In case you missed it, it was a great event.
Transparency, and Those That Obstruct it!
Candidates Echo Common Call - Show us the Money!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - April 17, 2012
Hometown PAC put on another great event last night at Salute in Key West, providing the opportunity for candidates running for all offices to expose themselves... figuratively, thank goodness! Throughout the evening one common theme seemed to weave itself through the fabric of campaign rhetoric, and it was that of transparency.
Last night as a candidate for Clerk, I promised to work to place every County agency's line item budget online. Taxpayers deserve convenient fingertip access to see how every last penny is being spent. But I was not alone, as numerous other candidates referenced prying open budgets and providing the public access to financial documents.
This was great to see, considering the theme of this very blog Naked Conch is "Exposing the Keys, one shell at a time!" The call has to continue, and the public should be just as vocal as the candidates. This extends beyond budgets and finances, to inventory accountability, and even just being responsive to public inquiries.
The dark ages of deterring the public from gaining access to how their own resources are being allocated needs to come to an end. Administrators should not feel comfortable in charging for their own time to answer a simple public records request, such as I wrote about here when the Health Department did just that. (See Here.)
Nor should administrators feel comfortable letting public records requests languish without an explanation, as the Clerk's Office has been doing regarding providing me with inventory reports. (See Here and Here.) Especially after the County Inventory Clerk filed a complaint with the State Attorney's Office about being pressured to resign as a result of trying to expose inventory issues! (See Here.) This was before the iPad scandal erupted. Go figure, no leaders can call for the abusers to resign, but somehow the guy trying to expose the problems back in 2011 was pressured to resign.
Part of transparency is being comfortable committing to answers in writing, and not using the old, "Give me a call, let's talk," as I wrote about when the Public Defender's Office did that in response to my inquires about statements Rose Enright made before the County Commission. (See Here.) Neither candidates, nor the public, should fear the ramifications of a well connected political machine being turned against them for making simple inquiries as to the allocation of the public's resources.
Questioning why we are paying rent for waterfront property (See Left) of the Public Defender is not an attack, or mean spirited. Neither is wondering why we are expanding that rental property when staffing has not increased, and the Key West attorney case counts are tremendously lower than Upper Keys offices where there is literally empty office space. This doesn't just constitute how much money is being spent, but also how taxpayer resources are being allocated. Is it fair to Public Defender clients in Marathon that their felony attorney handles three times the caseload of that of Key West attorneys? (See Here.) To date, Public Defender Rose Enright has refused numerous offers for her to come on my show on KONK broadcasting and discuss these issues. However, she freely admits before the County Commission to gaggles of laughing approval, that she is "working on the Sylvia Murphy lounge in her office right now." With taxpayer dollars of course, I guess that is transparency of some sort.
But again, it's great to see more candidates joining me to beat the drum of transparency, let's hope it continues. We need to move into a new age of enlightenment of the public to reduce the incidence of scandals such as the recent iPad debacle. Government administrators need to know that thousands of eyes from the public are easily observing the manner with which they run their agencies. Only then will we have true accountability to the taxpayers, and you don't need to be a CPA to tally those benefits!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - April 17, 2012
Hometown PAC put on another great event last night at Salute in Key West, providing the opportunity for candidates running for all offices to expose themselves... figuratively, thank goodness! Throughout the evening one common theme seemed to weave itself through the fabric of campaign rhetoric, and it was that of transparency.
Last night as a candidate for Clerk, I promised to work to place every County agency's line item budget online. Taxpayers deserve convenient fingertip access to see how every last penny is being spent. But I was not alone, as numerous other candidates referenced prying open budgets and providing the public access to financial documents.
This was great to see, considering the theme of this very blog Naked Conch is "Exposing the Keys, one shell at a time!" The call has to continue, and the public should be just as vocal as the candidates. This extends beyond budgets and finances, to inventory accountability, and even just being responsive to public inquiries.
The dark ages of deterring the public from gaining access to how their own resources are being allocated needs to come to an end. Administrators should not feel comfortable in charging for their own time to answer a simple public records request, such as I wrote about here when the Health Department did just that. (See Here.)
Nor should administrators feel comfortable letting public records requests languish without an explanation, as the Clerk's Office has been doing regarding providing me with inventory reports. (See Here and Here.) Especially after the County Inventory Clerk filed a complaint with the State Attorney's Office about being pressured to resign as a result of trying to expose inventory issues! (See Here.) This was before the iPad scandal erupted. Go figure, no leaders can call for the abusers to resign, but somehow the guy trying to expose the problems back in 2011 was pressured to resign.
Part of transparency is being comfortable committing to answers in writing, and not using the old, "Give me a call, let's talk," as I wrote about when the Public Defender's Office did that in response to my inquires about statements Rose Enright made before the County Commission. (See Here.) Neither candidates, nor the public, should fear the ramifications of a well connected political machine being turned against them for making simple inquiries as to the allocation of the public's resources.
But again, it's great to see more candidates joining me to beat the drum of transparency, let's hope it continues. We need to move into a new age of enlightenment of the public to reduce the incidence of scandals such as the recent iPad debacle. Government administrators need to know that thousands of eyes from the public are easily observing the manner with which they run their agencies. Only then will we have true accountability to the taxpayers, and you don't need to be a CPA to tally those benefits!
Andy Griffiths Draws Challengers
Not Just One, But TWO!
BREAKING NEWS - April 14, 2012
According to the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections website, School Board member Andy Griffiths has drawn two challengers to the District 2 School Board Race. This is fantastic, as we at Naked Conch have always advocated for contested races.
BREAKING NEWS - April 14, 2012
According to the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections website, School Board member Andy Griffiths has drawn two challengers to the District 2 School Board Race. This is fantastic, as we at Naked Conch have always advocated for contested races.
Howard Hubbard and Yvette Mira-Talbott have thrown their hats in the ring to challenge long time board member Andy Griffiths. We thank Howard and Yvette for giving the voters a choice. Hopefully, we will see all of them at the Hometown PAC elections forum this Monday evening, April 16 at Salute restaurant in Key West at 6PM! Hopefully we will see you there as well!
Superintendent Unable to View Line Item Budget
Could that be the reason we bounce from one financial crisis to another? Ya Think?
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - April 10, 2012
School Superintendent Jesus Jara took his dog and pony show to the Sugarloaf School yesterday evening for the second of five presentations to discuss the current fiscal year's budget challenges. After a powerpoint presentation in which he outlined previous years' budget reductions, discussed the habit of depleting reserves over the last few years, and offered the expected solution of eliminating FORTY teachers, he then turned the discussion over to the approximately sixty people in attendance.
What ensued in this quest for suggestions from the public could only be described as searching for a needle in a haystack...blindfolded. Let me tell you, finding needles by grasping at straws makes their discovery a bit...shall we say...painful. For instance, when accused of not having to pay for health insurance, Jara was quick to respond that he pays his own, however, there are still a few individuals in the system that don't contribute at all. When asked to eliminate supplemental pay for administrators, Jara suggested that they had done so... well except in a few small instances. When asked to reduce salaries in administration, Jara suggested that even reducing the pay of the top forty-four administrators would not solve the budget dilemma.
What seemed lost in the discussion to me was a clear explanation of how exactly we are spending our money. When challenged to explain how the money spent last year grew from an approved $78 million, to an actual $83 Million, Jara's response was a bit vague and confusing. Which begged the question, why isn't the public presented with a line-item budget, which would include last year's approved, last year's actual, and this year's proposed line items? That way, thousands of eyes could pour over the details, and perhaps those members of the public wishing to contribute ideas or suggestions for cost savings, could do so with all the information in front of them. Why can't we see exactly what Superintendent Jara looks at when he develops his proposed budget?
Apparently we can, and we do.
As shocking as it may seem, what is provided to the public is all that our School Superintendent has to look at as well. There is no comprehensive, collective line item budget or financial software that is available even to our School Administrators.
A few weeks ago I had a discussion with School Board Member Rob Smith-Martin whereby he expressed his challenges to obtain financial information. Last night I asked School Board Member Andy Griffiths if he could obtain a line item budget, and he said that he could, made a gesture that it is a huge stack of paper, and suggested that it wasn't easy to obtain.
So I asked the question to Superintendent Jara, why can't the public view a line item budget online, referencing as an example the ability to possibly see which administrator was being payed supplemental pay. Jara was quick to suggest he could and would have supplemental pay posted online in the morning. But I pressed on, I wasn't looking for an isolated response to an item found as a result of pulling my bloodied hand out of the haystack, I want to easily peruse the budget and see all the needles without having to discover them by sense of touch.
Again, Jara was quick to suggest that that is all available as well, and quickly pulled up what would be used at an upcoming School Board Budget workshop. However, what he displayed was still fairly generalized categories, and I pressed him to show me from the list a few examples such as who is getting supplemental pay, and how much a specific software costs. He admitted that he couldn't but suggested that I could find the technology budget on line.
I then stated that what I really wanted to see was exactly what Jesus Jara is able to review when he makes his proposals, I don't want to be forced to hunt and peck for information in a thousand different places, some of which I may or may not know exist. That's when I was given the bombshell. That is the ONLY way our school financial information is available, even to administrators. Jara suggested there was not an existing comprehensive budget system or document, and that creating one would cost $500,000, and we simply don't have the money.
That is like saying, "Hey, there isn't a steering wheel in this car, but we can just keep pressure on this accelerator thingy and we'll get someplace." Jara ultimately admitted that the $500,000 estimated cost associated with development of a system to consolidate a comprehensive budget would come from capital funding, a funding source that wouldn't strain the general fund annual budget, but appeared to still throw his hands up in the air as if it was impractical.
As I was leaving, a couple of members of the school audit and finance committee suggested that I should keep pressing for such a solution, as it is something that has frustrated them as well.
As a candidate for Clerk of Courts, I have said that transparency is a key element of my campaign. Placing agency line item budgets on line, available to public scrutiny, is one of the ways I would strive to develop that atmosphere of transparency. While I realize the Clerk's Office has no dominion over the School system, perhaps that is something that School Administrators should consider implementing as well, especially if they are taking the dog and pony show on the road seeking public input.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - April 10, 2012
School Superintendent Jesus Jara took his dog and pony show to the Sugarloaf School yesterday evening for the second of five presentations to discuss the current fiscal year's budget challenges. After a powerpoint presentation in which he outlined previous years' budget reductions, discussed the habit of depleting reserves over the last few years, and offered the expected solution of eliminating FORTY teachers, he then turned the discussion over to the approximately sixty people in attendance.
What ensued in this quest for suggestions from the public could only be described as searching for a needle in a haystack...blindfolded. Let me tell you, finding needles by grasping at straws makes their discovery a bit...shall we say...painful. For instance, when accused of not having to pay for health insurance, Jara was quick to respond that he pays his own, however, there are still a few individuals in the system that don't contribute at all. When asked to eliminate supplemental pay for administrators, Jara suggested that they had done so... well except in a few small instances. When asked to reduce salaries in administration, Jara suggested that even reducing the pay of the top forty-four administrators would not solve the budget dilemma.
What seemed lost in the discussion to me was a clear explanation of how exactly we are spending our money. When challenged to explain how the money spent last year grew from an approved $78 million, to an actual $83 Million, Jara's response was a bit vague and confusing. Which begged the question, why isn't the public presented with a line-item budget, which would include last year's approved, last year's actual, and this year's proposed line items? That way, thousands of eyes could pour over the details, and perhaps those members of the public wishing to contribute ideas or suggestions for cost savings, could do so with all the information in front of them. Why can't we see exactly what Superintendent Jara looks at when he develops his proposed budget?
Apparently we can, and we do.
As shocking as it may seem, what is provided to the public is all that our School Superintendent has to look at as well. There is no comprehensive, collective line item budget or financial software that is available even to our School Administrators.
A few weeks ago I had a discussion with School Board Member Rob Smith-Martin whereby he expressed his challenges to obtain financial information. Last night I asked School Board Member Andy Griffiths if he could obtain a line item budget, and he said that he could, made a gesture that it is a huge stack of paper, and suggested that it wasn't easy to obtain.
So I asked the question to Superintendent Jara, why can't the public view a line item budget online, referencing as an example the ability to possibly see which administrator was being payed supplemental pay. Jara was quick to suggest he could and would have supplemental pay posted online in the morning. But I pressed on, I wasn't looking for an isolated response to an item found as a result of pulling my bloodied hand out of the haystack, I want to easily peruse the budget and see all the needles without having to discover them by sense of touch.
Again, Jara was quick to suggest that that is all available as well, and quickly pulled up what would be used at an upcoming School Board Budget workshop. However, what he displayed was still fairly generalized categories, and I pressed him to show me from the list a few examples such as who is getting supplemental pay, and how much a specific software costs. He admitted that he couldn't but suggested that I could find the technology budget on line.
I then stated that what I really wanted to see was exactly what Jesus Jara is able to review when he makes his proposals, I don't want to be forced to hunt and peck for information in a thousand different places, some of which I may or may not know exist. That's when I was given the bombshell. That is the ONLY way our school financial information is available, even to administrators. Jara suggested there was not an existing comprehensive budget system or document, and that creating one would cost $500,000, and we simply don't have the money.
That is like saying, "Hey, there isn't a steering wheel in this car, but we can just keep pressure on this accelerator thingy and we'll get someplace." Jara ultimately admitted that the $500,000 estimated cost associated with development of a system to consolidate a comprehensive budget would come from capital funding, a funding source that wouldn't strain the general fund annual budget, but appeared to still throw his hands up in the air as if it was impractical.
As I was leaving, a couple of members of the school audit and finance committee suggested that I should keep pressing for such a solution, as it is something that has frustrated them as well.
As a candidate for Clerk of Courts, I have said that transparency is a key element of my campaign. Placing agency line item budgets on line, available to public scrutiny, is one of the ways I would strive to develop that atmosphere of transparency. While I realize the Clerk's Office has no dominion over the School system, perhaps that is something that School Administrators should consider implementing as well, especially if they are taking the dog and pony show on the road seeking public input.
Public Deserves Transparency in County Inventory Issues
Health Department Loses Equipment, Obfuscates, Evades Questions, and Spreads Untruths About Inquiries. More Questions Still Linger About Plenty of Missing County Equipment.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - April 3, 2012
Overview: After having learned that the County Inventory Clerk filed a complaint in Sept 2011 with the Office of the State Attorney, citing being pressured to resign over finding $250,000 in missing equipment at the Health Department, I initiated an inquiry to find out more. I wrote about it here on Naked Conch, and as well in KONK Life newspaper.
Ultimately what transpired was that as a result of my inquiries, I seemed to have alienated Bob Eadie, the Director of the Monroe County Health Department, whereby he eventually suggested that my assertions and line of questioning was "false and without foundation." I stand by every word I wrote, and support every valid question with documentation contained below. Mr. Eadie then went on Guy deBoer's show and made comments that were patently false and misleading, to which I respond throughout the five video segments below recorded on my show on the KONK Broadcasting Network which aired on March 30.
Bottom Line: In this day of countless scandals, any public agency needs to strive to be as transparent as possible and responsive to the public, especially if they have a repetitively problematic track record.
The facts are this:
The Inventory Clerk for Monroe County did file a complaint with the Office of the State Attorney in Sept 2011 suggesting he was being pressured to resign as a result of "the Health Department is short of $250K of missing computers." That complaint can be viewed here.
I did receive a document from the Clerk's office as a result of a public records request that contained some very questionable items. (Full document here.) This document contained a letter (Found here.) from Mr. Eadie to the Clerk's Office in 2009 explaining the improper disposal of over $227,000 of equipment, along with an accompanying list of deletion requests (Found here.) signed by Mr. Eadie to account for the missing inventory and zero the books. While I have admitted that most of that list looks obsolete, remember that that is at the time of it being administratively accounted for as missing with the deletion requests. No one knows when it went missing. In addition, the list does contain some items from 2006.
In his 2009 letter, Mr. Eadie assures the Clerk's Office that "We have adopted procedures that will prevent the disposition on public assets without proper authorization."
The very next year, in an email exchange (Found here.) between the Health Department's Andrew Bulla, and the Inventory Clerk Mitch Hedman, Bulla writes that "the majority of the MC tagged assets have not been found." Also, at the very top of that page, Mary Vanden Brook seems to have made an odd statement of "One suggestion: add the present value as zero or close to it."
Other unusual items contained within the Clerk's response were, a 2010 list of $29K of items "missing 2 years," (Found here.) and a very long list over countless pages of valuable inventory under a heading of "Need Destruction Form." (Found here.) This list is HUGE!
I found all of this to be very unusual, so I made a Public Records Request (Found here.) of the Health Department for the following;
1 - The Monroe County Health Department's copy of the last three years of Monroe County Inventory Reports for the Monroe County Health Department as prepared by Mitch Hedman, or any record reflecting an accounting of Monroe County Inventory of equipment or assets assigned to the Health Department maintained b or provided to your agency for the last three years.
2 - Any email exchange between Andrew Bulla, Mary Vanden Brook, Brian Blair, Mitch Hedman and/or yourself during the month of July 2010 that contained the words "Missing MCHD Assets" in the subject line.
3 - Any record maintained by the Health Department that reflects or discusses missing County assets or
inventory, and/or a copy of any policy or procedure developed by the Health department to track Monroe County Assets.
Health Department Administrative Director Mary Vanden Brook responded by offering to provide a response to the Public Records request at a cost of over $400 including charges for her time as well as Mr. Eadie's time. (The entire email exchange can be found here.) Throughout the email exchange you can read that along with objecting to the cost of providing a response, in an effort to be more concise, I also offer more detailed options such as;
"How much would it cost for a copy of the last three years of County inventory records that your office may have?"
"it would be nice to view the entire email conversation that is only partially copied in the PRR from the Clerk, where Andrew Bulla suggests he can't find the majority of tagged assets"
"It would also be nice to review any policy you implemented as a result of your letter of 2009"
Mr. Eadie did provide me a copy of another deletion request from July of 2010 for approximately $29K worth of equipment filed only after it went missing that seems to correlate with the "missing 2 years" list. This list did however contain over $10,000 of relatively new equipment that was misplaced and that to my knowledge was never reported to the police, nor covered by insurance.
After failing to respond to my more simplified requests, calling me irresponsible, suggesting my accusation had no basis in fact, Mr. Eadie then became irate after my article discussing the above topic was published in KONK Life. Guy deBoer gave Mr. Eadie the opportunity to come on his show.
On this show, Mr. Eadie states the following untruths;
Untruth #1- He had never heard of any inventory issues until I brought them to his attention. FACT: His signature is on over $227,000 of deletion requests for equipment that was missing and/or improperly disposed. He also had provided me with an ADDITIONAL list of $29K of missing equipment with Mary Vanden Brooks name on it.
Untruth #2- My public records request was for THREE YEARS of emails. FACT: It was originally for a search of only one month, between specific people, with a VERY defined subject line. I revised it to be for ONLY ONE particular email exchange.
Untruth #3 - He would be willing to sit down and let me revise my request and make it more specific. FACT: SEE ABOVE. I already had, and he has yet to respond.
This coming from a guy who accused me of being without foundation.
Ultimately after all of his obfuscation he did provide me one tidbit of information that was helpful. Apparently the questionable inventory BEYOND the missing $257,000 with his or Ms. Vanden Brook's signature, found listed in the Clerk's response on pages 14 and 15 as part of his inventory report under the heading "Need Destruction Form" was in fact not his equipment.
That begs the question, then whose equipment is all that? To that end, I had already submitted a Public Records Request to the Clerk's Office for the inventory reports from the Fire Department, and the IT Department on March 12. To follow up, I also sent a follow up to the Clerk's Office on March 24 to find out more. (Found here.) As of today, there has been no response whatsoever. And on it goes....
In Conclusion: In light of all the scandals, and the fact the Inventory Clerk was compelled to file a complaint with the State Attorney last September, our public officials should be jumping at the opportunity to be as transparent as possible, not putting up road blocks, and spewing untruths about people making inquiries. Enjoy the show below including Mr. Eadie's appearance on Guy deBoer's show!
Just the facts, mam, just the facts!
Part 1 - An Overview of the Issues
Part 2 - Let's Charge over $400 to provide you with a response to your public records request...including Bob Eadie's and Mary Vanden Brook's time...seriously?
Part 3 - Gardi adjusts his requests, Eadie sites an email that he doesn't provide, and a phone call that no one has a copy of as his "facts," and basis of his defense.
Part 4 - Bob Eadie appears on Guy deBoer's show....now it gets interesting. Suggests he never heard of any issues, ignoring his signature on over $227,000 of inventory deletion requests for missing equipment he signed years before and an additional $29K list he provided to Gardi. Let's check facts, shall we Mr. Eadie...
Part 5 - Eadie suggests Gardi asks for "THREE YEARS OF EMAILS!" Absolutely 100% untrue, coming from a guy who has just accused Gardi of being without foundation!
Gastesi Suggests Sewer Deal Isn't So Smelly
State Will Cover Entire $50 Million Should Scott Approve Deal
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 29, 2012
Roman Gastesi was kind enough to spend some time recently at the Sugarloaf Homeowners Association, along with Monroe County Commissioner George Nuegent. At the presentation before approximately fifty conerned citizens, Gastesi elaborated on the most recent sewer funding initiatives.
After having seen news coverage that the State's proposal may have only been intended to cover the first year of the proposed $50 Million dollar bond issue, which ultimately may have left Monroe County holding the bag, Gastesi assured residents that the entire bond issue will be backed by the State for the full duration. The intention appears to be to use real estate doc filing fees to cover the subsequent years payments.
This was good news to many, whose concerns still centered around special assessments that will still need to be administered along with estimated sewage hook up fees. However, the plan did seem feasible, with precautions being taken to allow for the project to back track should any funding source evaporate.
While there still seemed to be many potential pitfalls to the entire funding obligation, risk to County government exposure did appear to be minimized in the event of any set back such as voters not approving an extension of the dedicated sales tax. All eyes will be on Governor Scott who could strike the proposed $50 million bond issue from the budget in he coming days.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 29, 2012
Roman Gastesi was kind enough to spend some time recently at the Sugarloaf Homeowners Association, along with Monroe County Commissioner George Nuegent. At the presentation before approximately fifty conerned citizens, Gastesi elaborated on the most recent sewer funding initiatives.
After having seen news coverage that the State's proposal may have only been intended to cover the first year of the proposed $50 Million dollar bond issue, which ultimately may have left Monroe County holding the bag, Gastesi assured residents that the entire bond issue will be backed by the State for the full duration. The intention appears to be to use real estate doc filing fees to cover the subsequent years payments.
This was good news to many, whose concerns still centered around special assessments that will still need to be administered along with estimated sewage hook up fees. However, the plan did seem feasible, with precautions being taken to allow for the project to back track should any funding source evaporate.
While there still seemed to be many potential pitfalls to the entire funding obligation, risk to County government exposure did appear to be minimized in the event of any set back such as voters not approving an extension of the dedicated sales tax. All eyes will be on Governor Scott who could strike the proposed $50 million bond issue from the budget in he coming days.
Campaign for Clerk Hitting High Gear
The campaign is beginning to move into high gear, as we have already enjoyed one forum with more to come soon! Check out the video on the campaign website at www.mattgardi.com.
Also find out what people are asking, and read and/or watch Matt's responses! When possible, I will always include the responses from forums of my opponents as well. ASK MATT a question yourself!
Check it out here!
Also, see what people who know Matt have to say about him!
Check it out here!
This campaign for Clerk of Courts is essential to each and every one of us, take the time to find out why by visiting my constantly updated website! I hope it provides you the information you need to make an informed decision when you cast your vote.
www.mattgardi.com
Also find out what people are asking, and read and/or watch Matt's responses! When possible, I will always include the responses from forums of my opponents as well. ASK MATT a question yourself!
Check it out here!
Also, see what people who know Matt have to say about him!
Check it out here!
This campaign for Clerk of Courts is essential to each and every one of us, take the time to find out why by visiting my constantly updated website! I hope it provides you the information you need to make an informed decision when you cast your vote.
www.mattgardi.com
Mortgages Pledged to Multiple Trusts
More Evidence Exposing Banks Sold the Same Mortgage Numerous Times
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 20, 2012
Whether you are being foreclosed on, have just paid off your mortgage, purchased a property recently, or wonder why your pension fund is under funded, this ought to concern you greatly! Gary Victor Dubin, a Hawaii Foreclosure Defense Attorney recently analyzed the contents of three WaMu Mortgage Loan Trusts. These are the trusts that securitized mortgages are sold to.
Some mortgages appear to have been sold as many as SIX times! You can read the full report "Securitized Distrust" by clicking here. Of note is this little gem...
This effects everyone.
- If you just paid off your mortgage and feel happy about that Satisfaction of Mortgage that is on file, you may just find another investor coming out of the mess with a claim you still owe them the mortgage.
- If you just bought a property, and think you have title clean and free, you just may find out there is a lingering mortgage or two...or six, hanging over your head!
- If you are being foreclosed on, you might just be losing your house to the very same entity that defrauded your pension fund with Mortgage Backed Securities that contain multiple pledged mortgages!
- If you have just watched your home value plummet as a result of diminishing confidence in title histories, ultimately effecting our tax base, and the revenue of every public agency in the Keys, you can thank the banks!
This isn't just an anomaly, this is wide spread, systematic fraud. We are all victims.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 20, 2012
Whether you are being foreclosed on, have just paid off your mortgage, purchased a property recently, or wonder why your pension fund is under funded, this ought to concern you greatly! Gary Victor Dubin, a Hawaii Foreclosure Defense Attorney recently analyzed the contents of three WaMu Mortgage Loan Trusts. These are the trusts that securitized mortgages are sold to.
Some mortgages appear to have been sold as many as SIX times! You can read the full report "Securitized Distrust" by clicking here. Of note is this little gem...
It’s no wonder that the Wall Street MBS scheme collapsed. Last night we ran a random audit on WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Mortgage Loan Trusts. One loan was found in 6 different trusts, another loan was found in FIVE trusts’ original SEC loan level data, 39 were listed in 3 trusts, and 503 were listed in two separate trusts.Folks, I have discussed frequently the reason Banks have had to flood our Clerk's Office and land records with fraudulent documents to prove they own a mortgage. It is because they defrauded investors when they securitized the mortgages and destroyed any record of them... including the original notes and mortgages.
The winner so far is a NEW YORK condo, loan number WaMu loan # 714934858, appeared in 6 DIFFERENT trusts from May through November 2006…
This effects everyone.
- If you just paid off your mortgage and feel happy about that Satisfaction of Mortgage that is on file, you may just find another investor coming out of the mess with a claim you still owe them the mortgage.
- If you just bought a property, and think you have title clean and free, you just may find out there is a lingering mortgage or two...or six, hanging over your head!
- If you are being foreclosed on, you might just be losing your house to the very same entity that defrauded your pension fund with Mortgage Backed Securities that contain multiple pledged mortgages!
- If you have just watched your home value plummet as a result of diminishing confidence in title histories, ultimately effecting our tax base, and the revenue of every public agency in the Keys, you can thank the banks!
This isn't just an anomaly, this is wide spread, systematic fraud. We are all victims.
This Friday on the Naked Conch Hour - Attorney Maggie Gutierrez
Joining me this week, Friday, March 23 at Noon on the Naked Conch Hour is Attorney Maggie Gutierrez, HARC Commissioner, Secretary of the Monroe County Bar Association and former Assistant Public Defender, (www.mykeywestlawyer.com) on board to discuss a host of issues, from current HARC items, to mortgage fraud, and foreclosure defense. Hopefully we will have some time to cover other topics such as indigence status, and the vital role the Public Defender plays in our community, and how best to provide public resources to support the mission. Tune in!
Watch live on Naked Conch
or
Does the State Sewer Deal Stink?
Arrangement Might Leave County Holding the Bag
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 15, 2012
Lost in all the hopeful rhetoric surrounding this year's anticipated sewer funding that has left so many local officials patting each other on the back is the discussion of what happens...next year.
To my understanding, those numerous officials who brought their entourages up to Tallahassee recently to do what I frequently refer to as the Tallahassee Two Step, are celebrating the fact the State is willing to pony up the first year's funding of a $50 million dollar bond issue. As Ryan McCarthy of the Keynoter recently reported, the Legislature has included $4.8 Million to fund the first year of the bond issue in this year's budget.
So, while all our local officials are elated, and feel vindicated that the expense of sending so many folks up to Tallahassee for the final crunch of the budget process was not just a glorified trip to hold hands and sing Kumbayah, I am left wondering where will we stand next year at this time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for exploring every alternative to fund the completion of the sewer projects, but I have always maintained that perhaps we should not be so idealistic, and we, along with the State need to extend the mandated time frame for completion again. That timeline needs to be stretched at least until funding is available on a pay as you go basis from the State, not by incurring more debt.
While the State is ponying up $4.8 million this year, I want to know what happens when our entourage of elated local deal makers come back empty handed next year. What happens after they travel to Tallahassee, and spend days using the latest app on their iPad to locate restaurants to dine with other important deal makers in a frenzy of self aggrandizement and then the State says no to additional sewer bond funding??
Guess who is on the hook for the rest of the $50 Million dollar bond issue? Yeah, you guessed it, you and me. Ever wonder how those things happen that result in some government official saying, "We couldn't have seen this coming, we need to look forward, deals we made in the past are water under the bridge."
Ultimately, locally we may be stuck with an ongoing need to fund this $50 million dollar bond issue to the tune of $5 Million per year. That's when you'll hear about all the dire cuts that will need to be made to essential County services unless we implement some new creative tax, like expanding the gas tax, or a toll booth on US 1, on increasing the sales tax, and on and on and on.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 15, 2012
Lost in all the hopeful rhetoric surrounding this year's anticipated sewer funding that has left so many local officials patting each other on the back is the discussion of what happens...next year.
To my understanding, those numerous officials who brought their entourages up to Tallahassee recently to do what I frequently refer to as the Tallahassee Two Step, are celebrating the fact the State is willing to pony up the first year's funding of a $50 million dollar bond issue. As Ryan McCarthy of the Keynoter recently reported, the Legislature has included $4.8 Million to fund the first year of the bond issue in this year's budget.
So, while all our local officials are elated, and feel vindicated that the expense of sending so many folks up to Tallahassee for the final crunch of the budget process was not just a glorified trip to hold hands and sing Kumbayah, I am left wondering where will we stand next year at this time.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for exploring every alternative to fund the completion of the sewer projects, but I have always maintained that perhaps we should not be so idealistic, and we, along with the State need to extend the mandated time frame for completion again. That timeline needs to be stretched at least until funding is available on a pay as you go basis from the State, not by incurring more debt.
While the State is ponying up $4.8 million this year, I want to know what happens when our entourage of elated local deal makers come back empty handed next year. What happens after they travel to Tallahassee, and spend days using the latest app on their iPad to locate restaurants to dine with other important deal makers in a frenzy of self aggrandizement and then the State says no to additional sewer bond funding??
Guess who is on the hook for the rest of the $50 Million dollar bond issue? Yeah, you guessed it, you and me. Ever wonder how those things happen that result in some government official saying, "We couldn't have seen this coming, we need to look forward, deals we made in the past are water under the bridge."
Ultimately, locally we may be stuck with an ongoing need to fund this $50 million dollar bond issue to the tune of $5 Million per year. That's when you'll hear about all the dire cuts that will need to be made to essential County services unless we implement some new creative tax, like expanding the gas tax, or a toll booth on US 1, on increasing the sales tax, and on and on and on.
Naked Conch Scoops Key West Citizen by...TWO MONTHS?!?!
NC Covered Schools Outstanding Half Million to FEMA in January!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 6, 2012
The Key West Citizen rolled out an article today covering the fact that the Monroe County School District owes FEMA almost a half million dollars as a result of over funding they received for hurricane Georges clean-up.
This just goes to prove that Naked Conch is your one stop source for up to the minute breaking news, we covered that here on our blog, ohhh, sometime around January 10!!!
I guess we can expect to see some coverage by the Citizen of the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of missing inventory at the Health Department, and questionable oversight at the Clerk's Office we have been covering here at Naked Conch... sometime in May?!?! We look forward to it!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 6, 2012
The Key West Citizen rolled out an article today covering the fact that the Monroe County School District owes FEMA almost a half million dollars as a result of over funding they received for hurricane Georges clean-up.
This just goes to prove that Naked Conch is your one stop source for up to the minute breaking news, we covered that here on our blog, ohhh, sometime around January 10!!!
I guess we can expect to see some coverage by the Citizen of the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of missing inventory at the Health Department, and questionable oversight at the Clerk's Office we have been covering here at Naked Conch... sometime in May?!?! We look forward to it!
County Inventory Investigation Needs Expansion
Results of Public Records Request Raise More Questions
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 3, 2012
It was refreshing to see the effect of this blog. Only minutes after I posted a blog entry here on Naked Conch about my unanswered public records requests dealing with County inventory issues, I received a response from the Clerk's office. Unfortunately the response only raised more questions.
What I received was a PDF document which included a variety of documents in response to my request for "The last two years of Monroe County Inventory Reports for the Monroe County Health Department as prepared by Mitch Hedman." If you recall, Hedman is the former County employee in charge of inventory. He filed a complaint with the State Attorney's Office in Sept 2011 suggesting he was being asked to resign after discovering $250,000 in missing inventory at the Health Department. It is important to note that the inventories Hedman tracked were comprised of items over $1,000, not the iPhone and iPads that are at the center of the latest inventory scandal, which are below the value level to be tracked by the County.
To review the entire document I received click here. To say it is a bit confusing is an understatement, but let's take note of the most significant items contained within. Page 20 is an email dated October 6, 2009 from Bob Eadie, Administrator of the Monroe County Health Department, to Kevin Madok, Hedman's direct supervisor at the Clerk's office. In this email, Eadie explains how tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment may have been improperly disposed of, and that he is requesting authorization to dispose of them as assets after the fact. He assures Madok that...
Check out Page 12. Less than a year later on July 19, 2010, Andrew Bulla, Office Operations of the Monroe County Health Departments, emails Mitch Hedman and states...
One wonders what the need was to paste such emails together to create such an impression. Also note the strange quote at the very top of the page from Mary Vanden Brook which says, "One suggestion: add the present value as zero or close to it."
Page 12 is so strange, I include it here by itself for your review.
As I mentioned, more questions than answers. Add to that, Page 11, which appears to be a 2010 inventory close. Apparently, by August 5, 2010 there was only a small $29,258.12 worth of inventory unaccounted for over the past two years. Does this include the "majority of tagged assets" that weren't found, and had a deletion request at the "next BOCC meeting?" Why leave any unaccounted for inventory other than to create the appearance that it is only $29,258.12 if anyone asks questions? If you are zeroing the books with a massive asset deletion request in July, why not zero the books?
Also, look what else shows up on Page 11, it seems to start a list of unaccounted for equipment from Tech Services, subtotaled at over $15K, apparently continuing onto the next page...not included. You know Tech Services, the department involved in the most recent inventory scandal.
Let's not forget that as I mention on a previous blog post, Mitch Hedman made a complaint to the State Attorney that he was being asked to resign as a result of trying to expose these discrepancies. Another question is who would want to put pressure on an employee to resign that was doing the right thing, and why?
For comparison sake, I have probably endured at least four County Inventory audits as the IT Director at the Public Defender's Office and the State Attorney's Office. Admittedly it's a challenge, with changing staff, laptops and radios, and staff with equipment in the field. But with the diligence of Mitch Hedman, and his predecessor Mike Miller, every single piece of equipment has been accounted for under my watch.
Why were these issues allowed to exist? More questions than answers...more questions than answers.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 3, 2012
It was refreshing to see the effect of this blog. Only minutes after I posted a blog entry here on Naked Conch about my unanswered public records requests dealing with County inventory issues, I received a response from the Clerk's office. Unfortunately the response only raised more questions.
What I received was a PDF document which included a variety of documents in response to my request for "The last two years of Monroe County Inventory Reports for the Monroe County Health Department as prepared by Mitch Hedman." If you recall, Hedman is the former County employee in charge of inventory. He filed a complaint with the State Attorney's Office in Sept 2011 suggesting he was being asked to resign after discovering $250,000 in missing inventory at the Health Department. It is important to note that the inventories Hedman tracked were comprised of items over $1,000, not the iPhone and iPads that are at the center of the latest inventory scandal, which are below the value level to be tracked by the County.
To review the entire document I received click here. To say it is a bit confusing is an understatement, but let's take note of the most significant items contained within. Page 20 is an email dated October 6, 2009 from Bob Eadie, Administrator of the Monroe County Health Department, to Kevin Madok, Hedman's direct supervisor at the Clerk's office. In this email, Eadie explains how tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment may have been improperly disposed of, and that he is requesting authorization to dispose of them as assets after the fact. He assures Madok that...
We have adopted procedures that will prevent the disposition on public assets without proper authorization.To be fair, most of the equipment seemed very old and worthless, (at least at the time it was discovered unaccounted for) and Eadie provided a document illustrating that a large quantity of equipment had been recycled the year before. Regardless, things should be good going forward, right?
Check out Page 12. Less than a year later on July 19, 2010, Andrew Bulla, Office Operations of the Monroe County Health Departments, emails Mitch Hedman and states...
As we discussed after a thorough search of our facilities from Key Largo to Key West a few MC tagged assets did turn up However the majority of the MC tagged assets have not been found.Wow. The majority of tagged assets?? But Bulla goes on to comfort Hedman.
After these missing assets are deleted from the inventory records future MCHD asset audits should prove exemplary.Didn't we just hear that the year prior? Once we just fill out some paperwork on all this missing stuff, we should be able to maintain a better accounting of whatever is left. This time the equipment appears to be valuable, useful and extensive. This email gives complete credence to Hedman's concerns about the Health Department's inventory. You would think that two years in a row of massive amounts of missing inventory might be cause for concern. Also of note on this page was what seems to be an oddly compiled email exchange that seems to paint the picture Hedman was OK with this, which he wasn't. Please note, Bulla's email is dated July 19, 2010 with a subject of "RE: Missing MCHD Assets." This email is pasted directly above one from Hedman as if Hedman was replying to Bulla. But Hedman's is dated July 15, 2010 and has a subject of "RE: from Andrew." The tech guy in me thinks that it might be difficult to reply to an email that won't arrive until four days into the future.
One wonders what the need was to paste such emails together to create such an impression. Also note the strange quote at the very top of the page from Mary Vanden Brook which says, "One suggestion: add the present value as zero or close to it."
Page 12 is so strange, I include it here by itself for your review.
As I mentioned, more questions than answers. Add to that, Page 11, which appears to be a 2010 inventory close. Apparently, by August 5, 2010 there was only a small $29,258.12 worth of inventory unaccounted for over the past two years. Does this include the "majority of tagged assets" that weren't found, and had a deletion request at the "next BOCC meeting?" Why leave any unaccounted for inventory other than to create the appearance that it is only $29,258.12 if anyone asks questions? If you are zeroing the books with a massive asset deletion request in July, why not zero the books?
Also, look what else shows up on Page 11, it seems to start a list of unaccounted for equipment from Tech Services, subtotaled at over $15K, apparently continuing onto the next page...not included. You know Tech Services, the department involved in the most recent inventory scandal.
Let's not forget that as I mention on a previous blog post, Mitch Hedman made a complaint to the State Attorney that he was being asked to resign as a result of trying to expose these discrepancies. Another question is who would want to put pressure on an employee to resign that was doing the right thing, and why?
For comparison sake, I have probably endured at least four County Inventory audits as the IT Director at the Public Defender's Office and the State Attorney's Office. Admittedly it's a challenge, with changing staff, laptops and radios, and staff with equipment in the field. But with the diligence of Mitch Hedman, and his predecessor Mike Miller, every single piece of equipment has been accounted for under my watch.
Why were these issues allowed to exist? More questions than answers...more questions than answers.
Trimming Back the Tree Commission
Citizen Acknowledges Down's Fight
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 1, 2012
Today's Citizen ran an article about community activist Sandra Down's open challenge to the City of Key West regarding reigning in the City's Tree Commission. Downs, who has been on a crusade to inform the public of just exactly how the City Tree Commission has been functioning, was recently fined $5,000 for removing a tree for a customer in an emergency situation, with a permit pending as per regulation.
Downs argues that the Tree Commission has become a revenue raising arm of City government that has over stepped it's bounds and authority, and she is calling on City officials to reign them in. Of note is the fact that public record of the meeting in which Downs was fined has seemingly been deleted or destroyed, adding fuel to the fire. For detailed coverage of the entire story, blogger Sloan Bashinski has been covering the events in detail at http://goodmorningkeywest.com/. I would do the entire story injustice if I tried to summarize the detail with which Bashinski has been covering it, I recommend you take a look.
The most glaring truth in today's Key West Citizen's article was this little gem...
Folks, when people are afraid of their government to the point that they fear retribution that can affect their livelihood, we have a real problem. All City Officials should be concerned and consider Down's claims with the utmost of seriousness. Regardless of the outcome of any appeal, or the validity of any particular fine, when public records get destroyed and the general public fears retribution from the long arm of government...Houston, we have a problem!
I look forward to having Sandy Downs and Sloan Bashinski on the Naked Conch Hour on KONK Friday March 16 at Noon! Tune in then!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 1, 2012
Today's Citizen ran an article about community activist Sandra Down's open challenge to the City of Key West regarding reigning in the City's Tree Commission. Downs, who has been on a crusade to inform the public of just exactly how the City Tree Commission has been functioning, was recently fined $5,000 for removing a tree for a customer in an emergency situation, with a permit pending as per regulation.
Downs argues that the Tree Commission has become a revenue raising arm of City government that has over stepped it's bounds and authority, and she is calling on City officials to reign them in. Of note is the fact that public record of the meeting in which Downs was fined has seemingly been deleted or destroyed, adding fuel to the fire. For detailed coverage of the entire story, blogger Sloan Bashinski has been covering the events in detail at http://goodmorningkeywest.com/. I would do the entire story injustice if I tried to summarize the detail with which Bashinski has been covering it, I recommend you take a look.
The most glaring truth in today's Key West Citizen's article was this little gem...
Some local landscapers said they agree with Downs' assessments but would not speak for attribution, citing fears of reprisal from city officials.
Folks, when people are afraid of their government to the point that they fear retribution that can affect their livelihood, we have a real problem. All City Officials should be concerned and consider Down's claims with the utmost of seriousness. Regardless of the outcome of any appeal, or the validity of any particular fine, when public records get destroyed and the general public fears retribution from the long arm of government...Houston, we have a problem!
I look forward to having Sandy Downs and Sloan Bashinski on the Naked Conch Hour on KONK Friday March 16 at Noon! Tune in then!
County Inventory Scandal Erupts - How High and How Wide?
Was it the result of a contested election, and a few yet unanswered Public Records Requests?
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 1, 2012
I have often written about the benefits of a contested election. Aside from giving the voters a choice, a true contest creates accountability and scrutinizes the manner in which an agency is being run, or the way an incumbent has conducted themselves.
In today's citizen we read about an investigation being launched by the State Attorney into the possibility that County IT equipment was being sold to County staff. Allegations suggest that former Information Services Director Lisa Druckemiller, who retired abruptly on Monday, may have sold iPads and iPhones to staff that included County Administrator Roman Gastesi, Technical Services staff member Hank Kokenzie, and possibly even County Commissioner David Rice.
Really? So aside from the fact that these individuals may have purchased deeply discounted equipment directly from the County Information Services Director without raising an eyebrow, why is it that this is just coming to light now, and who is responsible for the oversight of such equipment?
Oddly enough, just last week on February 22, being a Candidate for County Clerk, I filed a couple of Public Records Requests with County Clerk Danny Kolhage. Some of my interrogatories centered around staff, and salaries, but some were very specific about inventory reports, specifically surrounding the Health Department and the chain of command responsible for inventory. So what prompted Matt Gardi, Candidate for Clerk to ask such questions?
A few days before during lunch I happened upon a gentleman named Mitch Hedman, whom I knew to be involved in County inventory. I was surprised to learn he no longer worked for the Clerk's office, the reason for which was due to the fact he claimed he had been asked to resign after finding a shortfall in inventory of close to $250,000. He mentioned there were serious issues with a few select departments that he brought to the attention of superiors.
I found this shocking, as I always knew him to be extremely diligent, and that clearly the Clerk would respect his analysis. He stated that he also reported it to the Office of the State Attorney, and to the Florida Attorney General, however nothing ever went anywhere with either complaint. He told me he only offered me this information if it would be helpful in my campaign, whereby I might be able to contrast my concern for accountability against that of my opponents. There's that ol' contested election effect again.
I went directly to the Investigator at the State Attorney's Office whom I was told handled the complaint, and sure enough, Hedman had called the SAO in September of 2011. Investigator Chris Weber's notes indicated that Hedman was concerned about being asked to resign for highlighting $250K in missing computers at the Health Department. Weber said he provided Hedman with information about Whistle Blower protection and suggested to Hedman that he put more specific details in writing so that it could be reviewed for a potential investigation. Having never heard back, Weber considered the matter closed.
So, needless to say, both as a citizen, and a Candidate for Clerk I was concerned and wanted to find out more about inventory issues at the Clerk's Office. On February 22nd, I composed those previously mentioned Public Records Requests, and sent them directly to County Clerk Danny Kolhage via email. I also sent a similar request to Robert Eadie, Director of the Monroe County Health Department. To date, I have not been provided a response from either one of them. I have however, been provided information in response to a separate Public Records Request to County Clerk Danny Kolhage that had to do with staff and salaries, a request that I sent AFTER my initial request regarding issues with inventory.
So now, over a week later, with no response to my Public Records Request, according to the Citizen article, County Administrator Roman Gastesi suggests, County staff brought the matter to the attention of the State Attorney's Office on Monday.
What staff, and why now?
I shared my information with State Attorney Dennis Ward, and Chief Investigator Mark Wilson, and while they declined to share any information with me due to the fact it is now an open investigation, I encouraged them to broaden the scope of their investigation.
As the details emerge about the players involved we might gain a better understanding as to why certain things may have been overlooked at the Clerk's Office. Could it be that my Public Records Request hit a little too close to home and shook the tree enough to expose this latest escapade into questionable backroom behavior? While I can't prove that, it does certainly give one pause as I wait for the responses to my unanswered Public Records Requests about other substantial inventory issues.
Either way, this clearly illustrates the benefits of a contested election, the effects in this case having exposed a potential lack of accountability in an office that appears to have been run well for decades....by a revered public official who hasn't had to run in a contested election for years.
_________________________________________
Coming soon to Naked Conch, reasons why another election needs to be contested, the Office of the Public Defender. Any takers?
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - March 1, 2012
I have often written about the benefits of a contested election. Aside from giving the voters a choice, a true contest creates accountability and scrutinizes the manner in which an agency is being run, or the way an incumbent has conducted themselves.
In today's citizen we read about an investigation being launched by the State Attorney into the possibility that County IT equipment was being sold to County staff. Allegations suggest that former Information Services Director Lisa Druckemiller, who retired abruptly on Monday, may have sold iPads and iPhones to staff that included County Administrator Roman Gastesi, Technical Services staff member Hank Kokenzie, and possibly even County Commissioner David Rice.
Really? So aside from the fact that these individuals may have purchased deeply discounted equipment directly from the County Information Services Director without raising an eyebrow, why is it that this is just coming to light now, and who is responsible for the oversight of such equipment?
Oddly enough, just last week on February 22, being a Candidate for County Clerk, I filed a couple of Public Records Requests with County Clerk Danny Kolhage. Some of my interrogatories centered around staff, and salaries, but some were very specific about inventory reports, specifically surrounding the Health Department and the chain of command responsible for inventory. So what prompted Matt Gardi, Candidate for Clerk to ask such questions?
A few days before during lunch I happened upon a gentleman named Mitch Hedman, whom I knew to be involved in County inventory. I was surprised to learn he no longer worked for the Clerk's office, the reason for which was due to the fact he claimed he had been asked to resign after finding a shortfall in inventory of close to $250,000. He mentioned there were serious issues with a few select departments that he brought to the attention of superiors.
I found this shocking, as I always knew him to be extremely diligent, and that clearly the Clerk would respect his analysis. He stated that he also reported it to the Office of the State Attorney, and to the Florida Attorney General, however nothing ever went anywhere with either complaint. He told me he only offered me this information if it would be helpful in my campaign, whereby I might be able to contrast my concern for accountability against that of my opponents. There's that ol' contested election effect again.
I went directly to the Investigator at the State Attorney's Office whom I was told handled the complaint, and sure enough, Hedman had called the SAO in September of 2011. Investigator Chris Weber's notes indicated that Hedman was concerned about being asked to resign for highlighting $250K in missing computers at the Health Department. Weber said he provided Hedman with information about Whistle Blower protection and suggested to Hedman that he put more specific details in writing so that it could be reviewed for a potential investigation. Having never heard back, Weber considered the matter closed.
So, needless to say, both as a citizen, and a Candidate for Clerk I was concerned and wanted to find out more about inventory issues at the Clerk's Office. On February 22nd, I composed those previously mentioned Public Records Requests, and sent them directly to County Clerk Danny Kolhage via email. I also sent a similar request to Robert Eadie, Director of the Monroe County Health Department. To date, I have not been provided a response from either one of them. I have however, been provided information in response to a separate Public Records Request to County Clerk Danny Kolhage that had to do with staff and salaries, a request that I sent AFTER my initial request regarding issues with inventory.
So now, over a week later, with no response to my Public Records Request, according to the Citizen article, County Administrator Roman Gastesi suggests, County staff brought the matter to the attention of the State Attorney's Office on Monday.
What staff, and why now?
I shared my information with State Attorney Dennis Ward, and Chief Investigator Mark Wilson, and while they declined to share any information with me due to the fact it is now an open investigation, I encouraged them to broaden the scope of their investigation.
As the details emerge about the players involved we might gain a better understanding as to why certain things may have been overlooked at the Clerk's Office. Could it be that my Public Records Request hit a little too close to home and shook the tree enough to expose this latest escapade into questionable backroom behavior? While I can't prove that, it does certainly give one pause as I wait for the responses to my unanswered Public Records Requests about other substantial inventory issues.
Either way, this clearly illustrates the benefits of a contested election, the effects in this case having exposed a potential lack of accountability in an office that appears to have been run well for decades....by a revered public official who hasn't had to run in a contested election for years.
_________________________________________
Coming soon to Naked Conch, reasons why another election needs to be contested, the Office of the Public Defender. Any takers?
Gaseous Idea Rises Once Again. County Mulls Gas Tax
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Feb 23, 2012
Here we go again folks, the move is afoot to raise the gas tax that Monroe County residents pay on each gallon of gasoline they use. That’s right, in a recent article in the Key West Citizen, Commissioner Kim Wigington broached the subject, suggesting that the issue will come before the Board of County Commissioners in the form of a “more formal” proposal soon. Awesome, maybe it will be a black tie affair, where Commissioners can hob knob with administrators and discuss more formal ways to nickel and dime us with regressive taxes and fees as an alternative to controlling spending.
Fortunately, Commissioner George Nuegent was cognizant of the fact that this isn’t the best or brightest idea for revenue raising, and seemed opposed to the idea. For this, George gets a gold star. To begin with, the County already collects $.13 on every gallon of gasoline sold in Monroe County, and when you add in State and Federal taxes it crests $.50/gallon in the the State of Florida. So when you see that number on the sign at the gas station that makes you roll your eyes and scream expletives at foreign nations that hold us hostage with the price of oil, make sure you keep a little reserve tank of frustration for those local bureaucrats that want to tell us how innovative they are by adding to that already painfully high price of gas.
Gas taxes are the most regressive taxes that exist. This is a tax that the poorest of the poor cannot avoid, especially here in the Keys. As much as George Nuegent should be admired for his efforts to tune up his bike, tell the single mom with two kids that has to drive to a teacher conference, then downtown to work from Big Coppitt that she just spent an hours wages on gas taxes, and I’m sure she’ll give a nice thanks to Wigington for suggesting this creative new initiative.
Let’s also put this idea of, “It’s awesome ‘cause the tourists are paying for it,” idea to bed. You know the same argument that was trotted out when the discussion of a US 1 toll was being discussed. First, tourists love to know we here in Monroe County like to stick it to ‘em with gas, bed, and sales taxes, it gives them that nice warm feeling like they want to come back. Secondly, people travel with a budget, and their wallets only have so much cash in them. Every penny that you take from a tourist as a tax, is one less penny that is going to go to a Keys business. You remember businesses, right? Businesses are those little things that produce things, employ locals, and stir the local economy. Certainly we should prefer to tax those tourists so local government can find some creative ways to spend that revenue, versus the foolish notion that local businesses are more important. I mean heck, hopefully soon government can take all our money and be the only business of choice, like...like...Cuba. That would be cool.
No, a gas tax isn’t a solution. Nor are any of the simple minded, shallow tax and fee alternatives that hit the poorest segment of our community the hardest. A solution is to reduce spending elsewhere. A solution is to create a strong and vibrant local economy so that those taxes that already exist and are levied provide a greater amount of revenue.
Keep your ears open this campaign season, and tune in to whether or not a candidate speaks about efficiency, or if they speak of cute new ways to raise revenue. Therein lies the truth. The truth of what motivates a politician, and what defines their persona. Then cast your vote accordingly.
Here we go again folks, the move is afoot to raise the gas tax that Monroe County residents pay on each gallon of gasoline they use. That’s right, in a recent article in the Key West Citizen, Commissioner Kim Wigington broached the subject, suggesting that the issue will come before the Board of County Commissioners in the form of a “more formal” proposal soon. Awesome, maybe it will be a black tie affair, where Commissioners can hob knob with administrators and discuss more formal ways to nickel and dime us with regressive taxes and fees as an alternative to controlling spending.
Why is it that politicians can only find creative ways to tax us, versus finding creative ways to cut spending, or create efficiencies that save money? Why? I’ll tell you why. Because raising a tax or a fee is easier when you have a captive customer that has no way to escape the tax. It’s just that simple. So the challenge is to create a tax or fee that is the least noticed, so that it doesn’t effect one’s popularity come the next election cycle. Then politicians expect thanks by giving the people back some of their own money in the form of some government service.
Fortunately, Commissioner George Nuegent was cognizant of the fact that this isn’t the best or brightest idea for revenue raising, and seemed opposed to the idea. For this, George gets a gold star. To begin with, the County already collects $.13 on every gallon of gasoline sold in Monroe County, and when you add in State and Federal taxes it crests $.50/gallon in the the State of Florida. So when you see that number on the sign at the gas station that makes you roll your eyes and scream expletives at foreign nations that hold us hostage with the price of oil, make sure you keep a little reserve tank of frustration for those local bureaucrats that want to tell us how innovative they are by adding to that already painfully high price of gas.
Gas taxes are the most regressive taxes that exist. This is a tax that the poorest of the poor cannot avoid, especially here in the Keys. As much as George Nuegent should be admired for his efforts to tune up his bike, tell the single mom with two kids that has to drive to a teacher conference, then downtown to work from Big Coppitt that she just spent an hours wages on gas taxes, and I’m sure she’ll give a nice thanks to Wigington for suggesting this creative new initiative.
Let’s also put this idea of, “It’s awesome ‘cause the tourists are paying for it,” idea to bed. You know the same argument that was trotted out when the discussion of a US 1 toll was being discussed. First, tourists love to know we here in Monroe County like to stick it to ‘em with gas, bed, and sales taxes, it gives them that nice warm feeling like they want to come back. Secondly, people travel with a budget, and their wallets only have so much cash in them. Every penny that you take from a tourist as a tax, is one less penny that is going to go to a Keys business. You remember businesses, right? Businesses are those little things that produce things, employ locals, and stir the local economy. Certainly we should prefer to tax those tourists so local government can find some creative ways to spend that revenue, versus the foolish notion that local businesses are more important. I mean heck, hopefully soon government can take all our money and be the only business of choice, like...like...Cuba. That would be cool.
No, a gas tax isn’t a solution. Nor are any of the simple minded, shallow tax and fee alternatives that hit the poorest segment of our community the hardest. A solution is to reduce spending elsewhere. A solution is to create a strong and vibrant local economy so that those taxes that already exist and are levied provide a greater amount of revenue.
Keep your ears open this campaign season, and tune in to whether or not a candidate speaks about efficiency, or if they speak of cute new ways to raise revenue. Therein lies the truth. The truth of what motivates a politician, and what defines their persona. Then cast your vote accordingly.
Today on the Naked Conch Hour - Jake Brady - Candidate for Monroe County Sheriff.
Joining me to day, Friday Feb 24 at Noon on the Naked Conch Hour is Jake Brady, Candidate for Monroe County Sheriff.
Watch live on Naked Conch
or
New Bank Settlement to be Subsidized by...Yup..the Taxpayers?
No Teeth Settlement Exposed by Financial Times.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Feb 17, 2012
Leave it to a foreign news source to cover the most pressing issue in the USA. No need for American news sources to cover the shortcomings of a settlement that relieves global bankers from criminal prosecution for the greatest fraud in world history.
Even for those that thought that the Federal and State regulators' recent settlement with the Big Banks was a step in the right direction, albeit a small one, we now learn that not only have the banks evaded criminal prosecution for destroying the vast majority of our title histories, but in fact, we the taxpayers, will be the ones paying the settlement on the bankers' behalf.
This only continues to confirm that our Federal and State regulators are neutered by the Banks' control and influence, and that it is imperative that we address the infractions and damage done at a local level.
According to the Financial Times, (Along with a great analysis available at ZeroHedge) an "Unannounced Clause Links HAMP payments with the pact." The article states,
Or better put, as Tyler Durder pens on ZeroHedge.com, "Just to be clear: the guilty party in a fraud against taxpayers has their 'punishment' paid for by the innocent taxpayer who had the crime committed against them? ok, thank you."
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Feb 17, 2012
Leave it to a foreign news source to cover the most pressing issue in the USA. No need for American news sources to cover the shortcomings of a settlement that relieves global bankers from criminal prosecution for the greatest fraud in world history.
Even for those that thought that the Federal and State regulators' recent settlement with the Big Banks was a step in the right direction, albeit a small one, we now learn that not only have the banks evaded criminal prosecution for destroying the vast majority of our title histories, but in fact, we the taxpayers, will be the ones paying the settlement on the bankers' behalf.
This only continues to confirm that our Federal and State regulators are neutered by the Banks' control and influence, and that it is imperative that we address the infractions and damage done at a local level.
According to the Financial Times, (Along with a great analysis available at ZeroHedge) an "Unannounced Clause Links HAMP payments with the pact." The article states,
Sweet. Just sweet.
However, a clause in the provisional agreement – which has not been made public – allows the banks to count future loan modifications made under a 2009 foreclosure-prevention initiative towards their restructuring obligations for the new settlement, according to people familiar with the matter. The existing $30bn initiative, the Home Affordable Modification Programme (Hamp), provides taxpayer funds as an incentive to banks, third party investors and troubled borrowers to arrange loan modifications.
Neil Barofsky, a Democrat and the former special inspector-general of the troubled asset relief programme, described this clause as “scandalous”.
“It turns the notion that this is about justice and accountability on its head,” Mr Barofsky said.
BofA, for instance, will be able to use future modifications made under Hamp towards the $7.6bn in borrower assistance it is committed to provide under the settlement. Under Hamp, the bank will receive payments for averting borrower default and reimbursement from taxpayers for principal written down."
Or better put, as Tyler Durder pens on ZeroHedge.com, "Just to be clear: the guilty party in a fraud against taxpayers has their 'punishment' paid for by the innocent taxpayer who had the crime committed against them? ok, thank you."
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