I’m sure you have heard of Hometown Democracy. Citizens tired of unchecked development and rampant growth have put together a constitutional amendment to make sure that nearly each and every property improvement is voted on by citizens like you.
Howard Troxler says “Hometown Democracy is the ultimate citizen revolt. It would take power away from Florida’s city and county elected officials, and give that power directly to local voters.” Here’s how it works:
Each city and county currently has some sort of “comprehensive plan” which determines what kinds of things get built where. Hillsborough County’s comp plan spells out where we can build industry, retail, residential, parks – just about everything.
Currently, any property owner (usually a developer) can ask for changes to the comp plan, and if elected and appointed officials think it is a good idea, they change the plan.
If the Hometown Democracy amendment passes, there can be no changes to the plan without voter approval. The amendment would not require voter approval for rezonings or building permits, but zoning decisions must obey the comp plan.
Hometown Democracy was created because some citizens feel that “too many county and city commissioners just can not say no to comprehensive plan amendments that are destructive to a community’s well being.” Supporters also have produced a four minute video that spells out their stance: Why we need Hometown Democracy.
Developers and other pro-growth groups are freaking out. They say that if the amendment is passed, most property improvement plans will become a bureaucratic nightmare. Some say that growth will come to a complete halt, and that any growth would become much more expensive.
The Underground Utility Contractors of Florida says that things are just fine as they are:
The nations [sic] most comprehensive statewide growth management law that requires input from professional planners, two public hearings, a review and an appeals process at the state level and numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in and challenge any changes to the Comprehensive Plan would be replaced by ballot box planning.
They also suggest that voters are too uninformed and apathetic to make “complex land use decisions.”
The Florida Chamber of Commerce says Hometown Democracy will “Cripple Florida’s Economy and Choke Investment in Our Communities and “Artificially inflate housing costs,”
In a nutshell, here are the two sides:
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… If you are ok with how your government currently approves changes to the comp plan, don’t do anything, and be prepared to vote “no” to Hometown Democracy if it shows on the ballot in January.
OR
These idiots that I elected are not doing what I expected. I now want a say in every single comp plan change. Go sign the petition to get Hometown Democracy on the ballot.
Resources:
Florida Hometown Democracy
For:
Save the Manatee Club
The Sierra Club
Against:
Underground Utility Contractors of Florida
Florida Chamber of Commerce
John
2 years ago
Anyone remember last year when there were projections of growth and how the I-4 corridor would become a virtual non-stop sprawlway between Tampa and Daytona Beach? With projections like that — continued, unchecked growth and such — I’m trying to understand why the current status-quo is a good thing?
At the same time, I can see a lot of tediousness in the voting for zoning changes. While stopping a Wal-Mart Supercenter from taking up shop along a river will get the neighbors out to vote…. What happens when you come to a development that is ambiguous in description or where there is no description and just the zoning change is posted?
The location matters on this amendment just as much as trying to reign in unchecked growth that the local area governments won’t do (with thanks to who is filling their coffers with campaign contributions and such).
SHP
2 years ago
If the Underground Utility Contractors of Florida are against it then it can’t be a wise idea. Wait, don’t they do all of their work underground anyway??
Junior
2 years ago
The petitions will be out untill the end of the year,if you have not signed one do so as soon as possible. If you receive a letter with the postage all ready paid,just send the empty envelope back to the sender.
wendy
2 years ago
Go to flhometowndemocracy.com, download the petition, sign it, fill out an envelope with the address, put a stamp on it and mail it back to them.
The real issue here for me is the fact that big business does not want regular citizens gumming-up the machine that works well for them,i.e., making political contributions to elected officials who are only thinking about the next election and how they are going to buy all that TV time, postage and printing their glossy brochures. So it would be easier to just make contributions then get a return on the investment.
I don’t know how difficult it would be at the polls to vote on Comp Plan amendments, but our constitutional officers elected and paid for with our tax dollars ought to be able to figure out how best to go about getting this done. We hire, with tax dollars, professional planners who ought to be able to facilitate the orderliness of accomplishing these tasks.
Is Hometown Democracy a good idea?
Let the voters of Florida decide the issue, I say.
Geoff
2 years ago
There exists a fundamental unfairness in Hometown Democracy as presented. By throwing the comp plan process into the ballot box, it allows the ENTIRE county to decide proposed amendments that may only affect a small portion of land.
Let’s also not forget comp plan amendments are needed at times to build schools, fire stations, and police departments.
Basically, the amendment would allow voters in Ruskin to vote down a comp plan change intended for Carollwood to build a new fire station.
James C
2 years ago
The recent St Petersburg City Council election garnered a whopping total of 4,500 people that came out to vote. Now this plan expects the city/county to hold an expensive election every time someone needs a zoning change? This is one of the most politically naive things I’ve ever heard of. Will we have to stop in to vote on the way to work every day, or will we vote for 200 zoning changes at once every month?
wendy
2 years ago
James C: This Hometown Democracy issue is not about voting on zoning changes. It is about future growth for our county. The Comp Plan addresses patterns for growth that can be accomodated with existing infrastructure and planned infrastructure for the future. You know, roads,schools,water,sewer,etc. Someone has to pay for sprawl if it is not an orderly plan for growth. The Comp Plan is an orderly plan for growth that addresses the needs of the existing and planned infrastructure. The issue as I understand, seeks to eliminate sprawl and unplanned growth. Comp Plan amdendments at times, push the boundary where the possibility of sprawl and unplanned growth will occur if approved. Much of the amendments are driven by private interests and may not be good for the public purpose. Growth now is not paying for itself and I personally do not want to continue paying for growth that is not planned and orderly. Don’t confuse zoning and Comp Plan amendments.
Mariella Smith
2 years ago
As Tommy & Wendy pointed out: if Hometown Democracy passes, citizens wouldn’t be voting on every little zoning change, only on changes to the Comprehensive Plan, which is supposed to be the community’s 20-year big-picture plan. It shouldn’t be amended constantly, willy nilly, just to benefit one campaign contributor here, and one well-connected VIP there.
Don’t be confused by the hysterical fear-mongering of the well-funded opposition campaign, with its nonsense about 200-item ballots. Let’s keep the debate focussed on the facts.
Each municipality creates their own plan and their own schedule of amending it. Hillsborough County’s Comprehensive Plan is amended twice a year. In recent cycles, we’ve had as few as 3 or 4 and as many as 8 to 12 proposed amendments, with the latest crop of 13 being an unusually high number for one semi-annual amendment cycle. The Planning Commission site shows 3 amendments for Temple Terrace in 2007.
Keep in mind: even if NO plan amendments were approved for the next 20 years, we already have enough density allowed in the plan to accommodate the projected population increase. So the business about “growth grinding to a halt” is just more scare tactics.
johnlittleton
2 years ago
That’s just nonsense. I’d encourage everyone reading this to take a look at the number of comp plan changes made in florida last year: almost 11,000. You can find those numbers on the Department of Community Affairs website. DCA is certainly not the well-funded opposition mentioned above, but their numbers clearly indicate voters will face hundreds of amendments on their ballot it Hometown Democracy becomes law. Those are the “facts” mentioned in earlier posts.
wendy
2 years ago
DCA is not the well funded opposition. DCA is the state agency reviewing Comp Plans all over the state. As far as well funded opposition to Hometown Democracy, why don’t you check out Floridians For Smarter Growth (hah) and the group Save Our Constitution, both PAC’s well-funded by big business here in Florida. That is the opposition, and you can check them both out for contributions to their PAC’s at the Div of Elections website. This is the opposition. These are the folks who do not want regular citizens to interfere with the political process that serves their interests well. I see it as a public interest vs private interest issue.
wendy
2 years ago
Just wanted to add that Save Our Constitution PAC has not posted contributions or expenditures to the Div of Election campaign finance activity yet. There should be some activity listed for prior months to be posted in October. Check both of these committees out and you will get a very clear picture of the opposition. This is the truth, and draw your own conclusions but check the facts.
Mariella Smith
2 years ago
If HTD passed, no one would be voting on all the comp plan changes in the whole state. People would only vote on changes to their own comp plan, in their own municipality. Look at the actual numbers of amendments I cited which Hillsborough County has had in the last few years. That’s all we’d be voting on in the unincorporated area. Each city would only vote on their own comp plans, so Temple Terrace voters would have had only 3 amendments to vote on this year, so far.
wendy
2 years ago
well said Mariella. Puts the local voting issue in focus. I believe our Supervisor of Elections will be able to handle the ballot/voting on amendments. There are issues arising about initiatives to be voted on each election cycle, straw ballots, run-off elections, etc. Why would the approach for voting on Comp Plan amendments be any different than the above mentioned?
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » you make your own bed
2 years ago
[...] known as Hometown Democracy is ridiculous, and should be voted down. Some folks say that too many local governments simply rubberstamp changes to growth plans, and the citizens in those localities don’t really want unchecked development. This proposed [...]
Surfjogger
1 year ago
Hometown democracy is born of the public’s frustration with governments that are controlled by special interests. It happens at all levels of government and so many people are really fed up. HDA would never have been conceived if local, regional and state governments had been doing their job of public service instead of bowing to the pressures of big money.
Lots of time to find all the information and put the puzzle together. Florida, development, taxes, properties, local government, budgets, public statements, facts and fictions, it all has to be reviewed and lots of it is out there on the web for someone who cares about what is real. Today Surfside, Florida has elected officials who talk green but who are beholden and controlled by the overdevelopment crowd, the special interests. The only green is the money going from public resources into private resources. Privatization?
Much information available on line. Surfside, once a successful and proud community, has nosed dived into an abyss of waste, mistakes, ridiculous rhetoric, blatantly false and simply crazy accusations against former officials, and the lowest form of local politics. The men in charge, now mayor Charles Burkett and his sidekick Howard Weinberg, have plunged the Town into the depths of government gutter.
The way it used to be was so different! Surfside, Florida emerged as a leading community in serving the public interest rather than special interests. Courageous, honest, and productive leadership was the hallmark of the Town of Surfside from 1992 – 2004. During that time, Mayor Paul Novack and the then serving Town Commission unanimously enact budget corrections and fiscally responsible policies and every year for 12 years the town operated under balanced, stable and efficient budgets, with production of increased levels of town services, and numerous capital projects undertaken and completed that upgraded the parks, playgrounds, streets, drainage system, business district, Veterans Park, Town Hall, and much more, all with no debt, no bonds, and with the building of significant town surplus funds to serve the town’s present and future. The town attracted a new Publix and many new restaurants and shops for the business district and made improvements and expansions to town parking facilities. Plans were made for a new town library and hi-tech information center to go on newly acquired property on the west side of Collins Avenue. The town was internationally recognized as a model community, and in 2003 Novack was honored as the state-wide “Community Steward of the Year” in Tallahassee.
Paul Novack received the Community Steward Award for his steadfast advocacy for effective growth management in Surfside. In 1992, Surfside residents overwhelmingly supported a referendum to prevent a twenty-story beachfront condominium. For more than a decade after then, Novack has served as mayor of this small Dade County community for the grand fee of one dollar per year. Throughout his tenure, Novack and the town’s commissioners have consistently denied any requests for height and density variances, maintaining heights at twelve stories east of Collins Avenue, and five stories to the west. Nominators wrote that, thanks to Mayor Novack, “the town’s zoning code has been consistently, fairly and effectively enforced.” Besides that, Novack has maintained a balanced budget without raising property taxes, there is a one-minute emergency police response time, and garbage is picked up six days a week for a nominal fee. During the selection process, 1000 Friends was impressed with Mayor Novack’s steadfast determination to uphold the planning and development standards needed to maintain Surfside’s distinctive character and scale, noted Pattison. “With his dynamic leadership abilities, commitment to sound planning, and concern for the residents of Surfside, Mayor Novack exemplifies the qualities of a true community steward.”
Mayor Novack was elected by the voters six times to serve as mayor, not one variance for height or density or setbacks or uses were ever approved during his tenure, and he retired from office in 2004 with official tributes from the Florida House of Representatives, the Governor of Florida, Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and an official entry into the United States Congressional Record, and honors and thanks from many others from throughout the world.
Today in 2008 the town faces huge operational deficits, potential major debt, stagnation, failed promises, and higher taxes, and overdevelopment. New Town officials have now thrown their weight behind opening up the zoning code for commercial development. Green? $$$$$$$ against quality of life. The most hypocrital example of promising people one thing then pushing hard for changes in the opposite direction. Now Surfside has nose dived into the pits of politics because of the disgraceful malfeasance of Charles Burkett, Marc Imberman, Howard Weinberg, and Steve Levine? Did their avarice for attention divert them from being publicly honest or even honest to themselves?
Public records and internet resources still show the facts and they are instructive for other communities and all of Florida.
journalee
1 year ago
Found alot on line yes it smells. Isnt Florida going to investigate Surfside for selling its zoning ordinances out and for handing out its savings moneys and for lying to absolutely everyone from their microphones at town hall in 2008?
michaelrcaputo
1 year ago
Check out Hometown Democracy’s Web site. Surfside is the only Florida city to endorse Florida Hometown Democracy – the one and only municipality to support voting on all changes. Weird.
recetray
1 year ago
Surfside USED to have officials who served the public and yes they did endorse FHD. Now however Surfside has a bunch devoted to greed and self service, they are tearing up and into the zoning code, and they make a mockery out of the comp plan process, they could not care less, today its all about money money money and overdevelopment.
Frostedcake
1 year ago
The Florida Dept of Community Affairs is somehow missing what is going on there in Surfside. Increasing density in a coastal evacuation zone, against public policy and against everything FDCA stands for. Surfside is setting the example for the extreme slimy place to enrich developers and ruin paradise.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Surfside Florida 2008 – 2009, disaster strikes Surfside Florida resulting from corrupt, incompetent, wasteful, awful town government decisions and policies. The last few years with these town officials from 2006 to now has dug a huge horrible hole. Debt, bond issues, squandered savings, hidden money flows, paying town officials contrary to town charter, its a sink hole already.
In addition to a huge bond debt these crazies in town hall just put on the taxpayers back a lead straw of multiple facets:
Property taxes up 11% for 2009
Sewer bills up 37% for 2009
Water bills up 41% for 2009
Garbage bills up 59% for 2009
Stormwater bills up 114% for 2009
And they demolished a historic, beautiful, functional community center.
Disaster at the local level produced by the worse local government in America. That is the product of Charles Burkett, Howard Weinberg, Marc Imberman, Steve Levine, and Elizabeth Calderon. If they all resigned immediately it would not be soon enough. If there was only a 911 to save us from these cretins.
Anonymous
1 year ago
“Keep in mind: even if NO plan amendments were approved for the next 20 years, we already have enough density allowed in the plan to accommodate the projected population increase. So the business about “growth grinding to a halt” is just more scare tactics.”
Well said.
Anonymous
1 year ago
They changed the zoning to suit developers and special interests but then the officials couldn’t sell it because of the weakening economy. Then their decisions on town budgets and spending blew up and threw the town into a financial tailspin – a crash in the making. Deficits in administration, law department, tourist department, and overspending in many areas. Surfside is for sale!
Entering 2009 Surfside Faces Bleak Financial Outlook
Taxes are up. Water rates are up. Garbage rates are up. Sewer rates are up. Utility taxes are up. The town budget is the biggest its ever been in town history. Lawyers fees are up. Consultants fees are up. Outside contracts are up. Money is flowing. Its our money.
The huge town budget, and most of the town’s surplus savings account, has been squandered. Nothing to show for it. And the town’s elected officials keep trying to put the town into bond debt o30 year on top of the red ink they have massively created by spending down the town’s reserve savings fund to fill huge gaps in the town’s operating funds which have not been balanced since this gang took office.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Howard Weinberg annouces that he is a professor of law at Barry University.
How nice.
If only it were true!
Anonymous
1 year ago
open message to surfside town officials
does not look good that you play so loose with taxpayers money
Mayor and Commissioners, please stop.
Your march towards privatizing everything in Surfside is bad for this community, bad for its taxpayers and bad for its quality of life.
You have already privatized so much, giving countless outside contracts for companies to do what should be done in house by public employees. Tonights push to privatize the sanitation department is another step in your plan and while it may fit your own agenda it is wrong, unfair, and detrimental to our town.
To say that some of the sanitation employees only work a few hours a day is a distortion, because it does not disclose what they are getting paid or what their job actually is. The fact is that these people are getting paid so low, that the town gets more than its money’s worth and is right to allow them to mow lawns and have other secondary jobs just to be able to make ends meet. Their town salaries are very, very low. Once the town has been cleaned, the garbage and trash removed, they have done their job. Why insult and criticize them? You should be thanking them for a job well done.
Another fact is that you have just hiked up the garbage fee, and by privatizing, you would be guaranteeing many future fee increases for the people of Surfside. Don’t try to fool us with a bait and switch for an initial low price that will soar up in years to come.
Surfside has an effective, efficient, productive sanitation department. Is that why you want to get rid of it, step by step?We get superb service for a traditionally low rate. Most cities have their residents pay much more, to get much less service. The cities that have privatized pay the most and get the least. Surfside does not have to go that route. We also have an advantage after storms, hurricanes, and events to have our own sanitation workforce, an advantage we would never have again if you privatized and gave out another fat contract to an outside company.
Please stop. You tore down the community center. You want to close the library. You want to privatize and eliminate the Surfside Sanitation Department. You have squandered the town’s surplus savings accounts. You’ve done all that harm without any permission or support from the residents and taxpayers.
You want to get rid of these loyal, and lowly paid employees. But at the same time, you have highly paid employees and consultants making over 6 figures per year, and they are also not here most of the time! If you want to save money, look at the top. Even look at how you pay yourselves an awful lot more than the town charter allows.
This town is headed in the wrong direction because of some very bad decisions made by this commission. Please do not make another one in this push to get rid of the town sanitation department.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Surfside officials 2009 ‘rise’ to new levels of incompetence and hypocrisy and pomposity! What a combo.
The latest numbers are in, millions of town reserves squandered in two years, cost of outside contracts rising rapidly, incalculable loss of the unique surfside community center, and
Property taxes up 11% for 2009
Sewer bills up 37% for 2009
Water bills up 41% for 2009
Garbage bills up 59% for 2009
Stormwater bills up 114% for 2009
Anonymous
1 year ago
Biggest town budget ever.
Highest total level of taxes and fees ever.
Services down.
Spending way up.
Corruption soaring.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Shifting stories at Surfside Town Hall as officials try to escape from what they did to the Surfside Community Center. Demolished a sound building. Faked a story about it being “obsolete”. Faked permits. Evaded asbestos and clean up requirements. Misled agencies and authorities. Hiding expenditures, red ink, department deficits. A crash is a crash no matter how Weinberg and Burkett and Imberman try to spin it.
Anonymous
1 year ago
It gets down to corruption at the bottom of it – and sadly at the top of it as a town crashes but a few people benefit ($$$$+ego!!!).
Surfside is getting so ripped off.
It was financially strong. Now its a basketcase.
Savings squandered. Red ink flowing. Cover up in high gear.
Anonymous
1 year ago
Stimulus money?
Is that a joke
Surfside Town Commission
Surfside
Florida
Surfside Town Hall
Budget
Bailout
Taxes
Sandi
1 year ago
Now Charlie Burkett and Howie Weinberg have a new pact: to target County Commissioner Sally Heyman. Mudslingers and liars partnership retakes the stage.
How much?
11 months ago
Surfside
Burkett wants to run for state or county office
Weinberg wants to keep his money train coming in to his personal station
Imberman wants to be mayor
Ego mania is epidemic in Surfside
Incompetence and Ignorance are their “qualifications”????
Surfside Florida is the region’s leading financial BASKETCASE. Millions of savings squandered with payouts, no show jobs, no-bid contracts, crazy decisions that have so far escaped all scrutiny and accountability. Taxes UP. Fees UP. Services DOWN. The money flows and flows and to where it goes no one knows? Bond issue on the way AGAIN. Debt. Corruption????
Anonymous
10 months ago
Surfside Florida is a city crashing into a financial hole. Total mismanagement and failed leadership leads to huge hikes in costs and taxes and fees on all residents and on top of that city officials want to borrow tens of millions of dollars to bail themselves out from utter incompetence but at the cost of putting the taxpayers into public debt.
Property taxes up 11% for 2009
Sewer bills up 37% for 2009
Water bills up 41% for 2009
Garbage bills up 59% for 2009
Stormwater bills up 114% for 2009
Anonymous
10 months ago
Charles Burkett, Howard Weinberg, Marq Imberman, Steve Levine, Elizabeth Calderon. Shame, shame, shame. Came into a financially strong, beautiful, great community. Took it down the drain. Now its a financial basketcase, ugly with no enforcement of any standards, they demolished the fantastic Surfside Community Center, and they seek only what is good for themselves, the five officials, instead of what is good for the community. Sick. Shameful.
These officials made a series of horrendous decisions over the last few years and now they want to bail themselves out with a bond issue and charter changes that would expand their power over the future of Surfside, raise taxes, and sink the town into a deep hole of debt. Town officials are scheming to put bond debt and charter changes onto a unique summer election – when many residents will be unaware of the election or out of town. And they are rushing to get it all set up as quietly as possible. Town officials with personal agendas that are ruining the community with shady plots and deals.
Town residents are struggling to make ends meet. Surfside officials are so out of touch with the residents and taxpayers that they continue to siphon off the town’s savings and push ahead with plans that harm rather than serve the public interest. Town officials remain oblivious to the economic crisis. While other cities are scaling back capital projects and non-essential expenses, Surfside officials are spending more and more even though many town departments are already running into red ink. They cover it up but many departments are already in deficit. No wonder the 5 looks for a bond bailout. Its part of the coverup. There should be a forensic audit to find out why and how this group of town officials have taken a financially strong and stable community and crashed its finances into the ground … where did it all go? – its disgusting.
Surfside’s spending on projects that show no results, and its incredible legal fees, consultants, and dozens of quiet, no-bid, big money contracts, are a lead weight that is sinking the town. Current town officials created the biggest & most bloated budget in town history. They constantly try to impose debt upon the residents, change the charter to up their own power, and change the zoning code to open Surfside to overdevelopment.
After raising combined taxes, water, sewer and garbage bills this year to the highest level ever and decreasing service levels (pay more & get less) town officials now plan to deplete the remaining reserve funds that were saved up over many years – and plunge the town into tens of millions of dollars of debt that will raise taxes and the burden on residents for decades to come. Surfside has never had any debt! And once they get approval for the first bond, the hook is in, and cost “overruns”, staffing, insurance, furniture, equipment, utilities, etc. will force the town into additional debt just to try to finish the project. It’s a sink hole!
The Community Center bond scheme does NOT disclose the expense of the bond issue (fees and expenses and commissions) and it does NOT disclose the amount needed to insure, staff and operate any new Community Center and it is an iceberg with most of it hidden from the public by —- public officials.
Anonymous
9 months ago
Why dont you just vote these people out of office instead of usurping their power? Why even continue to pay these people if you are going to be doing their job? We are a republic and we cant even get people to do research on a few candidates. Why do we expoect people to get informed for each ammendment?
This seems like a very limited problem (Hills. County). Elect better officials or stop complaining
Anonymous
8 months ago
The lies that Burkett and Weinberg and Imberman told about their predecessors have been exposed, nothing but lies from liars. Gutter politicians. Fakers. They abuse their position of public trust and abuse public money as they churn Surfside into a personal profit from a public disgrace.
Surfside Community Center bond issue is the biggest scam of the Town’s history. They set up money to flow but get nothing done for the Town. Watch that flow.
If a candidate running for Surfside office would have told the voters that their plan for improving the town was to:
- demolish the community center
- deplete the town of it’s entire savings account
- raise taxes and all garbage, sewer and water fees
- spend $3.5 million just for consultants and lawyers
- not accomplish a single project they proposed from their charette
they would have been the laughing stock of Surfside.
Instead, we the voters are the fools.
The “breath of fresh air” we were promised was at best “hot air” and at worst a corrupt attempt to profit from no bid contracts and bond issues.
The hole in the sand we are left with is a glaring reminder of the utter incompetence of the commission that has been in office since 2006.
Our economy is in shambles. Even without the bond issue for the community center, we are all going to pay more taxes in 2009 to the county, school board and Surfside. The bond issue vote was conveniently scheduled in July before the commission discloses how much it will raise taxes for next year and to take advantage of low voter turnout in the summer.
We must vote NO on July 14th. We cannot allow runaway tax increases at this time and a plan that depletes the entire town reserve just to pay for one project.
The worst incompetence and worst corruption. Sinking such a nice place. Lower and lower they take us for their benefit.
Lifeboats
8 months ago
The saga of Marc Imberman. In his mind he thinks he has made fools of Surfside people and that he has masked himself well. What a tale he can tell about himself, just ask. Want a gushing of egomania, just ask – ask him about his accomplishments. A spider can’t spin a web faster than ol’ Marc.
Marc Imberman uses the same tactics over and over again as if no one is on to his game. He misstatesYou events in his zeal to criticize and blame others for the results of what he himself has done.the Commission’s actions. As long as Marc and his colleagues continue with such nonsense they will lack credibility.
While it is true that the prior town commission members worked hard, were open and honest, and produced numerous positive results including several major projects and having all budgets balanced and building a prudent town savings reserve fund, Marc Imberman and his cohorts cannot cough out the truth because it shines in stark contract to their own performance. The Marc Imberman gang has destroyed the Community Center, depleted the town’s savings, run awash in red ink, chased off dozens of honorable town employees, filled jobs with political hacks and cronies, put the town into jeopardy of facing bankruptcy, and deceived the residents. Surfside went from outstanding government to histerical, irresponsible government and that is the legacy of Marc Imberman, Charles Burkett, Howard Weinberg, Steve Levine, and Elizabeth Calderon, they plunged the town into a crash that will be harmful for generations to come.
Intellectual honesty, at least, would require Marc Imberman to acknowledge that his finger pointing and accusations are always far from accurate. Sadly, for the shabby cabal at Surfside Town Hall these days, this is nothing new. They misuse town resources, newsletters, mailings and money to spread their misinformation and lies.
For example, Marc Imberman claims that Commissioners were always paid. Not true. Public records show his lies. The Town Charter specifies ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR and until his group got into office that was all any official ever got. Now he gets a paid for cell phone, internet, and plenty of other perks. Now the Commissioners get $500 per month without ever showing a receipt of any kind, its just a salary that is against the Charter. They don’t care. According to Marc Imberman town officials never had to submit receipts for reimbursement of expenses. Not true. Public records show his lie. Before his gand all expenses incurred by any town official had to be fully documented, reviewed, and audited. Marc Imberman’s bunch do not like audits so they have not had a comprehensive independent audit done of town finances since they day they got into office three years ago. No audits, not receipts, no review, they literally sign their own checks. But Marc Imberman will claim that he exposes others — when he is so very exposed himself. Exposed for being seen as the ultimate hypocrite that he is.
Poor pathetic Marc he complains that he is defined by the actions of others … look in the mirror! Truth is that Imberman and Burkett and Weinberg and Calderon and Levine are surely defined by their own actions and decisions and at the bottom line by their amazing incompetence and immaturity and irresponsibility.
Mirror mirror on the wall who is the shadiest Marc of them all? After seeing you are town meetings and talking to you at town events it is obvious that you cannot see yourself through the maze of self contratulations that you heap upon yourself all the time.
Enjoy the internet and phones and gadgets and travel and meals Marc but the taxpayers, well we do not have to like paying your bills. And having such horrendous consequences to your “service” in office.
petition
7 months ago
SURFSIDE FLORIDA ground zero to say NO to self-serving government officials
Copy and paste and sign and send, fax petitions to 305-861-1302 and 305-376-5287:
Surfside residents and all citizens who care about government running wildly irresponsible and brazenly abusing public office:
• We object to your intention to close the Surfside Library.
• We know that the cost of continuing the operation of the Library is far less than the cost of the Charette,
• We know that the cost of “take home cars” is more than the cost of the Library.
• We know that the cost of in-house and outside attorneys is far more than the
cost of the Library.
• We regret and object to the needless demolition of the Surfside Community Center
without a vote of the people.
• We know and respect that the people of the Town have repeatedly rejected having the
Town go into debt of any kind.
• We know that elected town officials pay themselves with taxpayer money $500
per month plus “expenses” even though the Town Charter specifies that they will
be paid only $1.00 per year.
• We know that despite any decrease in property values, the Town will actually
receive 25% MORE total revenue next year than it did five years ago, and
that while there is no actual budget crisis there is a spending crisis and a waste crisis.
• We know that the Town has paid millions of dollars to one single outside contractor
that has been given dozens of contracts mostly without any bids, and we know
that town officials have made many transfers of town savings funds into town operating
accounts just to keep their spending habits going. The town reserve has been siphoned.
• We know that town officials have refused the public pleas of town residents for a
forensic audit of town expenditures from 2006 – 2009.
• We object to the improper priorities of town officials and we petition for a reversal
of course on all of these items including the planned imminent closure of the Library.
• We urge all town officials to stop their ill conceived plans and to end the red ink spending, end the waste, and keep the library open.
Hannery
2 months ago
Surfside’s money is gone and the motivation will dwindle now, those guys opened a faucet and let the city’s money spew out into certain hands and its pretty much done now so into the coverup phase of 2010.
Anonymous
2 months ago
Surfside Florida is now ScamCity USA led by the crooked marching of its town officials and their handpicked crony town employee department heads and town manager and town “advisors” its the bottom of the barrel.
Anonymous
1 month ago
When the contract and facts and numbers of employment for the town attorney got around town the crunch of gorrilla foot came down.