BROWARD COUNTY PBA DAILY CLIPS January 19, 2017
MEDIA OUTLET: Broward Beat HEADLINE: Black Versus White In Broward School Board Race BYLINE: Buddy Nevins LINK: http://www.browardbeat.com/black-versus-white-in-broward-school-board-race/ STORY: One of Broward School Superintendent Robert Runcie s toughest critics has a re-election opponent. The challenge to School Board member Nora Rupert of Coconut Creek by a Haitian American activist suggests a 2018 August primary that could degenerate into a nasty ethnic fight. Rupert s frequent target is Runcie, who is arguably the leading black face in Broward public life. Rupert is white. Her new challenger Mikelange Mr. Mike Olbel is black. Olbel filed papers with the county elections office to open his campaign last week. The challenger is the founder and chief executive of Team Saving Our Youth, a local organizations that helps underprivileged youths. On the group s website, Olbel is called Mr. Mike. He is described as having successfully coached and trained many individuals in the area of life skills planning across the US. Mr. Mike happens to be the most sought after youngest CEO in South Florida for his expertise to assist with preventing crime in the community. It is not known at this early date how Olbel s campaign will be waged. Whatever he does, his ethnicity will influence the election. Identity politics is not new in Broward or anywhere in the United States. For years when Jewish retirees dominated elections here, politicians made naked appeals to Jews. Candidates who never saw the inside of a synagogue suddenly were donning yarmulkes and bragging about their ties to the Jewish community. The latest wrinkle in ethnic appeals has been to protect Runcie, an African American. Some of his supporters have beat back any criticism the superintendent by using blatant ethnic appeals to the black community. Whether Runcie is behind these black identity pressure tactics is not known. What is known is that using Runcie s blackness is politically clever. The strategy has made the white Democrats on the School Board, who all view themselves as liberals on racial issues, very uncomfortable. Although she may be uncomfortable, Rupert has not backed down. She has continued to question Runcie s policies despite the significant number of black voters in her north Broward School Board District 7. 1
Rupert joined members Heather Brinkworth and Robin Bartleman in writing that Runcie needs improvement in his evaluation last September. The three Board members have questioned Runcie s hiring practices. They blame Runcie for the failure to get school construction started more than two years after passage of the $800 bond issue. They blame him for the lack of notable improvements in student achievement. Bartleman is elected countywide, diminishing black anger aimed at her in any election. Brinkworth s Fort Lauderdale-based School Board district has five times more white voters than black voters. But Rupert is much more potentially vulnerable to the ire of black voters. Her district has many, many black voters. Rupert s School Board District 7 stretches over heavily white enclaves of North Broward like Margate and Coconut Creek to the black-dominated precincts of west Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach. There were 88,878 white voters in the district at the beginning of the year, compared with 34,068 blacks, 20,199 Hispanics and 12,199 who classify themselves as other. Those figures are not the whole story. Although School Board races are non-partisan, many other contests on the primary ballot contain party labels. There are 75,269 Democrats in District 7, compared to 36,581 Republicans and 40,994 no party or independents. Since independents can only vote in Florida in non-partisan primary races, they tend vote less in primaries. So in District 7, Democrats will dominate the primary. A big hunk of those registered Democrats are blacks. Blacks can have an oversized influence on the District 7 primary.if they turnout and vote as a bloc. That s a big If. It will be black versus white in School Board District 7. Haitian-American Olbel is challenging Rupert, a School Board member who gets the most notoriety for criticizing Broward s first black school superintendent Runcie. This one is about to get interesting. 2
MEDIA OUTLET: Florida Bulldog HEADLINE: New majority on Hallandale commission wants to know: Where did CRA millions go? BYLINE: William Gjebre LINK: http://www.floridabulldog.org/2017/01/new-majority-on-hallandale-beach-commission-wants-toknow-where-did-money-go/ STORY: The new majority on the Hallandale Beach City Commission will seek the first-ever forensic audit of all expenditures by its troubled Community Redevelopment Agency for the past five years, including finding out why $7.4 million had to be cut to balance the agency s budget this fiscal year. Current Vice Mayor Keith London and Commissioner Michele Lazarow had been frustrated in seeking such an audit by the previous commission majority headed by Mayor Joy Cooper. The November city commission election resulted in London and Lazarow gaining the backing of new City Commissioner Anabelle Taub. Cooper was reelected, but failed to gain another commissioner to back her and her ally, Commissioner Anthony Sanders. They re expected to vote on the audit, aimed at determining whether any wrongdoing occured, later this month. Let s see where the money went, London said. We are going to get to the bottom of this. The new commission trio already has flexed its power in a remake of city hall. It was responsible for the ousters of City Manager Daniel Rosemond and City Attorney Lynn Whitfield, and replacing them with long-time South Florida government administrator, Roger Carlton, and a new city attorney, Jennifer Merino. Merino was general counsel for the Broward Inspector General s Office, which investigated and severely criticized the spending practices of the city s CRA four years ago. It s time to clean house of the city manager and the city commission the collusion, Lazarow said. Now the new commission majority will be seeking answers about the spending of the much-troubled CRA. We need to find out We need a full forensic audit [of the CRA], London said. We need to find out about the $7.4 million, and we need to know what we have left. London was referring to last August when city commissioners, who are also directors of the CRA, were forced to cut $7.4 million from the proposed $25.9-million CRA budget for this year after being told by the city administration that the agency had counted land purchases by the agency as cash. At that meeting, then City Manager Rosemond said an adjustment had to be made the city commission had no choice but to approve the budget cut. Prior to that, London said the city manager had given commissioners assurances that cash was available to the CRA, only to learn that the value of the city-purchased land by the CRA cannot be counted as cash. 3
Both London and Lazarow lobbied for a forensic audit of expenditures at that time, but lacked a third vote. The commission instead voted to seek a forensic audit that delved only into CRA land purchases. Making matters worse, London said, Rosemond later came back and told commissioners that he was unable to engage any firm willing to conduct the forensic audit of land purchases and, therefore, no firm was hired. That all changed, however, with the November city commission election. Lazarow was reelected, along with newcomer Taub. London was not up for reelection. Now in the majority, London said he wants audit to cover CRA spending back to 2012, the first year city commissioners established a separate funding account for the agency. We need to know what we have, he said. We have to inquire about the $7.4 million, said Lazarow, adding she plans to back London s request for a forensic audit when he brings it up for a commission vote. Taub, who was not available for comment, is also expected to back the request. City co-mingled CRA funds Prior to 2012, the city had co-mingled CRA funds with city funds. That practice started in 1996, when the CRA was established under state law. The agency has been funded through property tax increases in the CRA boundaries. It was only when the Broward Inspector General s Office began its probe and issued a scathing report that some changes were made, including separating CRA-collected funds from other city tax revenues. Florida Bulldog had reported about questionable loans to local businesses and land purchases through the CRA nearly a year before IG investigators descended on city hall in April, 2012 seeking records and questioning officials as the probe became public. After a 14-month investigation, the Inspector General s Office in 2013 stated the Hallandale Beach CRA had grossly mismanaged millions of dollars in funds between 2007 and 2012. It found $2.2 million in questionable expenditures by the CRA, including inappropriate loans and grants to local businesses and non-profits, as well as the improper use of bond proceeds. Before and after that report, London asked for a forensic audit of agency funds, but was outvoted by his commission colleagues. Mayor Cooper denied the city had done anything wrong. The city commission majority at that time then ousted the agency s recently appointed CRA executive director, Alvin Jackson, who won praise by the Inspector General for efforts to improve the CRA. The city commission, over the objections of London, placed the agency once again under the direct management of the city manager. Except for Jackson s short tenure, city managers have had full control of the CRA since 1996, during which the agency failed to keep adequate records, including changing loan and grant policies in violation of existing rules. 4
Both London and Lazarow said they are pleased with the new appointees, in particular Merino, 36. She has knowledge of our city, said London, referring to Merino s work with the agency that investigated the city s CRA. Merino has a history [with the city], Lazarow said. She has been watching our meetings. Carlton, 69, has held several key positions with public agencies, among them: Miami Beach city manager (1992-1995), executive assistant Miami-Dade county manager (1977-1981). 5
MEDIA OUTLET: NBC Miami (Channel 6) HEADLINE: President-Elect Trump Calls Husband of Slain Orlando Police Officer: Report BYLINE: NBC Miami LINK: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/president-elect-trump-calls-husband-of-slain-orlando- Police-Officer-Report-411175905.html STORY: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says President-elect Donald Trump has reached out to the husband of a slain Orlando police officer. Bondi said Wednesday that Trump had a phone conversation with the husband of Lt. Debra Clayton, who was fatally shot outside a Wal-Mart store in Orlando last week. Bondi describes the conversation between Trump and Seth Clayton as "a brief, very touching, private conversation between two husbands." A suspect wanted for Clayton's slaying was taken into custody Tuesday night after a manhunt that lasted more than a week. Clayton was shot after she approached Markeith Loyd, who was wanted at the time for the killing of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Loyd's first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday. 6
MEDIA OUTLET: FOX Miami (Channel 7) HEADLINE: BSO deputy honored at ceremony for water rescue BYLINE: Hans Morgenstern LINK: http://wsvn.com/news/local/bso-deputy-honored-at-ceremony-for-water-rescue/ STORY: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Sheriff s Foundation of Broward County showed their appreciation for their first responders at a ceremony, Tuesday, and they made sure to honor one very deserving deputy. The Sheriff s Foundation hosted the Sheriff s Briefing and Awards Ceremony at the Broward Sheriff s Office headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, located at 2601 W. Broward Blvd., Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. At this year s ceremony, 45-year-old BSO deputy Vincent Graham, who jumped into a lake to rescue a toddler and her great-grandmother from drowning, was was named Detention Deputy Of The Year. According to police, Graham was sitting inside his home before his shift started when he heard cries for help outside. When he rushed outside, he saw an elderly woman struggling to keep a toddler afloat in a neaby lake. By the time I got there, they both were under, Vincent said, and the baby s eyes start rolling behind her head, so I grabbed her first, handed her up. and then I was able to pull the great-grandmother up to bank. Both were taken to a nearby hospital and deemed OK. They were grateful for their helpful neighbor. That s the joy of it, to know the Lord used me as a tool to save to lives, Vincent said. In the audience, as he received his award, were the child and great-grandmother he rescued. Meanwhile, the foundation s award for BSO Civilian of the Year went to Angela Mize, who is in charge of the regional 911 system. The foundation presented her with a $1,000 check, which she in turn donated to the BSO Explorers program for teenagers and young adults. Furthermore, through donations, the Sheriff s Foundation announced at the ceremony, they will be donating 40 night-vision goggles to the Broward Sheriff s Office for use by the SWAT team. 7
MEDIA OUTLET: FOX Miami (Channel 7) HEADLINE: Foundation donates night vision goggles to BSO SWAT Team BYLINE: FOX Miami LINK: http://wsvn.com/news/local/foundation-donates-night-vision-goggles-to-bso-swat-team/ STORY: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Sheriff s Foundation of Broward County donated night vision goggles, Wednesday, to the Broward Sheriff s Office. Forty night vision goggles were donated to the BSO SWAT Team to help them see clearly at night. When we are searching for bad guys armed or not armed, we re going into back yards and low light areas, said BSO SGT. Matt Patten. At night, our officers can wear the night vision goggles and literally just stand in the backyard, put the night vision on and immediately know someone is standing in the dark, said Patten. The foundation made the donation in hopes of making things safer for on-duty deputies. 8
MEDIA OUTLET: ABC Miami (Channel 10) HEADLINE: Man fatally shot by Miami-Dade police had stolen gun, search warrant reveals BYLINE: Michael Seiden LINK: http://www.local10.com/news/crime/man-fatally-shot-by-police-had-stolen-gun-search-warrantreveals STORY: MIAMI - Search warrants reveal that a 21-year-old man who was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop last month was armed with a stolen gun. In a newly filed search warrant, investigators described the fatal encounter between Jamar Rollins and Miami-Dade police Detective Andrew Garcia in the community of West Perrine. "As Detective Garcia approached the open front passenger door of 'the vehicle,' his attention was drawn to the driver," Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Dean Wellinghoff wrote in the report. "Detective Garcia engaged Rollins and subsequently discharged his firearm, striking Rollins several times, resulting in Rollins' death." The warrants also describe the moment when detectives realized that Rollins was armed with a gun. "Immediately after being shot by Detective Garcia, Rollins was observed by Detective (Jesus) Coto exiting the driver's side of 'the vehicle' and throwing a firearm in the process," Wellinghoff added. Court documents confirm that Rollins had a stolen Glock 19 handgun. It's unclear if Rollins fired the gun. The Dec. 30 shooting death of Rollins sparked a firestorm on social media, prompting Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez to call a town hall meeting, where some witnesses and relatives of Rollins claimed that he was getting out of the vehicle with his hands up when he was fatally wounded. 9