Sarasota Citizens in the news:
“Group says Orioles are dropping the ball” A local citizen group says the Baltimore Orioles are not doing what they said they would do for area youth. 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 which could go towards youth programs. Orioles officials say things have been delayed because of the same groups lawsuit against the county.
“Lawsuit challenges Sarasota County over term limits” Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government, some of whose members are parties to a new term limits lawsuit against Sarasota County, issued a statement after the suit was filed Nov. 8. Among other comments, the group said, “As citizens, we find ourselves taking this action because we believe the current Board of County Commissioners has abrogated its responsibility to uphold the will of voters and the County Charter … The BCC instructed the county attorney to craft a misleading ballot amendment that would extend their eligibility for office from two terms to three and grandfather their existing time served.”
“Orioles sandbag local kids” So a local youth baseball league director wants to rent county fields at Twin Lakes Park to hold a tournament in November, but the Baltimore Orioles, who now control the fields, say their hands are tied due to an early maintenance schedule.
“Ethics officer hired in Sarasota County” ”The step to have an ethics officer is a good one if that person is truly going to enforce ethical policies.” Cathy Antunes is the President of Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government. She hopes the move will allow employees who see something wrong to speak up — something she says was frowned upon before.
She says there are still some issues, however. “I think what is at most concern for our group right now is that there are high level managers there who implemented this marked for death culture who are documented in participating in ethical violations, and they are still there.”
“Group says audit didn’t go far enough” Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government are calling for a new audit concerning the 2009 spring training deal that was cleared by an audit in July 2010 by Sarasota County Clerk of the Court Karen Rushing.
Cathy Antunes, head of SCRG, said there are various issues with Rushing’s original audit including lack of scope, clarity, missing documents and lack of independence from county administration.
“County cuts worker who pushed contract to friend” “I think that Mr. Arnold’s activities were completely outside of ethical practices,” said Cathy Antunes, founder of Citizens for Responsible Government. “Being on the selection committee for the owner’s representative when he had ties to the winning bidder was outrageous. There was favoritism. That’s the very kind of behavior that creates a culture where now we have an arrest.”
“Rushing seeks independant auditor role” Cathy Antunes, founder of Citizens for Responsible Government, said she was skeptical Rushing’s audits would be any different with the expanded powers.
“We don’t have a lot of confidence right now,” she said. “We just can’t get excited about it.”
“Regarding the Ed Smith Stadium Contracts” Reading the article, one might get the impression that there was a single procurement in question, but there were two separate procurement processes discussed in the Clerk’s audit.
The first was a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for baseball negotiations facilitator in the fall of 2008; the second a Request For Proposal (RFP) for an Owner’s Representative in July-September of 2009. Public records reveal evidence that winning vendors for both jobs (Mr. Dan Barrett and International Facilities Group) had contact with County staff during the respective procurement periods and provided selection criteria used by the County.
“Go slow on Jackson Laboratory” The county has an obligation to open up the discussions by sharing the business plan for Sarasota in an open and transparent forum. The county has a duty to inform voters of the advantages as well as the risks, so when this is put to referendum, the voters are able to make an informed decision.
“Shame on Sarasota County for lining the Oriole’s pockets at the expense of youth programs” 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
“Baseball editorial unjustly harsh” Several local residents have taken issue with comments made by Cathy Antunes regarding the implications of the recent Florida Supreme Court sunshine ruling.
For some reason, none of the letter writers acknowledges that key First Amendment advocacy organizations supported Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government (SCRG). The Florida First Amendment Foundation (FAF), an esteemed nonprofit group that defends our state constitution’s open government law, warned in its brief to the Supreme Court that a decision to uphold Sarasota County would render sunshine law meaningless. The FAF is an authority on sunshine law.
“Sarasota County Commission re-do Orioles deal” The county has asked Sarasota Citizen for Responsible Government what it would take to settle their lawsuit, but refused to comply when the answer was a referendum. Antunes claims the county is choosing to go ahead with something without asking the voters first. She said the real cost is what the county won’t be able to do while paying off the thirty year debt and other viable options on how to provide baseball exist.
