Questions are being raised -again!- about South Florida reporters' curious notions of journalism, esp. continuing to leave out important context & questions about ethical conflict-of-interest -and burying the lede- re the City of Hollywood, Broward County PBA, Traci Callari & Eleanor Sobel. "Hollywood suing pension boards over perk known as '13th check"

I'll admit it: I really hate lazy, incurious reporting that's neither accurate or timely, and which doesn't ask the questions that NEED to be asked to give proper context, yet, wants to take a bow for their effort anyhow.
And South Florida in the year 2015 is positively swimming in this sort of bad journalism.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Hollywood suing pension boards over perk known as '13th check'
Susannah Bryan, Staff writer
July 12, 2015

City Hall is taking on all three employee pension boards, saying their leadership broke state law by sending lucrative "13th checks" to retired firefighters, cops and other employees periodically over the past nine years.

The payouts have ranged from $200 to more than $26,000. The cost of the payouts next fiscal year comes to $9 million for all three pension boards, city officials say.

Hollywood commissioners agreed Wednesday to file a lawsuit against the pension boards for sending the checks to retired workers despite the pension plans being severely underfunded.

Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/hollywood/fl-pensions-hollywood-13th-check-20150710-story.html

Quick, can any of you tell me what important context is NOT mentioned at all in the above Sun-Sentinel article about the City of Hollywood's financial priorities, and where questions about any
prospective voting conflicts faced by City of Hollywood Comm. Traci Callari are, in my opinion, the buried lede?

For those of you who have either known me personally for a while, or perhaps have Followed me for any amount of time via the blog or Twitter, the answer is rather obvious.
Callari's own husband, James, i.e. Jamie, a City of Hollywood detective.
He's mentioned unfavorably in this 2005 NewTimes piece about the way the Broward PBA has for years attempted to make the HPD its puppet,
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/hollywoods-finest-6314673
and mentioned in this one from 2013 about his curious notions of.. well, let's just say it's NOT good.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-02/news/fl-dea-hollywood-clash-20130202_1_dea-agent-cones-hollywood-police-officer

Given what seems self-evident, Comm. Callari's husband would likely be slated to receive a generous check in the future if the city continued to do business in an obviously prejudicial way to current and future taxpayers and its own financial future. 
What's the reason that it isn't mentioned at all so that any reader reading this story might know this salient fact from the outset and be free to draw their own conclusions about Comm. Callari's sense of priorities, whatever they are, such as they are?


Correct. 
Once again it's asleep-at-the-wheel Sun-Sentinel beat reporter Susannah Bryan, the same reporter I've written about so often in this space because of my and many other SE Broward residents dissatisfaction with her.
Residents, civic activists and business people in Hollywood AND Hallandale Beach who want to know all the pertinent facts. 

For instance, last September 26th:
Some informed commentary, context and important facts that you didn't read about in Susannah Bryan's recent Sun-Sentinel article about Hollywood City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark and some of her critics re the 'million-dollar mistake.' Trust me, you'll thank me later!
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/some-informed-commentary-context-and.html

Bryan consistently fails  to summon up enough strength or energy to actually ask reasonably-hard, pointed or even follow-up questions of public officials and city bureaucrats, especially in Hallandale Beach after they say and do things that logic can not explain by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, the very same beat reporter that, years after-the-fact, has NEVER written at all -much less, knowledgeably- about the Broward PBA (intentionally?) breaking Hollywood's voter-approved city charter law about campaign election reporting requirements and contribution limits in Hollywood city elections.
Those new rules came about after Hollywood's appointed Charter Review Comm. responded to the public by getting it included on the ballot.

(I know because I sat in on some those Hollywood Charter Review meetings where increasing the expected levels of ethics and fair-dealing at Hollywood City Hall, and getting increased 
accountability and oversight for the public were stressed. 
As opposed to what actually transpired at Hallandale Beach's Charter Review meetings.)

That charter change took place BEFORE the Broward PBA's zealous efforts of November 2012 to oust several incumbentsand get at least one of their troika of candidates elected to prevent the public from keeping close watch over the purse.

The Broward PBA succeeded in getting Traci Callari on the Commission as a reliable pro-PBA and anti-taxpayer vote after ousting incumbent Heidi O'Sheehan, AFTER the Broward PBA forces were thoroughly trounced at the ballot box earlier by Hollywood voters across the city in a
referendum revolving around issues involving the city's union contracts/pensions and the city's budget hole, a vote that the Broward PBA and its president Jeff Marano has never either accepted or forgotten.

And let's not forget that it was the Broward PBA that got Florida state Senator Eleanor Sobel to have the City of Hollywood investigated by the Florida Joint Legislative Auditing Comm. in Tallahassee, since the Broward PBA endorsed Sobel and agressively worked the polls for her. 
Yes, the same Tallahassee group composed of state Senators and state representatives that Sobel DIDN'T want to see investigate the City of Hallandale Beach and her longtime friend, Mayor Joy Cooper, for their shockingly lax management, year-after-year, of the HB CRA, which saw $80 Million dollars wasted, with near-zero oversight.
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/sandbagged-independent-audit-of.html

Foe those of you who forgot or never knew about Eleanor Sobel's stealthy work to protect her friends and special interest group pals from any legitimate scrutiny and oversight, see my blog posts from:

October 17, 2013
Instead of looking-out for you and your Hallandale Beach neighbors, HB's craven state legislators (Sobel, Gibbons, Jones & Braynon) are doing Mayor Joy Cooper's dirty work in Tallahassee, making excuses for her ten years of oversight/policy failures with the HB CRA; #JLAC
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/instead-of-looking-out-for-you-and-your.html

November 2, 2013 
Latest news re Hallandale Beach CRA: Where are Joe Gibbons, Shevrin Jones and Barbara Sharief hiding? They're NOT adequately representing HB citizens who want to find out where the $80 Million in CRA funds has really gone; Response of JLAC re my inquiry re legislator's letters re prospective audit of Hallandale Beach CRA by JLAC
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/latest-news-re-hallandale-beach-cra.html

November 29, 2013 
Sandbagged! Independent audit of Hallandale Beach CRA was in offing by Florida JLAC, but Hallandale Beach's beleaguered citizens/taxpayers get stabbed in the back by Eleanor Sobel, Oscar Braynon II, Joe Gibbons, Shevrin Jones and Barbara Sharief. Why? To help HB mayor Joy Cooper preserve her facade that everything here is okay; @mayorcooper
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/sandbagged-independent-audit-of.html

Eventiually, the City of Hollywood sued the Broward PBA soon thereafter for breaking the city's campaign finance rules. 
So where exactly have you heard about THAT in South Florida?

For the record, as of today, the South Florida media parties who've never once mentioned these salient facts about Comm. Traci Callari includes the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Miami Herald, News4/WFOR-TV, NBC6/WTVJ-TV, WSNV-TV and Local10/WPLG-TV. 
Plus, rather predictably, the Hollywood Gazette and the South Florida Sun-Times. 
Which means everyone who OUGHT to be investigating and explaining the facts in a useful context.
#Surprise #NotSurprised

Which, of course, is why blogs like mine exist.
Unless something unexpected happens, this specific issue will be covered in more depth soon on my blog, with useful fact-filled links that connect-the-dots, along with a shout-out to former Hollywood civic activist Sara Case, co-editor of the greatly-missed Hollywood Balance Sheet blog. 

Sara, now living up near Washington, D.C., is the only person besides myself to ever mention how very curious it is that such important facts and context about this matter of great financial importance to Hollywood residents and Small Business owners, never seemed to see the light of day in-print or on-air, despite how much people say they want to know MORE about what's really going on at South Florida city halls in general, and theirs in particular.
That speaks volumes about the current sorry state of journalism and the people who populate the news media in South Florida.

Dave
Twitter: @hbbtruth, https://twitter.com/hbbtruth
https://twitter.com/hbbtruth/with_replies
http://www.hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/HallandaleBeachBlog

Important 'Meet the Candidates' forum tonight in Downtown Hollywood at the Hollywood Center for the Performing Arts; I'll be there, pen, pad and camera at the ready, to observe whatever happens

Hollywood City Hall, August 5, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.

Given the paucity of scheduled candidate debates and forums here in Hallandale Beach -which is the way that that the powers-that-be in Hallandale Beach City Hall like it- those of you like me who like to see a good give-and-take might want to check-out tonight's second of two 'Meet the Candidates' forum hosted by the Hollywood Coalition of Civic and Business Associations, the first having been Tuesday night in western Hollywood.

Tonight at the Hollywood Center for the Performing Arts, 1650 Harrison -i.e. just south of the backside of the Publix at Young Circle- will be an event for Hollywood candidates for Mayor and the Commission seats for Districts 1, 2 & 3, which is the beach west to I-95 just north of us, and from I-95 north of Hollywood Blvd., west to N. 56th Street. 

It's slated to run from 6-9 p.m.

View Larger Map

District Map at: http://www.hollywoodfl.org/index.aspx?nid=66

List of Candidates: http://www.hollywoodfl.org/index.aspx?nid=150

Candidates Treasurer’s Reports: http://www.hollywoodfl.org/index.aspx?NID=151

If what I'm hearing is true, there are a lot of people who'll need to drastically step-up their "game."

* Reminder: Kickoff for Dolphins at Cowboys exhibition football game is 8:30 p.m., airing on Channel 33 instead of Channel 4 due to Republican National Convention

coverage at 10 p.m., which will consist of Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan's speech, after remarks by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. 

Part 1 of 2: Ann Murray -she's a phony, a bigot and a no-show. Consistently. That's what voters have seen of her tenure on Broward School Board so far -she needs to go!; update on projects at Hallandale High School

Ann Murray -a failure in every way that counts for southeast Broward taxpayers & parents 

Because of how poorly I think the South Florida news media has been covering the Broward County Schools and the dysfunction junction of politics, policy and taxpayers dollars that exists at the Broward School Board, and the important matters that continue to be ignored by that snoozing press corps, my next two blog posts here will consist of emails that I have either written, received or commented on since last Friday that concern Broward School Board member Ann Murray, its current Chair, who is supposed to be southeast Broward's representative.


In my opinion, and as the available public facts have shown for quite some time, Ann Murray isn't just a phony -who was first elected running as a reformer but who has shown she's anything but one- she's also a genuine bigot, not to mention, a constant no-show at public events in the community where concerned parents want honest answers and accountability from their elected officials, but she's missing-in-action, MIA. 


Copies of this were sent to roughly 150-175 concerned Broward school activists, policy makers, residents of Hollywood and Hallandale Beach and others who closely follow politics, government, civic affairs and education policy in Broward County, the fourth-largest county in the U.S.'s fourth-largest state.


For those of you who don't know, Hallandale High School also draws its student population from next-door Hollywood, not just kids from Hallandale Beach.


The only thing that I've changed or removed from below are personal phone numbers and email addresses.
-----

January 27, 2012

I've chosen to copy & paste my friend Catherine's email of this afternoon here so you could see the last time I mentioned this sore subject, seven weeks ago, and the links I mentioned, though there are several others.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Catherine Kim Owens 

Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Subject: Hallandale High School's SAF meeting on Monday, 1/30/12, at 7pm, will give us an update on the projects at Hallandale High School.

Sorry for the delay in this email.  I've been out w pneumonia while still negotiating several real estate contracts.... I had this email drafted a couple of weeks ago, but didn't get to edit & send out earlier, as I had planned. 

The Diversity Committee had requested a re-visit/tour after upcoming Monday's SAF meeting when I chaired the Site Visitation Committee, but as you might have heard, School Board member Ann Murray unceremoniously removed me, with no advance notice nor cause, from the Diversity Committee.  And, even though she has only filled 2 of 3 appointments for the Diversity Committee, she has not responded to my email nor to other numerous emails of support from leaders of this community, who were kind enough to send emails of support for my advocacy for equitable quality education. 

As a parent of a high schooler in one year, and a resident of Hallandale for 13 years, it greatly concerns me, along with hundreds of other parents of this area, that this High School is still only receiving a C grade, when the Elementary School has been an A school for years, and Gulfstream Middle now has a fantastic STEM lab and a B grade.  Our HHS Task Force brought public & media attention to Hallandale High School in order to achieve some gains, and we were making progress.  It is up to all of us to attend this meeting and voice our concerns and keep the pressure on, despite Ms. Murray's attempt to quiet James Sparks' and my active voice for this and other schools of South District. 

The parents of my son's graduating class of 104 students will all have to make a tough choice for the selection of a high school next year.  Many of his friends are thinking of going to Cooper City (out of this area) in order to ensure that they receive the kind of education they deserve.  And, thus, the perpetuation of under enrollment of inner city and underfunded schools and over-population of suburban, well-funded schools continue... 

If you care about the values of your homes, and you care about the quality of residents that come to live here, please get the word out to your friends, associates, neighbors, church fellows, and let's all attend this meeting.  Show Ann Murray she can't cut down the voice of our community nor our dedication to our kids

 Catherine Kim Owens 

Appointments to:

Hallandale Beach Education Advisory Committee

  Chair of Hallandale High School Task Force

  Graduation Task Force

2nd Vice Chair of Commission on Women's Status-Broward County

---- My earlier forwarded message, which I've previously posted here on the blog------

Date: Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:41 PM

Subject: *FYI: Lesson learned! More re Payback time at the Broward School Board? Diversity activists accuse Chair Ann Murray

Monday December 5th, 2011

Payback time at the Broward School Board? Diversity activists accuse Chair Ann Murray

http://www.browardbulldog.org/2011/12/payback-time-at-the-broward-school-board-diversity-activists-accuse-chair-ann-murray/

I've known about this situation for a bit now, and had been planning on posting something about this situation in the coming days, but overall, this article is pretty complete.

Still, I'd like to raise a point or two that isn't mentioned but which bears mentioning now.

Whatever happened to that public meeting that our SE Broward School Board rep Ann Murray promised the Hallandale Beach and Hollywood community months and months ago, when she was surprised to find both lots of concerned parents AND some unexpected people from Channel 4 present at a February meeting she was at, armed with a TV camera and asking serious questions that she had no interest in answering?

(The meeting held just days after that debacle of a public meeting that she and Jennifer Gottlieb held up on Hollywood Beach re the Beachside Montessori School that was specifically mentioned by the grand jury.  The one that was made up in large part by Montessori Soccer Mom apologists for her and Gottlieb and the school? 

The parents with the attitude that as long as they got their's, they didn't want to know the embarrassing or sordid details about how the process was handled.

Thankfully, due to the efforts of Hollywood city commissioner Heidi O'Sheehan, the federal govt. took an interest in that curious case of student selection, privilege and lack of diversity.)

In a word: NOTHING.

But even now, despite everything that has happened and come out publicly, Murray's remaining army of apologists -esp. in Hollywood- can't wrap their heads around the idea that she completely conned them when they supported her with their votes and campaign contributions.

She sold them an illusory bill of goods they wanted to believe -the reformer who wanted increased accountability.

Yet over-and-over, Murray has done precious little to reform the system and has done almost everything in her power to burrow-in and make herself part of the status quo that has made the Broward Schools such a public laughingstock and deserved object of ridicule.

Something that a PR representative CAN'T spin when concerned residents and voters know the true facts, despite whatever Supt. Runcie may believe, based upon his time in Chicago.

And lest you forget, when a public meeting was finally held in Hallandale Beach in June about the abysmal longstanding conditions at Hallandale High School, a meeting that was, quite literally, YEARS in the making, and largely driven by Catherine's own hard work and resilience, who were the prominent no-shows from the Broward School Board?

Correct, our local representative, Ann Murray, and Hollywood resident and At-Large member Jennifer Gottlieb.

What a slap in the face to the SE Broward community!

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/broward-county-schools-dysfunction.html

(The Channel 10 video link there is dead.)

While Gottlieb and Murray could both find time in their schedules for a meeting in next-door Hollywood, where they knew they'd have 'home-field advantage' and plenty of "ringers" in the room who would verbally attack and challenge anyone who asked hard questions about Montessori and their own actions, the prospect of actually facing angry constituents who want hard answers and the truth caused Murray and Gottlieb to make like outlaws and hide-out.

And now, the final slap in the face, we see how Catherine's countless hours of faithless hard work and persistence in the face of bureaucratic resistance and obfuscation has been rewarded by that mockery of a public servant, Ann Murray. 

And you wonder why the public in Broward County doesn't want to have anything to do with the people in charge of Broward Schools?

Trust me, lesson learned!

My previous blog posts mentioning Ann Murray -more than thirty!- can be found here:

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/#uds-search-results 

Doug Hewett named new Hollywood City Manager; Hardly Breaking News: New year of 2012 already showing that the old bad habits of Miami's local TV news operations won't die -apathy!

Looking west at Hollywood City Hall following the Hollywood City Commission meeting that led to the selection of Doug Hewett as the new City Manager. 

January 6, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

Continuing their policy of the new economic realism, wherein stories about celebrities, diets and/or plastic surgery for women, toys for affluent people and their over-indulged kids, and crime stories involving women in danger or peril -especially mothers!- are deemed more important than what happens in local government that actually affects everyone -in part because they have lots of South Florida advertisers who want the not-so-educated female demographic for whom that is 'must-see TV'- Miami's local TV news operations threw a collective wet blanket on the big news coming out of Hollywood City Hall late last Friday afternoon.

Hollywood, Florida's 12th-largest city, selected 40-year old Fayetteville, N.C. Assistant City Manager Doug Hewett to be their new City Manager on a 5-2 vote, following hours of presentations by the six final candidates on what their strategy/ideas might be in their first few weeks in the position if they were selected to get the city moving forward.

The hiring of a young, personable, savvy and very well-regarded public administrator, who over a few shorts days seemed to pick-up on the small nuances of what makes Hollywood and its neighborhoods and its civic activist community unique and very hands-on, after touring the city and talking with many of the city's most well-known involved residents and civic activists, is a move that represents the final piece of a puzzle that many Hollywood taxpayers and observers firmly hope will stabilize what had become a very rocky ship of state of late in 2011 after the dismissal of former City Manager Cameron Benson, with bitter cleavages emerging all over the city between political/neighborhood activists and Fire/Police union members and their enthusiastic/exasperating supporters.

As I've stated in this space previously, many of the latter are still visibly outraged over the results of the September public referendum that forced much-tougher financial terms on their members -roughly a 12% pay cut to prevent actual dismissals of Fire/ Rescue and Police- and as of this writing, there are at least two city commission candidates backed by the unions who've already filed their paperwork to put that lingering animus to work for them as they challenge incumbent commissioners  Heidi O'Sheehan from District 3 and Richard Blattner of District 4.

Owing to election changes necessitated by the successful passage of a charter issue by Hollywood voters, rather than having staggered elections this year, ALL six city commissioners and Mayor Peter Bober are up for re-election this November, with only Comm. Fran Russo publicly announcing that she will be not be seeking re-election in District 5, which consists of most of Hollywood west of the Florida Turnpike.

http://www.hollywoodfl.org/city_commission/hlwd_com.htm

http://www.hollywoodfl.org/EthicsCommittee/DisclosureSearchPage.aspx

http://www.hollywoodfl.org/election/2012/CampaignTreasurersReport.htm

For a few observers in the Hollywood Commission chambers who were really paying attention to the larger public policy picture last Friday -like your humble blogger, for instance- the real news of the day lay more in who was completely missing from the Commission chambers rather than the selection of the certain someone who might soon be calling it home.

That is to say, noticeable by their collective absence.

Indeed, as Sherlock Holmes is forever reminding us, the absence of evidence is, in fact, evidence of a sort.

Showing that the old bad habits of last year that we have remarked upon so many times here on the blog -and in animated conversations and emails with so many of you readers- that have left so many tens of thousands of concerned South Florida residents quite literally appalled at what passes for news coverage at Miami's English and Spanish-speaking TV stations, were, in fact, NOT left behind in the dust-bin of history after all, even while more traditional subjects are shunted aside, Miami's CBS4, NBC6, WSVN-TV 7 & Local 10 News were all no-shows at Hollywood City Hall.

As were their Spanish-speaking colleagues at local TV news outlets at Channels 23, 41 and 51, despite the fact that there are lots of Spanish-speaking residents in Hollywood.

But yours truly videotaped the entire proceedings, as well as Thursday night's public get-together of the six final candidates at Hollywood's Arts & Culture Center on Harrison Street.

I plan on posting the comments that I videotaped last Thursday night by CM-designate Doug Hewett and his presentation of Friday afternoon on my blog and YouTube Channel within the next few days.

I'll need to do some editing first and break up his presentation into 3 or 4 segments, since his presentation was the longest, albeit, also the most interesting one to listen to.

Former McKinney, TX City Manager Frank Ragan received the second-most votes last Friday afternoon and was a very compelling candidate, with lots of tangible qualities and talents that surely would've helped Hollywood, based on his impressive resume and facility for talking about his accomplishments without any un-necessary boasting.

He particularly grabbed the full attention of Hollywood Commissioners Linda Sherwood and Richard Blattner, who voted for him on the first ballot.


Yes, I wish he were already the City Manager in Hallandale Beach, where Mark Antonio will be leaving in June.

Above and below, Frank Ragan addresses the Hollywood City Commission and makes his formal presentation. On the dais, left-to-right, Commissioners Patricia Asseff, Beam Furr, Heidi O'Sheehan, Mayor Peter Bober, Commissioners Richard Blattner, Fran Russo and Linda Sherwood. January 6, 2012 photos by South Beach Hoosier.

Personally, I wish that Ragan was already in a responsible upper-management position in either Broward County or up in Tallahassee so he could positively effectuate economic development, trade and investment policies, since the record is clear that he has the ability to see opportunities that other smart people in those positions DON'T.

I can't recall the last time I heard someone who worked for Broward or in Tallahassee say something about those subjects that really impressed me in quite the ways that Ragan, a one-time Hoosier, did in his presentation Friday, a fact that seemed to be shared by Comm. O'Sheehan. 

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?

http://balancesheetblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/financial-troubles-in-hollywood/#comments

-----

www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/mh-hollywood-wi-fi-20110828,0,2918225.story

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:

http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/mh-hollywood-wi-fi-20110828/10?sort=asc

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While you were away this summer...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/fl-hollywood-hart-suit-20110812,0,1272866.story

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:

http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-hollywood-hart-suit-20110812/10

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www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/fl-hollywood-pension-referendum-20110719,0,5672813.story

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:

http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/fl-hollywood-pension-referendum-20110719/10?sort=asc

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http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-07-18/news/fl-holocaust-museum-loan0718-20110718_1_holocaust-center-holocaust-museum-holocaust-education

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.

-----

Meanwhile, once upon a time, in 2005...

The Florida Masochist blog

Something fishy in Hollywood Florida?

July 10, 2005

http://thefloridamasochist.blogspot.com/2005/07/something-fishy-in-hollywood-florida.html

See also:

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/keyword/david-mach

Call For Change: Continuing financial & morale problems at City Hall lead Hollywood civic activist Sara Case to say "Something's Wrong at City Hall"

Hollywood City Hall, looking west from the half-circle in front of the Hollywood branch of the Broward County library. June 3, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier

A Call For Change: The continuing financial & morale problems at Hollywood City Hall have led Hollywood civic activist Sara Case to write at Hollywood Balance Sheet Online: "Something's Wrong at City Hall."

If you're late to these depressing and troubling stories involving our neighbor to the north, Hollywood, a careful perusal of the following should pretty well bring you up to speed on the particulars on the current financial and morale problems in Hollywood that have everyone I know there in a real funk.

I originally tried to put this together two weeks ago, but ran into continual computer problems with shifting font and sizes and colors, and after an hour of getting frustrated, decided to admit the computer licked me and live to fight another day, hence its tardy appearance now.

Earlier this morning Sara posted something new to the website that is chock full of information and even more dispiriting news, so I decided this post needed to get in front of you today.

Hollywood is a place that I've not only been going to for over 40 years, along with my family, and continue to spend lots of time in each week, but whose principal players at City Hall and environs are ones I'm very familiar with from attending all manner of meetings and functions up there.

I'll be sharing my own thoughts about some of these matters soon in this space, but for now, I thought I'd simply provide a bibliography for those who want to be up to speed.

Be sure to read my friend Sara Case's well-informed take on the problems at the bottom, because she has been paying close attention to the details in ways that the local news media does NOT.

Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/06/2205212/another-corruption-investigation.html

Another corruption investigation hits Hollywood

Anonymous letters accuse City Manager Cameron Benson of using friends to accept graft from company seeking garbage collection contract

By James H. Burnett III

Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober confirmed Friday afternoon that he has asked federal and state authorities to investigate allegations that City Manager Cameron Benson used city employees who were personal friends to accept gifts from a company seeking the city’s garbage collection contract.

The allegations wee made in two typed, unsigned letters City Commissioners received last week.

One letter claims that two years ago, when Hollywood privatized its garbage collection services, “...Benson spearheaded this transition, using several of his close, personal friends, to guide and direct WastePro representatives and lobbyist (sic) during the period when the City’s ‘Cone of Silence’ ordinance was in effect. During this period when City employees are prohibited from actively promoting or otherwise providing bid information to potential vendors,” Wade Sanders and Charles Lassiter, two Hollywood public works employees and purported friends of Benson’s, were wined and dined by WastePro.

The letter says Sanders was given a gift card and money order for home improvement services at one of the meals, and that he used them to buy items for Benson’s vacation home in Nova Scotia, Canada, then personally drove more than 2,000 miles to deliver the items to the house.

“It is common knowledge that Wade Sanders brought several items for Cameron Benson’s second home in Nova Scotia with the money order and gift card received from the WastePro group,’’ the letter stated. “In fact, many of these items were driven to Mr. Benson’s Nova Scotia home by Wade Sanders during one of his recent trips over the last year.’’

WastePro ultimately landed the city contract, and Sanders was promoted to a supervisory position in the city’s Public Works Department.

The letter also claimed that Benson ordered Hollywood Police to buy several generators using city money and had an officer deliver one of the generators to Benson’s parents’ Lauderhill home following Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Sources close to the investigation said Friday that Benson has acknowledged asking a police officer to deliver a generator to the home of his father, longtime community leader and current Lauderhill Commissioner Hayward Benson. But, the source said the city manager adamantly denies that city money was used to pay for the equipment.

Benson, through a city spokeswoman, declined to comment Friday, citing the ongoing investigation. And efforts to reach Sanders and Lassiter were unsuccessful.

A spokesman for WastePro denied the allegations in the letters and suggested the anonymous charges are being made by opponents of the company’s efforts to secure further garbage contracts with other Broward municipalities.

Bober said Friday that he had no choice except to seek outside help to investigate the claims against Benson. The day before, he asked the FBI for assistance.

He also sought help from the Broward State Attorney’s Office. Hollywood Police Chief Chadwick Wagner wrote Satz’s office as well, to inform Broward prosecutors that he was requesting investigative assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“I hope none of this is true, but given Hollywood’s history with prior scandals involving public office, and my promises of transparency when I campaigned for this office, I had to ask the question: Would the residents of Hollywood accept the city investigating itself in this matter or would it be more appropriate to have an impartial party do so,” Bober said.

While the letters’ anonymity bothers him, Bober said, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not credible.

“I have seen circumstances in which employees would like to complain about superiors but don’t because they fear that if they’re identified they could suffer repercussions,” said Bober, a labor attorney. “As unfortunate as the situation is, we have to take these claims seriously.”

Corruption claims are not new to Hollywood.

In 2000 former Police Chief Rick Stone filed a RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization) lawsuit against police union bosses, alleging they helped facilitate criminal behavior on the part of active cops.

In 2007, four Hollywood Police officers were busted for acting as guards and escorts for cash and jewels being shuttled through the city by FBI agents posing as mobsters. The bust was part of an FBI sting aimed at rooting out corrupt cops. That federal investigation was cut short, after then police chief James Scarberry exposed the investigation - a move federal authorities said may have tipped off other cops who might have gotten caught on the take. Scarberry resigned a short term later.

That same year Hollywood Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom was removed from office after a jury convicted him of misconduct for pushing other comissioners to award a multi-million sludge clean-up contract to a company with whom he’d secretly cut a side lobbying deal.

The letters to the Hollywood Commissioners, the first being received on May 3rd:

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2011/05/10/19/letter_new.source.prod_affiliate.56.pdf

and

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2011/05/10/19/Anonymous_ltr_2.source.prod_affiliate.56.pdf

CBS4/WFOR-TV video: More Details Released In Hollywood Corruption Probe

May 7, 2011 5:04 PM

Story at: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/05/07/more-details-released-in-hollywood-corruption-probe/

Hollywood City Hall, looking west from the half-circle in front of the Hollywood branch of the Broward County library. June 3, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier

Orlando Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-hollywood-spending-20110519,0,2446818.story

Behind flashy unveilings, Hollywood facing fiscal crisis

By Ihosvani Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel

9:28 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2011

HOLLYWOOD—

The city has been holding ceremonies lately to celebrate new and shiny things.

Last month there was a groundbreaking for a $7.9 million fire station on the beach. Last week, the signature water tower was unveiled after $680,000 in renovations.

And next month, 1990s musical acts Exposé and En Vogue will be in town for free concerts to mark the grand opening of a $5 million amphitheater in the nearly completed ArtsPark in Young Circle downtown.

For visitors, Hollywood's newest trophies create the aura of a city overcoming a down economy. But for residents who closely follow the city's budget, the new additions gild with rose paint a much more drab portrait of a city in dire financial straits.

"You look at all these new things, but we are not progressing at all," said activist Sara Case, who for years has edited an online watchdog newsletter about city finances. "The city is going backwards."

On Wednesday, city commissioners were forced to dip into the city's rainy-day bank account after learning that staffers are predicting an $8.5 million shortfall by the end of this fiscal year. Staffers said the city is bringing in less money than predicted, and spending more than expected.

Commissioners responded by pulling about $7.3 million from the reserve fund, a move that leaves only about $2 million for such emergencies as a hurricane.

Staffers are looking at slashing a total of about $2.1 million from nearly every city account. That includes cutting membership fees, uniform costs, overtime pay and even sums spent on pens and pencils. Commissioners also declared a "financial urgency," allowing the city to strike new deals with its unions.

On Thursday, Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober told the Sun Sentinel he wants the city's budget director, Cynthia Forrester, fired for making bad revenue and expenditure projections.

"In a year of financial budget crisis, you just can't be off by a number like that and expect to still be working for the city of Hollywood," he said. "They get paid for one thing, and one thing alone, and that is to make those projections. We can't afford to be wrong."

In a written statement issued Thursday, City Manager Cameron Benson said he is looking at "addressing all aspects of the city's finances, from staffing issues to a reorganization of the budget office and other departments."

City activist Mel Pollack, a retired accountant, said he is not surprised by the financial mess.

"I've been talking and writing about this for years," he said. "I've always been the doom-and-gloom guy. But people don't want to hear the facts until it hits their pocketbooks."

In a video of Wednesday's city meeting, Forrester and other budget staffers attributed the shortfall to the very same problems other Broward cities cite for their budget woes: a down housing market and lucrative pension deals for workers.

Staffers also said they are getting less than anticipated from the city's red light-camera program, a gambling revenue-sharing compact with the Seminole Tribe, and a number of state funds. Forrester vowed to keep a closer eye on every expenditure, no matter how tiny.

"We will be looking at every pen and pencil," she told commissioners. "We can't continue to spend, spend, spend. We don't run our checkbooks at home like that."

City officials on Thursday defended as necessities the fire station construction, the amphitheater and the renovations to the water tower. Much of the funding comes from grants and fees, they said. They said the long-anticipated improvements did not lead to the current fiscal crisis.

At the same time, Bober said, some expenditures approved over the last few months would have been more closely scrutinized had staffers alerted the commission sooner to the budget shortfalls.

That includes the water tower.

Commissioners approved spending $590,000 in July 2010 to fix, paint and install new lighting at the 50-year-old water tower on Sheridan Road just west of Interstate 95.

Five months later, the commission approved spending $86,000 more on the tower for an LED screen that flashes the time and temperature. The funds were generated by rising rates of water and sewer fees.

Activist David Mach said he understands spending money on things such as revamping the water tower to attract tourists and give the perception of a happening city. However, he believes city staffers and commissioners need to plan better.

"You still try to do your best to keep the tourist even in a bad economy," he said. "But you have to do this with proper management."

Miami Herald

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/mh-hollywood-fiscal-20110519,0,4107109.story

Hollywood draws $7M from reserves; declares "financial urgency"

Mayor: 'Somebody should be fired for this'

By Eileen Soler, The Miami Herald

5:08 PM EDT, May 19, 2011

HOLLYWOOD

Angry and disappointed, Hollywood commissioners have dipped into the city's reserve fund to cover what the mayor called "an absolutely unacceptable and completely inexcusable'' mistake.

"Somebody should be fired for this," Mayor Peter Bober said during the City Commission meeting.

The city had expected to make money through its red light camera program, a gambling revenue share with the Seminole Tribe and increased occupational licensing.

All are falling dramatically short.

"The forecast was not conservative enough. It was too rosy," Bober said.

The city will now dip into its reserves and take $7.3 million, leaving $2 million in city coffers.

The Commission unanimously voted to declare the city under "financial urgency,'' which will allow it to enter into discussions with city labor unions to renegotiate pensions and collective bargaining agreements.

Matthew Lalla, the city's director of financial services, said the problem's largest source is a legacy of prior pension and collective bargaining agreements with city employees including fire and police.

"The situation didn't happen in a single year. The situation reflects seeds that were sown about 15 years ago," Lalla said.

City leaders did not discuss layoffs at the meeting and city spokeswoman Raelin Storey said it is too soon to determine if layoffs or more severe cuts to city programs and projects will happen in the near future.

"It's really hard to say right now how everything will fall out,'' Storey said. "There is a lot of work to do.''

Projects like the ArtsPark at Young Circle, the city's new firehouse and several historical projects that are in the construction process will be completed but all other non-essential projects or projects that have not begun will be reconsidered. Already, however, a 10-page list of cuts throughout city departments indicate slashes in items such as overtime, supplies, advertising, uniforms and tools.

The list, which amounts to $2.17 million in cuts, includes $40,000 for the city's Fourth of July fireworks display and $70,000 in general special events.

Cynthia Forrester, the director of budget and procurement services,suggested that the city stop all unnecessary spending and put all department heads on notice.

"We have advised everyone to be on alert for eliminating items from procurement,'' Forrester said. "Any purchases in progress will be halted."

She said the departments tried make up for the $25 million shortfall it faced when balancing the 2011 budget by reducing costs across all departments without laying off employees or raising the tax rate.

But, she said, increases in foreclosures and decreases in business in Hollywood continue to chip away at city revenue.

"If this mistake was just a little bit bigger we would be insolvent today ," Bober said. "If this were the private sector someone would definitely lose their job."

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Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/13/2228092/criminal-probe-threatens-hollywood.html

Criminal probe threatens Hollywood city manager

During his 9-year tenure as manager of Broward’s third-largest city, Cameron Benson has weathered rough and tumble politics

By Julie K. Brown, The Miami Herald

10:25 AM EDT, May 22, 2011

Canada's Weymouth North is a village the size of a postal stamp tucked amid rolling hills that follow the Sissiboo River in eastern Digby County, Nova Scotia. It is here in a large, 100-year-old Victorian vacation home that Hollywood City Manager Cameron Benson escapes the city's chaotic pace and blistering August heat.

The home - a stone's throw from the rugged but picturesque coastline of St. Mary's Bay - may be a part of Benson's undoing.

Investigators from the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and others are looking into allegations that Benson accepted gift cards from a waste company seeking a city contract. Then, he allegedly used the cards to purchase home furnishings, and asked a city employee to drive the items 2,000 miles north to deliver them to his Nova Scotia home.

That allegation is a part of many others enclosed in two anonymous letters sent to City Hall charging that Benson, one of Broward's longest serving public administrators, abused his public position.

Benson, 49, born in Hollywood but now lives in Davie, has pretty much remained unscathed during his nine-year tenure as manager. Appointed in 1995, he has shunned the limelight, often relying on a spokesperson to be the public face of the administration. He rarely speaks with reporters and his office on the fourth floor of City Hall is only accessible to those who have a special key card.

He declined to comment for this story.

His effort to isolate himself from the public and all but a few close administrators has led to criticism from both citizens and his employees.

"When you ask him questions at any city meeting, he just sits there and doesn't say anything,'' said Dan Kennedy, a longtime businessman and critic. "I ask him something and all he says is 'I'll get back to you' and he never does.''

Benson's supporters, including City Commissioner Dick Blattner, acknowledged that the city manager is not always forthcoming with the public. Blattner says he and other commissioners often have to go to Benson on behalf of citizens with whom the manager has been unresponsive.

"I've heard the complaints, but that's his management style,'' said Blattner. "I would say to [his critics] that if they can't get an answer from him, come to me and I'll get an answer.'

He shoulders a $300 million budget, negotiates contracts with powerful labor unions and has weathered the scandal and corruption that has plagued the city for decades.

As manager, Benson, who earns $205,000 a year, generally sits quietly at city commission meetings, speaks to his bosses only when spoken to and rarely mingles with residents. He has been lambasted for failing to attract development that would provide a strong tax base that would help improve the city's struggling downtown business district and poor blighted neighborhoods.

Dawn Hanna,Ö a community activist for the blighted Royal Poinciana neighborhood, admitted that she has been tough on Benson. But, she added, he has been responsive.

"I certainly have been frustrated with the lack of action the city has taken on homeless issues and safety issues,'' said. "But it's very difficult to figure out where the breakdowns are."

His supporters say Benson is a hard-working, no-nonsense manager who gets the job done. Though demanding, he is measured, hands-on and, in public, even-tempered. He has a good relationship with the city's powerful labor unions and has been able to keep the city ticking despite a free-fall in tax revenue.

"Is the problem the city manager?" asked Commissioner Patty Asseff. "This isn't a blame game. We all have to pull together. The city manager drives the bus, but we have the final say."

Asseff, and most commissioners say Benson has accomplished much in Hollywood, particularly given the weak economic climate, cuts in staff and services.

He is widely credited with helping to transform Young Circle, once a weedy patch of land at the center of the city, into a state-of-art park. ArtsPark cost the city untold millions, say critics, but it's all part of Benson's master plan to turn the city into a family-friendly community and world-class tourist destination.

Commissioners gave him high marks on his past two annual evaluations, commending him for his handling of the budget, personnel and city labor contracts. His only criticism came from Commissioner Beam Furr who noted, "I don't feel that the contracts that were negotiated last year were beneficial to the citizens of the city in the long term."

The anonymous letters, however, could threaten his career in public service, an advocation that runs in the family.

Benson's father is Lauderhill Commissioner Hayward Benson Jr., 74, who has led a life of public service in various government posts.

Unlike his father, young Benson's aspirations were to become a pro football player, a goal that fizzled in 1984 after he was cut from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since then, he has earned a solid resume, including stints as a planner and economic development specialist with Broward County, the city of Fort Lauderdale and the South Florida Regional Planning Council before accepting the top administrative post in Hollywood, Broward third largest city.

"I had parents who instilled discipline and a work ethic in my life,'' he said in a 1995 interview.

Yet, his successes have often been overshadowed by a city beset by corruption. In 2007, former city commissioner Keith Wasserstrom Öwas removed from office upon his conviction on charges that he secretly cut a side lobbying deal with a sludge clean-up company. That same year, four city police officers were snared in an FBI sting and later jailed for acting as guards and escorts for cash and jewels from FBI agents posing as mobsters.

And last year, another scandal surfaced from a car accident when a Hollywood police officer rear-ended another motorist. In a recording taken while the motorist was arrested, officers are heard discussing how to twist the facts to make it appear that the officer wasn't at fault by saying a cat jumped out the motorist's car, causing the crash.

Blattner admitted that the city has a tarnished image, but the commission is trying to change that. A group of 30 citizens has formed a "New Image Task Force,'' which aims to tout the city's pluses.

Benson is now ensconced in what could be the city's most dire budget year. As of now, they are working to close a $25 million budget gap.

He's had four difficult years in terms of the budget and falling revenues,'' Blattner said. "I think he's done a good job getting through one economic crisis after another.''

There are a lot of fact-filled reader comments at both

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/13/2228092/criminal-probe-threatens-hollywood.html and

http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/mh-hollywood-city-manager-criminal-inquiry-20110522/10

Hollywood City Hall, looking west from the half-circle in front of the Hollywood branch of the Broward County library. June 3, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier

Balance Sheet Online

Something's Wrong at City Hall

May 17, 2011

We've been noticing a series of management failures at City Hall. For example, new details about the complex, expensive and unworkable transaction described below raise troubling issues with fallout that has persisted for four years. See what you think.

Read the rest of the essay at: http://www.balancesheetonline.com/money.htm

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Balance Sheet Online

Hollywood's Financial Crisis

May 22, 2011

Like the prophets of old, Commissioner Furr has been warning of Hollywood's impending budget failure for years, his detailed analyses falling on deaf ears. Instead of addressing the budget's growing structural imbalance, the City Manager found short-term ways each year to balance the budget, all the while digging a deeper hole down the road. As a result, the City is now facing the need for drastic steps to solve a financial crisis.

At last week's City Commission meeting, the City Manager called on his Finance Director and his Budget Director to present the bad news. This is what we learned, only some of which was reported in the mainstream media.

Read the rest of the essay at: http://www.balancesheetonline.com/opinion.htm

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Balance Sheet Online

A Call For Change

June 8, 2011

Staffing Problems -- And The Fear To Name Them -- Hold Our City Back

Do we expect our elected officials to be proficient in the complexities of union negotiating, municipal budgeting, business development, communications technology, or property standards, for example? If we did, who would we find to run for office? We don't hold this expectation because our City Commission is meant to rely on professional staff to perform analyses and make recommendations based on their technical knowledge.

Read the rest of the essay at: http://www.balancesheetonline.com/opinion.htm

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Saw this on Friday at the Hollywood City Hall bulletin board...

Hollywood CRA Strategic Goal Setting Retreat

Monday June 20, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. at the Lincoln Community Center, 2340 Lincoln Street.

City of Hollywood FY 2012 Operating Budget Workshop

Thursday July 7th, 2011 at the City Commission Chambers of Hollywood City Hall from 3:30-5: 30 p.m. Previously scheduled for July 11th.

For more info on what's going on with the Johnson Street Project, aka Margaritaville, see http://www.hollywoodfl.org/html/JohnsonStBeachRFP.htm

Hollywood City Hall, looking west from the half-circle in front of the Hollywood branch of the Broward County library. June 3, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier