OK, Now I'm Pissed
Here I was trying to take a moderate, calm stance on the Broward County School Board's new Puppy Dog Commission when I look up to see that one of the members, former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth, took what looks very much like a veiled swipe at me during yesterday morning's dog and po-- er, I mean, news conference.
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But after seeing five minutes worth of video from yesterday's news conference (which I put up at the end of this post), it's already looking very bleak. This doesn't look like a serious investigative body, more like a reunion of the three stooges. All in all, ladies and gentlemen, it's more than obvious we have a whitewash in the making. Sorry I was a little late to come to that conclusion.
I'm going to start with Butterworth, who is actually the best of the motley trio. During the news conference, Butterworth "commended" the press that was in attendance while saying he was disappointed that some of the School Board critics weren't there. Here's what he said:
I don't want to offend any of you here, and I don't think I will. The media has been pouncing on the School Board for a period of time. I commend those of you that are here. BECON is here, thank you. Where are the others that have been criticizing the bold stand you are taking here today? ... It's a tremendous move, it's a bold move as Jack has stated... I'm a little disappointed that some of the people that have been criticizing you [aren't here] -- not the people here, I'm very pleased they are here, and they can criticize you later, they have a right to, because they are here.
Well, I'm pretty sure I'm the alpha dog critic of this School Board, so I have to assume he's talking about your very own Pulp here, insinuating that because I wasn't at the news conference, I don't have a right to criticize the School Board. (And did Bobby B really bring up BECON? This is really getting weird.)
Now why is Butterworth trying to square off with me or any other critics? Shouldn't he be listening to us to understand the problems he's supposed to solve? What does this bit of asininity have to say about the man's mindset as he engages this seemingly monumental task?
But again, Butterworth wasn't nearly as bad as Seiler. Fellow New Times blogger Tom Francis first pointed out that Seiler had the nerve to
complain about lack of positive news coverage for the School Board at yesterday's news conference.
Jack obviously doesn't know jack. Here's a passage from this pandering politician's putrid little speech:
Let me give you an example of why this needs to be done. The School Board... received a national award, and none of the press was positive about winning the national award; it was all negative... That's when you know you've lost a little bit of the positive aspect of what needs to be around here. So my attitude is the focus ought to be on when they do something well, publicize what they do. Don't make every single story about the School Board a negative story. That was a case in point with the most recent award. This school system is the sixth largest in the country, and all in all, they do a pretty darned good job educating our children. If you look at the issues that have surfaced in the last month and a half, they don't involve the education of our children; they involved ancillary issues.
Ancillary issues?
Taking bribes, having family members on lobbyists' and developers' payrolls, taking expensive gifts and failing to report them, overbuilding the school district by a projected 34,000 seats, ripping off hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayers, driving the district into $2 billion debt. Here's a story about the ancillary issues that I hope the stooges have read. You know, it's a damn good thing the FBI is around to take care of the ancillary issues, or we'd be up shit creek.
This trio is proving that the worst assumptions about you aren't bad enough. The commission isn't about justice or puppy dogs, it's about propaganda. Don't look at the fact that the School Board has robbed you and driven your school system into near-bankruptcy on behalf of their ambition and greedy self-interest and the corrupt gravy train of lobbyists and contractors. Look instead at the Pulp, who didn't come to see the show and therefore doesn't have the right to criticize the board. Look at the rest of the media, which is following suit and isn't reporting feel-good stories about senseless industry awards (which the school board, just for the record, didn't win anyway -- it was a finalist).
And then you have Jennifer Gottlieb and Maureen Dinnen sitting there beside them. (Guess Stephanie Kraft and Bob Parks have been demoted.) Where were Gottlieb and Dinnen when the taxpayers were being looted? Pouring the money in sacks for the robbers, that's where. Where were they when the School Board auditors found that AshBritt had ripped us off of at least $765,000? Standing by Kraft and Parks as they heckled auditors for disclosing the information. The School Board still hasn't asked for that money back. What does that tell you?
More importantly, what will it tell the three stooges? Probably nothing, because they're too busy doing the School Board's slapstick to pay attention.
Here's the YouTube video of news conference:
42 comment(s) / Post a Comment
Using their logic, those of us who do real work for a living and cannot attend their inconvenient day time meeting now need to shut up. If they had their meeting and press conference when the balance of the community is available they would get real feedback and perhaps the world is not run by lobbyists. They only ways they will get a reality check are to be indicted!
I have seen these hand picked blue ribbon panel used in the past. They never, never, never bite the hand that feeds them. They don’t want to embarrass anyone. They don’t want to be too critical at the risk of loosing a vote. All that really works is a grand jury investigation!
They've lost their credibility before they even began. And they don't have any relevance either, thanks to the feds.
Go easy Pulpy. After seeing the video, you can count Butterworth as a loyal reader.
A lot of talk but lets see what is accomplished. Jack talks about positives and negatives. Boy is he off base. Does he realize he is supposed to be a hard hitting investigative committee? Educational awards are very important for recognizing individual and school accomplishments but I don't believe the SB has won any construction awards lately.
Jack, how do you know about the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM???lets see, you, ahearn, LIL WUSSY BOY ZADEN, oh yeA,huRLEY, MERRIGAN, THATS RIGHT, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL??MAYBE BUILDING THEM,???BUYING THE CONTRACTS????HOW ABOUT FATHER KELLY??madoff???????bienenes??YOU AND ZADEN, BOTH WUSSY BOYS OF PRIVATE , EDUCATION ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?YOU ARE KIDDING US, RIGHT?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 4:31PMWho do you think told Seiler and Butterworth that the big bad media has been hounding the poor school board? Have those two busy fellows been monitoring the dailies for school stories?
Of course not! Obviously, Notter whined about this to them. And instead of treating this gripe like the complete bullshit that it is, they echoed his complaints to the media. The only thing that press conference proved is that when it comes to corruption-enabling political figures, Broward's got a deep bench.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 4:53PMThis reminds me of when the City of Fort Lauderdale hired prominent local (black employment defense) attorney Henry Latimer (now deceased) to look into all of the findings of race discrimination by the Department of Justice back in the late 1990's.
After investigating the issue for several months, Mr. Latimer issued his "blue ribbon" report, which -- not surprisingly -- found that while a few rogue City managers may have treated some employees poorly, there was no racial discrimination that he could see. To their credit, at least the three stooges are doing this pro bono, whereas Latimer charged the City of Fort Lauderdale for his time. Henry was a great attorney and a wonderful human being, but he embarrassed himself by letting the City use him to cover their ass, just like the three stooges will do with their new jobs.
And Pulp, just who the hell is George Allen other than some (black) attorney who won a discrimination case against the School Board many years ago? If that was the criteria for getting on the blue ribbon panel, I should be the chairman.
Finally, if Pulp can let us know when the three stooges are holding their next hearing or press conference, I will take the time from my schedule to make sure I am there, so I can preserve my privilege (I thought it was a right) of being allowed to criticize my public officials.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 5:07PMBob Butterworth has a solid reputation as reformist, so the see-no-evil approach is disheartening.
Now who can we trust?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 5:31PMFor all of you who missed it staff has the answers and always has. There are professionals in this district that have been long ingnored and beat down to allow the wishes of the puppets to be catered to. These blue ribbon idiots provide nothing more than another spin to whitewash over the dirty business of the puppets and their masters. They will be exposed for who they are and their seedy mission exposed for what it is. They are already a joke just like those who claim to be leaders who don't know how to be ethical without training wheels. The public has been educated way beyond the normal spin of we are just stupid not criminal.
The initials have been here for four years, what do you think they have been doing? Cruising down the intercoastal eating crab all that time. Please folks get a grip on what is going on. The initials only deal whith two kinds of people, victims and targets. Victims can tell their story about how they were intimidated or forced to do the puppets bidding if they sing about who made them do it, they are the targets. If you don't want to tell about how you were a victim, be careful the targets may turn on you. Either way the train goes clickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:07PMsince when is it the job, or even appropriate, for someone tasked to investigate a single issue, to defend the subject of the investigation overall?
would Ken Stark have begun the Whitewater investigation by saying he intends to get to the bottom of it, but before he starts he just wants to say that the press hasn't done a good job of praising her for her health reform efforts? don't think so.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:16PMthat's Ken Starr, of course. Congressman Stark is health care.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:16PMwhat a con man!!!!!blob!!!!!!!! butterhead. he is going to investigate corruption at our tax paying school system??w/ a graduate of a PRIVATE SCHOOL??did you see the deer in the headlights notter????AND WHERE WAS THE LIL GIRLIE BOY SATZ?all our money stolen, donuts for marko, garretson, et al, nephews, etc, and this "COMMISSION"]is going to figure things out in 90 days.did yoy watch the video?? did they look resolute , on a mission????COME ON, give me a break!!!!!again i say, blob butterhead and ptivate school seiler to investigate their pals, supporters is nothing short of a bad joke or continuing corruption.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:28PMPulp:
"The nerve to bring up BECON." How dare you, sir? BECON is a major player on par with the BBC, Wall Street Journal, ITV or NYT. They have some of the most expensive computer equipment in CCTV broadcasting. This acronymic news organization is watched all over the world via the internet! I understand that Siberians with high-speed access watch BEACON while m__ning across the Bering Strait at former Alaska Gov. Palin as she searches the skies for incoming missiles. How dare you, sir. Have you no shame?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:34PMI am, as my father would say, getting seriouser and seriouser. How do we get Bob Norman his Pulitzer?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 6:59PMQUOTE - "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm the alpha dog critic of this School Board, so I have to assume he's talking about your very own Pulp here"..........
Pulp, you're definitely not an "ALFA DOG" - you're more like the runt of the litter humping up on another male to get attention!
Hey man! I don't want to make this personal, but you need to get real! Take a look at yourself in the mirror and do some work on your hygiene man.
Keep telling the STORY, but remember we really don't care about your persona or ego.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 7:17PMPeople...........................
I want you all to watch the YouTube video. Take the time to do that; you owe it to yourselves. It is important that every aspect of this issue be considered. After you have watched it let the rest of us know what you thought of it. I'm about to do the same. Remember, this video was not scripted by you or me. This is the work of the three men selected to deal with the corruption that we have all witnessed and paid for.
First of all, Notter knows that he needs to clean house because the district is a bloated mess. What's more is that he will hack away at the construction department because it is an easy target. Therefore, I have some advice for you all who work here in the facilities department.
1. The good news fairy that Mrs. Butterworth speaks of is not going to save you. You will be sacrificed based on their pre-determined recommendations. So what is the solution? Get Whistle Blower protection. Everybody (every single person in the facilities and construction management staff)in the facilities department that has been pushed around and bullied into doing things that you know were wrong...put it in writing to Mr. Notter and let him know exactly who is/was responsible for the intimidation. He is the highest level manager in the school board and by bringing wasteful, abusive and criminal activity formally to his attention will protect you from the future retaliation that he has planned for many of you. If you know of no waste or criminal activity then do not seek that protection.
2. What is occurring now is called Civil War. Because of Notter's lack of leadership and the atmosphere that has flourished for years, everyone knows that if you disagree or speak out you are eliminated or retaliated against. Civil War means that brothers will have to take up arms against their brothers. The choice is simple...do the right thing and if your brother chooses the dark side, then he was not your brother. This is Blue and Gray stuff.
3. What the corrupt members of the board and their staff are doing is akin to treason. They are violating the basic and fundamental principles of the rule of Law. In America when you commit such act against your country, you are a traitor...guilty of treason. Treasonous acts are not the acts of those with good intentions. Therefore, rid yourself of the treasonous filth that has been thrust upon you by the facilitators of the machine. Be yourself. Stand up for what you tell yourself you believe in. If change is going to happen it starts with you. You are the one who has witnessed the intimidation, fear, corruption and violation of the rule of law. You can make a difference. If not, are you willing to withstand another 20 years of the same if you are not hacked away???
Let's review...
1. Email Notter (definately in writing) regarding any and all waste, abuse and criminal activity you have witnessed. Be sure to request a full investigation into your specific allegations. Be sure that your allegations are based on facts as you know the important details. Documentation is certainly helpful. Give the "Puppy Love Commission" some real issues to review. That way they cannot concentrate on the pre-determined list of decapitations that they will surely otherwise focus on.
2. Choose a side. This is Civil War and nobody wants to fight their brother. But does anybody want to be accessory to a crime due to their inaction??? What looks better...prison or an uncomfortable reality that some are really not your "friends"???
3. Be a true American and not a useful idiot. Do not accept treason as an acceptable way of life. You work too hard and carry too many other people's water in the district to also take their beatings. Do NOT...I repeat...do not accept treason!!!
Good Luck and Godspeed.
Laugh this off or take some good advice, either way I will sleep like a baby tonight.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 7:26PMWell Hammerhead, where are you at on this one? i.e. see - Karnack/ScoreKeeper
Well, this is really convoluted............
Why would a SBBC Project Manager pay PPO $140,000 for a paint job? When after all, there's a capital transfer that pays for the cyclical painting/repainting of all schools. ..............
COULD IT BE ....just maybe, that Scott Gillen "GOT PUNKED" i.e. Paying for the same paint job twice ($280,000)?
KARNACK/SCOREKEEPER, I Juanna here about the PPO "Fish" (BASS) that "Swims at Night" and of course - What about those "maps" - you mentioned?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 7:51PMAnonymous,
You need to brush up on how the maintenance interface works before you come out here with capital transfer crap that doesn't apply. I'll say it again maintenance interface look it up. The only one punked is you for still spouting the party line in the face of criminal activity all around you and the three stooges for believing Notter and the waterboards are just stupid. I have to ask you what is your excuse.
As for the fish that swims only at night you should ask Notter about that and the maps, he knows all about them. Or you can wait and read about the details here when it is time. I asked you before to look up every now and then and listen for the clickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack, it is closer than you and others think.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 9:59PMARE SELER, ZADEN MARKO, ET AL UNDER THE RAILS???WHATS THAT SOUND??????CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS INVESTIGATION?WHERES THE STATE ATTY?? OH, THAT IS RIGHT , HE IS GETTING READY TO SKI, SMOKE DOPE.I STILL CANT IMAGINE WHAT WAS MORE GROSS, SEEING HIM SKI POORLY OR TIP LESS THAN SHEINBERG AT gwens.I'VE NEVER SEEN TWO HYMIES RUN FROM A CHECK LIKE THAT.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 10:29PMBob
Stick your foot in em Bob. Shut the whole thing down boy! I am so proud of you for not kissing the ring. Tell dem all to kiss your arse...
Bob for County Commission/School Board/Governor
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 10:45PMSieler sounds like he thinks he was hired as the new PR rep/press agent for the SBBC.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 11:22PMScott Gillen Saves the District $40K and stops the extra money from going to Garretson's nephew and some anonymous tool comes out here to criticize him? What an asshole! Scott is a hero! He Kept Garretson from ripping us off for the $40K. Also, does this anonymous asshole really understand the maintenance/capital transfer? Does he think the money appropriated for the paint job will just evaporate if the paint is funded from the project? It is bad enough that the electeds are criminals, but now we even have punk ass bitches on staff who are still sucking up to the BMs and the machine by coming out to these forums and talking shit about Scott.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 @ 11:43PMPulp, you've got the fan, so go ahead and keep contacting all 60 PM's and they'll keep providing you the shit to throw at it.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 12:19AMYou're right. Seiler is nothing more than a pandering politician. Just look at how he went out of his way, over the objections of another commissioner, to appoint unqualified and unethical members to City Boards like that joke Gerry Jordan.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 12:21AMSo what're Moe, Curly and Larry going to do next? Rumor says that they're going to suggest to disband the Facilities & Construction Department. But isn't that kind of like trying to shave hair off an egg?
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 12:25AMHEY JACK, 90 days?to come up w/your answers about the public school board?let's see, would that come from your time at CARINAL GIBBONS,{ don't eat lunch w/ garretson, you 'll get jowels} NOTRE DAME, UM??? that is right lil jackie, you never attended public school, did you???.how about YOUR KIDS jack,did they go to public schools??any of the schools you are smiling about w/ notter,, blob butterhead, laughing, joking while our tax dollars are being wasted.. jack, you, butterhead, ought to be ashamed w/ your arrogant shove off from the dock of this notter fake fishing expedition. until the fbi gets marko, notter, you and your gold medal commission{w/ all your laughs, condescending behavior}just are indicative of another whitewash. but again jackie, i'm 100% sure you are a con man.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 2:23AMHey Anonymous,
I was not avoiding your question. I was ignoring it because you are a bad fisherman looking for something you already know the answers to and have not provided it to the right people. You are a typical clinger to an obsolete way of doing business in Broward. You hold on to information until you can use it against somebody as a hole card.
As for Scott Gillen...he did the right thing. The project will not be paid for twice. That is not how the capital paint schedule works at maintenance and I do believe that you do not know that. Gillen saved the district money...that is good news for the Puppy Dog Commission to spread for the Machine, via Notter and Dinnen. You can't even get your own mission straight.
I agree with Simple Man...Gillen is a hero in this deal. Other "Good Ole Boy" PMs will first be angry, then jealous and then follow suit when they realize they are surrounded by people who already have a plan to throw them under the bus.
I hate to be the one to inform you Anonymous but you are one of those PMs.
I will repeat...send your complaints and requests for investigations on issues that you are specifically aware of to Notter in writing. Copy the Union. Get Whistle Blower protection before it is too late. The three henchmen are near and already have their marching orders.
Good luck...............................
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 5:57AMButterworth used to be a reformist; now he's just one of the crowd. Look at his new gig with FPL. Nothing but a PR adviser. And he'll do the same in Broward, finding excuses for the school board to justify their actions. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 6:26AMAs Jim Mandich would say, "I put it to my nosey and it not smell too rosey!"
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 6:28AM"If you look at the issues that have surfaced in the last month and a half, they don't involve the education of our children..."
Really, Jack? REALLY?
The wasteful and corrupt spending of hundreds of millions of dollars has had no impact on education? None?
My wife is a kindergarten teacher who has been told after nine weeks of school that there is no money for paper on which her students can write. Paper.
You are an infuriatingly out-of-touch, worthless sack of crap mouthpiece.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 7:26AMBob: you've done yeoman's service in uncovering official corruption in Florida that the "old media" (to use a Fox News expression) is now struggling to equal.
But don't make the mistake of letting what someone thinks about you (even more so, what you THINK someone may think about you) color your judgment about them. Because if you do, you become a prisoner of that other person.
Keep on socking it to them!
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 7:56AMDear BB. STHU. Your presser was not a testimonial to your greatness. Just do your job and leave your jabs in your pocket.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 8:30AMScott Gillen Saves the District $40K and stops the extra money from going to Garretson's nephew and some anonymous tool comes out here to criticize him? What an asshole! Scott is a hero! He Kept Garretson from ripping us off for the $40K. Also, does this anonymous asshole really understand the maintenance/capital transfer? Does he think the money appropriated for the paint job will just evaporate if the paint is funded from the project? It is bad enough that the electeds are criminals, but now we even have punk ass bitches on staff who are still sucking up to the BMs and the machine by coming out to these forums and talking shit about Scott.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 9:01AMDear Three Stooges,
We know you have been given an assignment to find pretty things to say about the school board. Here is a test to see if you have been punked. Go speak to Omar the tent man, Jeff Whitness, and Pam Deadwood in Capital Budget. Ask them how the 60 million dollar IBM, SAP conversion went. It has been two years since they flipped the switch and they still don't know where all the money is; they can't see maintenance charges on projects at the same time as other charges; and project managers still can't see their project financial information. The District says it has been a whopping success, yet they never finished with PPO or other functions.
Have you been given authorization to look there? If not why not? You see if you issue a report without the Grimm tale then you will be hammered for incomplete work. If you try to put lipstick on it you will be exposed when the initials do their work. Oh and the District is very proud of an award for finacial reporting. You got to love those made up awards. You see Jimmy gave you a bunch of shiny knives and told you to go out and win this fight, the problem is he gave you knives and sent you into a gun fight.
You and others have been sold that the bloggers are not loyal to the corporation, you might want to look around and analize who is really for the children and who are the criminal posers. While you do all these things listen for the clickity clack, it is literaly all around you.
Why not Dean, Jerry and Sammy?
Every story has to have a heroes.
Hammerhead,
Is this the type of documentation you were talking about? What do you do when Notter himself is the problem? Protection? What protection?
This and a truck load of information was given to the board with a request of an independent investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the purchasing of a $1,500,000 video server raise serious and troubling questions. The timelines below were established from documentation on file, which I will provide to an independent investigator.
Note: BECON’s premise for purchasing a $1,500,000 video server was “a major step towards BECON’s plan for anytime, anywhere learning.” (CELT report, April 18, 2005)
The server was delivered, installed, and for the next five years it never delivered the promised functionality. Here is a condensed sequence of events:
1. September 11, 2001, School Board approved purchase of a video server, which was designed and built under direct specifications of BECON’s chief engineer (board meeting video).
2. September 2001/November 2002 – Vendor substitutes over half the original equipment award with no change order or any other paper trail (CELT Report).
3. November 2002 - Vendor completes server installation (CELT Report).
4. October 22, 2002 - Florical engineer asks for play lists generated from ProTrack, which were already in possession of chief engineer (memo).
5. October 24, 2002: We were informed that the new video server would not be able to handle interstitials (memo).
6. Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - Director, chief engineer, and station manager were informed by traffic that effective March 1, 2003, all BECON programming schedule would be generated by ProTrack and in accordance with the approved channel lineup for eight ITFS channels and a TV station.
7. February 7, 2003 – Full payment of $1.51 million is made to PCS (CELT Report). No proof of performance required.
8. February 2003/February 2004 – Video server was turned off and not used. Reasons given by chief engineer:
a. Master control needed a new air conditioning system
b. Master control needed electrical upgrades (CELT Report).
c. Industrial fans are installed in master control and later portable air conditioners which were vented inside drop ceiling in master control (pictures).
9. February 10, 2003 – Ingestion (digitization) “journey” starts (“Super Saturday” memo).
10. February 10, 2003 – Ingestion “journey” stops. Time code becomes and issue for the new video server. We are informed that all programming would have to have time code pre-recorded on the tape in order for the ingestion to be successful and that all programming, therefore, would have to be reordered in 1” format with time code on it (memo).
11. February 12, 2003: Director is informed that time code can be inserted during the digitization process and that an external time code generator could be purchased for less than $400. For verification purposes, names and telephone numbers of two broadcast engineers, one from WFSU-TV and the other from DOE, are provided to director (memo).
12. February 13, 2003 – Chief engineer informs that video server could not simultaneously ingest and broadcast a “live” satellite feed (memo).
13. February 13, 2003 – Chief engineer announces to BECON managers a Phase II of the server implementation process and an additional $2.5 million needed to make the server fully functional. It was also announced that video on-demand and time code functionalities were relegated to Phase II of the implementation process (memo. & video of server approval by the board).
14. February 13, 2003 - Director was asked to form an “independent technical review panel” to advice the director on issues pertinent to the server (memo).
15. February 6, 2003 - Chief engineer is given clear guidelines for access to ProTrack generated schedules and for programming information/ingestion.
16. February 7, 2003 - Chief engineer requests an “archival code” for each program so that they can be ingested, an issue never discussed before (memo).
17. February 18, 2003 – Director, chief engineer and station manager are given memo entitled: “2/13/03 Debriefing Meeting, Concerns.” In this memo, the writer delineated issues affecting the video server implementation since the server was unable to perform standard function available in much less expensive units. A question was asked: What does a $1,500,000 server buy?
18. February 18, 2003 – Director is informed that “there is an alarming gap between applied resource allocation ($$) and concrete results. Without prudent allocation of resources and appropriate technology choices and implementation, BECON’s mission is greatly compromised.”
19. April 17, 2003 – Professional Communications sets up meeting in Weston to discuss Phase II regarding the BECON project (memo).
20. April 21, 2003 – Director writes: “I am not sure what Phase II is. Do you know? I think you should try to attend this meeting if all possible” (memo).
21. April 24, 2003 – Coordinator writes memo to Professional Communications Systems Branch Manager: “Dear Ross, I will be delighted to attend a meeting regarding the BECON project. However, before we meet, it is imperative that you define the nature and scope of the Phase II of BECON project. Once that is done, the information must be presented to (Director’s name), BECON Director, for her approval and support.”
22. April 24, 2003 - Professional Communications Systems Branch Manager responds: “[The director] is aware of this meeting and sad to say she will be on vacation.”
23. May 1, 2003 – Memo sent to Florical engineer reminding him that when BECON purchased ProTrack as a traffic system, BECON was told by Florical that there would be a seamless interface between both systems (Florical & ProTrack).
24. May 20, 2003 – Professional Communications Systems announces in its “News and Events” publication the completion of “phase one of a multistage project for the Broward County.” Further in the article, BECON’s chief engineer announces that “the system is working perfectly.” The fact is that the system was barely working, and according to the CELT report, the video server started delivering programming for WPPB-TV only on February 19, 2004 (CELT report and Professional Communications Systems)
25. September 5, 2003 - BECON chief engineer is asked which “computer in master control should have access to the ProTrack traffic system” (memo). No permission given. Later we were informed by the chief engineer that ProTracks’ UNIX operating system would contaminate the video server with “viruses.”
26. February 19, 2004 – BECON new video server starts delivering programming for WPPB-TV and four channels of ITFS on a limited basis (server logs and CELT report).
27. February 19, 2004 – BECON new video server starts delivering programming for WPPB-TV on a limited basis (server logs and CELT report).
28. August 2004 – District chief of staff and deputy superintendent come to BECON to discuss issues pertinent to the video server (memo). Afterwards, Chief of staff returns to BECON and speaks to the entire staff. He asks the staff to come talk to him. Several people do.
29. August 25, 2004 – Director retaliates by excluding coordinator from the Division’s Strategic Planning Meeting on August 29th. Director asks coordinator: “what are you trying to accomplish by continuing questioning the video server performance and statements made on behalf of the process leading to the video server selection?” The answer provided was: “accuracy, transparency and accountability” (memo).
After the August 24, 2004 meeting, a series of events unfolded very rapidly after the District’s chief of staff asks the director and chief engineer a series of questions concerning the video server implementation:
1. During the meeting the director announces that 54% of video server was functional and that everything was working “fine,” even though the server was feeding only one channel of video from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The in-schools channels were fed through ¾” U-Matic VCRs (See CELT report for system requirements).
2. Chief engineer announces to the Deputy Superintendent that the TV Station is going to go black because he is not getting what “he” needs from the district. Deputy Superintendent asks Chief Engineer to explain remarks
3. Chief engineer tells Deputy Superintendent that video server mass storage system needs two more ports, and the lack of them is what is causing the “backlog” he said.
4. Chief of staff asks how come the Chief Engineer did not purchase the video server system with enough ports.
5. Chief engineer replies that what the system needed was a “spinning media” [hard drive storage system] and that he was already negotiating the replacement of the existing mass storage system with this spinning media.
6. Chief of staff asks why the chief engineer did not specify the “spinning media” on the original bid document.
7. Chief Engineer replies that there was not enough money in the budget.
8. Chief of staff asks chief engineer what would have been the cost of the spinning media if the video server was purchased in 2001.
9. Chief engineer replies: $20 million.
10. Chief of staff asks chief engineer for the price of the spinning media at that moment (by now it is 2004).
11. Chief Engineer replies: $500,000.
Soon afterwards chief of staff requests a CELT audit.
CELT Report confirms dysfunctional status quo and points out that several pieces of equipment requested on the Bid document had been replaced without proper documentation.
Chief of staff closes the case while a “second” CELT report finds nothing “wrong” and even praises BECON management for their cooperation.
Video server continues to malfunction.
Hurricane Wilma hits Ft. Lauderdale. BECON never lost power and WPPB-TV broadcast its programming during and after the storm (BECON logs).
Soon afterwards BECON reopens, the video server mass storage system is declared flooded and out of service during a managers’ meeting. The head janitor is indignant about staff “gossips” saying that the server was never flooded (BECON was built in the 60’s as a fallout shelter).
Head Janitor removes ceiling titles above mass storage system and stages a leak over the mass storage system. In a staff meeting, he dares anyone to question the leak.
All digitization through the mass storage system stops. Near-line video servers (4) need to be purged regularly so that they can accommodate weekly schedules. Traffic Department is required to provide WPPB-TV schedules one month in advance.
The flood rhetoric is changed to “humidity infiltration.”
FEMA tours the damaged areas and the chief engineer announces he was waiting for the FEMA monies to fix the mass storage system.
¾” U-Matic VCR continues to feed in-school channels.
BECON claim to FEMA is reported to FBI as being fraudulent (by now it is May 2006).
Every one of these assertions can be proved by existing documentation.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 9:55AMFacilities managers who take the advice to claim whistleblower protection, be very careful with attorney selection. Hire one out of county if at all possible. I lived the nightmare and in the end after three years my attorneys were somehow "persuaded" to throw me under the bus. My career ended, my paycheck continued but I was "blackballed" according to my former boss.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 10:11AMWhat a sham and waste. It's almost laughable that the school board chose three men who have spent their entire careers dealing from the back door of politics. It's like asking the foxes to go into the chicken house to determine who ate the chickens.
Strangely, despite the severity of what's taken place at the school board and within county government - we're being subjected once again to business as usual with the same old suspects.
Oh, and to add insult to injury, the people responsible for the bad stuff were let go but rehired as consultants (mo money mo money) or employed by the contractors or architects doing work for the District. Good luck to all of you but remember, there are very few opportunities out there and none for "rats" They will make sure of that.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 11:33AMyou are kidding us???????"nottin in the mutton head notter" is a flaming jerk..to hear seiler, a PRODUCT OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL BRAG{ why did you hurley, merrigan etc go to cardinal gibbons???} about THE 6TH LARGEST SYSTEM THAT HAS 13,OO0 EMPTY DESKS,W/HIS BENEFACTORS GETTING RICHER AT OUR EXPErience{ TAX PAYING THAT IS} TALKING ABOUT auditors/accts
90 days, and that is it!!!!!!CAN't wait for the commision's findings. do you folks thimk they will be laughing as they did upon their epic journey. all i can do is , look at nottin notter's face in the video.deer in a headlight.got to give it to ded marko, he is as arrogant as ever.ought to play poker, but never needed the money, evelyn had it all.
