INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN PEMBROKE PINES AND SOUTHWEST RANCHES CANCELLED BY PEMBROKE PINES.
AFTER 4 MONTHS, A PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED MOTION TO TERMINATE THE FIRE/EMS/WATER INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHWEST RANCHES WAS REINTRODUCED AND THE RESULT IS THAT THE CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE. THIS CONTRACT HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM THE PRISON OPPOSITION MOVEMENT DUE TO THE INCORPORATION OF TWO CLAUSES WHICH SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED ICE IMMIGRANT PRISON THROUGH PROVISION OF FIRE/EMS SERVICE AND, ASTONISHINGLY, WATER AND SEWAGE SERVICE.
BROWN ADVISED THAT THE CITY WAS WITHIN THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS TO EXERCISE THE NINE MONTH TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. HIS OPINION ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY SHOULD REQUEST A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ON CLAIMS MADE BY CCA. THIS ESSENTIALLY IS REQUESTING THAT A COURT REVIEW THE CLAIMS ASSERTED BY CCA AND MAKING A JUDICIAL RULING ON THEM.
THE COMMISSION DELIBERATED A REAL CLIFF HANGER AGAIN. FIRST, ANGELO CASTILLO GOT A RESOLUTION PASSED WHICH INSTRUCTED STAFF TO FILE THE REQUEST FOR DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT. PRIOR TO THAT, DURING OLD BUSINESS, ANGELO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HE WOULD VOTE TO TERMINATE THE FIRE AGREEMENT.. THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER SCHWARTZ THEN STATED THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT A SECOND OF VICE MAYOR SIPLE'S MOTION TO TERMINATE THE FIRE/EMS AGREEMENT. THE VOTE CAME DOWN TO SIPLE, SCHWARTZ, AND CASTILLO SUPPORTING TERMINATION WITH MAYOR ORTIS AND COMMISSIONER SHECHTER REJECTING TERMINATION.
VICE MAYOR'S SECOND RESOLUTION PROTECTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF FIREFIGHTERS WHO WERE HIRED TO SERVICE SOUTHWEST RANCHES ALSO PASSED.
DURING THE WORKSHOP, LAWYERS FROM CCA'S LAW FIRM OF BERGER SINGERMAN THREATENED PEMBROKE PINES WITH LAWSUITS SHOULD THEY NOT PROVIDE WATER. INTERESTINGLY, CCA BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY IN SOUTHWEST RANCHES WHICH IS RENOWNED FOR ITS RESIDENTIAL WELL WATER, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, NO SIDEWALKS AND DARK SKIES AND THEN EXPECTS MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER HOOKUPS.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A SETBACK FOR SOUTHWEST RANCHES AND CCA BUT IT DOES NOT DEFINITIVELY KILL THE POSSIBILITY OF AN IMMIGRANT PRISON BEING SITED THERE. STAY TUNED. STAY INFORMED. STAY ACTIVE. BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
END TRANSMISSION...
ADDENDUM: CCA AND SWR APPARENTLY HATE DEMOCRACY. THE BIG BULLIES ARE SUING IN FEDERAL COURT.
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/03/cca_sues_pembroke_pines.php
PERHAPS POLIAKOFF SHOULD JUST MOVE HIS OFFICE TO NASHVILLE, TN. THAT'S WHO HE APPARENTLY WORKS FOR.
As a SW Ranches resident I applaud this action. Most residents here want this prison no more than Pembroke Pines does.
ReplyDeleteI second the above comment. As a Southwest Ranches resident I am humbled and embarrassed to be thanking Pines, but it is what it is. Thank you Pines.
ReplyDelete, CCA and ranches bring on the lawsuit and the bad publicity...no town in Broward will want to contract fire, EMS or anything with you. No one likes a bully
ReplyDeleteWAIT UNTIL ALL THE SURROUNDING TOWNS HAVE THEIR COPY OF THE HOME LAND SECURITY OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (SUPERVISION OF ALIENS COMMENSURATE WITH RISK) REPORT DECEMBER 2011 Revised. IT'S ALREADY CIRCULATING ALL 22 PAGES. The 4 walls and barbed wire planned to surround this monster isn't the concern. The CONCERN and WORRY IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES for FURLOUGHED DETAINEES with MONITORING DEVISES roaming around outside of these confines. We know there will be 4 COURT ROOMS(yes,I said 4 court rooms), health services, and other reasons for these individuals to roam through the towns regularly to get to the MONSTER!!! Also another issue there are 15 countries that won't repatriate their citizens return to their countries. This is what CCA and Southwest Ranches want to do to our communities. It's like experiencing a TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL IN YOUR BACK YARD.
DeleteWeston, Davie, Cooper city and Pines will be asking for extra police at CCA and ICE expense. No reason the towns should pay it, let deep pockets foot the bill
DeletePines and Ranches are apples and oranges. I say to each his own. This vote is fantastic news for SWR. This will finally sever all entangling alliances with Pines. This will force SWR to finally validate our Fire Department. As far as the CCA, water/sewers, no problem. Ground water is good and an onsite sewer treatment system can be installed. In the long run they will save significant money on this tax.
ReplyDeleteThe good people of Pines have elected Communist minded leaders for years. It is coming home to roost with failed public/private partnerships (City Center) and bloated Police and Fire Departments.
The mil rate will continue to escalate as the budget crises continues.
The Pines had a good revenue stream that would have come in from CCA. Now they have lost it. SWR can use that revenue to enhance our own Fire Department and hire additional officers all on CCA's dime.
All this over a postage size lot where no person can even see it. Get real folks. You have been had by pro amnisty/ open border forces. CCA is a win for everyone. The devil is in the details. A good contract, well vetted, will be good for all. If you are in the United States illegally we will deport you and your family. Just because you have broken the law and got away with it does not give you any standing.
You Pines folks keep re-electing you proven failures and you get what you deserve. At least you dumped two time loser Jack McCluskey. How much did his Police Officer sons lawsuit cost the city? Jack has allways been rabidly anti-business. Wake up folks, dump those demo/commies.
John Eastman
Country Estates HOA
Can't even see it ? You can throw a rock from neighboring homes and hit the grounds.
Delete"On CCA's dime" ?
Where do you think CCA gets its money ?
From taxpayers via the Federal Contract.
This is nothing but redistribution of tax assets to sweep up a problem that should not exist in the first place if Immigration was handled properly on the front end.
CCA contracts have not been "wins for everybody" if you look at the case studies for many of the locations they have set up shop.
"If you are in the USA illegally we will deport you" ??
Starting when ?
Deportations have dropped almost 45% in the past 3 years as the current administration pushes this Detention Center idea as a way to hold more illegals.
I'm not sure the facts agree with your theories.
Thank you Mike for responding to this FOOL!!!!! Cannot see it!!! maybe not from HIS HOUSE!!!! there are at least 15 countries that will not repatriate their citizens. Where do we send them??? The commissioners of Pembroke Pines made a very noble and just decision knowing what would be coming their way!!!!!
Deleteinteresting to see somebody sign with the HOA letters. This is your personal opinion and not that of the HOA or the community you represent, therefore for future post I advice you not to use your position as a title.
DeleteI live in Country Estates and Mr Eastmans opinion does not reflect my take on this prison, I am vehemently opposed to this. Mr Eastman has no right to represent me as a prison proponent in any HOA meeting with CCA and ICE.
DeleteI specifically heard Mr. Eastman take the special accommodation during public comment of getting 5 minutes of public comment because he was a HOA President. During that comment session, he endorsed the prison.
DeleteHe needs to clarify his position as the whether he's speaking as an individual or as a representative of his HOA.
I see more signs in his HOA opposing the prison that anywhere else. He should resign immediately if he's abusing the power of his position and misrepresenting the HOA he serves.
Further, if he's attending CCA Advisory Sham meetings, he apparently is representing his HOA and is supporting the prison.
This is why it was very important to send certified letters to each one of them stating that they must not attend these meetings. This needs to be implemented.
Once again, the old guard of SWR is so selfish that they DO NOT CARE what their own constituents say.
It is outrageous. Eastman should resign NOW. Unfortunately, only you can make that happen. You need an emergency HOA meeting to discuss removing him from his position if he is misrepresenting the HOA as being in support of the prison.
My husband and I also live in Country Estates and Mr Eastmans views do not represent our view. We are against the prison along with most of the neighbors weve talked to If you drive through Country Estates, youll see the opposition signs. Please do not speak for us at the HOA meetings, you are not accurately representing us
DeleteThank you for your comments, John. We've long wondered what your position was on the prison, though.
ReplyDeleteWould you mind clarifying it for us? You are being ambiguous.
And to think all of this could have been avoided if they had placed this PRISON in some remote area at least 10+ miles from any major civilization instead of planning to place it in the middle of one of America's fastest growing urban residential areas.
ReplyDeleteSouth Florida is one of the fastest urbanizing and growth population regions of the United States with 90 people PER DAY moving into the area (down from a peak of 200 in past years).
New construction is popping up everywhere and spreading like Cancer and the Carpenter's Union tries to say that without this single project they will all be homeless.
Bull Crap.
Try to get a contractor or somebody to do a building project now as it is. They all tell you it is a 3-6 month wait because they are backed up.
Look at every corner in Pines and this area of Broward, Monterra and other new developments popping up EVERYWHERE.
John,
ReplyDeleteWe are wondering if you believe in mutual contracts? Contracts which have unilateral termination for convenience clauses for both parties?
Do you believe that if you sign an agreement with somebody which says you can terminate the contract for ANY reason (convenience) that the Federal Courts should be recourse to a signatory's decision to terminate?
Also, as what appears to be a staunchly anti-communist mindset, perhaps you may know the percentage of income CCA obtains from the free market and what percent of their dollars come from tax payers? Subsequently, any earnings the town receives from CCA would be money earned from private commerce or, in reality, government money?
What was the plan for Davie or BSO to get our volunteer fire fighters up to class a standards? What were Pines' actions in doing that?
We have a letter from a Deputy Superintendent of Broward School board who says they didn't know about the prison when all schools including West Broward High School were built out there. Are you happy that open government has prevailed in Southwest Ranches? How about "cones of silence" agreed upon by the Town Attorney because CCA and DHS or ICE "asked" for it? Is this a good public policy?
All of the actions of our SWR government seem far more Marxist in nature than anything I've seen from Pembroke Pines. Could you possibly mean you prefer Marxism as opposed to other forms of communism?
All of CCA's PROPERTY is derived from GOVERNMENT revenue. This is hardly the panacea of wholesome capitalism. Is a prison the best you town leaders can envision?
John,
ReplyDeleteActually, you have me thinking as you've brought up some points. Do you feel it is "communism" when Freddy Fisikelli brings forth a request from a local homeowner who is near Sunrise water and wants to hook up but has Poliakoff tell him he can't?
That's sort of the same thing in reverse, isn't it? What about property rights and right to access water that's being offered by a provider who *IS* currently serving the city? Where's the equal protection there?
There is no equal protection as homeowner Joe doesn't have the resources to sue the city, but CCA has tons of our tax money that they can use to sue us! What a concept! The more I have of your money, the more "equal protection" I get. Lovely.
That is CRONY CAPITALISM
I wanted to offer a perspective as a past resident who only knows about this fight because of friends we still have living in the area.
ReplyDeleteWe lived down there when it was still unincorporated until around the time all communities in Florida were required to become part of another city or independent town. We lived there 1983 until moving to Ocala in 2003.
I will say in all that time, we never heard any talk of a large prison facility moving in. We were always told the landfill would be one day turned into a park.
So I can sympathize with the residents who claim to have lived there a long time and feel they have been tricked in some way.
I think one big problem is the way this area was divided.
This site may be legally part of Southwest Ranches, but it seems to have been asking for trouble to divide the land down there in such a fashion.
What seems to exist now is an island of Ranches land surrounded on all 4 sides by Pembroke Pines.
So no matter what Ranches does with the land, it really has more impact on the City of Pembroke Pines.
That was asking for trouble.
Our friends tell us it was never put up for public vote or ballot what should be done with the land. Instead it seems all kinds of deals were worked out quietly and then sprung on the people after the deals were almost done.
That was also asking for trouble.
We moved away because the area was growing too large and too fast for us. I can only imagine how many more homes are near this location today.
Cindi, Thank you for your comments. Just to give you some information, there is a Residential Development just about a stones throw from the MONSTER that will impact the lives of all the families in that area, needless to say that will also include homeowners inSWR. Take a look at the video on this blog showing what is referred to by CCA and SWR OFFICIALS as aREMOTE AREA!!!!!
DeleteCindi,
ReplyDeleteWe appreciate your input. Even a deputy superintendent of Broward School Board, who's office was responsible for building West Broward High School merely 1.25 miles away wrote that they did not know about the plans for this prison.
The town is playing with the truth.
CCA: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE WATER AND SEWER?"
ReplyDeleteSWR: "YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK!"
CCA good luck getting the permitting for that sewage treatment plant. You really think ICE will wait that long? It's going to cut into titer bottom line and ICEs to build water and sewage IF you even get approved. You really think ICE will wait around while you play footsie in court with Pembroke Pines, your case is so weak, it's nothing but posturing and bluster. Keep embarrassing yourself. No one likes or supports a corporate bully, especially these days. Buhbye CCA, I hope the door hits you on the way out.
ReplyDeleteCindi summarized this situation perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThis has been like a Perfect Storm of bad decisions stacked on top of more bad decisions to create the mess that exists today.
I don't know the history, but how the heck was it ever split up and allowed for SWR to own a square island of property in the middle of Pembroke Pines in the first place.
This is like me owning my home and yard, but the next door neighbor owns my swimming pool in the backyard and can do with it what he wants.
Of course this was a problem waiting to blow up.
No matter what SWR would have planned for that area, like Cindi indicated, it will always impact Pembroke Pines the most.
In fact the nearest homes to the site (the ones that are only a good rock throw like people have indicated or was shown in the video) are Pembroke Pines homes. Those people had ZERO say so in how they were going to be impacted.
One sloppy mess or "in the dark" deal making stacked on top of more bad actions has grown into this mountain of political crap today.
It's simply easier to do things right from the beginning instead of deal with the chaos later by trying to be sneaky and deceptive.
Obviously based on all the evidence and examples from other towns we have seen exposed over the past 6 months, I don't want to see this Prison come here.
But honestly, at this point I would not be surprised if CCA themselves said ...... "The heck with this. It isn't worth it. We have other location options where there is no resistance and not all these roadblocks."
Besides, knowing the small price they paid for this land and the way West Broward continues to grow, and with the landfill closed and ladies Prison leaving ............ they could sell the property to some developer for profit most likely.
Such would not be the case in a place like Belle Glade for example.
Logically, I might really suspect they are thinking another location is a smarter and more profitable option for them about now.
Business in business in the end ...... and this business angle must be looking pretty tarnished about now.
Another location ?
Less resistance.
Less Population.
Less Utility issues.
Less media exposure, scrutiny and bad press.
More bottom line profit.
Would not surprise me to see CCA say .. "No Thanks and Good Bye"
and move to another site in a more appropriate location.
When CCA bought the land they really thought they going to be in Pembroke Pines.
ReplyDeleteNow they have to sue to save face with their stockholders, at least the big lot insiders! Mayor Ortis is caught in between the local firefighters and the organized federal corrections officers. They do not want privatized facilities, and the local firefighters want to expand!
No, I don't think the local firefighters want to expand at the expense of the residents of the city they protect. Now that they see just how corrupt CCA is, I think they, as well as the PP police, want nothing to do with this private for profit prison! GO AWAY CCA!!
DeleteWow! I am surprised with everyone comments. I am a PP resident and a lawful immigrant who opposes to this type of detention centers near our neigborhoods. Detention centers are only designed for someone to make money over this issue. I've always wondered why the goverment do not propose for the illegal immigrants that want to stay to exxpand and grow the inhabitted areas that exist in the middle of the map this could be a good option to expand this beautiful country ...at th end of the day...we are immigrants or descendent of immigrants...just look around the metropolitan cities of this country!
ReplyDelete