Thoughts on red-light camera laws in Hallandale Beach & Broward and their possible repeal; four days until Broward County Comm. votes on the issue

Tomorrow I'm sending a Public Records Request to Hallandale Beach City Hall about traffic incidents for the past four years that will tell us PRECISELY where incidents/accidents actually occur, as well as where red-light running ACTUALLY takes place in this city.

Given how things are routinely done in this city, where facts and common sense rarely-if-ever intersect, I feel pretty confident that they will NOT be the two geographic locations in HB where the city specifically placed their two red-light cameras, with the second scheduled to begin operation on Tuesday on west-bound Hallandale Beach Blvd. & N.E. 10th Terrace, near the IHOP on the NE corner of the intersection.
Yes, right near the last traffic signal before I-95.

Those facts I glean from the city, which will likely be grudgingly given, I'm sure, will likely leave us all pondering why those two locations were chosen if they are NOT the sites of the highest traffic incident rate?

Seriously, when you cut yourself or get a scrape by accident, do you not put a Band-aid on the exact location of the cut/scrape?
You certainly don't put it on the back of your elbow if that's not where the problem is.

No, as we've all suspected from the get-go, in this particular city, those red-light cameras are where they are because in this city -as opposed to the rationale of other cities that may actually let self-evident facts guide their decisions- it's about generating revenue, NOT safety-prevention.

Later tonight or tomorrow, if I can, I will try to post photos -and maybe even some video- to my blog and YouTube Channel of my most recent visit to the red-light cameras last week.

And if you're of a mind to, in anticipation of next week's vote at the broward County Commission, let your two County Commissioners know what you think about this issue, too, one way or the other:
"Comm. Suzanne Gunzburger" <sgunzburger@broward.org>,
"Comm. Barbara Sharief" <BSharief@broward.org>,

Also, be sure to see Michael Mayo blog post of Tuesday and the Sun-Sentinel's editorial.: Red light cameras a bust for greedy South Florida cities
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2011/02/red_light_cameras_a_bust_for_g.html

Red light and turnpike cameras not quite clicking
THE ISSUE: Red light, turnpike cameras not quite clicking
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-dlyons-editorial-cameras-22211-20110222,0,2860391.story

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel

www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-broward-redlights-20110222,0,1384399.story

Broward doesn't want red light camera laws repealed

County vote a clue, one week before this issue comes to a head here

By Brittany Wallman, Sun Sentinel

7:18 PM EST, February 22, 2011

County commissioners Tuesday said they don't like a state bill that would yank the wheels off the red light camera enforcement program.

They voted against supporting a bill that would do just that, a week before this issue comes to a showdown in county hall.

Viewed as a litmus test for the county's support of red light camera enforcement, Tuesday's vote bodes well for cities seeking permission to tie into county traffic lights. The devices have turned into a legal nightmare for cities that have them, but Broward cities are still clamoring for cameras. Some who have them want more. The program in many cities has been on hold, bottlenecked at the county.

That tie-up could be dissolved as soon as next week. Broward County owns the traffic signals across the county, and county permission is needed for cities who want to tie into the light system for enforcement. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on that on March 1.

This week's vote was pushed by one commissioner, Barbara Sharief, of Miramar, who strongly opposed the use of the cameras. She hoped her colleagues would join her in supporting a state bill that would repeal the law underlying the enforcement in cities and counties across Florida. Only John Rodstrom and Kristin Jacobs agreed to vote on her side.

Sharief said it's clear that intent of the enforcement isn't safety but rather "another tact our state and cities are using to balance their books.''

In Broward, the experience for cities has been rocky, and cities are complaining they're not bringing in the ticket revenues they expected, or are even losing money.

The Broward League of Cities supports the use of the cameras, though, and cities like Pembroke Pines are eager to put up more of them. They argue that the cameras aren't in place to make money but rather to make Broward's drivers safer.

Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo, a camera supporter, horrified county commissioners with details of a traffic accident he was in last week. The chain of events started with one auto running a red light, he said. It hit a car, which hit Castillo's car. He wasn't hurt, but he said in an e-mail that had someone been on foot or on a bike crossing the intersection, the impact would have killed the person instantly.

The women in the car that was struck were bloody and screaming for help, he said in an e-mail he sent to public officials throughout the county.

"The driver's leg was mangled in an indescribable way as she crawled out of her vehicle. I saw a clump of the daughter's hair sticking out of one of the cracks her head made in the passenger windshield upon crashing into it,'' he wrote.

One company, American Traffic Solutions Inc., or ATS, dominates the market on red light cameras in Broward, and wants to wrap its wiring around Broward's, public works director Tom Hutka said. The vote next week would allow ATS, or any red light camera company, to do that.

ATS has cameras operating already in Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Hallandale Beach. It has cameras coming soon in Sunrise, Plantation, Margate and Davie. And it's in talks with Tamarac, according to Charles Territo, vice president of communications for ATS.

Reader comments at:
http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-broward-redlights-20110222/10

Roger Lohse's amazing story on red-light cameras in South Florida -city attorneys drop cases against drivers due to fears of law's constitutionality

The great Roger Lohse story at Channel 10/WPLG-TV Miami on red-light cameras from two weeks ago that really got LOTS of people's full attention because it revealed that many South Florida cities were NOT contesting drivers in court who'd been issued citations, because of their fear that the law used would be ruled unconstitutional.

"Of the 199 cases he counted, there were only eight convictions. The bulk of the others -- 155 cases -- were dismissed by the cities that issued the citations."

Naturally, Hallandale Beach is one of those cities mentioned in the story.
In fact, this news segment starts with Lohse standing near the city's electronic message board warning drivers about the law going into effect at west-bound Hallandale Beach Blvd. & N.W. 10th Terrace on Tuesday, which I have been mentioning here for the past several days.

Red Light Tickets Not Sticking

A review of court cases shows many cases are being dismissed.

Story at: http://www.justnews.com/news/26783543/detail.html

Video at: http://www.justnews.com/video/26783750/index.html

http://www.justnews.com/index.html

Hollywood City Commission Workshop on finances/2012 budget, today from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hollywood Culture & Comm. Center, 1301 S. Ocean Drive

Hollywood City Commission Workshop on Hollywood's finances,
9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hollywood Culture & Community. Center, 1301 S. Ocean Drive.

Now as before, facts seldom if ever matter in red-light camera debate in Hallandale Beach. Instead, it's just a pathetic case of "Show me the money!"

South Florida Sun-Sentinel video:
Vehicles running red lights -30 seconds, no sound.

This past Saturday, after having breakfast and talking local politics and current events with a friend over at the Denny's on Hallandale Beach Blvd. & N.W. 10th Terrace, I walked a block or two over to the scene of the crime.
Or should I say, what will soon be the scene of a highway robbery.

I spent about 25 minutes walking around and taking new video and photos of Hallandale Beach's two red-light cameras, the second of which goes into action on March 1st on Hallandale Beach Blvd. & N.W. 10th Terrace, right in front of the IHOP and across from... yes, the Denny's.

The two blocks I watched were to snap some shots of the city's mobile electronic message board flashing the news that the camera goes LIVE on Tuesday.

The electronic message board that was directly below the permanently-affixed FDOT message board above 1-95 that is partially obstructed by tree branches.

And where is the required permanent warning sign with the silhouette of the traffic signal with no mention that it's all the handiwork of the City of Hallandale Beach?
Oh, well, this being Hallandale Beach and all, the sign is between two trees.

Think for a moment or two of all the places in HB where you see drivers routinely make rolling right turns that could be dangerous for other drivers, pedestrians or bikers.

HBB & NW 10th Terrace, which connects to Ansin Blvd -home of the faux newspaper, the Sun-Times- would be near the bottom of such a list.
So why is it there?

Because this city, in the form of the mayor and her see-no-evil puppets, Dotty Ross, Anthony A. Sanders & Alexander Lewy, want to make a lot of revenue from local residents eager to get onto I-95.
(So why have there never been any police officers stationed near there? Exactly!)

IF it's only about public safety, as the mayor says, logic would dictate that the two cameras, if we are to have them, ought to be located at the scene of the two intersections home to the most traffic accidents, right?

So what are the THOSE intersections?

The Hallandale Beach Police Dept. ought to be telling us.
Reporters ought to be asking them.

Shouldn't we already know the answer to that question if Mayor Cooper and City Manger Antonio were really only interested in public safety?

But a number of weeks ago, with the mayor and city manger on the dais, the late Police Chief, Thomas Magill, intentionally misled the City Commission and the public in the Commission Chambers while talking about that more infamous red-light camera on U.S.-1 and hallandale Beach Blvd., saying that a fatality had taken place there.

The lie was caught only because in responding to some fact-based questions posed by Comm. Keith London, the only person who seemed to know ANY genuine facts about the subject, when London again asked where the fatality took place, Magill grudgingly admitted that it was, in fact, on U.S.-1 & S.E. 3rd Street -near the public library and the entrance of Gulfstream Park Race Track and the Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex.

For those of you reading this post from outside the area, that's exactly one block from HB City Hall and the Police Dept. HQ!

From where I sat in the room, Cooper and Antonio seemed perfectly content to let Magill lie to the public and not correct him, because he was saying what they wanted to hear.
Folks, THAT'S what we're up against in this city.

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-redlight-cameras-problems-20110219,0,3591958.story

Red light cameras plagued by problems across South Florida

By Scott Wyman
February 20, 2011

Red light cameras have become a legal nightmare for cities across South Florida.

It's costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars to defend camera-related citations in court with the result being that some cities are spending thousands more than they are collecting in fines.

The state Legislature is considering pulling the plug.

The networks of traffic cameras installed from Pembroke Pines to Fort Lauderdale have failed to live up to promises that thousands of drivers would be caught running red lights and that cities would collect millions of dollars in fines.

An increasing number of drivers are fighting their tickets and winning. Courts in Palm Beach and Broward counties have stunned city officials with rulings that severely limit enforcement. Cities have been forced to devote extra attorneys and cops to pursue tickets, and to readjust budgets as reality overtakes their once rosy projections about fines.

"The rulings have been going against us, and it's been very labor-intensive for our department," Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley said.

As a result, some communities like Boca Raton and Delray Beach have delayed plans to install cameras.

Still, supporters believe the legal problems will be sorted out over the next year and that the cameras will prove helpful in reducing accidents and improving traffic safety.

"For me, it has always been a safety issue period," Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper said. "We have cameras in our parks and other public facilities, and this is a natural progression of technology to enforce our laws. We have busy roadways and a lot of pedestrians, and I believe it will make the roads safer."

When state lawmakers agreed to allow red light cameras last year, cities thought ticketing would be as simple as what happens when someone speeds through a toll booth without paying. Officials were convinced that the law allowed them to snap pictures of cars running red lights along with their license plates, and simply mail tickets to the owners.

But defense lawyers have been winning decisions in both Palm Beach and Broward that require much more proof.

Judges and hearing officers have required photographic evidence that the car had not entered the intersection before the light turned red. Tickets have been thrown out because officers did not have certified copies of vehicle registrations.

Cases also have been dismissed because cities couldn't prove the employees who review tapes for violations are certified to do so. Cases involving drivers turning right on red without stopping have been all but impossible to prosecute.

One major setback occurred Jan. 5 when Broward cities had 53 red light violations scheduled for trial. In the first case, the court rejected Pembroke Pines' evidence as inadmissible and unreliable. The rest of the cases were dismissed or continued as a result.

"We are in uncharted waters," said Sam Goren, Pembroke Pines' city attorney. "We believe the statute is explicit, and the cities are making every effort to follow the statute. As this evolves, I think it will become more consistent."

City attorneys met with Broward's chief judge two weeks ago in an unsuccessful effort to set guidelines for court cases. They now plan to find a case to take to the regional appellate court or the state Supreme Court. They want a written decision that lays out uniform standards.

Cities that planned to add cameras are debating what to do as a result of the questions.

Delray Beach and Boca Raton signed contracts to install cameras at key intersections, but are now waiting until the legal dust settles. Pompano Beach were scheduled to discuss adding cameras, but will now wait to look at all issues raised.

"There were some issues, a number of legal things, that were mulling around. We don't want to implement the program until those iron out," said Boca Raton's assistant city manager Mike Woika.

Boynton Beach, however, is moving forward. Its cameras could be operational as soon as April. Palm Beach County is pressing ahead, as well. Its first camera is in place at Powerline and Palmetto Park roads west of Boca Raton and within a month could begin issuing warnings. Two more cameras are planned at as yet undetermined intersections in southern and central Palm Beach County.

"We are continuing to go forward," said Palm Beach County Engineer George Webb.

American Traffic Solutions, which has contracts across both counties to manage red-light cameras, is urging cities to stay the course. Its representatives are telling cities that Florida's court rulings have been out of step with how other states have enforced red-light camera violations.

"I don't think things are quite as dire as they seem, but they are a lot rockier than expected," said Michael McAllister, a lobbyist who represents ATS.

But Fort Lauderdale illustrates just how rocky the situation has become for cities.

Fort Lauderdale started its red-light enforcement in September and issued about 70 tickets a day for the first three months. But in December, the number of tickets issued each day dropped to 30. The average last month was 15 tickets.

While the number of tickets is issued is plunging, the costs are soaring.

Fort Lauderdale's Police Department is spending more time than planned reviewing tapes and preparing evidence files for court. There is now a backlog of 1,000 cases. The city also has had to assign attorneys to prosecute cases at the court's direction instead of relying on police officers as is done with other traffic citations.

City commissioners are closely monitoring the situation because their budget depended on bringing in $3 milllion from red-light camera tickets. Now they think they may collect as little as just $500,000 in light of the higher costs and fewer-than-expected tickets.

Pembroke Pines has similar cost concerns. That city has received $76,294 from citations, but the red-light camera program has cost $83,337. Legal fees encompassed $33,189 of that, with the rest going to ATS to manage the cameras.

Cities also are running into problems installing cameras.

Broward County has not allowed cities to use its right-of-way for cameras or agreed to let cities tie cameras into its traffic signal equipment.

County commissioners will discuss that idea March 1, but Commissioner Barbara Sharief, a red light camera critic, also wants her colleagues to discuss supporting the move to have the Legislature repeal the law allowing cameras. And some commissioners have raised concerns about the cost that red light cameras could have on the court system.

State Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, have proposed repeal and want the camera program ended by July. Garcia describes the cameras as an "unwarranted, Big Brother initiative."

Red light camera supporters say they want to return the focus to safety. They cite a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that cameras in 14 large cities in other parts of the country have reduced the rate of fatal crashes by 24 percent between 1996 and 2004.

"The whole purpose of this is a life-safety issue," said Bruce Roberts, a Fort Lauderdale city commissioner and its former police chief. "Red light cameras have been used successfully around the country, and behavior changes and modifies as people realize the cameras are there."

Staff writers Brittany Wallman, Larry Barszewski, Andy Reid Erika Pesantes and Ariel Barkhurst contributed to this report.

Reader comments at:

http://discussions.sun-sentinel.com/20/soflanews/fl-redlight-cameras-problems-20110219/10

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I'll have the red-light camera photos I snapped here on the blog by Saturday.

Hallandale Beach civic activist Csaba Kulin asks some reasonable questions re red-light camera laws as applied in HB, Broward County & Florida

Below is an email about Traffic Infraction Detectors, what we all call red-light cameras, that my friend and fellow Hallandale Beach and Broward civic activist Csaba Kulin penned earlier today to Broward County Commissioners Sue Gunzburger of District 6 and Barbara Sharief of District 8.

As you know from my many previous posts here on the subject of legislative redistricting, despite its relatively small size in the southeast corner of Broward County, just north of Miami-Dade County and the City of Aventura, just as is the case for congressional representation in Washington, D.C. -Frederica Wilson and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz- this city is also -foolishly- divided for representation before the Broward County Commission up on Andrews Avenue, in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
http://www.broward.org/commission/Pages/default.aspx

District 6 map, Gunzburger:
http://gis.broward.org/maps/webPDFs/CommissionDistricts/comdist6.pdf

District 8 map, Sharief:
http://gis.broward.org/maps/webPDFs/CommissionDistricts/comdist8.pdf

The comments should be of interest to you regardless of whether or not you live in Hallandale Beach or Broward County, since in their own way, they get to the heart of the issue as these laws have been enacted and complied with here.

My next blog post, later today, will also be about red-light camera laws, their application, and next Tuesday's big vote before the Broward County Commission on whether those laws ought to be repealed.

To wit, is there any actual rhyme or reason for cities using red-light cameras and where they can be physically located regardless of facts, or a means of checking government over-reach and abuse?

Once they've had some time to respond, I'll of course post the commissioners responses to Csaba's comments here on the blog.

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Honorable Mayor Gunzburger,

During a recent private conversation with HB Commissioner Anthony Sanders and during the February 2, 2011 HB City Commission Meeting the topic of the more and more unpopular "red light" cameras came up. They were sold to the HB City Commission and the residents as a "safety" measure, we always knew it was a "money grabbing" device.

About one and a half years ago the first "red light" camera was installed on the SE corner of US 1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd. During this time about 2 million dollars of fines were levied primary affecting the residents east of US 1 turning right on red.

Recently another "red light" camera was installed on Hallandale Beach Blvd. and NW 10 Terrace, in front of IHOP, pointing westward. This camera by it's location will target residents of NW neighborhood turning right on red. Some of the residents of that area are already economically challenged and a $158.00 ticket would be significant hardship for them to face. That area technically is in Commissioner Sharief district of Hallandale Beach, so she may be also interested in the issue.

Commissioner Sanders voted for original "red light" camera ordinance and I have tried to convince him to reconsider his position in light of the new developments. His answer was that "if Hallandale Beach would repeal the "red light" camera ordinance and remove the cameras the State of Florida or Broward County would install new "red light" cameras and get all the money".

During the February 2, 2011 HB City Commission Meeting the question came up again and the the police officer making a report gave a somewhat confusing answer. He just danced around the issue without giving the residents a clear and convincing answer.

I would appreciate your help, as far as you know, in answering the following questions:

• Is the State of Florida allowed by current law to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?
• As far as you know, did the State install any "red light" cameras?
• Is Broward County allowed by current law to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?
• Does Broward County intend to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?

Sincerely,

Csaba Kulin

President, Fairways North, Inc.

Vice President, United Condominium Associations of Hallandale Beach

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See also

FDOT Traffic Infraction Detectors (Red Light Running Cameras)
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Operations/RLRC.shtm

FDOT Traffic Infraction Detector Placement and Installation Specifications,
July 1, 2010
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Doc_Library/PDF/Traffic%20Infraction%20Detector%20Placement%20and%20Installation%20Specifications%20July%201,2010.pdf

Speed and Red Light Camera Laws:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/auto_enforce.html

Broward School Board's Diversity Committee Site Visitation Report at Hallandale High School and the abominable conditions they found

Last week when I knew that I'd be posting here the two public notices about the public meeting on Tuesday night in Hollywood and Thursday morning at Broward Schools HQ, I already had a copy of the Broward School Board's Diversity Committee Site Visitation Report at Hallandale High School and the abominable conditions they found.

I had a copy because I have a friend on the committee and had asked her to send me a copy of the final report once it had already been publicly distributed to the Broward School Board and the acting-Principal at Hallandale High, Anthony Dorsett, and other interested parties.

I decided not to post the information then, or even with the story on Friday night regarding the statewide Grand Jury, because I wanted to make sure that everyone would see this eye-opening report on its own demerits and just let the facts sink in a bit.

Here is the cover letter that was sent to them from my friend Catherine, who besides serving as Co-Chair of the Broward Schools Diversity Committee that checked-out the school, is also on the Hallandale Education Advisory Committee, and an appointee to the county's Commission on Women's Status.

The Site Visitation SubCommittee of the Diversity Committee has finalized the attached summary report on Hallandale HS

Attached is a courtesy copy, for your information and review.

Our SV SubComm. was very disappointed that after 10 years since the CCC lawsuit settlement, the Hallandale HS facility is still one of the worst that we've seen in all of our site visits in the past two years. Ms. Ernestine Price, one of the original plaintiffs, was visibly upset and she said she could not sleep that night and called a school board member at 4:00 am.

In our last (2/3/11) Diversity Committee meeting, the lawyers from the CCC lawsuit updated our Diversity Committee members. They, visited Hallandale HS about three weeks ago and took 300 pictures of bad facility conditions, themselves. Discussion about the lack of progress in the innercity schools took place, and Hallandale HS was at the top of the list.

We are all aware of the moratoriums on projects due to budget constraints. However, issues like the lack of a working lab for AP science, which would prevent those students from competing and succeeding in their AP exams, is clearly not acceptable.

By copy of this email, I'm requesting Mayor Cooper, City Manager Antonio, and the commissioners to see if they can provide additional support to these issues, perhaps thru the CRA budget? Also, I am requesting the community leaders of Hallandale and my Hallandale EAC members to see if there's anything we can do to assist with these issues, with the proviso that we're concurrently researching what can and can't be done under the Broward Schools' rules/policies.

Because Hallandale HS has made great progress academically within the past two years, it is critical that the students and hard-working staff are not required to work in such bad conditions. There is a YouTube video by Boyd Anderson students talking about how their new cafeteria made them feel like a whole new person, filled each student with pride...a person deserving, which motivated him/her to do better. Facilities makes a direct impact on a student's self-esteem. We all need to do better for our most challenged children.

Catherine Kim Owens

My friend and fellow Hallandale Beach civic activist Michael Butler of Change Hallandale Beach already has posted the entire report and pertinent photos on his site, along with some comments of his own, so I have that link here for you to read along with the report:
HallandaleHighSchoolSiteVisitReport

Change Hallandale Beach website is at: http://www.changehallandale.com/

Hallandale High School info: http://www.browardschools.com/schoolsplash1/schoolsplash.asp?infoid=0403

HHS website: http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/hallandalehigh/

Some thoughts on the frustrating South Florida blogging scene in 2011 that compares so unfavorably to the innovative one in Sweden; Observations re NY Times' article on growing cleavage between using blogs and Twitter to disseminate original content: "Blogs Wane as the Young Drift to Sites Like Twitter"; On comparing the blog portals at the Miami Herald to the ones used by savvy Swedish news media that makes young women like Blondinbella, Tess Montgomery and Josefina Boston influential voices on so many issues; The whole blogging scene in Sweden is not just different from the U.S. -it's better. Meanwhile, here, MSM and "Usual Suspects' try to dominate the conversation

South Florida blogging scene in 2011; Observations re NY Times' article on growing cleavage between using blogs and Twitter to disseminate original content: "Blogs Wane as the Young Drift to Sites Like Twitter"; On comparing the blog portals at the Miami Herald to the ones used by savvy Swedish news media that makes young women like Blondinbella, Tess Montgomery and Josefina Boston influential voices on so many issues; The whole blogging scene in Sweden is not just different from the U.S. -it's better. Meanwhile, here, MSM and "Usual Suspects' try to dominate the conversation

* Updated in January of 2016

I'm still laughing and bemused after reading this New York Times article, below, with my emphasis in red.

This fascinating-yet-revealing quote is what really hit me: “It’s different from blogging because it’s easier to use,” she said.“ With blogging you have to write, and this is just images. Some people write some phrases or some quotes, but that’s it.”

Yes, putting those pesky words together in sentences and paragraphs sure is hard work! 
These kids are all thumbs.

New York Times
Blogs Wane as the Young Drift to Sites Like Twitter
By Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Published: February 20, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Like any aspiring filmmaker, Michael McDonald, a high school senior, used a blog to show off his videos. But discouraged by how few people bothered to visit, he instead started posting his clips on Facebook, where his friends were sure to see and comment on his editing skills.
“I don’t use my blog anymore,” said Mr. McDonald, who lives in San Francisco. “All the people I’m trying to reach are on Facebook.”

Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/technology/internet/21blog.html

Meanwhile, in Europe, media companies that create a stable of popular and blogs stressing text and visuals, esp. those written by popular teens and twenty/thirty-somethings about fashion, design and pop culture, are making money. Why?
Because they offer something that readers always want: interesting unique content.

The hugely-popular blog, The Blond Salad, http://www.theblondesalad.com/ created by a very 
savvy and resourceful Italian twenty-something named Chiara Ferragni @ChiaraFerragni today had this exclusive: Burberry fashionshow in real time on Theblondesalad!

Yes, timeliness and genuine relevancy for her readers, just two of the things that concerned residents like me perpetually complain that we have far too little of in South Florida for local politics and government, in part because in the year 2011, we also STILL lack an All-News local cable channel that can fill that gap. 
To match the All-News radio station that South Florida also still lacks.

How The Blonde Salad's @ChiaraFerragni made millions by #blogging (and designing shoes) https://t.co/cBFaoBUQfM pic.twitter.com/N4aV4I9bSj

— Telegraph Fashion (@TeleFashion) December 27, 2015

Above, the colorful header used by model Tess Montgomery for her popular blog, TessM.se.

*2016 Update to below: In 2013 Tess was one of the featured bloggers on the very popular Stureplan.se platform at http://stureplan.se/bloggar/tess but in 2016 Tess is now blogging at http://tessm.metromode.se/  

Spotlife.se with two London-based blogs, Josefina Boston's Absolute Boston, http://absolutboston.se/  and Tess Montgomery's, http://tessm.se/, both of which I have mentioned here very positively in this space previously, have multi-national advertisers, and that's even more the case at Isabella Löwengrip's Blondinbella blog -also at Spotlife- who has become a well-known celebrity/author throughout Scandinavia and Europe.

She's also not only a frequent presence on national TV in Sweden, but is more influential than most veteran reporters and correspondents at well-known European newspapers, magazines and wire services covering fashion or pop culture.
And everyone knows it, too.

In Sweden, there's even a nationally-televised awards show for blogs on Channel 4, for the best blogs in about a dozen different subject and age categories, and it's promoted on both TV and in print, even to the point where they have TV ads featuring the various candidates in the weeks leading up to the telecast. I've even placed those some of promos here on the blog in the past to give you an idea of how differently blogs are viewed.
Here's the video they produced for the Blog Awards 2010 show in the category of Best Newcomer - Årets nykomling


http://www.tv4play.se/noje_och_humor/blog_awards?videoId=1.1773279

See some more recent clips at: https://www.tv4play.se/program/blog-awards

Let me tell you something -there is no station promo for local Miami TV newscasts or Dolphins or Hurricanes shows that is as well-produced as that one.
Yes, genuine effort and vision still counts for something with readers and viewers.
And the numbers show it.

Here's the list and video of the 2010 winners:
http://www.tv4.se/1.1831566/2010/09/27/vi_vann_blog_awards_2010

Meanwhile, the Miami Herald's blog network such as it is, is featured in the bottom-third of the website's first page, and has no identifiable icon or graphic next to it, just boring black text saying South Florida Blogs.

Above, a screenshot I took Monday night of the location on the Miami Herald's website where their blogs and collection of South Flordia blogs are located, with, as you can see, no icon to attract your attention or differentiate them -just text in black.
Boring!

I'll leave to another time the question of why a media company like McClatchy that prints both English and Spanish language newspapers in Miami insists on placing Spanish language blogs on an English language website, and even worse, confuses people by having a Spanish language blog with an icon being the first one that people actually see on the English language website.
And it's also the only one.

Why are there blogs listed in the South Florida blogs section that are actually written by Herald staffers, and why aren't they listed in the Herald's own section?
That's real genius!
And nervy!

Lots of online Herald readers no doubt see that and say, "Why even bother?"

And when you get there, you aren't exactly wowed visually by what you see!
http://yourblogs.miamiherald.com/

Compare that frumpy-dumpy scene of the Herald blog page to not only Spotlife's colorful blog home, http://spotlife.se/ but also the very popular Stureplan blogs, which are very much about Stockholm's exciting nightlife and entertainment scene which puts Miami/South Beach's to shame for genuine fun for non-millionaires, http://stureplan.se/

Could there be more of a contrast between the integration of color and design?
And there are other differences, too.

For reasons that were never explained to me, my own blog -yes, this one- was listed on the Herald's blog page when it first launched, but since I was never asked about it or received any info from the Herald about their plans prior to its launch, I only found out about it a few weeks after it started, thru an email from a friend who'd seen my blog on it and was puzzled why it was there without my ever having mentioned it to her.

She wanted to know who I got there to put in a good word for me.
Nobody -it was a complete surprise to me, too.
That's NOT exactly a strategy to win well-informed hearts and minds -or readers and eyeballs.

And now that the Herald's link for their hodgepodge collection of blogs has migrated from near the top of the website to some dubious real estate with no promotion, graphics or icon, it's not at all clear that readers even realize it's STILL there.
I don't even think about it anymore, even though I'm on it.

Since this article is about a downward trend among some sub-set of bloggers, let's call them the never-reads, let me leave you with a more encouraging stone-cold fact about one who gives people facts and context they are looking for.

Isabella Löwengrip at Blondinbella has more people following her on Facebook than the Miami 
Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel and ALL their reporters, columnists or subject blogs combined.
She's... actually recognized in Stockholm at the airport when she flies home into Arlanda.


Interesting and unique content -it's why I read the blogs I've mentioned here and why so many other people do, too.

Just saying...

Libya may change in 24-36 hours; WSJ's Alan Murray, social media expert Clay Shirky on effect of Facebook, Twitter, et al in revolts in Egypt, Africa

Facebook and Twitter Are Changing the Middle East 2/18/2011 9:42:59 AM
In an interview with WSJ's Alan Murray, social media expert Clay Shirky discusses the effect of Facebook, Twitter and other social media in the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and what it could mean for the Middle East at large.

http://online.wsj.com/video/shirky-facebook-and-twitter-speed-up-revolutions/E0BAA515-5056-4F4A-AC5E-C684BADE46CA.html

When Clay Shirky speaks, very smart people with resources and connections listen -and so should you!
He believes that Libya is the next domino to fall... ker-plunk!

Pull-quote from the Shirky interview: "Governments are NOT afraid of informed individuals, they're afraid of informed synchronous groups."

Hmm-m... that's Joy Cooper's biggest fear at Hallandale Beach City Hall.

http://www.shirky.com/

http://www.shirky.com/weblog/

New York Times video: Tunisia, After the Revolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeTY4zl02-4

Libya teetering on the brink of great change...
I've been listening intently this morning to the 6 a.m. BBC World Service World Today broadcast and have heard a fascinating interview with a Libyan-born expert in the U.S. who actually knows Colonel Qadafi and his son, Sayf.

Following a BBC correspondent's report from Tripoli, scene of so much violence this weekend, and even now, the scene of sustained gunfire, the expert in the U.S. being interviewed was quite negative about the speech Qadhafi's son made today on Libyan TV, and what he characterized as the very strange behavior he exhibited.

He said that Libyan people would not respond well to the behavior or words, esp, his wild gesticulations during the speech as well as the very threatening manner, which made it seem like it had not been rehearsed.
Almost like the first time he saw it was when he was reading it.
Hmm-m...

See it for yourself.

BBC video of excerpts of Sayf al-Islam Qadafi speech:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12520550

The situation is moving very, very rapidly...
How will Libya transition into next phase of development?

Another expert said that it's his sense of things that with the eastern part of the country basically opting out of central control, Qadafi will be out of Libya within the next 24-36 hours because the army and police are starting to realize that they have no future if he is around.

He no longer is able to control things and "the genie is out and can't be put back into the lamp."

BBC's Middle east Protests web page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12480844

BBC-TV video segments on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12513941

Listen LIVE to BBC Radio's World Service here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/audioconsole/?stream=live

Facts on Libya at the CIA Factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html

The Channel 4 News Snowmail that I received by email on Sunday afternoon, written by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, said as follows on Libya:

LIBYA

The Libya uprising is showing its differences and difficulties. While Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain have been playing out on television cameras, amateur video, mobile phones and Twitter the Libyan protests are much harder to follow. International journalists have not managed to get in the way they did with the others. Access to the internet is restricted, and websites such as YouTube which can upload video, and social networks seem to be disrupted. However the phones still work so we have been gathering testimony the old fashioned pre-internet way. Amid reports of hundreds of people now killed in the protests in and around Benghazi there is clearly huge determination by the demonstrators. We spoke to one man there who told us "A lot of people are dying in the streets. There are a lot of cars with troops from outside Libya, I think they are Nigerian, from African countries. They have guns and they shoot anyone they find on the streets...From the eastern part of Libya, the protesters have received some heavy artillery, they haven’t used it yet – they're telling us they are going to now. Nobody knows the number (of dead) because there are many hospitals – they go to four or five different hospitals. Most of them are being shot by snipers, from far away in the head or the chest by Africans. Most of them don’t speak good Arabic, they speak French." Obviously there is no way for us to check these claims on the snipers but they give you a good idea of what the talk is going around the protesters at least. Heavy gunfire could be heard in the background and the man had to break off to shout at friends to get inside.

And it is clear Tripoli is far from calm too. We spoke to a woman there who told us "I live in the east side of Tripoli but I cannot go out. My husband went out this morning, he said the streets were empty, people were scared. So I said, ok let my son go to the store but my son – he didn’t come back and I hear from people – I call them and they say why did you send him? People have gone to the court – I hope he didn’t go there because he’s young and very nervous. For two days I kept him in the house but I hope he didn’t go there. Oh my goodness, there’s something happening now – they are shooting I’m sorry I have to go.". So we are gathering what we can, and will have the latest. We will also be discussing what the West can and should do about Libya. The US ambassador Louis Susman was pretty unsubtle in a diplomatic way this morning with Andrew Marr - it was clear he thinks Britain has been wrong to deal with Gadaffi in a way that makes him seem like a legitimate leader.

Here are the two news segments they aired last night on Libya.


Channel4 News February 20, 2011 Libya unrest
http://bcove.me/4tbtcgj2


Channel4 News February 20, 2011 Libya discussion
http://bcove.me/idmo6ot5

Clare Maguire - The Last Dance (HD & Live At St Luke's, 2010 versions); Clare's debut CD 'Light After Dark' comes out Monday Feb. 28th!

Clare Maguire - The Last Dance (Official Video) HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtdsqUlPdCk

Her debut CD 'Light After Dark' comes out next Monday, February 28th!



Clare Maguire - The Last Dance (Live At St Luke's, 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd6p8CSP0aQ

Clare's official website is at http://www.claremaguire.co.uk/

YouTube page is at http://www.youtube.com/user/ClareMaguireMusic

Swedish ice hockey player Danijela Rundqvist: Moved to Canada to play professionally and not only has to adapt to level of play, but family demands

Head's up: while the voice-over is in Swedish, the profanity is in English!
SVT video: Hockeyproffset som betalar för att spela - February 17, 2011

Twenty-six year old former AIK and Swedish Olympic ice hockey player Danijela Rundqvist has moved to Canada to play professionally for the Burlington Barracudas of Ontario in the Canadian Womens Hockey League in order to improve her abilities before moving back to Sweden after the season.

Rundqvist currently lives in town with a Canadian family and also works with children on the ice rink, but while the goal of sharpening her game is happening, she has to balance her busy schedule and career with being a mother in a foreign country, far from the help and comfort of family and friends.

"The price of success is hard work" - Maxim in Toronto Maple Leafs locker room

Another fascinating SVT video of Danijela working-out with a trainer, part of which is included in the video at top, is at:
http://svtplay.se/v/2329925/ishockey/se_rundqvist_stenharda_traning

In Sweden, mamas don't let their babies grow-up to be cowboys, instead, they want them to be members of Tre kronor or Damkronorna, and begin covering them in the Blue & Gold from birth, as evidenced by this replica jersey -for babies.
Official Swedish Ice Hockey Association online store:
http://62.20.67.29/trekronor/

Their homepage is http://www.swehockey.se/

Danijela's photo is now featured on the Damkronorna homepage:
http://www.swehockey.se/Landslag/Dam/

------

Danijela's blog is at: http://danijelarundqvist.blogspot.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danijela_Rundqvist
http://www.cwhl.ca/
http://www.aik.se/aikindex.html?/startsida.html

-----
My last blog post on Svenska Ishockey was exactly a year ago, February 21st, 2010, the day of the big Sweden vs. Finland game in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics.
That proved to not quite be the close game I'd hoped for: Sweden's skillful Tre kronor vs. Finland's Susi in Olympic hockey Sunday - Heja Sverige! Heja Sverige!
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/swedens-skillful-tre-kronor-vs-finlands.html

For many of you newer readers to the blog, that post of mine was also -happily- your very first introduction to the awesome talent that is singer Jill Johnson, in this case, singing Jolene.
You're welcome!


Jill Johnson - Jolene, as seen on TV4's BingoLotto, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Dl83hLZG4