Author Archives: M_Blank
Carruthers Tax Lien
I found this document on the Clerk of Court’s website. Apparently, Carruthers and an associate owe over $133,ooo to the Internal Revenue Service. Wow!
Posted in BOCC, Financial Condition
Leave a comment
Key West Hometown PAC – Candidate Q&A
I finally got around to viewing the Key West Hometown PAC’s second candidate forum, which was held on August 8. I actually sent the PAC some questions I would really like answered. They declined, saying they only take questions from … Continue reading
Posted in Clerk of Court, Elections
Leave a comment
Kolhage – Financial Disclosure
Update: Not sure which Dan/Danny/Daniel Kolhage is involved in the businesses discussed in the last paragraph. There’s more than one apparently. In any case, there are still some unexplained holes in county commissioner Danny Kolhage’s financial disclosure forms. Undisclosed involvement … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System
Leave a comment
What About the Ratepayers?
The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (District) is fighting over the staffing plan. Commissioner Andy Tobin has long expressed concerns over staffing issues and a lack of transparency. Rather than seeing to it that these matters are addressed constructively, Commissioner Steve Gibbs … Continue reading
Posted in KLWTD
Leave a comment
Thoughtful Letter About the Sin Tax
I saw a letter in the Citizen (keysnews.com) supporting the “sin tax” today. It was written in response to an earlier editorial, which was skeptical about the “sin tax”. Let me start by saying it’s only right and proper to look … Continue reading
Posted in Human Services, Taxes
Leave a comment
The Land Scarcity Chess Board – Part 1
There’s a finite amount of land in the Florida Keys. Very little of that can be developed. And there aren’t enough available permits to go around even for what can be developed. Real estate is in high demand. At the … Continue reading
Hometown Key West – First Candidate Forum – District 5
The Hometown Key West PAC ran their first question and answer session of the campaign season on July 25. They already had a “meet the candidates” event, which I wrote about here. I’m focusing on two races in particular: District … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Clerk of Court, Elections, Single-member Districts
Leave a comment
Neugent Facing Sanctions for Ethics Violations
Wow! Incredible news from the Blue Paper. The Florida Commission on Ethics (Commission) found county commissioner, George Neugent, violated ethics laws. It’s not incredible to me that Neugent would violate ethics laws. It’s incredible that he actually might face consequences for … Continue reading
Posted in Animal Shelter, BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County
Leave a comment
FKAA $3 Million Contract for Toppino
Posted yesterday on www.bigpinekey.com: The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) board is getting ready to award a $3 million contract to one of their own, Richard Toppino. Toppino, as has been discussed exhaustively on this blog, is a FKAA board member … Continue reading
Posted in Conflict of Interest, FKAA
Leave a comment
BOCC: Budget Silliness
I watched the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) budget meeting online. It’s torture, but it’s helpful if you really want to know what’s going on with Monroe County government. As usual they go into excruciating detail about certain aspects of the budget … Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Budget
Leave a comment
The Real Poop 