The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 66
Stuart News screws up – again
ENDORSEMENTS REFLECT SHORT-SIGHTED BIAS
The Stuart News is a remarkable newspaper. Some may consider it a touch schizoid. Normally it sails along in the finest tradition of journalism, not only presenting excellent news reports, but also opening its pages and blog to a wide array of different viewpoints. We are fortunate to have a local daily that allows its severe critics to use its pages to lambaste the paper itself. Bravo!
However, when it comes to endorsing political candidates, an unhealthy different personality emerges. The interviews with candidates, and an examination of their records, seem to mean nothing. The editorial board’s mind is apparently already made up, coinciding with the views of some private organizations that work for the selfish interests of their members.
Some residents claim that the endorsements reflect the financial self-interest agenda of the News. That is, faster growth candidates will convert to more readers and more advertising dollars. I don’t think so. I think it’s simply their sincere but misguided adoption of the inverted and discredited old view: What’s good for General Motors is good for the country.
Endorsements for Districts 1 & 5 prove the point
First came the endorsement for Commission District 1. The paper made it possible for readers to view online the interviews of Republicans Doug Smith and Henry Copeland. The contrast between the two was striking. More important than coming in late for the interview and some bad slouching body language, Smith’s answers were often mumbled, vague or evasive. Copeland’s replies were clear, constructive and insightful. So, to further its business organization agenda, the News endorsed Smith!
Hard on the heels of that fiasco, their editorial board considered the four Republican candidates in District 5. There were three good candidates truly concerned with the quality of life in the county, men who had spoken up publicly for some time on key issues. I think Ian Pollack had done so most effectively and for the longest time. A fourth Republican candidate, Ed Ciampi, thinks that our river and estuary are “pristine,” not surprising from someone who is a big booster of Big Sugar. Ciampi supports rural clustering. His views, ranging from angry to vague, did apparently have one over-riding saving grace for the editorial board: They parrot the positions of some business organizations. So on the very day that a reader guest column stated “I would hope that the paper’s endorsement for the District 5 race is not a foregone conclusion,” the News showed it was indeed a foregone conclusion. It endorsed Ciampi.
In the interest of honest communication, I urge the editors to post the following notice outside its interview room when speaking to Commission candidates opposing fast growth changes to the Comp Plan:
***
IF YOU HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE POSITIONS OF THE
ECONOMIC COUNCIL AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
DO NOT WASTE OUR TIME TRYING TO PERSUADE
THE NEWS EDITORS TO ENDORSE YOU!
***
However, when the question is not local fast growth, but rather understanding of other issues, sanity returns to the editorial board. For example, with the News Democratic endorsement for state rep District 81, the paper wisely endorsed Bill Ramos over his opponent who is flush with an $89,786 bankroll - hardly any of the contributions from Martin County.
The Commission gift to developers is primed to explode in their faces
Would you like a gift with a bomb attached? That’s what two developers would get if they start pouring money into a system for utility water and sewer. The developments are outside the Primary Urban Services Boundary, and thus not consistent with the Comp Plan.
I hope that before supporters of Commissioners Smith, DiTerlizzi, Valliere and Weberman tell me that the Developer’s Elected Quartet knows what it’s doing, consider that it is not just my opinion. It is the conclusion of the Growth Management Department staff and the County Attorney.
County Attorney Steve Fry said: “If the Board were sued over this matter … I think the likelihood would be that we would not be successful.” HERE’S THE BOMB: “And any improvements done would be subject to a Pinecrest Lakes type remedy.” (For newcomers, a somewhat similar scenario of Commissioners ignoring the law some years ago led to tearing down a new, occupied apartment building under court order.)
Judge Larry Schack - we need you back here in Martin County!
Firefighter contract “giveback” a ripoff
COUNTY DIGS A DEEPER FINANCIAL HOLE AS COMMISSIONERS PANDER FOR UNION VOTES
NON-NEGOTIATED SWEETHEART DEAL GETS THUMBS DOWN FROM TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
In 2006, the Commission signed an overly generous 3-year contract with the firefighters union (IAFF). Many of their non-managerial members earn over $100,000/yr. Recognizing that contract renewal next y ear would be tough in a budget cutting period, IAFF offered to forgo half of their 10% annual raise due in October 2008.
However, the strings attached to this supposed concession would eventually cost more than would be saved. The amended contract approved on August 5, 2008 by Commissioners Smith, Weberman, DiTerlizzi and Valliere, under the claim of public safety, would extend 5% annual increases to 2011 whether we have the money or not.
Furthermore, the base pay of, say a firefighter/paramedic that goes up to $85,370, is just a starting point. The overtime, bonuses and retirement boost it considerably. And there are numerous “plus-ups,” 5% more for becoming a field training officer, 10% more for a promotion, and so on.
The Martin County Taxpayers Association has strongly urged against acceptance of this union initiative. To quote some highlights of their report:
“Not only are these [IAFF] policies unsustainable for their 290+ personnel, they cause serious management problems for all County supervisors …The Sheriff had to reduce his staff by 36 to meet his reduced budget for 2009 …this agreement also mandates hiring 9 more Fire/EMS personnel, 2 more administrative employees, buying new equipment. This severely reduces even the short-term gain from the ‘give-back’ and will drastically increase longer-term cost.
“With a $25 million shortfall in County revenue, over 100 County employees laid off … why is this contract extension being negotiated in ‘executive session’? Why are additional management prerogatives being given away? The short answer to both is that our Commissioners insist on acting as the County’s negotiators during an election year - while they are running for office.”
Only Commissioner Sarah Heard had the sense of responsibility to all Martin residents to vote against this Sweetheart Deal.
….. Even a little wit or humor in the political fray is welcome. At the Palm City forum for District 1 Commission candidates, Doug Smith did not show up. Well, it does take courage to be in front of an audience that is not your cheering squad. Henry Copeland put his hand on the chair reserved for Smith, and said with an impish grin: “I’m going to take his seat.” Good laugh from the crowd.
….. At that same forum, one candidate was off on a rousing I’ll-do-this, and believe-me-I’ll-do-that yada-yada harangue. He may have thought he was presenting as a powerful advocate. One observer quipped that he sounded like that pitchman in the TV commercial. Ah, if only we could see ourselves as others see us.
….. In Doug Smith’s TV commercial, he takes credit for slow growth in Martin County. Considering his slavish obeisance to developer proposals, I was perplexed for a moment by this nervy claim. Then, as a fan of SpongeBob, I realized that today must be Opposite Day.
….. Defender No. 63 exposed verbatim statements made in a closed door Commission Executive Session. Commissioner Weberman is very unhappy that such meetings are not kept secret forever, instead of just until the matter at hand is settled. Yep, it’s that #@$%*& Sunshine Law that lets citizens compare what is said privately with what is said publicly. (For the etymologically inclined, the #@$%*& cartoon substitute for cussing is called a grawlix.)
- NO MORE 2004
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Al
Al Forman, Editor 8/7/08
The Martin County Defender is published and Copyright 2008 by WordsmithAmerica, Box 1828, Palm City, FL 34991. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for public or private use, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. NOTICE: All correspondence not bearing legal copyright notice which is sent to the Defender or its editor is subject to being edited and published.
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