Showing posts with label Political Action Committees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Action Committees. Show all posts

Saturday, February 6, 2021

The Lincoln Project's latest Slimy Attack Ad



Slimeball Founders:

George Conway
Steve Schmidt
John Weaver
Rick Wilson
Jennifer Horn
Ron Steslow
Reed Galen
Mike Madrid

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Let's get an Even Playing Field

It's time for real transparency in Tallahassee, says Alex Snitker who wrote an opinion piece for Sunshine State News.

I have always believed that every candidate running for elected office should  be working with the exact same amount of funds...no hidden contributions...no possibility of special interests influencing our elections...run on your own merits.  But it happens all of the time with Political Committees in spite of the fact that there are limits on individual contributions.

Take Fl Sen. Jeff Clemens, chair of Each Vote Counts PC as a prime example--As of June 30, 2017, that committee had expended $917,187.70 to influence elections. He is chair of another committee--Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
  that has reported $960,627.50 in contributions and $433,015.38 in expenditures since June 30, 2017.

Read the latest on Jeff

 PC's can give unlimited amounts. Let's get special interests out of our elections.


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Exercising legal rights to stop inappropriate development

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The Chapel By the Sea will have a condo, 22 stories high
unless citizens can stop it

Citizens for Thoughtful Growth, is a political action committee in West Palm Beach with approximately 400 members. It was formed to protect the quality of life for West Palm Beach citizens and businesses by advocating controlled growth and preservation of an appropriate Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan.

Here in Lake Worth, we have the Historical Preservation and Planning & zoning boards and we are under the illusion that they are looking out for our quality of life as well. No one on these boards ever spoke out to honor the vote of the people in March 2013 to keep the downtown a low-rise city. In fact, with their packed developer oriented boards, they voted to change the comprehensive plan and the land-development regulations and gave their recommendations to their "develop at all costs" leaders, the Lake Worth commission. The only ones who spoke out were ordinary citizens who were totally ignored who formed a political action committee, Respectful Planning PAC. They won the vote but temporarily lost the war against a corrupt regime.

Citizens for Thoughtful Growth political action committee was formed because they have experienced that elected officials and political appointees are not looking out for Joe Citizen and it wants to protect and preserve the quality of life for all those in West Palm Beach. It supports reasonable and appropriate development. One of the developments it does NOT support is the development of the Chapel by the Sea waterfront property. They have sued the city for granting waivers for the development of this project that they say the city is not authorized to grant and for the city councils' decision to allow a high rise condo to be developed. They are challenging what they believe to be unsound proposals by over-reaching developers and elected officials.

It is most unfortunate that citizens have to file lawsuits because of elected officials that are there to represent the people. The city commission as well as the mayor did not listen to the citizens when they voted to allow out-of-town developers to build a 295,000-square-foot building that is 315 feet high on the Chapel by the Lake waterfront property no more than Lake Worth's commission did on the heights amendment.

If you want to contact Citizens for Thoughtful Growth or donate, click here. You may not think this is your "fight" but in reality it is everyone's fight.  What could be better than helping to protect the waterfront and the voice of the people?

Friday, March 14, 2014

The Hole in the Wall

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There is FINALLY a code case started on this.  How long has this hole in the wall been there at Lake and J Streets?  Answer:  Months. City staff walks by, CRA walks by and the Sheriff drives by. It is inexcusable that a resident has to file a complaint.

And for some trivia--on February 20, 2013, the owners of this building gave the political action committee, The Friends of the Gulfstream that was fighting against the referendum to keep Lake Worth a low-rise downtown, a $300.00 donation to help defeat the heights amendment. He lost his $300 bucks and they lost the election.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

The "Real" Victim

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Katie McGiveron, Vice President of ROLOH and Chair of Save Our Neighborhood Political Action Committee, bringing awareness to the infestation of raccoons throughout her neighborhood due to overgrown vegetation on an abandoned property located near her house.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Shanon Materio back in the News

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Back in October 2010, I wrote about Richard Pinsky and his involvement in Materio's BACPAC. He gave $1,000 to Businesses Aligned For Change Political Action Committee which was founded by Shanon Materio, co-owner of McMow Art Glass on North Dixie Highway in order to support "business friendly" candidates or those they felt were on their side of issues. You always need to follow the money.

In many ways, it was the same old players back then that we are dealing with now on the heights issue. Greg Rice was the Secretary of the BACPAC and he is the treasurer of The friends of the Gufstream. The only interests they all had then was putting business first. This concept was indeed "special" and still true today.

Now Mrs. Materio is back in the news today, along with her campaign adviser and political lobbyist friend, Richard Pinsky. Read more...

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

New Political Action Committee formed in Lake Worth

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The Realtors, landowners, developers, etc. are on a political war path. They just formed a Political Action Committee to be able to grow up our downtown and defeat the citizens referendum. Loretta Sharpe, Realtor and former candidate for Mayor and now on the Historical Preservation Board with Wes Blackman, is the Chair of a PAC called Friends of the Gulfstream. Greg Rice, property owner in the area this referendum affects, is the Treasurer.
Click to enlarge


Basically we are all "friends" of the Gulfstream. It is too bad that the former owner paid too much at the wrong time and tried everything imaginable to get favorable waivers for this property with some of the very people fighting the referendum. We all would like to see this property come back to life as a hotel. It is grandfathered in as far as the heights referendum is concerned and the height of this property can not be affected.

To allow nearly seven story buildings east of Dixie to the Intracoastal and ten story buildings west of Dixie is not in the best interests of Lake Worth. It is only in the best interests of Realtors, landowners, developers and the like.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Lake Worth approves Resolution for U.S. Constitutional Amendment

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Dave Hyde, Co-chair Move to Amend PB County

Last night the room was packed with supporters of the Move to Amend crowd.  Even Harriet Lehrman long-time Democratic politico who has her own radio show was there ready to speak on corporate personhood. They all came prepared to speak to the issue but that was not to be.

On January 21, 2010, with its 5/4 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. Human beings are people; corporations are legal fictions.

The City had a Resolution for a Constitutional amendment on the CONSENT agenda. Constitutional amendment!  Can you imagine that no one was allowed to speak to it?  The Constitution is the law of the land and what we ALL live under, not just 5 city commissioners-- and they want to amend it with NO public speaking.

It was obvious that the Commission did not want the public to tie up precious minutes listening to what the public had to say. It was not important...let's get rid of the entire thing...put it on Consent; let it go away.  Perhaps they were remembering the Arizona 1070 meeting that took hours; perhaps not--none of them were in attendance that night.

As someone who has always advocated a fair and balanced playing field when it comes to election contributions, I am for this resolution. However, when the commission got involved in Arizona’s states rights and voted in a resolution opposing Arizona 1070, that was clearly wrong and none of our business.  This resolution, however, affects every citizen of the United States and every election. Corporate big money can change the outcome of our Republic. Just to think that a foreign corporation that has a U.S. subsidiary could give millions to a candidate to promote their special interests is corrupt and undemocratic. Even Obama complains about super PACs and then got millions from his, Priorities USA Action, that out raised Romney's.

I will always remember Andrew Procyk years ago when he was running for Mayor. He advocated for fair elections and an even playing field with each candidate using the same amount of money. I still think he was right. But big money has taken over elections and the Move to Amend Crowd know that.

We know that money corrupts and power corrupts. Corporations that can write off their contributions are there to influence our elected officials.  That is their goal.  We have seen it in local politics with a certain company that ruined our landfill by dumping debris and candidates taking their contributions. On a larger playing field, until we take big money and corporate money out of politics and the loophole that allows them to form super PACS through their U.S. corporations or subsidiaries, our system will never be fair.

Limiting corporate contributions does not take away their 1st amendment right. The Super PACs of today funded by corporations are, in many ways, controlling the outcome of our elections.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Residents get a win

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Read more.. about another power grabbing city council

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Special Interests trying to takeover Lake Worth

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The Sun Sentinel just wrote an article on building heights in Lake Worth. It is a contentious subject by those who have developer connections, Realtors or anyone making money from development.  Money is the driving force, money in their pockets, not keeping our small town charm. They are not the least bit interested in Lake Worth. We have already seen the politics behind it from the trio commission.

There is a strong lobby in this city to grow our downtown higher. This mindset was popular 10-12 years ago when Scott Maxwell was first on the Commission. The voters got smart and changed out the commission majority. Now they are back again rearing their ugly heads.

The thinking is it will bring more ad valorem taxes and more traffic and for heavens sake, we need a hotel to open and no developer will be interested in a four story hotel, or so they tell us. They choose to forget that four story hotels are being built and have been built all over this country. We know that any additional taxes from additional construction will not go to the city of Lake Worth but to the CRA but Lake Worth citizens will have all the costs associated with servicing the building and all the costs that additional people in our downtown will bring to our public service and our infrastructure.

Read the article.

Now this blog has been told by an extremely disagreeable and disrespectful soul that those developer interests have formed a PAC to raise money and bring awareness to their political position and to defeat Respectful Planning PAC in March.

His sick, goading comment...(and these are the types of candidates they get to run in Lake Worth):
Thanks for finally getting it. The chronology is mapped. Oh, and by the way, a new heights PAC is about to come to life. The "real" heights PAC. It's gonna BE FUN! And by then you'll be down at least five hundred on the sigs, the way the numbers are going. And, don't forget. Your financials are due by the tenth of this month. 10/10/12. We'll be waiting. Fun going out of town, catching up is just so much fun! Oh, oh, oh, and the $3000 Cara Jennings got, and McVoy getting $2500, and McNamara getting $3000 from the Conservation surcharge? And, developing, you got how much? And the best one, Purvis? That's the one. Priceless.
Wilson Eubanks
Does Mr. "Eubanks" sound like a rational being? You decide.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Respectful Planning PAC turns in signatures to City Clerk

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In only 27 days, an overwhelming number of registered voters signed the petition to restrict heights in  downtown Lake Worth. As they told us, "No more 65 foot buildings...we like our city as it is."


The petitions were turned into the City Clerk, Pam Lopez, at 9:10am this morning by the Pac's Chair, Laurel Decker. Laurel is a former member of Lake Worth's Finance Advisory Board.


Laurel signing PAC check to the Supervisor of Elections. Standing by is Carolyn Deli, Treasurer of Respectful Planning PAC and a top petitioner. All petitions will be forwarded to the Supervisor of Elections by the end of business today.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Politics is Dirty Pool

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Special message from Black America's Political Action Committee:

Here is what Allen is up against:

The liberal GOP establishment first redrew Allen's district to make it more liberal.

These same liberals then recruited a left-wing "Republican in Name Only" to run against him in the primary.

Then, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama made Allen their number one target for defeat in the House of Representatives this year and recruited a tough, well-funded Democrat opponent.

Bill Maher, the "comedian" who is one of Barack Obama's biggest donors, is even getting involved. He just called Congressman Allen West an APE!

Now both the RINOs and every crazy left-wing group in America are gunning for Allen West.

That's why BAMPAC is going all out to support our good friend. We are going to pay for phone banks, ads, mailings and whatever Allan needs in order to make sure he wins this primary and gets reelected this fall.

Please help Congressman West.
Make the most generous contribution you possibly can to BAMPAC's campaign to support Allen West
But please act quickly. Allen is fighting a nasty RINO opponent in his primary and we have to help him now.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Respectful Planning Committee - Walking Shoes

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Those who could make it, showed up at the steps of City Hall--part of our "core" group, full of enthusiasm to walk some more to meet the goal.

There's a lot to be said about small town charm especially in our downtown that is vibrant and busy. Why is it? It's a walkable city that is small, airy and friendly. People love that about Lake Worth.

Put on your walking shoes and help petition for voters' rights on building heights. It's your city; it's your downtown. It does not belong to a developer or any one commissioner who wants our city to grow higher. Your right to petition is guaranteed. Your voice can be represented.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Petitioning on building heights Lake Worth

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A Lake Worth group, Respectful Planning PAC, is petitioning to put a ceiling on building height.

If you need further information, please call Carolyn Deli, 586-4999 or Lynn Anderson, 585-7839, if you want to sign the petition or get involved.

 Click here to read the article and view the video from last night's 11pm news and hear what a few had to say.

Helen Marino, a top circulator

Voters in one South Florida city may get to decide if they want to limit the height of buildings in and around downtown. The issue could be placed on the November ballot in Lake Worth. One group is doing a petition drive and collecting signatures to get it on the ballot. But they don't have much time.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Super PAC's and Socialists

Operative Charles Halloran has been retained by a new George Soros-backed super-PAC to target Congressman Allen West for defeat this November.

Read more...


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Petitioners

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Read more...


Actually, in spite of the terrible heat, knocking on doors has been a great experience. I didn't realize how much I missed it...bringing the message to the people and just listening to their concerns. More politicians should get out among the people they represent. We have some who don't even return e-mails or phone calls.

Rarely during this process have I encountered anyone who wanted our downtown to grow up...no more buildings as tall as The Lucerne. Yesterday I knocked on a door of a gentleman who works in a downtown business. He was all for taller buildings. I ran into one guy who does tile work and he thought signing the petition would possibly reduce his livelihood down the pike. 99.99% of the people wanted our small town ambiance and said that 3 to 4 story buildings are high enough.They were looking at the greater picture and the welfare of this City.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Move to Amend

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Move to Amend will be meeting at the Pegasus Restaurant, 301 N Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth, 7pm on Thursday July 12th


This is a cause that I support. We do not want corporations controlling our Republic and controlling our elections through large campaign donations, especially foreign corporations.

This political group had a booth at the Lake Worth Hero Event just a week ago. This is what they say about themselves:

"On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. Human beings are people; corporations are legal fictions.

We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law. In a democracy, the people rule.
We Move to Amend."
". . . corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their 'personhood' often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of “We the People” by whom and for whom our Constitution was established."

If you believe this too, please attend their meeting this Thursday at Pegasus.

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Petition and the Lake Worth downtown area

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The Initiative of RPPAC is to amend the Charter building height limits in the designated downtown area, with exceptions. The map below shows the section of the downtown that the Respectful Planning Political Action Committee is petitioning to get on the November ballot. The area is 45 feet between Golfview Road and F Street and 35 feet between F Street and A Street with a southern boundary of 1st Avenue South; northern boundary of 2nd Avenue North; western boundary of A Street North and South; and an eastern boundary of Golfview Road North and South, providing exceptions for existing buildings and already approved building permits.

If you want to help get signatures or sign the petition, please call Carolyn Deli at 586-4999 or call me at 585-7839.

Click graphic to enlarge

Friday, June 29, 2012

Respectful Planning Political Action Committee

Building height PAC formed in Lake Worth
By Willie Howard
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
LAKE WORTH —

Supporters of a charter amendment that would limit building heights along Lake and Lucerne avenues have created a political committee to raise money for the cause.

Read the rest of his story.
We invite all of you to come out and help. If you need further information, please call Carolyn Deli, 586-4999. Donations are payable to Respectful Planning PAC and sent c/o Deli at 126 N. E. St, Lake Worth, FL 33460. Get out your sunscreen, your hat and good walking shoes. Time is a wasting!