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Cooper City Government Issues

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Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#91 | Posted: 5 Mar 2007 08:04 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
BEFORE YOU VOTE ON MARCH 13th EXAMINE THE HISTORY, THE RECENT LACK OF CHARACTER AND ETHICS LAW VIOLATIONS BY THE INCUMBENTS AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSION...

Yes, it's John Sims against the whole administration! That said, a person's or politician's recent actions does indeed show their true character, and character, along with morals, ethics and public trust, is a major issue in this upcoming election especially regarding the shenanigans, lies and deceit our city commissioners have recently pulled on the residents of Cooper City. Mr. Cooper must be turning in his grave!

Yes, this election is all about character and a person's character is displayed in the way they act. Recent past performance of the entire current administration, their unacceptable behavior and how they conduct their pubic personal affairs are very much an issue in this important election, and may be the one of the biggest issues.

The commission and many of their supporters have violated the ethics laws by using their public position as a platform for their personal agendas and to illegally and directly sway votes. They use their position to promote the fact that Cooper City is "Someplace Special" but then denigrate it and undermine the public's confidence in their own city government by their actions, inaction and bad faith deeds. They, and their supporters, present their 'truth' based upon non-facts, innuendo, speculation, rumor and gross misrepresentation to the public at large and to those they supposedly represent in violation of the law.

They resort to threats of lawsuits to myself and the media to keep us quiet, lies, deceit, innuendo, dirty politics, rumors and speculation about John Sims in order to win a local election that pays almost nothing. WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF FOR AN APPROXIMATE $7,000 A YEAR JOB? There must be something really deep going on right here in our town.

They are desperate for a reason or they would be dealing with, debating and discussing the issues that directly affect us all! That's probably why my incumbent challenger supports this shenanigans and says that my campaign agenda is just "a smokescreen". I say, if my opponent can't take care of himself and his business, how can he take care of us residents and this city?

Together with your support, I work to improve Cooper City and work to provide for the health, safety and general welfare of this wonderful city and its residents, and eliminate the bias and inconsistencies in our city administrators actions and business forums. I will work like the dickens to return solid ethics and public trust to our city government!

Just a reminder that on Tuesday March 13 that you are going to vote for two Commission seats even if you don't reside in districts one or two. This election is a city wide vote. Your right to vote for John Sims has been bought and paid for by millions brave men and women who are heroes, and who gave their lives since our democracy was enacted. They gave you that right...so use it!

I want to return Cooper City to a democracy, not allow it to remain a dictatorship as it has become. Yes, it has become a dictatorship in our own town when the city says they can come and take away your personal property, your guns, your vehicles, your generators, your food, anything they wish, along with your civil rights all in the name of a 'declared emergency'. It's 'do as I say, not as I do', especially when it comes to city ordinances. All of this sounds like something Hitler or Stalin would have condoned!

The current administration is severely lacking in character and ethics, resorting to dirty politics, character assassination and ad hominem attacks, while John Sims has not. He doesn't need to resort to that and has kept on course with the issues that directly affect all residents of this Cooper City. Keep that in mind when you go to vote next Tuesday, March 13th, that the recent bad behavior and unethical, unlawful practices by the current administration and their supporters is a darn good predictor of their future actions and how they will run this city.

IN THE NEWS:

"...while the conduct of the commissioners may not meet the expectations of the citizens who elected them...the citizens best remedy may rest in the ballot box the upcoming election." The Office of the Florida Governor

"City Commission members...have shown poor judgment in their behavior and have certainly lost my faith." Cooper City Resident, The Miami Herald, Nov. 12, 2006

"It is time for positive change. It's time to take positive action." Davie and the Ranches Magazine, March 2007

"The best proof that pre-commission-meeting dinners...mayor and commissioners were wrong is the fact that the dinners have been stopped. The mayor and commissioners knew it was wrong and changed their behavior." Editorial-The Miami Herald Feb. 14, 2007
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#92 | Posted: 5 Mar 2007 14:30 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
To: Kirsch, Mike

Subject: Cooper City

Hi Mike,

I am forwarding you the email below which is being circulated around Cooper City. I received it from a friend of mine, 'V K' who says her husband sent it to her. Her family is involved in the Cooper City Optimist. I am having it traced to see if we can figure out where it originated. It is slanderous! Of course they won't sign it because they don't want to get caught circulating untruths. That would be libelous. Also, I wanted to mention to you that Valenti's son has been telling people while out campaigning for his father, that the pictures of the commission drinking and having dinner were given to CBS 4 from John Sims. How can they be spreading these lies? Just more dirty politics. This is really getting out of hand. You may want to check into this. I can put you in touch with that person if you want to follow up.

Sincerely,

Renee DeLotta

****
From: Kirsch, Mike
To: Renee
Subject: RE: Cooper City

Dear Mrs. Delotta,

I would like to inform you that regarding, specifically, the allegations that Mr. John Sims provided CBS4 News and/or me pictures or videotape images of Cooper City Commissioners drinking alcohol and eating meals: This is false information. Those images were videotaped by myself and only by myself.

This issue has already been made clear for the record with Cooper City Commissioner Elliot Kleiman during a videotaped television interview several days ago. In addition, I have also informed Cooper City BSO Police Chief John Hale as to the origin of the videotape featured in our investigative report. I trust these two community leaders have forwarded on the facts behind CBS4 video to others who inquire.

This is the only videotape CBS4 News used for our television reports. At no time has CB4 News been approached by anyone with other pictures or videotape of said drinking and dining activities other than the images I videotaped myself. At no time did CBS4 News use videotape or pictures of Cooper City Commissioners drinking and dining other than the images I witnessed and videotaped myself.

Further, CBS4 News continues to investigate information indicating sources within the Cooper City government structure itself first volunteered information to the community at large - and that other media were also contacted before CBS4 News -- about Cooper City's elected leaders participating in the pre-commission drinks and dinners events charged to taxpayers, events promptly cancelled by the Commission once the Commission was alerted to our CBS4 News investigation.

As we do with the countless phone calls and emails we receive from citizens coming forward about the Cooper City Commission, we will add your information to our file as we continue our investigation.

In addition, we would be interested in examining the original email circulating with the below information regarding Mr. Sims personal background and further exploring how courts of law and/or state and federal authorities may interpret these statements in the context of elected officials and/or their supporters resorting to what may be interpreted as libelous and slanderous statements and or tactics during the election season.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Sincerely,

Mike Kirsch
CBS4 News
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#93 | Posted: 10 Mar 2007 14:08 
For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Rev. Bob Sands
Sands Communications, Inc.
954/680-1374


Political Campaign in Cooper City Gets Personal

Personal Attacks on one Candidate backfire and leave a bad taste in the mouths of local Residents against the Incumbents

Cooper City, Florida – March 10, 2007
Cooper City is making headlines once again, and this time it's more personal than ever before. With the election days away, a select few have begun a smear campaign against candidate John Sims. "Their attacks have been personal and relentless" says Rev. Bob Sands, a minister and staunch supporter of Sims. "I have been a resident of Cooper City for three years and I am ashamed of how all of our Commissioners have conducted themselves."

Sands was referring to the recent dining and drinking debacle and the DUI arrest of Commissioner Bartlett Roper. "At every turn they have violated our public trust and given our city a black eye, now they want to attack Mr. Sims? It's unconscionable." Sands said.

Rev. Sands isn't the only one upset with the campaign tactics. "What are these people so afraid of?" said Diane Sori. The smear campaign escalated on Saturday when local Sims supporters, all of whom were displaying his campaign signs, received anonymous envelopes containing public record information about Mr. Sims. The unsigned letter, with no name or return address, was paper clipped to several documents.

"It's clear that they and the incumbent are scared of something and are pulling out all of the stops. What do they have to be so afraid of for a seven thousand dollar a year job? This just shows their true motive and character." said Sims. Sims also said "The threat of lawsuits toward himself and the media by the Mayor and the Optimist Club have halted any response or further dissemination of the truth. It's appalling."

Sims has run a clean and focused campaign. "I have nothing to hide" Sims said. When he has been questioned about his past, Sims has been up front and honest. "These actions just further add to the voter's disgust with our commissioners."

While the documents were meant to be untraceable, a mailing permit is clearly displayed on each of the official stamps and a forensic examination of the mailing is underway by several authorities. Advisors for the Sims campaign are currently weighing their legal options as both state and federal offenses may have occurred.

Mr. Sims can be contacted at 954-445-6997 or at www.johnbsims.com

###
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#94 | Posted: 14 Mar 2007 06:17 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
When Big Brother wants your 'stuff'-------------------------------------------------- --------------------

The city of Cooper City, Fla., has given itself the power to seize residents' personal property in times of emergency. Officials deemed this new law necessary because of what is expected to be a busy hurricane season.

But don't worry, they say. The law would never be enforced unless there were no other options – presumably meaning that the city could not persuade private citizens to permit the government to borrow, rent or buy their equipment.

Think of it as eminent domain for generators, power tools, trucks and anything else local czars determine they need. Not surprisingly, this plan has met with some resistance.

''These people, with their mindset, should be arrested and put in jail for even attempting to do something like this,'' said Tim Wilder, a mobile mechanic who owns emergency tools and equipment. 

While Commissioner Elliot Kleiman acknowledged that such a law is subject to abuse, he explained, ''but it's not going to happen here.'' Wouldn't that make you feel better?

You see, tyrants and dictators always believe they will be benevolent – that they would do the right thing in all circumstances. Few people run for office or seek power believing they cannot be trusted. They almost all trust themselves.

However, if we could trust people in power, we wouldn't need the safeguards we have in America to keep them in check, to limit their authority, to restrict their actions, to maintain the rule of law rather than the rule of men.

What's happening in Cooper City is not unusual. Unfortunately it is happening all over the country. It's happening in local governments. It's happening n state governments. And it's happening at the federal level.

That's why this is worth talking about – worth thinking about, worth praying about and worth fighting with all of our American resolve for independence and liberty and individual freedom.

It's easy for government to respect civil rights in the best of times. The challenge is for government to respect them in the worst of times. And few rights are as foundational as property rights.

That's why I agree with Mr. Wilder. That's the theory behind our rights. But what about the pragmatic implications of seizure laws like this? Are they really effective? Or are they, in fact, counterproductive to saving lives and property in times of emergency?

Think about this.

The best emergency scenario is that people themselves are prepared. Even the most well-equipped, efficient, resourceful and powerful government in the world can't take care of everyone's needs in an emergency.

Does a law like the one approved in Cooper City encourage people to prepare for emergencies? Or does it discourage them?

Most of the adamant objections to the law come from people who are prepared – people who make preparedness a way of life, people who even make a living investing in and operating emergency equipment.

Are these not the very people we need during times of emergency? Isn't it better to encourage people to do just what these folks are doing? Isn't it better for all concerned if we don't discourage people from making those investments and maintaining those businesses? Would any city or state want to drive these people out of their jurisdictions by raising fears of confiscation of their property and livelihoods?

Furthermore, why would other private citizens knowingly invest their own dollars and cents in preparing when city officials are giving them the impression that their neighbor's equipment will be seized by government to rescue them?

It's just one more example of a law that makes people more dependent on government – never a good idea in times of emergency.

You want to hear the real kicker? The Cooper City law, as with so many others like it, would allow officials to prohibit possession of firearms in times of emergency and close any public gathering place.

There go the First and Second Amendments as well as the Third, Fourth and Fifth in one fell swoop.

Is there any point in owning anything any more? Or, maybe a better question would be: Does anyone, besides government, really own anything any more?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/a...RTICLE_ID=51 935
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#95 | Posted: 14 Mar 2007 06:18 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Incumbents rejected in 3 Broward cities as voter turnout falls under 10 percent




By Brittany Wallman and Juan Ortega
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 14, 2007



Disenchanted voters fired elected officials in three cities Tuesday in contests marked by an exceptionally low turnout countywide.

Scandal was on voters' minds in Cooper City, where commissioners were investigated for drinking and dining together at taxpayer expense before public meetings. Two incumbents lost their seats.

Promises of a more accountable government helped return an ex-commissioner to office in Sunrise, at the expense of an incumbent.

Worries about developer donations helped a candidate with comparatively slim dollars trounce a sitting commissioner in Pompano Beach.

Voters in 12 of Broward's 31 cities had races and ballot questions to consider Tuesday.

Only 25,739 voters weighed in Tuesday, of the eligible 267,633, according to the supervisor of elections office. That's a 9.6 percent turnout, a low even in Broward County, where history has shown municipal election turnout typically in the teens.

"We knew it would be low, but I didn't expect it to be under 10 percent," said elections spokeswoman Mary Cooney.

Cooper City's voters agreed to shift city elections to November.

However, voters rejected Cooper City incumbents John C. Valenti and Linda Ferrara, who lost their seats to John Sims and Lisa Mallozzi.

Valenti's opponent, Sims, was one of the first to complain about officials socializing. A state probe cleared the officials last month.

"They were going out to dinner on our money and then they were praising themselves for doing a good job. What do they think, that we're all idiots?" voter Julia Peters said.

In Sunrise, Irwin Harlem lost the post he's held for 14 years. Former colleague Roger Wishner swiped his seat promising less government "secrecy."

Pompano Beach voters picked attorney Charlotte Burrie, the former city clerk, to replace incumbent Susan Foster.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#96 | Posted: 14 Mar 2007 06:25 
Voters in Cooper City oust Valenti, Ferrara, push back future elections




By Joe Kollin
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 14, 2007



Cooper city – Voters apparently dismayed with the conduct of their city commissioners gave the boot to both incumbents whose seats were up for grabs.

But they did take the advice of those officials by agreeing to conduct future municipal elections in November instead of March.

City commissioners, who are elected citywide to represent specific districts, serve three years.

In the District 1 seat, John Sims, 48, whose complaint helped trigger a state investigation of commissioners' drinking and dining at restaurants prior to their public meetings, defeated incumbent John Valenti, 63.

Although an inquiry completed by the governor's office on Feb. 7 cleared commissioners of wrongdoing, it cast a shadow that voters didn't forget.

"I ran a clean and open campaign and was upfront and honest with the people of Cooper City," Sims said. He said his first act will be to "regain the public trust by being honest, conscientious, upfront and fair."

Challenger Lisa Mallozzi, 42, defeated Linda Ferrara, 51, in District 2.

"I think the people wanted a change," Mallozzi said. "They believed in what I stood for."

Mary Lou McGarry said she voted for the challengers "because of all the scandal going on. We need new leadership, new faces."

Vicki Chase also went for the challengers.

"I feel like we needed a change from some of the things going down in Cooper City and the newcomers can straighten them up," she said.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#97 | Posted: 14 Mar 2007 20:03 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
New face of Cooper City shows you can fight City Hall

Published March 15, 2007

For a long time, John Sims led the quiet life that's a hallmark of a quiet place such as Cooper City.

He paid his taxes and minded his business, but he didn't pay much attention to City Hall. He migrated north from Kendall in 1995, didn't bother to vote in local elections.

"I was complacent," Sims said Wednesday. "I thought the status quo was fine."

Then came his awakening.

It began with his boat. He kept it in his driveway, near a cul-de-sac of a tucked-away block. He didn't think it bothered anyone.

But the City Commission passed an ordinance requiring small boats to be kept in garages or behind fences. Sims, a native South Floridian and fisherman, didn't think this was right. He owned his house and he owned his boat, so who was the city to tell him how to store his property.

"What does this have to do with public health, safety or welfare?" he wondered.

When the proposal was considered, he went to his first City Commission meeting. He spoke out. He began paying more attention. He didn't like what he saw.

Then came an ordinance, passed after Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which gave the city the right to take personal property for use in emergencies. Sims could hardly believe it.

He thought local government had become too arrogant, too intrusive and too dismissive of citizens' rights. He wondered where it would end.

"More power, more rules, more permits, more code violations," Sims said. "More revenue."

An activist was born.

When Sims discovered that city officials had a tradition of gathering for dinner and drinks on the public dime before commission meetings, he tipped off a local TV station. WFOR-Ch. 4 aired the footage taken by secret cameras last fall, sparking widespread outrage and a state investigation.

Commissioners stopped the dinners, but instead of being apologetic, they defended the practice and bashed the messengers. In a response to the state, Mayor Debby Eisinger called Sims "a dissident."

"There were a million ways to approach it," he said. "They could have said the appearance wasn't good and that they were sorry, even though they didn't break any laws. Instead, they chose to spin, deny and lie. You know, people aren't stupid. Bottom line: The public lost trust."

And when Sims found out that one of two commissioners up for re-election had no opposition, he decided to do something crazy: run for office.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared commissioners of wrongdoing last month, saying there was no proof they drank excessively at the dinners or violated the state's Sunshine Law by discussing city issues privately.

Cooper City voters weren't as forgiving.

On Tuesday, Sims set up a plywood billboard near City Hall. "Remove the doubt! Throw them out," it read.

The voters complied. Incumbents John Valenti and Linda Ferrara lost. Next week, Sims and Lisa Mallozzi will be sworn in as commissioners.

"This shows the little guy can make a change," said Sims, 48, who got 1,316 votes to beat Valenti by 93 votes. "I'm not a lawyer, I'm not a politician, I'm an electronics engineer. I know how to make things work."

Sims and Mallozzi, a full-time mother of three young children, celebrated their victory Tuesday night at Pete's Sandtrap, a restaurant at a golf course across from City Hall.

On Wednesday, Gary Swank ate lunch at the bar and said, "I guess people had enough. The dinners didn't really bother me, but they should have gone out after the meetings. When you're dealing with issues relating to the city and voting on them, it doesn't really matter if you've had one drink or 16 -- you're acting under the influence. People got ticked about that."

Said Mike DeBoer, 86, a 30-year resident: "Once politicians get in a little trouble, people don't forget. It's always been that way."

On Wednesday, a harried Mallozzi answered her door holding her 7-month-old daughter. "The phone's been ringing off the hook," she said. "I wasn't expecting to win."

When the results came in Tuesday night, Mallozzi said, "Everyone [at Pete's] looked at me and was like, `So are you going to have a drink?'"

"Oh God, no," she replied.

For the record, she said she had five iced teas. And she didn't charge a cent to the city.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/sfl-ma yocol15mar15,0,5120165.column?coll=sfla-news-col


Best Regards,

John Sims, Cooper City Commissioner
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#98 | Posted: 14 Mar 2007 20:17 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Incumbents rejected in 3 Broward cities as voter turnout falls under 10 percent




By Brittany Wallman and Juan Ortega
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 14, 2007



Disenchanted voters fired elected officials in three cities Tuesday in contests marked by an exceptionally low turnout countywide.

Scandal was on voters' minds in Cooper City, where commissioners were investigated for drinking and dining together at taxpayer expense before public meetings. Two incumbents lost their seats.

Promises of a more accountable government helped return an ex-commissioner to office in Sunrise, at the expense of an incumbent.

Worries about developer donations helped a candidate with comparatively slim dollars trounce a sitting commissioner in Pompano Beach.

Voters in 12 of Broward's 31 cities had races and ballot questions to consider Tuesday.

Only 25,739 voters weighed in Tuesday, of the eligible 267,633, according to the supervisor of elections office. That's a 9.6 percent turnout, a low even in Broward County, where history has shown municipal election turnout typically in the teens.

"We knew it would be low, but I didn't expect it to be under 10 percent," said elections spokeswoman Mary Cooney.

Cooper City's voters agreed to shift city elections to November.

However, voters rejected Cooper City incumbents John C. Valenti and Linda Ferrara, who lost their seats to John Sims and Lisa Mallozzi.

Valenti's opponent, Sims, was one of the first to complain about officials socializing. A state probe cleared the officials last month.

"They were going out to dinner on our money and then they were praising themselves for doing a good job. What do they think, that we're all idiots?" voter Julia Peters said.

In Sunrise, Irwin Harlem lost the post he's held for 14 years. Former colleague Roger Wishner swiped his seat promising less government "secrecy."

Pompano Beach voters picked attorney Charlotte Burrie, the former city clerk, to replace incumbent Susan Foster.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#99 | Posted: 15 Mar 2007 06:43 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Scandal fallout: 2 Cooper City commissioners ousted

BY BREANNE GILPATRICK

Cooper City residents Tuesday had the final vote on the city's pre-meeting commission dinner scandal, when they replaced two incumbents with political newcomers who vowed to restore quiet in the bedroom community.
John Sims, a 48-year-old electronics engineer, defeated Commissioner John Valenti in District 1, while Lisa Mallozzi, a 42-year-old stay-at-home mom beat out incumbent Linda Ferrara in District 2.

Both incumbents drew challengers after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement opened an inquiry into whether the dinners, which sometimes included alcohol, broke state public meeting or DUI laws.

FDLE cleared the commission of any criminal wrongdoing in February.

The challengers, Mallozzi and Sims, argued the commission still needed to address the lack of public trust and city-resident communication left over from the dinner controversy.

''It's not about the drinking and the booze and the boats,'' said Sims, campaigning Tuesday near City Hall. ``It's about representing the people and being consistent and fair and honest with them.''

Cooper City voter Sherry Holt said the dinner controversy wasn't the only reason she voted for Sims and Mallozzi in the citywide races.

She said she is unhappy with the decision to turn the old Waldrep Dairy site into the massive Monterra housing development, and thinks the commission should have done more to control spending.

''I think we need new voices,'' Holt said.

The two challengers won despite a sometimes nasty campaign.

In January, Scott Kleiman, son of Commissioner Elliot Kleiman, arrived at one City Commission meeting toting about 100 pages of public records documenting potentially damaging or embarrassing information about the challengers.

He read selected documents, which included divorce files, old police reports and financial documents.

Valenti cited several of the records in a last-minute campaign flier, and some of Sims' supporters received copies in an anonymous mailing days before the election.

Another anonymous e-mail chain sent out an old tax lien from Valenti's company, Bay Island Fish Co.

Valenti and Sims said they do not know who sent the anonymous mailings.

A few weeks before the campaign, rumors circulated that Mallozzi's three young children would hamper her ability to run the town.

But Sims and Mallozzi have said they want to help the city move forward.

''The residents will finally have a voice,'' Mallozzi said.

Tuesday's election will be one of the last times Cooper City residents head to the polls in March. Voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to move city elections to November. The change also will increase commission terms to four years, to allow the city's elections to coincide with state and federal races.

A growing number of cities have made that switch, to cut election costs and increase turnout. The county Supervisor of Elections covers the major expenses, such as poll workers and equipment, in November.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#100 | Posted: 16 Mar 2007 06:27 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Voters in Cooper City oust Valenti, Ferrara, push back future elections


By Joe Kollin
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 14, 2007



Cooper city – Voters apparently dismayed with the conduct of their city commissioners gave the boot to both incumbents whose seats were up for grabs.

But they did take the advice of those officials by agreeing to conduct future municipal elections in November instead of March.

City commissioners, who are elected citywide to represent specific districts, serve three years.

In the District 1 seat, John Sims, 48, whose complaint helped trigger a state investigation of commissioners' drinking and dining at restaurants prior to their public meetings, defeated incumbent John Valenti, 63.

Although an inquiry completed by the governor's office on Feb. 7 cleared commissioners of wrongdoing, it cast a shadow that voters didn't forget.

"I ran a clean and open campaign and was upfront and honest with the people of Cooper City," Sims said. He said his first act will be to "regain the public trust by being honest, conscientious, upfront and fair."

Challenger Lisa Mallozzi, 42, defeated Linda Ferrara, 51, in District 2.

"I think the people wanted a change," Mallozzi said. "They believed in what I stood for."

Mary Lou McGarry said she voted for the challengers "because of all the scandal going on. We need new leadership, new faces."

Vicki Chase also went for the challengers.

"I feel like we needed a change from some of the things going down in Cooper City and the newcomers can straighten them up," she said.

-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

See the video report on the election results from CBS4 here:

http://cbs4.com/video/?id=31454@wfor.dayport.com
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author Diane Sori
Guest 

#101 | Posted: 16 Mar 2007 13:08 
To: mkirsch@wfor.cbs.com
Sent: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 1:51 PM

Dear Mr. Kirsch, I can't thank you enough for bringing to light, with your investigative reports, the improprieties that went on within the Cooper City commission. Because of your dedication in reporting the truth, today Cooper City has gotten a chance for a new beginning. Two new commissioners were elected last night who will start the repairs of Cooper City's image. Your reports enabled our residents to see a side of our commission that was unseen before and allowed us to make an informed decision on whether to reelect them or not. Thankfully, we voted for change. The FDLE might have found them not guilty but the citizens said guilty and that is what truly matters. Thanks again and I look foward to more of your terrific investigative reports. Sincerely, Diane Sori

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#102 | Posted: 19 Mar 2007 06:47 
Commission newcomers say they're ready for big changes in Cooper City



By Thomas Monnay
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 19, 2007



COOPER CITY – The two political underdogs who defeated incumbents John Valenti and Linda Ferrara say they want to change the way business is done at City Hall.

"My attitude is, Big Brother doesn't belong in Cooper City," said John Sims, who will be sworn in to replace Valenti today.

Lisa Mallozzi said she wants a question-and-answer session during public meetings so commissioners and department heads can address residents' concerns on the spot.

"I want to open up communications and I want to do it immediately," she said.

Sims said he wants to review two city laws: one regulates boat storage in residential neighborhoods; the other allows city officials to take private property for public use in disasters.

Sims said the 2005 boat law requires vessels to be kept behind fences so the public can't see them. It stemmed from recommendations of a committee formed to revise city codes.

"Isn't there any more important health risk and safety issue in the city than the top of a boat sticking out?" asked Sims, 48, an electronics engineer.

He said the city should not have the right to seize people's equipment and he plans to meet with Sheriff Ken Jenne to discuss public safety.

Sims became a symbol for angry residents last October when he complained to the governor about commissioners hosting private dinners before commission meetings. A state inquiry last month found no evidence of wrongdoing, but activist Tim Wilder said residents were still upset.

"They didn't even say they were sorry and we didn't get our money back," he said. "I've heard that a lot [from voters]."

Sims said he ran for the commission because he didn't want Valenti to have a free ride back to City Hall. He admitted he was stunned when voters picked him over Valenti, who is popular for his involvement in Optimist Club sports programs.

"Is this the biggest upset of the century?" asked Sims, who won by an 8 percent margin and took 11 of 15 precincts. Campaign reports show he raised $2,630 to Valenti's $19,450.

Mallozzi, who raised $2,580 to Ferrara's $8,410, won by a 20 percent margin, taking 12 of 15 precincts.

This was her second run for a commission seat and she campaigned on improving communication and fiscal responsibility.

"I just had a 2 1/2-month job interview and the people of Cooper City hired me," said Mallozzi, 42, a full-time mother of three. "Now I can actually get things done.''

She said commissioners must do a better job explaining expenses and items on the commission's agenda.

Steven Marhee, the governmental liaison for the Embassy Lakes Homeowners Association, said Sims and Mallozzi "have a mandate. Even though they are two vs. three incumbents, the incumbents [should] hear the message that the city wants things done a little different."

Commissioner Elliot Kleiman said of the newcomers: "We may have some philosophical differences, but I am certain that we will work them out and direct our energy toward maintaining the health, safety and welfare of all our residents."

Mayor Debby Eisinger agreed.

"The election is over. We need to unite for the common good of all Cooper City residents," she said.

Cooper City Clerk Susan Bernard will swear in Sims and Mallozzi today. A public ceremony will take place at the March 27 commission meeting.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#103 | Posted: 21 Mar 2007 08:42 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Dear Cooper City Resident,

The purpose of this letter is to sincerely thank you for your recent vote and support in my run for Cooper City Commissioner. In the time up to and preceding the election, I came know many of you very well and in a very short time frame. After you learn more about me, you will know that I am a strong person, a good family man and I fully believe in what I stand for and what I represent.

I was the only one challenging the incumbent along with the entire Commission, and I knew that the core issue was, and remains, accessibility to government. When people feel that their government is not listening, there is often a response from the election booth such as the one last Tuesday.

Tuesday's victory belongs to the countless numbers of you that voted for the first time, or the first time in a very long while. To the folks from all across the city and county, from all kinds of political perspectives who decided it was time to see your stake in your neighborhoods come to fruition, your friends and neighbors' dreams and struggles come to fruition, as well as your own. To each one of you who decided to take a chance not on me, but on your own aspirations, I applaud you.

Thanks to you, not only did we win at the polls, we turned a political campaign into a movement for positive change. And we did it against the huge odds, the old fashioned way, by grit, hard work and determination, one person at a time, one neighborhood at a time, one development at a time, reaching out and asking other people to see the connection that you have with them and acting like citizens, not just members of a certain party or movement, but members of a civilized community.

You knew that an outsider wasn't supposed to win without the blessing of the insiders. You knew that a grassroots campaign wasn't supposed to win. But you also knew that that's precisely the kind of politics we had to implement to bring positive change to Cooper City.

You all now know it's time for us all to get serious about our economy, about building successful relationships and businesses large and small, and making good jobs more plentiful across the whole city and that it is just as critical to get serious about economic justice. You know that it's time to get serious about delivering both internal and external quality customer service, and dealing once and for all with escalating taxes, fees and costs.

All of you whom I have corresponded with and spoken to, have shown me a great deal about yourselves and about this great city, which will tremendously help me on the Commission to better serve you. In the face of blistering criticism, personal attacks and accusations, extreme pressure from our elected officials and our city staff, I stayed on course with my message and beliefs, and I stood my ground without resorting to negativity.

I addressed the issues and the attacks with truth and facts, not faltering as to my purpose and as to why I ran for this position of public trust. Despite the rage against me by some in the administration and their supporters, I took the high road, and I intend to move forward, continue to be positive and always do the right thing for all of the people of this city.

It is the sweet harvest of the work of many tireless volunteers, young and old alike, funded by many small contributors from every part of this city and county. Those who lingered on the brink of despair only a short time ago have been brought into this campaign, heart, hand, head and soul, and I have been the beneficiary and have directly witnessed first hand, the most remarkable political process in the history of the world.

We ran a competitive campaign, but even when things got a little heated, I never doubted the sincere commitment to service that each of my supporters and friends brought to this campaign, and that which I have brought to their lives. I welcome their pledge of support and counsel in the coming weeks and in the coming years, and I'm proud to be a member of a group of citizens that counts them both among it's leaders, and I'm happy you're beside me.

My campaign group was an organization that gives dramatic proof to the power of love, and to a faith that can literally move mountains. As Yeats put it, "Count where man's glory most begins and ends, and say: My glory was I had such friends."

We are entering a new period of important and hopeful change in Cooper City. In the literature and music of our children we are told, to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. And for our city, the time has come at last.

Make no mistake; this election was about whether we want lasting and meaningful change. It wasn't about spinning our wheels, it was about aiming high. It wasn't about government by sound bite, gimmick, or slogan; it was about leadership that strives to serve our long-term interests in stronger, healthier, safer and more prosperous communities.

I chose change. I chose hope. I chose to believe in what Cooper City could be if we bring to our local government the talent and idealism and creativity of women and men who are willing to challenge the old ways that have let us down all too often. And I invite everyone in this city to join on this journey. We need the best ideas and the best people from all comers, young, old, blue collar, professionals, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, to help turn our city around.

Going forward, I too want to be proud of Cooper City and I want to help bring this community together to rise above all of the recent issues. I want to help make Cooper City more than 'Someplace Special'. Let me know how I can help you to promote the same.

Thank you all for being there with me, from the very beginning and on every single day of this campaign over the past few months. I've asked you to see this not as my campaign, but as yours. Not just my chance to be Commissioner, but your chance, our chance to reclaim our civic and political future, and that's why the recent victory is yours. It's all yours. Again, thank you and I truly look forward to working with all of you, and the current administration, in order to bring positive change to Cooper City.

Best Regards,

John Sims
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#104 | Posted: 27 Mar 2007 08:33 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
HOW A BIKER BECAME A POLITICIAN

John Sims

For many years I led the quiet life that's a hallmark of a place such as Cooper City. There are many cities like it in South Florida.

Cooper City was a quiet little town until I got on the Road King with those open pipes. It was a quiet little town until the local City Commission stirred me up by acting inappropriately.

I thought our local city government was doing a good job. But then I realized they had become too arrogant, too intrusive and too dismissive of citizens' rights.

Recently, our city officials were caught red-handed, drinking before making decisions about our money. They gave themselves the right to seize personal property for public use in an emergency, prohibited possession of firearms and closed all public gathering places.

Property that could be taken includes a truck or a building...yes even your scooter if some official deems it useful to quickly get out of town!

There go the First and Second Amendments as well as the Third, Fourth and Fifth in one fell swoop. I wondered where it would end. An activist was born.

When I found out that one of two commissioners up for re-election had absolutely no opposition, I decided to do something really crazy: run for office.

I was the only one challenging the incumbent (thanks to my biker friends who talked me into doing it!), and I knew that the core issues were, and remain, accessibility to government and being servants to the people.

I campaigned as much as time allowed, and ran my platform on a small budget. On Election Day, I set up a plywood billboard near City Hall. It read "Remove the doubt! Throw them out".

When people feel that their government is not listening, there is often a response at the polls, just as there was on March 13th. This shows that the little guy can make a change.

I chose change, hope, and chose to believe in what my City could be if we bring to our local government the talent and idealism and creativity of people like me who are willing to challenge the old ways that have let us down all too often.

I invite everyone in this country to join in on this concept. We need the best ideas and the best people from all walks of life: young, old, blue collar, professionals, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, to help turn our country around.

Make yourself known to politicians for issues other than Biker's rights. Don't present yourself as a single-issue person. Politicians pass laws, therefore, you must get involved in politics to protect your rights. There is just no way to get around this. Sorry...I don't like politics either. Bummer!
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#105 | Posted: 29 Mar 2007 14:16 
Apparently Mike Kirsch's (CBS4 Investigative Reporter) Cooper City report "Law and Disorder" just won an Edward R. Murrow Award:

CBS4 Wins 3 Edward Murrow Awards

Published by admin3/28/2007 in Local Media.

"WFOR grabbed 3 Murrow awards, for Region 13, for overall excellence, investigative reporting for 'Miami Law & Disorder' and Newscast for 'Miami Fidel Castro Transfers Power'."

Congrats Mike!
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#106 | Posted: 6 Apr 2007 08:00 
Mr. Kleiman made a statement of non-fact at the March 27th city commission meeting regarding Mike Kirsch being "fired." Mr. Kleiman, you should not make (mis)statements to the public unless you have first hand knowledge of the facts, and your public statements should not be based on hearsay. Mr. Kirsch was not fired; he simply will not have his contract renewed by his managers, which he is apparently in the process of litigating.

I want to conclude with an observation. This City and its residents would never have learned of the concerns we all seek to address here, specifically with the recent issues, had it not been for the media. For that, our local media are to be commended, and I specifically commend Mr. Kirsch for several recent Edward R. Murrow awards for outstanding journalism.

The pioneering broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow is reported to have observed that the two things that truly distinguish a free society from all others are an independent judiciary and a free press. In this instance, the free press has shown its value to the people of Cooper City by helping the citizens of this city identify and quickly correct unintended practices that tended to undermine public trust and confidence in our city administrators.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author Renee DeLotta
Participant Female

#107 | Posted: 8 Apr 2007 12:35 | Edited by: Renee DeLotta 
I think Elliot's comment on his website is "some real garbage". He seems like a baby throwing a temper tantrum. I just read his website where he posted the announcements he made on March 27th. Here he says he would like to welcome the new commissioners and he looks forward to working with them in a positive and congeniel manner, BUT he STRIKES OUT "Mr. Sims" name and the word "both" as if he is not referring to Mr. Sims in that statement. Mr. Kleiman has said we need to get on with city business, but he is the one who refuses to move on as per his recent comments. "I would like to welcome Mr. Sims and Mrs. Mallozzi to the Commission. I look forward to working with you both in a congenial and positive manner and to work for our common goal which is to keep Cooper City Someplace Special. Sadly as you are all aware, election rhetoric can get out of hand. There have been all sorts of accusations, allegations and attacks on character and ethics from both sides of the campaign. Much of it was hurtful and personal. I would hope that we on the Commission and all of the supporters on both sides can leave all that behind. I implore you to be positive not negative. Being negative only serves to hinder our common goal. The past is the past and today is the beginning of a new era in all of our lives. Let's do our very best to work together and be positive for Cooper City."

It seems like its all about his agenda, not that of the city and those he works for...

Author Janet G
Participant Female

#108 | Posted: 8 Apr 2007 20:26 
What a hypocrite...

"My announcements at the March 27th Commission Meeting with updates

1. I would like to welcome Mr. Sims (crossed out) and Mrs. Mallozzi to the Commission. I look forward to working with you both (crossed out) in a congenial and positive manner and to work for our common goal which is to keep Cooper City Someplace Special. Sadly as you are all aware, election rhetoric can get out of hand. There have been all sorts of accusations, allegations and attacks on character and ethics from both sides of the campaign. Much of it was hurtful and personal. I would hope that we on the Commission and all of the supporters on both sides can leave all that behind. I implore you to be positive not negative. Being negative only serves to hinder our common goal. The past is the past and today is the beginning of a new era in all of our lives. Let's do our very best to work together and be positive for Cooper City "

This guy Elliott is definitely on something, and it ain't viagra! It's his own personal agenda, not that of the people of Cooper City...Get over it you idiot!
Janet!

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#109 | Posted: 8 Apr 2007 20:45 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
He also said in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 19, 2007

Commissioner Elliot Kleiman said of the newcomers: "We may have some philosophical differences, but I am certain that we will work them out and direct our energy toward maintaining the health, safety and welfare of all our residents."

Mayor Debby Eisinger agreed.

"The election is over. We need to unite for the common good of all Cooper City residents," she said.

He also wrote:

Until I read Sim's web/blog I believed what I wrote [below] about working together. You have to trust the people you work with and this just isn't possible!

It's over! The election is over and my congratulations to the winners. The election rhetoric is over. The FDLE inquiry is over and cleared the Commission of wrong doing The dinners are over and gone forever. There never was a pay raise as the Charter Review Board explained. Now let's move forward working together in a congenial and positive manner to our mutual goal of continuing to keep Cooper City "Someplace Special".

Then he writes: "Some real garbage -- Read Sim's web/blog at http://www.homesteadpropertyexemption.info/index.p hp?action=vthread&forum=10&topic=74
I thought he wanted to move forward and work together in a congenial and positive manner to achieve our mutual goal of continuing to keep Cooper City "Someplace Special". His offer of a handshake and a few friendly remarks seems to belie the real feelings he posts on the web. His April 7th posting praises CBS4's Mike Kirsch for what we all know is a example of investigative reporting at its worst. Does this tell you something?


I think I'm gonna PUKE! And...it ain't from drinking too much...
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#110 | Posted: 9 Apr 2007 08:13 
It seems like Mr. Kleiman removed all of this negative stuff from his website this morning, which is linked to the city's website.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author Renee DeLotta
Participant Female

#111 | Posted: 9 Apr 2007 21:08 
Mr. Kleiman shouldn't post negative personal comments about a fellow commissioner on his website especially if it is linked to the official city website. That is definitely improper. I can say that I have never heard you speak or seen you write any negative personal comments about any city official. It seems Mr. Kleiman is resentful of the fact that you have been elected by the people of this city. This isn't the first time I have read a negative comment from him about you. However, he and the other elected officials should realize you were elected because people know you have no personal agenda. They feel you will represent them, "the people" by listening (not only listening) but most importantly following up on residents concerns. Resident's concerns have been vastly overlooked and went unheard by the prior administration. I am confident that you will move this city forward in a positive direction.

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#112 | Posted: 17 Apr 2007 05:27 
Ducks set off a real mess in Cooper City

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 17 2007

COOPER CITY• A flap over duck droppings may spur the city to change its laws.

When Darlene Goldberg bought her house on 92nd Terrace last year, she couldn't wait to use the back patio. But she said that since she moved in, her lawn has been plastered with poop because her neighbor feeds about a half-dozen ducks each day.

"Someone has got to do something," said Goldberg, 56, because the feathers and smell are stirring up her allergies. "The stench in the back is awful. I don't need a hundred flies in my house."

Cleone Boren, 86, who has lived in her home for 29 years, denies feeding the Muscovy ducks. Still, she said, "If [the Goldbergs] don't like it, they should move."

Unlike some other Broward cities, Cooper City doesn't prohibit residents from feeding wildlife. Now, however, City Commissioner Elliot Kleiman said he plans to discuss creating such a law at tonight's commission meeting.

The city is also looking at possibly removing the ducks at a cost of $15 to $30 per bird. It's a delicate situation, however, because city workers can't trespass on a homeowner's property, Kleiman said, and Boren's house isn't on a lake where the birds could be captured.

In the meantime, officials at the Broward County Health Department said they are concerned about the potential health risks. Bird droppings can carry histoplasmosis, a disease that affects the lungs, said the department's environmental supervisor, Nancy Leiva.

On April 9, the department cited Boren for creating "a sanitary nuisance" requiring immediate attention.

A health inspector's notes said there were seven ducks at Boren's house and a nest in her backyard. There were also duck feces and flies next door at the Goldberg's home.

Goldberg said she is forced to spend most days disinfecting her patio.

If Boren doesn't move the ducks, the matter could go before an environmental board and she could face a one-time fine of $500, fine, said Candy Sims, a spokesperson for the Health Department.

Boren said she waters down her carport daily to get rid of the bird poop, but she can't control where the ducks defecate.

Leiva said the Health Department's "goal is not to harass her, but to eliminate risk."

Nonetheless, Boren says she feels she is being harassed.

"Why are people so mean?" asked Boren, a retired payroll supervisor. "God created the bird. God created the flies."
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#113 | Posted: 19 Apr 2007 07:02 
COOPER CITY

City to look at other towns' handling of feeding ducks

City commissioners on Tuesday night directed their staff to look into how other municipalities handled the feeding of ducks and other wildlife by residents.

Commissioner Elliot Kleiman said he became concerned after hearing complaints from resident Darlene Goldberg, who said her neighbor feeds the ducks, which then plaster her yard with their excrement.

Cleone Boren, who denies feeding the ducks, has been cited by the Broward County Health Department for creating "a sanitary nuisance." She was told to stop feeding them.

Commissioner John Sims does not feel an ordinance prohibiting residents from feeding the ducks is a solution. He said education was the answer.

The city will discuss the issue further at a workshop.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl -c3bdig18apr18,0,5812247.story
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#114 | Posted: 27 Apr 2007 06:36 
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorid a/sfl-sdamage25apr27,0,9547.story?coll=sfla-home-h eadlines

Cooper City homeowners complain of 'mini-earthquakes' from building site




By Georgia East
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

April 27, 2007



COOPER CITY · While standing in her kitchen about six months ago, Dianne Ferris said she felt a vibration so strong she ran to her front lawn to see what had caused it.

"It felt like a mini-earthquake,'' said Ferris, who lives in Diamond Head, off Stirling Road and Southwest 89th Terrace.

She never found out what it was, but now she and several of her neighbors say their 7-year-old homes are getting cracks in their floors and walls, shattered windows and loose tiles.

They think the problems could be linked to construction at The Monterra, a 500-acre residential community on the former Waldrep Dairy site, west of University Drive and south of Stirling Road.

After spending months documenting vibrations and trying to convince Engle Homes there is a connection between their damage and the construction, neighbors last week asked city commissioners to intervene. As a result, the developer sent out an engineer to assess any damage Thursday.

"We're looking into it,'' said Mark Bidwell, project manager for The Monterra, which has plans for 1,910 single-family homes and townhouses. "We would like to have someone with professional expertise take a look at things.''

Commissioner John Sims went to the homes about three weeks ago and said he saw displaced tiles and cracked floors.

"I just can't imagine a common problem in that one concentrated area is a coincidence,'' he said. "Something happened and people have documented a lot of issues. If indeed there's fault here, then it needs to be dealt with.''

Recently, Engle subcontracted with Ryan Land Development to relocate a canal between Diamond Head and The Monterra to make it deeper and wider and to create a more gradual slope at the canal banks, a city official said.

Neighbors say an explosion they heard made them think blasting could be taking place. But Michael Crowley, district manager at the Central Broward Water Control District, said there's no reason to blast in that pocket because the land is already sandy.

He said the vibrations were more likely caused by rollers used to hold dirt together.

Joan Bardzig, a business owner who lives on 89th Terrace, said she recently began noticing cracks in her garage floor and dampness near them. She asked Engle about them, she said.

"They say it's the house settling,'' said Bardzig, who has lived there for about six years. "Give me a break.''

Suhindra Gangadhar, who lives several houses away, said she was on her couch that day in October when her house began rattling.

"I was ready to run outside,'' she said. "My water cooler in my den just kept shaking.''

Gangadhar, a business owner, said that in the 41/2 years her family has lived in the community, she had no house problems. But after the canal work began, she noticed water coming in through cracks in the walls and rotting baseboards.

She and her husband said they spent about $6,000 to seal the area and replace the walls and baseboards. They still have cracks in the garage they haven't fixed.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#115 | Posted: 2 May 2007 15:38 
http://www.mikekirsch.net

More of a man than most of us!
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#116 | Posted: 9 May 2007 14:25 
Cooper City to consider scrapping $35 boat fee




By Georgia East
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 9, 2007



COOPER CITY · A controversial boat ordinance will soon be revisited.

Commissioner John Sims on Tuesday night said he wants the city to eliminate a provision that requires boat owners to pay a $35 permitting fee. They still must register with the police department.

"The permit makes it seem as if you have to get permission from us to get a boat. But people have the right to have any property they want, that's why we live in America," he said during a commission workshop.

At Tuesday's meeting, after commissioners supported Sims' proposal, city staff and Police Chief John Hale said they would work on making changes to the ordinance and bring it back to the commission.

The measure, approved by the city commission last year, also requires that boats and recreational vehicles be parked in garages, carports that have a buffer or behind 6-foot privacy fences. While some said the rule was necessary to preserve neighborhood aesthetics, several boat owners said it was too stringent and vowed to fight it.

Under a compromise, commissioners decided to allow owners of vessels higher than 10 feet to cover them, provided they register with the police department.

Sims, who was not a commissioner when the measure was enacted, said he didn't want to see the entire ordinance repealed. However, he said, the permit fee was wrong.

"We're here to deal with health, safety and welfare," he said.

Since March 2005, 48 residents have registered their boats, said Sims, bringing in about $1,500 to city coffers.

One of the issues still unresolved is whether those who already paid to register boats would get refunds.

Commissioner Elliot Kleiman said, "If we decide to do away with this, the people who paid should be reimbursed because it would be totally unfair [not to do so]."

Several residents applauded Sims' proposal.

"I think what you keep on your own property is nobody's business," said Sean Pelletier. "This helps to rectify some of the wrong."

Renee Belottey said she did not register her boat because she also felt the ordinance was unfair.

"This is a great compromise," she said.
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#117 | Posted: 11 May 2007 17:58 
The Mike Kirsch Story on Bob Norman's Blog...

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2007/05/sup port_mike_kirsch.php


Best Regards,

John Sims
Cooper City Commissioner
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#118 | Posted: 11 May 2007 18:01 
FLTV about Mike Kirsch

http://www.exigi.com/fltv/index.php?s=kirsch
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#119 | Posted: 11 May 2007 18:02 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
I don't see what the Commission's problem is...

Regarding Tuesday's workshop (May 7th) and the linking of websites, an issue of material facts exist as to whether this administration has violated my First Amendment rights by discriminating against me solely because of my viewpoint. The people have a right to know my viewpoints!

No one knew what "article" Commissioner Kleiman was referring to when he went on about it not being nice, and then the Mayor chimed in saying it was "unkind". Perhaps she does remember all the "unkind" things she said and did about and to her opponent when she was running for Mayor.....seems she can dish it out but is unable to take it.

There is no policy or eligibility criteria for website links, nor has there ever been, but it has been OK and even condoned by the Commission for Commissioner Kleiman to post negative material and bash the candidates on his website, eve as recent as Easter Sunday. Cooper City has no standard for determining whether a particular business or individual would be permitted a link.

The facts are, that this administration has discriminated against me solely based upon my apparently controversial viewpoints. The City of Cooper City's website is a nonpublic forum. In one major case, the court explained the standards applicable to the regulation of nonpublic fora: "The government violates the First Amendment when it denies access to a speaker solely to suppress the point of view he espouses on an otherwise includible subject."

The City of Cooper City has denied my link on the City's web site solely based on the viewpoint espoused by me on this blog, and on my website, on otherwise includible and valid subjects that the people have a right to know about. The Cooper City website does not even attempt to promote economic welfare, commerce, and tourism of the area.

Further, my website provides information useful to people who might move to our city. In fact, all topics addressed in my website are important governmental interests, and also certainly makes extensive use of satire and deserving ridicule, even though my site does not meet this Commission's newly formed judgmental and hypocritically biased and frivolous criteria.

Where the people are afraid, and have refused to control a corrupt and incompetent Government, free expression must prevail, which is part of the American Dream. Therefore the sole issue is whether the City's application of its newly found opinion (all of the sudden), and any future web site link policy to deny myself a link to my website from the City's web site, constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.

It didn't seem to matter when Commissioner Kleiman posted negative issues about me did it? Time will tell what other antics, wether legal or illegal, that this Commission will stop at nothing to resort to in order to stifle my opinion, viewpoints and freedom of speech.

View my blog at http://johnsims3.blogspot.com/
http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com

Author johnbsims3
Admin Male

#120 | Posted: 12 May 2007 06:06 | Edited by: johnbsims3 
Official's blog kicked off Cooper City Web site

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
May 10, 2007, 2:51 PM EDT

COOPER CITY -- When newly elected Commissioner John Sims started a blog recently, he thought putting a link on the city's Web site would be a great way to promote it.

The blog still exists, but its link on the city's site is gone.

"If we're going to have blogs with opinions that are not the opinions of the city or the majority vote of the city commission, I'm concerned about the legality of the links," said Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger. She said her preference was to take away the links until the city has a legal opinion and can create a policy.

Commissioners at a workshop Tuesday night agreed with her and ordered city staff to remove all links to personal blogs and Web sites. Sims was the only one opposed.

"I think it's wrong," said Sims, who maintains his blog at http://johnsims3.blogspot.com

"They denied my First Amendment rights."

On the site he gives his take on city issues, sometimes with a satirical twist. He also posts agendas for upcoming commission meetings and community events. He said it's his political viewpoints that have some commissioners perturbed.

Cooper City's decision comes as more politicians are writing blogs as a way to expand their political reach and address issues. Bloggers include Davie Mayor Tom Truex and Lauderhill Mayor Richard Kaplan.

Kaplan has a link to his blog under his biography on Lauderhill's Web site. He started it in 2005, he said, shortly after attending a blog workshop at a National League of Cities convention. He said the link never attracted any controversy.

"If the city is liable for what I say, it shouldn't make a difference if it's at a meeting or on a blog. Unless they're controlling all avenues of speech, it doesn't make a difference," said Kaplan, whose site is http://elauderhill.blogspot.com.

Marc Rohr, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, said the removal of a link to a blog or Web site doesn't strike him as a violation of First Amendment rights, since the blog is still available.

"This doesn't seem to represent suppression of speech," Rohr said.

Sims is continuing to share his sentiments about the issue on his blog. His message is posted under a link titled: "I don't see what their problem is."

###

Commissioner's blog kicked off Cooper City Web site

South Florida Sun-Sentinel -- May 11, 2007

Editor's note: Due to a production error, an incomplete version of this article appeared in Thursday's paper. The complete article appears below.

COOPER CITY · When newly elected Commissioner John Sims started a blog recently, he thought putting a link on the city's Web site would be a great way to promote it.

The blog still exists, but its link on the city's site is gone.

"If we're going to have blogs with opinions that are not the opinions of the city or the majority vote of the city commission, I'm concerned about the legality of the links," said Mayor Debby Eisinger. She said her preference was to take away the links until the city has a legal opinion and can create a policy.

Commissioners at a workshop Tuesday night agreed with her and ordered city staff to remove all links to personal blogs and Web sites. Sims was the only one opposed.

"I think it's wrong," said Sims, who maintains his blog at http://johnsims3.blogspot.com. "They denied my First Amendment rights."

On the site he gives his take on city issues, sometimes with a satirical twist. He also posts agendas for upcoming commission meetings and community events. He said it's his political viewpoints that have some commissioners perturbed.

Cooper City's decision comes as more politicians are writing blogs as a way to expand their political reach and address issues. Bloggers include Davie Mayor Tom Truex and Lauderhill Mayor Richard Kaplan.

Kaplan has a link to his blog under his biography on Lauderhill's Web site. He started it in 2005, he said, shortly after attending a blog workshop at a National League of Cities convention. He said the link never attracted any controversy.

"If the city is liable for what I say, it shouldn't make a difference if it's at a meeting or on a blog. Unless they're controlling all avenues of speech, it doesn't make a difference," said Kaplan, whose site is www.elauderhill.blogspot.com.

Marc Rohr, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, said the removal of a link to a blog or Web site doesn't strike him as a violation of First Amendment rights, since the blog is still available.

"This doesn't seem to represent suppression of speech," Rohr said.

Sims is continuing to share his sentiments about the issue on his blog.

His message is posted under a link titled: "I don't see what their problem is."


[Moderator's Comment: The facts are, that this administration has discriminated against me solely based upon my apparently controversial viewpoints. In one major case, the court explained the standards applicable to the regulation of nonpublic fora: "The government violates the First Amendment when it denies access to a speaker solely to suppress the point of view he espouses on an otherwise includible subject." So much for the Professor's intellect!]
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