Author: commtims

     His name is Bruce Roberts. He is our former Police Chief.

                                                                  
                                                           Police Chief Roberts

     He was a Cop for a long time, some 35 years. Here is a picture of him in his early Cop days, with his Special Undercover Squad back in 1979.
                                                            
                                                                       
                                   

     If you can’t pick him out, he’s the guy in the middle, with the long hair and beard, (the last thirty years has not been especially kind to him, follicly speaking!)

     Now, after a successful career in law enforcement, starting as a Patrolman and ending up the Chief of Police, he’s got a new goal, Fort Lauderdale District I City Commissioner.

     I interviewed him recently, and here are the results. He was quite candid.
                                     …………………………………………………………..

Tim – So Chief, did you ever have to shoot anyone?

Bruce –  I did! My partner and I were tailing a couple of guys that  had just robbed someone at a night depository at a bank on Sunrise Boulevard. We made a felony stop, and before we could do much, they came out of the car with a blazing shotgun. One of their bullets went through my legs and flattened the tire on the squad car. Pretty scary!. We had to shoot them.

Tim – So now that I know you can shoot the bad guys, why have decided to try and replace Commissioner Christine Teel as Commissioner ?

Bruce – I think she’s abdicated her responsibility as Commissioner. She’s let the City Manager set policy, and hasn’t been listening to her constituents. Also, she was initially in favor of the grotesque pay raises at the City. Also, I think I will bring more energy to the position.

Tim – When you resigned as Police Chief, you were pretty pissed! You said some tough things about City Manager Gretsas. Do you think you will keep him on as Manager if you’re elected?

Bruce – I think you know me well enough to know I’m not going to make personnel decisions without all the information and without due process.

Tim – Ok, fair enough, but you said at the time that the Manager’s office had held back important Police Safety equipment, what was that about?

Bruce – Actually, that was Assistant City Manager David Hebert. We had new important AR-15 rifles scheduled for purchase and Hebert said if the Police Union wouldn’t bargain, “maybe the rifles don’t get ordered.”  …..   (Tim note – Hebert denies this claim)

Tim – So what are your plans if elected?

Bruce – It’s going to be a tough budget year, the first year, but I know what needs to be done and have done it. I’ll  fall back on the primary purpose of government;  Police, Fire, EMS, Water. Sewer, and Trash. And as a Commissioner, with my colleagues, and the citizens, I’ll set the direction and policy for the City to meet the challenges we’ll face together.

     Zip Code 33311.   ……    The Sistrunk Boulevard Area

     In the City of Fort Lauderdale, it’s more accurately known as District III. With a few exceptions, it borders Sistrunk Blvd. – south and north. It’s the historically black section of town. Until the 1960’s, blacks had to stay there all the time, at least after dark.

      It once was a thriving community. But after desegregation, the area began to get worse. Many of the educated and professional blacks moved away. Commerce dried up. It’s been a struggle since then. Lots of crime, slums, blight.  It’s currently over 80% black, mostly poor. In contrast, much of the east side of town is over 80% white.

     For the last twenty years, it’s elected official, and most important leader, was Carlton Moore. Over the years, he became powerful, but controversial. He fought ferociously for his area. He bickered with Mayor Jim Naugle. He made things happen, but also did silly things like driving on a suspended driver’s license, and being in arrears on taxes. There are now 4 candidates to fill his seat, but more may get in.

     His last day was last Tuesday, and in typical Carlton Moore fashion, he went out with a bang. One colleague, Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom, tried to cut his last day short by declaring his last day Monday. She had legal opinions she said, but he ignored her and stayed and voted and fought – right through his last day.

     Now he’s a private citizen and there’s a temporary replacement in his seat until the election in March. Change is coming to Sistrunk.

     I talked at length today with LaRhonda Ware, the President of Dorsey Riverbend, one of the major neighborhoods off Sistrunk. She’s considering jumping into the race for Commissioner also, says she is 98% certain, but is nagged by the “numbers”. She only wants to get in if she thinks she could win!

                                       

     Ware is quite outspoken, and has an interesting take on which of the candidates might win the seat. She thinks Nadine Hankerson, and Cameron Mizell have the best shot at the seat (if she doesn’t run). She says they are more traditional candidates, are grassroots, and “know the older people better”, the ones that vote.

     She says Bobby Dubose and Pam Adams chances are slim. She thinks one of them will get Moore’s endorsement. She says they will collect more money from the lawyers and such on the whiter side of town, but “it won’t matter”.

     She thinks our city has become a “joke”, and says her peeps are tired, and fed up. They want a grocery store, and banks. She says they want the “bad guys gone”.  She says the City isn’t totally responsible for District III’s troubles. She think’s the fault lies about 50/50, split between the City and the residents of the area. But she also said her community is changing, that new people are slowly moving in, lots of interracial couples.

     She knows she will have to decide if she will run by about Thanksgiving, and after that isn’t worried. She says the “people will speak”.

    

    

     Fort Lauderdale, for years, has been in the middle of the controversy surrounding the rights of gays. And Fort Lauderdale has a lot of gay citizens.

     In fact, some demographic studies, based on US Census information, have the Fort Lauderdale/Miami Metro area ranking 4th on the list of American cities/metro areas with the highest gay population. As a percentage of population, other studies show Fort Lauderdale’s ranking at 23rd, Key West at 7, Orlando at 95, and Wilton Manors at number 1.

     So when an issue comes around that affects the lives of gays and lesbians, it always affects our City!

                             
                                   giving a nutbucket a forum

     The latest such item came on November 4th with the ballot issue known as  Amendment 2. The Amendment said that in Florida, marriage could only be between a man and a woman, and that no other legal union that was the “substantial equivalent” of that would be valid. Critics say that language might also include civil unions or domestic partnerships.

     The constitutional amendment passed with 62 % of Floridians in favor and 38% opposing.
 
     In Broward, the results were much closer, 52 % in favor and 48% opposing…..Fort Lauderdale opposed the effort, with 46% in favor and 54% opposing ….(Wilton Manors weighed in at 25% in favor, 75% opposed.)

     This issue, and similar issues can have local consequences, so I asked the Candidates for the Fort Lauderdale Mayor and Commissioner jobs how they came down on the issue.

     Mayoral Candidates……
 
Steve Rossi ……. campaign has elected not to comment on any blogs for the duration of the campaign

Earl Rynerson ……. opposed – says “religious fundamentalists should stay out of peoples private affairs”

Jack Seiler ………opposed – says “my concern is the adverse impact it could have on domestic partnersips and civil unions”

Dean Trantalis …… opposed – says the amendment is a “slap in the face for anyone seeking equal rights”

District I

Inger Garcia ….. says her “personal vote is private”, but that she is the ” last to judge anyone in their personal relationships”

Bruce Roberts ….. opposed –  says gays should have “many of the benefits we straights take for granted”

Commissioner Teel  …… evaded giving an answer

    District II

Howard Elfman ….. opposed –  called it a “divisive and bigoted amendment”

Steve Glassman …. opposed  – says our City needs “new leadership to afford all our residents equal rights”

Commissioner Rodstrom – opposed – for personal reasons

     District III

Pam Adams …. opposed – says we should “treat everyone with respect” and that the amendment was “not just a gay issue”

Bobby Dubose …. opposed – says he believes “marriage is only between a man and a woman, but the amendment went further and was not clear” 

Cameron Mizell …. called too late to be included

Nadine Hankerson …. does she really exist?

    District IV

Jim Lewis …. opposed – says he is a strong family guy, but the amendment was “unnecessary, and government should stay out of people’s private lives”

Coleman Prewitt …. says he “strongly opposed it and voted against it”

Romney Rogers …. in favor – says he “voted in favor, with the majority,” but believes in domestic partnership contracts and the need for gays to “legitimize” . Doesn’t want to be labeled as homophobic (like his neighbor Jim Naugle).

     A dangerous situation in N.E. Fort Lauderdale last night! …..A domestic dispute turns into a stabbing…….

     The violent culprit leaves her bleeding and flees from the 1600 block of N.E. 3rd Avenue …….. F.L.P.D. chases him down to the Citgo Gas Station at the intersection of N.E. 13th St. and N.E. 4th Avenue. 

                         He goes to jail….. she goes to the hospital ….

                 
                   
                       ……….. and the car goes to impound

                 

                    violent crime……up 9% over last year in Fort Lauderdale

      I just received a comment, in the form of a photo, on my latest blog post from Cal Deal, well known activist and edgy computer maestro……….

      Here it is……….

                 
                    
              When asked for a comment, Seiler responded “To the Moon Alice !”

                       See the previous blog post if you don’t get it!
    

     You can generally tell when the City Elections are nearing by attending the
    Fort Lauderdale Council of Civic Associations.

     Why?

     Because the proportion of politicians (and wanna-be politicians) to regular attendees will increase ten-fold !
                                         
                                              

     The Council is a collection of neighborhoods and civic groups in the City. They meet monthly at City Hall, and are made up of mostly neighborhood Presidents and opinion-makers. They discuss the myriad of issues that affect the City. If you are running for office, you should be there !

     The Council has been around for about 30 years and currently boasts 51 memberships. Some years it’s been an very effective group that the Mayor, Commissioners, and City Managers take seriously. Sometimes not. When I was a City Commissioner, we often referred to them ( affectionately, of course) as the Council of Trouble Makers! 

     Here is their current leader, Genia Ellis. Ellis is probably more clued in than any citizen in Fort Lauderdale.  
                
                              
    
      Ellis makes it her business to know what’s going on. She attends all City Commission meetings, serves on Boards, and runs the Citizen Volunteer Corps. Ellis has led the Council for about 5 years and is term limited out in a few months. Who her successor will be is still up in the air.

    Here’s a list of the candidates (and current officials) that showed up at the Council last night to see and be seen. 

                              
                             District IV Candidate (Hutchinson’s district)
                             Coleman Prewitt with Adriane Reesey who 
                             ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor of Elections

                                         
                            District III Candidate (Moore’s former district)
                                              Bobby Dubose
    
                                
                            District II Candidate (Rodstrom District)
                                             Howard Elfman

                                
                                   District II Candidate Steve Glassman 
                              with anti-development activist Shirley Smith

                             
                          Mayoral Candidate and former City Commissioner
                                                       Dean Trantalis

                                
                               Mayoral Candidate and former State Rep
                                            Jack Seiler

                                            
                                         District III (newly appointed)
                               Commissioner Dr. Magdalene Lewis

                                      
                                 
                                       Mayor Jim Naugle *

                           *  photo taken after I asked Jim for an interview for this blog…. He said not just yet…. actually he said “don’t hold your breath” ! …. Come on Jim!

     It seemed like the whole world was glued to their T.V. sets last Tuesday night, waiting to see who would be the next President of the United States . 

     Well, nearly the whole world. The exception was the Fort Lauderdale Mayor and City Commissioners, and a group of angry protestors that attended Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. The meeting lasted until nearly midnight. 

                           
                                      The Angry Mob !

     The angry citizens had come to the City Commission meeting to object to the final reading of a resolution that would have given a 5%, across the board pay raise to all of the City’s non-union employees.
 
     That non-union group includes all of the City’s upper management, and at the top of the food chain is City Manager George Gretsas, City Attorney Harry Stewart, the City Clerk and City Auditor. The Big Four take down over $750,000 yearly from the City.  

     The pay raise resolution had passed on first reading weeks ago, with all but Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom voting yes, but had built up lots of opposition in the community over the past few weeks. 

     Among others attending the meeting to oppose the pay raise was Mayoral candidate Earl Rynerson. He came with a contingent of protestors that wore red shirts emblazoned with the message “No Pay Raises”. The group contended that in these tough economic times, a pay raise for those at the top was ridiculous. 

                                    
                                 Some of the Red Shirt Protesters

     The protesting worked. City Manager George Gretsas, after a long disertation of his accomplishments during his tenure, volunteered to forego his raise. The City Attorney, City Clerk and City Auditor quickly followed.

     The pay raise, without the Big Four included in it, passed, with Mayor Naugle, Commissioner Hutchinson, and Commissioner Moore voting yes, and Commissioners Rodstrom and Teel opposing.

      Sometimes the squeaky wheel can demand some grease!

 

     




      

       

     It was billed as a Fort Lauderdale Candidate Event for those seeking the Mayoral post and the District I Commission seat.

     The candidates all arrived, with a good showing of some of the City’s top activists.
                      
                               
                               State Rep candidate Chris Chiari
                             chats with Commissioner Rodstrom
                               as Commissioner Teel looks on !

     But the crowd, for such an important civic event, seemed paltry. Where were the Galt Milers? Only a handful were there, and they appeared to mostly come from one Condo.

     The Galt Ocean Mile has always been critical to City candidates, because the mature residents there always turn out to vote in big numbers. It was apparent that this event was not widely publicized. 

     Soon the mystery answered itself. It wasn’t your standard Q&A candidate forum at all, but more of an ambush, seemingly set up to attack one candidate.

     And that District I Commission candidate was local condo attorney Inger Garcia. Garcia has been critical of the leadership of many of the condos along the Galt for years now. In her column in the Fort Lauderdale City News, a newspaper known for its’ controversial offerings, Garcia has continually warned residents to watch their Condo Boards. 
                                    
                                
                                       District I candidates
                                  Garcia ….. Roberts …. Teel

     She has written about the new State Condo laws that improve transparency and “punish the wrongdoers”. She recently wrote that condo unit owners should report any suspicions that Board Officials have ” made decisions based on their own financial interests”.  

     After an abbreviated Q&A session, Galt President Pio stated that there were “a few questions”. Then came the ambush. Pio called up only two residents to the microphone and they both blasted Garcia. They chastised her for “implicating corruption”, and for calling them “crooks”. Another in the audience defiantly “shot the bird” at Garcia from his seat.  

                                      
                                          The Ambush

     No other questions were entertained.
 
     The candidates left the stage, while those in the crowd with no affilation to the condo just seemed shocked. It was a bad day for the Galt.

    

     The ‘good ole days’, when you could leave your doors unlocked in Fort Lauderdale are ancient history. 

                            
                         Fort Lauderdale Police in safer times


     And this year, things have only gotten worse. Fort Lauderdale’s crime is on the rise. Robbery is up 8%, burglary up 17%, and vehicle burglaries up 21% over this time last year.

     Something has to be done. And the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the new Police Chief, Frank Adderley, who has only been on the job for a matter of months.

                                  
                                   Chief Adderley

     But a new effort by a new Chief might be just the ticket. And that is what’s happening.

     So local thugs beware; Fort Lauderdale’s new Street Crimes Unit is on the job! And Chief Adderley has picked one of the toughest and most respected Cops on the force to lead the new unit, Captain Luis Alvarez. 
                                            
                                                    
                                                      Alvarez 

     The creative team is made up of Forty Police Officers….all hand-picked…the tough and assertive kind…. often dressed in all black…. criminal intimidators!…. ready to roll……… they’ll probably take prisoners, but only because they’re required to!

     And it might be just in time. With the economy tanking everywhere, and even harder in Florida, many experts believe crime could spiral totally out of control.  

     This hand-picked Special Force was cobbled together by combining positions from numerous “Special Teams” that have been around for quite some time, but many felt had lost their effectiveness. They were the “Raiders”, the “Tac Team”, and the “Special Problems Unit”. Now, the new name is not splashy, but their firepower, and make-up, is impressive.

     Chief Adderley released the stats today of the first month of operation for the new team.

     a small sample of their 350 Arrests this month – 

      ….. a Cocaine dealer, dealing outside a school in Dorsey Riverbend
     ….. a thug with a gun in Edgewood, arrested after attacking a Police Officer
     ….. a child molester on the beach
     ….. a man arrested after stabbing a man on Broward Blvd.
     ….. a carjacker arrested in South Middle River
     ….. a burglar who held a knife at a homeowner in Flagler Heights

     ….. and so it goes. Chief Adderley thinks this new effort, with it’s ability to swarm an area and make substantial progress – quick, is the way to go.
      It’s proven Police strategy that if you fix the “broken windows”, in this case the street thugs that prey on our community, crime rates fall.

      We hope he’s right!

   

     

     

    

     Carlton Moore’s political days in Fort Lauderdale are nearly done.

     After serving as the District Commissioner for District III for the past 20 years, Moore will say goodbye on November 4th. Moore’s final term in office will be cut short by about 4 months, as he had to resign (effective November 4th), when he got into the County Commission race against incumbent Commissioner John Rodstrom and lost.

     Moore would have been term limited out of his Fort Lauderdale Commissioner’s seat in March, regardless.

                                
                        Moore thanks supporters after losing County Commission bid
                                
     An interim Commissioner will now be appointed by the City Commision to serve out Moore’s term. This temporary Commissioner will serve until the City elections next March, when a new Commissioner will be elected for a three year term to serve District III.

      Most observers believe that the Commission will pick someone that agrees to only serve temporarily, and not run in the general election in March.

     So who’s in the running for that temporary, yet prestigious position?

     There are at least eight District III residents in the running, but the focus will probably revolve around three that are on a list that’s being offered up by a ad-hoc citizens group.

     The citizens group plans to weigh in to the City Commission and influence the choice for the Temp-Commissioner and here’s who they like:

     Pam Adams – President of Adams Consulting Group. Adams has served on City Boards and has been active in the community for years. Rumor has it that Naugle will oppose her since she is a registered lobbyist.

     Bernadette Norris-Weeks – A local attorney that has been drawing attention as an up and comer in the District for the last few years.

     Dr. Magdalene Lewis  – A retired educator that has a long history of community involvement.

     The Commission is not restricted to this citizen group list, and Naugle is known to be partial to Durr’s neighborhood President Mickey Hinton. One well founded rumor had Naugle actually delivering Hinton’s application form for him.

     Moore has not publicly announced his favorites, but the list of three are all known to be close with him.