On Friday we saw the letter signed by 23 Miami Herald journos to management in which they decried the influence of Twitter (and the Sun-Sentinel) on their hallowed newspaper. One of the specific stories they lambasted was this front-pager that was based on Twitter and Facebook posts from readers on where they were during the September…
Ana Gardiner, before the scandal and investigations, was the chief criminal judge in Broward County. Now she’s representing a couple of Broward’s chief criminals. Gardiner, who resigned earlier this year while facing charges from the Judicial Qualifications Commission, filed a lawsuit last month on behalf of Prestige Homes of Tamarac, the company…
God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board. — Mark Twain Well the “blue-ribbon committee” of muckety-mucks — Bob Butterworth, Jack Seiler, and W. George Allen — have finally put out their final report to help clean up and bring more transparency to the Broward County…
So Charlie Crist visited the Miami Herald on Thursday. He spoke in generalities, summoned the name of Harry Truman, and said the word “hell” five times in two minutes, forty four seconds. And he spoke of his fissure with the Republican Party. “The first test was, ‘Are you conservative enough?'” he said…
The following letter appeared yesterday on the Miami Herald’s internal memo board, Readme, and was signed by several veteran reporters and editors. ———————————————————— 16 Sept 2010OUR HOPES FOR A BETTER HERALD: So, it’s Saturday night, and you want to hear live music. Among your choices: going to the Hard Rock Cafe to hear…
It’s just about time to report this: Sources are telling me that Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti may leave the Republican Party. What is absolutely true is that Lamberti and his camp are talking about it. What isn’t known is what exactly he’ll actually do after the November elections. Understand that this has…
He employs a city commissioner at his debt counseling company, contracts with the father of another commissioner to handle legal work for him, and is good friends with the mayor. Now angry residents of Parkland are wondering if those political connections — along with his apparently extensive wealth — have helped businessman…
How are some of these people still sitting in office in Broward County? Most of you know who I’m talking about (Stephanie Kraft is one). It’s embarrassing and damaging to the public. We know there are going to be several more elected officials nabbed on corruption charges by the State Attorney’s Office under Mike Satz and…
Why can’t the Broward County Commission do anything that isn’t just wrong but egregiously and outrageously wrong? What has made this gang of nine (or eight since Wasserman-Rubin’s arrest) so rotten? When they’re not engaging in chicanery, self-promotion, and corruption, they’re beating up on the poor. They need to cut…
This is Sarah Hannah, assistant city manager of the City of Sunrise. She makes six figures, she has mysterious tattoos, and if a few photos she put up on her Facebook page for all to see are any indication, she’s a bureaucrat with a sultry side. Even the interview she did with The…
Ah, the mayor’s gala. Broward Mayor Ken Keechl is set to enjoy his big party on October 2 at the Signature Grand in Davie. It’s a time for Broward’s top politician to solicit donations from lobbyists and special interests to pay for a giant party where pols and influence peddlers can eat,…
The City of Sunrise, under the stewardship of recently elected Mayor Michael Ryan, voted to cut out one of its two lobbyists and decided by consensus to put its city attorney contract out to bid. Make no mistake: This is another body blow to the top (and totally embattled) power couples in town. Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman’s husband,…
Fort Lauderdale superbuilder Terry Stiles is getting antsy about Amendment 4, the measure on November’s ballot that would require comprehensive land use changes to be approved by voters rather than puppets — I mean politicians. After the jump, you can read his missive urging employers to coerce — I mean…
I’ve seen some pretty audacious things come out of the North Broward Hospital District, but this one beats them all. On Friday, in a rushed meeting, the district board — which was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist and gets $175 million in our property-tax dollars — decided to privatize its…
Broward County taxpayers footed the bill for more than $275,000 in membership dues for commissioners for the Florida Association of Counties and its national counterpart during the past two years, according to records just released by the county. That’s just one chunk of money coming from county coffers for dubious memberships with various organizations…
I delved into some freshly released State Attorney’s Office records today and learned that the State Attorney’s Office was digging deeper into since-indicted former Broward County Commissioner Joe Eggelletion’s business than we knew. And it provides an interesting tour of corruption in Broward Town. We find a lying developer (under oath), another developer…
OK, this has been a crazy morning, but a breaking story has come up from the South Florida Times that will have to supercede Elvis in Margate for now. Times reporter Elgin Jones obtained emails that came from the account of Wilton Manors Police Chief Richard Perez that are blatantly racist. From the…
Yes, that’s Neal DeJesus, the Cooper City commissioner, preacher, and former firefighter who is quitting his elected seat on November 2. On the same day that DeJesus announced his resignation from elected office, Broward County Fire Chief John Lello announced that he was retiring. Sources say DeJesus, who negotiated for Lamberti with the fire…
Broward Commissioner Ilene Lieberman lords over a far-reaching political fiefdom and is arguably the most active and powerful politician across the county. Bill Scherer is a downtown attorney with a major law firm, plenty of land, lots of big plans, and longstanding ties to the biggest players in town (including Huizenga and the Formans). And the two of…
UPDATED: After a way-too-brief respite from the public eye, Mike Good is back. The question is whether anyone wanted him to return at all. The former Hallandale Beach manager, who was fired recently amid controversy, just qualified to run for Cooper City Commission against John Sims in the November election. “The guy…
Look inside to see some of our favorite Broward Town characters engaging in all manner of fun and games. …
Perennial candidate Freda Stevens has never been shy about going to authorities or the courts when things go wrong for her seemingly forever stifled political career. Stevens went to the FBI against state Rep. Evan Jenne after he beat her (nothing has come of her complaint). In March, after she lost…
