RE: The Cove neighborhood

Dear Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the Deerfield Beach, Broward Sheriff’s Office, for their service and professionalism. This year has been a very eye-opening experience in learning what is happening to the city I grew up in.

My husband, Phil, and I were very excited to purchase a home in The Cove neighborhood, a few years ago, because, back when we were growing up, it was the premier place to live in Deerfield Beach. Sadly, now, it is mostly known as the neighborhood that leads the city in the most burglaries and thefts.

The good news is that we have a chief of police who wants to help us make our neighborhood safer. Chief Sudler and his team have committed to partner with us to reverse this trend.

On Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., Phil and I will host a Neighborhood Watch Meeting at our house — 529 SE 13 Ave., Deerfield Beach, so we can meet and hear from Chief Sudler and the police officers who take care of our neighborhood on what we can do to stop the burglaries and thefts. We have also set up an e-mail address to distribute important information and happenings that occur in The Cove. If you would like to get on this distribution list, please e-mail me at DFBCove@gmail.com and we will put you on the list.

As the year ends, I ask you, my fellow neighbors, to join us on Jan. 5 to get informed on what is going on in the neighborhood and help us restore The Cove to the great place to live that it used to be.

Michelle Lane

Deerfield Beach

Holiday scam hits home

Dear Editor:

This is the time of year when we are busy with holiday preparations, looking forward to seeing family and friends. That is what I would like to be doing.

Instead of last-minute shopping and gift wrapping, I am cleaning fingerprint dust off nightstands, doors, jewelry boxes and filing cabinets.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, we were lured into our backyard on the pretense that a neighbor cutting his foliage was going to have it fall into our yard. We were kept in the backyard long enough for someone else to enter our house and steal our possessions.

I hope that everyone will remember: Do not open your doors to strangers and do not get lured away from your door for even a second. It’s not the first time this has happened in The Cove area.

We always feel safe in our own homes, which is the way it should be, but those days may be gone, which is really sad. My family has lived in this house since 1957.

My wish for everyone is to have a safe holiday, and a safe year.

Sallie E. Jenkinson

Deerfield Beach

Cove Parking Lot improvements

Dear Editor:       

I am writing this letter to give our appreciation to Pam Militello, the past commissioner of Deerfield Beach, who served four years in District 1. She worked hard to initiate the city involvement in planning renovations of The Cove Shopping Center.

At the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Saturday night, Dec.10, held in The Cove Shopping Center, the results of Pam’s hard work shone brightly, with the tower at the entrance, Royal Palms and other tree plantings and the pavers on the sidewalks and new lighting fixtures.

The businesses have seen the improvements and are now starting to fix up their storefronts in the Key West style, voted on by citizens of the city at a number of workshops held by Pam.

We want to thank the citizens who participated in the workshops and worked so hard to help with the vision that is now a reality.We know that Pam does not expect accolades, but we think she deserves to be recognized for her accomplishments.

The Original “Save Our Beach” Group Membership

Marge Hilton – OSOB PAC Chairman

Deerfield Beach

Holiday Shopping Advisory

Dear Editor:

I was at Boca Town Center mall on Friday afternoon, 3 p.m., walking out to my car from Saks, right out the front door, just five cars down. As soon as I got in the car, there was a man pulling on my door handle and knocking on the window.  Fortunately for me, I always lock my doors as soon as I get in my car.  There was a woman in the car behind me, waiting for my parking space. The man walked over to her car, pulled on the door and knocked on the window.  I drove out of the parking area, called 911, told the security guard and later called Saks to tell them what was going on.  The only agency that was interested in what had happened was Saks.

So I posted the incident on my Facebook page and one of my friends said the exact same thing happened to her last week.  Then today, I was getting my hair done and talking to some ladies at the salon and warning them of what has been going on.  Another lady told me that two weeks ago, her friend got robbed outside Bloomingdale’s outside Boca Town Center!  The girl had reported it to mall security and Bloomingdale’s, and they just blew her off.

The public needs to be aware.

Colleen

Lighthouse Point

Editor’s note: Monday, Dec. 12, was the four-year anniversary of the still-unsolved shooting of a woman and her daughter in a black SUV parked at the Boca mall. Security measures have reportedly been increased and cameras installed since. Unfortunately, panhandlers and criminals prevail at holiday time. See Winter Frauds and Scams, pg 17. to better protect yourself.

Detox battle of rights

Dear Editor:

A storefront at 504 S. Federal Hwy. has become ground zero in a classic case of David vs. Goliath. In this case, David is a band of neighbors from The Cove neighborhood, whose homes are next to or near the property. Goliath is a business owner who owns Deerfield Florida House, Inc., a substance abuse treatment facility across the street from the storefront, formerly known as Reel Smokers World.

Even without a change of land-use approval from the city, the owner purchased the property for over $1 million and sank $100,000 in architectural fees for a 24- to 28-bed detoxification facility for drug and alcohol abusers with dual diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric illnesses. Patients will arrive at the facility while under the influence of substances with the goal of removing the substances from their bodies, so they may be admitted to the Florida House directly across Federal Highway for long-term drug rehabilitation. Florida statutes prevent the facility from retaining patients against their will, so they may leave treatment after six hours. Needless to say, neighbors became concerned and organized to fight the plan.

The business owner met with neighbors and denied that patients had committed crimes or were a threat to the surrounding community.

However, in February 2011, a Florida House patient fled the facility and stole a knife from Publix prior to burglarizing and vandalizing cars in The Cove parking lot and at homes on SE 17 Ave. and SE 17 Terr. The patient’s rampage didn’t stop there. He entered an occupied home on SE 5 Court then stumbled out onto the lawn. The resident recognized the patient was in distress and offered assistance, but the patient punched him in the face.

Prior to that, a Florida House resident robbed Papa John’s pizza on S. Federal Highway in 2009. Neighbors currently report being solicited for money and rides to the airport at local businesses from patients from the Florida House.

In September, the Planning and Zoning Board [recommended to the city commission] denial of the change of land use request, stating the proposed facility was not compatible with the residential zone next to it. In addition, city code states that a substance abuse treatment facility cannot be within 1,000 feet of another substance abuse treatment facility. The city rejected the application.

End of story? Not so fast. The owner has appealed the ruling, stating that the planned facility is merely an extension of the substance abuse facility across the street, even though different services will be provided there. He has also vowed to spend up to $6 million to defend his right to build the facility. He has retained counsel of an attorney who specializes in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That lawyer has already sent a threatening letter to city officials alleging “hostile and irrational community prejudice.” If his appeal to the Planning and Zoning Board special master is denied, it is expected he will turn to the ADA for ammunition against the city.

What’s at stake for the business owner? Millions of dollars in profit from the desperate families of addicts who will pay any amount for help for their loved ones. What’s at stake for the neighbors? At the very least, a drop in property values of their biggest investment — their homes. At worst, their safety and security. Who has already won this battle? The previous owner of the property, who purchased it for $600,000 in 1999 and sold it to Deerfield Florida House for $1.3 million in 2011.

Can Deerfield Beach afford to fight this battle? If we don’t, does that mean a dual diagnosis detoxification facility may be built anywhere in our city? Will the next one be built next to your house?

Donna Ihle

Deerfield Beach

RE: Paid Advertisement

Dear Editor:

Congrats to Frank “It’s all about me” Congemi. After his power play struggle failed, he felt it necessary to take out a full page ad in the Observer in an attempt to undermine those who still believe in the Chamber. Frank, get over yourself. In my opinion, you’re still a bull in a china shop. You challenge the integrity of people. As for your last line, “God bless,” who are you kidding? Live with yourself, you deserve you.

Steve Miller

Deerfield Beach

RE: Publisher’s Perspective

Dear Editor:

I always enjoy reading Op-Eds written by the publisher, because of their clarity and conciseness.  However, the Opinion piece in the Dec.1 issue is particularly worthy of praise.

Politicians frequently say that raising taxes will kill jobs. Rarely, if at all, do they explain why. The publisher does this with a logical, yet simple case and argument explaining why increased taxes and, therefore, increased costs decreases business and lessens the ability of a business owner to pay employees.

Don Kolb

Deerfield Beach

RE: Day in Court — Sylvia Poitier

Dear Editor:

Yesterday [last Wednesday], in room 465 of the Broward County Courthouse, I witnessed a horrible miscarriage of justice. A jury voted and found the embattled ex-City of Deerfield Beach Commissioner Sylvia Poitier guilty on all 4 counts of falsifying a document.

Sylvia was charged with falsifying a document because she did not indicate that on the legal form 8B that her brother Lionel was a debtor of the WDBA [Westide Deerfield Businessmen Association] when matters came before the City Commission.

Somehow, the jury found that as a matter of fact, Sylvia should have completed the form 8B’s and publically declared she had a conflict of interest because her brother was a debtor of the group.

I have previously stated that this whole case was based on if Sylvia had a legal obligation to declare that Lionel Ferguson was a debtor. The law clearly states that she would have to declare only if she knew that a vote on a matter before the Commission would result in her brother receiving a direct and immediate special private gain.

I guess David Schulson, assistant state attorney, proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Lionel would have received a direct and immediate special private gain from the four measures in question and, therefore, the jury passed down a unanimous verdict of guilty on all four counts.

However, I am still waiting to see or hear what special private gain Lionel would receive from any of the measures before the Deerfield Beach City Commission concerning the WDBA, as all of the states’ witnesses, exhibits and testimonies clearly indicated that Lionel Ferguson did not stand to gain anything from any of the measures presented before the Deerfield Beach City Commission that were in question in this case.

Sylvia’s lawyer, Johnny McCray, indicated he would be filing a new motion and appeal.

Sylvia, herself, stated she would not shed a tear today because she knows she did not falsify any documents and she did not and still does not believe that she or her brother had a conflict of interest according to the law.

It may be too soon to celebrate, for those who are celebrating, as the past has shown us that many of the African-American politicians who were originally found guilty have had their verdicts overturned on appeal. Will that be the case here? I don’t know. Only time will tell.

Hopefully, everyone will go out and get the facts of this case and not listen to the rumor, conjecture and innuendo that has been circulating in the media for quite some time. It would seem, at least to me, that Sylvia Poitier was not convicted today on any merits of this court case but on past perceptions and the fact that we, as people, want to believe that all politicians are innately corrupt.

Are they? Well, yes, many are. That is the nature of politics.

I am sure we would all be hard-pressed to find one who isn’t, but in this particular case, this politician, Sylvia Poitier, was wrongly convicted and I am sure that this conviction will be overturned on appeal. The law is clear and, once that fact is clearly and accurately presented, Sylvia will be cleared of all charges and returned to her seat as the District 2 City Commissioner of Deerfield Beach.

David Cody

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

I am happy to serve the citizens of Deerfield Beach. That is what I want to do. I wish the best for her [Sylvia]. Had the political process gone the other way, and I had to give my seat back to her, I would have done that gladly. In that case, I would have encouraged the rest of the community to get behind her, to make for a healthier Deerfield Beach.

Ben Preston, Commissioner, District 2

Deerfield Beach

High schoolers’ final game

Dear Editor:

Someone needs to inquire why the graduating class of 2012 is not allowed to play in their last high school game, due to a couple of hurt egos by the coaching staff … After a disappointing season, they took Monday off from practice to de-stress. At this point, meetings are being held to discuss the punishment, but no parents have been notified. In these meetings, the coaches were threatening the players that they would not help them get into college. It’s no wonder why the parents of Deerfield are looking for [schools] outside the city limits to send their children. I hope this isn’t the future that the students will have to endure — the unprofessionalism of the teachers, coaches and other employess of the system.

Upset Parent

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

I am extremely disturbed by events that are transpiring at my old high school, Deerfield Beach High School (DBHS). It has been reported to me that the Senior Class of 2012 football players are not being allowed to play the final game of their high school careers at their home stadium and players are even being silently retaliated against for voicing their opinions and disgust with the situation.  These kids deserve better. I will personally be writing the school and the school board of Broward County on this. Please review and investigate, as I was informed this is a group being punished for the actions of a few. Thank you.

Carlos Luis Maysonet Hernández Jr.

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: According to DBHS football coach Allen Jackson, “They played that game — last Friday.” Were any not allowed to play because of disciplinary action? “They all played.”

 Vinny Tozzi, the school’s athletic director, said, “If it’s a situation where a coach was disciplining players who obviously didn’t come to practice – if you don’t show up to practice, someone has to practice in your spot, and they deserve the right to play. If that’s what you’re asking, I support the coach 100 percent!”

Solar power

Dear Editor:

Clean energy is the best way to create the jobs we need, and there is no question we need jobs now. There are more than 5,500 solar companies putting more than 100,000 people across the country to work, and this industry keeps on growing at a time when few industries are.

Since a solar company called Solyndra recently fell victim to a competitive marketplace a few weeks ago, politicians and pundits who depend on Big Oil and King Coal have been using Solyndra as an excuse to vilify an industry that is one of the best ways to get Americans working again. An investment in solar energy creates seven times more jobs than the same investment in dirty coal, nuclear or natural gas. The attacks on solar energy are a purely political maneuver to keep our country chained to dirty energy at a time when we desperately need to move forward toward a clean energy future.

Politicians can talk about creating jobs all they want, but that’s all I have seen so far — talk, no action. The ones who are actually working to address the unemployment rate are the ones who are calling for more investments in clean energy, like solar power. Investing in clean energy companies is one of the few ways we can actually see American industries grow.

Sarah Ryan

Delray Beach

Dear Editor:

Why? Who puts more people to work than solar companies?  Dirty energy (like coal) is an old tired investment. Nuclear could bring Fukushima-like clean-up jobs –but — who needs that? Realistically, investment in clean energy like solar power has given us an American Industry that is actually growing. That’s where we can create jobs. Don’t you agree?

Ms. Beth Widzowsky

Boca Raton

The Cove

Dear Editor:

To all the residents who have, like myself, stayed clear of “The Cove Plaza” all summer due to the constant construction, I encourage everyone to put it back on their list of places in Deerfield to do business. The city has done a wonderful job on the re-planning effort. The local businesses have suffered, so we all need to go out of our way and try to shop or eat there and support our local businesses.

Hillsboro Boulevard is also looking good with all the new trees and flowers planted. It’s good to see our tax dollars at work. GOOD JOB!

J. Huffman

Deerfield Beach

Hillsboro Lighthouse

Dear Editor:

My family visited the Hillsboro Lighthouse on Saturday, and it was the best! Our group consisted of two adults and four small children — three boys: 5, 3 1/2, almost 3, and a girl, 2. We swam in the small inlet area first and played in the beautiful Intracoastal waters for about an hour. Then, we climbed all the way to the top, even the little ones. Once there, they looked out, enjoying the sights and posed for some photos. The climb down was a bit slow, and extremely hot, but we made it without an incident.

The tour director explained my daughter was really too small, but I was so grateful for the opportunity to reach the top. Otherwise, our party probably wouldn’t have got to enjoy the very best part of the day — the lighthouse.

It was by sheer accident that we stumbled upon the tour day, when I was searching for activities in Coral Springs (where we were staying) the day before the event. The boys found it so entertaining, they asked to go back the following day! But we’ll wait until the next tour date, Nov. 19. We did struggle a bit to find where to get on the boat, but I see now that it really was all there on the site. Next time, we will get to tour grounds, as our little ones were exhausted after the climb (in desperate need of a nap).

Thanks again for the wonderful day,

Leigh Tahirovic

Naples

RE: Utility Tax, FPL bills

Dear Editor:

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” That is a fitting quote for what the city has done to thwart the will of the voters who signed the Rescind Unfair Taxes petition.

In the beginning, the city attorney told us the goal was 10 percent of 41,850 registered voters at the last municipal election. Not so, said the Supervisor of Elections (SOE). The number is 41,280. So we did not have to get 4,200 signatures to have our petition validated …  only 4,128.

On Wednesday, Rescind Unfair taxes paid the city $47 to have copies made of all the signatures we had submitted to the city clerk on Sept. 6. That gave us the opportunity to count every signature, for a total of 6,220. The SOE only got 5,614. What happened to the other 606?

In addition, a letter to the Supervisor of Elections, the Deerfield City Clerk with the approval of the city attorney, asked that the precinct numbers be verified. The Supervisor of Elections stated that they have never been required to validate precinct numbers to verify that the signer was a registered voter. The Deerfield charter asks that the precinct be added, but nowhere does the charter ask that the number be verified. In our conversation with the Division of Elections, we were told that if the city charter did not specify that the precincts had to be verified, the SOE could have ignored the directive from the City of Deerfield Beach that made that demand, since the state statute does not require precinct verification to identify a registered voter.

Since Dr. Snipes claims their hands were tied, the SOE threw out 973 names and disenfranchised those voters at the request of the city clerk and the city attorney. The map given to us to determine the precincts was defective and inadequate, to say the least. The job done by the SOE was not stellar either. They threw out any voter who had a Pompano Beach address, thereby eliminating at least 12 registered voters, although these were newly-annexed registered voters. They threw out the name of Gloria Battle as being in the wrong district, whatever that meant.

With FPL charging residents a 10 percent utility tax for usage in September when the tax was not effective until Oct. 1, and the city making the same error on the water bills, maybe it’s time for the city to listen to the majority of the city residents and rescind this oppressive tax.

Jean Robb

Chairperson, Rescind Unfair Taxes, Deerfield Beach, FL

Editor’s note: “Management has become aware of a billing cycle issue regarding the public service tax (utility tax). “We are in the process of working to address the situation, and will provide an update as soon as more details become available,” said the city last Friday.

As of press time Wednesday: “We are still reviewing the Florida Statutes to determine what actions to take. We recognize there is a misperception about the October billing cycle, but would not describe it as a ‘problem.’ Nonetheless, we are reviewing what option the City may take if in fact we deem it to be an issue.”

RE: FPL bill

Dear Editor:

Well, it’s here … my electric bill at my repair shop in Deerfield. Ready for this? These are the actual numbers of all the taxes on the bill. Gross receipts tax: $8.05, Utility tax: $23.19 and Florida Sales Tax: $23.89. Never mind the Franchise Charge: $19.31, whatever that is. So the Grand Total of taxes is $55.13. Multiply that times 12 … the Grand Total per year just in taxes is $651.56. What about the electric? Oh, that’s only $310.78. Thanks to all, we will be out of business soon, or we will have to raise our prices just to pay taxes.

P.S. Did not see the house electric bill yet, which is also in Deerfield. Double tax … why not?

Steven Fabrizio

  Deerfield Beach, FL

RE: Immigration — Excerpted from letter from retired border patrol agent

Dear Senator Frist:

There is a huge amount of propaganda and myths circulating about illegal aliens, particularly illegal Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.

• Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities, want to remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States, such as employment, medical care, in state tuition, government-subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment, and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.

• There are no jobs that Americans won’t do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans could otherwise take and still support their families. Illegal aliens take low-wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won’t do for a decent wage.

• Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their home countries. They come to send money to their real home, as evidenced by the more than $20 billion sent out of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law and, therefore, assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk on behalf of their children.

• The United States is welcoming legal immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.

For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans. These politicians have been of both parties. Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don’t even have the right to remain here?

David J. Stoddard

US Border Patrol (Ret.)

Hereford , AZ