Saturday, September 18, 2010

Eye on Miami will be more important than ever! By geniusofdespair

According to the Sun Sentinel:

"In the Miami Herald newsroom, seven full-time and two part-time positions will be eliminated; in the El Nuevo Herald newsroom, four full-time and two part-time positions are affected."

This sucks. Why don't some of you pay for a newspaper and keep these reporters working?

Having too much fun to be mortified. By geniusofdespair

Don't see video, here is the link.

This kid, at a birthday party on the flowrider at Adrenalina at Gulfstream Park, lost his swim trunks at the top of the ride but took his bare ass in stride. He was having too much fun to be mortified by his naked butt in front of the birthday group.

Actually, Gulfstream Park is heads above the Hard Rock complex. Even outdoor at Hard Rock, you smell cigarette smoke everywhere. At Gulfstream you can breathe and they have some decent restaurants. Of course, they also have this ride where your kids can get naked by accident. $20 for a 30 minute session, kids were surfing and on boogieboards. I wish I were a kid again because all I had were tubes that I had to paddle.

Amendment Four Flip-Flop at 1000 Friends. By Geniusofdespair


Considering the 1000 Friends group is so tied to its corporate board members/donors, this dumb ass, long-winded, neutral statement is a miracle.

The Chamber of Commerce has been holding 1000 Friends up as the poster-child environmental group against Amendment 4. Now what is the Chamber going to do without them? Lost your shill Chamber? Too bad. 1000 Friends are still jerks about this issue, but this is a lot better than they were a few weeks ago. I think Friends finally has grasped that the State Government is going to axe their beloved Department of Community Affairs next session and they are scared. If you read the full statement you will get the sense that they are also pissed:

1000 Friends of Florida - Final Statement on Amendment 4

Executive Summary
The citizens of Florida will have the opportunity to vote on Amendment 4 this November. This proposed constitutional amendment would require that local voters approve any amendments to their local comprehensive plans. Since the amendment was first announced, the Board of Directors of 1000 Friends of Florida has been on record as not supporting it for a host of reasons. However, given the unwillingness of some local governments and the Florida Legislature to address serious flaws with Florida’s existing growth management system, the Board has reevaluated its previous discussion and now is taking a neutral position on Amendment 4. Should Amendment 4 pass, 1000 Friends will work with state and local leaders and citizens to help establish a fair and equitable new process. Should Amendment 4 fail, 1000 Friends resolves to work with the same parties toward meaningful reform to Florida’s growth management process. The Board hopes the following analysis provides guidance as Florida’s voters evaluate the pro’s and con’s of Amendment 4 and reach their individual decisions on this critical issue.

Full Statement on Amendment 4:
Florida is at a critical juncture in its history. For decades, the state had relied on the engines of growth to fuel its economy. With the recent economic downturn, the problems with this approach have proven increasingly apparent. Many are justifiably frustrated with “business as usual” in Florida, and want to see new solutions to the state’s longstanding problems.

One attempt to address this problem is the proposed Constitutional Amendment 4, known as Florida Hometown Democracy. This amendment, which will be on the ballot in November 2010, must receive a supermajority of 60 percent or more to pass. If successful, Amendment 4 would require that any amendment to a community’s local comprehensive plan be approved by a majority of that community’s voters. Florida Hometown Democracy is intended to address failures of local government to adopt and implement reasonable growth management decisions, failures by the Legislature to fund, improve and strengthen growth management controls, and the loss of public access and voice in the comprehensive planning process.

Since Amendment 4 was first proposed, the Board of Directors of 1000 Friends of Florida has been on record as not supporting it for a host of reasons. The Board believes that the amendment could result in local concerns overwhelming larger societal ones, dilute the accountability of local elected officials for development decisions, result in piecemeal planning, engender media campaigns in which those with greater funding would have inordinate influence on the outcome, result in planning gridlock due to the unclear language of the amendment, and result in retaliation by the Legislature.
At the same time, the Board of Directors has been very mindful that the on-the-ground results of the state’s current growth management system are not as intended. Our state still faces sprawling, inappropriately sited development, degraded natural areas, overcrowded classrooms, and congested roads. In addition, over the last two years the state’s land planning agency, the Florida Department of Community Affairs, has approved approximately 90 percent of the plan amendments it has reviewed. This has impacted hundreds of thousands of acres, and authorized an additional 600,000 dwelling units and more than 1 billion square feet of non-residential office and institutional space, all of which remains unbuilt. Current estimates are that Florida’s built vacant housing inventory continues to hover between 300,000 and 400,000 dwelling units, and Florida is now leading the nation in outright numbers of foreclosures. Additionally, DCA is now reviewing numerous plan amendments that have been submitted with the intent of being approved before possible passage of Amendment 4 in November.

Before the 2010 Session, 1000 Friends outlined four steps the Florida Legislature should take to address fundamental flaws with the state’s growth management system. The first was adoption of 1000 Friends proposed “Citizen Bill of Rights” which included requirements for a supermajority vote of the elected body for all plan amendment changes; a mandatory citizen participation plan and workshops conducted by any developer seeking a land use change; a “cooling off” period preventing last minute changes to plans before public meetings to allow the public, staff and elected officials time for informed deliberation; preservation of citizen standing status throughout any appeal process; and citizen protection from SLAPP suits associated with any participation in the comprehensive planning process.

The second step was full funding for the state’s land acquisition program, Florida Forever, and the Sadowski Affordable Housing Program. The third was adoption of a meaningful state plan(s) that guides/requires that all state capital funds be spent to make existing communities more livable, rather than promote expansion and sprawl. The fourth was adequate funding to administer all growth management programs, including reviews of comprehensive plan amendments and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs).
The results of the 2010 session were disappointing at best. No action was taken on the proposed Citizen Bill of Rights. While Florida Forever received $15 million in funding (a far cry short of the typical $300 million authorized annually for the program even though it was endorsed by all conservation groups and the Florida Chamber, among others), the effort to remove the cap on the Sadowski Affordable Housing Program fell victim to last minute political maneuvers, and that program received minimal funding of $37.5 million. No action was taken on the adoption of a meaningful state plan. And while the Florida Department of Community Affairs received continuation funding, the legislature did not affirmatively reauthorize the agency, leaving it in a vulnerable “legislative limbo” for the coming year.

Based on the inaction of the Florida legislature in 2010 and earlier years to affirmatively address major shortcomings in the state’s growth management system, the Board of Directors of 1000 Friends of Florida felt it was necessary to reevaluate its position on Amendment 4. A number of the Board Members still believe that Amendment 4 represents a flawed approach that will not resolve problems with Florida’s growth management system and may, in fact, make things worse. However, Board Members also feel that the existing system is seriously flawed and change is needed, even if that change is less than perfect.

The Board of Directors further recognizes that both opponents and supporters of Amendment 4 have numerous valid reasons sustaining their positions. In large part, the differing positions on Amendment 4 appear to reflect individual Board Members and citizens’ experiences with their particular local governments. For some, Amendment 4 appears to be the only logical choice. For others, the many pitfalls Amendment 4 brings are reason enough not to support it. The opportunity for choice then appears to be the most reasonable alternative. 1000 Friends therefore is taking a neutral position on Amendment 4 and urges the voters of Florida to carefully evaluate this analysis, other information, and their local and state growth management experiences when voting on this important constitutional amendment.

Should Amendment 4 pass, we recognize that its language leaves many issues open to different interpretation and possible litigation. However, 1000 Friends of Florida commits to work with state and local leaders and citizens to the extent possible to establish a fair and equitable new process that adheres to the spirit of Amendment 4. We also will view this as a call to the Legislature to bring about additional positive change to Florida’s growth management process that supplements the intent of Amendment 4.

Should Amendment 4 fail, 1000 Friends will not view this as an endorsement of the status quo. We fully recognize that Florida’s growth management system is in need of serious and major reform. We will use all avenues possible to bring about this reform in a manner that increases and enhances citizen involvement in the local planning process, strengthens local government accountability for planning and development decisions, and brings meaningful improvement to state law and implementation.
Whatever the outcome in November, Florida cannot return to “business as usual.” The recent economic crisis has proven all too clearly that a growth- and development-driven economy is costly, shortsighted, and untenable over the long haul.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Eugene Flinn's Campaign Report. By Geniusofdespair

From 8/20 - through 9/10 Eugene Flinn collected $4,510 for the District 8 election. What??? Too little. Only thing interesting was seeing my old friend Bill Losner and his wife Doylene on the report. Bill is pretty harmless at this point, retired and all, but he once was a royal pain in the ass. I suppose he still is to poor Doylene. The only interesting expenditure is the $5,500 Flinn had to pay Ben Kuehne to defend him in that Resign to Run slap suit -- remember Stephen Cody?

The report is pretty much a yawn. I am astounded he didn't get more money out of Stephen Bittel --- $250 is probably what this guy spends on valet tips a week. Also Monty Trainer is good for more than $200. Someone in this campaign is not working hard on fundraising. I have found that what candidates hate most doing is raising money. This appears to be one of those candidates. So all of you out there, give him some money by hitting on this link or else you might be looking at Lynda's face for the next 15 or 20 years!! Can't wait to see what Lynda raised.

If This Weren't So Sad...It Would Be Funny. By Geniusofdespair


Josue Larose, a write-in candidate for Governor, has been a write-in candidate in at least 6 races including his candidacy in 2009 for Miami Mayor (his qualifying check bounced so he was booted from the Mayor's race - he called himself Joshua LaRose at that time). From an Our Campaigns website it said (I am not making this up): "He is a 25 years old rich man, born on June 12, 1981. Regarding his education level he is earning a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, then he is earning a Certificate in Real Estate, in Mortgage Brokerage and finally he has a MBA Degree."

Larose also has 34 political parties and many PAC's, trying to appeal to just about everyone. The financial reports list American Venture Capital Group as the only donor to these political parties. The political party I stumbled on in public records is called American Christians Political Party. It claims to have $1,200,000 in its coffers, according to Larose's financial report. I looked up the corporation and it is not registered in Florida. This is from his website:

"Economist Josue Larose is the President of the American National Chamber of Commerce and also the Chairman of many Federal PACs."

The address he lists...it appears you can also get credit counseling in suite 201. They take donations too, they are a charity. I know who I am not voting for Governor besides not voting for Rick Scott.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Lynda Bell: What did you do with your excess campaign funds? By Geniusofdespair


When District 8 Candidate Lynda Bell ran for Mayor of Homestead she had some excess funds at the end of her campaign. She donated half to a church (hers?). What bothered me, however, she sent the rest, $800, out of Homestead, where there is no shortage of needy charitable organizations. Her campaign money went to Altamonte Springs to her Right to Life group. Even the Vile Natacha Seijas kept most of her excess funds in Miami Dade County (chamber, LBA, Voices for Children, Kiwanis, etc.) except for a donation to her employer the "Y" that has a location in North Carolina. Natacha's priorities are to her employer most definitely but she also spread the wealth locally like she should have.

This donation shows me where Lynda's priorities are -- her real priorities. They were not focused on helping the less fortunate in her community in need of food or housing or to beef up struggling charities in Homestead. That is where the money should have gone.

Tropical Audubon Conservation Workshop September 18. By Geniusofdespair

Tropical Audubon will host its annual conservation workshop this Saturday to set the conservation agenda for the coming year at The Deering Estate. The day will begin with a bird walk at 7 a.m. followed by breakfast at 8 a.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a series of knowledgeable speakers will discuss conservation issues.

I would skip the bird walk -- too early and show up for the food at 8 am. This is a very informative and IMPORTANT workshop to attend. Try to be there. There are UDB issues among other things, great speakers and plenty of free food -- breakfast and lunch!!! That always gets me there.

Come on Readers! You can do better. By Geniusofdespair

Again, I implore you to put up or shut up.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Big changes coming in Everglades restoration ... by gimleteye

Two federal judges, Federico Moreno and Alan Gold, are converging on major steps on Everglades restoration. Things are coming to a head in early October. Here is the latest, as reported by the Palm Beach Post:
Print this pageClose
U.S. judge demands water district show it has money to undertake Everglades cleansing
By CHRISTINE STAPLETON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 6:25 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010
Posted: 4:49 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010
A federal judge wants the South Florida Water Management District to explain where it will find the billions of dollars it needs to comply with his order to clean water headed to the Everglades, since the district's financial advisers told another federal judge it does not have the money.

In an uncommon legal move, U.S. District Judge Alan Gold on Tuesday issued an order based on testimony in an unrelated case. He warned the district and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to come to his courtroom on Oct. 7 prepared to explain how "specific milestones" are "directly linked to a meaningful financing plan" to reduce phosphorus levels in the Everglades.

Gold cited testimony in which the district's financial advisers estimated the cost buy the land and build the projects to comply with his order at $2 billion to $6 billion. The advisers also said, in that case being heard by U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno, that the district "does not have the financing capacity" to comply with Judge Gold's order.

What impact Gold's latest order might have on the district's plan to spend $197 million on nearly 27,000 acres for Everglades restoration is not known. The district approved the purchase last month and the closing is scheduled for mid-October.

The district did not comment on the order but said through a spokesperson that the sale would be reviewed after the Oct. 7 hearing. Pulling out of the sale contract now would cost the district $10 million, under terms of the contract.

Gold issued a scathing 48-page order in April, accusing the EPA, the district and Florida Department of Environmental Protection of deliberately ignoring and refusing to enforce the laws limiting the amount of phosphorus discharged into the Everglades. He set a deadline of Sept. 3 for the EPA to draft guidelines and deadlines for the district to use in building projects to lower phosphorus levels.

Those guidelines require work to be completed by 2020. In his order Tuesday, Gold cited the district's own Strategic Plan 2010-2020, which shows land-purchase and design schedules but "no construction in connection with the 'River of Grass" through 2020."

Gold said he fears that without a financing plan in place, work will be postponed and the water quality will continue to decline.

"What actions will the EPA require to assure that such a result does not occur?" Gold wrote. "And how does the EPA intend to enforce its requirement?"

Christine_Stapleton@pbpost.com

Find this article at:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/u-s-judge-demands-water-district-show-it-915725.html

Why aren't the Democrats competitive in fundraising? by gimleteye

It is clear enough that money from independent donor groups-- reinforced by a recent decision by the US Supreme Court favoring unlimited independent expenditures by corporations-- has massively swerved to conservatives in this election cycle. Noted from Politico to Alternet: "Right-wing interests are collecting millions for attack ads, financed through shadowy groups awash in undisclosed donations. We know a bit about the efforts of some far-right billionaires, including the Koch brothers, but we can only see the tip of a large iceberg — the rest is deliberately (and legally) kept from view. To quantify this a bit, groups helping Republican Senate candidates outspent Democratic-friendly outfits $10.9 million to $1.3 million over the last five weeks. That’s not a typo — the advantage was eight to one. Spending from both parties’ candidates was relatively even, but the GOP drive to take the Senate benefits because right-wing organizations are pumping huge sums into ads that benefit Republicans."

So where did the Democrats, go? The GOP avers that Democrats always benefit from the support of unions, offsetting the Chamber of Commerce. But unions have scarcely been energetic in this crippling recession. In its first term, the Obama White House has been the least donor-friendly in generations. The digital magic wand, through which Obama captured hundreds of millions on the internet, isn't working so well, today. The widening gap between political rhetoric and facts of the ground hasn't helped. We will see soon enough if fickle American voters have such short-term memories that they are willing to return control of Congress to the same special interests who drove the economy off the rails.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New PAC, I do not like. By Geniusofdespair

This feelgood PAC name, formed July 21st, Citizens United for Protection of Our Community -- is financed by Homestead's Charles Munz's the Redland Company. The company donated $2,000 to this PAC so far. Again, Frank May is part of it. The PAC was formed to protect quality of life. They oppose any issue that adversely affects quality of life. Pretty broad. I fear this PAC will be used in the District 8 election. Thomas David is the treasurer. There was a Thomas David who was Chief of Staff to Steve Shiver. This PAC is suspiciously akin to Citizens for Reform for Miami Dade County which was Wayne Rosen and Charles Munz, Frank May was also on it. Only difference with this one is Jeffrey Porter (treasurer) and Rosen are not on the new one. The Citizens for Reform PAC was used to swing the last Homestead election.

Not much in this PAC yet but it will garner money and it won't have to report till after the election. This is why I HATE PAC's. It is a way to funnel large amounts of money to campaigns without a trail till it is too late for us to see it. It is bad enough we have to wait for campaign reports, but these PAC's are a travesty.

How Much Does County Campaigning Cost? By Geniusofdespair

Although this isn't the final accounting (only through 8/19/2010) for their campaigns, we can start to look at the numbers. Pepe Diaz spent $254,433.97 and Javier Souto spent $262,471.50 on their campaigns through 8/19. Pepe was running against a candidate who spent $425.20 on her campaign and Javier's opponent spent $15,624.93.

Souto got 13,994 votes so he paid almost $19 a vote. Pepe Diaz got 9,361 votes so he paid about $27 a vote. Heather Pernas got 2,999 votes so she paid 14 cents a vote. Mimi Planas, running against Souto, paid $3.73 a vote. Both men won with about 75% of the vote in their districts. It has been my experience, that no matter what challengers collect or do, they can't seem to get more than 30% of the vote against an incumbent.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR: We must stop Mr. Crazy Eyes and Help Alex Sink. By Geniusofdespair

Money, Money, Money! Politics is all about money. I am collecting money for Alex Sink on behalf of the Environment. This is the link to my fundraising page. Put some dough on it. All of you: You need to give money to candidates. Let's get that money rolling into Alex Sink's campaign otherwise Florida will be in deep shit. Speaking of deep shit, this is your opportunity to unseat Dorrin Rolle from the County Commission. He is in a runoff with Jean Monestime. Jean desperately needs money. Help him, this is the link. I hope my readers aren't deadbeats. Even $10 or $20 each to these two candidates is good enough. Contact me at geniusofdespair@yahoo.com if you would rather send a check to me, made out to their campaigns.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Wackenhut: Mayor Alvarez has the story DEAD WRONG! By Geniusofdespair

DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR WACKENHUT MAYOR ALVAREZ....UNLESS IT IS BAD CREDIT.
In the Miami Herald report Saturday it says 5 were charged in billing scandal at Wackenhut Security firm. (Couldn't find it on-line even though page one of local section). In the article the Mayor's spokeswoman, Victoria Mallette said: "We were the first to recognize the problem and take action." I THINK NOT VICTORIA!!!!

Your Auditor was stonewalling in April 22, 2008. and April 14th I reported the Mayor and the Manager would not submit to depositions on the matter. You didn't can Wackenhut till April 2009. March 20th 2008 I reported that the County tried to marginalize the whistle-blower. On March 7, 2008 I reported that the county tried to sue itself on this Wackenhut mess. In March 2008 I accused the county of dragging its feet or hiding something, begging for the release of the audit, almost a year after the channel 6 original report.

The audit was FINALLY released May 8th 2008. So don't say you were first! Please don't dare say you were first. The original lawsuit was filed August 4, 2005, claiming up to $22.5 million in overbilling. The expose was aired on Channel 6 in May 2007. Your audit was released 3 years after the lawsuit. And, after all this, Wackenhut is still allowed to do business with the county! The Mayor can't take credit for anything good in this damn mess, the deal was putrid, a giveaway. I, unlike the Mayor's office, do not have a short memory. I wrote 13 posts on Wackenhut.

The difference between dictatorship and democracy: political endorsements from the dais ... by gimleteye

The Ricker Report notes the ringleader of the county commission, Natacha Seijas (VNS) last week made a political endorsement of Dorrin Rolle from the dais. "Commissioner Dorrin Rolle got a campaign boost during a county awards ceremony Thursday morning before the regular commission meeting began." The Ricker report suggests that the moment was orchestrated for political effect: "he (Rolle) noticed that they were both wearing pink guayaberas and he “looked Cuban” to her. She then said all the Cuban voters in his commission district should vote for Rolle in the Nov. 2 general election and the political campaign comments were run on the county television station."

It sounds like a move, just like Seijas and Terry Murphy, her chief of staff, would delight in. Hey, let's play Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in "Twins". First of all, Rolle -- from an African American district-- is utterly compliant with big votes that Seijas corrals as enforcer on the dais. As we have written about at length on EOM, a politically enforceable alliance with African American members of the county commission is a key feature of immoveable politics in Miami organized around zoning changes and permitting of suburban sprawl far from African American districts.

"Rolle is in a runoff race with Jean Monestime for commission District 2 and it is the closest race the long serving commissioner has had since being appointed to the body by Gov. Lawton Chiles after his predecessor on the dais, James Burke eventually went to federal prison for accepting bribes." Ricker does not mention the catastrophe Rolle inflicted on his district through his mismanagement and misappropriation of JESCA funding, a non-profit from which he took hundreds of thousands in compensation and ended up driving into the ground.

Seijas did political campaigning from the dais in violation of the law. That she did so shows that she is not only willing to poke at the toothless law enforcement tiger in Miami-Dade, but that she is aware any publicity-- that would result in no more than a slap on the wrist-- would accrue to both her and Rolle's advantage. Remember: in the attempt by activists to recall Seijas in 2008, Hialeah police were used to threaten and intimidate petition collectors, using false arrest to make their points. (Read our archive, under "Seijas") State law enforcement and Miami-Dade police were nowhere. At this point, any law enforcement action against Seijas would be fodder for Spanish language media demagogue that she was only helping black people.

Ricker notes, "political campaigning cannot be done in the commission chambers, or any public building", but it was done. It was done to reinforce that there is no room for uppity challengers to incumbents whose campaigns are financed by builders, the Engineering Cartel, and the Growth Machine. The smirking chimps know that if the Herald picks up the story-- of Cuban Americans allying with poor African Americans-- it hurts Rolle's challenger, Monestime. It is too much to hope that law enforcement will ever tackle political corruption in Miami-Dade. This fact leads one to speculate that in key respects Miami is not so different from Havana; just more efficient.

Natacha Seijas Endorses Dorrin Rolle in Commission Chambers. By Geniusofdespair

According to Dan Ricker's Watchdog Report:

Commissioner Natacha Seijas made a political endorsement of Rolle. She noticed that they were both wearing pink guayaberas and he “looked Cuban” to her. She then said all the Cuban voters in his commission district should vote for Rolle in the Nov. 2 general election

Ricker said, the political campaign comments were run illegally on the county television station.

This really stinks. If the Vile Natacha Seijas endorsement wasn't so bad for him, I would report her to the ethics commission. A nod from her will hurt him more than help.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

You Want To Get Mad? Watch this Video. By Geniusofdespair

Look who got bailout money...and what are they doing with it? Yep, using it to combat Amendment 4.



Don't see video, hit here.
Don't get duped: Vote Yes on 4, or Vote For 4 and send a link to this video to your friends.

Pastor Mo'ron will not ever, never burn the Qu'ran ... by gimleteye

Now that the trailer trash pastor from central Florida captured the news cycle, he will not ever, never burn the Qu'ran. Capturing the news cycle, though, will yet yield his earthly rewards. Now he is both a Pastor and statesman, jetting off to New York City to see the Statue of Liberty on the Red Line and look at the bright lights of Times Square. Find an agent, book a deal. Capturing the news cycle, the Pastor Mo'ron reminds me of the dad who caught the news cycle by claiming his 6 year old son had erroneously taken flight in a silvery balloon spinning in the thin Colorado air. For efficiency you got to hand it to Pastor Mo'ron. The Heene Family Comedy required a 20 foot silver Mylar balloon. All Pastor Mo'ron needed was the Word of God.

A Denver TV station reports that the Heene family recently moved to Florida. "Old furniture litters the outside of the home they had been renting in Fort Collins. The owner of the home said the Heenes left the house a disaster with discarded belongings -- plates, tools, chairs, tables, appliances -- strewn everywhere when they took off." They moved, of course, to Florida.

Where will Pastor Mo'ron move now that the community of Gainesville, Florida is up in arms about his Dove Church? I'm guessing he'll move at some point. He'll move to a Fox News friendly town. Maybe Bradenton, where the balloon boy family now lives. And if they showed up in the congregation of Pastor Mo'ron's church, at least we would know what it is for.

Question for Finance People... By Geniusofdespair


If you are in foreclosure proceedings (personally or as a named officer/mgr. of a corporation) with a couple of different banks for millions of dollars, are you allowed to remain on the Board of Directors of a financial entity, i.e. another bank?

Isn't there some sort of law that you must step down? Are there no rules for becoming a Bank Board member? Foreclosures can be drawn out for quite some time if you have money to fight them (see blue graphic). When do rules kick-in, if ever?