The Truth About Alachua - The Creation of The Good Life Community

Office of Open Government

2007-01-08T17:52:00.000-05:00

January 5, 2007

Joann Carrin, Director, Office of Open Government
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Dear Ms. Carrin,

Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment to your current position. The continuity of quality government depends upon the retention, promotion and dedication of valuable public servants such as you.

I am contacting you with the express intent of availing the City of Alachua of your services in the area of open government. We make every effort here to comply with all applicable State and local laws and regulations. However, as with any endeavor, rarely are the correct pathways totally illuminated, but, instead, appear to be fraught with conflicting opinions or interpretations.

In terns of Government in the Sunshine and the public records laws, questions continually arise. Sometimes, these questions are resolved by legislative action which clears up confusing provisions of the law, but, in many instances, such relief is months or years away, and we must depend on our best judgment or legal guidance. It appears that Governor Crist has taken the initiative in resolving many of these questionable areas by instituting the office you head.

We recognize the value that this effort will yield for all state and governmental agencies and, ultimately, for the public. Our intent is to become a model City in terms of transparency and compliance in governance. To that end, we wish to explore how we can begin a dialogue with your office, and avail ourselves of your resources and guidance.

Please let me know the most direct and efficient avenues to explore to further our effort. If we can request on-site consultation with your personnel, please let us know. If we need to send select City staff to your location, we are eager to do so. In other words, with your able assistance, we stand ready to do whatever we need to do to achieve our goal as the most open and accessible City in Florida.

Respectfully,

Clovis Watson, Jr.
City Manager

Cc: Governor Charlie Crist
Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp
Madam Mayor & Commissioners
City Attorney Marian Rush

Re-Dedication

2007-01-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

By popurlar request from Republicans and Democrats alike, all throughout Alachua County, today, we re-dedicate this site to spreading the word about the revitalization and the economic turn-around of an extraordinary community.

Ten years ago, the City of Alachua was on the way down and out. Many of its major employers had disappeared, Main Street was dominated by run-down buildings and images of small-town / urban decay were everywhere.

Thanks to the hard work of dedicated people, $13, $14 and $15 per hour jobs are being created where they didn't exist before and the tax base is expanding, even while the millage rate has been lowered to 5.5. Main Street has been revitalized into one of the most charming Main Streets in America and new community centers and public facilities have been and are being created that would be the pride of any small town.

The City of Alachua is an important asset to everyone in Alachua County. The job creation and corporate partners have added to the county's tax base and the school board's tax base, and people come from all over the county to enjoy the shops and restaurants that make up the charming Main Street.

Thank you, to the many people that have emailed us and volunteered to contribute articles to the site. We now have about 10 site authors in waiting and will be glad for receive volunteers for more.

The City of Alachua is a Good Life Community in the making.

GRAPSKI’S CON GAME OF HALF-TRUTHS AND LIES

2006-10-14T20:37:00.000-05:00

Mr. Grapski seems to have a problem with the City of Alachua receiving an AAA rating for its latest bond issue. He states that the City is conning the public about that rating. He states that the City “purchased” it.

Like his arguments on what drives growth he shows his complete ignorance of how financial institutions work. Mr. Grapski says, “If you pay them enough to insure your bonds- that service provides you with a AAA bond rating guaranteed”. He wants to confuse you with the difference between Moody’s A3 rating and the insurance company, Ambac’s AAA rating. The truth is that you can’t buy that AAA rating, you earn it.

Financial institutions are driven by risk. The higher the risk, the more you pay. Conversely the lower the risk, the less you pay. This is the case for the City of Alachua.

Let’s walk through the recent process. The City needed financing for the new municipal complex. They decided to purchase bonds. They, like approximately 90% of other municipalities of its size, purchased bond insurance which would pay off the bonds if the City was not able to meet its debt obligations. Moody’s Investors Services conducted an independent analysis of the City’s financial stability. Based on their independent analysis they assigned an A3 underlying rating for the bonds based on the credit worthiness of the City. This is the highest credit rating a city can get. Based on this the City was able to get an insurance policy written by Ambac, an AAA rated insurance company at a lower premium. Based on Ambac’s AAA rated insurance they were able to get financing at a lower interest rate than if they sold the bonds uninsured (higher risk).

The City didn’t “purchase” that rating. Not every city that buys bond insurance gets an A3 credit rating. It was given to the city by Moody’s. Here is a news flash for Mr. Grapski, there is no guarantee that an insurance company will issue you a policy for any amount of money. Contrary to Mr. Grapski’s statement, you would not buy more insurance then the issuance of the bonds. You can’t pay higher premiums to get that rating. Just the opposite, you save on the premiums and interest by having that rating. If a city’s financial situation was bad the insurance company would decline to issue a policy because of the risk and the city would have to sell the bonds as uninsured (at a greater interest rate).

Mr. Grapski also states that the citizens paid “a cost, a hefty price” for the insurance. Once again he shows that he has no concept of good financial practices. As I stated before, Ambac issued the insurance policy based on the Moody A3 rating which resulted in the City receiving a lower premium and a lower interest rate. Just how much did that “hefty price(d)” insurance cost? The premium which covers P plus I for the thirty year bond costs 0.005% of the $7,245,000.00 bond ($14,316,017 total, P plus I), or $69,000.00. This resulted in the City saving at least two hundred thousand dollars over the life of the bond. That is sound fiscal policy.

Mr. Grapski states, “Thus the bond rating doesn’t reflect the City’s actual fiscal state of affairs”. Wrong again. The rating proves that the City is fiscally sound.

Moody’s opinion:

“Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an initial A3 underlying rating to the City of Alachua’s $8.69 million Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2006. The bonds are secured by a covenant to budget and appropriate legally available non-ad valorem revenues in amounts sufficient to pay debt service on the bonds. The rating is predicated on the pledged revenues, which although also utilized for city essential operations, still affords satisfactory protection of debt service. The A3 underlying rating is also based on the steadily growing tax base; stable financial operations supported by a moderate tax rate (affording financial flexibility); satisfactory reserve levels; and a manageable debt position with limited borrowing plans but a slow principal retirement schedule”.

Mr. Grapski has a long history of denigrating Clovis Watson as incompetent as a City Manager. However, it has been under Mr. Watson’s leadership that the City has elevated its financial position to receive Moody’s rating and allow the City to lower its ad valorem tax rate to 5.5. As Moody’s has stated, the future of Alachua financial stability looks bright and we can expect further help for the citizens in the pocketbook where it counts. Mr. Grapski is very good at pointing fingers but has yet to make any meaningful suggestions to better the citizens at anywhere near the reality that the present City Manager and Commission have delivered.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie – More Conspriacy Theories - The Black College Monthly "Controversy"

2006-09-24T12:35:00.000-05:00

Charlie Grapski seems particularly upset that the Alachua County Republican Party took out an ad in the Election Guide issue of Black College Monthly newspaper. So upset, in fact, that he refuses to believe that we did take out an ad. According to Charlie, Mr. Goston, the publisher of the newspaper, either put the ad in there, himself, or the Alachua County Republican Party co-published the newspaper with Mr. Goston.

Both of these theories are absurd and are exemplary of a mind that sees only conspiracy instead of debate. You see, Charlie Grapski thinks very highly of his own opinions. So highly, in fact, that if your opinion or my opinion is different than his, it can only be based in un-pure, self-serving motives or it was arrived at because you are a good person who is being duped by other evil beings.

Mr. Goston did call us, explained that he was running an election edition of his newspaper, and wanted both major political parties to have an opportunity to place an ad. The Alachua County Republican Party did pay for an ad in that newspaper. We designed the ad and emailed it to Black College Monthly.

Here is where the confusion begins:

When the newspaper came out, the ad was cut off at the bottom. The website address and the political disclaimer were missing. Immediately, I alerted Mr. Goston. He told me that another ad didn’t print correctly, either. Like a conscientious businessman, Mr. Goston called the printer, corrected the printing mistakes and ordered a complete reprint. We also called Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, Pam Carpenter, and alerted her to the fact that the ad did not print as designed and was missing the legal disclaimer. We then sent her a copy of the original ad for her files.

Within a couple of days, the reprints hit the street with the original, correct ad.

If Charlie Grapski were interested in the truth, he could have called Black College Monthly newspaper and asked about the ad. They would have told him of the error and the reprint. But then Mr. Grapski wouldn’t have any fodder for his conspiracy theory, now, would he? In fact, it is likely that Mr. Grapski already knows of the reprint but chose to digitize and post the original, flawed printing of the newspaper as a means to get his band of conspiracy warriors frothing at the mouth.

My challenge to Mr. Grapski is to get the second edition of the Black College Monthly newspaper, scan the corrected pages and replace the flawed pages with the corrected ones in the digitized version on his website. It would be the ethical thing to do. In fact, I have a copy of the second edition of that newspaper. Mr. Grapski can borrow mine if promises to return it.

But he won’t do that. Mr. Grapski will use some linguistic acrobatics to justify his conspiracy theory.

Posted by Stafford Jones

IT’S NOT “ALL ABOUT CHARLIE”!! - WHO ARE THE PLAYERS IN THE IRBY-LEWIS ELECTION IN ALACHUA?

2006-08-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

The lawsuit over the recent City of Alachua election where incumbent James Lewis defeated Lewis Irby has made the news and continues to be a topic of discussion on numerous blogs. Charlie Grapski has put himself in the forefront of much of the hype regarding this lawsuit. With his arrest at City Hall over an illegal recording incident and ejection from a City Commission meeting for disruptive behavior, as well as being banned from the City of Alachua, he is reveling in his narcissistic behavior. We’ve also seen the emergence of a new term “Grapskisms”.

But is this all about Charlie? Let’s start by examining the April 11th election scenario, Alachua politics, the cast of characters and Charlie’s minor 2-bit role. Follow the story, the players and then you decide if it’s about Charlie.

First, let’s take Lewis Irby. Locally he was touted as the “anti-Wal-Mart” candidate. In the April 2006 “Observer” when asked for comments on the proposed Wal-mart Supercenter (in Alachua), his response was “The supercenter doesn’t fit the vision of our City. It will kill historic Alachua as we know it. We don’t need it and it shouldn’t be there anyway because of the karst situation”. When examining his Campaign Treasures Report Summary, out of the total monetary contributions of $12,765, it shows $10,000 as coming out of Irby’s own pocket ($5,000 on 2/23/06 and another $5,000 on 3/23/06). Why would Irby spend $10,000 of his personal money to get elected?

Second, give some thought to one of Irby’s few listed contributors and supporters, Robert “Bob” Cohen (his name will again appear later in the lawsuit scenario). Cohen was mentioned in a G’ville Sun article published May 30, 2004 titled “Wal-mart Vote Polarizes Public” where the proposed Wal-mart at NW 53rd Avenue and US 441 was discussed. The article revealed that Cohen helped organize a group to do studies funded by The Pantry, the company that owns numerous Kangaroo gas stations in Alachua County and surrounding areas. Another article published in The Tampa Tribune on 9/11/05 reads “Supporters, Foes Get Professional In Big Box Fight” and describes “an event devoted to stopping the expansion of Wal-mart Supercenters and other big-box stores”. The accompanying photo by-line reads “Consultant Dave Newport and Bob Cohen work with a group of residents who are opposed to Wal-mart supercenters…” Does it seem strange that Cohen now surfaces in the Irby campaign (and subsequent legal challenge)?

Third, Jeannette Marie Hinsdale has emerged as another “shadow figure”. Her anti-Wal-mart opinions date back to 2003 and some Gainesville Commissioners may remember her from public discussions and published articles. Letters published in the G’ville Sun listed her as a Gainesville resident but now that Wal-mart is proposing a supercenter in Alachua, she, like Grapski, now claim Alachua as her home.

Fourth, let’s see how the ALA fits into the election picture and Irby’s defeat. They have a long history in the City of Alachua starting off in 2000 when Busy Kisling Shires Byerly (wife of Mike Byerly) in a widely published email, stated “A group of citizens in Alachua have formed a group called ‘ALA-CHUA’ Alachua Leadership Alliance – Citizens Helping Us All’ (ALA), to stop the development in the City of Alachua”. As a supposed “watchdog” activist group, they take credit for getting Commissioners elected that oppose growth. A G’ville Sun article dated 7/31/2002 reports “In the past two years, three ALA-backed candidates have been elected to the City (Alachua) Commission”. Another article dated 3/30/2003 headlined “Alachua Election May Turn on Growth”, reports that Eileen McCoy, treasurer of the ALA, was running against Commissioner James Lewis and if elected would ensure a majority vote on the commission for the Alachua Leadership Alliance. “We’re counting on her,” said an alliance founder, Robert Perez. They also sued the City of Alachua, WACO and Wal-Mart but lost after a 2 & 1/2-year costly battle.

Known ALA members and sympathizers supported Irby’s campaign. If that seat was filled by Irby and with Calderwood and Burgess’ seats coming up in April 2007, the opportunity existed for the ALA to regain a majority “no-growth” control over the City of Alachua commission and City Manager.

Now, fast-forward to the election. Irby loses, Lewis wins. The April 13, 2006 edition of Alachua County Today shows a photo entitled “Lewis Irby talks with supporters and strategists Tuesday (April 11, 2006) night after learning that he lost the election”. Among those included in the photo were Irby, Charlie Grapski, Eileen McCoy (ALA) and Michael Canney (co-chair of the Alachua County Green Party). In another photo published May 11, 2006 inside Alachua City Hall, Grapski is accompanied by ALA’s Robert Perez and Eileen McCoy. In the lawsuit that follows challenging the election, three of the six Plaintiffs are ALA members. In the issues surrounding Absentee Ballot information, Michael Canney, Co-Chair of Alachua County Green Party gets to play a major role. Politics makes for strange bedfellows. In a June 7, 2006 letter sent to absentee voters, Canney poses 11 questions regarding the voting process and states “A citizen has filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court seeking to invalidate the election results and order a new election.” Irby’s comment in the May 2006 Observer was “Just say, ‘He played; he lost’.” Irby conceded but apparently to some, there was more at stake than just an election. Even Commissioner Mike Byerly (husband of ALA officer Busy Byerly) jumped into the fray. He came all the way up from Micanopy to accompany Grapski & McCoy to Alachua City Hall and was quoted as saying “…just what are they trying to hide?”

So, here we are. Election is over, lawsuit and subsequent amendment challenging the election are filed and depositions are scheduled. Irby doesn’t appear to be playing a role in any of the legal jousting. Joe Little is attorney for the Plaintiffs and guess who shows up for the depositions? Remember Bob Cohen, Consultant for The Pantry? He’s present for all depositions and is seen passing notes and whispers to Little during the questioning. Remember Michael Canney, Co-Chair of the Green Party? He’s videoing all the sessions. Grapski appears for the final deposition of Alan Henderson on August 24th and all three are “helping” Little with the depositions.

Can you connect the dots? Has Charlie become a willing stoogie in what may be a corporate turf battle with the likes of Cohen and Hinsdale hovering in the shadows? Is he a pawn in an ALA political skirmish to regain control of the Alachua Commission and City Manager? Is this another ALA lawsuit that is destined to fail and cost the citizens a lot of their tax dollars?
Why did Grapski suddenly appear on April 11th? Have the Progressive Democrats and the Green Party in Alachua County joined forces and Grapski is the point-man? Is this about an election between Irby and Lewis or a battle about Wal-mart, The Pantry and other anti-Wal-mart groups?

Posted by Bud Calderwood

Speaking of Sunshine Law Violations

2006-08-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

The following email was written to Charlie Grapski for violating the Sunshine Law while he was a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee on County Finances. We all remember how Mr. Grapski accused a number of members of that committee of being unethical and bad, political actors. In the end, Mr. Grapski bogged the committee down so badly that the final report to the County Manager was nearly worthless.

Yawn . . . another committee, another town, another imaginary dragon for Mr. Grapski to slay. Yipeeeee.

-----------------------------------

Charles
I do not think that it is appropriate under the Sunshine Law for you to be responding/commenting to the BRC on Mr. Stringfellow's correspondance. This is one of the things the County Attorney talks about in his Sunshine Law briefing with Advisory Boards and
Committees: the members can receive from other members, but can not respond or comment back to the members. I beleive this is considered a 'meeting' and all meetings must be advertised. Potentially, this is something that could be voted on by the BRC. Of course I am not an Attorney but I encourage all BRC to NOT respond to any correspondance you receive on the BRC; bring your comments to the advertised/televised meeting. Thanks

--- Charles Grapski wrote:
> A memorandum - or just a thought. And this should be forwarded on to
> all persons who received this initial memorandum - or just a thought -
> and should be entered into the record of our committee.
>
> I find it interesting and enlightening that Mr.
> Stringfellow has raised
> this issue publicly - and has consulted two lawyers (albeit not the
> two lawyers on the committee) - who have stated to him that they
> believe he has an actionable complaint against me for my statements as
> a member of both this committee and the public. While I believe Mr.
> Stringfellow has failed to understand either the content or the point
> of my statements - I find it disappointing, as regards Mr.
> Stringfellow, that
> he believes he was "slandered" by my comments.
> Despite the legal
> advice Mr. Stringfellow was given - I believe my comments fail to meet
> any legal standard of "slander" - and I believe my comments were
> accurate although not as to the point as I intend to make them in the
> future. As for an apology - I can assure you - no such apology is
> necessary nor appropriate, as I believe my comments to be accurate and
> appropriate - and find the actions in question, of the committee, to
> be
> 1) inappropriate; 2) inconsistent; 3) irresponsible; and 4) yes,
> unethical. I will be happy to further elaborate the details of my
> position as to each of these points at a later date
> - and will stand
> behind my position without regret. The irony, however, is that I do
> have some regret that Mr. Stringfellow felt personally attacked in
> this. I personally feel Mr. Stringfellow is one of the members of the
> Committee who is acting out of simple regard for the public and public
> service. Thus I would never have made such a claim as to Mr.
> Stringfellow's personal actions. My comments were addressed
> specifically to the committee as a whole - and in particular - to
> certain actions by a faction of the committee. I believe that my
> description of their actions as inappropriate and unethical is
> accurate and thus look forward to the opportunity of defending my
> positions in a court of law and hearing the details of the legal
> advice Mr.
> Stringfellow has obtained on this matter. Since Mr.
> Stringfellow has
> raised this issue to this level - I will state, for the record, that I
> do not believe that all members of the committee are acting with the
> same intent or standard as Mr. Stringfellow and other members of the
> committee. I believe they are acting out of their personal and
> particular interests without due regard for the public interest and
> the public good. I will certainly now make a point of articulating,
> in detail, in a more formal contribution as a member of the committee
> to our final product exactly what I mean by this and the basis of my
> analysis. As in any analysis, whether it be my analysis or Mr.
> Stringfellow's, it is only the analysis of one person - and has the
> inherent flaws of that basis. As flawed as one person's observation
> may be due to the inherent limits of being only one person - the merit
> of their claims will be based on the facts at hand, many of which are
> a matter of public record, and the arguments made with them. I look
> forward to the opportunity to placing these facts - and my arguments -
> into the public record. They will thereby stand or fall on their own
> merits and my ability to clearly articulate them.
>
> Once again, I am sorry that Mr. Stringfellow feels personally offended
> by my personal observations and analysis. I stand fully by my
> position, and therefore find no basis for a call for an apology, let
> alone such an action to be taken by myself. I do believe, however,
> that the work of this committee - as problematic as this committee was
> from the start - had been progressing in a positive manner until the
> end of December. Since that time I believe actions have been taken by
> what had been a minority faction, with the assistance of the chair,
> which I believe have undermined the integrity of the process and
> thereby the quality and indeed legitimacy of our final work product.
>
> Such actions include the holding of a meeting, not a full meeting of
> this committee and without the ability of the full committee to
> participate. This meeting which was formally held for a purpose of
> assisting the minority in writing a minority report but instead had a
> completely different purpose. It did not facilitate the minority to
> articulate their minority report in such a ways as to cooperate with
> each other within the framework of Florida's open meetings laws.
> Instead this meeting was used, and the record will show was intended
> to be used, to create a faction with a majority vote to fundamentally
> alter the work product of our committee. That faction then refused to
> have the matters they discussed fully and openly deliberated by the
> full committee - but used their manufactured majority to effectively
> use the force of numbers, rather than the merits of their positions,
> to change the report being developed by this committee.
> Much of what this
> manufactured majority was able to obtain through this procedural
> mechanism had been put before the full committee on numerous occasions
> in the past - and each time they were unable, when full discussion of
> the matter by all members of the committee took place, to obtain even
> a majority of support. By utilizing this procedural short-cut, the
> chair has allowed the committee to be effectively hijacked by a
> faction - however much they may have compromised with each other - to
> alter the work product produce in full committee over many months. I
> find this activity to be highly troubling - and to ironically have
> been used as a means to effectively quash the voice of individual
> members of the committee (and thus a minority), given the fact that it
> was purportedly done so as to help a minority articulate its voice.
> I believe that
> these actions are highly undemocratic and are inappropriate at any
> level of government. I believe, furthermore, that such actions
> constitute unethical behavior - as I believe any attempt to use the
> force of numbers to obtain an outcome, rather than the power of reason
> in full and open deliberation, to be a violation of the very ethical
> basis of government.
>
> These activities have tainted and thus undermined the work product of
> this committee. I no longer have confidence in the chair and I have
> serious doubts and reservations about the quality and significance of
> the final work product of this committee. As this committee has once
> again been extended in time - it may be the case, in the end, that
> these matters will be resolved in such a way that I can again support
> the Committee's report. At this time, however, I believe the report
> is no longer a reflection of the work of the whole committee - but now
> reflects, at least in part, the work of a faction of the
=== message truncated ===

=====
Have a great day, XXXXXXXX

What Drives Growth?

2006-08-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

Over on the ALA Speak Out there is a discussion about the growth in Alachua started by Charles Grapski. This is a very complicated subject but Mr. Grapski seems to have some simple answers. He believes that unbridled growth is leading to “the destruction of our nation”. He believes that, “This is about a group of parasites that are moving up from South Florida - to North Florida - because they have already exploited that area dry - and now want to do so here”.

When someone asked whether growth was driven by the demand for housing or if developers caused people to move to the houses, an example offered was the analogy of which cames first, the chicken or the egg, Mr. Grapski had this to say:

This is a false analysis - the chicken and the egg.

The developers come first - to answer the question - and then the people move here.

No developers, no large numbers of new homes, no large numbers of new residents.

You seem to assume that a community NEEDS a CONSTANT influx of new residents to remain alive. It does not.

The idea of an ever-expanding community is illogical - as there is a natural limit (a point of saturation).

You seem to assume that a community should be exploited freely to the point of saturation.

When that happens - these developers, with no vested interest in that community, pick up and leave that community HANGING for the damage they have wrought - and move on to another one - and do the same.

Thus you see South Florida moving UP HERE.

And the people are fleeing the South Florida developments TO COME HERE - because they want to LEAVE what the developers have wrought.

Now they are trying to create the same thing here - and eventually - at the saturation point - a large number of the people coming here from South Florida will DISPOSE of this community and move on to the next.

Also - developers and home builders are two different things.

A developer takes a large section of land - with no LOCAL demand for homes - and maximizes the number of homes (and minimizes the expenses beyond that - thus transferring that burden to the EXISTING residents to pay for things for the NEW residents) - and destroys the infrastructure of a community.

Most so-called developments should be TOWNS - not developments WITHIN towns. And as such they should be required to build a TOWN's infrastructure.

There should be a town center - with commercial and social infrastructure in the CENTER. There should be utilities and schools and roads and all of that.

But instead developers - parasites - come in and exploit the resources of an existing community - destroying all natural neighborhoods and community establishing elements - and just fill up land (cheap land - agricultural) with "outsiders" (remember how much the City commission criticizes outsiders?).

The issue is not the DEMAND for people to MOVE INTO Alachua or Alachua County.
The issue is the quality of life of those who ALREADY live here.

Yes there can be SOME new residents moving in - if there were a reasonable amount of new homes appearing in a natural and managed way.

But the DEMAND for all of these new homes - is NOT from within the current residents. And you and the developers force the CURRENT residents to PAY FOR the developers profit-making business (they are the source of the profit - not the homebuyers) - and thus to be accomplices in destroying the community they currently live in.

Question: How many of the people buying these homes are coming from South Florida? WHy are they leaving the developer's paradise in the first place?

Here is a good chance for a civil discussion about growth. I hope that Mr. Grapski will expound on his understanding of the economic forces that drive growth beyond the simple idea that developers from South Florida are the root cause.

My first question is, just who are these developers from So. Florida by name. I want to try to understand who Mr. Grapski blames for our growth.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

How To Look Up Your Candidate's Financial Reports

2006-08-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

In this election season, we thought it would be helpful for people to know how to look up financial reports for their candidates. As a public service, we offer the following instructions for multi-county and Alachua County Candidates.

Campaign finance is something that is intended, by our government, to be an open process. The intention is that we should know who is contributing to our campaign and who our campaigns are spending their money with. It is in the spirit of public service that we offer the following guides.

For State or Multi-County Candidates, the following instructions apply:

1. The address is http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cand/index.asp.

2. Under the Status drop down menu, you can choose Qualified, All (except WIT/DNQ) or even candidates that did not qualify or have been defeated. For our example, we will choose a candidate that is "Withdrawn/Did Not Qualify".

3. Here, you can put your candidates last name in the "Candidate Last Name" field. For our example, lets use the one House or Senate Candidate in Alachua County that did not qualify. Put "Grapski" in the "Candidate Last Name" field and click the Submit Query button.

4. Click on the name "Grapski , Charlie (DEM)"

5. Click on the Campaign Finance Activity Button.

5. There you will see all of the reports filed by that candidate with the Division of Elections. The system is very accurate. If the report is not there, then it has not been filed. For this particular candidate, as of 08-02-06, you will see one report for the January 1st to March 31st, 2006 period.

If you have any questions about campaign financing or about any candidates in particular, including whether a candidate has filed, or not, the Department of State, Division of Elections can by reach at (850) 245-6200.

For County Candidates:

1. Go to http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/wscand/candidate_pr.php?c=alachua

2. From the drop down menu, you can choose the specific race. 2006 Gubernatorial will be many of the local races while 2006 Sheriff, Special be be for the Sheriff election.

3. Click on a particular candidate

4. Click on any particular report or a list of all contributions and expenditures.

The main page for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections can be located at http://elections.alachua.fl.us/. For other questions, they can be reached by phone at 352-374-5252.

There You Go Again

2006-07-31T12:37:00.000-05:00

The following is a quote from a post by Charlie Grapski on the ALA Speakout Blog, posted on 07-31-06.

"I think the most telling thing about Rod Smith - is that the Alachua County Republican Party, its friends the developers, and those they work with in the City of Alachua all WANT Rod Smith as Governor - yet he is a Democrat."

On what do you base this ridiculous claim about the Republican Party? I can assure you, that it is not true. Just as we have volunteers working hard, now, in both the Crist and Gallagher camps, when the primary is over, they will all be working very hard to make sure that the Republican primary winner wins the election.

But, what is particularly disturbing, is your tendancy to just make stuff up.

By the way, I called the Division of Elections, again, this morning. You claim that you filed your second quarter report, but they have no record of a Q2 report filed by you. Can you explain that? It is probably just another example of your tendancy to make stuff up.

1. Where is your report?
2. If no contributions or expenditures, where is your waiver?
3. How do you expect anybody to take you seriously on election reform or your complaints about the city of Alachua when they know that you just make stuff up?

Posted by SJ

No Excuses

2006-07-28T11:47:00.000-05:00

On his own "Alachua Project" blog, Charlie Grapski says:

"Ignorance of the law is no excuse. . ."

Charlie, we agree. That is why you should correct your first report, file your second one, and open your campaign bank account for inspection and reconciliation to your reports.

If fair and honest elections are as important to you as you say, I am sure you will have no qualms about complying.

Posted by SJ

Withdrawn / Did Not Qualify

2006-07-27T15:46:00.000-05:00

Well, Charlie Grapski did not qualify for State House. In a letter to supporters, Mr. Grapski stated that it was a difficult decision, as he believed that he could have won the race. His letter was filled with lofty platitutdes of taking back local government, town by town, starting with Alachua.

In one statement, Mr. Grapski says that he aims to, ". . . begin restablishing the rule of law and real democratic government BY THE PEOPLE." I would suggest that Mr. Grapski start by filing his overdue campaign finance report. By law, candidates are required to file campaign finance reports by a due date. Mr. Grapski's last campaign finance report was due on July 10th. To this day, it remains unfiled.

Mr. Grapski could then continue his efforts by correcting his previous campaign report to show his contributions. His January 1st to March 31st campaign finance report shows expenditures and no contributions. That is certainly not abnormal, in and of itself, except that it was Mr. Grapski's first campaign report. It would seem that Mr. Grapski is claiming to have spent money before he had it.

The fact is that both his incomplete Q1 report and his non-existent Q2 report put Mr. Grapski in violation of Florida Statutes 106.07. While Mr. Grapski is beating his chest about clean and honest elections, he has committed serious violations of state law, as a candidate.

Mr. Grapski, come clean. Fix your report and file the missing one. Indeed, you will still have other reports to file. As it is now known that you are incapable of adhereing to campaign finance laws, we would like to see you open your campaign account for inspection and reconciliation with your reports.

Mr. Grapski's letter to his supporters is as follows:

Friday, July 21, 2006
A message from Charlie
Hello friends

I have decided this morning to NOT qualify for the 2006 general election for the Florida House. This was a difficult decision - as I believe I could have won this race and played a significant role in bringing change to our political system from the level of the State of Florida.

With the legal battles ongoing I have had to neglect my campaign to instead redirect efforts into the fight for the rights of the residents of one city in my district.

I believe that, at this time, the best use of my talents and those of others who support me is to focus them inward - prove we can indeed take back our government for the people in one city - while at the same time building a true grassroots movement in the counties of North Central Florida in preparation for the 2008 election cycle.

This will enable us to refocus these efforts over a two-year period of organization and development so that we can be even more effective in our struggle.

I hope to build the Alachua Project in two directions: 1) Recruiting national support for a grassroots effort to take back one town - and prove we can do it; 2) Expanding this to taking back the local level of government town-by-town across Florida and across the nation - thus turning it into the Democracy Project.

I believe that if we can direct 10% of the national grassroots movement into a focused local reform effort - we can level the playing field and we can begin re-establishing the true rule of law and real democratic government BY THE PEOPLE. With our collective knowledge, energy, resources, etc. we can take back America one town at a time.

I believe, furthermore, that with two years of organization and mobilization through such a project we can lay the foundations for a truly independent grassroots wave of empowered citizens who will be the primary, rather than secondary, forces in the 2008 election cycle nationwide.

I will announce my plans for the next two years in the upcoming days. I apologize to all of you who have done so much to support me and I hope that I have not let you down. This is a very hard decision - but I believe that in the long-run it will prove to be for the best.

This is not about me alone - but about all of us - and I am committed to do any and everything in my power for the next two years to accomplish our goals and objectives. This is about all of us - as a community.

I will need your support in these endeavors - and hope that I can call on you for assistance in these efforts.

Feel free to call or email me to let me know your feelings on this and if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Again, I apologize to all who have done so much to assist me in this effort to date. Its people like you that have given me the ground upon which to remain optimistic that WE, together, can fight this very important battle - and it is a struggle that will not be won overnight - and bring it to a victory within the next few years.

Posted by SJ

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

2006-07-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

Charlie Grapski, A Loyal Alachua County Democrat

Loves Mike Byerly

Obsessed with Clovis Watson

Friend of Dr. Evil

'Nuff Said

Three Consent Agenda Fraud Scenarios: Discredited

2006-07-09T12:03:00.000-05:00

Charlie Grapski said:
2) You beg the biggest question of all. Show me a time when the City of Gainesville or the County of Alachua has KEPT something on a consent agenda WHEN a member of the public requested to give input into the matter?

Very good, Charlie! A third change in your Consent Agenda Fraud Scenario. Your feet move faster than anybody I know. Let’s review your, so far, three different Consent Agenda Fraud Scenarios:

Charlie’s Consent Agenda Fraud Scenario #1:
Consent agenda is illegal because it implies consent from each commissioner, up-front – which implies communication between the commissioners – which results in a violation of Sunshine Laws.

Scenario #1 Discredited:
We pointed out that you don’t understand how the consent agenda works. It doesn’t require prior consent by the commissioners. The manager or staff can put items on the consent agenda. In fact, if you look at the City of Gainesville Consent agenda, they have a section for each department that puts stuff on the consent agenda. Fraud Scenario #1: discredited

Charlie’s Consent Agenda Fraud Scenario #2:
We proved you wrong on 1, so you modified your fraud scenario to “How they use the consent agenda”. You claim that they cannot put substantive items on the consent agenda. In your postings across the net, including at HowardEmpowered.com, you claimed that expending money and approving the application of grants were substantive items. On howardempowered.com, you specifically complained about the last consent agenda in which the city accepted a road for which a grant had been awarded, about 2 years ago. From your posting, you, obviously, didn’t understand that the road had been approved about 2 years ago, the grant awarded, and the only thing left was the housekeeping as required by the grant for the city to accept the road.

Scenario #2 Discredited:
The Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Commission both use the consent agenda and both use it for items that you describe as substantive. Bud has pointed out $5,300,000 expenditure on the 07-11-06 Alachua County Commission consent agenda. During the 06-12-06 meeting of the Gainesville City Commission, the commission approved $75,000 on the consent agenda. At the 06-26-06 Gainesville City Commission meeting, on the consent agenda was an item to apply for grants from the Department of Homeland Security totally more than $2.2 million over 5 years, and, if awarded, the city would kick in a matching amount of more than $2.2 million over 5 years. Fraud Scenario #2: discredited

Charlie’s Consent Agenda Fraud Scenario #3:
Show me a time when the City of Gainesville or the County of Alachua has KEPT something on a consent agenda WHEN a member of the public requested to give input into the matter?

Scenario #3 Discredited:
I don’t know that they have, or haven’t, and neither do you. The problem with this scenario is that you never asked in the appropriate fashion. The agendas are available before the meeting. Before the last couple of meetings, both Michael Canney and David Russ asked to have items removed from the consent agenda. The City of Alachua accommodated them. They know the proper procedure. It is NOT the proper procedure for a member of the public to stand up and start shouting out motions. Robert’s Rules apply to the commission members, and DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU, as a member of the public. It seems that you are the only one that doesn’t know how to have an item removed from the Consent Agenda.

The only fraud being perpetrated on the public is by you, dear Charlie. You are also perpetrating a huge fraud on your howardempowered.com friends. I don't blame them, because they only know what you tell them.

As a public actor and as a prototypical Alachua County Democrat, Charlie, your actions have been reckless and immoral with the goal of nothing more than stopping economic development, job creation and of progressivly creating an unattainable socialist utopia.

Posted by SJ

Continuing From the Previous Thread

2006-07-07T22:07:00.000-05:00

Charlie, as near as I can tell, Bud never expressed any desire to debate you on the principles of the founding of our country. He leaves that to you and Dr. Ellis.

You are deflecting, again. I can only assume that you have no logical answer to my July 5th, 11:13 post.

When you are dragged out of the confines of the political theory that you continue to immerse yourself into - when you are dragged into practical reality, you are, obviously, out of your element.

I don't need to explore founding principles to know that the minority business ownership rate in Alachua County is half the state average and that it is the anti-business policies of democrats like you that make that happen.

I don't need to explore founding principles to know that we are under the state average in being able to provide jobs in the $25,000 to $50,000 range, and that it is the anti-business policies of democrats like you that make that happen.

I don't need to explore founding principles to know that, even when we account for student rentals, the homeownership rate in our county is well below the state average, and that it is anti-business, anti-economic opportunity policies by democrats like you that help make that happen.

I don't need to explore founding principles to know that nearly half the kids that go to Alachua County Public Schools qualify for free and reduced lunch programs, and that it is anti-business, anti-economic opportunity policies by democrats like you that have helped to make that happen.

I don't need to explore founding principles to know that in 2003, 19.8% of children (0 to 17) lived at or below the poverty line and that it is anti-business, anti-economic opportunity policies by model Alachua County Democrats like you that have made that so.

Before you try to blame George Bush (your friends on the DEC did after we first started exploring these numbers), please note that we compared these to state averages and we, as a county, don't stack up well with the state statistics.

Be honest, Charlie. You don't want good government. You want to overturn an election and take another shot at getting the liberal / progressive candidate on the commission. If the liberal/ progressive had won by 2 votes you would have had no desire to explore this election any further.

You attack Alachua for its use of the consent agenda, but you are being disingenuous because the City of Gainesville uses its consent agenda to expend funds and to apply for grants.

You just went after Bud by recycling the same arguments that I shot down in the earlier post.

You continue to harp about low wage jobs, but I pointed out that the Dollar General jobs probably pay more than custodial jobs at UF. Are you seriously going to deny somebody that opportunity? You harp about subsidizing big business, but what if that business brings in more into the community than it costs to bring it here?

Charlie, did you oppose the re-development subsidies approved by the Gainesville City Commission. I would argue that is a worse kind of subsidy than those put forward for DG or Wal-Mart. Beyond construction, the apartment and condo projects that the city is giving huge tax breaks for don’t really provide a steady flow of jobs, and the money collected in rents, etc goes to out of town owners. The value is in the property taxes they can raise, but we are giving those away?

I keep making points that you keep refusing to address. Forget about Bud. Quit dodging me by answering him. You work out whatever you want to work out with him, but quit dodging me. I will challenge you to a debate, anytime, (WSKY if you would like, since you mentioned it) on these subjects, and I promise you, I will win it.

Posted by Stafford

Capitalism = Corruption and Jobs = Slavery

2006-07-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

So finally after weeks of asking Mr. Grapski what was his definition of profiteer we have an answer. He says we are “corrupt”, that we “profit” from our community service and that we will be “arrested” and “put in jail” because he has “proof positive” of our crimes. And what is our crime? It turns out it is because we believe in Capitalism. Mr. Grapski has revealed that he is a Socialist and in true ideolog fashion, everyone who believes differently is a criminal. He wants to REDISTRIBUTE collective resources (wealth) from those who have achieved success and give it to the public, i.e. those poor African Americans with high utility bills or those small business entrepreneurs trying to live the American Dream.

Mr. Grapski lives in a theoretical world. He certainly doesn’t live in the real world. In fact he is a parasite and I use that term in a scientific way, in all due respect. A parasite is an organism that lives off another organism without harming the host. For the past forty one years Mr. Grapski has been sucking at the teat of his liberal friends. He hasn’t found it necessary to go out into the real world and get a job to earn a paycheck to acquire life’s necessities. If he needs $10,000 to pursue his lawsuit he panders to his fellow Socialists/Liberals and they are happy to give him their hard earned money. In fact they shower him with computers and free housing. What a life. I wish that I could be so fortunate but I was instilled with a work ethic from parents who lived in the real world who didn’t believe that the government and friends should support them.

Let us look at some of Mr. Grapski’s arguments. Why are there some who have high utility bills? Is it the high cost of fuel that gets passed on to customers? Yes, to some extent but then “everyone” pays the same rate. Are some not conserving energy? Are the poor not supposed to conserve? Are their houses poorly constructed without adequate insulation? Can that be because there are not decent paying jobs available close to home so they don’t have to spend more of their budget on gasoline? In Mr. Grapski’s world the government will just give them more to pay their bills from those who have achieved. What we want is to give everyone the “opportunity” to pull themselves up the ladder to a better life and that is a “crime” in Mr. Grapski’s eyes.

Mr. Grapski as a Socialist/Liberal has a problem with our efforts to bring those needing decent jobs to those very jobs via buses. This is a contradiction in itself. I would have thought that this effort would be supported by him since he claims to be in favor of helping the poor. But he hasn’t attended any of the public meetings where this service was discussed. The goal is to establish routine bus service through out the day for everyone. This is just the first small step. Why is he against using tax dollars to help those less fortunate? I will never understand the thinking of a Socialist ideolog.

Mr. Grapski thinks that the City hasn’t helped local businesses with tax breaks and infrastructures. I can easily think of three; Hitchcocks, Sabine and Driltech. Grant money also was used to revitalize downtown Main St that helped ALL those businesses. Again, Mr Grapski wasn’t around when it was blighted with empty stores and a seedy bar. The City got a grant to purchase Rolling Green Academy and turned it into the finest recreation center in the county that all businesses and public have benefited.

The biggest rant of Mr. Grapski that bothers me the most is the claim that Dollar General jobs “guarantee” that their employees will be “locked into those …jobs”. I am sure that he has an image in his mind of poor people shackled to their work stations like slaves and the “evil” corporation whipping them to produce more. This is the biggest lie of the Socialists. The American Dream is that those who have the motivation to succeed can by hard work and learning skills for advancement. Dollar General has been a corporate leader in this area, go to their website for more information. However, this doesn’t fit Mr. Grapski’s agenda.

There was a letter to the editor recently when Mr. Grapski’s friends in the ALA were carrying on about the “menial minimum wage jobs that lead to the dumbing down of America” (Eileen McCoy’s campaign slogan). It was written by a woman who had worked at the local pharmacy while going to college. She needed to arrange her work schedule to fit her college schedule. The pharmacy said that they wouldn’t do that so she took a job at Dollar General. She pointed out that they were more than happy to accommodate her. In fact they helped pay for her classes AND paid her more then she had been making working at the pharmacy!

Bottom line, there will always be a difference of opinion between those who want bland government handouts and those who believe that America is the greatest country in the world because we give everyone the opportunity to succeed IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK NECESSARY. If this wasn’t true why do so many come here legally and illegally? Last time I looked it wasn’t a crime to be a Capitalist.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

The Iron Lady

2006-06-21T17:10:00.000-05:00

Margaret Thatcher earned a nickname during the cold war. Her nickname was The Iron Lady. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, she was a tough willed woman who knew what it took to govern.

Here in Alachua County, we have our own Iron Lady. She is one of the most respectful people that I know. She cares about doing her city’s business in an orderly fashion, and about respecting the rights of the citizens in the face of those that would disrupt and create chaos.

That lady is Alachua’s Mayor, Jean Calderwood.

At the Monday, June 19th meeting of the Alachua City Commission, Charlie Grapski inappropriately called for a parliamentary inquiry and then a point of order. It was inappropriate because Charlie Grapski is not a member of the commission. The time for citizen comment is during the citizen comment time. The City of Alachua has two of those. One near the front of the commission meeting and one at the end.

No, the rules don’t apply to Charlie Grapski. Other citizens wait – Mr. Grapski stands up and shouts. In fact, he was shouting so loud that he never heard the Mayor ask the Chief of Police to dis-invite him from the meeting. On blog postings during the last two days, Mr. Grapski insisted that the Mayor never asked to have him arrested or removed from the meeting. The video tells a different story. They Mayor didn’t ask to have him arrested, but she certainly asked for him to leave the meeting.

Once again, Mr. Grapski only proves that he believes that he knows what is best, and that his ends, justify his means as he shows his utter contempt for the rights of others.

The video of this embarrassing scene is available at http://www.alachuatoday.com.

Posted by SJ

What Did I Miss Along the Way?

2006-06-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

The following letter has been sent by Clovis Watson to the editors of the various local newspapers and was submitted to us.

----------------------------

What Did I Miss Along the Way?

Growing up in the housing projects in Alachua (Merrillwood), where shoes and three meals a day were not guaranteed. Mother worked cleaning houses and hotels; Father worked two full-time jobs. At the earliest possible opportunity, we moved from dependence to self-sufficiency.

For more than 30 years, I have continued to improve my life with hard work, drive and desire.

Now I am portrayed as a lackey and a fraud because of success and always doing the right thing.

What did I miss?

Spend more than 20 years in service to the City of Alachua, always with progressively more responsible duties, collecting awards and citations instead of complaints and charges.

But in four years, branded as a toady, an election thief and one who lines his pockets at the expense of the public.

What did I miss?

Guided the City during those four years from uncertainty, strife and fiscal chaos to our present efficient and fiscally sound position, with major corporations willing to shoulder an increasing percentage of the taxes.

But now I learn that this was only for my benefit, and done only because of my lifelong desire to ruin the City and the environment for the fun of it.

What did I miss?

Yes, my office is decorated with numerous awards and plaques of appreciation for the ceaseless work I have done on behalf of others, and I am justifiably proud.

But, now I learn from the press, the internet and the loose lips of my detractors that I am actually illiterate, can’t speak, live to step and fetch for the Man, and take 100% credit for the work of others while contributing zero.

What did I miss?

For every positive step I take, there are dozens of feet willing to trip me—the ALA, the Green Party, NUBA, the lunatic fringe of what was once a great party, individuals willing to prostitute the truth and their principles for political and monetary gain.

I spent my life achieving on my own efforts, not at the expense of others, as these people are doing.

What did I miss?

The answer to my own questions is: I missed NOTHING.

Those who are incapable of advancing their ideas through popular acceptance have taken the low and sinister road.

Those who will not recognize their rejection by the majority must necessarily find an excuse for their failure—anything other than themselves or their ideas must be at fault.

Character assassination, blatant lies, sly and damaging innuendo, volume over substance—these are all the tools of the ineffectual loser, and you can see it on display in many venues.

--“Unbiased” news stories presenting one side of the news with as much distortion and conjecture as hard facts.

--Anonymous posters and bloggers, lashing out in puerile anger from the fetid, dark dens they favor over
the light of day.

--Self-serving, megalomaniacal political candidates who stake their future on the wanton destruction of
everything positive, for they have scant offerings themselves.

--Activists who arrogate to themselves the mantle of truth and infallibility, while slipping a stiletto between the
ribs of the groups they profess to champion.

So many more that the mind numbs with exhaustion in an attempt to discern a logic to their actions where there is none.

Not a shred of decency or compassion can be seen in their words and their deeds. Because the self-anointed “saviors” have such “purity” in their vision, they have decreed that the mundane strictures of law, civility and ethics must not apply to them, lest it fetter them in their holy quest.

Preposterous!

In their actions;

In their words;

In their assumptions;

In the very way they treat us, the normal people.

Preposterous!

We, who do not share their lofty, elitist plane, will, as always, rely on the common sense of the majority and the force of the law.

Both of which will be coming into play much sooner than they want or expect.

No, I don’t think I missed a thing.

Submitted by Clovis Watson

To Be Unburdened

2006-06-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

To be unburdened of ethics and honesty must be a very empowering thing when debating your adversaries. In his quest to lead the ALA against supposed corruption, Mr. Grapski has, indeed, completely freed himself from the bounds of decency and honesty. In Mr. Grapski’s theoretical world, he knows what is best, and, therefore, the ends justify the means.

Let’s look at a couple of specific examples:

The first one is just classic! Mr. Grapski claims that the Republican Executive Committee is out to get “compromising information” on him. Last week, on the www.howardempowered.com blog, Charlie wrote:

The other night I was informed that the Republican Executive Committee was "out to get me" - and indeed a friend came to me to tell me he had been approached by an REC member - seeking for him to assist getting "compromising information" on me.

I am sure that making statements like that does wonders for Mr. Grapski’s persecution complex, but it simply isn’t true. Actually, we will leave the goon-squad tactics to Mr. Grapski. Witness his attempting to intimidate Republican volunteers by posting pictures and profiles of them and their family members on his far-left, liberal website.

By the way, that is a good picture, Mildred. Isn’t that you and Rusty at the Governor’s Christmas Party?

Another great example of Grapski’s leave of absence from the truth is his claim that the Republican Executive Committee claimed to be coordinating some event with the NAACP. Nothing we sent out claimed any such thing, but that didn’t matter to Mr. Grapski. The Republican Party had nothing to do with coordinating that event. It is being coordinated by others, but we intended to be there to show our support for Mayor Jean Calderwood and Clovis Watson and the economic development, job-creation policies taking hold in Alachua. Fortunately, for us, Mr. Grapski posted our email right next to his interpretation of it, and they weren’t even remotely similar. The people who were fooled by Mr. Grapski, have now been un-fooled.

It is our understanding that the event has been postponed, again, in an effort to coordinate several groups. We will keep our ears open, and when they do have it, the Republicans will be there to show our support for the job and economic opportunity creating policies that the ALA and their current leader, Charlie Grapski, despise so much.

But, what is this really all about for Charlie Grapski and the ALA. Is it really about corruption? Their words to their local audience say, “yes”, but their words to their out-of-town, liberal audience says something completely different. In an “article” (really a one-sided manifesto) at the liberal Raw Story opinion-journalism site, Charlie Grapski had this to say.

There is another dimension to what’s happening in Alachua County. The County of Alachua is one of the two Democratic voting areas in Florida; the rest of the state has gone Republican. The Republican Party has taken over the City of Alachua and basically opened it up for drive-through development. There are all kinds of land deals where these city officials and cronies are benefiting by development of land, including Rod Smith. We’re talking a Wal-Mart distribution center, a Wal-Mart super-center and a Home Depot…They can’t get these developed in Alachua County so they absolutely have control over some of these small towns. They are just opening doors for unrestrained growth and development – multi-millions of dollars changing hands.

So now we see another example of how Charlie Grapski has unburdened himself from the truth. He is telling his local audience one thing, all the while getting support for his anti-job policies by telling his liberal friends across the country something else.

I really like the part about the Republican Party having taken over the City of Alachua. Hasn’t somebody told Charlie that there are four Democrats and one Republican on the Alachua City Commission? Has somebody neglected to tell Charlie Grapski and the ALA that there are more registered Democrats in the City of Alachua than registered Republicans?

Maybe the Democrats just aren’t Charlie Grapski’s kind of Democrats.

Maybe Charlie Grapski is becoming the standard model of the Alachua County Democrat.

From the amount of email that we are receiving from Democrats (and Republicans) supporting what we are doing here, and the number of people that keep standing up at Alachua City Commission meetings supporting the Commission and Clovis Watson, I would suggest that a lot of other people think so, too.

Posted by SJ

Grapski / ALA Intimidate Republican Volunteer - Make Personal Information Available

2006-06-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

Charlie Grapski has adopted a tactic of intimidation. He has, personally, placed on his website a profile of a Republican volunteer, including her contact information simply because she was helping to arrange volunteers to support Alachua's Republican Mayor.

Mr. Grapski, do the honest and ethical thing and stop this intimidating tactic and remove the volunteer's personal information from your site.

Stafford Jones

More ALA / Grapski Lies

2006-06-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

At both the ALA and Alachua Project sites, new lies have been put out that the Alachua County Republican Executive Committee is conspiring to bring the Democratic Black Caucus and the NAACP.

Let's be very clear. The Republican Executive Committee, in no way, has anything to do with that group coming here. We did not arrange it, did not coordinate it and have had no contact with anybody from the other group, but we have made the decision to be there, at the same time, to support the pro-job policies of Mayor Calderwood and the City of Alachua.

Economic opportunity and job creation are the basis of our Rescue Alachua County Program, and we, as Republicans, will continue to push these ideals at every opportunity.

Mr. Grapski continues to be an unethical and dishonest participant in the political processes in Alachua County Florida.

Posted by SJ

Dismissed (and Dissed) - The ALA Lawsuit

2006-06-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

For two and a half years, the ALA dragged the City of Alachua through a lawsuit. That lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. The excuse being used today by ALA supporters is that lawsuit was never heard on its merits, but was dismissed by the judge because of a technical error by a sick attorney.

The dismissal documents and that the suit was dismissed with prejudice suggests otherwise. In his dismissal documents, Judge Roundtree took the plantiffs and their attorney to task for baseless and willful delay. In the summary of his decision (item 17), the judge said:

17. Throughout this litigation, Plaintiffs and their counsel have shown no regard for the rules of civil procedure, orders of this court or the impact their actions have on the litigants or the judicial administration of this case and the other cases this court is required to administer. Plaintiffs have engaged in a pattern of delay, obstruction, and disregard for orders of the court. This case has already exceeded the Supreme Court time guidelines and there is not yet a good complaint filed. This court is convinced that if Defendants had not filed their joint motion to dismiss because Plaintiffs failed to timely file a fourth amended complaint, Plaintiffs would not have filed it in an effort to further delay this litigation.

The ALA then appealed the case. The appeals court upheld Judge Roundtree's decision.

The entire PDF dismissal document can be found by clicking here. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view it.

Posted by SJ

Charles Grapski, Attorney At Large

2006-06-11T18:37:00.000-05:00

Charles Grapski is a proud man. You could say that he is an elitist because he wants to be a modern day Emile Zola. For those who don’t know, Zola was a French novelist who brought down the corrupt French government ( a redundant statement) back in 1898. He wrote an article entitled “J’Accuse”, where he spelled out in detail the corruption in the French government. Both Zola and Grapski claim to be for the little man battling a corrupt government except that Mr. Grapski hasn’t spelled out any corruption, just accusations without proof. Mr. Grapski wants to defend democracy and citizens rights in their dealings with city hall. I support that and I will get back to that in a minute.

Mr. Grapski plans to go to law school. He puts that on his web page of accomplishments, www.homepage.mac.com/cgrapski/, right next to his PhD candidacies at the University College London, England and U of Fl. As best as I can tell from his web page, at the age of 40, he hasn’t managed to finish either of these.

Mr. Grapski has decided that he will reform Alachua city government single handedly (along with Michael Canney, Co-Chairman of the Alachua Green Party and the ALA). Toward that goal he helped Eileen McCoy file a lawsuit against the Canvassing Board and the individuals on that Board that has yet to be served on the named parties. Unfortunately he filed it three days too late and he paid the filing fees with a NSF check Not a good start for his legal battles against corruption in Alachua. If this were a horse race we would say that he stumbled coming out of the gate.

He immediately followed that by getting arrested for secretly recording private conversations in private offices in city hall, a third degree felony. He has repeatedly stated that he knows the law and he hasn’t violated it. He even said that he would continue to record people he considers public officials and the video shown on the High Springs Herald web site shows that he kept his word. Will more arrests be coming? Seems so. In baseball we call that “strike two”.

Next he DEMANDED that he was privy to sensitive information concerning absentee ballots as described by Florida Statues because he was a candidate in another election , “As I am a candidate in a contested election-I am entitled to this document under Chapter 102 as well as 119”. An opinion from the Florida Department of State disagreed saying, “this person would not be allowed to review the confidential information that the City gathered pursuant to statue 101.62(3)”. In baseball this would be “strike three”.

Finally a good attorney fights for his clients, in this case the ALA. Mr. Grapski claims that City Manager Clovis Watson illegally holds two or more jobs and is unqualified to hold any of them,

” Frankly, and let's be honest, Clovis Watson is UNQUALIFIED for the job (actually many jobs) he currently occupies. He certainly ought not to be a police officer - let alone the City's TOP police officer. But putting aside that it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL for him to occupy that office AS WELL as another (City Manager) - he has NO QUALIFICATIONS whatsoever to be City Manager. And yet he is probably the HIGHEST PAID City Manager in the state of Florida. QUESTION: HOW CAN THAT BE?”

What he fails to understand is that Mr. Watson is an innocent victim, one of those Mr. Grapski claims to defend. Why is Mr. Watson a victim? Because he isn’t the party that caused this supposed illegality. Who gave him the job that Grapski feels he isn’t qualified to hold? That party has to be the commission when it gave him the titles, if you are to follow Mr. Grapski’s logic. It was Commissioner Robbins who made the motion and Commissioner Rothseiden who seconded the motion to accept Watson’s contract and make him Police Commissioner. They were proud to have him as their City Manager. They were falling all over themselves praising him and his qualifications. We will report on their comments soon. Remember these are the same “clients” that Grapski “represents”, so to speak, the ALA. So where does the real corruption lie. Who is working behind the scenes, out of the Sunshine, usurping the democratic process and thwarting the will of the citizens. This is where I support Grapski’s efforts as I was one of those who was asking these commissioners for a proper city manager search for new candidates. One with those same qualities that Mr. Grapski says are lacking. My and the other citizen’s requests fell on deaf ears. Why?

Mr. Grapski says he has proof of corruption in city hall but has not produced any to date. I want to give him some to place in his file. I hope he goes after these individuals as aggressively as he has my wife and myself. But then he wouldn’t be a very good attorney by turning in his own clients.

Let the record show my “proof” of corruption in city hall. Let the public record show who really was thwarting the citizens for their own political gains. To wit:

“I was referred to in another post as "miss perfect", never make a mistake. Yes I did make one big mistake while a commissioner. That was stooping to the GOB's way of governing while appointing Mr. Watson to the postion of city manager, especially the agenda removing the title of "interim" from his title. He campaigned relentlessly for that position. He showed up on my door step with candidate Kosman and her husband (editor’s note- Paul Rothseiden) to assure me that he could do the job that Jarboe could not. He was at my house numerous times during his "campaign". He was after his positon for some time. It was no surprise when Watson was appointed to the interim postion, that myself and 2 other commissioners knew it was going to happen all along. This was a real example of GOB back room dealings, and prearranged voting. What a disgusting way to do the public business. When the public stated that things were being rushed, they were right. When the public requested another professional study be done, at no cost: They were right. Watson promised things would be different, and he supported doing the right thing. I have regretted that action many times, and still do. For that, I owe the public an appology. Steam-rolling issues for "secret" interests is a slimey way to operate. I truely hope that the dirt will someday wear away from my hands. It felt wrong when it was happening, and it always will be”. Ex-Commissioner Tamara Robbins

Mr. Grapski sees himself as Emile Zola and a first rate attorney. I see him as Don Quixote, the comic character tilting at windmills.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

Model City?

2006-06-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

Part of Charlie Grapski's pitch while asking for people to support his legal defense fund is that I said that Alachua is a "model city."

That is, simply, not true. I am not sure what city is a model city. Every city has its problems, but Alachua has the potential to be a model in our county for policies that drive job creation and good wages. That is what was said. If Mr. Grapski had spent some time listening instead of arguing, he would have gotten that message.

For the Republican Executive Committee, this debate is about job creation, wages and diversifying the tax base.

Once again, it all boils down to the same debate about what kind and how much economic development we are going to have.

Unfortunately, the debate has shifted from discrediting policies, to using accusations of corruption to discredit people as an end-around on the policies, themselves.

In the debate about dual office holding, Mr. Grapski has laid out his case for why more than one title could be a problem for the city manager, but he continues to hold it up as an example of corruption and to completely ignore the approval of then Commissioners Robbins and Rothseiden when that arrangement was approved by the Alachua City Commission. In fact, current and then Commissioner Lewis opposed the hiring, at the time, but he is being associated with the supposed corruption reflected in the city manager's contract.

This isn't about corruption. It is about discrediting people as an end-around to their policies.

Posted by SJ

An Open Challenge To Charles Grapski

2006-06-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

Charles Grapski has openingly called my wife and myself corrupt and profiting from our service to our community. He says that we will be arrested. He offers no proof of these allegations. If we lived two hundred years ago I would challenge him to a duel at twenty paces for this slander to settle this outrageous insult to our characters. Since we are more civilized now I will challenge him to a duel of FACTS. He claims to have proof positive to back his talk. To that I say, bring it on. Prove that either one of us has taken even one penny from anyone or any business associated with the City.

Mr. Grapski is an outsider to our community and obviously has been given bad information. He challenges me to prove a negative. I will give him a positive to refute. He claims that I was James Lewis’ campaign manager. This is false. I was his Treasurer for which I received no compensation. On the other hand, his opponent Lewis Irby did have a paid campaign consultant.

I make my living as a veterinarian. I do not now nor have I ever owned any stock in any company that does any business with the City or business in the city. My wife earns her living as a state employee and Mayor of our beautiful city. My wife does not now nor has she ever owned any stock. We own one rental unit which we bought from my wife’s son.

The citizens of our Good Life Community know of our voluntary services. We have both been recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for our services to many organizations like NUBA in their fund raising efforts, The Military Support Group of Alachua County, the Recreation Department, LDR and Comprehensive Plan Committees, Clean Up Days, Planning and Zoning Committee, Police Pension Board, Past President of the Alachua Women’s Club, Past Presidents of the Chamber, Chamber Sportsfest Committee, Chairs of the local Christmas Parade, Citizens Advisory Task Force, Greater Alachua Transportation Task Force, Countywide Visioning Committee, Mebane SAC, Drug Prevention Council, NCF Regional Economic Development Council, fund raising efforts for the youth sports programs to name but a few organizations. We have also donated money and hundreds of volunteer hours to a multitude of community projects.

Let the citizens be alert to these false allegations of corruption and profiteering. They should consider the character of someone who bares false witness against good citizens for their own agenda. Mr. Grapski, stop lying about our character. If you have any proof positive then present it publicly for all to see.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

More on Grapski's Goof

2006-06-05T09:41:00.000-05:00

Mr. Grapski continues to distort the state constitution for the purpose of building his own grand conspiracy, but he does so by publishing only selected fact. For instance, he did not publish the half of the consitutional provison that clearly does not define an "officer" as a hired employee.

"(b) Each state and county officer, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall give bond as required by law, and shall swear or affirm:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the state; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of (title of office) on which I am now about to enter. So help me God.", and thereafter shall devote personal attention to the duties of the office, and continue in office until a successor qualifies. "

"(c) The powers, duties, compensation and method of payment of state and county officers shall be fixed by law."

In addition, in the Attorney General's opinion, he recognized that government employees, especially in small towns, often hold more than one job. In fact, the Attorney General listed specific exceptions, including sworn police officers also made state attorney investigators because they weren't being paid (Vinales v. State).

Mr. Grapski goes on to incorrectly state:

"It is also clear from the City's Charter that there are specific duties, sharing in the sovereign power, allocated to each of the offices of "Police Commissioner" and "City Manager".

This is factually incorrect. The city charter (link here) does not define any specific duties for a police commissioner, nor does it mention the position or the police department, at all. It is nothing more than a made up title granted, without pay, and approved by commissioners that were also affiliated with the ALA.

That brings us back to the most important point of the whole issue. Mr. Grapski holds this up as an example of corruption in the City of Alachua. Especially given the two commissioners that motioned and seconded the approval of the contract. If they are wrong, then they are wrong, but there is no evidence that this is an example of corruption.

Posted by SJ

Grapski's Goof

2006-06-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

One of the threads in the fabric of the Great Alachua Conspriacy Theory (a.k.a. Da Alachua Code) is that the city is in violation of the state constitution because the city manager holds more than one title. In fact, this has been the basis of one of Charlie Grapski's recent attacks. On his own blog, he had this to say about it.

"For those who are wondering about "dual office holding" - as in the case of Clovis Watson (occupying the following FOUR offices: City Manager, City Clerk, City Police Commissioner and Sworn Officer) - in which holding of both the City Manager and the Police Commissioner positions, simultaneously, are CLEARLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL - see the Florida Constitution:"

"SECTION 5. Public officers.-- (a) No person holding any office of emolument under any foreign government, or civil office of emolument under the United States or any other state, shall hold any office of honor or of emolument under the government of this state. No person shall hold at the same time more than one office under the government of the state and the counties and municipalities therein, except that a notary public or military officer may hold another office, and any officer may be a member of a constitution revision commission, taxation and budget reform commission, constitutional convention, or statutory body having only advisory powers. "

"Clovis Watson clearly holds his positions IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTION. (See the recent decision of the City of Castelberry to make their Police Chief the INTERIM City Commissioner. They had to reverse that decision - on the basis that it is unconstitutional to hold both positions)."

Grapski's goof is that in his example, both positions referenced are constitutional positions.

In the City of Alachua, however, the City Manager is designated in the charter as the City Clerk. so that isn't an issue. Grapski's real complaint, however, is with the dual role of City Manager / Police Commissioner. This was also addressed in the dismissed suit filed against the city by the ALA.

The current city manager holds only one constitional position and gets paid only one salary for that position. That position is City Manager. In fact, Police Commissioner is not a constitutional position. It was a title made up by the city commission, at the time of Watson's hiring to allow him to keep the retirement benefits that he had accrued over the 20 years that he was a police officer. In fact, the motion to accept the contract was made by a commissioner that is affiliated of the ALA and seconded by another commissioner, also affiliated with the ALA.

An August, 2002 Alachua Post article reported:

"At the August 19, 2002 Alachua City Commission meeting, Manager Clovis Watson, Jr. received a unanimous vote of approval for a contract with the City of Alachua, securing a 5 year agreement. In the negotiated contract Watson will receive an annual salary of $80,000, moving expenses not to exceed $5,000, a one year severance clause was included and he will have language inserted into the contract that will allow him to retain retirement benefits accumulated over the past twenty years as a police officer. A provision was also included in the contract to compensate Watson for accrued sick leave and vacation at either the end or the termination of the contract. Commissioner Robbins asked to have language in the contract changed to connect salary increases to a job performance evaluation. . .The motion to accept the contract was made by Commissioner Robbins with a second by Commissioner Dianna Kosman-Rothseiden. The vote was 5/0 to approve the contract. "

Interesting that ALA affiliated commissioners approved the contract, but after they were voted out of office by the citizens of Alachua, the ALA sued over this. That suit was dismissed with prejudice.

In a future post, we will make the judge's complete ruling, dismissing the ALA lawsuit available.

Posted by SJ

Charlie Grapski’s Line in the Sand

2006-06-04T10:43:00.000-05:00

Charles Grapski makes some very disingenuous statements on his blog(link here) trying to convince Republicans in Alachua County that he has their best interest in mind. He says ,” Apologies to the many registered Republicans who do not share the Alachua County Republican Party's and the Republican Executive Committee's enthusiasm and support for Mr. Calderwood's approach and tactics and the actual conduct of government business and politics in the City of Alachua”. Reading that you would believe(sic) that Mr. Grapski was the epitome of graciousness and sympathy. Nothing could be further from the truth. He throws up a classic case of smoke and mirrors to his true agenda.

Let us look at the time line for this war of words between Grapski, Commissioner Byerly, the ALA and the rest of the world including the Republican Party. On May 6, 2006 Mr. Grapski had this to say when he is talking to his Far Left colleagues :

“Folks, I am not exaggerating when I say that this was a stolen election in Florida. And this has national significance - and particularly for the Democrats and their presidential aspirations.We all know how Florida's election was, well, manipulated in 2000. But it has not stopped - and Florida, above all, needs to be reformed.Florida is one of the key electoral college states - being one of the largest. And Alachua County is one of the two remaining Democratic strong-holds in the state. However - the Republicans (and locally the developers - who are often Democrats nationally but vote Republican locally) are engaged in a very strategic effort to try and find a way to take over Alachua County for themselves.And the City of Alachua has a key strategic element in this. They are in control of that city. Literally in control - there is no semblance of legitimacy or democracy - it is run by a cabal of individuals and they use it effectively as their private plantation (indeed one of their new housing developments - and they have a large number that have now been "approved" is called "Plantation Oaks" - aptly named)”.

Now I, as a Republican, was both amused and dismayed by these comments. His spread of this quote to all the Far Left blogs like MoveOn.org and his appeal for $10,000 for his legal fund should have the average Democrat asking if he isn’t really a Green Party candidate since he has aligned himself with Michael Canney, Co-Chairman of the Alachua Green Party. All Republicans in the county should take notice of Mr. Grapski’s ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth. He has declared war on the city of Alachua and all Republicans.

Don’t be fooled by his ability to breeze into town, talk loud to gather a crowd and try to sell his snake oil to the masses. Like the snake oil salesmen of the past you only get a product that stinks and leaves a bitter after taste.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

Mike's Mistake

2006-06-03T10:06:00.000-05:00

Mke Byerly recently wrote a letter to the editor of the High Springs Herald claiming that the minutes of the canvassing board (for the recent Alachua city elections) had not been made available to the general public.

In his letter, Mr. Byerly says:

"The recorded minutes of the meeting at which the votes were counted have been approved, apparently unseen, by the Alachua City Commission, yet remarkably remain unavailable to the citizens of Alachua."

"Why all the secrecy?"

"Mayor Calderwood, please obey both the letter and the spirit of the law. Respect your own citizens, even the ones you don’t happen to like or agree with. Release the public records."

This is simply one more weak thread in the grand conspiracy theories being weaved together by those associated with the ALA.

Mr. Byerly seems unaware that the minutes to the canvassing board were made available on the City's website, at the public library and in commission packets distributed at Alachua City Hall several days prior to the meeting at which the minutes were approved. They were certainly available for anyone that went to city hall and asked, but instead of contacting Mayor Calderwood and asking if the minutes were available, Mr. Byerly simply attacked the Mayor.

Just in case Mr. Byerly still needs it, following is the link to canvassing board minutes for the Spring, 2006 elections in the City of Alachua.

http://alachua.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/{18876D5B-08E9-47AC-B418-696C11E6B6CE}/uploads/{1C98268A-A8BB-4BDD-BDF2-A4014BDBF479}.PDF

Posted by SJ

The Da Alachua Code (kind of like the Da Vinci Code, only local)

2006-05-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

First off, not everything done by the ALA has been bad for Alachua. En Toto though, they have been very bad for Alachua and continue to be so. They started to attend Planning and Zoning Meeting to object to developments wanting to be built in the city limits. The core group included James Stephens, Robert Perez, Paul and Diana Rothseiden, Eileen McCoy, Busy Shires and Tamara Robbins. For the good, they influenced the City to add a new zoning category to allow for manufactured housing to be placed in neighborhoods with site built homes. They challenged the city for allowing a charter school to be placed on the old Rolling Green property. As it turned out that school didn’t live up to its promises and caused many problems for the recreation program next door. It was forced to move by the City. Tamara Robbins objected to mosquito spraying and wanted the City to build bat houses around town as well as to start to have city staff trespass on private property looking for standing water. She volunteered to “inspect” our properties herself. Fortunately that didn’t happen. There may be a few other changes that they championed but I am not aware of them.

The City had a chance to attract a Dollar General Distribution Center to the old industrially zoned IBM property. It had recently been sold to WACO after close to twenty years sitting vacant. WACO actively promoted the Industrial Zoning it had. Some of these people along with residential neighbors including Susan Murray formed a non-profit corporation called Alachua Community Association, Inc., hired Attorney Patrice Boyce and fought the City to try and prevent this development. They made many claims that were untrue such as the site was a Superfund contaminated property. They got the County to help pay for a consultant to study the impacts of the distribution center which turned out to be a win-win for the City. They were very unhappy with this report that they had helped paid for and made a weak argument that the nationally recognized consultant didn’t know what he was doing. They were unsuccessful in stopping the City and Dollar General.

After that skirmish the core group took over the corporation name and changed it to ALA- CHUA. They met regularly at the Rothseiden’s house and in a 2000 email from Busy Shires, circulated by Sustainable Alachua County, their announced their plans to elect ALA members to the commission, audit the City, down zone the WACO property to agriculture and sue the City. They became organized for upcoming commission races in an attempt to get one of their members elected to the commission. Paul Rothseiden was the first to run, unsuccessfully. They refined their techniques with outside political help (including Scott Camil and Colin Whitworth) and successfully got Tamara Robbins elected on the motto of “Leadership that Listens”, to which she showed no leadership and only listened to her core of friends. They started a campaign of whispers and misinformation with Robbins advertising her Democratic registration in a non-partisan race while her minions whispered that her opponent, Jean Calderwood, was a Republican and since they had stolen the Presidential race in 2000, Calderwood would disenfranchise them. They worked with Colin Whitworth who published Moon Magazine to print articles on the supposed evils in Alachua, which they handed out all over town, hence the beginnings of the Da Alachua Code. (Colon Whitworth was hired as Deputy Clerk soon after Robbins and Rothseiden were both on the Commission)

The Code was a mixture of cherry picked facts, misinformation, conspiracy theories and a big helping of smear tactics and out right lies all packaged into a story that sounded credible on the surface and “believable”, like the Da Vinci Code, until you looked deeper. Michael and Connie Huess started the on line news source, The Alachua Post, to slant reports in support of the ALA. They posted an article by Gabor Zovanyi entitled Growth Management Strategies which outlined the ALA plans to stop growth in Alachua. You can search for it on the Alachua Post web site.

When another local family started the Alachua Today newspaper as another view of the politics they were attacked and their newsstands vandalized, as well as other businesses in town like a local veterinary hospital owned by Dr. Calderwood. It was then that we realized that we would also have to organize to get another view out to the citizens. Unfortunately we were a day late and an absentee vote short and Diana Rothseiden was elected over Gib Coerper in the next election. The irony was that Coerper was leading in the popular vote and lost with the absentee ballots. The ALA never challenged that election. I wonder why, since they were going door to door to get people to vote by absentee ballot and hand carried many of them to the voters. They also set up a private shuttle to bring sympathetic voters to the polls on the day of the election.

It didn’t take long for the voters to see just what this group’s view was for the future of Alachua. They drove Mr. Jarboe, the City Manager at the time, to deep depression with constant attacks about his managerial style then fired him in a very questionable Sunshine violation move where Robbins, Rothseiden and possibly Burgess conspired to fire Jarboe and replace him with Clovis Watson (in Ms Robbins’ own words). Mr. Jarboe described Tamara Robbins as “evil” to many for the way she treated him and the staff. They set about firing long term city staff and replacing them with like minded people, i.e. Colin Whitworth. Commission Meeting were filled with strife, often lasting well beyond midnight.

During the terms of Robbins and Rothseiden we saw not only the decimation of the staff, lies spread about them, the stopping of grant applications needed for future growth such as the wastewater system, failure to refinance bonds during a low interest period, stopping development of plans for a much needed city hall and police station but the actual attempt to return grant money already given to the City that would help corporations coming to Alachua who would have brought tax dollars and jobs with good pay and benefits. Many of these actions followed Zovanyi’s no growth check list.

The ALA had long argued that the WACO land needed to be a Development of Regional Impact. When WACO applied for and went thru the process and agreed to stipulations they wanted to see, they voted it down. WACO told them that if that happened they would still develop the property in a piecemeal fashion. We lost all the agreements for landscaping, buffering, land for a new fire station and a recreation park, noise abatement and down zoning for retail and residential use the DRI contained. When WACO began to piecemeal their land the ALA started their long planned lawsuit against the city over the WACO contract and the Wal Mart Distribution Center in an attempt to stop development in the industrial park.

By this time many Alachua citizens had organized with group leaders and citizen meetings to show the voters with public records and newspaper articles just what was going on. When Mr. Watson began to rehire the old staff to return morale and get a work force that could actually get city business done they turned on him and Mayor Burgess with vicious personal attacks. Mr. Watson turned the tables on them by making public all the e-mails and phone calls they made to him. Commissioner Robbins even filed a police report claiming that she felt threatened by him because of a conversation they had on the phone. Nothing ever came of her complaint but it became part of The Code.

The community meetings about Wal Mart showed the voters what we had been telling them all along. When Paul Rothseiden got up and told commission that the ALA had elected “you gals” to vote their way, all could see the writing on the wall. When Mayor Burgess voted for the Wal Mart Distribution Center she had to be escorted to her car by the police because of the ugly comments made by the ALA members present. After the ALA lost the majority of supporters from the Black community because of their elitist attitude regarding the Wal-Mart Distribution Center (McCoy referred to them as the "dumbing down of America" jobs).

The ALA drew out their lawsuit as long as they possibly could by stalling and amending their complaint. They never deposed anyone nor did any discovery on their accusations. Two judges finally had had enough and dismissed the suit with prejudice. Judge Roundtree was especially poignant in his remarks about their conduct during the suit. Judge Chance even fined them for their actions during the suit. Now they cry that the suit never was tried on its merits (their fault) and the judge was wrong in his ruling even though the Appellate Court agreed with Judge Roundtree. This is another point in The Code.

This brings us up to today. The ALA has found a new voice for The Code, Charles Grapski, an outsider but sympathizer to the cause. He firmly believes in The Code. They also have brought in County Commissioner Byerly who is married to Busy Shires. The ALA has supported Byerly in his campaigns and many believe he has assisted them in their organization. He is also a recipient of Mr. Grapski’s e-mails. Mr. Byerly made a very visible presence at City Hall with Mr. Grapski claiming that the City had “responded to Grapski’s requests with intimidation and juvenile bureaucratic gamesmanship“ even though he has never conversed with any City official to confirm or investigate the claims made in The Code. Now he is part of The Code.

Posted by Bud Calderwood

We've Been Noticed

2006-05-31T19:59:00.000-05:00

The Truth About the ALA Blog has been found - particularly by Charlie Grapski. Mr. Grapski is pictured here, after his arrest.

In a subsequent phone call, I couldn't get a word in edgewise for all of Grapski's screaming like a banshee.

Through all of his screaming, I learned a few things - the world according to Charlie, you might say.

1. According to Charlie Grapski, Bernie Machen is one of the most corrupt people on the face of the planet, and probably the most corrupt person to come across the University of Florida since John Lombardi.

2. The courts threw out Grapski's complaint against Bernie Machen, but according to Charlie Grapski, Judge Roundtree is an incompentent idiot, anyway.

3. According to Charlie Grapski, the police department in the City of Alachua is corrupt and the latest problem with an officer is an example of Clovis Watson's corruptness - despite the fact that Clovis Watson was not city manager when that police officer was hired and there was no personnel department when the police officer was hired.

4. According to Charlie Grapski, the Mayor of the City of Alachua and the Commissoners are in violation of open meeting laws because the approval of minutes of the canvassing board were on the consent agenda - despite the fact that the approval of minutes are always on the consent agenda.

5. According to Charlie Grapski, the city will not allow the recent absentee ballots to be reviewed, despite the fact that they were reviewed by the canvassing board and the candidates, and none of them had any complaints. The ballots were also recently reviewed by Michael Canney, resident of the City of Alachua, the chair of the Alachua County Green Party and a Grapski associate.

6. According to Charlie Grapski, the people leading the city of Alachua have been involved in controversial and suspect land deals, despite the fact that people tied to the ALA filed a lawsuit alleging just such things and were thrown out court, and then dismissed by the appeals court.

7. According to Grapski, leaders of the City of Alachua are as crooked as can be, but he seems to be woefully short on detail.

8. According to Grapski, this is an attack site, but his own site is not, and neither is the ALA site. In fact, on the ALA site, where they regularly refer to Clovis Watson as functionally illiterate, and call other people names, they made sure to refer to us as as the Attack Site.

9. According to Charlie Grapski, I am the anonymous poster on other blogs. . .Nice try, Grapski.

That is only the beginning, but it makes my head hurt too much to recycle Grapski-isms.

Actually, many of these are standard issue ALA complaints. We don't mean to pick on Grapski, but the ALA has simply found their new patron saint in Grapski. He is their front man, right now, so we work with what they give us.

By the way, check the links over on the right side. We have added links to Grapski's site. We have also added links to the ALA site and their wonderful blog. If you really want some fun, check out the ALA site. You can't pay for that kind of entertainment. Another funny aspect of the ALA blog is Grapski's repeated posts along with the repeated disclaimer that he doesn't usually post on anonymous blogs. Huh???

Noticed that they really started to try to put the screws to Clovis Watson about the time that he declined to be nominated for the Democrat of the Year award. I wonder if there is some worry that there could be a party switch coming up? Is this the Michael Steele'ing of Clovis Watson?

This would all be funny - if it weren't so serious. But, it really is very serious. The City of Alachua has an opportunity to become a bright, economic star in Alachua County. The ALA, and now other's seek to have that star extinguished.

Posted by SJ

Welcome to The Truth About the ALA

2006-05-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to "The Truth About the ALA" blog.

The ALA (a.k.a the Alachua Leadership Alliance) has dedicated itself to the destrution of the City of Alachua and its pro-job, pro-family way of life and government. They have imported and adopted the zero growth / poverty by design policies and antagonisms of Alachua County's and Gainesville's most radical elements.

One of those recently imported radical elements is Charles Grapski. Charlie Grapski has been a bit player in Alachua County politics for quite some time. He is a study in contradiction. He, famously, decried the party system (faithfully being registered to vote NPA), but then changed his registration to Democrat when he felt that it suited him to run for State House, District 23.

He, famously, sues governments and government employees, supposedly seeking open and honest government, but secretly records private citizens / government employees without their express permission.

Now the word is making round that Mr. Grapski's check to the clerk of the court for the lawsuit that he filed against the City of Alachua (Grapski alleges election fraud) has been returned to the court for Non Sufficient Funds.

Another recent import by the ALA is Alachua County Commissioner Mike Byerly. Mr. Byerly is the face of environmental absolutism and poverty by design policies in Alachua County.

Despite not being residents of the City of Alachua, Charlie Grapski and Commissioner Byerly have become the new spokemen for the ALA and its anti-job / anti-family policies.

Of course, this is only the most recent chapter in the saga of the ALA and their anti-family / anti-job policies. Now, the truth will be told.

This site is not an anonymous free-for-all. Only registered bloggers with seemingly real names will be allowed to post. Pseudonyms will not be allowed. If detected, they will be deleted.

This blog is not here to carry the ALA's message. They have their own site for that.

We reserve the right to delete any post at any time.

Once again, welcome to:

The Truth About the ALA

Posted by SJ