Two news items, one in The Tampa Tribune and the other in the St. Petersburg Times, taught me a very good lesson about how the State of Florida has little concern for the education of college-bound students, another example of putting greed before common sense.
I find that each newspaper has its own valid editorial positions on social and political issues. The reporters of each paper often provide different content on newsworthy, each with more in depth information than the other on most topics. I couldn’t have home delivery for one without the other.
The St. Petersburg Times reported on a proposal to raise tuition rates by up to 15% at all 11 state universities, following the approval given to 5 institutions during the past year, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida, Florida International University in Miami and the University of Central Florida. The current cost to college students in Florida are much lower than the national average by nearly $2800 per school year. Student increases would be about $200 per semester.
After vetoing an across the board 5% tuition increase last year, Governor Charlie Crist now backs the 15% increase because of state budget cuts. Limitations allow a maximum of 40% in additional intuition fees in any three-year period. At this rate it’ll take eight years for Florida tuition rates to catch up with the national average. Of the total increases, 30% will support financial aid for low-income students. The other 70% would be used to recruit and retain faculties.
The Tampa Tribune, also on November 20th, gave its opinion on the [editorial page] that the Florida Board of Governors will consider to include itself in the evaluation of university presidents. Of course, the presidents would rather maintain the current process that allows their local boards to evaluate their compensation, however self-serving it is.
The paper goes on to give readers statistics from the annual report issued by the Chronicle of Higher Education. For instance, University of Florida President Bernie Machen earns more than $731,000 in total compensations and ranks as one of the 10 highest in the United States. Five other Florida university presidents earn well above the national average of $427,000.
The higher education system in Florida runs parallel to the ways and means of corporate CEOs countrywide. Their boards pump up the salaries and bonuses of their officers over and above what most of us would consider reasonable and affable dollar amounts, especially when their worth doesn’t balance well with the performance of the company. Subordinates get peanut shells in comparison, just enough to maintain the status quo as the upper echelon sacrifice the longevity of loyalty for the opportunity to hire upstarts at much lower salaries or entice other professionals with higher compensation than tenured employees.
Take for instance the contention between the faculty and administration of UCF. President John Hitt was given a 46% raise. Vanessa Fortier, director of the University Office, received a 41% increase. And Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen School of Hospitality Management, got a boost of 24.5%. One third of the 99 administrative positions received raises above 10% with an overall average of 9.37%.
Another example can be found at the College of Education where Dean Sandra Robinson got a 23.9% raise even though the college ran a deficit of $1.3 million.
At a time when college funding is constantly being reduced, it’s no wonder faculty members are outraged at the discrepancies in monetary compensations. Their concerns center not only on salaries but the ever-decreasing moneys available to provide the basic needs of managing class room activities, such as Xerox paper and phone services. They are further demoralized when faced with reprimands or dismissals because of problems in their classes; it’s difficult to manage classes of 300 students.
So, what realistic solutions might there be to offset reduced funds? The Florida Budget & Taxation Reform Commission could have made a positive difference but they squandered their once-every-20-year meeting with seven proposed amendments that were subsequently reduced to four.
A property tax swap was determined to be full of mathematical errors that would have left the state a shortfall of $4B dollars. Public funding for religious institutions was felt unconstitutional and outside the realm of the Commission’s responsibilities. The school voucher initiative was deemed wrought with wording that would have ultimately been sent to the Legislature for interpretation. This is what you get with devotees to Jeb Bushels of crappy leadership.
Since the FB&TRC failed in their duties, what’s left to consider?
While visiting Rapid City, South Dakota, I noticed that SD and Florida have some very difference approaches in providing tax revenues while neither have a state income tax.
Florida property taxes are valued at 100% minus a homestead exemption of 25% and an additional $25,000 for those over 65. An annual 3% cap applies but moving within the state to another property annuls any previous savings. South Dakota properties are assessed at 85% of market value between counties, taking into consideration replacements costs, comparable property sales figures and projected income from a property; tax reductions can come in the form of refunds for senior citizens and disabled persons.
Sales tax in Florida is 6% (excluding food and drugs); additional county sales taxes could accumulate to a total of 9.5%. South Dakota sales tax is 4% (excluding drugs) with municipalities having the option of adding 2%.
Gas taxes are 32.6 cents per gallon in Florida - 24 cents in South Dakota.
The biggest difference between the two states is the cigarette tax: 33.9 cents in Florida compared to $1.53 in South Dakota!!! Very few eating establishments provide smoking areas in SD; both states allow outside accommodations. Smoking is a discretionary expense and results in higher medical costs for everyone.
If only the Budget and Reform Commission had been more astute to provide a better selection of amendment instruments that could have resolved these insurmountable financial challenges.
There would be strong opposition from a large party of lobbyists to nearly triple the cigarette sales tax, so a compromise could combine a moderate increase with a tweak of the state sales tax, perhaps a half-cent instead of the penny increase that’s been discussed.
It’s a shame that instructors always get the short end of the stick when administrators reap such greater benefits, including public school teachers who are the backbone of providing the basics of knowledge to the next generation.
In all levels of government, the quality of leadership determines the health of a community. Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature need to provide a more concerted effort at meeting the demands of providing necessary services to their constituents, especially all levels of the educational system.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
An Amendment 2 Kill
I take Amendment 2 personally. Amendment 2 threatens my partner’s health… and life.
If passed on November 4th, Florida courts may decide Amendment 2 nullifies domestic partner medical benefits currently offered by many companies.
C’mon, this is the 21st century.
In 2002, BellSouth, now part of the New AT&T, awarded domestic partner coverage to its employees with a simple requirement that the employee submit a copy of the partner’s Federal Income Tax Return, verifying the two have resided at the same address in excess of six months.
Whether heterosexual or homosexual, domestic partner benefits have become an important tool in recruiting and retaining workers who would otherwise seek employment elsewhere. A definite value has been placed on the professional contributions of domestic partners.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security On Government Affairs, lead by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Sen. Gordon Smith (D-Oregon) and 19 other co-sponsors, have introduced the Domestic Partner and Obligations Act that would provide domestic partner health benefits to federal employees. Employees are more productive knowing their loved ones are taken care of with medical, dental and vision benefits.
The Federal Government cannot adequately compete with private sector and state and local governments for qualified employees. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the additional cost of those programs would be less than .005%, one half of one percent.
Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, General Electric, Chevron, Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, Hospital Corporation of America and Texas Instruments offer domestic partner benefits. Disney offered the coverage in 1996. Levi Strauss was a pioneer; the first corporation to in initiate such a policy in 1992.
The religious right should boycott these businesses, restaurants included. Don’t eat out. Blue Cross/Blue Shield should be first on the list. Every passionate church member should distance themselves from the services these businesses provide.
By supporting Amendment 2, Florida voters on the self-righteous side of conservatism will be disclaiming their professed pro-life and right-to-life philosophies. Disregarding concerns of providing life-saving medical benefits puts their faith in anti-abortion laws into the light of selective choice. Selective choice is bigotry.
It’s not only the partners who will be in jeopardy, but also the children of heterosexual partners, not just gays. Will Republican-leaning, radical religious voters be proud of their right to vote with conscious knowledge that they will be giving support to what can be viewed as right-to-die legislation by denying life-support health benefits to children cherished in domestic partner partnerships? Take that away and those sweet smiling children will face hurt and suffering.
I am who I am. I am not limp-wristed. I have no lisp.
I can’t number the people who have accepted our partnership when, in reality, they admit to being homophobic. Just as I judge people by who they are, regardless race, color, creed or sexual orientation, so do those who have come to know us. They’re in awe to learn that our un-matrimonial relationship has endured 30 years, “to have and to hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
We’re not married, have no intention of tieing our partnership together in what is, in too many hetero marriages, a slipknot. We’re secure with the acceptance from relatives, friends, co-workers and acquaintances.
What would religious organizations prefer I shave my head, tatter my body with tattoos and rings and things, drink beer or take other drugs, refuse to wed a woman who’s barefoot and pregnant, not pay child support, and, in some cases, abuse the children who were created in sin?
To what extreme are higher than mighty right wing advocates willing to go to correct what is a genetic anomaly? Support stem cell research and provide funding to cure this and other human defects and frailties? Is genetic engineering the Lord’s way?
What of devout religious fanatics, including priests, who have abused young boys and left them with emotional scars that create psychological imbalances for the rest of their lives? Have not the hierarchy of religion side-saddled these deranged acts and scuttle-butted the issue? Politicians aren’t exempt from this inhumanity to young boys.
Amendment 2 is unacceptable. It will create boondoggles that will result in court cases by the dozens to clarify to what extent the legislation relegates denial of an individual’s domestic partner rights, heterosexual or otherwise.
My partner is on Medicare for a mental handicap. The costs of medications for a bipolar disorder are prohibitive of sustaining his life.
On a recent trip, I crossed from South Dakota into Wyoming. I was immensely sorrowed at the sight of wooden fences with crisscrossed, weather-worn wooden posts that reminded me of the hate crime that left Matthew Shepard on a journey to Heaven. How ironic that the date happened to be October 13, 10 years to the day after two straight men killed an innocent young man. More ironic was my destination: Devil’s Tower National Monument was aptly named to represent the crime of those two men.
What of ministries that express hatred toward the recently passed Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act? Did they rejoice on October 13? Should there be an open season to eradicate selective individuals?
Andy Marlette’s social cartoon in Friday’s Hernando Today was cynical. It came face to face with a sinical column on the adjoining page. As the caricature pointed out, without Amendment 2 there will still be no legal same-sex marriages.
I’m not begging. I’m not pleading. I’m simply praying that your conscience guides you to the NO box on Amendment 2, just as it does when you decide to mark the box for the political candidate of your choice.
If passed on November 4th, Florida courts may decide Amendment 2 nullifies domestic partner medical benefits currently offered by many companies.
C’mon, this is the 21st century.
In 2002, BellSouth, now part of the New AT&T, awarded domestic partner coverage to its employees with a simple requirement that the employee submit a copy of the partner’s Federal Income Tax Return, verifying the two have resided at the same address in excess of six months.
Whether heterosexual or homosexual, domestic partner benefits have become an important tool in recruiting and retaining workers who would otherwise seek employment elsewhere. A definite value has been placed on the professional contributions of domestic partners.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security On Government Affairs, lead by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Sen. Gordon Smith (D-Oregon) and 19 other co-sponsors, have introduced the Domestic Partner and Obligations Act that would provide domestic partner health benefits to federal employees. Employees are more productive knowing their loved ones are taken care of with medical, dental and vision benefits.
The Federal Government cannot adequately compete with private sector and state and local governments for qualified employees. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the additional cost of those programs would be less than .005%, one half of one percent.
Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, General Electric, Chevron, Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, Hospital Corporation of America and Texas Instruments offer domestic partner benefits. Disney offered the coverage in 1996. Levi Strauss was a pioneer; the first corporation to in initiate such a policy in 1992.
The religious right should boycott these businesses, restaurants included. Don’t eat out. Blue Cross/Blue Shield should be first on the list. Every passionate church member should distance themselves from the services these businesses provide.
By supporting Amendment 2, Florida voters on the self-righteous side of conservatism will be disclaiming their professed pro-life and right-to-life philosophies. Disregarding concerns of providing life-saving medical benefits puts their faith in anti-abortion laws into the light of selective choice. Selective choice is bigotry.
It’s not only the partners who will be in jeopardy, but also the children of heterosexual partners, not just gays. Will Republican-leaning, radical religious voters be proud of their right to vote with conscious knowledge that they will be giving support to what can be viewed as right-to-die legislation by denying life-support health benefits to children cherished in domestic partner partnerships? Take that away and those sweet smiling children will face hurt and suffering.
I am who I am. I am not limp-wristed. I have no lisp.
I can’t number the people who have accepted our partnership when, in reality, they admit to being homophobic. Just as I judge people by who they are, regardless race, color, creed or sexual orientation, so do those who have come to know us. They’re in awe to learn that our un-matrimonial relationship has endured 30 years, “to have and to hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
We’re not married, have no intention of tieing our partnership together in what is, in too many hetero marriages, a slipknot. We’re secure with the acceptance from relatives, friends, co-workers and acquaintances.
What would religious organizations prefer I shave my head, tatter my body with tattoos and rings and things, drink beer or take other drugs, refuse to wed a woman who’s barefoot and pregnant, not pay child support, and, in some cases, abuse the children who were created in sin?
To what extreme are higher than mighty right wing advocates willing to go to correct what is a genetic anomaly? Support stem cell research and provide funding to cure this and other human defects and frailties? Is genetic engineering the Lord’s way?
What of devout religious fanatics, including priests, who have abused young boys and left them with emotional scars that create psychological imbalances for the rest of their lives? Have not the hierarchy of religion side-saddled these deranged acts and scuttle-butted the issue? Politicians aren’t exempt from this inhumanity to young boys.
Amendment 2 is unacceptable. It will create boondoggles that will result in court cases by the dozens to clarify to what extent the legislation relegates denial of an individual’s domestic partner rights, heterosexual or otherwise.
My partner is on Medicare for a mental handicap. The costs of medications for a bipolar disorder are prohibitive of sustaining his life.
On a recent trip, I crossed from South Dakota into Wyoming. I was immensely sorrowed at the sight of wooden fences with crisscrossed, weather-worn wooden posts that reminded me of the hate crime that left Matthew Shepard on a journey to Heaven. How ironic that the date happened to be October 13, 10 years to the day after two straight men killed an innocent young man. More ironic was my destination: Devil’s Tower National Monument was aptly named to represent the crime of those two men.
What of ministries that express hatred toward the recently passed Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act? Did they rejoice on October 13? Should there be an open season to eradicate selective individuals?
Andy Marlette’s social cartoon in Friday’s Hernando Today was cynical. It came face to face with a sinical column on the adjoining page. As the caricature pointed out, without Amendment 2 there will still be no legal same-sex marriages.
I’m not begging. I’m not pleading. I’m simply praying that your conscience guides you to the NO box on Amendment 2, just as it does when you decide to mark the box for the political candidate of your choice.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Judging Governor Palin
To get the bridge issue out of the way, the sound of flip-flops reverberate through the typical political windstream. There’s nothing new here since people in general, and politicians in particular, tend to correct their misbegotten actions with statements blatantly contradicting the facts of the matter. An individual’s posturing can assuage her devout followers but she may eventually find herself at the wrong end of the bridge to nowhere.
Of more importance are activities that found Walt Monegan, former Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner, getting the boot a for not bootin’ Mike Wooten, Alaska State Trooper and Palin’s brother in law. Sarah contends there was no involvement taken by her, her family or any member of her administration to prompt Monegan’s removal.
Palin had appointed Monegan Public Safety Commissioner as she was filling cabinet posts upon her taking office as Governor in January 2007, praising his public service record. According to Monegan, Palin’s hubby, Todd, met with Monegan shortly thereafter to present the family’s findings from a private investigation about incidents going as far back as 2003 when Wooten used a Taser on an 11-year old stepson and shot a moose without the appropriate hunting license.
Palin’s sister, Molly McCann, waited until 2005 to report the misconducts of Wooten - the same day she filed for divorce. According to Palin’s daughter, Bristol, the timing of the filing was ”because of the divorce”, although Wooten had already been cleared of any wrong-doing in a 2004 accusation of consuming alcohol while using a trooper vehicle while on duty, which he wasn’t. The ruling concluded with an internal investigation finding that the allegations were “Not Sustained” because the only witness was Palin’s father, Chuck Heath. Allegations continue to claim Wooten has made threats to Heath and other family members.
Speculation has been made that in the coming month McCain will be forced to replace Palin with an alternate choice, possibly Mitt Romney. Well, uh… that would make McCain inept at making responsible decisions as a presidential candidate and put the Republican Party in an embarrassing position. This is as likely to happen as Barrack Obama replacing Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton.
As McCain is viewed as a maverick among the Washington crowd, Palin seems to fit right in as she presented herself in the 2006 gubernatorial election in contention with the Alaskan Republican Party leaders. This is likely the reason that a 12-member bipartisan committee of the legislature voted unanimously to hire a private investigator to investigate Palin and her staff for abusing executive power. The inquiry was given a three-month contract to make a ruling by the end of October.
All of this brouhaha started because of the nasty divorce and custody battle of Sarah Palin’s sister Molly. Despite Monegan’s belief that he was offered a job as executive director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which paid a salary $10,000 less, because he wouldn’t give in to pressure to fire Wooten, Palin stands by her statement that no pressure was put on Monegan to fire Wooten by staff members.
Palin’s judgment is put into question for replacing Monegan with Chuck Kopp, previously the police chief. Within days he was removed from the post because of a 2005 investigation of sexual harassment of an employee while he was Police Chief of Kenai. A replacement has yet to be made but Officer Wooten remains on the police force.
Will this be the scandal and catalyst to unseat John McCain from taking root in the White House? Not likely, because Palin and seven of her administration members are refusing to cooperate with the private investigative unit authorized by the Alaska Legislature. They site that the probe should be pursued by a state personnel board, whose three members were appointed by Governor Palin.
Of more importance are activities that found Walt Monegan, former Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner, getting the boot a for not bootin’ Mike Wooten, Alaska State Trooper and Palin’s brother in law. Sarah contends there was no involvement taken by her, her family or any member of her administration to prompt Monegan’s removal.
Palin had appointed Monegan Public Safety Commissioner as she was filling cabinet posts upon her taking office as Governor in January 2007, praising his public service record. According to Monegan, Palin’s hubby, Todd, met with Monegan shortly thereafter to present the family’s findings from a private investigation about incidents going as far back as 2003 when Wooten used a Taser on an 11-year old stepson and shot a moose without the appropriate hunting license.
Palin’s sister, Molly McCann, waited until 2005 to report the misconducts of Wooten - the same day she filed for divorce. According to Palin’s daughter, Bristol, the timing of the filing was ”because of the divorce”, although Wooten had already been cleared of any wrong-doing in a 2004 accusation of consuming alcohol while using a trooper vehicle while on duty, which he wasn’t. The ruling concluded with an internal investigation finding that the allegations were “Not Sustained” because the only witness was Palin’s father, Chuck Heath. Allegations continue to claim Wooten has made threats to Heath and other family members.
Speculation has been made that in the coming month McCain will be forced to replace Palin with an alternate choice, possibly Mitt Romney. Well, uh… that would make McCain inept at making responsible decisions as a presidential candidate and put the Republican Party in an embarrassing position. This is as likely to happen as Barrack Obama replacing Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton.
As McCain is viewed as a maverick among the Washington crowd, Palin seems to fit right in as she presented herself in the 2006 gubernatorial election in contention with the Alaskan Republican Party leaders. This is likely the reason that a 12-member bipartisan committee of the legislature voted unanimously to hire a private investigator to investigate Palin and her staff for abusing executive power. The inquiry was given a three-month contract to make a ruling by the end of October.
All of this brouhaha started because of the nasty divorce and custody battle of Sarah Palin’s sister Molly. Despite Monegan’s belief that he was offered a job as executive director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which paid a salary $10,000 less, because he wouldn’t give in to pressure to fire Wooten, Palin stands by her statement that no pressure was put on Monegan to fire Wooten by staff members.
Palin’s judgment is put into question for replacing Monegan with Chuck Kopp, previously the police chief. Within days he was removed from the post because of a 2005 investigation of sexual harassment of an employee while he was Police Chief of Kenai. A replacement has yet to be made but Officer Wooten remains on the police force.
Will this be the scandal and catalyst to unseat John McCain from taking root in the White House? Not likely, because Palin and seven of her administration members are refusing to cooperate with the private investigative unit authorized by the Alaska Legislature. They site that the probe should be pursued by a state personnel board, whose three members were appointed by Governor Palin.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Deep Six Amendment 5
Will the State of Florida ever be rid of the influence of Jeb Bush? He’s gone but not forgotten and maintains a political force but boy there are many citizens very pleased that his Taxation and Budget Reform Committee (TBRC) may have struck out with an attempt to again, and further undermine the future of the state’s educational system.
I suppose he and his 25 puppies assumed current residents are as dumb as today’s students would be if Amendment 5 were placed on the November General Election Ballot.
The decision of Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper to keep the initiative from being decided by voters was a big blow to construction influences, including builders, real estate brokers, county property appraisers and a whole slew of other supporting businesses.
Actually, Gov. Charlie Crist last year appointed 11 of the current board members and Senate President Ken Pruitt and Speaker of the House Marco Rubio each selecting 7 members. An additional 4 non-voting members of influence in the Florida Legislature, split equally between the two political parties, round out the group of 29 decision-making individuals. Many of these people were followers of Jeb Bush during his two-term, too long a period as governor.
Amendment 5 would have reduced school taxes by 25-40% and replaced with a penny sales tax and reviewing the tax-exempt status of various services, which is believed to possibly bring in $4B but a far cry from lost funds that estimated to be in excess of $10B. There’s also some doubt that if the Amendment were placed on the ballot it wouldn’t pass the required 60% voter approval.
The Amendment would also put a cap on non-homestead properties at 5% assessment value from the 10% currently level.
If the Amendment passes the expected appeal, more would be at stake than just lost funding. If the construction business were to miraculously come bounding back and add more children to the school system, additional funds wouldn’t likely be available. It’s not likely that the Florida Legislature would take the action to replace lost funds by cutting moneys allocated to other budget programs.
School boards, superintendents, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, among other interested parties, made the appeal that challenged the wording of the Amendment. Another opponent is the Associated Industries of Florida, whose mission statement includes the goal “To promote the general welfare and prosperity of the commonwealth of Florida as a whole.” Silly me, I thought that’s what we voters elected our officials to do!
Florida residents want reduced taxes but it would be a sad day for education in Florida if the Amendment eventually appears on the ballot and passes. When teachers are given little choice but to teach to Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) standards; when extra curricular activities are suspended to provide additional time to prepare students for the test; when financial bonuses are given to schools that have a passing grade or improve their scores; when parents and teachers view the test as a hindrance and a poor judgment of student achievements; when all of these items are considered, FCAT’s own failure as a learning tool is demonstrated by Florida’s education rating level last among the 50 states.
A senior having failed the FCAT three times has the option of using scores from the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Another option is to pass Florida’s Common Placement Test (CPT), which is required for entrance to any community college or state university.
Of course, there’s that other acronym: GED.
For now, Amendment 5 has been given the Deep 6 by the grace of a Leon County Circuit Judge. Will the sound of the judge's gavel on the block reverberate through Election Day or will it be silenced by the decision of a higher judicial official?
Is there anything Judge Cooper can do about the placing the Florida Hometown Democracy on the November ballot. All he's have to do is allow all petitions be counted that had been submitted by the deadline of February 1?
I suppose he and his 25 puppies assumed current residents are as dumb as today’s students would be if Amendment 5 were placed on the November General Election Ballot.
The decision of Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper to keep the initiative from being decided by voters was a big blow to construction influences, including builders, real estate brokers, county property appraisers and a whole slew of other supporting businesses.
Actually, Gov. Charlie Crist last year appointed 11 of the current board members and Senate President Ken Pruitt and Speaker of the House Marco Rubio each selecting 7 members. An additional 4 non-voting members of influence in the Florida Legislature, split equally between the two political parties, round out the group of 29 decision-making individuals. Many of these people were followers of Jeb Bush during his two-term, too long a period as governor.
Amendment 5 would have reduced school taxes by 25-40% and replaced with a penny sales tax and reviewing the tax-exempt status of various services, which is believed to possibly bring in $4B but a far cry from lost funds that estimated to be in excess of $10B. There’s also some doubt that if the Amendment were placed on the ballot it wouldn’t pass the required 60% voter approval.
The Amendment would also put a cap on non-homestead properties at 5% assessment value from the 10% currently level.
If the Amendment passes the expected appeal, more would be at stake than just lost funding. If the construction business were to miraculously come bounding back and add more children to the school system, additional funds wouldn’t likely be available. It’s not likely that the Florida Legislature would take the action to replace lost funds by cutting moneys allocated to other budget programs.
School boards, superintendents, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, among other interested parties, made the appeal that challenged the wording of the Amendment. Another opponent is the Associated Industries of Florida, whose mission statement includes the goal “To promote the general welfare and prosperity of the commonwealth of Florida as a whole.” Silly me, I thought that’s what we voters elected our officials to do!
Florida residents want reduced taxes but it would be a sad day for education in Florida if the Amendment eventually appears on the ballot and passes. When teachers are given little choice but to teach to Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) standards; when extra curricular activities are suspended to provide additional time to prepare students for the test; when financial bonuses are given to schools that have a passing grade or improve their scores; when parents and teachers view the test as a hindrance and a poor judgment of student achievements; when all of these items are considered, FCAT’s own failure as a learning tool is demonstrated by Florida’s education rating level last among the 50 states.
A senior having failed the FCAT three times has the option of using scores from the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Another option is to pass Florida’s Common Placement Test (CPT), which is required for entrance to any community college or state university.
Of course, there’s that other acronym: GED.
For now, Amendment 5 has been given the Deep 6 by the grace of a Leon County Circuit Judge. Will the sound of the judge's gavel on the block reverberate through Election Day or will it be silenced by the decision of a higher judicial official?
Is there anything Judge Cooper can do about the placing the Florida Hometown Democracy on the November ballot. All he's have to do is allow all petitions be counted that had been submitted by the deadline of February 1?
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Very Sweet Deal
Oops! Florida Governor Charlie Crist thought he was being environmentally conscious with the announcement on June 24 that he had negotiated a deal with U S Sugar to purchase the company for a cool $1.7B, but lawmakers in Washington see things in a different light than the promise of speeding up the goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project.
It’s difficult to deem the acquisition of over 187,000 acres, a part of the 700,00-acre Everglades Agricultural Area established in 1950 to promote farming in the area, poor judgment for what could very well assist in saving the Everglades from pollution.
The problem that surrounds Crist is the way the deal was made, without involving the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Southwest Water Management District, the agencies who were commissioned in 1948 to address the effects of major hurricanes that occurred from the 1920s to the 40s and who continue to be fundamental overseers of restoring what is called “The River of Grass”.
Among the worst of these storms was the “Okeechobee Hurricane” of 1928 which devastated south Florida as it hit landfill in Palm Beach County and swept over Lake Okeechobee, killing more than 2,500 people. In 1933, there were two hurricanes that led to the evacuation of residents in the Lake area. The “Labor Day Hurricane” in 1935 is still considered one of the most intense to have made landfall in the United States.
The 1947 “Fort Lauderdale Hurricane” passed slowly over the state from Palm Beach to Fort Myers; a 20-foot storm surge nearly compromised a dike along the south shore of Lake Okeechobee. The devastation from flooding has put lives, and agriculture interests in the surrounding areas, in danger throughout Florida’s history.
[It wasn’t until 1953 that hurricanes and tropical storms were given names.]
Florida’s legislative representatives in Washington, the Corps and SWFMD feel the secrecy of the deal between Crist’s administration and U S Sugar has already created problems and resulting delays in proceeding with current restoration plans that would have to be reworked, taking into consideration the magnitude of the deal.
The affects on economies in Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach Counties would be devastating. U S Sugar employs 1700 but a total of over 10,000 jobs would be lost in related businesses, including transportation and manufacturing, and workers in the citrus operations of U S Sugar.
Pending real estate transactions are being cancelled because of the reported negotiations in a part of the state where unemployment figures are greater than any other area in Florida and where declining home values have become further depressed.
The deal would take away over $1.6B in annual revenues, including lost local, state and federal revenues of 127M and more than 370M in labor income.
The tentative agreement would allow a minimum of six years before U S Sugar would bring an end to its annual production of 600,000 tons of sugar 20 million boxes of oranges. Still, that allows a very short-term time period to resolve the economic instabilities that would be caused by the closure of the nation’s largest sugarcane grower. Layoff announcements would be frequent.
Independent analysts have priced the worth of U S Sugar at approximately half the offered $1.75M, taking note that a private offer would never consider such an exorbitant figure. Growing environmental concerns, reduced government subsidies (costing American consumers nearly $2B a year) and greater federal regulation put the industry at odds with the same degree of profitability as in the past. Recent years of drought have also eroded production numbers.
Tariff fees on sugar products from Mexico are set to expire at year’s end and other growing sentiments to ease restrictions on sugar imports have also put the future of domestic sugar in question.
Currently, American consumers pay about twice the amount of world sugar prices.
Sugarcane accounts for 75% of worldwide sugar production.
The deal won’t be done until the fat cats sing – or not – but the state must first get an appraisal of U S Sugar holdings before negotiations can proceed. Another aspect of the tentative offer would include a lease-back arrangement for a minimum of six years. Because of this clause the public is expected to have faith that the affect on other local businesses and workforces will be less immediate, perhaps giving unemployed workers opportunities at local competitors Florida Crystals and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative. These two corporations also jointly own American Sugar Refining and its Domino products.
In August 2007, Florida Crystals was selected by the University of Florida as the site for a $20M grant to do research in cellulose ethanol as an alternative energy source. The company already produces enough clean energy to run its own operations plus 60,000 homes.
The eventual goal of the acquisition of the properties on the south side of Lake Okeechobee would still maintain the need of the levies, canals and the Herbert Hoover Dike, whose current repair work won’t be complete until 2013, but it would also provide the opportunity to develop a freshwater reservoir instead of tapping into the Florida Aquifer. This would take no less than ten years to come to completion. The perception of the area becoming a “flow-thru” to the Everglades is misplaced because of the inherent needs to control such large volumes of water to limit flood damage.
No doubt, Governor Crist chose to announce the agreement with U S Sugar at a time when election campaigns are about to heat up at the Republican and Democrat conventions to finalize their presidential choices. The deal also keeps his name in the news for that possible position as running mate on the Republican ticket.
Actually, Crist is making points with a couple of very intense political interests. He’s promoting offshore drilling along the Florida Coast so patriotic Americans who value the price of oil more than conservation of pristine shorelines could conceivably provide backing for his vice presidency.
Ecologists are justly enthusiastic on the prospects of cleaning up the Everglades in a shorter time span than could otherwise be expected. They may view this as an antidote to the possibility of expanding offshore oil drilling. Besides, with sugarcane lobbyists having contributed tens of millions of dollars in campaign interests, there’s another powerful ally for Governor Crist.
It’s difficult to deem the acquisition of over 187,000 acres, a part of the 700,00-acre Everglades Agricultural Area established in 1950 to promote farming in the area, poor judgment for what could very well assist in saving the Everglades from pollution.
The problem that surrounds Crist is the way the deal was made, without involving the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Southwest Water Management District, the agencies who were commissioned in 1948 to address the effects of major hurricanes that occurred from the 1920s to the 40s and who continue to be fundamental overseers of restoring what is called “The River of Grass”.
Among the worst of these storms was the “Okeechobee Hurricane” of 1928 which devastated south Florida as it hit landfill in Palm Beach County and swept over Lake Okeechobee, killing more than 2,500 people. In 1933, there were two hurricanes that led to the evacuation of residents in the Lake area. The “Labor Day Hurricane” in 1935 is still considered one of the most intense to have made landfall in the United States.
The 1947 “Fort Lauderdale Hurricane” passed slowly over the state from Palm Beach to Fort Myers; a 20-foot storm surge nearly compromised a dike along the south shore of Lake Okeechobee. The devastation from flooding has put lives, and agriculture interests in the surrounding areas, in danger throughout Florida’s history.
[It wasn’t until 1953 that hurricanes and tropical storms were given names.]
Florida’s legislative representatives in Washington, the Corps and SWFMD feel the secrecy of the deal between Crist’s administration and U S Sugar has already created problems and resulting delays in proceeding with current restoration plans that would have to be reworked, taking into consideration the magnitude of the deal.
The affects on economies in Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach Counties would be devastating. U S Sugar employs 1700 but a total of over 10,000 jobs would be lost in related businesses, including transportation and manufacturing, and workers in the citrus operations of U S Sugar.
Pending real estate transactions are being cancelled because of the reported negotiations in a part of the state where unemployment figures are greater than any other area in Florida and where declining home values have become further depressed.
The deal would take away over $1.6B in annual revenues, including lost local, state and federal revenues of 127M and more than 370M in labor income.
The tentative agreement would allow a minimum of six years before U S Sugar would bring an end to its annual production of 600,000 tons of sugar 20 million boxes of oranges. Still, that allows a very short-term time period to resolve the economic instabilities that would be caused by the closure of the nation’s largest sugarcane grower. Layoff announcements would be frequent.
Independent analysts have priced the worth of U S Sugar at approximately half the offered $1.75M, taking note that a private offer would never consider such an exorbitant figure. Growing environmental concerns, reduced government subsidies (costing American consumers nearly $2B a year) and greater federal regulation put the industry at odds with the same degree of profitability as in the past. Recent years of drought have also eroded production numbers.
Tariff fees on sugar products from Mexico are set to expire at year’s end and other growing sentiments to ease restrictions on sugar imports have also put the future of domestic sugar in question.
Currently, American consumers pay about twice the amount of world sugar prices.
Sugarcane accounts for 75% of worldwide sugar production.
The deal won’t be done until the fat cats sing – or not – but the state must first get an appraisal of U S Sugar holdings before negotiations can proceed. Another aspect of the tentative offer would include a lease-back arrangement for a minimum of six years. Because of this clause the public is expected to have faith that the affect on other local businesses and workforces will be less immediate, perhaps giving unemployed workers opportunities at local competitors Florida Crystals and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative. These two corporations also jointly own American Sugar Refining and its Domino products.
In August 2007, Florida Crystals was selected by the University of Florida as the site for a $20M grant to do research in cellulose ethanol as an alternative energy source. The company already produces enough clean energy to run its own operations plus 60,000 homes.
The eventual goal of the acquisition of the properties on the south side of Lake Okeechobee would still maintain the need of the levies, canals and the Herbert Hoover Dike, whose current repair work won’t be complete until 2013, but it would also provide the opportunity to develop a freshwater reservoir instead of tapping into the Florida Aquifer. This would take no less than ten years to come to completion. The perception of the area becoming a “flow-thru” to the Everglades is misplaced because of the inherent needs to control such large volumes of water to limit flood damage.
No doubt, Governor Crist chose to announce the agreement with U S Sugar at a time when election campaigns are about to heat up at the Republican and Democrat conventions to finalize their presidential choices. The deal also keeps his name in the news for that possible position as running mate on the Republican ticket.
Actually, Crist is making points with a couple of very intense political interests. He’s promoting offshore drilling along the Florida Coast so patriotic Americans who value the price of oil more than conservation of pristine shorelines could conceivably provide backing for his vice presidency.
Ecologists are justly enthusiastic on the prospects of cleaning up the Everglades in a shorter time span than could otherwise be expected. They may view this as an antidote to the possibility of expanding offshore oil drilling. Besides, with sugarcane lobbyists having contributed tens of millions of dollars in campaign interests, there’s another powerful ally for Governor Crist.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Catastrophic CAT Fund
The Florida Catastrophe Fund is in such dire state that Governor Charlie Crist’s Republican-controlled Legislature set up a deal with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. to pay a $224M premium to borrow up to $4B toward paying claims to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund… if needed.
The CAT Fund pays claims when damages exceed $7B statewide.
Mr. Buffett’s financial portfolio includes such names as GEICO, Fruit of the Loom, NetJets, Dairy Queen and, now, a piece of the State of Florida. Of course, taxpayers foot the insurance bill, which is purchased at a rate of 5.6%. Any part of the $4B that is deemed necessary to borrow from the fund will put additional money in the pocket through bond purchases at 6.5%.
After meeting their claim requirements, certain costs from the cat fund are passed along to private insurers who in turn pass along the fees in the form of higher insurance premiums, as is now the case with State Farm. The request comes with some area rates increasing by 91% with an average of 47% statewide.
And still, compared to the 5.6% the State is paying Berkshire Hathaway, Florida homeowners don’t really have it all that bad… percentage-wise.
Let’s take for instance a home insured for $200K with full coverage including full sinkhole coverage, which is about 40% of the total premium but a very risky proposition anyway you look at it, and a 2% hurricane deductible: might pay a $1600 yearly premium. This would bring the insured amount to a low .8% rate. Even with a 50% rate hike from State Farm, the premium rate would be 1.2% of the amount insured.
Going back to the 5.6% rate of insurance that the State is paying to Berkshire Hathaway, you’d be paying $11,200 on a yearly basis.
Now that this has been explained in facts, figures, dollars and cents don’t you feel fortunate that your homeowner insurance is such a great bargain as compared to what it could possibly be?
You’re right. I don’t either. None of us, including the State, are exempt from the affects of a devastating hurricane and the damages that probably won’t be fully covered regardless which company takes your money and runs from inherent risks that they refuse to accept.
Worst of all for the homeowners of Florida is the blatant denial of coverage for those insured with companies that cancel policies right, left, north and south for properties along the coastlines. Insurance companies’ reduction in risk and higher premiums for the remaining policyholders, and the backup of CAT funds, makes for an assurance of their profits and less insurance to homeowners.
The CAT Fund pays claims when damages exceed $7B statewide.
Mr. Buffett’s financial portfolio includes such names as GEICO, Fruit of the Loom, NetJets, Dairy Queen and, now, a piece of the State of Florida. Of course, taxpayers foot the insurance bill, which is purchased at a rate of 5.6%. Any part of the $4B that is deemed necessary to borrow from the fund will put additional money in the pocket through bond purchases at 6.5%.
After meeting their claim requirements, certain costs from the cat fund are passed along to private insurers who in turn pass along the fees in the form of higher insurance premiums, as is now the case with State Farm. The request comes with some area rates increasing by 91% with an average of 47% statewide.
And still, compared to the 5.6% the State is paying Berkshire Hathaway, Florida homeowners don’t really have it all that bad… percentage-wise.
Let’s take for instance a home insured for $200K with full coverage including full sinkhole coverage, which is about 40% of the total premium but a very risky proposition anyway you look at it, and a 2% hurricane deductible: might pay a $1600 yearly premium. This would bring the insured amount to a low .8% rate. Even with a 50% rate hike from State Farm, the premium rate would be 1.2% of the amount insured.
Going back to the 5.6% rate of insurance that the State is paying to Berkshire Hathaway, you’d be paying $11,200 on a yearly basis.
Now that this has been explained in facts, figures, dollars and cents don’t you feel fortunate that your homeowner insurance is such a great bargain as compared to what it could possibly be?
You’re right. I don’t either. None of us, including the State, are exempt from the affects of a devastating hurricane and the damages that probably won’t be fully covered regardless which company takes your money and runs from inherent risks that they refuse to accept.
Worst of all for the homeowners of Florida is the blatant denial of coverage for those insured with companies that cancel policies right, left, north and south for properties along the coastlines. Insurance companies’ reduction in risk and higher premiums for the remaining policyholders, and the backup of CAT funds, makes for an assurance of their profits and less insurance to homeowners.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Soak It - Twist It
Get rid of the paper shredder and make it simpler,
and less time-consuming, to destroy personal data.
Put a stopper in the kitchen sink, and soak those letters,
bills and financial statements with a bit of water
then let them sit for a few minutes,
depending on the amount of paperwork, then give the wad a twist.
Try to separate and read the pages!
It’s quick and effective and you save a little on the electric bill.
Every little bit helps.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Oil and Water Don't Mix
TARBALLS REPLACE BEACH BALLS ON NATURE COAST
CRIST GIVES UP FLIP-FLOPS FOR RUBBER BOOTS
These could very well be headlines in The Tribune if oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico were allowed. Governor Charlie Crist might find himself wearing hip-hugger rubber boots instead of his flip-flops.
Speculation has rationalized that this blatant political position is more in tune with that of Senator John McCain, looking out for himself and other party advocates hoping to make a bit of history on Election Day 2008.
You can’t blame Charlie. It’s not much different than the actions of a corporate subordinate interested in advancement within the organization. Politics is more so.
It’s surprising that the Governor is promoting offshore drilling. This is in conflict with his concern for the affects on the fishing industry facing limited down-flow water reserves from Georgia. The Florida Department of Environmentalist is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for what would jeopardize sea life, namely sturgeon and a variety of mussels.
The economic impact of an oil spill would severely damage the $40M commercial fishing industry. The ecological impact of an oil spill is apparently less of a concern for the $65B revenue from tourism.
Scenarios can be manipulated to give the impression that the worst of possible disasters would not be as harmful as some believe. The problem is that the right conditions would create horrendous consequences to the State of Florida.
The EPA has stated there would be a 47% chance that an oil spill would reach the coast of Florida. Another forecast shows a decline of tourism revenue by 45% over a two-year period, not soon recovered. The risk factor is not on the right side of being earth-friendly or economic responsibility.
“Let gasoline hit $4 a gallon and the demand for more oil exploration is going to get pretty loud. Let gasoline hit $6 a gallon and I expect to see oilrigs going in within site of the expensive coastal houses owned by the rich – just like the oilrigs off Santa Barbara.”
This article in the Christian Science Monitor was followed with a statement that the platform lights are a spectacular sight in the dark of night. Romantic?
Just west of Pensacola, along the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas only 3,842 out of 7,500 leased drill sites are active. Local economies have chosen the benefits of jobs (58,000 in Louisiana alone) over concern of the trash and tar along their shores.
Hillsborough County employs over 50,000 tourism related jobs with $847M in wages. Pinellas County - 82,000 with $2.5B in wages. Santa Rosa County - 1300 jobs worth $21M annual wages. These figures do not reflect tax revenues that add to local economies.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed 115 oil platforms, ultimately spoiling the Gulf with more than 7M gallons of petroleum; the Exxon Valdez spilled 11M gallons. And yet the industry wants us to believe technology over the past three years has lessened the dangers of future spills.
On their own, birds can’t recover. Sea life has no chance of surviving. The same fate applies to all wildlife and vegetation along coastlines. Within a year of the Exxon Valdez, beaches were clean enough for humans to frequent but natural habitats will take up to 30 years to recover.
Offshore waters of Texas and Louisiana are already polluted with two decades of runoffs of farm fertilizers, originating as far north as the Minnesota River emptying in the Mississippi River, with every other tributary contributing to the pollution on its way to the Gulf.
This “dead zone” covers over 8,000 square miles, expected to grow to 10,000 in the next few years. No life can exist in these oxygen-depleted waters. Global warming will accelerate the expansion. The dead zone is forever.
Superimposed maps show that oilrig sites and the dead zone overlap. Congress is considering canceling nearly 4,000 tracts for resale to companies that will fulfill the purpose of the leases. Better there than along the Florida coast. There would be no significant change in the cost of petroleum products. Oil exploration would be nothing other than negative for Florida.
No, it’s not likely Gov. Crist will be wearing rubber boots. His popularity has a one-year approval adjustment from 73% to 59%. His pre-election promises may be left behind as he gains national prominence. In which case, he wouldn’t need rubber boots, as he would take his flip-flops along with his aspirations to Washington, wearing a pair of shoes made from the hides of alligators dead from tarballs floating in the Everglades.
CRIST GIVES UP FLIP-FLOPS FOR RUBBER BOOTS
These could very well be headlines in The Tribune if oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico were allowed. Governor Charlie Crist might find himself wearing hip-hugger rubber boots instead of his flip-flops.
Speculation has rationalized that this blatant political position is more in tune with that of Senator John McCain, looking out for himself and other party advocates hoping to make a bit of history on Election Day 2008.
You can’t blame Charlie. It’s not much different than the actions of a corporate subordinate interested in advancement within the organization. Politics is more so.
It’s surprising that the Governor is promoting offshore drilling. This is in conflict with his concern for the affects on the fishing industry facing limited down-flow water reserves from Georgia. The Florida Department of Environmentalist is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for what would jeopardize sea life, namely sturgeon and a variety of mussels.
The economic impact of an oil spill would severely damage the $40M commercial fishing industry. The ecological impact of an oil spill is apparently less of a concern for the $65B revenue from tourism.
Scenarios can be manipulated to give the impression that the worst of possible disasters would not be as harmful as some believe. The problem is that the right conditions would create horrendous consequences to the State of Florida.
The EPA has stated there would be a 47% chance that an oil spill would reach the coast of Florida. Another forecast shows a decline of tourism revenue by 45% over a two-year period, not soon recovered. The risk factor is not on the right side of being earth-friendly or economic responsibility.
“Let gasoline hit $4 a gallon and the demand for more oil exploration is going to get pretty loud. Let gasoline hit $6 a gallon and I expect to see oilrigs going in within site of the expensive coastal houses owned by the rich – just like the oilrigs off Santa Barbara.”
This article in the Christian Science Monitor was followed with a statement that the platform lights are a spectacular sight in the dark of night. Romantic?
Just west of Pensacola, along the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas only 3,842 out of 7,500 leased drill sites are active. Local economies have chosen the benefits of jobs (58,000 in Louisiana alone) over concern of the trash and tar along their shores.
Hillsborough County employs over 50,000 tourism related jobs with $847M in wages. Pinellas County - 82,000 with $2.5B in wages. Santa Rosa County - 1300 jobs worth $21M annual wages. These figures do not reflect tax revenues that add to local economies.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed 115 oil platforms, ultimately spoiling the Gulf with more than 7M gallons of petroleum; the Exxon Valdez spilled 11M gallons. And yet the industry wants us to believe technology over the past three years has lessened the dangers of future spills.
On their own, birds can’t recover. Sea life has no chance of surviving. The same fate applies to all wildlife and vegetation along coastlines. Within a year of the Exxon Valdez, beaches were clean enough for humans to frequent but natural habitats will take up to 30 years to recover.
Offshore waters of Texas and Louisiana are already polluted with two decades of runoffs of farm fertilizers, originating as far north as the Minnesota River emptying in the Mississippi River, with every other tributary contributing to the pollution on its way to the Gulf.
This “dead zone” covers over 8,000 square miles, expected to grow to 10,000 in the next few years. No life can exist in these oxygen-depleted waters. Global warming will accelerate the expansion. The dead zone is forever.
Superimposed maps show that oilrig sites and the dead zone overlap. Congress is considering canceling nearly 4,000 tracts for resale to companies that will fulfill the purpose of the leases. Better there than along the Florida coast. There would be no significant change in the cost of petroleum products. Oil exploration would be nothing other than negative for Florida.
No, it’s not likely Gov. Crist will be wearing rubber boots. His popularity has a one-year approval adjustment from 73% to 59%. His pre-election promises may be left behind as he gains national prominence. In which case, he wouldn’t need rubber boots, as he would take his flip-flops along with his aspirations to Washington, wearing a pair of shoes made from the hides of alligators dead from tarballs floating in the Everglades.
Monday, May 19, 2008
I Am Not A Farmer
In April I received a statement that forewarned me the yearly premium on my home’s insurance policy would come due in July. At first, I though it was a little premature to send me the “renewal certificate” but the bottom line figure as payment to cover the cost of repairs in the event of loss of property was something to be concerned about. It didn’t offer a monthly payment plan.
The only positive statement I can make is that the premium was but a few dollars more than the figure in 2007. My worst fear proved unwarranted; the 30% increase I had seen from 2006 to 2007 didn’t happen again. Thank you very much, Governor Crist, for keeping my rates from going down as you had promised; insurance companies not only reduced their risk by canceling policies along the coastlines of Florida but also kept the practice of profitability by being allowed to up my premium.
Information that had little effect on the premium included a coverage increase of $22.00 but there was also a rate change premium decrease of $35.00, which was good news of little importance. If not for a reduction in the assessment for Citizens Property Insurance losses by $80.52 I would have had an overall increase. How lucky can I get that this comes as a gift “due to an appropriation by the Florida Legislature”!
No one can predict what the assessment will be when the “big one” demolishes any portion of Florida. Last year it was 7.2% of the bill, now 2.5% (and 1% of my auto insurance). We’re still paying for the 2005 hurricane season; the next one may warrant a surcharge well into the next millennium.
So, I had to hawk the line-by-line charges to see what I’m actually paying for each item of coverage. Most of it was pretty straightforward but since the balance due was going to dampen my summer months, with or without what used to be seasonal rains, I contacted the agent for a little clarification.
There wasn’t much that could be done but to save what amounted to a few dollars, although I questioned the amount for personal property loss, which includes the belongings inside the home. She explained the figure was 75% of the dwelling coverage. She informed me it could be adjusted to 50% or as low as 25%. She had no immediate formula to give a savings amount but she would get back with me within a week; she had a few days off or otherwise it would have been a day – two at the most.
One bit of information she gave me of her own accord had to do with sinkhole coverage. I could cut the overall bill in half if I were to accept loss of use. This would mean that if there were cracks in the foundation but not of such a degree to condemn the structure, I would be on my own to avoid further deterioration. A tempting idea but much too risky for me but not so for the insurance company, actuaries make sure a profit is theirs to be had.
(I felt it a mute point to discuss the claim-free discount on the policy because without it the rate would increase by more than 25%! Heaven forbid I should need to actually make use of the policy!)
So now I await an email from Lisa on what minuscule savings I might realize with a reduction in person property coverage.
So now I await a quote from Hector, from another insurance company that is still accepting applications from Hernando County homeowners, to find out how they can assist me in keeping my home a safe, and less expensive, place to live.
Besides, who needs a company whose name suggests it specializes in farms? Perhaps I’ll go with one that boasts a triple-A rating?
The only positive statement I can make is that the premium was but a few dollars more than the figure in 2007. My worst fear proved unwarranted; the 30% increase I had seen from 2006 to 2007 didn’t happen again. Thank you very much, Governor Crist, for keeping my rates from going down as you had promised; insurance companies not only reduced their risk by canceling policies along the coastlines of Florida but also kept the practice of profitability by being allowed to up my premium.
Information that had little effect on the premium included a coverage increase of $22.00 but there was also a rate change premium decrease of $35.00, which was good news of little importance. If not for a reduction in the assessment for Citizens Property Insurance losses by $80.52 I would have had an overall increase. How lucky can I get that this comes as a gift “due to an appropriation by the Florida Legislature”!
No one can predict what the assessment will be when the “big one” demolishes any portion of Florida. Last year it was 7.2% of the bill, now 2.5% (and 1% of my auto insurance). We’re still paying for the 2005 hurricane season; the next one may warrant a surcharge well into the next millennium.
So, I had to hawk the line-by-line charges to see what I’m actually paying for each item of coverage. Most of it was pretty straightforward but since the balance due was going to dampen my summer months, with or without what used to be seasonal rains, I contacted the agent for a little clarification.
There wasn’t much that could be done but to save what amounted to a few dollars, although I questioned the amount for personal property loss, which includes the belongings inside the home. She explained the figure was 75% of the dwelling coverage. She informed me it could be adjusted to 50% or as low as 25%. She had no immediate formula to give a savings amount but she would get back with me within a week; she had a few days off or otherwise it would have been a day – two at the most.
One bit of information she gave me of her own accord had to do with sinkhole coverage. I could cut the overall bill in half if I were to accept loss of use. This would mean that if there were cracks in the foundation but not of such a degree to condemn the structure, I would be on my own to avoid further deterioration. A tempting idea but much too risky for me but not so for the insurance company, actuaries make sure a profit is theirs to be had.
(I felt it a mute point to discuss the claim-free discount on the policy because without it the rate would increase by more than 25%! Heaven forbid I should need to actually make use of the policy!)
So now I await an email from Lisa on what minuscule savings I might realize with a reduction in person property coverage.
So now I await a quote from Hector, from another insurance company that is still accepting applications from Hernando County homeowners, to find out how they can assist me in keeping my home a safe, and less expensive, place to live.
Besides, who needs a company whose name suggests it specializes in farms? Perhaps I’ll go with one that boasts a triple-A rating?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Knock Knock
Knock-knock.
“Who’s there?”
Opportunity.
[No response.]
You know, I only knock once.
“This is a joke, right?”
Not this time.
“Okay. Let’s assume this is the real thing. Why should I let you in?”
If you don’t let me in right now, I won’t be knocking on your door for a long, long time.
“Okay… What do you want me to do?”
C’mon! There’s a set format here. It’s your turn to ask me THE question. Hint: WHO!
“Why don’t you just go away?”
Listen, I’m trying to help the folks out here - just as you should be - but you’re tickin’ me off… bad.
“Tick… tick… tick… You’re a time bomb, right?” [The sound of giggling.]
I told you this is no joking matter, but in a sense you’re quite right. And I don’t think your attitude deserves my patience.
“So you’re the doctor and we’re your patients?” [More giggling… there’s a group of people behind the door of opportunity.]
I know you’re not alone. Are you all daft? This is supposed to be your big chance to make a difference… you know, that legacy thing?
“We don’t need no stinkin’ legacy!” [A smirk and a wink to others of the inner circle.]
Do you want me to walk away?
“Don’t let the door hit you in the a--! [Downright laughter behind the closed door.]
Time waits for no one. You know I only come around once in a generation?
“So now you’re a generator?” [A few snorts. It seems there are fewer listeners.]
Actually, yes, I’m trying to generate some interest just as you should be.
“We don’t need you. We’re the Lucky Eleven.”
It’s more like Ocean’s Eleven and you’re all washed up.
“Not us. Charlie appointed us. We’re still elitists and that’s the way it is. There’s more of us here. Of course, they’re not as important because seven were appointed by Ken Pruitt, another seven by Marco Rubio. There are four more but they’re just here for the ride.”
Is John McCay there? Maybe he’ll let me in.
“He’s here somewhere but he’s too busy doing something. He’s kinda the oddball of the group. He takes his job much too seriously… a goody-two-shoes.”
Will you at least let him know I’m here? Maybe he’ll give me passage.
“NO. WE DON”T NEED YOU!”
[The door remains locked… an opportunity lost.]
At the website [www.floridatbrc.org] there’s a link to the document that was released on Feb. 16, 2007, with the Great Seal of the State of Florida announcing the formation of the Taxation and Budget Reform Committee. It claims that the committee “must submit any proposed constitutional amendments by May 4, 2008. The website also displays the headline “Commission’s Work Complete”. It proclaims that on 4-28-08 that their work was done. The Commission gave up before the deadline. In another 20 years, another Commission will be given another opportunity to reform taxation codes to address the needs of the budget. Indeed, 20 years is a generation away. That’s a very long time. Again, opportunity will only knock once. We can only hope the door will be open.
“Who’s there?”
Opportunity.
[No response.]
You know, I only knock once.
“This is a joke, right?”
Not this time.
“Okay. Let’s assume this is the real thing. Why should I let you in?”
If you don’t let me in right now, I won’t be knocking on your door for a long, long time.
“Okay… What do you want me to do?”
C’mon! There’s a set format here. It’s your turn to ask me THE question. Hint: WHO!
“Why don’t you just go away?”
Listen, I’m trying to help the folks out here - just as you should be - but you’re tickin’ me off… bad.
“Tick… tick… tick… You’re a time bomb, right?” [The sound of giggling.]
I told you this is no joking matter, but in a sense you’re quite right. And I don’t think your attitude deserves my patience.
“So you’re the doctor and we’re your patients?” [More giggling… there’s a group of people behind the door of opportunity.]
I know you’re not alone. Are you all daft? This is supposed to be your big chance to make a difference… you know, that legacy thing?
“We don’t need no stinkin’ legacy!” [A smirk and a wink to others of the inner circle.]
Do you want me to walk away?
“Don’t let the door hit you in the a--! [Downright laughter behind the closed door.]
Time waits for no one. You know I only come around once in a generation?
“So now you’re a generator?” [A few snorts. It seems there are fewer listeners.]
Actually, yes, I’m trying to generate some interest just as you should be.
“We don’t need you. We’re the Lucky Eleven.”
It’s more like Ocean’s Eleven and you’re all washed up.
“Not us. Charlie appointed us. We’re still elitists and that’s the way it is. There’s more of us here. Of course, they’re not as important because seven were appointed by Ken Pruitt, another seven by Marco Rubio. There are four more but they’re just here for the ride.”
Is John McCay there? Maybe he’ll let me in.
“He’s here somewhere but he’s too busy doing something. He’s kinda the oddball of the group. He takes his job much too seriously… a goody-two-shoes.”
Will you at least let him know I’m here? Maybe he’ll give me passage.
“NO. WE DON”T NEED YOU!”
[The door remains locked… an opportunity lost.]
At the website [www.floridatbrc.org] there’s a link to the document that was released on Feb. 16, 2007, with the Great Seal of the State of Florida announcing the formation of the Taxation and Budget Reform Committee. It claims that the committee “must submit any proposed constitutional amendments by May 4, 2008. The website also displays the headline “Commission’s Work Complete”. It proclaims that on 4-28-08 that their work was done. The Commission gave up before the deadline. In another 20 years, another Commission will be given another opportunity to reform taxation codes to address the needs of the budget. Indeed, 20 years is a generation away. That’s a very long time. Again, opportunity will only knock once. We can only hope the door will be open.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Jail Time Out Of Line
When I read that carriers of fake IDs, notably spring breakers in Florida, are subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison, I was in disbelief that such a law would put into jeopardy the lives of such young adults. Some of old timers might call them “baby adults”. Many are 18 and 19 – still considered teenagers. They’re stuck with a third-degree felony, which will follow them through their decades of restricted employment opportunities – if they can even continue their goals in higher educational.
It’s very likely that law enforcement and the judicial system would take into consideration the sight, sound and social demeanor of the felon. Face it - clean-cut, well-spoken and respectful perpetrators are likely to be given special consideration of their actions. Dad and Mom may also have the financial resources to work through “the system” to pay the dues to society for their kid’s actions.
Conversely, unkempt hair and shabby attire, grammatically incorrect verbal responses and an attitude that is disrespectful of authority will most likely bring the gavel down with more painful repercussion. A public defender will cowtow to the State Attorney for whatever plea bargain may be offered.
In contrast to a felony charge, possessing someone else’s ID, lending an ID to a friend or altering the birth date on an ID is a second degree misdemeanor with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Now, take note that former South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, 45, has recently been sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession of less than 500 grams of cocaine, which he admitted having used since he was 18. He could have received up to 20 years in prison and $1-million in fines, but using federal guidelines he received a lesser sentence. He must also pay $249,999 ($221,323 fine and $28,676 restitution for the special legislative session to name his successor).
Co-defendant Michael L. Miller, 26, who sold the illegal drug was given a 10-month sentence.
It’s difficult to understand why an adult, having worked over 20 years in a position that requires a large degree of responsibility, should be considered less of a felon than someone barely out of high school. The young adult may not receive the full sentence for his or her crime, but in this scenario an adult received but a slap on the hand considering the jail sentence and a good spanking with the amount of restitution.
Sure, Ravenel’s $249,999 fine is a large sum but, with over 20 years as a working professional and prospects of gaining meaningful employment once released from prison, he’ll be able to weather the inconvenience of his current notoriety. He’ll surely have opportunities in investment management or other areas in economics where he will continue to financially survive.
No one can guarantee with any certainty that Miller will halt his entrepreneurship of selling illicit drugs. Ten months down the road, perhaps the two will buddy up again!
There seems to be no common sense in the guidelines for restitution for these crimes, which makes the matter a crime in itself.
It’s very likely that law enforcement and the judicial system would take into consideration the sight, sound and social demeanor of the felon. Face it - clean-cut, well-spoken and respectful perpetrators are likely to be given special consideration of their actions. Dad and Mom may also have the financial resources to work through “the system” to pay the dues to society for their kid’s actions.
Conversely, unkempt hair and shabby attire, grammatically incorrect verbal responses and an attitude that is disrespectful of authority will most likely bring the gavel down with more painful repercussion. A public defender will cowtow to the State Attorney for whatever plea bargain may be offered.
In contrast to a felony charge, possessing someone else’s ID, lending an ID to a friend or altering the birth date on an ID is a second degree misdemeanor with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Now, take note that former South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, 45, has recently been sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession of less than 500 grams of cocaine, which he admitted having used since he was 18. He could have received up to 20 years in prison and $1-million in fines, but using federal guidelines he received a lesser sentence. He must also pay $249,999 ($221,323 fine and $28,676 restitution for the special legislative session to name his successor).
Co-defendant Michael L. Miller, 26, who sold the illegal drug was given a 10-month sentence.
It’s difficult to understand why an adult, having worked over 20 years in a position that requires a large degree of responsibility, should be considered less of a felon than someone barely out of high school. The young adult may not receive the full sentence for his or her crime, but in this scenario an adult received but a slap on the hand considering the jail sentence and a good spanking with the amount of restitution.
Sure, Ravenel’s $249,999 fine is a large sum but, with over 20 years as a working professional and prospects of gaining meaningful employment once released from prison, he’ll be able to weather the inconvenience of his current notoriety. He’ll surely have opportunities in investment management or other areas in economics where he will continue to financially survive.
No one can guarantee with any certainty that Miller will halt his entrepreneurship of selling illicit drugs. Ten months down the road, perhaps the two will buddy up again!
There seems to be no common sense in the guidelines for restitution for these crimes, which makes the matter a crime in itself.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
A Peaches and Cream Speech
Good grief, Charlie, where ya been lately?
Side-steppin’ your elected responsibilities of addressing the needs of Floridians with your travels on both sides of the Atlantic, from South America way down south in Argentina to points north and east in Israel and Britain?
Gallivanting and carousing the United States with an older man, anticipating an inheritance of influence and power?
Smile and the Florida Legislator with you and your positive thinking but the truth of the matters are not as you portray them to be. Was that a tongue-in-cheek speech you gave during the State of the State Address? You can’t laugh off the depressive effects of the construction industry and the rippling tide it spreads through a multitude of other businesses.
You've never owned a home, so how can you relate to the affects of property taxes and home insurance on
You can’t shrug off the crash-boom-bang economics as a result of unending foreclosures in this State that has built itself on burgeoning homeowner property tax revenue. With most Americans experiencing one type of financial hardship or another, you can’t even rely on the tourist industry to keep the sunny side up above the looming clouds of a gloomy forecast.
Perhaps you’ve been blinded by the light of the midday sun and just don’t realize how the state of the State is something other than a healthy rose-colored crystal ball; it’s more like a stained-glass outlook through a hazy window.
The forecast is for cloudy skies.
Rather than what was portrayed in your Peaches and Cream speech, the State of affairs is ripe with rotting fruit and soured skim milk.
Side-steppin’ your elected responsibilities of addressing the needs of Floridians with your travels on both sides of the Atlantic, from South America way down south in Argentina to points north and east in Israel and Britain?
Gallivanting and carousing the United States with an older man, anticipating an inheritance of influence and power?
Smile and the Florida Legislator with you and your positive thinking but the truth of the matters are not as you portray them to be. Was that a tongue-in-cheek speech you gave during the State of the State Address? You can’t laugh off the depressive effects of the construction industry and the rippling tide it spreads through a multitude of other businesses.
You've never owned a home, so how can you relate to the affects of property taxes and home insurance on
You can’t shrug off the crash-boom-bang economics as a result of unending foreclosures in this State that has built itself on burgeoning homeowner property tax revenue. With most Americans experiencing one type of financial hardship or another, you can’t even rely on the tourist industry to keep the sunny side up above the looming clouds of a gloomy forecast.
Perhaps you’ve been blinded by the light of the midday sun and just don’t realize how the state of the State is something other than a healthy rose-colored crystal ball; it’s more like a stained-glass outlook through a hazy window.
The forecast is for cloudy skies.
Rather than what was portrayed in your Peaches and Cream speech, the State of affairs is ripe with rotting fruit and soured skim milk.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Giving Charlie a Secretarial Position
Surveys indicate Florida Governor Charlie Crist may not be a significant drawing card as a vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket for the General Election on November 4th. Senator John McCain seems to be doing quite well without the Crist connection as the Florida electorate puts him as the preferred Presidential choice regardless which Democrat ends up on the ballot.
I don't know if this would be good or bad news for us Floridians. Charlie's popularity still lingers above 70% even though his shortcomings over the past 16 months are many. A Top Ten List of his failures would be much too easy to number. Florida homeowners in particular are economically worse off than they were before Charlie took office. True, not all of the bad news is of his making but he hasn't help matters. He hasn't done for Florida what he professed to have been his goals. At this point, he wouldn't be missed.
If Crist isn't chosen as second honcho to Senator McCain, I can imagine there may be a post within McCain's cabinet. It would still be a significant political accomplishment for the Governor.
His weeks of traveling the country with McCain for nearly two months can still pay off dearly. Since many veeps live in the political shadows of the Federal Government, perhaps a greater share of notoriety can be achieved in another position.
Consider that Charlie has had plenty of experience over the past year, outside Florida, spotlighting his charisma and diplomacy in Israel, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Jordan. A planned meeting with executives of Brazil's state-owned energy company Petrobras was cancelled because of its ties with Iran, citing the Islamic republic as a threat to the United States and its allies, Israel in particlular. Crist has also signed a global warming pact with Britain.
Yes, Governor Crist has become very well known in international circles of interest.
Instead of Vice President, consider the possibility of Secretary of State Charlie Crist. He could very well be instrumental in future Middle East peace talks. If McCain wins the Presidential election, Crist may find his political career of more importance that even he can imagine.
I don't know if this would be good or bad news for us Floridians. Charlie's popularity still lingers above 70% even though his shortcomings over the past 16 months are many. A Top Ten List of his failures would be much too easy to number. Florida homeowners in particular are economically worse off than they were before Charlie took office. True, not all of the bad news is of his making but he hasn't help matters. He hasn't done for Florida what he professed to have been his goals. At this point, he wouldn't be missed.
If Crist isn't chosen as second honcho to Senator McCain, I can imagine there may be a post within McCain's cabinet. It would still be a significant political accomplishment for the Governor.
His weeks of traveling the country with McCain for nearly two months can still pay off dearly. Since many veeps live in the political shadows of the Federal Government, perhaps a greater share of notoriety can be achieved in another position.
Consider that Charlie has had plenty of experience over the past year, outside Florida, spotlighting his charisma and diplomacy in Israel, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Jordan. A planned meeting with executives of Brazil's state-owned energy company Petrobras was cancelled because of its ties with Iran, citing the Islamic republic as a threat to the United States and its allies, Israel in particlular. Crist has also signed a global warming pact with Britain.
Yes, Governor Crist has become very well known in international circles of interest.
Instead of Vice President, consider the possibility of Secretary of State Charlie Crist. He could very well be instrumental in future Middle East peace talks. If McCain wins the Presidential election, Crist may find his political career of more importance that even he can imagine.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
A Year With Charlie Crist
The Opinion Letter is framed. It was short and sweet, as it had appeared in the St. PetersburghTimes on Janurary 17, 2007. I submitted the letter upon the victory of Charlie Crist as the newly elected Governor of Florida. I wrote about “a sense of relief, anticipating some major changes in our daily lives”. The words of praise were heartfelt.
I hadn’t considered myself overly optimistic in my belief that he would resolve the hardships of homeowner insurance, property taxes and, perhaps the most important of all, education. This January, my disappointments are three-fold.
Although Amendment 1 passed the required 60% popular vote in the Florida Primary on Janurary 29th, it has very little positive affect on my personal property tax bill. My home insurance continued to rise after the Florida Legislature passed a bill that was supposed to actually lower the premium. Nothing has been done about education. Funding for schools is further in question because of sinking property values and the passage of Amendment 1.
Despite Governor Crist's shortfalls on his promises, my concerns are still dwarfed by my faith that his full term in office will provide a legacy of monumental proportions.
Another letter that adorns the wall in my den, dated January 20, 2007, overshadows my own. The glass-encased 8 ½ by 11 page bears the Great Seal of The State of Florida with the letterhead reading Charlie Crist, Governor. His signature accompanies the words “Thank you very much for your most kind words!”
Although my approval rating of the Governor is somewhat diminished, I maintain the belief that, in time, “he’ll earn the title of Superman – to me at least”.
I hadn’t considered myself overly optimistic in my belief that he would resolve the hardships of homeowner insurance, property taxes and, perhaps the most important of all, education. This January, my disappointments are three-fold.
Although Amendment 1 passed the required 60% popular vote in the Florida Primary on Janurary 29th, it has very little positive affect on my personal property tax bill. My home insurance continued to rise after the Florida Legislature passed a bill that was supposed to actually lower the premium. Nothing has been done about education. Funding for schools is further in question because of sinking property values and the passage of Amendment 1.
Despite Governor Crist's shortfalls on his promises, my concerns are still dwarfed by my faith that his full term in office will provide a legacy of monumental proportions.
Another letter that adorns the wall in my den, dated January 20, 2007, overshadows my own. The glass-encased 8 ½ by 11 page bears the Great Seal of The State of Florida with the letterhead reading Charlie Crist, Governor. His signature accompanies the words “Thank you very much for your most kind words!”
Although my approval rating of the Governor is somewhat diminished, I maintain the belief that, in time, “he’ll earn the title of Superman – to me at least”.
Aftermath of Amendment 1
Whew! Aren’t I the lucky one! I figure there’s a whopping $240 savings on my typically average home value now that Amendment One is said and done. I’ll still have an end-of-the-year tax bill that’s three times that of my neighbors.
And, as Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek repeatedly informed us during last fall’s Hernando County Budget hearings, there’ll be an additional reduction because the value of my home plummeted in 2007; property taxes are billed a year in arrears.
I’ll still have an end-of-the-year bill that is three times that of my neighbors who have stayed in the same home in excess of ten years. I’ll still be paying a far higher share of taxes than those same neighbors who maintain the same level of services from County Government. Hundreds of other homeowners in the county are right there beside me although they’re necessarily neighbors.
Those same neighbors whose tax bills are a third on my own can downsize to another location and save their homes much more easily than myself. If I should downsize I would still pay three times as much in property and school taxes as they. I’ll cross my fingers next fall when the County Commissioners place their votes for the 2009 budget and hope they don’t inch up the millage rate. We might even get it socked to us bad if the three incumbents fail in their re-elected bids in the General Election – it may be a season of sour grapes as they take vengeance on the electorate.
I can take the overall savings in property taxes of maybe $400 and apply it to my home insurance premium that was never reduced as promised by Governor Crist.
There are those who made out like bandits from the passage of Amendment 1, but there are also just as many of us still behind bars with a financial responsibility that foresees no reprieve. We’ve been sentenced to a lifetime of inequity because the Florida Legislature can rest easy that the people have mandates the status quo. There will no longer be the need to pursue other tax reform.
I feel the only way for me to make out ahead is to fall backward by selling my current home and relocate to a trailer valued little more than $50,000; I would have true property tax and insurance relief. I can’t expect it otherwise.
And, as Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek repeatedly informed us during last fall’s Hernando County Budget hearings, there’ll be an additional reduction because the value of my home plummeted in 2007; property taxes are billed a year in arrears.
I’ll still have an end-of-the-year bill that is three times that of my neighbors who have stayed in the same home in excess of ten years. I’ll still be paying a far higher share of taxes than those same neighbors who maintain the same level of services from County Government. Hundreds of other homeowners in the county are right there beside me although they’re necessarily neighbors.
Those same neighbors whose tax bills are a third on my own can downsize to another location and save their homes much more easily than myself. If I should downsize I would still pay three times as much in property and school taxes as they. I’ll cross my fingers next fall when the County Commissioners place their votes for the 2009 budget and hope they don’t inch up the millage rate. We might even get it socked to us bad if the three incumbents fail in their re-elected bids in the General Election – it may be a season of sour grapes as they take vengeance on the electorate.
I can take the overall savings in property taxes of maybe $400 and apply it to my home insurance premium that was never reduced as promised by Governor Crist.
There are those who made out like bandits from the passage of Amendment 1, but there are also just as many of us still behind bars with a financial responsibility that foresees no reprieve. We’ve been sentenced to a lifetime of inequity because the Florida Legislature can rest easy that the people have mandates the status quo. There will no longer be the need to pursue other tax reform.
I feel the only way for me to make out ahead is to fall backward by selling my current home and relocate to a trailer valued little more than $50,000; I would have true property tax and insurance relief. I can’t expect it otherwise.
john thrasher against democracy
How annoying it is to receive not only one but TWO of those “Signature and Petition Revocation Notices” from the “honorable” john thrasher. The man is so persistent in his attempt to get me to REVOKE my signature that I had purposely placed on the petition for an Amendment to Florida’s Constitution to put the direction of responsible growth in the hands of those most affected, existing property owners.
The opening line, “This is a extremely…” may demonstrate a lack of intelligence toward proper grammar. I returned the front page asking him to correct and return the form with expedient delivery. At that time I will truly not consider signing and submitting his PETITION REVOCATION FORM.
Many newspapers throughout Florida have called his attempt to undermine the rights of voters by providing false or misleading information in his “Signature and Petition Revocation Notice”.
Nowhere in his “letter” does he mention the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative to be voted on by Florida voters.
The last sentence on the first page reads, “The tactics used to get you to sign their petition are deceptive.” HIS tactic to get me to revoke my decision to freely sign the petition is not only deceptive; it’s downright disgusting because he is what some may call a “goon of a lobbyist” for the building industry. I have no doubt the guy is paid very, very, very well to promote special interest groups determined to build, build, build on every available piece of land in Florida.
The man jeopardizes the financial security of every Florida homeowner by promoting uncontrolled growth along the coasts of the state. With every new high-rise, we will all take on the debt of paying for the rich and affluent to reside in luxury, while Citizens Insurance liabilities become our responsibility.
I returned his second URGENT request with notes that read:
“grammatical error”
“an extremely..” (I gave him a hint, which he doesn’t deserve, and circled the error)
“please correct”
“feel free to use Spell Check and resubmit for further consideration”
I returned the envelope, and page one only with the suggested correction, and added the word URGENT below the words FIRST CLASS that was stamped in red at the corner to the right of the addressee PETITION REVOCATION DEPARTMENT.
The envelope was labeled BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
It’s more like DIRTY BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
The opening line, “This is a extremely…” may demonstrate a lack of intelligence toward proper grammar. I returned the front page asking him to correct and return the form with expedient delivery. At that time I will truly not consider signing and submitting his PETITION REVOCATION FORM.
Many newspapers throughout Florida have called his attempt to undermine the rights of voters by providing false or misleading information in his “Signature and Petition Revocation Notice”.
Nowhere in his “letter” does he mention the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative to be voted on by Florida voters.
The last sentence on the first page reads, “The tactics used to get you to sign their petition are deceptive.” HIS tactic to get me to revoke my decision to freely sign the petition is not only deceptive; it’s downright disgusting because he is what some may call a “goon of a lobbyist” for the building industry. I have no doubt the guy is paid very, very, very well to promote special interest groups determined to build, build, build on every available piece of land in Florida.
The man jeopardizes the financial security of every Florida homeowner by promoting uncontrolled growth along the coasts of the state. With every new high-rise, we will all take on the debt of paying for the rich and affluent to reside in luxury, while Citizens Insurance liabilities become our responsibility.
I returned his second URGENT request with notes that read:
“grammatical error”
“an extremely..” (I gave him a hint, which he doesn’t deserve, and circled the error)
“please correct”
“feel free to use Spell Check and resubmit for further consideration”
I returned the envelope, and page one only with the suggested correction, and added the word URGENT below the words FIRST CLASS that was stamped in red at the corner to the right of the addressee PETITION REVOCATION DEPARTMENT.
The envelope was labeled BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
It’s more like DIRTY BUSINESS REPLY MAIL.
Florida Hometown Democracy
An initiative promoted by a group called Florida Hometown Democracy has a goal to have an amendment on the November 2008 ballot that would allow voters to regulate changes in land use decisions, manipulating comprehensive plans to restrict unwanted development. It appears to be more of a safeguard against local governments making what some would call poor decisions for the county. Of course, builders and businesses fear the worst, foreseeing construction and growth coming to a halt, ruining the local and state economies. Hometown Democracy has a petition quota to meet before the amendment could be placed on the ballot, and then requires a 60% vote for passage.
I think many of us residents question growth patterns as approved by our county commissioners, especially when new subdivisions are approved time and again, with few denials. It appears the general consensus in the current process allows passage whenever the Planning or Zoning Commission finds no legal issues. Most of us don’t see the reasoning behind the growth decisions because of the number of existing homes sitting unoccupied, dead on the real estate market. Another concern is seeing more subdivisions partially built with no assurance they won’t become economic eyesores.
The process to redirect political direction is by petition, which requires signatures by February 1, 2008. Go to http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ to read, print, sign and return the position.
I think many of us residents question growth patterns as approved by our county commissioners, especially when new subdivisions are approved time and again, with few denials. It appears the general consensus in the current process allows passage whenever the Planning or Zoning Commission finds no legal issues. Most of us don’t see the reasoning behind the growth decisions because of the number of existing homes sitting unoccupied, dead on the real estate market. Another concern is seeing more subdivisions partially built with no assurance they won’t become economic eyesores.
The process to redirect political direction is by petition, which requires signatures by February 1, 2008. Go to http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ to read, print, sign and return the position.
Other Post-It Blogs
Other blogs that have morphed:
http://www.floridamenagerie.blogspot.com/
{The State Down Under}
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.hernandohews.blogspot.com/
{Lookss and Outlooks of Hernando County}
http://www.hernandohews08.blogspot.com/
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.parcel-post.blogspot.com/
{Comments to Entice}
www.parcelposto8.blogspot.com
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.floridamenagerie.blogspot.com/
{The State Down Under}
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.hernandohews.blogspot.com/
{Lookss and Outlooks of Hernando County}
http://www.hernandohews08.blogspot.com/
A New Year. A New Blog.
http://www.parcel-post.blogspot.com/
{Comments to Entice}
www.parcelposto8.blogspot.com
A New Year. A New Blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)