Media relating to the April 1 Integrity Rally

Sarasota HT Storify

Nick Adams‏@adamsvisuals

Protesters asking for Commissioner Christine Robinson to resign

WWSB Video Report

Sarasota Observer

Jessica Salmond: Story

Jessica Salmond: Photo Gallery

Herald Tribune Forum

Re: Protesters take aim at Christine Robinson

by 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

Integrity 2016 Album of the April 1 Rally

2050 Comprehensive Plan for Sarasota Citizens

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

By Josh Salman

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. 

Read more...

Suncoast WWSB 7 ABC

• 
• Posted on Apr 1, 2015
  by Ray Collins

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 RPOS:

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 

Scenes from today's Rally on Ringling seeking Resignation of Commissioner Robinson

Stand for Integrity Today

STAND FOR INTEGRITY

1. Sign The Petition
2. Attend Today's Rally

Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson has accepted paid employment as Executive Director of the Argus Foundation, a lobbying organization for big developers which favors urban sprawl, lower impact fees and other measures to benefit her employers at the expense of the public interest.  

Almost everyone agrees:  It's a clear ethical conflict.

Robinson should resign one of those positions.  

As the Bible tells us, you cannot serve two masters.

Please join with other concerned citizens to let your voice be heard on this affront to integrity.  

There are two things you can do.

SIGN THE PETITION

Here's the Link To the Petition

(You may disregard the option to donate to the web site offering the petition)

More than 500 have signed already -- please add your name.

ATTEND THE APRIL 1 RALLY

12:45 pm

1660 Ringling Boulevard

We will gather at the north entrance to the County Administration Building at 1660 Ringling Boulevard, 
across Ringling from the Post Office.  

You can park across the small street to the south of the building and walk through the building to the rally site.  
Please be on time, as media will be invited.

If you expect to join us for this rally and have not yet rsvp'd, please let us know at Yes, I Expect To Attend

Sponsored by Integrity 2016, a broad coalition of Republicans, Democrats, Independents and others who believe its about time for integrity in our local government.

Thank you for your considerations.

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

If Sarasota is "desirable," then what?

via SRQ Daily 

This piece about growth by Sarasotan Kevin Cooper leaves us a bit unclear. It ends:

"Growth is the inevitable indication of a desirable community. Given the fact that Sarasota’s net internal decline has increased over the last 10-years, while at the same time continuing to grow, it would appear that the area is becoming increasingly more desirable."

What is the significance of the observation? Lots of things are "desirable." Some are so desirable they are overrun, plundered, or destroyed. To have a desirable community, if that's what Mr. Cooper means, in part means knowing how to keep it intact.

Sarasota has traditionally opted for slow growth, which has helped maintain its desirability, relative to other counties around the state. What's needed is a sensible self-determining plan to ensure that it continues to be desirable, rather than overrun by those seeking to cash in on market trends.

Former County Commissioner Jon Thaxton had more to say about this matter of self-determination in the Alternative Visions Forum recently sponsored by the Better Government Association.

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

Amendment 1 has our support, but where are our elected officials?

via the Herald-Tribune

Jono Miller:

" . . . the ballot measure passed four to one in Sarasota County. For sticklers, it garnered 78.09 percent of the vote, a seldom-reached plurality. That was great news for Sarasota, which has two highly ranked Florida Forever sites awaiting funding, and another just on the other side of the county line in Manatee County.. . . 

"When my ancestor, Hugh Archer Corley, served on the Florida Cabinet, only half of Florida was owned by private interests. Today private ownership in the state has increased to nearly three-quarters -- most of it sold at very low prices to fuel Florida's economy. Amendment 1 enables us to buy back land that we now realize should have been retained as a public asset." Read more...

Developer: "I have 3 votes in my pocket"

via Herald-Tribune:

Palmer Ranch developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. sued fellow developers Randy Benderson and Henry Rodriguez over a 2010 land deal. He alleged they colluded to sink the mega-development. (March 13, 2015)(Herald-Tribune staff photo by Nick Adams)

By Jeremy Wallace

Published: Monday, March 16, 2015 at 11:16 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 16, 2015 at 3:37 p.m.

SARASOTA - A pair of Southwest Florida's most prominent developers used backroom political deals with elected officials and conspired in secret meetings to doublecross their one-time partner on a major land deal, a Sarasota jury concluded on Monday.

Read on

Court Papers

Shine a Light for Integrity in Sarasota

On Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at 12:45 p.m. in downtown Sarasota, a diverse and non-partisan group of Sarasota taxpayers will shine a bright spotlight on the conflicts of interest and lack of integrity plaguing Sarasota County government.

This community-powered "bright light" will focus first on a Sarasota County Commissioner who is now simultaneously employed as the paid
executive director of an influential local lobbying organization.

As one Sarasota County Commissioner and another former County Commissioner recently noted, the job of commissioner is far more than
a full-time job, one saying it demands 60-80 hours/week.

We believe it is untenable and unseemly for a commissioner to be
serving “two masters” in this brazen arrangement, and we also ask,
which of the two masters is getting short shrift?

If you share our incredulity at this and other local examples of the misbehavior and blatant conflicts of interest that seem to be increasingly on display in our county government, then on April 1st we will need an hour or two of your valuable time, in order that you can add your voice to our clarion call, when we will demand INTEGRITY in our county government!

Please plan to join us when we will debut our challenge to the developer-coddling politicians and the cynicism and disillusionment they foster in our
community!

On this day, we will demand genuine "integrity" from our elected officials as well as the other public servants and county staff who work on our behalf.

Please stay tuned for further information, which will be shared in the
weeks ahead!

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,

Your energized and motivated neighbors and friends.

April 1

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

Downtown Sarasota

Please RSVP at this Facebook address. Thank you!!

For Letters to the Editor

Those interested in submitting a letter to the editor of their local newspaper will find below a listing of newspapers and links to submit a letter: Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: CLICK HERE to find the online form. Length: less than 1400 characters (roughly 250 words). Bradenton Herald: CLICK HERE to find the online form (half-way down the page). Length: 300 words. Venice Gondolier: Letters@sun-herald.com  Or:  CLICK HERE to find the online form Englewood Sun: Letters@sun-herald.com  Or CLICK HERE to find the online form North Port/Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda: North Port Sun: Letters@sun-herald.com  Or CLICK HERE to find the online form Charlotte Sun: Letters@sun-herald.com  Or CLICK HERE to find the online form Punta Gorda Herald: Letters@sunherald.com  Or CLICK HERE to find the online form Naples: Naples Daily News: Letters@NaplesNews.com Or CLICK HERE to find the online form General Tips Focus on one issue and stay on point. Include writer’s name, complete address and daytime phone number. Some publications reserve the right to edit letters/editorials. Newspapers generally limit how often they will print letters from an individual. Letters should generally be less than 250 words (depending on news outlet).