While Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter remains under investigation for her involvement with dirty developers Bruce and Shawn Chait, she wrote on her Facebook page that their gift of a golf cart to her is a “private” matter and that her acceptance of it was neither illegal nor unethical. The Chaits gave…
There’s so much news coming down in the near future, more scandals, more damning information. It’s coming. But apparently nothing big is going to happen today (despite rumors). So I thought we would look to the past, specifically the roots of one of the most storied power couples in South Florida history, Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter…
UPDATED: On the same day, Broward Fire Chief Joseph Lello announced his retirement, I’ve confirmed. Lello is expected to remain in office until early January. Sources say that DeJesus is expected to be named Lello’s replacement as fire chief. Manager Bruce Loucks said that DeJesus told him that he was leaving office…
I’ve got ten unformed things I’m working on right now, so I thought I’d share with you some notes from the State Attorney’s investigation that is threatening to turn the political world in Broward County upside down. Let’s start with “Nervous Nelly,” AKA Patricia Atkins-Grad, the suspended Tamarac commissioner who has already been…
Well, it wasn’t really a brawl, since only three players were involved and everybody else tried to break it up, but it was a classic mound charge. Gaby Sanchez made sure of that with his out-of-nowhere clothesline of Nyjer Morgan as he came at Chris Volstad. For the record, I like…
Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter called me today and in a brief and somewhat frenzied exchange, she accused me numerous times of lying about her. She also confirmed that she’s never been to Taiwan. And on that, I’ll take my medicine. A St. Petersburg Times story indicated that she had traveled there, and…
People ask, so what did you think about that Rothstein hearing? And I’m like, nothing much. It’s a sideshow. Ed Morse wants to cut in front of the line of the other victims to recoup his multimillion-dollar loss? Sure, and let’s fund George “Whale” Levin’s alleged losses with stimulus money and…
While the Chaitgate corruption investigation rages on, Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman won’t be at today’s commission meeting. She’s gone to China. Lieberman’s office confirmed she left for Beijing yesterday as part of a delegation representing the National Association of Counties. She will be there for ten days to “promote economic development.” …
So Stacy Ritter was on Channel 4 with Eliott Rodriguez, who conducted a deft and capable interview (my only complaint: no golf cart mention!). He got her to talk about her watering down of the ethics reform package — and, yes, she did squirm a bit. But the highlight came when…
Tamarac City Manager Jeffrey Miller wasn’t in the middle of the scandal involving dirty developers Bruce and Shawn Chait. He was at the top of the bureaucracy. But Miller said in a sworn statement with prosecutors that he was well aware of the Chaits and the controversial housing project they…
I got a good laugh when I saw this CNN interview with former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, so I decided to post it. I too am sick and tired of the insidious bunny rabbit-related racist stereotypes being thrown around these days. Where will it end? Hey, with all this Glenn Beck nonsense…
The lobbying and development crowd is lining up in a big way to oppose an amendment aimed at giving voters a direct say on what does — and doesn’t — get built in their communities. It’s Hometown Democracy’s Amendment 4, and if passed by voters in November, it will require a referendum…
Broward County Attorney Jeffrey Newton, who has been at the center of controversies involving ethics reform, turned in his resignation letter today, a representative of his office confirmed moments ago. Newton will leave his position in 90 days; I am obtaining his letter right now. Newton raised the ire of…
Outside Tamarac City Hall is a bronze monument to Norman Abramowitz, a man they called “Da Boss.” In fact, the entire building is dedicated to Abramowitz, a celebrated former county commissioner and mayor of the town. The Long Island-raised Abramowitz had an old-school New York style and, despite only having a high school…
Diane Glasser, a top Democratic official and current Tamarac city commissioner, admitted accepting $4,000 in cash from dirty developers Bruce and Shawn Chait in 2006, according to State Attorney’s Office investigative records. Glasser also said in a sworn interview that former Tamarac Commissioner and fellow Democratic official Marc Sultanof told her…
All right, Stacy Ritter did, in fact, meet with prosecutors on Friday, according to the Sun-Sentinel. She had previously agreed to talk to prosecutors and then bowed out before again agreeing to meet. Yes, she was the answer to yesterday’s blind item, but the newspaper is reporting she sat down on Friday. That…
— Here’s what they call a blind item: This Broward County commissioner was asked to come in voluntarily to be interviewed by prosecutors in the State Attorney’s ongoing corruption probe, without immunity, and after initially agreeing to do so, backed out of it? Allegedly there are ongoing talks in hopes of the commission…
They overwhelmingly rejected Angelo Castillo and his big-money backers. They put an arrogant Sunrise Mayor Roger Wishner on his backside with a stinging loss. They sent the carpetbagging party-changing Al Jones packing. They decided not to give former lobbyist Steve Geller another chance and returned his opponent, who truly fought…
Some observations that will be updated as the night wears on. Again here’s the results page for you to follow at home. — Sue Gunzburger, as expected, seems to be cruising to a victory over Steve Geller. — Jennifer Gottlieb is doing well, but the drama there is whether she…
And what’s voting day without the specter of Joe McCarthy looming? In this ad put out by Steve Geller in the final push of his attempt to unseat Sue Gunzburger, he compares his opponent to the great red baiter himself. He bases the comparison on the fact that Gunzburger had the nerve to call out her colleagues…
While this election season plays out, let’s not forget what all these candidates are vying for. A chance to slop up free steaks and drinks at premiere restaurants from lobbyists and companies that woo them for public contracts worth millions of dollars. Don’t believe me? You should have gone to…
How do you run over an unarmed person — especially a very small unarmed person — in a car in a parking lot in self-defense? That’s a question the Davie police are apparently asking themselves as they continue to mull over the death of graffiti artist Jonathan “Ynot” Corso, who was run over during a fight in the Club…
