Did they commit? Was it in writing? Whatever else goes wrong, blame it on the lawsuit.

Was it the plan all along?  Sarasota was easy pickins after all.  Itching to find a team (any team)to fill the void that the Reds left.  Enter Baltimore.  What this team lacks on the playing field, the management makes up for in their ability to manuever a community to roll over and give them whatever they want.

Now there is talk that Ripken might bring his youth academy to Charlotte County?  Commissioner Barbetta isn’t worried because he says Cal was never committed.  He actually gives credit for their foresight down there and is holding out hope that the facility might be built in an area where both would benefit.  

Oh to live on,

Sugar Mountain.

With the barkers and the color balloons. 

Time to come back to reality Joe. 

The Orioles do plan a youth facility at Twin Lakes That youth facility might not bear the Ripken name though.  They will ratchet up that plan after the 2012 training season.  That’s what Mr. Bader said anyway.  Mr Bader is the same man who excused closing Twin Lakes to a youth tournament because of renovations on Ed Smith.  These renovations were delayed because of the Sunshine suit.

For your viewing pleasure: See what Alan Rifkin said about Cal Ripkens real intentions.  (Time spot 2:40)

9/20/2010  “Sanborn Studios setting up shop in Lakewood Ranch” 

Before a room full of reporters, elected officials and film professionals, Ken Sanborn took the podium, dimmed the lights and played a video presentation that said it all: “The anticipation is over … a slice of Hollywood in Sarasota … Sanborn Studios.”

One year later Sanborn Studios is closing its Lakewood Ranch facility to “achieve greater efficiencies in its operations”.  The company is relocating its studio operations to a new facility which will be closer to its facilities at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.  

Does it alarm anyone else that a bunch of money was given to Sanborn Studios and there was no due diligence on the part of the county when Jeff Maultsby pitched the project?  Rather than pause, our commission seemed star-struck at the mention of Hollywood and the magic word… JOBS!  

Sanborn of course has done very little in the way of jobs or major production activity.   

7/13/2011 “Sanborn Studios works on Plan B” 

2/28/2011  “Sarasota County re-evaluates Sanborn” 

“As you know, there is an inherit amount of risk in the provision of monies out of the economic incentive fund, as no grant can guarantee success in any endeavor,” Seward wrote. “In that regard, however, we construct our contracts with incentive grantees based on performance with claw back provisions for the return of the grant funding if the business does not live up to its contractual obligation.

What is your opinion?  Are economic incentives for businesses worth the possible risks? 

9/16/2010 “Incentives aim to draw more film crews to area” 

With a TV production studio slated for Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota County established an incentive program Wednesday specifically geared toward bringing more film and TV-related projects to the area.
Sarasota County commissioners voted to allocate $250,000 from their Economic Development Incentive Program to create a Film Industry Incentive Program. The move comes as county officials prepare to unveil which TV production company has been approved to receive $650,000 in economic development incentive.

 7/13/2010 “500 jobs  are at stake”  More than 500 jobs would be created if county government inks deals with five companies it is negotiating with and forks over more than $600,000 in incentive payments to the firms.

On Feb. 22, without public discussion, the Sarasota County Commission approved via its consent agenda a parking licensing agreement with the Baltimore Orioles. The agreement increases parking fees at the public park to $9 during spring-training games. The additional $4 goes to the Orioles. The 2011 parking revenues, totaling $22,482, were divided as follows:

• $1,471 taxes
• $2,498 non-profit payout
• $4,114 Sarasota youth baseball
• $3,085 SW District Parents Council
• $3,086 Ringling Redskins
• $8,228 Orioles

Because terms in the Orioles contract offer multiple and significant cost advantages and savings to their organization, it is unreasonable for the Orioles to sap any portion of meager profits from youth facility parking.  For example, the contract:   

• Removed annual rent for use of Twin Lakes (>$250K/year)
• Required environmental indemnification by the City of Sarasota (under threat of pulling out of the tentative agreement)
• Removed the commitment to build a Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy (a two-year due date being mentioned in draft contract language)

 If you are not aware of our request here is the e-mail:  Re_ Feedback requested_ Cancel Orioles_Youth Parking Lot Agreement

Our request has prompted a response from a local reporter and I can’t help but share it with you.  I will also include a reply by Sarasota Citizens president, Cathy Antunes. 

Disclaimer:  Content is copied as written (typos and all).  Type size has been altered just because the original type was just way too big.

When is this all this continued bitterness concerning spring training and the Baltimore Orioles going to end????????????

How utterly ridicules it is that anyone can waste time and effort in having the Baltimore Orioles give $8,000 of their parking fees  back to the public sector????????????

$8,000 ????????????????

Why not ask about the $5 million of public money that was to clean up Leonard Reid Street in North Sarasota being funneled to Nathan Benderson Park??????????????

How about asking about the millions of dollars that has been misappropriated in the Environment Sensitive Properties Project????????????

How about asking about the millions of dollars being appropriated to the scam up there in Lakewood Ranch concerning Sandborn Studios??????????????

How about asking about the millions of dollars of public money that should have been coming from Marina Jacks the past 25 years??????????????

How about asking about the cover-up investigation by Sarasota County Sheriff, Tom Knight’s of the corrupt reign of the disgraced former Sarasota County Administrator, Jim Ley.

The list  of scams to be questioned and get involved in other than seeking $8,000 back from the Orioles. goes on and on.

Wasting time and energy on getting $8,000 from the Baltimore Orioles—-Give me a break.

If anybody is concerned about the scam concerning the Baltimoire Orioles coming to Sarasota, investigate a paid lobbyist like Dave Bitner for the Oriloes, the close business connection between Fla. State Representative Doug Holder and the Orioles, the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s Tom Tyron involvement, Jim Ley, Commissioners Shannon Staub and Nora Patterson working behind the scenes to bring one of worst run sports organization, the Baltimore Orioles and owned by one of the worst owners in sports, Peter Angelos to Sarasota.

Better yet, wake up to the fact that the Orioles are here in Sarasota and try to make the best out of a bad situation. Get behind Sarasota City Commission, Shannon Snyder’s plans to re-develop the area around Ed Smith Stadium using another gem of a stadium designed by Janet Maria Smith as the centerpiece of the re-development.

THIS HOW A JEAN MARIA SMITH DESIGNED STADIUM IS DESCRIBED AND WHAT IT DID FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE::

(By the way, Agelos had absolutely nothing to do with the Camden Yards Stadium. The stadium was completed and dedicated in 1992 and Angelos purchased the Orioles in 1993).

“ Named one of the “Ten Best Sports Books” by The Sporting News, Ballpark is the compelling story of how Baltimore’s magnificent Camden Yards ballpark was born, and the effects it has had on the city, the team, and the whole course of stadium building across the country. It’s both an examination of the city’s psyche and a close look behind the scenes at our national pastime. This is a quintessentially American story of progress, movement, change, triumph, and of an eternal renewal of hope.”

“By design, Camden Yards is the best

Experts say park sets new standard”

July 14, 1993|By Edward Gunts | Edward Gunts,Staff Writer

“Oriole Park at Camden Yards may have set the standard for a new generation of traditional, intimate ballparks, but the number of imitators is rising rapidly.

Nearly a dozen cities are building or talking about building open-air, natural-grass, baseball-only parks that will boast much of the same good-natured quirkiness that made Oriole Park such a hit, according to a panel of baseball experts who gathered there yesterday for a discussion on ballpark design.”

 Below is Cathy’s reply.  I have omitted the name of the reporter: 

Apparently our request and the information shared has touched a nerve.

(xx xxxxx) is right – there are many concerns to be addressed regarding the County’s fiscal management.  One could say that we are in the middle of an epidemic.   An epidemic of irresponsible fiscal management.

Epidemics don’t just pertain to illness.  Human behavior also can take on epidemic qualities.  (http://www.gladwell.com/1996/1996_06_03_a_tipping.htm)

When Rudy Giuliani cleaned up NYC, the police instituted a zero tolerance policy for smaller crimes (i.e. arresting the squeegee guys harassing motorists for money and those who leaped over the subway turnstiles rather than pay the fare).  What happened?  Small crimes decreased, but overall crime rates came down too.  NYC became a much safer place.  Why?  Those who were willing to harass motorists, bullying them at the stoplight for cash after cleaning the windshield without permission – those people were committing other crimes as well.  Allowing social disorder – failing to make proper arrests for subway fare beating and squeegee harassment – created an environment where other crimes flourished as well. 

The lesson?  Lower the bar, and you’ll have more problems.  Bigger problems.

So, for those who think a “small” financial problem – $8000 – doesn’t matter, we disagree.  We find it especially disgraceful that the county would direct $8000 to a billionaire team owner when they could keep it in the community benefiting children.  We believe looking for such opportunities to help the community is a commissioner’s job.  If an extra $8000 lining the Orioles pockets at the expense of Sarasota youth sports doesn’t bother you, know that you are allowing the squeegee guys and fare busters to get away – which only creates a fertile environment for the bigger rip offs that (xxxxxxx) complains about. 

A zero tolerance policy for fiscal mismanagement can begin with revoking an Orioles parking agreement that sells out Sarasota youth sports. Unfortunately, a response from a public official writing off this concerns as “bitterness”  is emblematic of a government preference for dismissing public concerns and marginalizing citizens.  That dismissive attitude was also on display when the BCC voted to move forward with a misleading ballot amendment despite overwhelming public input against it. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Cathy Antunes
President, Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government

So, there you have it.  Two way’s to look at the situation.  We can concentrate our efforts on bigger issues, stop wasting our time on the small stuff. Turn the other cheek and let the youth survive on the crumbs left by the big dogs.  Or we can stand up and say “this is wrong” and attempt to do something about it.   

Background:

Two weeks ago, citizens filed suit to ask that the current term limits for County Commissioners in the charter be upheld.
A 2005 local court decision ruled that term limits for County Commissioners were unconstitutional, so an injunction against the County Charter term limit provision was ordered by a local judge.  In August 2011, the 4th District Court of Appeals overturned a
similar ruling in Broward County.  The 4th DCA judges unanimously concluded that term limits imposed on County Commissioners via a County Charter amendment are constitutional.  The citizen plaintiffs are asking the local court to recognize that the 4th DCA decision is binding in Sarasota, and remove the current Sarasota injunction against term limits.

The judge will also be asked to decide if ballot amendment language proposed by the Board of County Commissioners for the January primary election can go forward.  That ballot amendment would extend County Commissioner term limits from two terms to three terms, and existing time in office would not count.  If the new ballot language meets legal standards and voters approve it, sitting commissioners would be able to serve four to seven terms.

It’s your government!  Be there!

Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government

“We’ll find out what’s wrong, what the problem is. These are tough, tough times, and the last thing I want are libraries and youth sports cut. Those are quality-of-life issues in the community, so we do our best to keep them going.”

~Joe Barbetta~

Commissioner Barbetta lobbied for the Red Sox but later embraced the Orioles.  According to an article in the Herald Tribune, he was unaware of any complaints about youth sports.

If you believe there is a problem with youth sports, please contact Commissioner Barbetta:  jbarbett@scgov.net

1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236

(941) 861-5344

Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government has sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners asking they cancel or amend their parking agreement with the Baltimore Orioles.  To date not one commissioner has responded to our request.  We believe it is wrong to give millions to one organization while another survives on crumbs. 

Dear Commissioners:

According to the agreement with Sarasota County, the Baltimore Orioles are entitled to a significant share profits from overflow parking at the youth facilities caddy-corner from Ed Smith Stadium.  That agreement can be nullified by either party with a 90-day notice.
 
We urge Sarasota County and the Board of Commissioners to cancel this agreement. 
 
Why?

• Youth sports are cash-strapped and in dire need of financial support.
• Youth sports have limited access to Twin Lakes and other Orioles-controlled fields.
• Orioles, a multi-million dollar professional franchise, collects profits from ticket sales, food/beverage vendors, and parking lots.
• Orioles pledged to partner with Sarasota County and demonstrate a commitment to a quality youth sports experience–that pledge is yet to be truly realized.

Because terms in the Orioles contract offer multiple and significant cost advantages and savings, it is unreasonable for the Orioles to sap any portion of meager profits from youth facility parking.  For example, the contract:   

 Removed annual rent for use of Twin Lakes (>$250K/year)

• Required environmental indemnification by the City of Sarasota (under threat of pulling out of the tentative agreement)
• Removed the commitment to build a Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy (a two-year due date being mentioned in draft contract language)

Please do the right thing and cancel the youth lots parking agreement with the Orioles immediately.  Or at the very least, amend the agreement so that the Orioles donate their share to the non-profits which run the youth facilities across from Ed Smith Stadium.  This action will demonstrate, even in its small way, that Sarasota County holds the Orioles to their word.
 
Mr. Angelos told the BCC and the community that the vision of his organization was to “create the greatest possible value back to the local community that we could conceive of”, “value that has never been seen before”.  Maneuvering to capture a share of all possible revenue streams at the expense of youth sports is inconsistent with Mr. Angelos’ promises. yet Mr. Angelos told Sarasota “we stand for over delivering on our promises”. 

Putting the interests of children first is the right thing to do for our community.

Respectfully,

Cathy Antunes
Pat Rounds
Alex Morris
Board members, Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government

Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government claims the team has not started on a baseball academy, that fields are off-limits, and that the Orioles are taking money [parking agreement] which could go towards youth programs. Orioles officials say things have been delayed because of the same groups lawsuit against the county.

Here’s the facts:   The Oriole’s walked in here with their CSL report and laid it on thick.  Mr Rifken painting a picture that could only be equaled by Rockwell himself.  Imagine ,if you will,  a 12-year-old gazing across the field and spotting his big league idol over on the next field doing the same thing.  Well, so far, all that 12-year-old has been able to do is imagine.  Not to mention the CSL report that gave millions of dollars in economic impact.  Well, that figured in a Cal Ripken Academy in Sarasota! 

We didn’t get a vote on spending a ton of money on Baltimore’s new home.  We also didn’t get a say when the parking agreement was made.  No discussion at any commission meeting about THAT!  So parking fees were increased and Baltimore rakes in some extra revenue. 

Baltimore is blaming the lawsuit on their delays.  I find it hard to swallow that an organization worth millions of dollars is blaming delays on the two citizens groups that took the county to court.  At that time, a handful of individuals threw a million dollar organization into a tizzy?  PLEEEASE!  As far as what the Baltimore Sun was reporting and from the record crowds showing up for the opening game, renovatons were on time and the facility was operational.

 “Oriole’s confident renovations will be completed on time”  “They had a few setbacks with weather, but they’ve caught up. It will be ready”.  Mr Showalter mentions the what?  The weather.  No mention of a lawsuit.  Hummm.

Mr. Bader, what significant renovations still need to be made?  Give me a list.  Does the team need another whirlpool? 

The Orioles and Bader say most of the money raised from the parking agreement goes directly to youth programs.  Yes some of the funds are distributed to non-profits.  They always have been.  The point is the Orioles raised parking $4 during their first season in the new stadium that is being paid for by Sarasota tax-payers.  If you want to talk about being part of the community and spout off about how important the kids are, give them the extra $4.

Here is a list on the Orioles website for Sarasota programs: 

Orioles Big League Reader Program:  Kids who read 3 books get a special Home Run Reading Card.  After returning the books, they get a ticket to a game.

Birdland Golf Classic:  Orioles gave $26,000 from the revenue raised from the classic to The Miracle League of Manasota.

Used equipment and furniture:  Before Ed Smith and the Buck O’Neil Complex was renovated the Orioles gave the used stuff to Goodwill, the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs and schools.

Before the March 13th game, all the kids got to run around the field.  They gave some patches to the Boy / Girl Scouts.

On March 19th some more kids got to run around the field.

On March 29, the old people got to run (or walk) the bases.

On March 27, non-perishables and cash was collected from the fans.  It was donated to All Faiths Food Banks.

On February 19th the O’s mascot hit Lakewood Ranch Little League opener and then on to the Venice opener.  The kids got a hat.

On February 25, the bird hit the opening day ceremonies for the Cal Ripken League.

The Orioles gave $1 from every car parked to the YMCA.

Youth Sports at it’s best.  Thanks Baltimore!

County commissioners say in the end the fields will be in better shape, tournaments will soon go on again, and an academy could be coming too.  That and $8 will get standing room only in our new ballpark.

This letter has been sent to our commissioners:

Dear Commissioners:

According to the agreement with Sarasota County, the Baltimore Orioles are entitled to a significant share profits from overflow parking at the youth facilities caddy-corner from Ed Smith Stadium.  That agreement can be nullified by either party with a 90-day notice.
 
We urge Sarasota County and the Board of Commissioners to cancel this agreement. 
 
Why?

• Youth sports are cash-strapped and in dire need of financial support.
• Youth sports have limited access to Twin Lakes and other Orioles-controlled fields.
• Orioles, a multi-million dollar professional franchise, collects profits from ticket sales, food/beverage vendors, and parking lots.
• Orioles pledged to partner with Sarasota County and demonstrate a commitment to a quality youth sports experience–that pledge is yet to be truly realized.

Because terms in the Orioles contract offer multiple and significant cost advantages and savings, it is unreasonable for the Orioles to sap any portion of meager profits from youth facility parking.  For example, the contract:   

• Removed annual rent for use of Twin Lakes (>$250K/year)
• Required environmental indemnification by the City of Sarasota (under threat of pulling out of the tentative agreement)
• Removed the commitment to build a Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy (a two-year due date being mentioned in draft contract language)

Please do the right thing and cancel the youth lots parking agreement with the Orioles immediately.  Or at the very least, amend the agreement so that the Orioles donate their share to the non-profits which run the youth facilities across from Ed Smith Stadium.  This action will demonstrate, even in its small way, that Sarasota County holds the Orioles to their word.
 
Mr. Angelos told the BCC and the community that the vision of his organization was to “create the greatest possible value back to the local community that we could conceive of”, “value that has never been seen before”.  Maneuvering to capture a share of all possible revenue streams at the expense of youth sports is inconsistent with Mr. Angelos’ promises. yet Mr. Angelos told Sarasota “we stand for over delivering on our promises”. 

Putting the interests of children first is the right thing to do for our community.

Respectfully,

Cathy Antunes
Pat Rounds
Alex Morris
Board members, Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government

Update on the term limits legal case: the special outside counsel hired by the County agrees with the position of the citizens that filed the lawsuit that the existing Charter provision on term limits IS constitutional and presently enforceable & that the injunction entered in the Moore case should be dissolved immediately. This, we understand, means the citizens prevail in the lawsuit. However, we expect other interested parties (opponents of term limits) to intervene and argue that the Fourth District Court of Appeals got it wrong. The question will boil down to whether a judge is bound by the appellate court decision (the 4th DCA decision upholding term limits). The answer, we believe, is an easy one: YES.  But many believe the real question is whether the BCC will take the high road on Tuesday and bow out of a ballot amendment process that it should never have entered into. We doubt the Supreme Court will weigh in on this issue before the ballots have to be printed,  nor  do we believe the Supreme Court will expressly address the situation here in Sarasota.

An interesting development:  The BCC’s strategy has changed course, as the County Attorney said in last Tuesday’s BCC meeting that they will be hiring outside counsel to defend the constitutionality of term limits.  Huh??  Of course we all know that since 2005 the BCC has chosen not to appeal Judge Economu’s decision that term limits for County Commissioners is unconstitutional.  Why the 180 degree shift?  The BCC seems to understand that arguing against the constitutionality of term limits is either unwinnable, a political liability, or both.  Therefore, we are now seeing e-mails stating that the BCC is defending the constitutionality of term limits. 
On Tuesday afternoon the BCC will be interviewing the four County Administrator candidates.  It is item 46 on the agenda.  The selection of a new County Administrator is a decision that will greatly impact our County – please attend and witness the selection process.  The candidates are:

“Sarasota helped out the Orioles when they were homeless”

~Michael Barfield~

How many people poked fun at Michael Barfield’s suggestion that Ed Smith be used for a homeless shelter?  Barfield who can probably find a needle in a haystack found Florida State Statute 288.1166, which states that publicly funded professional sports facilities, such as Ed Smith Stadium, “shall be designated as a shelter site for the homeless”.

We all know Ed Smith IS publicly funded and we also know it IS NOT in use 365 days a year. 

Enter Senator Mike Bennet.  He’s filed legislation to have this statute enforced. 

For years teams have been collecting big checks from the tax payers and this provision has never been enforced.  No stadium has been used as a shelter.  He wants the tax dollars that are given to these teams to be repaid as far back as 1988 when the statute was put into effect. 

BRAVO! 

“Senator wants Florida sports teams to return millions to state” 

“At that time it was put into law, Florida statute said that if they’re going to take that money from state of Florida, they should do something else than just have a sports franchise for a stadium,” said Bennett.  “A law was passed that said if they’re not having a specific event, then the stadium must be used as a homeless shelter.  Not just during hurricanes or not that kind of thing, but anytime it is not being used for specific event.”

“Lawmaker forcing issue on over-looked stadium homeless shelter law”

Bennett, a longtime supporter of stopping state funding of sports stadiums without local referendums, believes this is yet another example of how taxpayers are supplementing the super-rich owners of sports franchises while the taxpayers of Florida are receiving very little in return.

“I cannot believe that we tax a person who is making a living catching mullet in Sarasota Bay and then take that tax money and send it to a billionaire in Miami so they can have a fancier stadium.” Bennett said.

Senator Bennett is also working with Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) to ensure that professional sports franchises get no tax credit from the state if they have blackout games.

 SB-816  Professonal Sports Facilities

 PRESS RELEASE:

Nov. 11, 2011 – The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Sarasota (RPOS) passed a near unanimous resolution (97 Yeas vs. 2 Nays) on November 10th urging the Sarasota County commissioners to respect and abide by the “two consecutive term limit” which was previously approved by 68% of the voters in a countrywide ballot in 1998. The resolution further urged the Commissioners to abandon any consideration of extending the limit to three terms, and not restart the clock on current commissioners’ terms by changing the effective date of enforcement. Under the Charter mandate, Commissioners would only be able to serve again after a two-year lapse of service.

The original Sarasota County charter amendment limiting service to two terms was approved in 1998, but never enforced due to local litigation in 2005. Recently, however, the Florida Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that term limits may be imposed. This was challenged and the Florida State Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of term limits prior to the 2012 elections.

In addition, the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections has stated that the cost of adding the County Commission’s proposed language to the ballot would be $120,000. Rather than spending $120,000 on efforts to ignore the will of the people and extend their time in office, The Republican Party of Sarasota County recommends that the Commissioners return these funds to the taxpayers by way of lowering taxes.

The Sarasota County Commission has scheduled a public meeting next Tuesday, November 15^th, to discuss amending the County Charter to permit a “three term limit” which would grant the County Commissioners three additional terms, in additional to the two-year term limit previously enacted by the voters of Sarasota County. Supervisor of Elections, Kathy Dent, has advised that her office would need the proposed language of the amendment by November 22nd in order to have sufficient time to print ballots for the January 31 special election. This is an important meeting that all concerned Sarasota County citizens should attend.

County Commission Meeting Information:

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 15th at 9am
Location: The Sarasota County Commission Chambers
Address:  1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, Florida
More info:  941-861-5344 

Text Of The Republican Party of Sarasota County Resolution

As Passed By A Vote Of 97 Yeas Vs. 2 Nays

WHEREAS, through the county charter review process, an amendment imposing two consecutive term limits on county commissioners was created and vetted and placed on the countywide ballot in 1998;