Again? Hallandale Beach City Commission grants ANOTHER deferral for Chateau Group LLC's twin 40-story retail/condo project on US-1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd.

All original photos on this page by me, South Beach Hoosier. (c) 2016 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.

UNStudio in The Netherlands and BC Architects are listed as architects of record for the project.

Today I've got the latest installment of my regular series of blog posts about what's going on in Hallandale Beach with the Chateau Group LLC's Chateau Square project that would erect TWO 40-story buildings with a large retail and hotel complex at the corner of U.S.-1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd., which could actually make the city's notoriously-bad and gridlocked traffic even worse.
Especially during the annual invasion into southeast Broward County by tens of thousands of Canadians from Ontario and Quebec, known around here as "the season," which has just begun, as suddenly, like every year, nearly one-third-to one-fourth of every car you see in Hallandale Beach or Hollywood east of I-95 is from Quebec or Ontario.

On Wednesday night at 6:30 PM, after many months of delays, the Hallandale Beach City Commission was scheduled to debate the matter for the first of two required votes on the project that so many Hallandale Beach residents are gravely concerned about.

Well, would you believe that last night, at a sparsely-attended public meeting of the 
Hallandale Beach City Commission, they voted to grant yet ANOTHER deferral for 

the Chateau Group LLC's proposed twin 40-story retail/condo project on US-1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd. 

By my count, this is at least the third deferral for this project of its first of two required readings by the HB City Commission.

After all these years of attending meetings at HB City Hall, and the routines that take place before and during the meeting, I should have guessed that something was amiss when I didn't see developer attorney Debbie Orshefsky working the room before the meeting started.

But I was busy talking to people myself, as usual.

No reason was given for the request for the deferral by the developer and no date was given as the next opportunity for Chateau Group LLC to persuade the community and its elected officials why they should change the rules for them in such an egregious way.

I'm already following up on what I'm hearing about the real reason for thems seeking the deferral, but can't share with you what I'm hearing - right now

As many of you know, last night was also longtime Hallandale Beach City Commissioner William "Bill" Julian's last meeting as a HB Commissioner, something that I have wanted to say and write for many, many years.

Rather deliciously, Julian made a motion to delay the swearing-in ceremony for newly-elected Commissioner Anabelle Taub, who convincingly defeated him, until December 7th. But he lost on the motion 4-1, so the big day remains Monday November 28th.

A day to finally breathe the sweet air of freedom that many of us thought -worried-

might never come! The end of the reign of Joy Cooper's Rubber Stamp Crew! :-)

@SFBJRealEstate 1/ Corner of #HallandaleBeach Blvd/US-1, Voters saw @ChateauGroupLLC's preferred ppl at CityHall: Julian & Lewy. They lost! pic.twitter.com/UBbl5b0ztx

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) November 14, 2016

@SFBJRealEstate 8/ This = Taub & Lazarow signs @GulfstreamPark #HallandaleBeach, who oppose the project next door. They won -convincingly. pic.twitter.com/lCjmmOgWA2

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) November 14, 2016

@SFBJRealEstate 9/ .@GulfstreamPark's support 4 Taub & Lazarow was dwarfed by efforts of @DiplomatFlorida's $375k PAC effort to defeat them.

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) November 14, 2016

@SFBJRealEstate 10/ The same @DiplomatFlorida that got 4 towers approved, 2 at 30 stories in neighborhood w/height limit of... 10 stories.

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) November 14, 2016

The Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino sign on the south side of Hibiscus Street, across from where the proposed project is situated.

Even from a cursory look at the photos you can see how completely incompatible two 40-story buildings on that corner would be, and the disastrous effect it would have in a city where Hallandale Beach Blvd. is the ONLY East-West street that runs throughout the city, connecting the beach to I-95.

On a very intensive street that already receives THE lowest possible rating from FDOT.

Here's the Traffic study for the Chateau Square project 

http://www.cohb.org/DocumentCenter/View/10778

It was NOT available to the public before or during the July 31 HB P&Z Advisory Board meeting, which means the public could NOT ask pointed questions about its finding to the developer, their attorney or traffic consultant during the meeting

http://hallandalebeachfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12860

But now, whenever the meeting is finally held, you will have the numbers to use as you wish.
Based on what I heard at the meeting from the traffic consultant, the traffic numbers 

are very troubling and negative for HB residents and businesses who are looking at 

a much worse traffic/gridlock situation than even now, if the city allows something 

to be built as planned in the busiest place in the city -and at twice the current height 

limit.

And to quote myself, "the folks over at Gulfstream Park next door don't like it, either!"

Unless someone on the Hallandale Beach City Commission does something quite unexpected, and actually pushes back against this plan and proposes a reasonable compromise, with meaningful traffic remediation, this impractical plan may well become one of the final albeit GIANT nails in the coffin of this city's Quality of Life, and people's 

ability to move around in this city, which is already very difficult at more times of the day than one would think possible for the number of people living/working in the area.

I don't have to remind you that Mayor Cooper likely sees this project as further 

confirmation of her poorly thought-out ideas about development, where buildings 

and the revenue they generate for the city are more important than people or neighborhoods, which she has demonstrated time-after-time since she has been in office, despite the facts on the ground and the mood of the citizenry.

But when has she really ever listened to anyone else and changed her mind?

So, given everything that's happened of late, with the decisive defeats of pro-development Commissioner Bill Julian and Alex Lewy, longstanding members of Mayor Joy Cooper's 
Rubber Stamp Crew, where exactly are her developer friends and their plans for higher 
density projects near the FEC tracks, something that would actually be smart and which I and most other people in the area would support because of the proximity of the future Tri-Rail Coastal train? 

They are MIA, just like last year and the year before that and the year before...

No, unfortunately, it's going to take more than a few positive election results to turn Hallandale Beach around. 
But a good place to start is to kill any thought of making the city's busiest corner the home of two forty-story towers that would literally strangle the ability of residents and visitors alike to navigate their way in and thru the city.

#SoFL #ethics - Proving that the past is prologue, yet again, here comes ethically-challenged Commissioner Bill Julian to once again personally make Hallandale Beach a laughingstock. But this time, a NATIONAL laughingstock. Surprise! It involves votes on real estate development and favors in return. Here's the latest on the matter, along with a stark reminder of Bill Julian's previous unethical actions

#SoFL #ethics - Proving that the past is prologue, yet again, here comes ethically-challenged Commissioner Bill Julian to once again personally make Hallandale Beach a laughingstock. But this time, a NATIONAL laughingstock. Surprise! It involves votes on real estate development and favors in return. Here's the latest on the matter, along with a stark reminder of Bill Julian's previous unethical actions

Above, the May 16, 2008 photo taken by me, South Beach Hoosier, at the city's North Beach park parking lot, showing Bill Julian's city badge while his car was parked in the one-and-only Handicapped parking space, next to a then-existing restaurant. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved. 

Watch the recent Local10 News story done by chief investigative reporter Bob Norman that has made everyone in the Hallandale Beach area angry and embarrassed about Bill Julian in a way that no other previous Julian ethical debacles could, as cringe worthy as they were. Just when you thought Bill Julian could not be more embarrassing or harmful to this community's future, it's a case of seeing is believing! He's exactly what he appears to be.

What a weekend!
I've been very busy over the weekend getting my thoughts together for this particular blog post, and the reason is clear. More than just about any other story I've written about here at Hallandale Beach Blog since I started it in 2007, especially one that's dealt specifically with what was taking place in this part of South Florida, in southeast Broward County, the level of public discussion, rancor and outright revulsion about the egregious stupidity and unethical behavior of Hallandale Beach's very own Simpleton, City Commissioner William "Bill" Julian, has reached a point of "no return."

A point of no return that was never reached by Julian's MANY unethical and foolish words and actions in office of the past ten years, however stupid, sordid and self-serving as they usually were, all of which have been chronicled here with great specificity on the blog, often with self-evident photos to hammer home the facts that Julian, his apologists and Mayor Joy Cooper didn't want to face and deal with in an upfront manner.

Even longtime apologists for this bumbling idiot of a small-town pol, a man who even his small circle of friends have long acknowledged, lacks even the most basic short-term AND long-term vision for this growing ocean-side community that nearly everyone here believes ought to be -and managed- SO MUCH BETTER than it has been and is now, have reached their personal breaking point: a line in the sand!

That's something that I know about for a fact because so many friends and acquaintances of mine, as well as more than a few people who by no definition of the word could ever be described as "friendly" towards me in the past -ever- have decided to contact me over the past few days to express their own personal sense of betrayal, anger and befuddlement.

This includes people who have long tolerated Bill Julian's longtime record of foolishness, critically poor and faulty judgment on issues and votes, and his MANY YEARS of being of clearly being largely unprepared to participate effectively and competently at public city meetings in a way that would even come close to what Hallandale Beach's residents and Small Business owners expect, especially for someone who has been in office for so long.
They have all told me -and you today via me on this blog- that they have had "ENOUGH!"
Enough is enough - "Julian needs to go!"

Below are some self-evident facts and well-chosen thoughts of mine about Bill Julian's latest ethics and legal scandal that has ensnared the city.

Longtime residents and businesses in this area have long known that Julian is no stranger to either foolish words or boneheaded actions, which, individually and collectively, have made helped make this ocean-side city a longtime running joke among well-informed and politically-active South Florida residents and members of the local news media.

Bill Julian is no stranger to unethical actions that have cast large doubts on his core competency, ability to process basic information, or use and demonstrate critical judgment.

In short, his basic fitness for office.
The least we should be able to expect from a public official.

The local press corps has told me as much, which explains why so often stories of more than some public interest that happen here that would in ordinary times be covered on local Miami TV newscasts if they happened in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay or Pembroke Pines, but are ignored because they occur here. 

For their part, the reporters take the point of view that things happen in Hallandale Beach -and are not covered adequately- because "that's just Hallandale Beach being Hallandale Beach."

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that sentiment or one similar to it said to me in person or via email or phone call, I'd have quite a tidy sum to invest.

Today I'm going to educate you newcomers to the blog of a few stark reminders of Julian's previous unethical behavior, with photos, and tell you that you should know that Julian has made MANY pledges in the past to change his ways if voters forgave him for his mistakes and actions and voted for him again. 

But Bill Julian's pledges to "change" are never fulfilled.

For both longtime readers and newcomers to the blog -and any members of the South Florida news media or blogosphere who swung by to see what my own take on this matter is- I need to remind you that the reason you don't have to worry your conscience about giving Bill Julian the benefit of the doubt is because Julian, through his very own words and actions, has more than demonstrated over-and-over again in the past that he does not deserve that benefit of the doubt.

Not at all.

For you newcomers to the blog, the best example of this I could cite, from many dozens of which one could choose from, is that Bill Julian is someone who had the unmitigated gall and temerity to show absolutely no qualms -for YEARS- about continually parking his familiar car -with his official Hallandale Beach commissioner badge on the dashboard for all to see- in the ONE and ONLY 
Handicapped Parking space located at the previous incarnation of the city's North Beach park, near the iconic Hallandale Beach Water Tower.

I have written about this issue many timnes in the past including a post right before both the 2010 and 2012 elections, the latter of which saw Julian placed back on the City Commission after being ousted in 2010, when he finished third in a three-way battle.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Stone-cold fact: Bill Julian, serial scofflaw, for years has parked in handicapped/access parking spaces so he can hang out at a beach bar for hours

Above, the "Disabled Persons Parking ID Permit" that my father has to use in order to use the designated reserved space. 
Unlike Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Bill Julian, my father obeys the law.

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/stone-cold-fact-bill-julian-serial.html

Saturday, OCTOBER 27, 2012
Why would you even consider voting for such a despicable person as Bill Julian for the Hallandale Beach City Commission? Besides Julian's creepy habit while an elected official of illegally parking in Handicapped Parking spaces for YEARS, when you add his truly terrible judgment and penchant for saying and doing the wrong thing, why would you even consider giving him a voice in deciding this city's future?; @SandersHB
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-would-you-even-consider-voting-for.html

Just so that doesn't get past you, Julian has engaged in this sort of behavior for YEARS and everyone at HB City Hall has looked the other way, including the last two Hallandale Beach Police Dept. Chiefs and his officers, as well as all the many city employees who saw it and similar egregious behavior elsewhere in the city on an almost everyday basis, just as I did.

You see, Julian was, if nothing else, remarkably consistent about parking his car in a Handicapped or Handicapped Access parking spot, despite NOT being handicapped himself, and not either dropping off or picking up anyone who was handicapped or eligible to use that spot themself.

Among the many people who were witnesses to this creepy behavior were the teenage and Twenty-something Jeff Ellis lifeguards who used to work for the city on the public beach until they were eventually replaced a few years ago by city employees.

I know this for a fact because I personally talked to most of them about it at the time, and to say that it made them angry that someone in a position of power like Julian was able to illegally abuse his office and get away with illegal behavior of the sort that would result in anyone else getting fined,

is an understatement.

They all thought Julian should not just be fined but arrested and publicly shamed for being an egregious chronic offender!!!

But Bill Julian kept doing it because nobody in a position to would stop him or talk about it.

And do you know who else also ignored Julian's abuse of office and and general sense of entitlement? 

The local South Florida news media, esp. reporters and editors at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, starting with their then HB-beat reporter Thomas Monnay.

So, as you read the articles below and watch the tell-tale video, keep this in mind.

Our reality in 2016 is that Bill Julian is NOT changing who he is and how he acts while in office. 

Period.

Julian's past promises to the people and business community of Hallandale Beach, made while begging for a second chance after he was kicked out of office, were, based on a thorough examination of all the evidence, clearly NOT kept, and anything he says now is merely personal posturing and political rationalization.

The people of this poorly-run community deserve BETTER and are entitled to more morally and intellectually capable representation than never-fully-prepared, always-caught-by-surprise and consistently unethical and shady Bill Julian.

A LOT better!

I've got more comments just below the four news articles that follow!

Dave

Twitter: @hbbtruth, https://twitter.com/hbbtruth

https://twitter.com/hbbtruth/with_replies

http://www.hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/HallandaleBeachBlog

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WPLG-TV, LOCAL10

Mayor orders police chief to remove rival commissioners from meeting

Blowup comes after vice mayor admits to accepting favors from developer

By Bob Norman - Investigative Reporter

Posted: 6:24 PM, August 26, 2016Updated: 12:11 PM, August 27, 2016

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hallandale Beach Commissioner Keith London said the public deserved to hear about what is now a criminal investigation into his city's vice mayor, Bill Julian, after Julian admitted to Local 10 that he agreed to accept secret favors from a developer prior to a vote on a $450 million development in his city.

But when London began reading a prepared statement about it at a city budget meeting Thursday, Mayor Joy Cooper, a political ally of Julian, shut down the meeting.

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.local10.com/news/mayor-orders-police-chief-to-remove-rival-commissioners-from-meeting

---------

“Journalists are supposed to report the news, not suppress it,” Lazarow said. “The Sun Sentinel needs to stop protecting the mayor and her allies and do their job.”

POLITICO Florida

Florida newspaper kills story of local official allegedly seeking favors from developer
By Marc Caputo
08/26/16 05:33 AM EDT

The South Florida Sun Sentinel killed a news story on its website about Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Bill Julian admitting on tape that he sought developer favors in return for his vote — a move by the newspaper’s leadership that appears to be part of a pattern of censoring controversial stories, according to multiple sources inside and outside the Fort Lauderdale newsroom.

The story concerning Julian’s alleged bribe-taking was first reported by WPLG-10, where investigative reporter Bob Norman obtained a voice message that the commissioner mistakenly left after he failed to properly hang up a phone. Julian discussed voting favorably for the $450 million Diplomat Golf & Tennis Club and linked it to alleged pledges from the developer’s attorneys who allegedly promised campaign contributions and campaign volunteers as well as a new van for his favorite city charity.

Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/08/fla-newspaper-kills-story-of-local-vice-mayor-allegedly-seeking-favors-from-developer-104992

The ad below appeared on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel article below on Saturday afternoon:

http://www.billjulian.com/?utm_source=Banner&utm_medium=Google&utm_content=Initial&utm_campaign=IPAds

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Hallandale Commissioner Bill Julian under investigation after Diplomat vote

By Susannah Bryan, Reporter Sun Sentinel
August 26, 2016 6:36 PM 

The Broward State Attorney's Office is investigating longtime city commissioner Bill Julian after an audiotape surfaced that implied he may have been offered favors from a developer in exchange for a "yes" vote on a development project at the Diplomat golf course.

On the recording, Julian appears to tell someone that the developer's attorney, Debbie Orshefsky, promised to get him 300 campaign workers to help him keep his seat in the Nov. 8 election. The recording, obtained by Ch. 10 reporter Bob Norman, was aired on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The recording also captured Julian, 64, saying the developer had made a secret offer to get a van for the Hallandale Food Pantry, one of his pet charities.

Read the rest of the article at
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-bill-julian-fallout-diplomat-20160826-story.html

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Political turmoil continues to rock Hallandale Beach
Longtime Commissioner Bill Julian is under investigation after an audiotape surfaced that implied he may have been offered favors from a developer in exchange for a "yes" vote on a project.
Susannah Bryan, Reporter Sun Sentinel
August 30, 2016 7:57 AM

Political turmoil continues to rock the city following allegations that a veteran commissioner may have been offered gifts by a developer seeking approval for a controversial project.

City Commissioner Bill Julian, who is under investigation by the Broward State Attorney's Office, is not talking but others are taking action.

Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-bill-julian-fallout-investigation-20160829-story.html

By the way, the August 26th Susannah Bryan Sun-Sentinel article above included the following curious passage that I believe begs for much more context so that you will understand just how deeply ingrained the sense of political cronyism and favoritism is in this area of South Florida, especially with respect to proposed real estate developments and the large number of dollars that could, with the right vote, inevitably flows to members' election campaign accounts from developers, their architects, contractors and attorneys:

Joe Gibbons, a former city commissioner and state representative, was hired to handle community outreach for the Diplomat developers. He said he had no discussions with Julian before, during or after the vote."Personally I don't think anyone did anything wrong," he said. "Bill's a good guy. I think he means well."

In 2013 and 2014, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and its Hallandale Beach beat reporter, along with the rest of the South Florida press corps, NEVER reported on a fact that was practically common knowledge among many well-informed people in this community who pay careful attention to what happens in Broward County.

That fact was that former Hallandale Beach City Commissioner and state Representative Joe Gibbons, who, while NOT an attorney himself, worked at the time for one of the most prominent and powerful lobbying and law firms in the state of Florida, was hired by the Board of Directors of a very large and powerful Hallandale Beach condominium complex on the beach, Parker Plaza, to represent them.

His task was to lobby on behalf of Parker Plaza, whose two buildings are 23 stories and 25 stories respectively, to keep a proposed 38-story condominium project proposed for next door at a site formerly known as Regency Spa, 2000 S. Ocean Drive, be defeated, or, alternatively, be kept as small in scale as possible, and as far away as possible from the client, since owners at Parker Plaza were aghast at the idea that they were going to lose the views that they thought they had "paid for," because the proposed tower would be VERY CLOSE to them, indeed. Too close!

(So, were you wondering who the attorney was that represented that particular developer over on the beach? 

Why it was none other than Debbie Orshefsky, the very same attorney who represented the Diplomat Hotel owners in both their first as well their most recent battle to build a series of large condominium towers in northeast Hallandale Beach in a largely residential and single-family area where the majority of the tallest buildings nearby are no more than 7-8 stories. 

As it happens, Orshefsky also represents The Chateau Group, the developer who is seeking to build a project called Chateau Square that I believe is completely incompatible to this community, at the busiest intersection in the city, the SE corner of US-1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd.

Controversial #ChateauSquare project in #HallandaleBeach; #Hollywood Police are adding to thr negative rep in area: https://t.co/T9YmSGmzHF

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) August 19, 2016

See also: APRIL 15, 2014 Political futures of Joe Gibbons and Alexander Lewy are part of the subplot of Wednesday night's crucial vote re the future Quality of Life of Hallandale Beach as City Comm. considers approval of GPH Regency, LLC's incompatible condo project at 2000 S. Ocean Drive
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/political-futures-of-joe-gibbons-and.html

Chateau Square would be several floors of retail and topped by not one but TWO Forty-story condo towers, in an area of Hallandale Beach where the current zoning height limit is 20 stories. Yes, they want to double that! 

That development project comes before the Hallandale Beach City Commision next Wednesday, September 7th at HB City Hall for the first of two readings. 

Please make plans NOW to attend that meeting and participate and see what sorts of curious doings happens when the public demands that they and their family's Quality of Life be considered fairly when the traffic numbers offered up by the developer are so clearly going to make one of the worst aspects of life in this area demonstrably worse, with very poor efforts thus far proposed as remediation. You thought you lived in gridlock now? Just wait!)

According to the deal he signed, Gibbons stood to collect up to $200,000 if successful.

But what did Gibbons, who excuses Julian's egregious unethical behavior, fail to do at the time?

That's correct.

This former Hallandale Beach City Commissioner and state Representative in Tallahassee  FAILED to follow city law and register at City Hall as a lobbyist so that the public would know who all the players were, what hats they were wearing and who they were representing.

LOTS of readers @ my blog are searching 4 "Joe Gibbons" & "Parker Plaza" And I know why: http://t.co/5ljdt5CI7l, http://t.co/gnC3LI4ijL

— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) April 14, 2014

Since the developer of that project had ZERO incentive to do anything that would help the condo or throw money at the condo prior to its approval to gain their acquiescence, the only people in the city who could possibly decide the matter, were, in fact, the five members of the Hallandale Beach City Commission. 

But both before, during and after that read estate development was approved, Joe Gibbons NEVER registered as a lobbyist at Hallandale Beach City Hall -as required.

And he did contact members of the Hallandale Beach City Commission to see that his client had their point-of-view known.

So, where are the records of this? Exactly.

Want to experience a trip into the surreal world of the City of Hallandale Beach City Hall and its continual failure to provide the degree of accountability they own the public, under the Florida's Sunshine Laws?

Just try asking the city to provide THOSE records of phone calls and visits to -and-from Joe Gibbons during the time period he was working for that condominium.

I know what happened because I often found out about his phone calls to people at HB City Hall, from someone who lived at the condominium who heard Gibbons bragging about what he was doing for them. 

Typically, Joe Gibbons over-promised and underdelivered! #fail

For those of you who want to be better informed, here are a few links to some of my previous Julian posts that get into much detail about his many ethical, moral and public policy failings:

In Hallandale Beach, it's déjà vu all over again with Bill Julian's very sketchy ethics in plain view for all to see; In every way that is important, Julian is unfit to be elected and make decisions about this community's future, http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/in-hallandale-beach-its-deja-vu-all.html

No longer a secret in Hallandale Beach: More details on Bill Julian's longstanding anti-democratic tendencies while HB City Commissioner - he wanted to require residency of 3 years in order to run for local office in HB!; The worst enemy of Bill Julian is a smart voter who pays attention and who possesses a good memory; @MayorCooper, @SandersHB, @AlexLewy

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/no-longer-secret-in-hallandale-beach.html

Classic Bill Julian being Bill Julian -Why the rush at Hallandale Beach City Hall in 2009 to buy the Sanders property, with no actual plan in place for its use? Julian -"for the good of many, many people in Hallandale." Just NOT for the good of HB's own taxpayers!

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/classic-bill-julian-being-bill-julian.html

Quick thoughts regarding real estate attorney Alan Koslow's current legal problems -facing federal money-laundering conspiracy charges; paid $8,500 to launder $220,000 in FBI sting?

Broward lawyer Alan Koslow facing federal money-laundering conspiracy charge https://t.co/T7kE2OxQGj

— Sun Sentinel Courts (@SSCourts) May 26, 2016

They finally indicted Fort Lauderdale wheeler-dealer Alan Koslow, whom I profiled in 1999:https://t.co/szgJxs0d6Yhttps://t.co/NtjnVA9Rax

— Harris Meyer (@MHHmeyer) May 26, 2016

#biglaw @BeckerPoliakoff attorney-lobbyist Alan Koslow has been swept up in an FBI #moneylaundering stinghttps://t.co/9AoOFvqELe

— DailyBusinessReview (@dbreview) May 26, 2016

Lawyer Alan Koslow charged with money launderinghttps://t.co/tOk9ZNd8tQ pic.twitter.com/gtQjw1gN69

— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) May 26, 2016

UPDATED Broward lawyer and lobbyist Alan Koslow was paid $8,500 to launder $220,000 in FBI sting, feds say https://t.co/u0JaiPTp6E

— Sun Sentinel Courts (@SSCourts) May 26, 2016

Broward lawyer Alan Koslow charged with money laundering: Another only-in-South-Florida-story.  And Paula McM... https://t.co/YLooDNr8sd

— David Oscar Markus (@domarkus) May 27, 2016

Koslow is cooperating with Feds and insiders are quaking with fear! https://t.co/IaaFqFGRYN

— Buddy Nevins (@browardbeat) May 28, 2016

Though Becker & Poliakoff attorney Alan Koslow is clearly very good at his job, as we in Hallandale Beach and environs have often learned the hard way, as I've often chronicled to my chagrin the past nine years on this blog, I believe Koslow is, perhaps single-handedly, MORE 

responsible than any other single party I can think of -over the past dozen years- for defending and advancing the often parochial and short-term interests of the myriad developers who've proposed the largest number of buildings in Hallandale Beach that were either incompatible to the existing neighborhood, inappropriate under current HB zoning rules or just plain UGLY to look at.

It's actually easier to think of which projects he hasn't been involved with in some capacity or another.

And unfortunately for Hallandale Beach's long-term health and future Quality of Life, Mayor Joy Cooper and Commissioners Bill Julian and Anthony A. Sanders have voted for EVERY one of them, too, even when the majority of HB's citizens were clearly opposed or wanted some reasonable modifications.

Over the years, people I meet and talk to at various public meetings around Broward county have often been confused about which real estate/development attorney was responsible for which specific project or proposal in Hallandale Beach or Hollywood, since there have been so many.

So, to those of you who've already emailed me about this, I don't believe Koslow was involved with the latest round of Diplomat development melodrama, rather it was Debbie Orshefsky. 

Orshefsky left Greenberg & Traurig for Holland & Knight subsequent to the first go-round of Diplomat Golf Course melodrama -i.e. Diplomat LAC- a few years ago that the citizens of HB won, thanks in large part to my good friend and fellow Broward civic activist Csaba Kulin's very dedicated work ethic and tireless efforts to engage and educate the community, using reason, facts and common sense, not half-truths. 

ICYMI on Thursday: My two cents!

Some informed perspective on the City of Miami from Al Crespo of The Crespogram, 

and what's behind his ethics complaint against Comm. Ken Russell

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/some-informed-perspective-on-city-of.html

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Dave 

Twitter: @hbbtruth, https://twitter.com/hbbtruth

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