Here is the cover letter to the audit which gives a good outline of what is to come. And, yes there is a part about the Seminole Theatre. Will detail more tomorrow.
This audit doesn't look very good to me. It is HARSH by County standards. The audit says that reports furnished to the County over the years disclosed monies that were spent on approved projects but "reported accomplishments were distorted and misleading. There has been little or no affordable housing development or jobs created in the CRA District over the past five years." The audit report identified several questional transactions including:
• Land (approximately 4.2 acres), containing 44 dilapidated "Shotgun Houses," was acquired from Homestead Acres 866, LLC, a Company affiliated with former City Mayor Steve Shiver for $1.9 million, after a planned affordable housing project fee through. In anticipation of development, the CRA paid the Company rent subsidies for each vacant house totaling $310,000 over a two-year period. According to the appraisal report, the only comparable in the area had a value at the time of sale that was much lower than the CRA purchase price.
• The CRA paid $541,000 to develop Losner Park, which included purchasing land and a building that was later demolished. Records suggest the CRA began negotiations to acquire the property from JSG Investments Corp., in November 2003 for $113,000. For unknown reasons, negotiations were suspended and in June 2004, JSG sold the property to an individual for $75,000, who then sold it to the CRA three months later for $159,000. Moreover, Downrite Engineering, a company that employed former City Mayor Steve Shiver was hired to complete the Park improvements.
• Two vacant lots sold by the CRA in1995 for $40,000 were repurchased from the same persons, nine to ten years later for $350,000. One lot was owned by a former employee of the City's Code Enforcement Department.
• A not-for-profit entity run by former City Mayor, Steve Shiver was paid $401,000 to promote the City's Historic downtown, and annual management fees of $14,400 were paid to a museum run by former CRA Board member, Ruth Campbell.
18 comments:
The audit can be summed up in one word: SHIVER
There is a meeting at the ag center tonight regarding Krome and trucking lanes. This ought to be interesting. Ya'll come down now.
Ruth Campbell does what she is supposed to do and that is keep the museum at Old Town Hall open... She is a fine example of how our elder adults make positive contributions to the community. There is no reason to paint her with the Shiver brush, she was not his buddy. Trust me.
This was a really bad deal.. I went to the site, and tried to make it work with one of the reputable affordable housing firms, and they, with their experience in the market, could not find a way to make it work, unfortunately. It is horrible, no if's and's or but's about it! Keep pulling the layers of the onion on this one. I think there are more people that should be targeted beyond Shiver.. Dig a bit deeper, and you will see what I mean...
That is right about Ruth. She left Council in 93, the audit report is wrong about her leaving in 97. The CRA might not have existed then.
Read Joe Stack's message and understand what the United States of America has become.
Why wasn't Fernandez Rundle CC'd. I would hope this would get her South of Kendall Drive - maybe not.
Shiver should pay back the funds or go to jail. My dream would be one year for every dollar owed back to the taxpayers. Losner too.
Aw, poor Stevie caught in some lies. Imagine that.
What did Losner have to do with it. He and Bell fought against Shiver all the time and over the shotgun deal in a major way.
Last anon, I was referring to the elder Losner. Follow the bouncing ball and remember the Homestead Air Base fiasco.
Losner the younger looks to be the new mayors lap chihuahua.
Well, he is a lot smarter and better looking than the last mayors che-wawa a/k/a Wendy Lobos whose days are numbered in public office once law enforcemeent gets a look at the bazillion texts of a political and sunshine violation nature on her city blackberry. I wish her preacher (who got a nice seat on the Homestead Hospital board, I am sure at the insistence of then Mayor Do it or I will get you ) Bell could see what the little unshorn sheep from his flock was saying when she wasn't trying or professing to walk on water. When you do not think anyone is looking, the truth comes out, huh, Wendy.
I don't know about that smart stuff he lost like ten times before he got elected. He huffs and he puffs and blows himself up with his big ego and lack of personality. Who cares about him anyway he is just a big part of what ails Homestead overbuilding and unqualified nobodys running things.
Steve Shiver stole money intended for the poor he is Robbin the Hood. So he does suck.
95 percent of Homestead has no idea whats up anyway.
Yes and sadly, that 95 % of know nothings keep electing Judy Waldman. Steve Bateman, get a grip, 2 yrs ago he could not get elected dog catcher and now he is 100 or so days in as mayor and the scandals are piling up already...Capri fight, the tenant thing and the phantom landscaper.... probably a friend of his campaign office landlord, that is how things work down here
Homestead needs its own courthouse after this mess gets sorted out. Just a big money pit for insiders.
FBI, help Homestead!
I think the residents of Homestead need Homeland Security to protect them and their money from City Hall - elected officials past & present and employees/lobbyists too!
It is incredible that no one is in jail and all this taxpayer waste is just the butt of a joke - on the public.
This CRA needs to go, along with a few others, like Florida City.
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