Pompano Beach CRA Scandal - CRA Created Illegally as a Shill to Steal for Pompano Commissioners

Pompano Beach Commissioners created a separate legal entity to seize properties from citizens, called the Pompano Beach CRA. Who are the CRA members? The exact same Pompano Beach Commissioners of course, along with their reputations for racketeering
 
April 17, 2010 - PRLog -- The Pompano Beach CRA scandal worsens as it is revealed in that the City of Pompano Beach had no authority to create a separate legal entity, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), nor confer upon it the legal power of eminent domain, although this illegally formed CRA has been taking properties from private citizens, businesses, and churches for over a decade in Florida.

Another wrinkle for the City is that the Pompano Beach Commission appointed themselves to the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, meaning both entities have always been made up of the exact same members. Since the members of both entities are the same, it is questioned why another agency was even necessary, and contended that it was created to be used as a shill to abscond with property for private gain. This may come as no surprise to residents of Pompano Beach, as these commissioners have a less than stellar reputation, especially when it comes to making big profit often at the expense of citizens. Development schemes, business racketeering, and disregarding government ethics are but a few of the favorite pastimes of Pompano's leaders.

Current Pompano Beach Mayor, and longtime commissioner and CRA member, Lamar Fisher is the President and CEO of Fisher Auction Co. specializing in auctions of yes, real estate and “government surplus.” He has already been penalized for Florida ethics violations in 2007 by doing city business as Mayor with his own Fisher Auction Company. Now Lamar Fisher while at the same time Mayor, is currently auctioning foreclosures in Florida for the profit of his nationwide company and huge lenders. In January of this 2010, Lamar’s Auction Company profited from the ponzi scheme of Floridians as his company received 10% of proceeds from auctioning off former Fort Lauderdale attorney and $1.2 billion dollar Ponzi schemer, Scott Rothstein’s office effects.

E. Pat Larkins, the longtime Pompano Beach mayor, vice-mayor, commissioner and CRA member, now deceased, was President and Partner of Malar Construction Inc, as well as creator of the Broward County Minority Builders Coalition Inc (BCBC) and longtime advocator of property takings for building purposes. He told private citizens like Jimmy Star of The World of Jimmy Star Grand Castle Showrooms and Entertainment Complex in Pompano Beach, “I want your property and I’m going to get it.” His namesake community center currently sits on land taken by the illegal CRA during his membership.

Current Mayor Lamar Fisher, Vice-Mayor George Brummer, and past Commissioners Kay McGinn and Susan Foster were all found to have violated Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law (or Open Meetings Law) for meeting in private in 2005 with then Sheriff Ken Jenne (who would later be sentenced to a year in prison on federal corruption charges) before a vote to extend the city’s contract with Jenne’s office.  

Commissioner Woodrow Poitier is currently embroiled in controversy as one of his hand picked appointees to the Community Redevelopment Advisory Board, Vincente Thrower, was recently arrested on 3 counts of unlawful compensation for making deals for developers, and 1 count of bribery for making a deal for a lender and faces hard jail time.

Commissioner Woodrow Poitier himself was chairman of the city's public housing agency when it was busted by the FBI for stealing $1 million dollars in federal funds that were supposed to go to low income housing programs. His relatives, Dan Poitier and Sylvia Poitier (by marriage) are also currently being investigated for their mishandling of federal housing dollars in neighboring city, Deerfield Beach. Finally, and most horrifically demonstrative of Woodrow Poitier ethics, is the fact that he was also sued, fined and placed on probation in his role as President, Ceo, and Director of his Poitier Funeral Home for putting deceased premature infants in a plastic bag and burying them in an unmarked grave as if he were "burying a dead cat or hamster" instead of cremating them as their mothers had contracted.

Commissioners Rex Hardin and Barry Dockswell have historically accepted campaign contributions from real estate interests to get their seats. In 2008 the Sun-Sentinel reported Rex Hardin as saying he didn’t see a conflict with accepting a contribution by someone whose project is being reviewed by the city.

Although demands from the Pompano Beach public starting in 2008 have been made for the Pompano Beach Commissioners to agree to an ethics code, no code has been passed, with E. Pat Larkins calling it “ridiculous nonsense” in the Pompano Pelican and George Brummer starting a counter amendment that any citizen who made a complaint that was found to be false must pay for the city’s expenses, which was passed.

Currently the Mayor and entire commission have unanimously voted for a resolution to oppose an amendment that will be on the November 2010 ballot that ensures that if a city wants to revise a land use plan, ordinary citizens will get to vote on the changes.

At the end of the 2009 fiscal year, financial statements show the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency has $41 million dollars, including $24 million in cash on hand.

In an age when the public is increasingly being squeezed to the point of bankruptcy and homelessness, the Pompano Beach Commissioners and CRA members, whatever you want to call them, don't seem to be feeling the pinch. Apparently the land grab business is good. The caution in the tale is that prison may seem a bit drab in comparison to this high life.

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Was your property taken by the Illegal Pompano Beach CRA?

For more information and resources on the land grab conspiracy visit: http://www.wojspubs.com

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Tags:Pompano Beach Cra, Lamar Fisher, George Brummer, Woodrow Poitier, Larkins, Rex Hardin, Barry Dockswell, Vincente Thrower
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Location:Ft. Lauderdale - Florida - United States
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Page Updated Last on: Jun 11, 2010



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