Some Gotta Win …….
Roberts wins with a record setting 83.9% …. with Fire Chief Justinak and Mayor Seiler
Former Commissioner Aurelius and wife Dori celebrate with Roberts
County Commissioner Chip LaMarca joins the Roberts shin dig
Some Gotta Lose ……
Jackie Scott loses to Commissioner Romney Rogers 65/35 … with Rodstrom
Ray Dettman and Vicki Eckels dance out of Scott soiree
Cal Deal pulled out all the stops … but his candidate lost
Month: March 2012
Police Chief Nails Hookers!
It’s been quite awhile since Chief Frank Adderley …….
made an actual arrest …. all by himself , that is!
Adderley says he was heading for home the other evening in his private car, when a neighborhood activist reached him on his cell phone with a prostitution complaint. The complainant, Torren Poole, was a good source, and the action was only a few blocks away, so Adderley decided to go over and check it out himself! ….
He pulled up to the given intersection, and ….. well …. let’s let Adderley’s filed report take it from here –
the Police Report –
And here are the ladies of the evening themselves!
… Good work Chief!
District IV
To endorse or not to endorse – that is the question!
Two Commissioners will be elected on Tuesday to round out the Fort Lauderdale City Commission for the next three years.
The remaining races are in District I, where I’ve heartily endorsed the incumbent, Bruce Roberts, and District IV, which gives me heartburn!
Scott Rogers
Now, I don’t think my endorsement is any big deal (at least not in District IV), but some of you loyal readers have been tweaking me, nudging me, daring me, questioning why I haven’t endorsed in the District IV race.
And one of you just questioned my political courage, and you know I can’t let that stand!
So here goes
Romney Rogers is a gentle man. He (and his family) are important people in the District. He is a leader in his church. He is a solid team player for Mayor Seiler and the current Commission. He is analytical, often delves down into the weeds in issues. He has impeccable manners – (his parents should be proud!)
But Rogers lacks passion. He appears to think all is good in the City, and where he lives and works, that’s probably about right. Therefore, Rogers hasn’t initiated much in the way of improvements in his first term.
There is still no Riverwalk connection at the Stranahan House, the Riverfront is still dead, and the Bryan Homes (River House, Chart House) is dark.
He hasn’t been successful in dealing with the homeless/vagrants that torture the downtown (his district), and to make those matters worse, he continues to try and relocate them up near my house !
Jackie Scott is Roger’s opposite. Unlike the reserved Romney, Scott is outspoken and direct. Scott doesn’t like the term, but most that know her and have dealt with her refer to her as a bulldog.
Scott has a long active history of civic accomplishments. She served as President of the Council of Civic Associations and has fought many battles for her neighborhood of Coolee Hammock. Scott has also been involved in numerous citywide efforts, historic preservation and the like. She generally accomplishes what she sets out to.
But Scott is unpredictable. It’s often unclear if she is a proponent of redevelopment, or the leader of the slow growth movements.
Scott can be sharp, pushy, lacking in the good manners that her opponent Rogers so excels in.
……………………………………………..
So, in regards to my endorsement in the District IV race on Tuesday –
you’re on your own !
Seen at the Parade!
Who’s Who at the St. Paddy’s Parade !
Barry Flanigan (of the Flanigans!)
Tony Abbate (architect and FAU Professor)
Doug Eagon (DDA)
Parade organizer Terry Rynard !
Council of Neighborhoods
dog carrying owner’s beer!
Jorg Hruschka (building inspector and activist)
neighborhood President LaRhonda Ware (and friends)
perennial candidate and infamous attorney Jim Lewis
Jackie Scott
Mayor Seiler and friends
me and …… Art Seitz …… OMG !
Who Is Bar – Hoppin’ on Trendy SW 2nd Street Tonight?
This is worth the post!
I could give you some clues who my wife Cindy and I just ran into on the sidewalk outside the Tarpon Bend restaurant on trendy SW 2nd Street tonight (Friday Night) , but you’d probably never guess! ….
Here Goes !
Ninety – Five Year Old, former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Bob Cox !
There’s hope for us all !!!
Romney Super PAC Trashes Jackie Scott
You’re probably wondering why the Mitt Romney Super PAC would be in Fort Lauderdale trashing District IV candidate Jackie Scott?
They’re not … It’s worse than that…
….. it’s the City Commissioner Romney Rogers Super Trashing PAC!
This trashing PAC, which cannot be traced until after the election, has been sending very negative campaign mailers against Scott the last few days.
Here is the first one – and it’s pretty lame!
It’s obvious that the negative bombardment is tied to Rogers, and his supporters, but Rogers just says “I haven’t seen it”. Then he adds – “it’s legal”.
And despicable I say! . It’s a dirty trick that some campaigns use when they are worried about the opposition. Instead of sending out a personal attack against their opponent themselves, it’s outsourced to a shadowy group, usually made up of big fat cats, lobbyists, and the like.
Apparently, the Rogers camp is worried. And if they have to resort to these kinds of tactics, maybe we should be too!
The election is Tuesday.
District I Commission Race Endorsement
For those of you that thought that the Fort Lauderdale City Commission elections were finished ….
think again !
We have two races left, District I and District IV, and they are on Tuesday, March 13th.
Mayor Jack Seiler and Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom were re-elected in primaries on January 31st, and District III Commissioner Bobby Dubose was re-elected without opposition.
Today, we’ll talk about my District I endorsement.
District I is the loneliest, yet wealthiest District!
Some of the district stretches way up north, where few Fort Lauderdalians roam, and many would think they were in Pompano! It also includes the very important Galt Ocean Mile, Coral Ridge (where the Mayor lives), Imperial Point, Bay Colony ( where Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas lived), and neighborhoods along the Commercial Blvd. corridor.
In this District race, I heartily endorse the incumbent, Bruce Roberts.
I have been very impressed with Robert’s service these last three years. He is often the voice of calm and moderation on the Commission,
calming the masses
and he doesn’t talk too much!
The one exception to that calmness occurred when he had his chance to pay back former City Manager George Gretsas for his “suffocating management ” of the City.
Gretsas…You’re Fired!
Roberts is a Republican, and is proud of the City’s “no tax increases” policy.
He is leading the City’s negotiations on the difficult 911 (communications) talks, and is often deferred to on Public Safety matters (being the former Police Chief).
And looking at his latest campaign flyer photo,
he is also proud of what he looked like ten years ago!
Roberts’ competition is architect Mary Graham.
Graham is quite bright, and follows the City’s politics closely. Roberts would be smart to appoint Graham to a City Board.
Citizens Tour Police Station
Yesterday, a small and lucky group of Fort Lauderdale citizens got an inside tour of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Fascinating!
But the first thing you notice, as they walk you through the entrance halls to the briefing room, is ….. strange building.
It’s very old, has thin hall ways, no windows, lots of stairs. Each section is compartmentalized, requiring clearance to get from here to there. Reminded me of a secure corn maze!
………………………….
……. They started our tour with a welcome from Chief Adderley, then a talk by the burglary division, and then brought in the Homicide Sergeant.
Here is the Murder Board, which lists the murders that happen in the City each year. There has been 5 murders so far this year, and there are about 175 open murder cases on file, dating back to the 1960’s.
One case the Sergeant detailed, a senseless murder of a 67 yr. old Viet Nam vet by four teenagers, (“they beat him and shot him to death”), had the Detective choking up. He said they had made arrests in the case in January.
………………………
We continued the tour.
The fingerprint examiners showed us the “millions” of fingerprints they store. The oldest one dates back to 1921 !
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The CSI area was very interesting. They said it doesn’t happen like it does on T.V. “DNA does not come back in an hour”!
We put on special goggles, looked at special photographic equipment, special dusting techniques, even this ……
….. horse semen under infrared! ( we didn’t find out if the horse was guilty!)
…………………………………………..
As if the horse product wasn’t odd enough, we then saw this ….
……… guess he’s awaiting his pension date?
………………………………………
….. Then we were off to the shooting range. The Detective described to us the Police weapons, showed us the range, even showed us their bullets. He talked candidly about being in a constant state of readiness on the job.
hollow point
…………………………………………..
….. We finished the tour at the booking area, what also used to be the City Jail before it was closed a few years back.
The booking area is run by Reserve officers (retired guys that didn’t like sitting at home!) We are very lucky to have them.
FLPD arrests more people than all of the other Counties Police Departments combined – about 11,000 last year.
The old jail/booking area is in rough shape.
Truth is, it’s time to build a new Police Department.
As we left, we saw this poor sap being booked –
A fun time was had by all ……