Our federal government was bragging last week that nationwide unemployment has dropped slightly, but is still over 9 percent. In Florida, it’s12 percent!

I overheard two employees in a local retail store talking recently in the aisle next to me as I shopped. They were discussing a fellow employee who had quit his job there and had managed to get on the unemployment roll. “Can you believe it?” said one. “He is getting from the government within a few dollars per week of what we are making, and he doesn’t even have to get out of bed in the morning.” They continued, “ However, he’s actually making a lot more than us because he’s already working  “off the book” at another place, part time for cash.” I drifted away to another isle as I heard them questioning whether or not they should do the same thing.

Fast forward to two weeks later. My wife and I were on a long planned cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Bermuda. Our first night at sea was open seating, so we sat down next to a couple in their late 40s from Pompano. After we’d talked about various amenities on the ship, I asked the couple what they did back on land. The lady spoke up first and said she was a school teacher in Broward County. When I asked her where, she said she was currently unemployed. When I queried her husband, he said “I’m a welder, but I just lost my job too.” Trying to be helpful, I said “I know the owners of several companies trying to hire welders right now. I handed him my card and said, “Give me a call when we get back to Ft. Lauderdale, and I’ll get you an interview.” A few minutes later, as we all left the table, I noticed he shoved my card under his napkin purposely leaving it. I thought to myself  “So much for looking for a job.” The rest of the cruise they pointedly avoided us.

There is a common concept that employees pay into the Unemployment Compensation Fund and, therefore, are simply getting some of their money back. That is simply not true. Only employers pay in! Because Florida’s unemployment roll now exceeds 12 percent, Florida employers are now being required to put in an additional $2 billion into the unemployment compensation fund. This raises the costs for all Florida companies, puts us all at a competitive disadvantage, and is counter-productive to bringing more jobs to Florida. Therefore, when people abuse the system, they are making it more difficult for everyone here, including themselves, to get a job in the future.

David Eller, Publisher

Impact on recreational fishing

Dear Editor:

The federal government has already shut down recreational fishing for Grouper, Red Snapper, and Sea Bass. They are getting ready to shut down recreational fishing for Dolphin (Mahi Mahi or El Dorado), Cobia, Wahoo and Amber Jack. These closures will effectively end offshore fishing in the southeast Atlantic, as there will be nothing left allowed to fish for — so why bother going fishing in the first place? Florida is the top fishing destination in the United States and Recreational Fishing has an estimated $7.5 Billion annual impact on Florida’s economy. I do not need to point out just how many jobs are tied to the fishing industry, and will be seriously impacted by the decision of the SAFMC commission. By pushing these closures forward, this commission will be ignoring the negative impact this decision will have economically and the large number of jobs that will be effectively eliminated by the closures. I was under the impression the federal government was trying to adopt policies that would help positive job growth. This government agency has obviously not gotten that memo!

Shirley Doll

Lighthouse Point

RE: Parks & Recreation

Dear Editor:

What is the unemployment rate in Florida? 12 percent. If you talk with 60 minutes television show, they have indicated that it is more like 30 percent. If you understood economics, you would agree.

So the commission, through the city manager, hires an out-of-the-state person to take the job that was once promised to George Edmunds, you let people make George a patsy – and are silent. You pay the [new] guy much more than you pay George. By the way, the parks look awful. And now you have this guy coming in from out of state.

George Edmunds is a resident, a father of three beautiful good kids, and unemployed, and it’s not that — HE DID A GOOD JOB. You all have put a real spin on it. By saying nothing shows no leadership or integrity, and I cannot live with that. The bologna that he has faced without any support burns me inside.

Here is a friend, a member of our community, and definitely a person with integrity second to none.

A leader would have spoken up. You did not.

John Grassi

Deerfield Beach

FL Legislature:  Clarke-Reed gets committee assignments

Dear Editor:

As I promised, I can now tell you my committee assignments. I have education as my focus. The committees are Education Committee, Pre K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee (Ranking Member), Health & Human Services Access Subcommittee. These committees have met and are now preparing PCB’s.

Education is where the biggest changes will come for me. Teacher quality and how to evaluate the classroom teacher is what will change. Needing to understand that the word “tenure” will disappear from contracts. There will be no automatic renewal of contracts. And if for any reason there needs to be changes in staff, the last hired-first out (LIFO) will not be in play.  How this will happen is what the committee is working on.  The evaluation piece is being researched and new assessment tools are being developed.

The budget for education has been reduced by $703 per student over last year’s budget. This cannot be allowed to happen. Pre-K funding was left at last year’s funding. I resubmitted my bill for some of the Powerball Lottery dollars to be used in pre-k classrooms (H.B.33).

There is a big push for Charter Schools to receive more funding and capital outlay dollars. I have a bill that will give more transparency to Charter Schools.

Healthcare is another big issue. The Medicaid transfer of services from the present four-tier system to managed care (HMO) is unacceptable and needs to be watched through the waiver process.

We need to hear from you about what is happening in Tallahassee. Please contact your representatives on these most important issues. My office number is 954-786-4848 or e-mail gwyn.clarke-reed@myfloridahouse.gov.

Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed

State Representative, District 92

Deerfield Beach

RE: These are the times that try men’s souls

Dear Editor:

Chaz Stevens served for one month [April 20, 2010 to May 28, 2010] on the Board of the Deerfield Beach Housing Authority. Jean Robb served as mayor of Deerfield Beach for 13 years [1980-1993.] Who are you going to believe?

Lillian Lorraine

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: Jean Robb and Chaz Stevens wrote a point/counterpoint that ran in the Feb. 3, Feb. 10 editions of the Observer newspaper, Letters to the Editor.

Hello from Cairo

RE: These are the times that try men’s souls

A Fire Department run by BSO?

Dear Editor:

Circa 1967, Ordinance 617, by referendum vote, was created to govern the hiring, promotions and disciplinary procedures of the Fire Department.This was the will of the people. Two years ago, the city commission through labor negotiations, eliminated Ordinance 617. Logically, it would seem that rules created through referendum could only be changed by referendum.

Not so in Deerfield, where special interest groups, the mayor and commissioners can join together and supercede the people’s will.

Currently, the city is talking with Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) to take control of our Fire Department.  Three years ago, by referendum vote, we, the people, overwhelmingly (70 percent) opposed this action and voted to keep our Fire Department.

There is no indication that our leaders will enforce the people’s will, but rather impose their own.  Couple this with back-to-back years of tax increases and one can see how history repeats itself. Taxation without representation … sounds familiar and much like the tyranny we revolted against in 1776. So welcome to Deerfield Beach, where Democracy is not alive and well, and your vote, the people’s will, means nothing.

Gary Lother

Deerfield Beach

These are the times that try men’s souls

Dear Editor:

In January, certain city employees were faced with giving back city money that placed them above the cap on their salaries. It seems as though the choices were made selectively since not all who benefitted were asked to pay back. Who was responsible for the choices that were made?

While the city was nickel-and-diming the non-uniform employees, a fire captain was allowed to accumulate $111,000 in overtime pay in the last three years. How did that happen? His final pension payout will be obscenely generous.

The commission itself has cost the taxpayers.

• Failure to schedule a vote on the increase in cost of beach parking stickers resulted in a loss of $83,500 when 1,670 were sold at the bargain rate of $50.

• Authorization of an $80,000 Kessler report that was full of smoke and mirrors thanks to the allegations of a vindictive blogger.

• The commission spent $1,200 for an outside attorney to tell them how to read the charter.

Explain to the taxpayers the overtime being collected by Fire Department personnel.

What needs to be done:

• An audit of city overtime expenditures and a cap on the amount that can be added to enhance pension payouts.

• Stop penalizing the worker bees and have those earning in excess of $100,000 a year, take a 10 percent pay cut.

• Make a change in one of the services that costs us the most. The trend is to regionalize police and fire and transportation and water. Deerfield should join the parade to save money, and start negotiating with BSO for fire and emergency services.

• Turn back the increase in the mayor and commissioners’ salaries that were mandated by Ordinance 2004/035. The commission cannot increase their salary, but they can sure decrease them. They are part-timers. Why do they have pensions? Eliminate them, as no other part-time employee in the city is eligible for such a bonus. Indeed these are the times that try men’s souls, but it is also the time of economic downturn. No matter how much rhetoric is being put out there, the commission cannot claim to have been fiscally responsible. The public spoke at the final hearing setting the millage rate, but nobody on the Board listened.

Jean Robb

Deerfield Beach

Thanks for supporting Festival of Arts

Dear Editor:

Thank you Deerfield Beach for your overwhelming support for the 31st Annual Festival of the Arts. We on the Cultural Committee are truly moved by all of the positive responses we have received from the public. We can
hardly wait until next year. Check our website www.DeerfieldBeachFestivals.com or our Facebook page (Deerfield Beach Cultural Committee).

Judi Stanich

Deerfield Beach

Clean up our beach and enhance revenue

Dear Editor:

As a proud citizen and good neighbor, I love Deerfield Beach and cannot imagine living elsewhere. However, the trash, dog poop and miscellaneous piles of cigarette butts dumped off on the side of streets is out of control!

I can appreciate that budgets have to be cut, but I believe our city leaders need to give serious consideration to putting some paid city workers out there on the streets (in plain clothes, not in city vehicles) citation pads in hand, writing up tickets for people who throw trash from their windows and leave animal waste for others, like me, to step in when walking my own dogs.  For those folks who are not from around here, that do not understand what litter is,  how about putting up signs that say  “THANK YOU FOR VISITING – PLEASE DO NOT TRASH OUR BEACH,” 1st OFFENSE, $100. 2ND OFFENSE $250.

Another observation: most people do abide by the signs that say “No Dogs on the Beach” so instead they walk across the street and  let  their dogs dump on the sidewalks and curbs in front of the condo buildings. Perhaps APPROPRIATELY PLACED signs with dog stations and bags would help curtail the dog doo. It  truly is a disgusting and unhealthy situation.

Perhaps some real enforcement  will  create a sense of urgency for people to scoop the poop and dispose of their other trash properly when it hits them in the pocket.

Joan R. Gould

Deerfield Beach

Reader questions use of labyrinth in school

Dear Editor:

RE: “DBHS gives peace a chance with labyrinth” article (Jan. 20 Observer). Some may have also seen or read “Over 750 Boca High Students and Teachers To Participate In ‘Yoga Wave.’” My question is: Are parents paying attention to what is going on in our public schools? All four of my children attended DBHS. Thankfully, all were pre-labyrinth. You can be sure I would be talking with the principal if any of my kids were still attending the school. Kudos to those students at Boca High who declined to participate in the practice of yoga or any DBHS students who recognize godly priciples for avoiding the labyrinth. These New Age & Eastern mysticism practices have no place in our public education (indoctrination) system. The words of Colossians 2:8 come to mind: “See to it that no one (not even your pricipals or teachers) takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Parenthetical statement added).

Jeff Hafer

Deerfield Beach

Note: A labyrinth, or pathway for meditation, is not necessarily a religious concept. However, the person walking can choose to pray in whatever way he or she sees fit.

Part-time

Dear Editor:

Our mayor and commissioners receive a salary, full medical insurance and – get this – they receive a pension.

Talk about spending money like drunken sailors.  It’s time we get our priorities and spending in line!

And they had the nerve to raise taxes. Does anyone in this city understand economics?

John Grassi

Deerfield Beach

RE: Hillsboro Pines Golf Club at P & Z

Dear Editor:

I feel that Mr. Chester’s Letter to the Editor [Jan. 13 Observer] has misleading statements that need to be addressed.  There have been three golf course changes brought to the city in the last year.  This is the only one that had a crowd that exceeded the legal limit the room will hold.  All meeting rooms, restaurants, etc. have signs denoting the maximum number of people allowed by the fire marshal.  It is absurd to blame the city for not anticipating the crowds that appeared.  Where were these Good Samaritan people when the other golf courses came up for changes?  They were not interested.  Why should an impartial hearing be turned into mob rule?  Most of the people who showed up never read the plans.  They have been filled with misinformation and rumors that have been spread by those who oppose the changes.  The golf course is not seeking a land-use change.  They want to improve their property, which they feel they are entitled to.  The county has, in the other two golf course proposals, turned them down because they would have reduced open land recreational space.  This golf course wants to stay a golf course.  The golf course, whether they succeed or not, should be given a fair hearing by the city’s committees and the commission. That’s the American way.

Bernard Parness

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

Cancellation of the hearing into proposed changes to the Hillsboro Golf course at Century Village East without naming a specific replacement date is tantamount to a denial of justice.

The promoter had failed, up to now, to do what he calls “community outreach,” as evidenced by the massive turnout at the originally scheduled meeting of last week [Jan. 6]. For him to request an indefinite postponement, only smacks of an obvious attempt to create a delay in the hearing process, perhaps to a time when at least half of the Century Village population, those taxpayers you call Snowbirds, will have departed for the summer season, not to return until October or November, and hopefully, not to a “fait accompli.”

There is a serious issue of “good faith” involved. The promoter’s drawing was dated 2008, so it is not new. There was much discussion about this project, without the public being given details in 2010.  Now, we are at 2011, and the promoter requires additional time?

I would ask that in order to ensure that the vast majority of Century Village co-owners will have the opportunity to appear at the Planning and Zoning Board hearing on this item, that it be scheduled for no later than March 1, 2011 at a convenient time and place.

Should the promoter object, I would ask that no hearing on this matter be held before Dec. 1, 2011  to allow a full and frank discussion of all the issues involved — which would lead to a fair and just conclusion.

Sidney Margles

Deerfield Beach

Dear Residents of Deerfield Beach:

When you elected me in March of 2009 as your District 1Commissioner, I promised three things:  1.) That I would be fiscally responsible;  2.) That I would listen to my constituents and weigh all comments, knowledge, ideas, and yes, even emotions before making a decision;  3.) I would foremost and always protect the integrity of District 1. My record will show that not only have I lived up to my campaign promises, but have exceeded many expectations.

I believe, as every resident, that the jewel of Deerfield is our beautiful “Blue Wave” beach.  I live just two blocks from the beach and walk my dog, Oscar, every morning and feel so proud that I can be a part of the decision to keep our beach pristine, welcoming, and safe. Along with my fellow commissioners, I have voted to renovate the building at the entrance to the Pier — which will also be the city’s first LEED-certified facility. We purchased new beachfront benches, picnic tables and garbage cans, obtained county approval for the installation of two additional A1A pedestrian crosswalks across Hillsboro Boulevard, and approved the beautification of Ocean Way near SE 10 Street.

During my tenure, the commission also partnered with Hillsboro Beach to fund and approve a beach re-nourishment project and we are working diligently with the environmental agencies to adequately protect the turtle nesting.  I have been the commission liaison to the Island Partnership, a group of business men and women committed to improving the business climate around the S-curve by bringing more corporate-sponsored events to the beach. As a resident, as well as a commissioner, I am a member to the newly formed Island Homeowners Association with a mission to continue to improve the residential neighborhood bordering the beach.

When the city’s new management team was put into place, one of the goals was to reinvigorate the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in an effort to utilize available outside funding sources for continued redevelopment of the designated CRA area.  Since so many of the projects in the original plan have come to fruition, the missing link in the process is to develop a new 5-year plan.  Therefore, the commission and staff have set 2 very important visioning meetings for community input.

Let me make it very clear that as your Beach Area Representative, neither the Mayor, my fellow commissioners, nor myself have any hidden agendas or preconceived ideas of the future of the main beach parking lot or any other areas within the CRA boundaries.

We welcome your constructive input and encourage you to attend the visioning meetings: The first being held TONIGHT, Thursday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m., at Royal Fiesta Caterers and the second meeting, Thursday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m., at the Community Presbyterian Church.

Together we will build an even better Deerfield Beach.

In Your Service,

Vice Mayor Joe Miller

It is amazing to observe the reaction of certain liberal politicians and editorial writers to the Arizona shooting events.  As they try to find a way to blame this event on some right-wing boogy man, they ignore the real culprit, which is illegal drug use running rampant in this country.  Jared Loughner has been described by his 10th grade high school friends as a “sweet and caring” young man who was a great saxophone player.  It was only after he started experimenting with drugs in the 11th grade, that his personality changed to “weird” and led eventually to this tragedy.

Bottom line: It wasn’t politics either from the right or left that caused this event, it was illegal drug use.  Those who want to blame it on politics need to take another look—very possibly in the mirror.

David Eller

P & Z canceling agenda item on CVE golf course — called “shameful”

Dear Editor:

Regardless of the merits — or lack thereof — of the proposal to put a driving range/restaurant/bar on the back nine of the golf course at CVE, the decision to cancel an agenda item scheduled for a public hearing because TOO many concerned citizens show up is shameful.

Did the City think that there wouldn’t be a massive turnout once the CVE community learned what was to be discussed?

If our elected officials and their appointed boards can develop a Comprehensive Land Use Plan, they should be able to make a plan for handling the crowd that shows up when they try to alter it.

I wonder how the developers would feel if they showed up at the rescheduled meeting and were told it was too crowded to allow them in — but the meeting would go on anyway.

Amendment 4 may have been defeated — but the right of citizens to oppose development, literally in their back yard, will never be — unless elected officials care to turn PUBLIC meetings into PRIVATE ones by ‘clearing the room.’

Jeff Chester

Deerfield Beach

Beach parking stickers – Deerfield

Dear Editor:

The increased fee for beach parking stickers [from $50 to $100] was part of the approved budget, which become effective Oct. 1, 2010. The $120,000 revenue amount had already been plugged into the budget. Not one of the commissioners dissented at that time. Why wasn’t the ordinance to approve the increase placed on the October or November agendas since the sale of stickers for 2011 was to begin in December?

Now that second reading of the ordinance establishing the new rate has been postponed until Jan. 11 [next city commission meeting], does that mean that bargain rate $50 stickers will now be available until the measure passes?

It is easy to blame the financial department for putting out the wrong information, but that further illustrates that most of what we receive on the back of water bills is already out of date. The blame here belongs to the administrative people who are responsible for what is placed on the commission agendas.

As of 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2011, the city had sold 1,270 beach parking stickers at the bargain rate of $50. This means the city has already lost $63,500 that would have been realized had the stickers been sold at the proposed $100 fee.

There was a great uproar recently when HUD demanded repayment of funds when the city failed to disclose Commissioner [Sylvia] Poitier’s conflict of interest. Placing the blame on the shoulders of Commissioner Poitier, the mayor demanded her resignation. Now that the city has already lost $63,500 with more to come, whose resignation will the mayor demand now?

Jean M. Robb

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note:

Beach parking stickers will be available for $50 through Jan. 13. Starting Jan. 14, stickers are slated to go up to $100. Residents must provide vehicle registration and proof of residency – either utility bill or voter’s registration card – to purchase stickers at City Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Reader appreciates

Hillsboro Streetscaping UPDATE

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the timely update [Dec. 30 Observer] on my request for information regarding finalizing the construction on Hillsboro Boulevard.

Roger Reynolds

Deerfield Beach