, the 2009 report shows.

"The cost has risen because employee benefits were dramatically increased in 2000, just as the [stock] market began to collapse," said John Murphy, former executive director of the New York City Employee Retirement System, NYCERS, the largest city pension fund.

"In retrospect, it was one of the most irresponsible things to have done," he said.

Many private companies cut back or suspended matching contributions to employee 401(k) plans after the most recent dramatic market downturn in 2008. Some have begun to restore contributions, depending on profits.

Teachers hired after 2008 contribute 4.85 percent of their salaries for their first 10 years, then 1.85 percent a year thereafter.

Cops and firefighters make annual pension contributions depending on their age at swearing in, at most 8 percent at age 20. But in a benefit called "Increased Take Home Pay," the city subsidizes 5 percent of that.

Cops and firefighters are guaranteed an 8.25 percent return on their contributions, and can take loans from the plans up to twice a year, interest-free.

It's only fair, said Anthony Garvey, who recently retired as executive director of the Police Pension Fund.

He said the benefits befit the Finest and Bravest who risk "getting shot or running into burning buildings."

Retire it's on us

Taxpayers kicked in $7.35 billion to the city pension funds last fiscal year, while employees contributed $853.5 million.

An average of: $8.60 to $1

TEACHERS
Average pension: $54,268
Taxpayer contribution: $15.50 to $1

FIREFIGHTERS
Average pension: $53,347
Taxpayer contribution: $10 to $1

POLICE
Average pension: $41,319
Taxpayer contribution: $9.13 to $1

SANIT., TRANSIT, OTHER
Average pension: $24,889
Taxpayer contribution: $5.60 to $1

Source: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the NYC Comptroller for fiscal year 2009.

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Broward Schools General Fund Budget Update workshop on Friday; Michael Mayo: "How many Broward school officials does it take to change a light bulb?"



Broward County School Board General Fund Budget Update workshop on Friday the 20th from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the KCW Bldg., 600 S.E. 3rd Avenue, Fort Laudedale.

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida Schools blog
Broward school administrators to take furlough days
By Cara Fitzpatrick
May 18, 2011 03:23 PM


Miami Herald
Broward schools officials to take furloughs
Principals, assistant principals and district administrators will be expected to take 10 to 15 days unpaid leave as a way to save $4.5 million next year.
By Carli Teproff
Posted May 18, 2011




South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Teachers get saved in Palm Beach County, sacrificed in Broward – why?
Job loss for 1,400 teachers in Broward shows misplaced priorities, mismanagement
By Michael Mayo, Sun Sentinel Columnist
7:08 p.m. EDT, May 18, 2011

How come there's a teacher massacre in Broward schools, but not in Palm Beach County or Miami-Dade?

With 1,400 Broward teachers told this week that their jobs are going down the drain, there's been a circular swirl of blame. The teachers' union points the finger at superintendent Jim Notter. Notter says it's the Legislature's fault. The Legislature blames unions.

Ordinarily, I'd say take your pick since there's plenty of blame to go around. Except for one thing.

So far, Broward teachers are alone in their pain.
Read the rest of the column at:


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida Politics blog
Scott puts blame for teacher layoffs on feds
By Kathleen Haughney
May 17, 2011 11:22 AM

Read the reader comment already posted there.
You have to love spammers who think sincerity will do the trick!
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Passing the hat, but ignoring what's in plain sight! Broward School Board's Community Budget Task Force meeting at 5 p.m.; equivocating Bartleman

Broward County School Board Community Budget Task Force meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Fort Lauderdale: 600 S.E. Third Avenue.
I won't be there.

Their web page is at: http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/budget/

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As you read this Carli Teproff story from the Herald below about the Broward School Board's myriad budget problems, and their positively uninspired 'ideas' to cut millions and millions of dollars, if you're at all like me, it's hard to read, knowing that at any moment, as she has since she first got elected to the Broward School Board posing as a 'reformer,' Robin Bartleman will say one thing, and then a few paragraphs later, equivocate and be quoted as either saying the exact opposite, or, walk back her initial statement to the middle of the road where it won't offend anyone.

With so much need for someone -multiple someones!- on that School Board to show some real character, vision and leadership, wow, is that dithering and equivocating nature of hers ever frustrating to read!

And don't shoot the messenger, since that equivocating is clear in news articles in both the Herald and the Sun-Sentinel.
It's NOT the reporters' fault when they accurately quote Bartleman and it makes your head hurt to later pick up the newspaper and read the predictable blather, sheer banality and self-serving contrivances coming out of her mouth.

Whether the story is true or not, I'm frequently reading and hearing from reliable, well-informed people that one of the reasons Bartleman seems to live a rather charmed political life here despite her fingerprints on so much that is uninspired and incompetent, is that her pal Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is a little rainmaking angel on her shoulder, ready to drown any challengers to her friend in money spent on campaign ads and the like.

If that's not 100% true, it almost doesn't matter, since so many smart people throughout South Florida already believe that it IS true.

In my opinion, even more than many other better-known female pols in this county that I have often taken to task here on the blog, perhaps in large part because on local TV at least, she has largely flown under-the-radar on unflattering stories for ethics and policy, unlike the other female 2010 incumbents on the School Board, Bartleman is the Queen of Broward County's two-faced pols.
To my way of thinking, Bartleman may be the single most over-rated politician in all of Broward County.

In story-after-story the past few years where I find her name mentioned, it's hard to NOT find an example of that equivocating nature I spoke of earlier, a damning personal and political characteristic to my way of thinking.

I've saved some of those stories that show this pattern and hope in the not-too-distant future to post some of them here -and some comments of mine- that I believe highlights some delicious examples of that two-faced nature of hers.

I can't help but wonder if Bartleman equivocates in her Tweets, but I can't say with any certainty since they are "protected," so I can't say who her 6 Followers are.
http://twitter.com/#!/rbartleman

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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/18/2174089/broward-schools-using-the-f-word.html

Broward schools using the “F” word: Furlough

By Carli Teproff


As the Broward School Board contemplates how to slash more than $100 million from next year’s budget, one word keeps resurfacing – furlough.

On Monday, Superintendent Jim Notter gave the board a chart showing how the district could save millions by asking employees to take off — without pay.

If each of the 28,000 schools employees took one furlough day, the district would save $4.7 million.

And, if each employee took 20 furlough days, basically a month off, the district would save a whopping $93.6 million.

Although that extreme is unlikely to happen, it is possible all school district workers, including teachers, will be asked to sacrifice some of their pay in order to save jobs. But even furloughs won’t fix all of the district’s financial woes, said School Board member Robin Bartleman.

“It’s not going to solve all the problems,’’ Bartleman said, adding the decisions this year are going to be “brutal’’ for everyone. “But it will help.’’

Taking a furlough has been brought up at several of the board’s latest workshops where they are struggling to meet what could be a $115 million budget gap.

Notter has already said the district will likely cut about $25 million from the executive leadership, including the area offices that oversee the different schools.

Before a furlough could be implemented, it would have to be backed by the employees and the districts three school unions.

Broward Teacher’s Union President Pat Santeramo said imposing a furlough on employees – who have not received raises in several years — should be a last resort.

“Before we will proceed with any furloughs, we need to see corrections made to how the district is wasting money,’’ he said.

Santeramo said the union has already suggested areas where the district could cut spending, including shortening the year for principals, reducing the number of assistant principals and looking at consolidating bus routes.

“We are looking for equity here,’’ he said.

At a workshop last week, board members said they would be looking to cut everywhere but the classroom first.

“The goal is to minimize the impact on the students,’’ said Bartleman.

There have not yet been specific discussions of where else cuts will be made.

A preliminary budget, which will include what the cuts could mean to the school district, will be discussed next Tuesday, Notter said.

“I see us trying to drain an Olympic-size pool with an eyedropper,’’ said Board Member Dave Thomas at last week’s meeting, where the board looked at proposed cuts in different administrative departments. “We are continually asking [teachers] to do more with less and they are getting to the breaking point.’’

Board Member Nora Rupert said the district has to take another look at deeper cuts for management.

“The upper management charts have hardly changed,’’ she said. “I personally believe there should be changes.’’

This is not the first time the district is considering furloughs. Last year, the employees were asked to take a five-day furlough, but federal stimulus money came in and the board agreed to lift the request.

Reader comments at: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/18/2174089/broward-schools-using-the-f-word.html#disqus_thread

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Any guesses out there who this belong to? http://www.youtube.com/user/watches33021

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See also:

Broward Politics YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrowardPolitics

Website: http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/

BrowardPalmBeach NewTimes YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrowardPalmBeach

Website: http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/

Broward Clean Sweep's YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrowardCleanSweep
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

After receiving a weak response, FL Dept. of Education Sec. Eric J. Smith drops the hammer on the Broward School Board -An IG is on the way!

In case you forgot, last week there was nothing but optimism by Broward Schools Supt. James Notter & Company that their response to the statewide Grand Jury's pile-driving report on their longstanding corruption and incompetency-"gross mismanagement and apparent ineptitude"-at the Broward Public Schools would be viewed favorably by Florida Dept. of Education Secretary Eric J. Smith. (No relation.)
Apparently NOT!

The Broward School Board's March 2, 2011 Cover Letter to Florida Dept. of Education Secretary Eric J. Smith, accompanying the response below:
http://www.browardschools.com/pdf/grandjury/responseletter.pdf

The Broward School Board's March 2, 2011 "Plan of Action to Address the Findings and Recommendations of the Grand Jury":
http://www.browardschools.com/pdf/grandjury/planofaction.pdf


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida Schools blog
State to Broward Schools: Plan to restore trust isn't good enough
By Cara Fitzpatrick
March 11, 2011 11:48 AM

Education Commissioner Eric Smith told the Broward County School District that its plan to "restore the public's trust" after a recent grand jury report isn't good enough.

In a letter sent to the district Thursday, Smith said he plans to send the state Department of Education's Inspector General to the district to review records, interview staff, and help him decide whether to launch a full-fledged investigation.

Read the rest of the post at:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/educationblog/2011/03/doe_to_broward_school_district.html


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-whatsnext-grandjury-20110304,0,5525884.story
No indictments from grand jury probe of Broward schools, so now what?
By Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel
7:37 PM EST, March 7, 2011

Two law enforcement agencies are looking at potential charges involving Broward Schools officials, though their focus is likely not the misdeeds cited by a recent grand jury report that was stingingly critical of the district.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's investigation of the Broward Schools is still "active," said agency spokesman Keith Kamet. He declined to provide further information.

And the Broward State Attorney's Office is "continually looking at possible School Board cases," spokesman Ron Ishoy said. The office currently is prosecuting former School Board member Stephanie Kraft on bribery charges. She has pleaded not guilty.

"We interacted with the statewide grand jury staff throughout their investigation, we spoke with them after their report was issued, and we will continue working with them going forward," Ishoy said.

The grand jury's 51-page report, released Feb. 18, slammed the School Board for "gross mismanagement and apparent ineptitude," saying the litany of problems was so great it could only be explained by "corruption of our officials by contractors, vendors and their lobbyists."

Yet the grand jury's year-long investigation did not result in criminal charges. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist, who created the panel, had said it would have the authority to "root out public corruption" and bring indictments.

But the grand jury was led by the Florida Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution and could only indict if the suspected criminal activity crossed county lines.

The grand jury could refer narrower matters to local authorities to pursue, but the Attorney General's office informed the Sun Sentinel on Feb. 21 that the panel made no such referrals. The grand jury's report landed like a grenade, leaving many people stunned and outraged. Yet for all its strong verbiage, some veteran prosecutors and defense lawyers said its findings likely will not lead to future criminal charges.

Noted Broward defense attorney David Bogenschutz said prosecutors are unlikely to file charges in areas where the grand jury looked at suspicious conduct but elected not to act. That's because it would probably be harder to win a conviction in open court than an indictment from a grand jury meeting in secret, Bogenschutz said.

"If you can't convince 18 people when you're in there alone [as a prosecutor] how are you going to with a judge and defense attorney?" Bogenschutz said.

In fact, in the view of one former federal prosecutor, the mere fact that the grand jury mentioned certain acts of alleged official misconduct is a clue that they are not subjects of an ongoing criminal probe by law enforcement. According to Bruce Reinhart, of West Palm Beach, prosecutors don't want outside groups getting involved in taking testimony or gathering evidence on acts they have targeted because that could jeopardize their case.

"If I'm the FBI or BSO [Broward Sheriff's Office] and I've got a serious investigation of criminal conduct, I'm not going to let the grand jury have it, to the extent I can," Reinhart said.

The grand jury did not address several well-publicized controversies involving the school district.

Those issues include a dispute over billings by AshBritt, a Pompano Beach debris-removal company that district auditors found "grossly overcharged" for Hurricane Wilma repairs, and the $47 million auditors said the district overpaid for 15 new elementary school cafeterias.

Overall, the grand jury lambasted the School Board for pushing unnecessary building projects against staff advice, handpicking building contractors, hiding big-ticket items on a "consent agenda" with no public debate, failing to collect financial penalties from builders for projects that come in late, using untrained inspectors, and opening new schools without fixing safety problems.

For a grand jury to indict, it must have "probable cause" that a crime has occurred. State prosecutors are supposed to proceed with a "good faith belief" that they can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — and win a conviction from a jury, said Jennifer Krell Davis, press secretary for the state Attorney General's Office. That is a tougher standard.

To secure a conviction for corruption, prosecutors usually want evidence that the official in question received some compensation — such as money or home improvements or trips — in return for their vote or influence. That clear proof of corruption was apparently not established by the grand jury.

In one case enumerated in its report, an unidentified School Board member arranged for a California consultant who socialized with her and her lobbyist husband to secure a school district leadership training contract, paying him $325 an hour and his wife $160 an hour to take notes.

The board member did not disclose the social relationship with her family or abstain from voting, but the grand jury did not indicate that it found any money changed hands between the consultant and the board member.

In another example of questionable spending, an unnamed board member was criticized by the grand jury for pushing a $25 million new Hollywood elementary school that was not supported by plunging enrollment numbers. Board member Jennifer Gottlieb, whose son attends Beachside Montessori Village, has acknowledged championing the new school, saying it's a successful academic program.

The report makes no suggestion that the board member received any payment for advancing the building of the school, which the grand jury called her "pet project."

The grand jury said much of what it learned regarding the Broward school system appeared to fit the definition of corruption "as understood by regular citizens." But it said those acts could escape criminal punishment because of "weaknesses in state law."

In a prior interim report, released in December, the grand jury described those deficiencies in the justice system, saying some reprehensible acts by public officials are not crimes under Florida law, that corruption cases are often difficult to prove given current legal definitions, that punishments are too lenient and that plea deals are common.

It cited one "appalling loophole" in state law — Florida's definition of "public servant" is narrow, allowing employees of certain private companies contracted to do government work to avoid prosecution for crimes such as bribery or unlawful compensation.

According to the report, an unidentified veteran prosecutor told the grand jury that his office receives many complaints alleging bid tampering but rarely prosecutes them because Florida law is toothless. Federal laws are stronger, and bid rigging is a common offense charged by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2009, the FBI took down Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher in a sting operation that caught her taking cash in exchange for her promises to help rig the awarding of construction contracts. She is now serving a three-year prison term.

Famously tight-lipped, the FBI won't say if its probe of Broward Schools officials and operations is ongoing. The FBI "can't confirm or deny any investigation," said agency spokesman Michael Leverock.

Staff writer Paula McMahon contributed to this report.

Reader comments at:
http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-whatsnext-grandjury-20110304/10


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-doe-20110302,0,5860365.story
Broward Schools propose training, ethics to combat problems listed in grand jury report
By Cara Fitzpatrick and Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel
11:07 AM EST, March 3, 2011

To combat the pervasive "gross mismanagement and apparent ineptitude" identified in a recent grand jury report, the Broward County School Board proposes to increase training, create an ethics policy for board members, improve record-keeping, and discuss all construction and facilities items in public.

Those recommendations and others were included in a 20-page summary sent late Wednesday to the state Department of Education, along with a cover letter in which board members promised to take "corrective action" and "restore the public's trust."

The summary, which included 250 exhibits, packed no major punches and included few surprises. The word "training" is mentioned more than 60 times in the summary, and no major leadership or organizational changes are proposed. Superintendent Jim Notter has resisted calls for his resignation.

But Notter said Wednesday that the report establishes the "rules of the game." Board members and employees will receive training, and policy changes will be proposed so that areas identified in the grand jury report as lax are "more tightly controlled," he said.

Building and construction departments in particular could see more stringent enforcement of district policies and procedures for better record-keeping. Board members should be able to see certificates of occupancy and other paperwork when they vote on agenda items, he said.

According to the School Board's report, members will consider a draft ethics code at their meeting next week. They also will have a workshop no later than April 29 to publicly discuss how the district will respond to the grand jury findings, something they haven't done yet.

To protect whistleblowers, Notter will send a memo this week to employees to remind them of the district's anti-bullying policy, which was approved in 2008. To promote better relationships between the district's building department and its construction management division, a meeting will be held to "emphasize the need to work more cooperatively," the report said.

The grand jury found such "malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance" that it could only be explained by "corruption of our officials." It said the board has demonstrated an appalling lack of both leadership and awareness, and it bashed Notter for letting board members meddle in the operation of the district.

Notter said he and board members will participate in a 22-hour master board training course in September. He acknowledged Wednesday that training can only do so much, and said when it comes to district staff, reorganization is "ultimately" an option.

"Those that don't want to abide by the rules have to work somewhere else," he said.

State Education Commissioner Eric Smith will use the district's response to decide whether his department's Office of Inspector General should conduct its own investigation into the grand jury's findings. The district's report was due Wednesday. The district released it on its website just before 5:30 p.m.

It wasn't clear Wednesday when Smith would make a decision or what consequences could come from an Inspector General investigation. A department spokesman confirmed that the report had been received and said it was being reviewed.

Notter also has promised to provide a more detailed response to the grand jury report within 30 to 45 days of its Feb. 18 release.

On Tuesday, board members seemed all-too-aware of the grand jury report as they pulled facilities and construction items from the consent agenda. Robin Bartleman told staff members that she needed to have all necessary paperwork before she could approve anything, and said she "can't be involved in the day-to-day operations of the district."

Reader comments at:
http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-broward-doe-20110302/10


Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/02/2094613/broward-school-board-responds.html
Broward School Board responds to grand jury complaint
By Carli Teproff
March 2, 2011

Saying it took a state grand jury reprimand “very seriously,’’ the Broward School Board sent a letter Tuesday to the Florida Department of Education outlining the steps it has taken to address allegations of wasteful spending and corruption.

“I assure you , the School Board, Superintendent of Schools, and the District’s administration take the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury very seriously and will take corrective action as appropriate to address the issues and restore the public’s trust in Broward County Public Schools,’’ School Board Chair Benjamin Williams wrote.

Last month, a Florida Grand Jury released a scathing report that criticized the district for spending money on unneeded schools, chided the board members for meddling in day-to-day issues and singled out Superintendent Jim Notter as not being a strong enough leader. It also reprimanded the board for allowing schools to open before they were complete and called district paperwork lax.

The report went so far as to say if the state constitution allowed it to, the grand jury would recommend abolishing the School Board.

On Feb. 22, the state Department of Education got involved, requesting the district to write up a plan detailing how it would address the problems. The deadline was Wednesday.

“The plan of action should include specific steps taken or planned by the District School Board to correct each of the Findings and Recommendations,’’ Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith wrote.

In his response to Smith, Williams explained the district needed more time to fully analyze the problems, but had already initiated some changes.

Among them:

• Board members are no longer allowed to sit on committees that select contractors.

• The board will no longer be able to reduce the amount of money it is withholding from a contractor pending completion of a project without public comment. State law says government agencies can retain more than 10 percent of a contract amount until up to 50 percent of a project’s completion, and allows for withholding 5 percent after that.

• Schools will no longer be issued temporary certificates of occupancy.

• Following the arrest and conviction of former board member Beverly Gallagher on bribery charges, the district started the process of developing an ethics code. The board will discuss the proposed code by the end of March.

In the letter, Smith said he needed the response in order to decide if the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General should begin its own investigation into the district. The law allows him to request an investigation if the board is “unwilling or unable to address substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste, fraud or financial mismanagement within the school districts.’’

The district’s response included a 20-page plan of action compiled by district staff. It addressed the 20 recommendations from the grand jury – including reducing the number of board members from nine to five and having an elected superintendent.

Superintendent Notter said he and staff have worked around the clock to pull documents and give examples of what has changed.

“We have done a huge chunk of what we have to do,’’ Notter said. “But there is still a lot left to do.’’

Notter promised he will have a complete review of the grand jury report within 45 days. “It takes time to go through everything we have to go through to give a proper response,’’ he said.

The district also promised it would have a new “project closeout procedure plan’’ by March 25, which would detail the procedures for using occupancy certificates.

Although acknowledging students were brought to schools where construction projects were not completed, the district said the facilities were safe.

“The District contends all life safety items were addressed prior to the issuance of a [Temporary Certificate of Occupancy] or appropriate actions were taken to allow safe occupancy.’’

The letter also said the board will discuss the district’s retainage policy, which dictates how much money it can withhold from a contractor until unresolved problems are solved, at its March 29 workshop.

The board has also agreed to undergo training to address the grand jury’s concerns about in-fighting and meddling.

And the board said it will discuss reducing the number of board members and having an elected superintendent – both of which will have to go to a voter referendum – by April 29.

“The board gave me clear direction to accelerate the time lines,’’ Notter said.



BrowardPalmBeach NewTimes
Daily Pulp blog
Note to "Distressed" Dinnen: No More Tears
By Bob Norman, Wed., Mar. 2 2011 @ 8:56AM---
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2011/03/maureen_dinnen_school_board.php




Sun-Sentinel video: Maureen Dinnen crying over grand jury report critical of the School Board
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/videobeta/e10ca0ed-e4b1-4562-9e8c-268808bdf266/Community/


South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/fl-schools-apathy-mayocol-b030311-20110302,0,7962956.column
Latest Broward schools meeting? Shameless and shameful
After blistering grand jury report, apathy and self-interest rule
Michael Mayo, Sun Sentinel Columnist
7:33 PM EST, March 2, 2011

Two words to sum up the Broward School Board meeting this week, the first since the release of a blistering statewide grand jury report: Shameful and shameless.

Shameful: Only one measly member of the public — a teacher turned out to express outrage over the grand jury's findings of gross mismanagement and malfeasance in the school system.

Shameless: Embattled School Board members and Superintendent Jim Notter apparently rallied their loyal troops, with community business leaders showing up to heap praise upon them. And tone-deaf board member Maureen Dinnen threw a pity party, breaking into tears as she criticized the report for bordering on "gossip and hearsay."

"Some of these people don't get it — they're almost in denial," Charlotte Greenbarg, an activist who serves on several school advisory boards, told me Wednesday. "Until there's a shift in the majority of the board, it will be business as usual."

All I can say is we deserve what we get when it comes to Broward schools.

After this latest apathetic display, it's no wonder the folks running things seem to cater more to vendors and contractors than taxpayers and the general public.

Greenbarg couldn't attend Tuesday's meeting, but she listened on the School Board's radio station. She said the lack of outraged citizens — and the pack of fawning business leaders — didn't surprise her.

"The business community are the ones who've been profiting from all this activity all these years — of course they're going to show up to sing the School Board's praises," Greenbarg said. "These people come and speak out at the drop of a phone call or e-mail."

As for regular working people, Greenbarg said the board's daytime meetings and downtown Fort Lauderdale location create hurdles.

"You have to pay to park, it's in the middle of the day," Greenbarg said. "It's an inconvenience."

True. But in a county with 1.8 million people and a school district with some 250,000 students, I expected more than just one dissatisfied voice to sound off.

"I was a little surprised and disappointed that I was the only one who spoke out," Sharon Graham, a 21-year Broward teaching veteran who called for Notter's ouster, told me Wednesday.

If people are this uninterested, even after the stinging grand jury report that said the mismanagement and waste of millions of dollars could only be explained by "corruption of our officials," it's no wonder the powers-that-be feel they can act with impunity.

"We're at the point where this is what— grand jury No. 3 or 4? — and nobody ever gets indicted," Greenbarg said. "All the outrage, is pretty much useless. But the fact that the public wasn't there to castigate them doesn't mean people don't care. This [the grand jury report] has been the talk of the town everywhere I've been."

Dinnen, a School Board member since 2004, is emblematic of the dysfunctional board's mentality.

Instead of owning up to mistakes or apologizing, she acts like the victim.

Dinnen's teary breakdown was a poor follow-up to her showing at a workshop last week, when she fretted that a proposed new ethics policy might be too complicated: "Let's make it crystal-clear so I don't have to ask my secretary what is proper and what is not."

Sorry, but if you have to ask a secretary what's proper, maybe the secretary should be on the School Board, not you.

At this week's meeting, superintendent Notter said he would soon propose some policy changes to address the grand jury's concerns.

Here are two that the board should pass pronto:

Any action that would cost the district more than $75,000 should be required to go on the regular agenda for board approval. As it stands, items costing as much as $1 million can be placed on the consent agenda, where they can be passed without debate. One million dollars is way too high a threshold.

The addition of late items to the consent agenda should be banned. That's another way things get snuck past the public. Late items should only be permitted on the regular agenda, and only for reasons that are clearly explained at meetings.

It's time the School Board, pushed by the four new members elected in November, makes some meaningful changes.

Otherwise an apathetic public has mainly itself to blame.

Reader comments at:
http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-schools-apathy-mayocol-b030311-20110302/10
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