EJones@SFLTimes.com FOUL MEMORIES
Dick Cheney, the vice-president in one of the worst administrations in U.S. history, resurfaced this week. During an interview he called President Barack Obama an “unmitigated disaster” as the nation’s commander-in-chief.
Republicans are about to nominate another subpar candidate in Mitt Romney and it does not help to have Cheney, of all people, making such ridiculous insults. Cheney’s latest slight brings back foul memories of the fraud and false information that led to the Iraq war, torture, spying on American citizens, the plundering of a trillion- dollar budget surplus, the second worst economic collapse in American history and more. Cheney should take a cue from former President George W. Bush, who has been graceful and dignified in the years since leaving the White House.
LOTTERY CONCERNS
Since its inception, the Florida Lottery has, for the most part, been a successful operation but some of its decisions have hurt the state-run agency as well. The odds in its signature Florida Lotto game were nearly quadrupled years ago. The odds in its popular Fantasy 5 game were also increased. Florida also missed out on a windfall share in the record $646 million Mega Millions jackpot by deciding not to sell the game here. Cynthia F. O'Connell was named secretary of the Florida Lottery when Gov. Rick Scott took office. Hopefully she will bring innovative ideas and implement industry leading initiatives.
Palm Beach County
ANTI-VIOLENCE
The Rev. Griffin Davis Sr., pastor of Hilltop Baptist Church in Riviera Beach, organized an anti-violence march this week. It was held in honor of the death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford on Feb. 26. It also brought attention to shootings and other acts of violence plaguing the city.
JUDICIAL INDECISION
Palm Beach Circuit Judge Krista Marx is not running for state attorney and the decision may have been made after supporters of another candidate, Dave Aronberg, planned to file complaints against her. There are also rumors they planned to put up a candidate to run against her husband, Joe Marx, who is also a circuit judge. It may be just rumor but it needs to be investigated.
FAU SCANDALS
Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunder hasn’t responded to questions over allegations that sexual harassment and racial discrimination made by employees are not being investigated. Some employees are alleging their complaints are never documented and investigative files are non-existent.
GO WEST, QUICK
U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., is standing by his assertion that as many as 80 members of the House of Representatives belong to the Communist Party. West has yet to identify a single one and his remarks appear to be nothing more than outrageous rhetoric. In less than a month, West went from being mentioned as a potential running mate on the Republican Party presidential ticket to a shunned congressman.
Broward County
PORT SECURITY
Top brass within the Broward Sheriff’s Office are earning extra money at $57 an hour for sitting at a desk inside cruise ship terminals at Port Everglades. Some take photos with celebrities and rub elbows with the rich and famous. These little known off-duty “security detail” assignments were once handled by rank-and-file deputies who were paid at the regular or overtime rate. For some reason, the rates were increased and the assignments were changed to off-duty work. That’s when top brass in the department started working most of the assignments and rank-and-file deputies have not been able to get those opportunities. The jobs require law enforcement officers to staff a desk in the terminals while cruise ship passengers, including celebrities, enter and exit on their way to the ships. Having them on hand is reasonable but these work opportunities should be rotated among all deputies and certainly should not be given to members of the command staff, who already earn six-figure annual salaries.
FORCED CUTS
Deerfield Beach officials imposed a contract on members of the Professional Managers and Supervisors Association union in which their pay will be cut. Union members will also be required to pay towards their health insurance. The move came after union members had previously voted down the same concessions in a contract ratification. Mayor Peggy Noland pointed to lean economic times for the city’s move but union officials say it is unfair because all city employees and officials are sharing in the sacrifice.
Miami-Dade County
FACEBOOK FIREFIGHTER
A Miami-Dade firefighter who posted controversial remarks about the Trayvon Martin case on his Facebook page is under investigation by his department. County fire officials reacted after Capt. Brian Beckmann sent a copy of his posting to the Grio.com, a black-oriented news website. Grio’s managing editor Joy-Ann Reid then contacted the department about the post which criticizes prosecutors for bringing charges against Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman. He went on to use profanity and insults to characterize the upbringing and parenting of some youth. Beckmann responded to the investigation in another post, saying he had the right to express his opinions as a private citizen. He may have the right and now he could end up doing it from an unemployment line.
FIRED AGAIN
Sports talk radio host Sid Rosenberg was fired after being arrested by Hollywood police for DUI. Police said they found Rosenberg’s car stopped in the middle of the road. He was curled up on the ground behind the car and crying after leaving a strip club. WQAM reacted by firing him. Rosenberg has been fired from several stations in the past over his conduct. He was on the air with Don Imus when Imus called members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hoes.” Rosenberg said they looked “like the Toronto Raptors,” a professional men’s basketball team. He has also said on the air that Palestinians were “stinking animals” who should be bombed. His other controversies involved insults made toward singer Kylie Minogue, a breast cancer patient, and tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, who, he said, were more suitable to appear in National Geographic than Playboy magazine. Now Rosenberg has been fired, again. Good riddance.
Photo: Elgin Jones
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