Author: commtims

     Often you can tell who will win a political race by who gets the most campaign contributions.

      But in the race for Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner for District II, coming on March 12th, it’s not that easy.

                   
                         Dean and Charlotte in friendlier times

     Both candidates have raised similar amounts of money. As of the last report, ( January 18), Rodstrom had raised $31,810, and spent $28,421. Trantalis had raised $27,390, and spent $26,829.


                           

     Rodstrom attracts the big donors more. Out of the 146 contributions she got, 118 were for the maximum amount allowed – $250.
 
     Trantalis took in a total of 225 contributions, but only 67 were for the maximum.

    Rodstrom also cornered the – big names in town category. 

    Donations came in from Austin, Christine, and Miles Forman – Ron and Patricia Book, Emmett and Sarah Mctigue, George and Ann Platt, Jesse, Susan,Terry, and Michael Gaddis, Milton Jones, Jim Blosser, Terry Stiles, Michael Maroone, Ray Parker, Jack Loos, Thomas Maus, and John Milledge.

     Trantalis only scored from a few big shots-  Lori Parrish, Ken Keechl, Ted Adcock, Caldwell Cooper, and Angelo Castillo.
 
     But Trantalis got considerably more donations from neighborhood and civic leaders like Linda Bird, Sal Gatanio, Randall Klett, Steve Glassman, Mel Rubenstein, Rick Gibson, Shirley Smith, Marge Anderson, Art Seitz, Mark Ketchum, Donna Collins, and Mary Pat Rhodes.

      Trantalis also got the oddest donation of .01 (one penny). And also the most unusual name that donated – Pati Windowmaker, (no indication of what she does for a living).

     If you live in District II – Vote March 12th!   
     
     
    

     This is an update on the post of last week about Charlotte Rodstrom and the Fort Lauderdale  park land addition! 

     It is a tangled political web weaved, and very curious.
     
    And now, the park land money slated for Fort Lauderdale may be headed for other cities out west ( I’ll explain in a second ). –   

                       
                    Ryan                          Rodstrom
     
      The County Commissioner who beat Rostrom in her ill-fated run for the County Commission last summer, Tim Ryan, had an item on the County Commission agenda to move purchase funds that were attached to an unbuyable –arsenic laden- parcel on one side of a Fort Lauderdale city park, to a bigger, clean parcel on the other side of that same city park….

                   
     Rodstrom had visited County Commissioners the day before the meeting to move the funds, and asked Commissioner Stacy Ritter to pull the item off the agenda.
 
     Ritter did Rodstrom that favor by sending this official record below. Ritter told me that Rodstrom had made the rounds that day and asked other County Commissioners to pull the item as well.

     Here is the official record – 

         

     Rodstrom tried to explain why she requested the park land addition be postponed by this letter below, sent to the neighborhood President-

Dear MRT President,

     In respect to the recent accusations put out on a Blog. I am providing you information regarding my work on park space. 

       For anyone to make an accusation that I do not want more park space would be completely wrong.

        Here is why:

     Since elected in 2006 I have secured funds for new parks: South Middle River Park in South Middle River neighborhood, Peter Feldman Park in Flagler Village, Middle River Terrace Park addition OS-145.

I have completed SMR park, Peter Feldman Park, Dolphin Isles park and I am awaiting for the completion of the MRT park addition.

      Why would anyone think I would jeopardize funds when I was the Commissioner who worked to ensure the funds in the first place????

     I also brought the first Greenway to Fort Lauderdale. The Flagler Greenway, if you count that as open space. Which equates to millions of dollars for Fort Lauderdale during the past 6 years and I followed the governmental process.

     And those are just the parks/open spaces in District 2, Citywide I also agreed to much more !!! Go take a look at how wonderful those parks are and the benefit to the neighborhoods. $400 million was provided under the County Parks program in 2000. I would gladly compare my park open space record to any other district commissioner since 2000.

     There seems to be a hidden agenda being promoted by a blogger. Most likely because he is supporting the person running against me in the upcoming election. I hope this information clarifies my position on the issue and is helpful to you. Thank you

Charlotte

     I think this qualifies as a non-denial denial !

      Now, Commissioner Wexler seems to be eyeing the funds for one of her cities, out west. She sent this e-mail to activist  Mary Grahams’ inquiry on whether the park funds would stay in Fort Lauderdales’ column – 
         
                         …………………………………………………………

—–Original Message—–
From: “Wexler, Lois”
Sent: Feb 11, 2013 11:31 PM
To: “mga-aia@ix.netcom.com”
Subject: RE: ITEM #54 BCC (deferred) 02-05-13 agenda



Mary
I am sure that Commissioner Ryan will champion the property switch for District 7 however the Board has to agree. There were 6 properties that were already on the list that had not been funded.

Lois Wexler,
Broward County Commissioner Distict 5
954-357-7005

                             ………………………………………………………….

     As always, I’ve tried to get Rodstroms’ side of the story, but can’t get her on the phone or by e-mail  …… I can only imagine that this, below,  is what she would say to me if she would call me ………..

                                                    


     

     




    

      The tour of the Homeless Assistance Center, previously scheduled for this Thursday (Valentines Day), has been rescheduled for next Thursday, February 21st. (still at 5pm sharp).

                       

     Turns out, some of my friends, including my wife, objected to the tour on the special lovers day.

                           

     With any luck, all my wounds should be healed by the 21st !

     The next citizens’ tour, affectionately called “Tims’ Tours” (because I named it , will take place at Fort Lauderdales’ heralded shelter for the homeless – 

                        

     …the Homeless Assistance Center. We will see what happens when a homeless person is saved from the streets in this finely structured setting.

     Fort Lauderdale has had a serious long-time homeless problem, and actually had a homeless camp for a few years in the middle of the downtown, where assaults, rapes, even shootings were common place.

                     

     A few years back, Stranahan Park in the downtown was overrun by the homeless, including this man above, that was released from an Illinois jail after serving time for child murder.

     To join the tour, be at the Homeless Assistance Center (NW 7th Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard), Thursday, Feb. 14, at 5:00 pm sharp.

                        

     When our sweet, little old lady neighbor – Ester – died, she left us this important little pamphlet from her days as a nurse in WWII.


            

     I’m thinking that since Ester knew of my participation in

                         Fort Lauderdale politics,
 
     she thought this nifty pamphlet might just come in handy to me !

    
              ** Note to Commission candidates – cut out the below and stash it in your wallet !


                            

     I know I run the risk of my blog being rebilled as the” Rodstrom Report”, by running yet another post about Charlotte Rodstrom, but this little tidbit needs explaining…..

     Today was the day that one of the Fort Lauderdale parks, the Middle River Terrace park, (on Dixie Highway), was set to go on the County Commission agenda for funding – to double its’ size, thanks to our new County Commissioner Tim Ryan. 

     The monies were to come from the last of the Land Preservation Bond Program monies that the citizens of Broward County voted for years back….

          

                              the current 4 acre park


                   
                                        the almost added 3 acres next door

       But sadly the item was pulled off the County agenda, literally at the last minute, this morning. 
                                        
     Turns out that Charlotte Rodstrom was at the County building yesterday, meeting with some County Commissioners, (with her supporter Laura Crescenco in tow), and a County staffer told me that Rodstrom was talking the park addition down at a meeting with at least one Commissioner. 


     And a Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner told me that he received a call from Rodstrom later last night, saying the City should try and call off the County vote to enlarge the park, that there might not be a willing seller, or the seller might not take the Countys’ offer, or … the moon might be cream cheese!

     And lastly, the County Commissioner who officially asked for the deferral, said that Rodstrom not only asked her to remove the item, but “went around to everybody”…


     Anyhow, the nearly 3 acre park addition item was pulled – damn shame! 

     
     
     


































    

     

    

     I went to school in Baltimore, (Towson State University), so of course I was routing for the Ravens!

     But I didn’t have any scratch on the game until my neighbor James video-phoned me just before kick-off –
                      ……………………………….
   
                         

     “So you actually think your measly Ravens can beat my freakin amazing 49ers ?”, James spit mockingly.

     ” the joo-joo is with us”, I mustered!

    “Well put your money where you mouth is”, James replied.

    “Ok, what’s the deal”, I countered.

    “Tell you what”, James says, (with a curious tone) –  “If my boys win, you send a public valentine to Charlotte Rodstrom“, he cackled.

                         
               
     You see, James knew that Rodstrom had not spoken to me since I endorsed her opponent, Dean Trantalis, in the upcoming (March 12th) District II Commissioner – special election, (so let’s just say Rodstrom and I  probably wouldn’t have each other on our respective valentine lists!)

     “OK,” I accepted, ….  “but if my Ravens pull it out, you send a box of delicious chocolate covered spiders to a recipient of my choosing”!

     “It’s a deal”, James barked confidently.

     I got nervous in that third quarter, even started to prepare the above Valentine just in case –  but by a whisker, I was able to put that valentine back in the file and pull out this one instead – 


                            

     So if you get a box of yummy choco – spiders from my neighbor James next week,  you’ll know from where they really came! 

                             ….. Tim
     

    

     We told you about that newest space-age DNA-like crime-fighting liquid, SmartWater  ….

                      


      ….. just last week. The invisible liquid can be swabbed on all your valuables, or squirted straight on those pesky criminals (when they are in the act of being criminals), and then we can catch them quicker, and put them where they belong – 

                                      

     ……   SmartWater was handed out today in the neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale that has had the most crime for years … 

                          South Middle River. 

                          

     Last year, South Middle River had 451 crimes, and, for comparison, the neighborhood where the City Manager lives, had 3.

     Today was an important day, and here are a few pics to prove it!

                    

     Five hundred vials of the liquid were handed out free of charge to the homeowners in the neighborhood.



             

     Lorraine Saunders brought her mother, and they both got the kit!


                   

     Neighborhood leaders, including President Sal Gatanio, worked the tables and were all smiles about the new program.


           

     You could tell it was an important day by the slew of big-shots who attended – on a Saturday!

      Both City Commissioner candidates, Rodstrom and Trantalis – of course were there …

     And pictured above (from left) … former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, President Sal, and crime dummy (being black-lighted), by….  

                           Mayor Jack Seiler!


     
                     

      The underground, super-late night, illegal nightclub-
 
           – the Red Monkey Social Club, only lived for one hour!


                                  


     I had been given a tip, that the off-beat club was set to open last Sunday morning at 3 am ( yes, that’s 3 in the morning!), in a warehouse off Dixie Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

     The info on the internet about the club was quite cryptic. No address –  just a Facebook entry that redirected you here, then there. An e-mail would be sent to you with the particulars if you were willing to pay the $40 fee to PARTIEEEE!

     I called the P.D., it didn’t seem quite right! …. People should be sleeping after 3 am !

                     ……………………………………………..

                          

     Apparently, Red Monkey clubs show up in Cities around the globe, and Fort Lauderdale was to be the latest.

     It was set to open in a nice warehouse complex built by city kingpin Barry Flanigan.

                       

     Flanigan, who still owns the non-descript warehouse next door to the intended club, was dumbfounded. He says he was told they were fixing up the warehouse for “a birthday party” for the owners son.
 
     The Cops were waiting Sunday morning for the Clubs’ debut ! – 
   
     Here’s how the Public Record described it …
              ……………………………………………………..

     Sgt.Nick Coffin and his crew responded out to the Red Monkey Social Club and observed a clear violation at 1200 NE 7 Ave # 2. There were over 40 persons in attendance and more people were coming at the time of shut down. The modern/new warehouse located here was set up as a small club with the below features:

· DJ booth w/DJ
· Full Bar w bartender
· Hookah type smoking pipes
· Couches, chairs, and an upstairs loft type dance floor
· Full compliment of alcohol, beer, and water

     The entrance was to the rear of the warehouse with a doorman/security. You had to provide ID and a cell number along with paying the $40.00 dollar entrance fee to gain entrance. It did appear that most of the patrons were other bartenders and employees from other clubs, half of which arrived and left by cab. ……… 

     One of the owners of the Sand bar on the beach (Charles O’Flaherty) was cited for selling alcohol w/o a license by Det. Spodnick who responded after the violation was observed. We also confiscated the alcohol and took photos of the entire set-up. Det. Spodnick does not believe this will be an ongoing issue after tonight, after speaking with the owner. The bar was shut down shortly after 4 AM. 


       Kudos to the P.D. for a job well done!

                                Tim








     


      











 

 

 

 

     When a Dean Trantalis supporter was looking through Charlotte Rodstroms’ campaign web site, he saw something that looked strangely familiar.


     He was on Rodstroms’ Campaign Home Page, then clicked on the tab – About.

     There was a brief description there about Rodstrom  …..

                                      

                                    

                                          Charlotte Rodstrom

      ….. is a long-time legal activist and our Former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner. He has been a tireless advocate for preserving the integrity of our neighborhoods, and she has shown balance and vision in pursuing the growth of our city.

Charlotte is the leader we need and is dedicated to working alongside neighbors and city officials as we carve out a new direction for our community. 
 
               …………………………………………………………..

     The problem was – he realized the Rodstrom description he was reading on her web site had been taken verbatim from a description of Trantalis, that Trantalis had used in ads he had placed in neighborhood newsletters for the January primary!






     The Trantalis campaign sent out the Rodstrom flub, showing that Rodstrom had picked up the Trantalis copy word for word from his earlier flyer, and had not even changed the gender !

                         

     Trantalis finds it all a bit amusing.  “I guess plagiarism is the best form of flattery”, he said.