Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Teel Draws First Challenger !

     Her name is Inger Garcia.
 
    
And she is the first competitor to jump into the race against current District I City Commissioner Christine Teel. At least one other challenger,former Police Chief Bruce Roberts, is expected to follow Garcia’s lead soon.

                                      

    
Garcia is best known on the Galt Ocean Mile, a string of High-Rise condominiums that make up a large voting block in District I. She’s had a standing column about condo law in the The Fort Lauderdale City News, a splashy monthly alternative newspaper that has been known to hit hard and rile feathers, and has a very large distribution in the City. 

     I interviewed Garcia on her 46th birthday, and found her quite effervescent and effusive in her remarks about her candidacy.
 
     Here are some examples:

……..  So Ingrid, why did you decide to run for District I Commissioner?

          I want to help Fort Lauderdale … make a difference…. I’ve spent my whole career helping people, and now I want to fight for the rights of the people! …. This is a job I want!”
      
……..  And what makes you think you can beat the incumbent? 

         ” [she jokes] , my campaign manager hasn’t told me yet! …. but really, lots of people are unhappy with the incumbent. I’ll listen to the people!

……..  Can you give me some examples of how Teel doesn’t listen to the people?

           “She didn’t listen to them when they told her to protect the golf courses from development, she doesn’t listen to them when they tell her to stop the planes from flying over their heads. She [has the wrong ideas] about naming parks.  And she’s not focusing on making Fort Lauderdale green/organic and protected for the families. 

……..  So how will you approach the job differently?

         “First off, I will have an open door policy. I will tell my constituents to come to my house, knock on the door. I want to balance the budget, and pay some City employees a more realistic salary.

……..  Are there any specific employees you are talking about?

         “Well, lets just say that the City Manager is going to have to be able to explain his high salary to the citizens. If they think he deserves it, fine. 

……..  Anything else you want to say to your prospective voters?

        ” Just that I’ve spent the last 20 years helping people achieve their goals. Now I’m ready to help the citizens as a Commissioner”


     So the race is on in District I. Things should began to get very interesting from here on in !
    

Police and Firefighter Event…A Pictorial!

     ….. It was big…. it was fun… see for yourself!

         
………..   the 1000’s of attendees (crowd estimate by Mickey Markoff !)

                            



                           ………..   and were they happy !

                        

                             ………..   some a little too happy!

                                   
                                                     busted!

         …….   ooooo…ahhhh …. the FOOD

                              

 ………. and the fun !

                                     the thrill of VICTORY!
                                    

                                           the agony of DEFEAT!

                                

  
                   …………      the Cops and Robbers excitement! 

                                                         this….

                             

                                                           and that!
                                


 
…………   and the serious business at hand!

                                         the girls say THANKS …

                              

                                   the Citizens really mean business !


                      

                             Hey Chiefs ……. 
                            
                           please give your men and women a message !
                                       
                                        ….from the Citizens of
                                             Fort Lauderdale

                   


                                              
THANKS…………….

 

The Latest Political Gossip !

     Well, the Dog Days are upon us, the heat is oppressive, the chance of the big hurricane increases by the day, …. but have no fear ….  Politics Live On !

    
Here’s the latest political scoops, as I’ve heard them!

    One of the biggest rumors of the year seems to be about to come true.


                            
     According to numerous credible sources, former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bruce Roberts is about ready to throw his proverbial hat in the political ring. He’s told numerous insiders that he feels his 35 years of dedicated work for Fort Lauderdale did not end with his resignation as Police Chief, and he feels he can be most effective as a City Commissioner.

     Roberts lives in District I, now represented by Commissioner Christine Teel. 

     You might remember that the former Chief left office with a rather fiery resignation letter to City Manager George Gretsas, charging him with interfering with the Police Chief’s duties, ordering retribution against union leaders, and withholding important Police safety gear. 

     If Roberts gets elected, he would be in the elite group of five that has the power to retain or fire Gretsas. Currently, only City Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom has publicly called for Gretsas’s removal. It’s probable that Robert’s would make that two, and Gretsas would be hanging by his proverbial thread ! 

     I first discussed this rumor with you in May, check out what we said then!  

 http://blog.timsmith.com/2008/05/12/police-chief-cancels-speech.aspx .


     And then there’s Rodstrom’s seat. She is the first term Commissioner for District II, widely believed to be the most difficult District in the City to represent (it’s true!) The District includes most of the Fort Lauderdale beach, which is the center of the largest industry in town (tourism), but also includes trendy Victoria Park, some of the Downtown, some of the Northwest.

     We first reported in April that beach leader Steve Glassman was thinking of challenging Rodstrom. He issued a non-denial denial then, but has been very busy since then meeting with neighborhood leaders and feeling out the mood. 

     I’ve heard from many of them that say that Glassman isn’t happy with Rodstrom and is almost certain to run.

     OK, that’s all for now!…Stay tuned

    

Are Forclosures Trashing Your Neighborhood ?

     Mark Yurex, of Middle River Terrace, says it’s certainly ruining his !

     Middle River Terrace is a middle class, mostly blue collar neighborhood that sits almost exactly, (geographically), in the middle of Fort Lauderdale. It’s had it’s share of problems over the last twenty years, but soared in value, and stabilized, during the boom years.
 
     And like other neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere, the boom went bust. Lots of would be millionaires just packed up the dishes and flew the coop. Here is what they are leaving behind! 

                       How would you like to live next door to this beauty of a pool?


                                         


     Thought buying a home on the water would protect you from bad neighbors? … Guess again.


                                       


                          Is this home using the Real Estate tip of “curb appeal”? NOT! 


                                  

                                           So what’s the City doing about it? 

     According to Michael Maloney, Code Enforcement Manager for the City, the City is keenly aware of the problem, has established a Task force and is working on solutions to the problem. He says that Yurex’s neighbor’s house is on the bad list, and they are trying to figure out how to tackle the problem. He says that the wrinkle is that no one claims responsibility for many of these properties, and the City Ordinances aren’t strong enough to fix this complicated mess. He lamented that there are “100’s and 100’s” of these abandoned and degrading homes, dispersed “through-out the City”.
 
     He also said that the City Commission is looking for the City Management to suggest new laws that will be effective. Until then, the City is adverse to just swooping in, draining the pools, and mowing the grass, as the City wouldn’t ever be paid for their efforts.

     As far as Yurex is concerned, he could care less if the city collects or not. He doesn’t feel the City should let these dangerous and rotten conditions exist. In a letter today to the Mayor and City Commission, he rather forcefully states that he is tired of the City’s excuse. “Since my letter of two weeks ago, the weeds are two weeks taller, the pool and ponds have been the breeding ground for a million more mosquitoes, and my property values continue to drop”.

     When Code Manager Maloney was reached for a comment, he said the pools and ponds would be treated tomorrow.

     Something should be done! 




       

Police Chief Case Not Nuttiest?

     We were all aghast!

     Our brand new Police Chief, Frank Adderley, had been lying in bed, when his wife burst in and leveled a 9 mm Beretta pistol at him and fired away. She missed, thank God! She chased him into the yard, continuing to fire away, (continuing to miss)! The details are sketchy, the citizens are perplexed.
                          
                                          
                                    Adderley as young Officer with
                                                       former Chief McCarthy and
                                                   Captain Urschalitz in background


 
      And that’s crazy for sure. And we are all correct in being shocked, and wanting an explanation. After all, we adopt our public figures as if they are our own. But is it the craziest thing that has ever happened here in Fort Lauderdale?

     Not by a long shot! (excuse the pun)
                           ……………………………………………..

     Here are some of the more insane things that our cherished town has produced and that have been on the front page of the papers over the years. We’ll start right from the start! And I’m expecting you send in more examples. 

  
   …… Most of the towns residents were viciously murdered by Seminole Indians before the town was even incorporated!

     …… The City’s founding father, Frank Stranahan, who served as the first Postmaster and City Councilman, tied a sewer grate around his foot and jumped into the New River as a most creative way to commit suicide.

                                               

                                            Stranahan during happier times

      ……
We weren’t always so progressive. “No Jews” signs were posted along many of the beachfront hotels in the 1940’s and 1950’s and “Colored” toilets were in the Courthouse, and the “Colored Beach” was in Dania!

     ……  In the 60’s, The owner of the “Button”, a raucous and raunchy Spring Break bar, was arrested, after undercover Police Officers witnessed contests where crazed college kids were actually performing sex acts, on each other, on stage.

                                        [no picture available!]

     ……  In the 80’s, the downtown headquarters of the International Gold Bullion Exchange on East Broward Boulevard was raided after it was learned that the tens of millions of dollars of “gold” they were selling and storing in their vaults was actually gold painted wood blocks.
                          
                                             
                                          Gold Wood Bars Cheap!
 
     …… And in the 90’s, Vice Mayor Doug Danziger, who had led an effort to close the topless bars and adult businesses in the City, resigned from office after it was learned that he was a client of the infamous local high priced call girl Kathy Willets.

                                                   
                                          Kathy after surgery


     So there is some perspective. We will probably find out over the next few weeks or months all the sordid details of why Police Chief Adderley’s wife saw fit to “try and scare him”, (so she says), but all in all, it may be that we all just live in a really crazy town!
   

More Mayoral Candidates ..Crowding Up The Field!

   And now there are five ! …


    
Just in case you are keeping count, the fifth candidate for Mayor of Fort Lauderdale jumped into the fray this week! More about him in a minute!

     If you’ve been following what is sure to be an interesting political cauldron bubbler, you will remember that the race began simple enough; a three term, term limited Commissioner, (Hutchinson), the only candidate for months.

     Then, in came the other big gun, the State Representative (Seiler), and the race was on.
                 
                                  
                              Seiler’s well attended fund raiser last week


     But, as usual, just to make sure there would be a primary in the Mayor’s race, in jumped relatively unknown, but well resourced attorney, (Steve Rossi). The newest news on Rossi is that he has officially moved into the city from Wilton Manors (as has Seiler), and word is that he is coming out with a very provocative City financing plan soon!

     Then, when some thought it would stop with the three, in leaps former City Commissioner Dean Trantalis. Trantalis is talking confidently about his chances. Trantalis is rather locally famous, and was the only gay citizen in the race when he got in. Add his popularity with much of the beach folks and some other slow-growth residents, and you could see where his entry into the race could muddy things up!

     Then came the Colonel, now there are five!

     His name is Earl Rynerson, former Gulf War Lt. Colonel, and also GAY ! Now there are two gays! Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall at the Naugle household this week ? 

                                  
                                   
                                   Rynerson at the Florida Dem’s Convention 

    
Rynerson has been a resident of Fort Lauderdale for about a decade. He has no political experience here, but boasts that he served as a Commissioner in San Francisco, (that’s an appointed position in S.F., kind of like our Advisory Boards, but with real budget approving authority). 

    Rynerson has little name recognition, but he could get some footing, as it appears that he has made millions in different businesses he has owned. His current business is Clad Tile and Stone, near Fort Lauderdale High School. Rynerson has been making the rounds of the big names in the City, and what he lacks in familiarity, he seems to make up with his personal gusto.

     So, stay tuned, I have been predicting 7 total candidates by election day, so there might be two more to go! 

Political Signs, Smashed and Sliced!

     Democratic Candidate for State Representative in District 91, Christian Chiari, is really pissed.

     His big and expensive political signs, (that we have begun to see more and more of with the November election coming fast), are being trashed. And not just pulled down, but slashed and stomped and split and kicked. 

     Chiari says , “one thing is certain, someone feels threatened by my signs”. He added that his big signs are sponsored by individual donors and that he “doesn’t have the heart” to tell his sign sponsor, a little old lady on the beach, that her sign has met an untimely end.
                  
                              

     Now this is nothing new. The unseemly sport of yanking the oppositions’ campaign signs has been around forever, but the Chiari signs are being unusually battered.

     Therefore, Tim Smith’s Fort Lauderdale is offering a $1000.00 REWARD, leading to the conviction of the slasher/stomper.

     Chiari says he thinks he knows which political opponents’ camp is behind the pummeling. So I reached out to the Bogdanoff campaign for a comment. None has been forthcoming, as of yet.

     The Reward money is in the bank. Give me a call……Tim

Judge Finds for “Chainsaw Steve” … An Update!

                                 

      You might remember Steve from a previous post. He is a businessman, artist, and resident of a neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale called Poinsettia Heights, and he recently gained a new “A.K.A.” for trying to protect his neighborhood….. He’s now forever known as “Chainsaw Steve”! 
         
     This is how his new name came about.
 
     He was just plain fed up with 5 convicts that had taken up residence along the RR tracks near his business and home off NE 13th Street. The neighborhood was having a major spike in crimes like burglaries and car break-ins that just happened to coincide with the felons arrival in the area. 

                          Here are two of those career felons:

                  
                   “Cross Eyed Mike”                             “Shorty”
     
                     
     Chainsaw’s real name is Stephen Sticht, and he first made news a decade ago with his artistic efforts with the “Bluebikes”. He and his group of “avant garde” artists painted dozens of old throw away bicycles blue, and hung them all over town in the most unusual places. It was Fort Lauderdale’s version of Chicago’s Cows.

     After hundreds of calls to the local Police asking them to remove the thugs from their base along the tracks, and getting nowhere, Steve took action.
 
    He powered up his now famous “Chainsaw”, and made his way down the FEC line until he found the “Camp”. It had to go! 

    Buzz buzz buzz buzz, and the “Camp” was gone. The Felons were upset! They called Public Defender Howard “Help me Howard” Finklestein and filed a complaint. 

    Shame on you “Help Me Howard” for listening to this rotten gang of criminals.

     A restraining order was granted to the felons by Judge Jorge Gonzalez (shame on you too!) , and Sticht was ordered to stay away from the felons’ residence (the tracks !)

    Sticht spent thousands on lawyers, many sleepless nights, but thankfully, in the end, justice was done.

     Judge Matthew Destry deserves a compliment for sending the felons packing…… hopefully to another RR line far, far away!

     



    

Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s Race…. An Analysis

     And now there are four,

     
four candidates that is, running to be the next Mayor of Fort Lauderdale. My initial guess was that there might be 7 candidates in the race before it’s all over, so maybe we’re just a little more than half way there! 

    The latest to jump in is former Commissioner Dean Trantalis.

                               

     Trantalis served only one term as the Commissioner for District Two. That District is a very complicated district that includes some of the city’s richest citizens that live along Las Olas in the Isles, and some of the poorest that live in South Middle River along Sunrise Boulevard.

     Trantalis was known as a cerebral Commissioner, quite thoughtful, but with little tolerance for the little gritty details that Commissioners face daily. When he announced that he would not run for a second term, it was widely believed that he had lost his taste for the job, and was pining for his private life back.

     Now, Trantalis says that he decided not to re-enlist because “with matters seemingly taking the right direction, it seemed safe to step back from politics, having served my public”. 

      He added, “unfortunately, so many of these [his] accomplishments began to crumble”, so he has to get back in to straighten things out. And he says he can be effective as Mayor, bring respect for diversity back to the City, and fix the Commission that is “plagued with petty bickering”.

      Trantalis has always enjoyed the support of a large voting block within the Gay and Lesbian community, and he became a champion of the slow growth movement in the City during his years on the dais, but it seems unlikely that he will be able to muster enough votes citywide to win.

    The other three. 

                                 

     Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson, the first candidate to get in, has served on the City Commission for nearly 9 years. She is term limited, and there was speculation early on that she would run for County Commission John Rodstrom’s seat, but settled on a run for Mayor instead.

     Hutchinson probably has the highest percentage of “name recognition”, an important barometer that political pundits look at to gauge the chances of success in any political campaign.

     Hutchinson has a reputation as a hard worker, is always prepared for City Commission meetings, and may be the most prolific among her colleagues for new ideas and proposals.

     But many think Hutchinson’s front runner status and apparent momentum stalled months ago when it was revealed that she had sent campaign materials from City Hall and initially lied about it.



                                

     Representative Jack Seiler   might be taking the front runner status away from Hutchinson.

     He is holding his first big fundraiser tomorrow, and seeing who shows up might be a good indicator of whether he is gaining the lead.
 
     Up until now, most of the local heavyweights and campaign contributors have been signed on with Hutchinson, but if Seiler’s party is peppered with enough of those important locals, it might spell a turnaround in the race. In politics, momentum (the Big Mo!) is everything.

     Seiler’s detractors say what he really wants is a big job in State Government, maybe Attorney General or even Governor, and that a stop along the way as the leader of the biggest City in Broward County might act as a nice resume padder!

     Other’s say that Jack is an interloper that really lives in Wilton Manors, but that is no longer true as Seiler and his family moved into Fort Lauderdale last month.

                               
     Lawyer Steve Rossi is the bus bench and other public infrastructure advertiser guy that quietly got into the race and hasn’t made much of a stir. I don’t expect much “Big Mo” here.

     And the other three that will make my prediction of seven ultimate candidates for the next Mayor of Fort Lauderdale?

     Stay tuned!

Citizens Plan Police and Fire Blow-Out

     All the King’s Horses and all the King’s Men might not be able to mend the fences and cure the bad blood between the Cops and the City, but the Citizens of Fort Lauderdale think THEY can !  …


     

                                     
      
    
 That’s why the Citizens are throwing a party. A big blow-out, a Shin-Dig you won’t want to miss! It’s being organized by the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations.

     Ever wanted to watch the Cops raid a Crack House and tackle the bad guys, or stand by as the FireFighters save an accident victim trapped in their smashed and smoldering car.
     You’ll be able to at this creative celebration.

      Do you think that recognizing the Cops and FireFighters that put their lives on the line daily is something you could be part of? ……….  then read on …… 

     You’ll remember that the City and the Public Safety Unions recently finished a bruising year-long battle over pay and benefits. It got ugly, real ugly. It’s unclear whether the Unions or the City eventually won. 

     But one thing is clear. The Citizens could have been the losers.

     Morale in the rank and file was heavily damaged.

     It’s hard, if not impossible, to quantify what consequences poor morale might deliver. But in the case of Police and FireFighters, it could mean life or death, and the Citizens are not waiting for a study. They are throwing this party to let Police and Fire know they’re appreciated.

     So put this on your calendar.

               Police and FireFighter Recognition Night
                 … on National Night Out Against Crime …

               Tuesday,  August 5th ….  5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

              Holiday Park…….Fort Lauderdale, Florida   

     
And if that’s not enough, everyone gets fed for free! If you need more information, or want to help with this event, send an e-mail to the Event’s Chairperson (me!) at Tim@TimSmith.com, or call me at 954-822-4727……..