PALMETTO BAY - Part 1 (Part 2 - Cutler Bay Monday)
PB candidates for Vice Mayor
John Dubois is the incumbent. He and is currently under ethical review for violating FL Sunshine Laws (Herald 6/7/16) and has sued 10 locals and officials during his last 4 years in office (Herald 8/26/16).
Dubois offered his home to be used by an accused sex-offender in a case of home invasion that involved a 9 year old girl in the Mangowood neighborhood (CBS News 6/2/15, CBS News 4/28/16). Dubois said the accused was his friend's son and he was doing him a favor. Dubois also hosted a fundraiser for the sex offender.
Dubois also tries to influence county and local decisions that affect his property. Charged with an environmental violation by DERM for cutting down mangroves from his bayfront mansion (Herald 3/10/15), he helped to elect Lynda Bell to the county commission and also issued her a personal loan. Bell then spent much of her time on the council attacking DERM. Dubois lost this case and will have to pay for the violation and county legal defense costs. Faced with development rights on the Palmetto Bay Village Center that is two doors down from his home and needing votes on the council, Dubois is supporting David Singer for PB District 2.
Public records show a $500,000 loan between the Dubois and Singer and the loan is alleged to be in default as of August. If both Singer and Dubois are elected, Singer would be beholden to Dubois and votes would be suspect. Dubois' personal lawyer, Mr. Leary, had only one client. Now he has two. He also happens to be suing the Village of Palmetto Bay on behalf of Dubois' neighbor (of the horse farm property next to the library) to stop the council's 40 acre park decision. Dubois uses the same developer's lobbyist, Jose Castillo of Green Point Group, for his campaign management consulting as Cutler Bay's Loyzelle and Bell.
Erica Watts is a newcomer to PB politics. Watts has law and economics degrees. Watts positively utilized her background and developed extensive experience in public service with the Family Court. Locally she is a dedicated volunteer and is the President of the Coral Reef Elementary School PTA. She is also on the Palmetto Bay Education Advisory Committee and has been honored by both Miami Dade County and the Village for her innovation, leadership and public service. Watts has no sign of developer contributions on her campaign reports.
David Zisman runs a local fireplace business. He's running on his business experience but has TWO bankruptcies in his past (Herald 10/7/14). He got into local politics after losing a bid for a zoning variance. He ran for Mayor in 2010 and lost. He ran for District 1 in 2014 and lost. Zisman shares a love of heckling the council with David Singer. He's posted videos highlighting the relationship between Dubois and Singer but while the council considers serious issues, you'll likely find them together at the back of the room smirking at the proceedings and chomping on large bags of chips. Zisman has accepted campaign contributions from several developers including Wayne Rosen in past campaigns.
PB Candidates for District 2
Tim Schaffer is the incumbent. Schaffer runs his own financial services business and spent 15 years as a reserve and auxillary police officer. He ran in 2012 primarily backed by the anti-Palmer Trinity development folks. After lawsuit costs to the Village and the illegality of past council zoning decisions (Herald 7/6/12) impacted Village finances, he switched camps and worked to stop lawsuit hemorrhage and change the Village's legal representation. He has steadfastly supported the council decision to transfer development rights within the PBVC in order to stop potential owner lawsuits, save natural areas and create a park. In an effort to reduce traffic and head off further development, he recently passed a resolution to explore turning the old FPL power plant into a Village park. Sounds good but let’s make sure FPL cleans up. (GENIUS - LOL)
David Singer's campaign signs say "Stop Over Development..." but his background is in real estate development. He has accepted PAC money and campaign dollars from several development and construction companies. Singer supported the Palmer Trinity development, spearheaded the ineffectual "Recall Palmetto Bay" (New Times 10/22/12) and called supporters of former Mayor Stancyk, former Council member Lindsay and CCOCI a "merry band of mentally misfit followers". Inexplicably, many of these folks are now supporting Singer. This includes errant emailer Gary Pastorella. On opposing sides of a Firehouse location issue, Pastorella filed a restraining order against Singer after Singer sent numerous packages to the Pastorella home. Mr. Singer can regularly be seen on council meeting videos spewing personal attacks at the mayor and other council members during public comment. Singer doesn't yell at Vice Mayor John Dubois of course, because he owes him big and is said to be in default as of August.
29 comments:
Both Dubois and Singer are running off the age old technique of tell people what they want to hear. Dubois is a developer himself, having build out Mardel Estates in Palmetto Bay. No reasonable people can possibly believe what they say, unfortunately voters are often not reasonable people. They are both victim shamers, supporting the rights of offenders over victims.
Wow, very fair and balanced (haha). This is honestly the type of "journalism" that threatens the very fabric of democracy. As the above commentator suggests, and you seem to agree, do you honestly think that everyone accused of a crime is guilty? Everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty. Also, there has never been any accusations of home invasion. Promoting one candidates education while trashing the other two? Fox news would be proud.
Mayor Flinn is doing a hell of a job and deserves to be reelected when the time comes. He is honorable, always fighting for the people (unlike others), and is just a heck of a guy. Strong supporters of the Clintons, Daniella Levine Cava, the Bush's and the Rubio's love Mayor Flinn. He is beloved by United Teachers of Dade, and many many others.
Bottom Line: Eugene Flinn does whats right for the people, not what some party boss wants.
What does Flinn have to do with this election? Let's focus on Dubois who will do anything to deflect that he has to resort to lies in a weak attempt to hang on to his seat. He has accomplished nothing. Zip, zilch, nada. He merely buys people. He wants us to elected his lackey Singer who apparently lacks the credit score to qualify for a commercial loan and has to 'borrow' $500 large from uncle Dubois. No one believes that Singer could ever be an independent voice.
Another joke is the endorsement by former council member Fiore. I think we all know how he was able pay his way from Kendall to Palmetto Bay. House flipping Fiore. Too bad his endorsement video fails to disclose that he is a paid employee of the John Dubois campaign.
Who even knew Palmetto Bay had a Vice Mayor. I have never seen him at a community meeting. He has no kids in school, unless he is divorced and they moved away. No one ever hears from him until someone does something that he doesn't like. Then he sues them or attacks them in mailers. What a cluster fuck of nonsense. Both Singer and Pastorella are punk crybabies whose only source of entertainment appears to be coming to the microphone at meetings crying for attention. A total bush league town who fight over issues like lighting in parks. They have no idea what real issues are.
Stay above it Flinn, Cunningham, Schaffer & Lara. These people are turds and you should not allow them to bring you into their cesspool of nonsense.
Florida Profit Corporation MARDEL DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Filing Information
Document Number
P03000042897
FEI/EIN Number
47-0916866
Date Filed
04/16/2003
State
FL
Status
INACTIVE
Last Event
ADMIN DISSOLUTION FOR ANNUAL REPORT
Event Date Filed
09/26/2008
Event Effective Date
NONE
Principal Address
17575 OLD CUTLER ROAD
PALMETTO BAY, FL 33157
Changed: 10/16/2005
Mailing Address
18495 S. DIXIE HWY.
PMB 107
MIAMI, FL 33157
Changed: 10/16/2005
Registered Agent Name & Address DUBOIS, JOHN
18495 S. DIXIE HWY.
PMB 107
MIAMI, FL 33157
Flinn despises DuBois, who is a dirty politician. Anyone who challenges Mayor Flinn will be crushed. He will be easily reelected, and rightly so. What a great leader for Palmetto Bay!
Wow anonymous #2 haven't you ever heard "Where there's smoke there's fire"?There sure is a lot of smoke around Dubois and Singer. Just checked out a google search of Dubois. Top hits are ETHICS CHARGES, letting an accused PEDOPHILE stay at his house and TEN LAWSUITS during just one stint in office! WE CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN!! And yes, I'm yelling.
Erica.... Watts needed in Palmetto Bay !!!!
She's is a breath of fresh air, we need more people like her to represent us
in our community .
I read up on Kowlessar Jr. case. This is the 2nd go round for this troubled guy. Back when the first incident occurred who was it exactly who was PB Mayor/Council who helped get him out of trouble then? If he hadn't been "helped" out by those in power in Palmetto Bay then, the current incident wouldn't have happened.
Woah, Palmetto Bay politics is whacked. If what this says about the VM Dubois is true then you got some serious ethics and conflict of interest problems in your town, Watts looks clean from what I see. Can't wait to see what Cutler Bay candidates are about. Hope it's not worse.
So many attacks on VM Dubois and David Singer, the other three are perfectly perfect. Hilarious reading. As usual, it's nasty politics in PB. Who on the current council actively participated in, offered suggestions and encouraged David Singer to harass a resident opposing the fire station? I think Singer should publish the evidence so we will all learn who the village bully really is.
Has anyone noticed how sugared up Bileca is?
Facts are not attacks. Beyond the many and serious problems with Dubois, is no one concerned about the HALF A MILLION DOLLAR connection between two potential councilmen?? How is that legal? Imagine - Dubois can at any time demand to collect on the delinquent loan - he can just demand a vote in his favor instead!
The campaign finance reports on the village website are revealing. This is a $12,000 a year job. Dubois loaned his own campaign $80,000! Zisman loaned his own campaign $20,000. Practically all Singer's money comes from developer related sources outside Palmetto Bay. Only Schaffer and Watts are running appropriately small town campaigns with most of their donations received from within Palmetto Bay.
Erica Watts is a nice lady and an unknown in PB politics. Problem is Erica doesn't have a clue on current PB issues and is in race due to her close association with Mayor Flinn. So why is she running? Anyone see a problem with this candidate and her Flinn connection?
Nice lady? Like Aunt Bea? She doesn't sit home feeding Opie Rhubarb pie. She knows the issues and is not beholden to anyone. She is sharp as a tack and can make up her own mind.
"doesn't have a clue on current issues" equals doesn't agree with the old folks and crazies who make going to council meetings their hobby. They switch their allegiance to whomever stokes their fear fire on a regular basis. Whoever is elected has got to represent the whole village not just the rabble at the meetings.
"doesn't have a clue on current issues" equals doesn't agree with the old folks and crazies who make going to council meetings their hobby. They switch their allegiance to whomever stokes their fear fire on a regular basis. Whoever is elected has got to represent the whole village not just the rabble at the meetings.
Wait a minute, someone is claiming that Erica Watts is close to Flinn, but there is not an even greater problem with Singer being owned by Dubois to the tune of $500,000.00? I am calling BS on that one.
Who is this self proclaimed expert of Palmetto Bay politics? I did not know there was a certification course. Just more BS brought to you by John Dubois's and the Palmetto Bay Mafia.
Got a flyer from Dubois saying he was antidevelopment. Here is some information about one of his development companies: http://florida.intercreditreport.com/company/mardel-development-corp-p03000042897 (not active anymore since property now built out)
I guess he is only antidevelopment if he's not the one getting the money for it.
"Erica ...She's WATTS needed in Palmetto Bay ! ". 👍🏼
Who is the Palmetto Bay Mafia? I might want to join.
Schaffer put in $20,000 on the first report. Where he got that is up for conjecture since he works only a couple days a week and cries poor mouth. Just because he has no campaign team or supporters doesn't make him small town. check the recent reports for Watts since the heavy fundraising has begun. All of Flinn's and England's friends are kicking in.
For all of you who encouraged Erica Watts to run -- do her a favor now that she has embarked on this unpleasant campaign battle for the good of her community: Send emails or call everyone you know living in Palmetto Bay with endorsement for her You may want to send a link to this blog piece by "Tito" about all the candidates and tell them to take 5 minutes to research themselves. Once anyone researches, the choice becomes clear. The problem is hardly anyone has the time, energy and/or inclination to do the research. That's why Dubois will win. He has the name recognition, and he is able to pay for numerous direct mails to residents' homes saying how he is an environmentalist (I know that is not true), the council person with the highest attendance rate (not sure if that is true), etc. People DO believe these flyers for some reason, even though they are clearly spin products for each candidate. Not sure why people don't realize this. Guess that is the power of marketing. Not sure how else Ms. Watts can be assisted, maybe someone else has a good idea of how to get her name out there and people to understand she is the best choice -- has to be an idea / solution that don't cost anything.
In the vice mayor's race Dubois has a pot of $120,000!! Zisman has got $51,000. Watts will need our help to even the playing field. In the District 2 race there is not sigificant difference between the candidates except that Schaffer is funded by mainly friends and family while Singer gets his money from developers and local crackpots.
Where are the public records that show the loan from Dubois to Singer? I would like to send this information to neighbors.
You can find information about the $500,000 loan from Dubois to Singer at: http://eugeneflinn.blogspot.com/2016/09/50000000-mortgage-received-by-david.html
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