got opinions ?
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 2008
Thanks for logging onto Tim Smith's Fort lauderdale.
The site's mission is to keep you informed about Fort Lauderdale: it's government, it's elected officials, and most importantly, it's future. It's an especially appropriate time to launch the site, as the municipal elections are going to take place about this time next year. Term limits are kicking in, and Fort Lauderdale will have a substantially new governing body.
The City has been engaged in a "Identity Crisis" for years, and this election might begin to define what we will be when we grow up! The City will have it's 100th birthday in 2011, just three years away!
Now about your participation. It's expected. It's wanted. It's a little scary! I'm sure you are reading on because you DO have opinions, and you DO want to be heard. And this will give you a new voice. Please comment on the issues of the day, the stories you read here, and other items you think we need to cover. Keep it clean, keep it short, and keep it interesting ! And before you leave, please subscribe (see left column at the bottom), so you will kept up to date on future postings !
ciao, Tim
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I loved it!
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The pot begins to bubble - let's hope the cream rises to the surface and we don't get some hack that wants to make a name and use the backs of the public to get there. We need new blood, all around - now wouldn't that be fun - 5 new ones!
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Yes Tim, Five New Members of the Commission and Elect someone like Obama willing to Think Out of The Box.
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How about some views on the different districts as the candidates declare. There will be 2 open seats and 2 bench warmers. At least that is a 50% change to build consensus and to get some new ideas...something missing for the last few years.
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Is it true that a certain person from SMRCA might be considering a run against a Rodstrom? We all hope that it is so....encumbent doesn't mean good, smart or effective - it sometimes means they have been too long in the job~!
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For Years it seems we only put out Fires in this City. No Team effort from the Commission. I hope we get a Mayor that has a Vision .and commissioners that work for the better of the whole City, not just there Voter Base, and have a Commission that directs the City Manager to be all inclusive with Civic Activists, and not shut the input out.
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Tim;
Thank you for this chance to see what is going on in our city.
The only thing we are sorry about is seeing that you do not intend to run for Mayor. This city needs someone of your caliber to run and make this city as great as it should be with a Mayor that we all can be proud of.
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tim, this is exactly what we needed! the old idea from post election 4 years ago has finally gotten a life! congrats and thanks!
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Timbo,
Your friends from "The Glen" at Towson are hoping you make another run at the Mayor's office!
Gandalf
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9am police Called.Complaint a Resident Threaten by two young Males that are roaming the neighborhood for weeks and have been reported to the police before apparently are homeless and have been smoking Crack in Meter room and have been storing personal items in the meter room and believe have broken into a vacant Apartment and sleeping inside and have been seen leaving properties with Hurricane shutters. and have figured out that the resident that they apparently threaten is the one calling the police on them. ? is this happening in others areas of the city. Mr Tim Smith maybe have a place on the Blog to inform what is happening in the Neighborhoods Good and Bad News
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sounds like a worthy effort!.... stay yuned............Tim
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How about the same kind of article and information on District III next - Commission Moore will be vacating his seat to run for County Commission against John Rodstrom and filling his seat will take some doing....There are several candidates that are out there but Bobby DuBose is leading the pack for city residents ..... we continue to hear that maybe assistant chief Frank Adderly could consider but that would be a big commitment to move back into Ft. Lauderale from Plantation, give up his homestead for the measly $35000 job.
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Rumor has it that the police/fire contract remains unsettled...the names Rodstrom and
Moore are said to be the hold outs in reaching an agreement as the number of officers dwindle and the ability to recruit is reduced by the actions of the commission and city manager.
No matter what you are told - there are fewer officers on patrol now than every - seldom are they in the zone they are assigned because of outside calls for service and the public is continually given statistics that say crime is down. Who is spinning these tales to the public...do they think the public is stupid....when is the commission going to finally understand that the micro-management by the city manager is not benefiting us any longer but creating a fearful stranglehold on employees and not letting those professionals do the job they are trained for.
It is a good thing elections are coming and so is change - all around! Let's hope the increasing incidents of crime don't chase away all of tourist and visitors - one of our largest economic drivers.
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We have , indeed, reach a crossroads in our cities history. The mistakes of the recent past were largely covered up by an unbelievable economic boom but are laid bare for all to see in tight economic times. Lack of leadership from the Mayors office has lead to a lack of vision and direction from our City Commission. Bureaucratic infighting and self protective empire building has beset our city staff and this has cost us dearly in dollars and lost talent as frustrated employees look for better working conditions.
Although, as Mr Nagule is fond of saying, the Mayor has only one vote I think it would be a complete misunderstanding of our form of government to presume the Mayors job is to cast "a" vote. Our Mayors job is to lead.
There is no doubt we need "new blood" at city hall but there is also no doubt that we can not afford an OJT mayor.
With his former experience as Wilton Manors Mayor and his distinguished service as a reasonable moderate in the State House Mr. Jack Selier is the right choice for Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Seiler offers the perfect combination of experience and "new blood" we desperately need ... add to that his contacts in Tallahassee and we've got a winner.
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Mr Selier has my Vote. and your comments are right on Target.
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This a great new window into Ft. Lauderdale politics that you won't find published anywhere else! I look foward to more revealing facts that will help me figure out who the players are and what are they doing to help the city. Marilyn
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What a great blog! Thanks.
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Hello to all. Mr.Tim Smith you are one loyal man. For that i thank you. My name is Melissa and im a Cincinnati Police officer. I have 9 years on with CPD. I love Ft.Lauderdale and i will transfer down to be a police officer in 2 years... I just want you to know i love your web cite and thank you for all your hard work. You will be a GREAT Mayor!!!!!!!Never give up..Sir...Go Ft.Lauderdale PD...STAY SAFE OUT THERE...
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Tim, I surely hope you are a conduit to the "powers that Be"..we all have different ideas and opinions that we want to bring to the table. I have read many of your posters comments and I gotta tell ya, I am disppointed to say the least. Many do not speak for me, which may be a good or bad thing. But I am a native, I live, work, own multiple properties and am watching my lifelong efforts at becoming an independent retiree going down the tubes. Police lawsuits for bad behavior, property taxes killing the average citizen for what,it surely isnt a better quality of life. You know it doesnt have to be this hard. There are successful cities, recession proof cities, low crime rate cities that have it all over Ft. Lauderdale.Why doesnt someone just really look at those cities and watch how its done? You know what I think? I think the people who are elected and sworn to uphold this cities best interest have the morals and ethics of swamp rats and need to be weaned off the public dole. Can you help with this? Or we just wasting our time?
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Tim I suggest you visit and view the Facebook page "Friends of Old Fort Lauderdale" by Walter Birdwell another old resident along with myself. I think you will find it very interesting.
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I can see that you are an expert in this field! I am launching a website soon, and this information is very useful for me. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.
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