RE: Utility tax

Dear Editor:

The registered voters who signed the petitions circulated by the Rescind Unfair Taxes committee knew they were being offered 2 options. Either the commission rescinded the action taken on June 7 or voted to send it to referendum. Whose brilliant idea was it to give a 1 mil ad valorem tax reduction to the big businesses and the owners of plush real estate on the backs of the elderly, the city’s worker bees, and the poor with the introduction of this new tax.

If the goal is millage reduction and since the 5.7688 total millage rate has been advertised and passed on first reading, then the rate can still be reached without the public service tax. The administration admitted at the Sept. 6 meeting that the $2.9 million saved with the BSO merger was not included in this budget. That money, plus $500,000 from the undesignated reserve and an increase in the tax-deductible fire assessment fee, would reduce the millage by 1 mil and still leave $10,000,000 in the undesignated reserve. Then there would be no need to nickel and dime the residents with a non-deductible tax increase.

On Sept. 6, the Rescind UnfairTaxes committee presented the city clerk with petitions with 6,200 signatures and paid 10 cents to have each signature verified. In reality, we had until Sept. 28 to complete our mission. By then, we could have had 10,000 signatures, but we wanted the commission to take action while the budget hearings were being held, and a decision on the tax had to be made by Sept. 20. Once again, we shall be there on the 20th to watch what action the commission chooses to take.

Jean Robb

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at the conduct of one of the commissioners at the Sept. 6 commission meeting. He chastised a resident who misspelled a word and then stated, “This is the person I should be listening to about the economic welfare of Deerfield Beach?” This is another example of the arrogance of this commissioner who thinks he is superior to the people he is elected to represent. He also claimed that there were renters who paid nothing in taxes. I am a landlord, and I pay the taxes for these people while they pay for water and electric usage. I was also disappointed in the mayor’s attitude, as I felt she was abrupt and condescending. I can sympathize with the speaker who claimed you were taxing the very air we breathe. My mother’s electric bill for her oxygen usage was well over $300 a month, and, even with the fuel adjustment charge subtracted, the tax would have been much more than the $12 or $15 a month you claim.

The vice mayor claims he will not apologize to Century Village for his vote to approve this tax. He is supposed to represent them and not himself. If he can’t represent them, he should move out or resign. Let’s hope that everyone turns out on the 20th, to let these commissioners know what we think of their performances thus far.

Martha J. Mckee, RN

Deerfield Beach, District 2

RE: Pioneer Park

Dear Editor

On Aug. 31, I attended the presentation of the revised plan for Pioneer Park. The plan calls for a new ball field that is not large enough for adult or teenagers to play baseball or softball. The coaches and ball players in attendance all agreed that the city does not need another Little League field. We need fields for older kids and adults. Also the plans for boat trailer parking are for two rows of back-out-while-turning parking. It looks like a design for a Publix parking lot. Boat trailer parking should be drive-thru parking. I know two boaters who have had their trucks hit while parked there. There is not enough land to put proper boat parking, and even the small Little League field that we don’t need. Now the FDOT has offered a $400,000 grant to put an 8 ft. wide walkway in so they are going to put it between the boat parking and the proposed ball field and start it within 90 days.

A lovely and wise lady [Amie Kay Tanner] told us that Pioneer Park was the city’s first park. Her father helped build it in 1947. They had live oaks and picnic tables and people had family reunions there. I think the smartest plan would be to forget about the ball field. We don’t need it. Quickly redesign the plan with the new walkway moved over so that there will be room for drive-thru boat parking, and plant trees and put some picnic tables where the ball field would go. Remember that this is a waterfront park.

A few years ago, we had three good ball fields with lighting there, but the city bulldozed them and put in a softball field and a small practice field. The three fields were grandfathered in. We could not build them again because now we are required to have more green space and retention ponds. We don’t even have space now for a paved parking lot. The new plan calls for car parking on the grass of the green space. We wasted millions of dollars on this park a few years ago, let’s do it right this time.

Robert Lloyd

Deerfield Beach

An Unfair Assessment

Dear Editor:

The fairest tax of all is no tax. The next fairest is a “fair tax”… pay for what you use or might use. This does not mean everyone pays the same. It costs more to put sprinklers in a 10,000-sq-ft warehouse than a 1,000-sq-ft one. It costs more to protect a 10,000-sq-ft house from a fire than a 1,000-sq-ft house.

Apparently, Deerfield Beach would, for fire protection, tax a 1,000-sq-ft homeowner the same as a 10,000-sq-ft homeowner. Deerfield Beach intends to assess large and small homes the same. This is unfair.

Jack Kornfield

Deerfield Beach

Crabby Jack’s Fire

Dear Editor:

[Sunday morning] I woke and walked out to my patio. The smoke had just broke over the tree line —  I live three blocks away from Crabby Jack’s. I threw on a part of shorts and jumped into my truck. I got there at 7 a.m., just as the first fire trucks arrived and started putting water onto the blaze. There were about 10 people there on the street. It looked like something out of a movie scene, flames flaring 50, 60 ft. into the air and trees on fire. It was amazing to witness and feel the heat from the fire across the street.

Jeff Graves

Deerfield Beach

Tea Party and the debt deal

Dear Editor:­ 

Now is not the time for recriminations against Tea Party-backed members of Congress who voted in the end for the debt deal.  This is not the time to start fighting amongst ourselves.  Nothing could make the Left happier than to see a splintering of the Tea Party movement. ­ ­We have to agree that, no matter how disappointed we are with the final deal — and I am — that final vote was something on which honest conservatives could disagree.  ­The President used his bully pulpit to argue that the Tea Party was leading the nation to Armageddon, and the compliant media acted as a thousand megaphones for that line.  It is understandable that some Tea Party conservatives thought this would not help the Tea Party’s standing with the public. There have been good and bad actors on both sides of the debt ceiling debate.  ­Let’s leave the recriminations to the liberals and stay united and focused on achieving the real spending cuts that Congress promised and electing a President and Congress to support, rather than fight, a balanced budget amendment and other limited government principles.­ ­That is what we should be concentrating on, starting today.­

Richard A. Viguerie­

Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com­Manassas, VA­­­­­­

Road improvements create jobs

Dear Editor:

Congestion on our roads costs the U.S. an estimated $145 billion annually in wasted time, repairs and operating expenses. That’s an unnecessary burden that our economy is in no shape to carry.

Yet, Washington seems to be toying with short-term transportation plans and cuts to transportation funding. That’s no way to remedy America’s gridlock. Instead, Congress should pass a long-term (at least six years), well-funded surface transportation bill that allows for real road, bridge, rail and transit improvements.

New transportation projects will create thousands of new jobs in and of themselves, but that’s small potatoes compared to how improved transportation and logistics efficiency will boost our overall economic picture.

Our economy can’t grow if cars and trucks can’t go. Tell your Congressman it’s time to get Florida and the nation rolling again!

William A. DiRico, Jr.  

President – Southeast Division Martin Marietta Materials

Duluth, GA

A Guest Editorial from a famous Historian and our Publisher

In 1887, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.”

“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;

From spiritual faith to great courage;

From courage to liberty;

From liberty to abundance;

From abundance to complacency;

From complacency to apathy;

From apathy to dependence;

From dependence back into bondage.”

Therefore,the question for each of us today as Americans  is — “What am I going to do about it?” (With an emphasis on the “I”). Everyone who loves this country needs to get involved. It will require a massive effort.

We need you!Get involved!

David Eller, Publisher

SW 10 Street Ramp

Dear Editor:

Thanks to the city of Deerfield Beach for realizing we needed another lane coming off (North) on SW 10 street. Now, please give us a right-turn-on-green arrow when the northbound traffic has a green light. The right lane could easily turn with no problem. Post a right-turn-on-green-arrow-only sign. Thanks.

M. Henderson

Deerfield Beach

Cove businesses alive and well

Dear Editor:

My family and I have just opened a small restaurant in The Cove Shopping Plaza on Hillsboro Boulevard.  The Cove is in the process of a beautification project and some exciting changes are happening here.  We are very happy to be a part of the new and improved look, and hope to be a part of the community for many years to come.

In the midst of the beautification process, of course, the parking lot and sidewalks are being redone.  The new pavers look fantastic, and soon the parking lot will be black-topped, and it will also take on a look that will make the businesses proud to operate in The Cove.  This will only enhance our customers’ experience as they come for lunch or dinner, or stop by one of the other many new and existing businesses located here.

I write to you today in the hopes that I can appeal to the Deerfield Beach residents, and those who frequent The Cove area, to remember that all of us are still open for business.  Although there are some larger trucks and work equipment blocking our ‘view’… we are still here for you and your ongoing patronage and support.

Thank you!

Kim Cournoyer,

Beach Buns … the best buns under the sun!

Deerfield Beach

RE: Open Letter in Observer 8/4

The Deerfield Chamber of Commerce is committed, active and continues to move the business community forward.

We strive to create new opportunities targeting business sectors with themed events.  This month, our 31 Days of Dining is designed to help our restaurants during a typically slow month.  See the details on our website: www.deerfieldchamber.com.

At our August breakfast, over 30 members and prospective members participated.  Our speaker, Andrew Duffell, from Florida Atlantic University Research Park, gave us updated plans for development, improvements and their mission here in Deerfield.

At the beginning of 2011, our outstanding debt from previous administrations was over $35,000. Your Chamber of Commerce is presently debt-free, with no outstanding, unpaid obligations.  Funds are available to operate and include a separate fund to sponsor events.

The value of membership is increasing every month with new partnerships.   Several businesses have recently joined.  We welcome Paragon Theaters and Deerfield Beach Toyota.

We invite you to take a look at your chamber by attending our next membership breakfast at:  Embassy Suites, 950 Ocean Blvd., Sept. 1 at 7:30 a.m.  Our guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. (R) Allen West.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

 DEERFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Renaming Westside Park gymnasium?

Dear Editor:

It has been brought to my attention that our city commissioners are attempting to have Dr. Leo J. Robb’s name removed from the gymnasium in Westside Park. The reason being given for this is “Dr. Robb was a Racist.” There is not an ounce of truth to this statement, and no one should know better than me, as I worked side by side with him in his office from 1974 until his death.

Dr. Robb did not have a prejudicial bone in his body. How come every time something does not go our way, “the proverbial race card becomes an issue?”

Every summer Dr. Robb would do all the pre-football physicals for members of the Packer-Rattler football teams. He would give each boy a complete physical and notify their parents if there were any issues. These physicals were all done free of charge, all 125 of them. There were many times when Dr. Robb would discount or see patients without charge and without regard for color, ethnic background or religion. Yes, there was a back door to our office, but it was not an entrance for patients. All patients used the front door and sat side by side in the one and only waiting room.

This good man did so much for the residents of Deerfield Beach. His name, above another’s, belongs on that building. He did not see color and neither should we.

Yours Truly,

Mary M. McAdoo

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: Asked August 2 whether the city commission has any plans to rename Westside Park gymnasium, Mayor Peggy Noland said, “not at this time.” She said she was approached by District 2 resident David Ricks to ask whether the gymnasium might be renamed for recently deceased [June 23] Parks & Rec Manager 1 Johnny Tigner, who worked for the city for 37 years. “He gave his heart and soul to the children, worked [with youth’s sports] from that gymnasium.”

According to the city, the gymnasium was named in memory of  Dr. Leo J. Robb Jr. on July 9, 1990. The city commission voted unanimously in favor of the naming on June 19, 1990. Jean Robb was mayor of the city of Deerfield Beach from 1980-93.

Ricks said two petitions are circulating in District 2 to show whether or not there is support in the city. He said he would be happy with either changing the name of the gymnasium – or changing the name of Westside Park – to honor Johnny Tigner.

Publisher’s note: To the best of my recollection, there was only one doctor in Deerfield back in the early 1950s. It was Dr. Higgins, and he was extremely busy. Our community was very happy, therefore, to have another doctor come to town when Dr. Leo Robb and his family arrived. Dr. Robb was a fine man and treated everyone who needed his services, especially the young athletes, with great dignity – which is why he was honored by putting his name on the gymnasium.

Proud to Live in Deerfield Beach/LHP

Dear Editor:

Last Friday, a bowling fundraiser at Diamond Strikes Lanes raised over $5,000 and put this year’s Deerfield Beach/Lighthouse Point Relay for Life over its financial goal of $100,000.  We have exceeded our fundraising goal, but we have done something more important.

Our cities, our schools, our civic organizations, retirement communities like Century Village, local businesses and generous individuals all joined in the fight against cancer. Then there were groups of everyday people, like Healing Spirits, who formed teams of friends and neighbors. They poured countless hours of time into this year’s Relay for Life.
In challenging times, we have come together for the common goal of fighting cancer and supporting cancer survivors. This shows the kind of heart and soul that is alive and well in Deerfield Beach and Lighthouse Point. This is even more important than the money we have raised and I am very proud to live in this generous community.

Thanks you to everyone who helped make it happen.

T.J. Eagen

2011 Event Chair/Relay for Life

Deerfield Beach

RE: Teen Center

Dear Editor:

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a tremendous supporter of programs for Deerfield Beach youth. My years of public service have included tireless work to bring the Deerfield Beach Aquatics Center to reality, and steadfast support of the Police and Fire Explorers programs, and the PAL Boxing League, to name a few. All three of my children participated in city programs, including the Jr. Lifeguard program.

It has become apparent that now more than ever, we must focus on our youth and get them involved in positive activities. This has been reinforced by the tragic incidents of the past two years involving Deerfield Beach Middle School students.

A decade ago, Deerfield Beach Teen Center opened as a place for the city’s older youth to gather. Unfortunately, over the years, participation at the facility has dwindled to the current situation where only about 10 youths visit the facility per day. For the nine months from October 1, 2010 through July 12, 2011, Teen Center operations cost the city $75,000.

Even in this economic climate, we can’t afford not to invest in our youth, but we must make the best use of the funding we have. In my opinion, we are missing the opportunity to reach our teens, just when they need it the most. City staff has met with representatives of Deerfield Beach Middle and High schools, who have echoed this concern.

For this reason, the city is overhauling its teen programs, and instituting a “mobile” concept, where staff will bring programs directly to the community’s youth at both schools. Operations at the Teen Center will cease this fall, and Teen Center funding will be used to support this new concept. By partnering with the schools, the city will be able to maximize our dollars, and increase the number of teens whose lives are impacted by the positive influence of city programs. I fully support this new approach, and I am confident that in the end, our children will be the winners.

Mayor Peggy Noland 

Deerfield Beach

RE: Utility tax

Dear Editor:

With every debate, one will find differences of opinion. It is not uncommon to have things misrepresented or overstated in the heat of a deliberation.

But it is a rare occasion that you read in print something so isolated from truth and reality that it cannot be described as anything less than a bold face lie.

In the 7/21 edition of the Observer, Mr. Steve Krevoy’s account of an incident at Constitution Park was just that, a lie. In an attempt to justify his own questionable actions, he concocted a series of events completely of his own imagination.

“He (Burgess Hanson), in turn, called Mayor Noland and District 4 commissioner Ganz, whose decision it was to call BSO” – NOT TRUE.

I was not even aware of the incident until late Saturday evening when I checked my voice mail. City Manager Burgess Hanson had left me a voice mail at 6:43 p.m. notifying me of what occurred earlier in the day. I did not actually speak to Mr. Hanson until Monday morning. I have the voice mail saved and the phone records to prove it.

I have turned a blind eye to Mr. Krevoy and his group’s inaccurate portrayal of the impact of the utility tax. If you read one of their flyers, you would be led to believe that your entire water and electric bill will be taxed 10 percent. That is not true and they know it. It is clear he has no scruples when it comes to relaying false information. I have chosen to ignore that. But, I will not sit silent to this complete fabrication of an event and the sullying of the reputation of city staff.

Mr. Krevoy should be ashamed.

Commissioner Bill Ganz

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

After reading last week’s letter to the editor from Steve Krevoy, I feel that the city has no choice but to respond to his slanderous allegations. Because the letter contained more untruths than truths, it will be difficult to cover them all. However, there were a few statements that I must address.

The “opposition” flyer to which Krevoy continually refers was actually a document the city created to provide important information to residents about the recently approved public service tax, which will, among other things, allow the city to lower its millage rate, providing tax relief for residential property owners.

The flyers are available at all city facilities, not just Constitution Park, and they are displayed in the same manner as other flyers created by the city. As for the statement that city staff did not allow the removal of the flyers, the staff member on duty was following an established policy for rental of a city facility, where those renting are not permitted to remove any of the city’s decorations or posted material.

The most frustrating fallacy in Krevoy’s letter is his depiction of what occurred after he removed the flyers on display. Krevoy made false accusations about specific city staff and elected officials, myself included, claiming that all were responsible for “BSO deputies (being) dispatched to the site to arrest (them) for vandalizing city property.” In actuality, the incident was reported through the city’s chain of command, by the staff member on duty, who felt she was unable to reach a reasonable solution with Mr. Krevoy. She contacted her supervisor, who contacted the director of Parks and Recreation. The Parks and Recreation Director spoke with the Police Chief, and a decision was made to send a representative from BSO to Constitution Park to assist the staff member in diffusing the situation. All of these activities were over and done by the time I received a message from the City Manager that evening, briefing me on the incident.

They say there are two sides to every story, but in this situation, there is virtually no common ground.

Mayor Peggy Noland

Deerfield Beach

Closing of Teen Center

Dear Editor:

As a concerned parent and resident, I feel the city of Deerfield has let me down.

On numerous occasions I have heard talk about concern for the youth in Deerfield and a willingness to help them. But I recently found out that the only place in Deerfield for teens will be closing its doors for good. With all the gang violence, crime, and brutal attacks such as Josie Ratley and Michael Brewer, you would think the city would give more thought about the Teen Center and keep it open.

I have [both] a 14- and 16-year-old son who attend the Teen Center, and I have noticed major positive changes in them since they have attended. Their grades and behavior have improved, they are more respectable, and they are staying out of trouble. When I was told about the Center closing, they were very upset and afraid.

I am a single mother of five children and really need the help of programs such as this. They also told me that BSO will be taking over the Teen Center, which does not make any sense. I feel the teens need a place to call their own and the city should make an exception and do whatever it takes for the teens instead of giving BSO that building because the teens are our future. It makes you wonder what’s really more important, our future teens or BSO?

I have a few questions that need to be addressed:

1. With the Teen Center closing, I would like to know where will our teens go?

2. What will the city provide?

3. Who made the decision to close the Teen Center and allow BSO to have full access to the center?

4. Would BSO have more patrol on the streets due to an extra amount of teens hanging out?

5. What is the REAL reason why they are closing the center?

6. What will BSO use the building for?

A Concerned Parent & Resident

Makeesha Johnson                                                                                                                                                    

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: The city is shutting down the actual Teen Center but not shutting down teen operations, according to Assistant to the City Manager Amanda Shafer. In the future, teens will go to the middle school or high school for the program, rather than bringing them to the center. The city subsidized most of the operation. Financially, they were spending more money than they were bringing in, in order to bring in the kids, she said.

Why every Deerfield resident should care about what is happening at the DBHA

To the Editor:

The Deerfield Beach Housing Authority (DBHA) was legally chartered by the city to address the affordable housing needs of the city.

The distant and imbalanced relationship that has developed between the DBHA and the city of Deerfield Beach should be troubling to all residents. Such a relationship inhibits true collaborations that ultimately lead to not addressing critical housing needs throughout the city.

Over the past several years, the DBHA has been the recipient of the city’s generous support through [Community Development Block Grant] CDBG funds, $500,000 in HOME funds, $100,000 in permit fee waivers, decades of free garbage service up until 2003, donation of city land for the Executive Office, numerous in-kind services for their residents. DBHA has even most recently asked for $500,000 in reallocated City Disaster Recovery funds.

Given this generous support, it should be an affront to all residents that those at the helm of the DBHA, for whatever their reasoning, chose not to open their doors to the city’s internal control review. It should also be an affront that the DBHA Board instead chose a costly course of action that included defiance, delay, and an obstruction to transparency.

In January 2010, the DBHA received its first real Public Records Request. Information concerning procurement irregularities became public. In February 2010, Executive Director Pamela Davis presented a Corrective Action Plan to the Board concerning the procurement irregularities. Minutes from that meeting show few questions were asked. Board commissioners were unable, due to the longevity of their relationship with those in charge, to be objective. A mentality of ‘don’t rock the boat’ and ‘let’s just move on’ was, and still is, prevalent.

In the spring of 2010, the city commission voted for a closer examination of the agency, hired Kessler International to complete an internal control review, and requested various documents be available for Kessler’s review. Given the DBHA’s initial defiant stance, the city had to resort to a Public Records Request to obtain documents. This also meant that Davis did not have to answer questions directly from Kessler.

At a June Special Board Meeting, Davis presented a $350,000 estimated charge for duplicated records. It should be noted that Kessler International asked to have access to the documents, not be copied.  Kessler also asked to have electronic copies whenever possible. In fact, as all DBHA copiers scan to e-mail, there was no need to waste a single piece of paper.

In response to an utterly ridiculous $350,000 invoice, the city narrowed its records request.

What followed over the next several months was a concerted campaign by Davis (who lives in Sunrise), her personal defense attorney Tom Connick (Coral Springs), Chairman Keith Emery (Boca Raton) and DBHA attorney Bill Crawford (Ft. Lauderdale) to delay, hinder and avoid the Kessler review. The Authority Board directed Crawford, who closely collaborated with Connick, to draft four letters to the city. The letters focused on the city’s lack of authority to audit the DBHA, discrediting Kessler International, the act of bad faith by requesting the Executive Director’s e-mails, and the tremendous financial burden the audit would place on the DBHA.

In 2010, Crawford was compensated in excess of $50,000 in public funds for his efforts to avoid transparency. His billing provides a play-by-play snapshot of their tactics.

In October 2010, the city sent a final terse request for documents.

When the documents arrived, they were found significantly lacking. Kessler concluded that the lack of documentation significantly hampered his ability to conduct a thorough and accurate review.

Included in the missing documents are the files that pertain directly to the complaints I fielded with the OIG and FBI, numerous bank statements, no information at all for two accounts, no information at all on the over $2 million in DBHA investment accounts, deposit slips for all accounts, several unbid contracts over the $25,000 threshold and an extensive amount of missing quotes/proposals and invoices. In addition, the DBHA submitted a total of 13 e-mails for the Executive Director for the entire year of 2010.

It is clear that the current DBHA Board and management chose not to acknowledge Kessler’s Report. For anyone at the DBHA to state “ … We thought we gave the city of Deerfield Beach everything” is either outright dishonesty or an admission that they did not read the Kessler Report. Being good stewards of public funds, shouldn’t they have had an interest in reading that report?

Not satisfied with the results of HUD’s two limited procurement reviews, I reached out to Congressman Allen West for his assistance. On July 5, 2011, West wrote to the Acting Secretary of the HUD Office of Inspector General calling for “a complete investigation of the Deerfield Beach Housing Authority” due to his concerns over “misuse of taxpayer money” and possible “criminal issues [involving] nepotism, bid rigging and procurement violations.”

The DBHA is not an island in the city and does not belong to those at the helm, regardless of their length of employment or service.  The Authority was chartered for a distinct purpose. Now is the time to appoint a new board, which will bring the agency back to the city. Now is the time for transparency. Now is the time to explore true collaborations between the DBHA, the city and community partners. The scope of a PHA in a community can go so much more beyond managing low-income properties. Now is the time to create best practices within our city that could be a model for other areas in addressing affordable housing issues.

Chaz Stevens,

former commissioner,

Deerfield Beach Housing Authority Board

Deerfield Beach Housing Authority

RE: Utility tax

Dear Editor:

The Rescind Unfair Taxes Committee leased the city-owned Constitution Park building at 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. for a petition-signing session on July 16 from 1 to 9 p.m. We paid $322, with the provision that $100 would be refunded to us, provided the facility was left in good order.

On Friday, July 15, we learned of a rumor that the city had printed on city stationery approximately 5,000 flyers in opposition to the position our group had taken. Their flyer  in my opinion was a divisive missive that pitted the haves against the have nots.

That evening, I called my commissioner, Joe Miller, and told him I was not happy with the city’s attempt to rain on our parade. I told him we wanted to be sure that we would avoid any confrontations.  When we arrived at 1 p.m. to do our set-ups, we realized that the city had posted the opposition circulars throughout the city — including the room we were using to collect signatures for our referendum issue. The female city employee who was monitoring our activities told us we did not have the right to remove the opposition material from the room we had leased.

Had we known of this regulation, we never would have leased that building. Since we refused to give back the offending flyers, the employee called her supervisor, Amy Hanson, who, in turn, called her husband Burgess Hanson, the city manager of Deerfield Beach.

He, in turn, called Mayor Noland and District 4 commissioner Ganz, whose decision it was to call BSO. BSO deputies were dispatched to the site to arrest us for vandalizing city property.

When they discovered that there obviously was no city vandalism, they called their superiors to say that no criminal act had been perpetrated. We agreed to give back the flyers we had confiscated in exchange for an agreement that our security deposit of $100 would be returned. Previously, we had been told that it would not be refunded because of our supposed vandalism.

We feel as though the presence of police deterred the voters from entering Constitution Park to sign our petitions. The flyers they posted and distributed made us look like criminals, a portrayal we did not appreciate.

The people in Deerfield should be made aware of the cheap shot the city took in order to stymie our continued success with our petition drive.

Steve Krevoy

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: According to spokesperson for the city of Deerfield Beach Rami Altherr-Musto, the city wanted to get information into the hands of residents to educate them. “We’ve distributed to all our facilities – last Tuesday or Wednesday. This is one portion of public service tax [utility tax] that we’re addressing at this time.”

RE: Detox facility

Dear Editor:

On July 7, The Cove Neighborhood showed up in force at the P&Z Board meeting to attempt to stop approval for the Florida House Medical Detoxification Center, looking to occupy 504 S. Federal Hwy. The board voted unanimously to deny the Detoxification Center, based on lack of compatibility to the adjoining zone for single family residences. The Cove neighborhood’s concern is for proper placement of such a facility.

Approval of this facility in the B2 zoning district, with no specific regulation regarding placement, would open the door for other like-facilities to occupy the B2 zoning throughout our city. No other city in South Florida, successfully integrating these facilities, does so without a buffer between residences and schools.

The State of Florida says that these facilities cannot lock their doors to keep non-compliant patients in. This means voluntary denial of help, that they can leave by the front or back door at will, any time of day, despite their contractual agreement with the Florida House.

We already see this happening in our neighborhood. Additionally, we see drug deals occurring flagrantly in front of our homes. We see substance abuse rehabilitation and halfway house clients who skirt their curfew, climb over the fences of adjoining residential properties to escape detection. They throw their liquor bottles over the fences into residential yards.

We need to stop the improper placement of the proposed Florida House Medical Detoxification facility and take a good hard look at our community to find proper zoning for these facilities.

The city’s inability to correctly place this facility is not just detrimental to the residential community, but also to the patients of this facility, as well as the business owner.  It is not just one-sided.

Gretchen Thomas

Deerfield Beach

Fast action by BSO

Dear Editor:

I want to thank BSO Chief Sudler and his deputies for their fast action in stopping a rash of burglaries in Deer Run and the Gates of Hillsboro on July 7, including an invasion into my neighbor’s house while his kids were home. Thankfully, they were not harmed. BSO caught up with these vermin and have one in custody. I am sure the others will be caught soon. Thank you to all who protect us.

Ira Goodstadt 

Deerfield Beach

Deciding layoffs

Dear Editor:

I hope it is the city of Deerfield’s position to give resident employees preference when it comes time to lay off individual city employees. Residents should get bonus points over non-residents when hiring new employees. I don’t think the city will get substandard people by using this practice, as was the old union argument.

Stanley D. Flower 

Deerfield Beach

Legion of Honor

Dear Editor:

Back in October 2010, I received a letter from the French Ambassador advising me that the President of France had signed a decree naming me a “Chevalier” of the Legion of Honor. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 “to acknowledge service rendered to France by people of great merit.”

On August 18, a ceremony will be held at the Boynton Beach Civic Center, at which time an official of the French government will place the Legion of Honor medal around my neck.

Percy Paget 

Lighthouse Point

RE: Code of Conduct

Dear Editor:

Please tell me why the Broward County Public Schools Code of Conduct handbook, e-mailed out July 1, was for the first time distributed electronically in English, Spanish, Haitian, Creole and Portuguese? Please tell me that this is a joke, as we are in America where ENGLISH is the ONLY language that should be spoken and written.

If people from other countries want to live here, then they need to learn our language or leave if they choose not to do that. Why should we cater to them? EVERYTHING should be in ONLY ENGLISH:  Driver’s License Test, School Board Papers, anything to do with schools, period.

No other country would cater to us, why should we cater to them? Whoever decided that the school board needs to send out Code of Conduct in other languages needs to be fired. The same goes for whoever agreed to do that.

Everyone has the right to live here, but not if they do not want to learn our ways. STOP making it easy on those people to not learn. If we did everything in only English, they would have to learn or leave – their choice.

Jennifer Marie Read

Pompano Beach