Who owns Mayor Jeff Nelson??

You can tell alot from campaign reports.  Has anyone ever looked at one?  It basically shows who is supporting a candidate (or their own interests) when they donate to a candidates campaign.  We just had to look at one campaign contribution report to know who is trying to BUY the election in Southwest Ranches.  JEFF NELSON!  He's been a pro-prison advocate not even taking into account the negative impacts it would have on the town nor the financial implications and has this continued mantra with slogans such as "IT'S A DONE DEAL!" and "THEY CAN START BUILDING TOMORROW!"  We all knew better.  No business starts building anything until ALL CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED!   They were merely "pushing dirt."

An interesting tidbit from the last Jeff Nelson mayoral campaign was that he was actually a WALK ON because no one opposed him...  and he has been on the Council a total of 8 and a half years.  Do you believe in term limits?  He obviously doesn't!!  We all know better than to let this reign continue.

When we took a look at Mayor Nelson's campaign reports it was made clear who is pushing their interests.  In typical "Pay to Play" fashion we saw the likes of Leonard Samuels and Sam Poole of Berger Singerman (CCA's lawfirm) as well as other interested parties like Keith Poliakoff his lawfirm Becker & Poliakoff that are so obviously advocating for a lawsuit against Pembroke Pines for the non-existent contract from CCA so they can get more money in FEES.  Then there are the FIVE Bergeron companies listed as giving donations as they were wanting to make sure they get the trash and recycling contracts for the Town. (Sun Bergeron, Bergeron Land Development, Bergeron Sand Rock & Aggregate and Bergeron's Partner Southern Waste Systems) Almost all of the donors are contracts with the town or associates of Becker & Poliakoff and had a grand total of over $15,000.  We found it very interesting that there weren't many donations from THE PEOPLE in Southwest Ranches... We could count them on ONE HAND with one of them being a Becker & Poliakoff partner and founder of Southwest Ranches, Gary Poliakoff.  You can view the actual report for yourself here.

In the end...who do you want running YOUR TOWN?  Becker & Poliakoff, CCA and Bergeron??  Or do you want someone with YOUR interests in mind??  Think about it before you vote!! TAKE BACK OUR TOWN! Jeff Nelson - Campaign Contributions - TR F2-3
TR - Jeff Nelson F3

The Nelson Vendetta

Do you know any of Jeff Nelson's history with Pembroke Pines?

Let us help you better acquaint you with the Mayor's past dealings with Pembroke Pines.  Jeff Nelson started working for the Pembroke Pines Golf course managing the pro-shop for $15,000/year in September of 1983 shortly after the City purchased the golf course and Nelson was later elevated to managing the entire golf course.   Since 1982, when the City purchased the golf course, it had lost about 2 million dollars during 8 of those years Nelson was in charge.  So, the City decided to privatize the golf course in 1993 giving up municipal management.

Incidentally, his father Charles Nelson was a Pembroke Pines commissioner at the time and voted against the privatization.  Is this vote a surprise... but hey, of course he wouldn't possibly want his son to be out of a job.  If his son Jeff were out of a job, then he might have to move back home !! So, the City offered Jeff a job at another facility.  Jeff turned that down and decided to file a lawsuit against Pembroke Pines, instead.  He won the lawsuit and the Judge awarded him $282,000 for his nine years of service for letting a facility run at a loss creating a 2 million dollar hole.  WOW!  If we all could be so lucky!  But, in all seriousness, any business looking at any sort of loss is going to look at replacing the management.  The fact that he walked away with this hefty sum seems idiotic, but that was the judgement.

We don't know about you, but we think that this shows a pattern.  We believe Jeff Nelson clearly has it out for Pembroke Pines now given he has a history of suing Pines.  In addition to his demonstrated litigiousness he also seems to have established a pattern of not being able to manage money.  Why did the golf course lose so much money and what fault lies with Nelson for this?  Consider the financial decisions he's made FOR Southwest Ranches. These range from the purchasing of parks in the Town which at one point saddled Southwest Ranches with over $30 million in completely unfunded obligations, to possible vicarious land deals with Ira Cor, to Richard Rubin's grant writing with wife Diana Wasserman Rubin, or the Prison plans that were not made so public. Also, he was willing to recklessly increase the prison bed count to get increased profits while it isn't in the best interest of the surrounding schools nor residents who have kids going to those schools.  This really shows poor leadership, poor financial responsibility, and poor judgement.

He even lists his specialty as "School & Education" on his bio on the Town Website.  We don't see where he was using these skills when he said "the school board should have looked at what was zoned for that area"..  when asked about the prison plats close proximity to the newly built West Broward High school.  Perhaps Mr. Nelson should have warned Broward County School Board that they were going to build a state of the art $140 million high school 1.1 miles from an immigration prison.  Is this the man you want to be Mayor of OUR TOWN? Do you want someone that is supported by Lawyers, Lobbyists and Private Prison companies just so they can remain in power of the Town and get more $$?

Feel free to review the following references:
Pines Ordered to pay Ex-Worker Sun Sentinel May 3, 1996
City to appeal decision  - Sun Sentinel May 9, 1996
Jeff Nelson recklessly agrees to increase of bed space from 1500 to 2200!! -
Email between Keith Poliakoff, Sam Poole (CCA Atttorney) and Mayor Jeff Nelson
Cash Cow - Broward-Palm Beach New Times, Bob Norman
Ira Cor FBI Sting - Broward-Palm Beach New Times, Bob Norman
Jeff Nelson's Campaign Contributions

What Kind of Man is CCA's Sam Poole?

In a prior article, we linked to Berger Singerman's bio page on Sam Poole where he's presented as a concerned environmentalist.  What he seems to be is a former Broward County bureaucrat who's now found a way to use his former public influence to represent some of the most despicable companies who profit off the hurt, destruction and exploitation of those around them.  He's represented Corrections Corporation of America, LLC for years in their attempt to get a stronghold in Southwest Ranches AND take over the town government.

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2004-08-26/news/bitter-sugar/5/

Sam Poole has an even more twisted clientele than most.  He seems to make his money off companies that PROFIT off the exploitation of poor immigrants.  CCA is the largest private prison corporation in America and is estimated to provide nearly 20% of the beds for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) countrywide.  CCA and the Town of Southwest Ranches want to put the BIGGEST immigrant prison in the country right here in bucolic Southwest Ranches.  This prison will be run with FEDERAL tax money and will enrich the corporation, their highly compensated white collar staff AND help feed the greedy, rich leaders in Southwest Ranches who think they are so poor they need revenue from a prison.

All this money will be made off a completely dysfunctional immigration system that is beyond harsh to those misfortune individuals caught up in it.  Back to Poole.

This is a long article about the Fanjuls who own all the sugar land from here up to Clewiston as well as the coop sugar refinery in South Bay.  If you read the article, you will find laid out some of the injustices their immigrant workers have faced.

If you move to page 5 of the article, you will find a name that we now know well.  It's that of Sam Poole.

To persuade Durando, the Fanjuls sent an impressive three-man team -- the trio's prestige further proof of the Fanjuls' ability to enlist high-powered talent in their cause. On her right sat Samuel E. Poole III, a former executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, who recently joined the Fanjuls.

...

The Fanjul team feared defeat. "Well, why wait?" Poole asked. "This is the public-private partnership we need to use as the right model and duplicate it elsewhere."

...

That's what essentially ended the meeting. The Fanjul folks changed the subject. A promise, especially on paper, was apparently too much to ask. Cantens suggested maybe Durando could set up another meeting, next time bringing other environmentalists. "We'll have it at your place," Poole added.

...

Outside the commission chambers, environmentalist turned Fanjul lawyer Sam Poole stood by himself. He leaned against a wall watching the meeting on a television set. He promised that the Fanjuls would be back. He promised they would win over more environmentalists. "We intend to seek a dialogue on what should happen on this site.

So, folks fighting this prison, Sam Poole is THE GUY who is used to ameliorate opposition to controversial people and projects MAINLY exploiting immigrants and the environment.

Anybody privy to the behind the scenes manipulations by Debbie Wasserman Schultz in trying to co-opt opposition to the prison can now see that this is all by the playbook and that Poole is expert at this.  Who will suffer this time?  Just like with the sugar barons, immigrants, residents and the environment suffer.

Sam Poole -- Committed Environmentalist Puts Prison in Everglades

http://www.bergersingerman.com/news/Attorney-Samuel-Poole-Participated-in-the-VisionBROWARD-Community-Leadership-Forum/

In a stunning example of hypocrisy, Sam Poole has been the Broward County front man for Corrections Corporation of America.  Sam has actively lobbied and worked with the completely out of touch Southwest Ranches Town council to put yet another prison holding between 1500 and 2200 people on the edge of the Everglades.

This prison will further blight the Everglades and put additional burden on our aquifer.  It's a shame that people can present themselves as committed environmentalists yet work against the environment every opportunity they can get.

You don't have to look too far for scandal...

BTU SCANDAL: Pat Santeramo Was “Event Chair” For May 2009 Alex Sink Fundraiser - Red Broward Article

If you notice in the Event Chairs and Host Committee Names, There is a close relationship between Mayor Frank Ortis and CCA Atty Sam Poole and Diana Wasserman Rubin if they are working on a Host Committee to Re-Elect Alex Sink...  They have been socializing together and have planned events together... you can't tell me that this wasn't discussed on how to get this Prison put past "THE TAXPAYERS" during any of their time together???
=================================================
Event Chairs
Mitchell Berger, Tom Cornish, Austin Forman, Fred Karlinsky, Steve Jackman
Alan Levy, Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, Hon. Fred Lippman, Mike Moskowitz
Tom Panza, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter & Russ Klenet, Bill Rubin,
Pat Santeramo, Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, Wayne Spath, Judy Stern,
Jim Stork, Stephanie Toothaker, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Host Committee
(Committee in Formation)
Pamela Adams, Michael Albetta, Gale Butler, Mitch Ceasar, Susan Delegal
Sheryl Dickey, Hon. George Firestone, Katie Gustafon Foster, Gabe Imperato
Hon. Ken Keechl, Ben Lap, Ruchel Louis, Pat Maloy, Dennis Mele, Stephen Moss
Bill Murphy, Hon. Frank Ortis, Hon. Lori Parrish, Sam Poole, Dan Reynolds
Hon. Nan Rich, Hon. Tim Ryan, Lenny Samuels, Adele Stone
Hon. Larry Smith, Charles Thayer, Dean Trantalis, Hon. Diana Wasserman-Rubin

Angry Residents at Nov 5th ICE MTG

They say this will bring jobs?? Look how they treat their employees!

Fox News Latino

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/11/19/florida-town-wants-immigration-detention-center-despite-backlash/?test=latestnews

New Associated Press Story!

Some National News Coverage!
http://news.yahoo.com/upscale-fla-town-fight-over-immigrant-prison-172908497.html

Media Release: 11/15/2011

Pembroke Pines, November 16th – Commissioner Iris Siple has put the Fire/EMS Agreement between Pembroke Pines and Southwest Ranches on the City of Pembroke Pines Commission Agenda for the Wednesday November 16^th meeting.  Residents have been emailing the commissioner’s demanding they rescind this agreement that promises a lot more than just FIRE and EMS Services to the Town of Southwest Ranches.  Hidden in the agreement is also assurance that Pembroke Pines has sufficient capacity to provide water and sewer to the Detention Center.

The Detention Center that is starting out as a 1500 bed facility has plans to expand according to email communication between Town Lawyer Keith Poliakoff, Partner at Becker & Poliakoff and CCA Attorney, Sam Poole of Berger Singerman dated January 28^th, 2011.  “CCA believes it is best to respond to ICE with the 1500 beds.  We can advise ICE that we can expand to meet future needs…”

With the Town’s Lawyer being extremely supportive of anything CCA would like to do, who knows what the final capacity will be.  When discussing a letter of approval from the Town in order to get the Plat note change on the County Agenda in time, Southwest Ranches Attorney Keith Poliakoff replies to Sam Poole’s email on November 18^th, 2010, “My position is, amend the agreement and show me the money and then we can talk.”

Another demand from residents is to rescind the Roadways ILA between Southwest Ranches and Pembroke Pines because of the “non-interference” clause that was placed in there. With the Town of Southwest Ranches sending surveyors out to block access on 199^th it seems to all of the residents that this agreement had been put into place for no other reason than to impede on the City’s ability to protect the surrounding residents from the plans that Southwest Ranches had for their ever-expanding Detention Center. This clause is being used by the Town Attorney to excuse all attempts to bring out public safety issues surrounding the Detention Center by Dan Danovitz of Broward County Development and Environmental Regulation Division and the Broward Sherriff’s office. January 14^th, 2011 Keith Poliakoff says in an email to officials in BSO and Broward County regarding the plat note amendment, “In addition, Please find a copy of the Town of Southwest Ranches’ ILA with the City of Pembroke Pines.  Section 5.3 of this Agreement specifically provides that the City of Pembroke Pines shall not interfere in the development of this facility.”