Showing posts with label rally april 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rally april 1. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Media relating to the April 1 Integrity Rally

Re: Protesters take aim at Christine Robinson

Postby Quipper » Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:42 pm

It was a fantastic rally, and the speakers at Open to the Public did a superb job. The message was delivered not only to Robinson, but to the other four commissioners as well....they who sit like the three hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil monkeys. Why are they silent? One speaker told them it is not as though they are musketeers, having to circle around one of "theirs". So when will they take a position?
The time has come...we will not accept their corrupt behavior any longer.

Citizens for Sarasota County






Josh Salman live tweeted the Rally and Protest:


via Herald Trib:

Protesters take aim at Robinson



Developer Hugh Culverhouse speaks out at the Sarasota County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday
STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS
Published: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 4:49 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 4:49 p.m.
SARASOTA - They symbolically wore two hats, sported political gear from both major parties and spent their warm lunch break to protest what they dubbed a flagrant conflict of interest by a Sarasota County commissioner.
More than 100 area residents picketed the Sarasota County Administration Center for a rally Wednesday urging Commissioner Christine Robinson to resign from either her elected seat or the job she accepted in November to lead the Argus Foundation, a pro-business and development group.
Calling themselves Integrity 2016, the assembly waived colorful signs that read “You are Conflicted,” “Robinson Resign” and “Do the Right Thing,” as they solicited honks from motorists along the busy downtown corridor. 

Suncoast WWSB 7 ABC


SARASOTA COUNTY, FLA   Dozens of Sarasota County taxpayers are calling for the resignation of Commissioner Christine Robinson. They call it a serious conflict of interest that she's accepted a side-job as Executive Director of a pro-business group called the Argus Foundation.

WSLR 96.5 LPFM Community Radio, 'Jumping Mullet' Evening News Report 

Statements and analysis from Andre Mele, Cathy Antunes and Dan Lobeck.


>>>>>>Official County Commission Meeting Video<<<<<<


Video clips from Rally:

https://youtu.be/HNiQwGNLfWw
https://youtu.be/zygCcHkVff4
https://youtu.be/JjIfmTp4oQI


>>>>WWSB Suncoast 7 Follow-Up Video<<<<


Sarasota County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh declining to answer a reporter's questions.

SARASOTA COUNTY, FLA   One day after one of the largest rally of it's kind in years in Sarasota County, protesters remain clear that Commissioner Christine Robinson shouldn't also be Executive Director of the Argus Foundation.  
"It's illegal. You can't be a lobbyist as well as a public official at the same time. That's what she's doing, so we're saying step down from one or the other, you choose," said one of the rally organizers, Cathy Antunes.
But Commissioner Robinson says that's not going to happen. 
"I don't have any plans to resign. What I do outside my commission work only helps my commission work," Robinson said.


The Republican Party of Sarasota (RPOS) is proud to have Commissioner Christine Robinson as a County Commissioner. She has served Sarasota well and we find no conflict between her role as Commissioner and as Argus ED. She has been one of the most Conservative County Commissioners Sarasota County has ever had and is to be thanked for her service. She has worked to reduce the burden on tax payers by holding spending and refusing to raise taxes.

Sign the Petition 


Monday, March 30, 2015

A letter from Cathy Antunes

Dear Neighbor,

Thank you for signing the petition for Integrity in Sarasota government.

To serve ethically, Christine Robinson must choose between being a County Commissioner or working as Executive Director of the Argus Foundation.
Doing both jobs at the same time compromises her primary responsibility -- to serve the people of Sarasota unencumbered by competing interests.

Reports indicate that Argus Foundation members pay $5000 to join. The Executive Director of Argus has lobbied local government since 1985, on issues including impact fees, land use, zoning and elected mayor, to name a few. Argus has every right to lobby, but hiring a County Commissioner is an abuse of power and gross violation of the public interest.

In our ongoing effort to restore Integrity to our local government, please do the following:

1. Encourage other Sarasota residents to sign the petition. Today we are at 480 signatures. Has your spouse signed? Your neighbors? Please share the link and/or this e-mail with others.

2. Join us this Wednesday, April 1st, at 12:45 p.m. at the Rally for Integrity at the North Entrance of the County Administration Building (across the street from the Post Office in downtown Sarasota), 1660 Ringling Boulevard:

Rally for Integrity
April 1, 2015
12:45 pm
1660 Ringling Blvd. 



Thank you for standing up for Integrity!

Kind regards,

Cathy Antunes

Monday, March 23, 2015

Can Commissioner Robinson serve two masters?

Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson now is also Executive Director Robinson of The Argus Foundation.



What is The Argus Foundation? According to its new website

"We keep a broad community perspective. We create the future. We offer solutions."

What sort of future does Argus wish to create? What sorts of "solutions" will it offer? And, how broad is the perspective Argus brings to Sarasota's public dialogue?


The Argus Foundation's 30-year track record can be glimpsed below. The statements in italics are verbatim from the Foundation's former website:


Argus is pro Big Corporation:
As a member of The Argus Foundation you will be associating with the president's and CEO's of some of Sarasota's largest and most well-established corporations. 


Argus is impatient with government:
What good is an economic development plan if business cannot rely on government plans for commercial development?

Argus on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan:
There has been a historic perception in Sarasota that we could maintain our quality of life by thwarting growth. A vocal minority has been aggressive in embedding land use regulations into the County Comprehensive Plan making it difficult for responsible development.

Argus is primarily concerned with the "well being" of one segment of Sarasota County's people:
Today, the Argus Foundation has 170 active members made up of a broad cross section of the business and professional community representing more than 50 different industries.

Argus is devoted to one interest group:
. . . the need for a rational business agenda far outweighs the other agendas individual members may bring to the table.




Can someone employed by this group seriously represent all of Sarasota's people?

Sarasota County Commissioner Robinson AND 
Executive Director Robinson, Argus Foundation


Should this conflict of interest end?

Sign the Petition

then,

Come downtown to the April 1 Rally


North Entrance 
County Administration Building
1660 Ringling Blvd.
12:45 pm