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The Town of Southwest Ranches, Corrections Corporation of American (CCA), and DHS / ICE want to build one of the largest immigration detention centers in the nation within walking distance of thousands of homes; thus, reducing the quality of our life and our community. We do not agree with the federal government privatizing our immigration detention centers throughout the nation when there is clear evidence that privatizing our prisons creates a clear public safety threat. For ICE to continue to privatize these institutions and bring this safety threat through their "secure communities Initiative" to our community is unacceptable. Depriving someone of their liberty is a non-delegable governmental function and privatizing of such a function is infecting our nation like a virus.

The Town of Southwest Ranches has now entered into it's THIRD Fire Contract within the last year now with the Town of Davie, costing taxpayers $120,000 in ramp up fees. They are now closing several roads in western Southwest Ranches charging the tax payers $80,000 for the gates. They have paid an unknown amount of money for lobbying with ICE regarding this prison. They have several lawsuits against the Town, 1- Involving Open Meeting Violations on a November 5th meeting concerning the ICE Detention Center, 2- Open Records Violations, and 3- The Town is putting together a lawsuit to sue Pembroke Pines for breach of contract because the City utilized their exit clause and cancelled for convenience their Fire/EMS contract which included water and sewer at the last minute for the CCA prison. In the contract it states that there should be no third party beneficiaries. CCA would be a third party in this instance.

CCA has also filed suit in Federal court against the City of Pembroke Pines saying they are denying them water however the City had never seen a water application. The City did file for a Declaratory Judgement in State Court but that has been put on hold until the Federal Court hears the suit from CCA.

Is ANYONE CONFUSED as to why the Pembroke Pines/Southwest Ranches Fire Agreement was cancelled? The Town Attorney Keith Poliakoff attempted to "slip" into the agreement a portion that guaranteed water for the prison at CCA's request. This is something that should have been brought up separately. CCA should have brought it forward on their own in a water application. This is sleight of hand that CCA and the Town attempted to do because they were so afraid of CCA being on the Pembroke Pines agenda.

As of June 2012, ICE put out a statement that the site selection was no longer needed due to the fact that the extra bedspace was no longer needed.
READ UPDATE HERE!


Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Resident's Group Wins Two


DATELINE JANUARY 31, 2012, PEMBROKE PINES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA.
TWO COMMISSIONERS BACKED BY THE RESIDENT'S GROUP OPPOSED TO THE IMMIGRANT PRISON IN SOUTHWEST RANCHES WON DECISIVE VICTORIES TODAY.


PEMBROKE PINES COMMISSION DISTRICT #2

17 of 17 precincts reporting
Percent Votes
Jay Schwartz
55.95% 1,703

Jack McCluskey (i)
44.05% 1,341

PEMBROKE PINES COMMISSION DISTRICT #3


19 of 19 precincts reporting
Percent Votes
Iris A. Siple (i)
60.79% 1,761

Christopher Max Ziadie
39.21% 1,136

*used without permission from Sun Sentinel under "Fair Use."

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Residents Fight Back


DATELINE JANUARY 28, 2012, SOUTHWEST RANCHES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA


ON NOVEMBER 5, 2011 YOU TOLD CCA, SOUTHWEST RANCHES, PEMBROKE PINES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT YOU DON'T WANT A PRIVATE IMMIGRANT PRISON IN YOUR BACK YARD.








Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Homeland Security/BSO Sargent Santalucia Intimidates Protesters


LATE BREAKING NEWS... DATELINE JANUARY 25, 2012, BOCA RATON, FL, PALM BEACH COUNTY

BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE INTIMIDATES ANTI PRISON/ ANTI CCA PROTESTERS IN BOCA RATON AT THE BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB. PALM BEACH COUNTY IS NOT EVEN IN THE JURISDICTION OF BSO.


Friday, January 20, 2012

Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Soaring Hypocrisy

Our Congresswoman is doing what she does best, again.  That's being a hypocrite.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz sent out this spam using taxpayer's dollars to essentially campaign on our dime.  Move to the bottom and you will see this quote:
I am proud to be an advocate for South Florida, and my office is always open to you.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

SWR & PINES SUED FOR OPEN MEETING VIOLATION

PRESS RELEASE:  Southwest Ranches and Pembroke Pines City Councils Sued Over Sunshine Violations

For Immediate Release

City Councils Called to Account for Their Illegal Meeting

Yesterday the law firm of Thomas & LoCicero filed a lawsuit on behalf of brothers Joel and Robert Chandler.  Joel Chandler and Robert Chandler v. The Town of Southwest Ranches City Council, and The Town of Pembroke Pines City Council alleges the defendants denied the Chandlers access to a public meeting in violation of the Florida Constitution and Florida Statute.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Jay Schwartz Opposes ICE Detention Center



NEWS ALERT!  CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATE JAY SCHWARTZ PUBLICLY OPPOSES ICE DETENTION CENTER.
"I ask my fellow residents to join me to fight against having this facility in our community. It will have a negative impact on our lives, our children, and I encourage you to reach out to all elected officials and tell them to stand up for us."

City of Pembroke Pines AGAINST ICE Detention Center

LATE BREAKING NEWS... DATELINE JANUARY 11th, 2012 PEMBROKE PINES, FL, BROWARD COUNTY

ON TUESDAY, THE CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES COMMISSIONERS (MIN. 02:04:00) VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DRAFT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN OPPOSITION TO THE ICE DETENTION CENTER BEING PLACED IN SOUTHWEST RANCHES CITING THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THE CITY IN GENERAL.  THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HOME VALUES, QUALITY OF LIFE, WATER SUPPLY ISSUES, DECREASED CITY TAXES...

Saturday, January 7, 2012

George LeMieux interview with Preston Scott - WFLA



In a January 3rd interview on the Preston Scott Show - WFLA, Florida GOP Senatorial Candidate George LeMieux gives his opinion on the South Florida ICE Detention Center siting in Southwest Ranches.  (Discussion starts at minute 21:21)