Did Someone Hire A Goon Squad To Intimidate Bob Ford Supporters?
—– Original Message —–
From: Dianne Gardner
To: David Harden
Cc: Robin Fenwick ; Allen Green ; Don Burnette ; Bob Ford ; Drew Bastian ; Dennis Kennedy
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:38 AM
Subject: Violation of First Amendment rightsDear Manager Harden,
Bob Ford, District I candidate, is having his signs repeatedly removed from the grassy area on the north side of Friday’s restaurant. We have replaced them at least 8 times there. We know the last two were thrown into a dumpster behind Friday’s. We have pictures. And Bob’s signs are disappearing all over town.
I have checked with both the manager of Friday’s and the leasing agent for Dunlawton Square. Neither knows anything about removal of Bob’s signs. No other campaign signs are being disturbed in that area.
I have also received two profane anonymous phone calls on my cell about my political activities here in Port Orange. The first call even referenced my 92 year old mother. I saved one voice mail and have both phone numbers. Both calls were from men. I am 67. They were designed to frighten me and they did.
Our city has many real issues facing it. My neighborhood and house just flooded for the 3rd time since 2004.
Dirty tricks and attempts at silencing me in my lawful pursuit of my First Amendment rights, protection of my property and support of my candidate have no place in our local city election.
Any remedies you can suggest would be welcomed.
Dianne T. Gardner
618 Ruth Street
Port Orange, Florida 32127
386-527-1641
I have checked with both the manager of Friday’s and the leasing agent for Dunlawton Square. Neither knows anything about removal of Bob’s signs. No other campaign signs are being disturbed in that area.
I have also received two profane anonymous phone calls on my cell about my political activities here in Port Orange. The first call even referenced my 92 year old mother. I saved one voice mail and have both phone numbers. Both calls were from men. I am 67. They were designed to frighten me and they did.
Our city has many real issues facing it. My neighborhood and house just flooded for the 3rd time since 2004.
Dirty tricks and attempts at silencing me in my lawful pursuit of my First Amendment rights, protection of my property and support of my candidate have no place in our local city election.
Any remedies you can suggest would be welcomed.
Dianne T. Gardner
618 Ruth Street
Port Orange, Florida 32127
386-527-1641
—– Original Message —–
From: Dianne Gardner
To: Harden, David
Cc: Fenwick, Robin ; Green, Allen ; Burnette, Don ; Ford, Bob ; Bastian, Drew ; Kennedy, Dennis ; Monahan, Gerald ; Clark, Wayne
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: Violation of First Amendment rightsThank you Manager Harden for your prompt response and for your help.Best regards,Dianne T. Gardner
—– Original Message —–
From: Harden, David
To: Dianne Gardner
Cc: Fenwick, Robin ; Green, Allen ; Burnette, Don ; Ford, Bob ; Bastian, Drew ; Kennedy, Dennis ; Monahan, Gerald ; Clark, Wayne
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:54 AM
From: Harden, David
To: Dianne Gardner
Cc: Fenwick, Robin ; Green, Allen ; Burnette, Don ; Ford, Bob ; Bastian, Drew ; Kennedy, Dennis ; Monahan, Gerald ; Clark, Wayne
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:54 AM
Subject: RE: Violation of First Amendment rightsI recommend that you call the Police Department to make them aware of the calls you have received. They can determine of either of the calls cross the line into illegal activity.With regard to political signs being removed, I can only tell you that in my experience this is, unfortunately, very common. I will make Police and Code Enforcement aware of the problem in the locations you have mentioned, but it is almost impossible for them to catch someone in the act of removing signs.
While I like Mrs. Gardner and her views in general, she has made herself into a public figure by prominently displaying her home address and phone number. Likely not the most prudent move.
The sign issue ? That constantly shows its ugly face every year in every election.
The advice given by Mr Harden was sound advice. If indeed the phone calls were of a threatening nature, the issues should be pursued through legal channels. At this point we are all ready for this and other elections to come to conclusion soon.
Goon squad is right. But dont make mistake that its Sonya Laney. She is just the mayors lap dog. When he says bark she gets down on hands and knees.
Owner of that Dunlawton Square shopping center is Paul Hollub. Him and mayor Green have had hands in the same cookie jar for a long time and the mayor is pulling strings with his old bud to have Bob Fords signs yanked. The mayor is the puppet master behind most of what goes on in Port Orange.
PO Oldtimer; I am somewhat shocked to hear that the Owner of that Dunlawton Square shopping center (Paul Hollub) is kissing cousins and a close buddy of Mayor Green
Because I recall the Mayor during a recent council meeting bitching that this very same shopping center was allowed to build on this site without any storm water retention system. And as a result was causing flooding problems in that neighborhood.
Surprise; surprise! I wonder how that approval could have happened? What a hypocritical and duplicitous old xxxxxxx.
To clarify, Paul Holub does not own the Dunlawton Square shopping center. He bought and owns the old KMart which he reseveloped, which is a seperate parcel from the rest of the center. He was not involved with building it years ago, which is when the retention issue would have been addressed. Lets all try and only talk about things that are true.
Typo…redeveloped
Sorry
Thank you Mr. Onlooker for what I presume is accurate information .. And thank you for relieving me of puzzling over the statement by Green in which he decries how Dunlawton Square was built with the effect of run off water going into near by neighborhoods.– hank
Ford signs are being yanked from area next to Fridays. Used to be part of old Kmart whish Hollub owns. Sounds like the mayor is paying you to divert the issue with talk about retention. Is he paying you to yank Bob Ford signs Mr P?
I agree with Oldtimer, So much so, I will bet my next pay check that Mayor Green has hired the goon squad, or as a minimum he is the key player in these types of political dirty tricks in Port Orange.
The Mayor is calling in all his crooked contractor friends to get his God-daughter elected.
And to reiterate once again, we are doomed if Ms Laney gains elected office.
Keep Bob Ford in and we the citizens will have a chance likely with many 3-2 council votes.
The problem with getting anything accomplished in Port Orange has nothing to do with Bob Ford or Drew Bastian. The problem all along has been that Green, Kennedy and Burnette have had the upper hand with the 3-2 vote on most issues so things have continued to be orchestrated by the Mayor. We as citizens need to change this by voting Stiltner and Ford.
The sad thing CC is we have the votes..turning that vote out is the hard part..Most PO voters really do not understand the importance of this election. And they do not have a good grasp of what has happened in city government with these incredible failures of the previous City Managers and upper level management that began to come to light in 2012. Hard to believe but true.
I know because I am out there knocking on doors talking to people.
Sonya Laney is the stealth machine candidate. The maintainer of the status quo as created and envisioned by Allen Green. Allen Green has been in city government for 30 years plus. Allen Green is the constant. And the problem. And with the installation of Sonya Laney he is setting up the next 30 years for his vision, his cronies, and frankly his own construction company. Both in and out of Port Orange. In two years after he leaves office, Allen Green construction can again work legally in Port Orange. Just imagine.
Sonya Laney will vote with Allen Green. Always. If you like Allen Green and his decades long contractor mentality impact on this city, you are in for more of the same soon if Laney prevails.
And forget any accountability ever when projects fail or there is documented human error like with the recent flood mitigation project in my neighborhood. It’s never going to be their fault. No hand picked vendors will ever be held to their initial rationale on how projects were conceived or sold to council. Or even permitted. This flood mitigation project with Quentin L Hampton is a classic example of how business is done in this city and how taxpayer dollars are misspent. My neighborhood was torn up for 9 months, 2.9 million dollars were spent and we flooded again. Much of it due to human failure. There were no protocols in place.
And Sonya Laney has yet to pose one question about that. Not even one Sonya? And you have a construction back ground? I too have a construction background and we were flooded for the 3rd time since 2004. Yes…We have questions.
Sonya Laney was not there at the CC meeting where the recent flooding was discussed. Out of town. Guess the flooding problem was not a priority for Mrs. Laney.
Sonya Laney is the mayor’s hand picked candidate and God daughter. Are people getting this and it’s implications for us as a community? Developers, business interests will always be favored.. look at her donor list….and she will be an absentee council person. She has made that clear. The woman is out of town much of the year. She will be Sykping in from various remote locations. I hope people listened carefully to her responses at Crane Lakes and are listening on Bernier and Big John interviews. And are really watching her.
Patronizing, condescending. Unapproachable. Abrasive. Dogmatic. Never answers a direct question. Does not bode well for the average person who will be seeking relief from her on any topic.
I find her demeanor frightening. Bizarre affect. Something missing there in terms of humanity and genuineness. Zero sense of humor. Doomed is not an overstatement. The future direction of this city will be determined on November 4th, 2014. We need to turn out our vote. Otherwise we are going to repent at our leisure. Scares the hell out of me.
A loss blamed on a lack of voter turnout is not an acceptable excuse Mrs Gardner. The Laney votes are coming from outside of District One. Knock on those doors. She surely has done so.
The “other side” is already planning their next move for the Mayoral election in two years. If Mayor Green Jeans finally opts out, maybe Lance Junior Green Jeans will have the support of big construction and power broker money. If that happens, it’s time to move.
Knocking on them doors this morning baby!!…..been all over Districts outside of my own for weeks……I get it..
…ain’t moving though…hanging around no matter what…then PO will really need us….thanks for your posts!!
Best,
Mrs. Gardner.
I have talked to friends and neighbors as well. They seem divided. Their feeling is that Mr Ford was in office the past four years during all the turmoil and it’s time for a change.
I attempt to educate them about the makeup of the council and the fact that Mr Ford many times is the lone dissenting vote on issues. He is not afraid to take an opposing stand and supports the common citizen with common sense. I hope I have swayed some votes.
Many of these folks think the world of Don Burnette. I too like Don in general, but feel he needs to alter some of his thinking prior to the Mayoral election which we all know he will run for. Don needs to stand up more for the common citizen and their complaints.
I have seen Don Burnette consider the citizens’ problems. He shows that he can take them into account but he has also shown us that he may consider going with the chamber of commerce and businesses, all in the spirit of what is best for Port Orange Citizens. I have had a lengthy email discussion with Don about the implication of business ties due to his professional occupation and he had assured me that he only handles mortgages on homes (and he did a good job with the HARP process for my home) . But now I come up with the annoying question, does his company business handle business loans and mortgages. Anyone? — hank
Well said Hank. You want a person who is involved in the community and possibly a business owner as well. It’s that fine line in the sand not to have a conflict of interest.
He does seem firmly entrenched with the Chamber and former VCOG group.
I think he is drifting away from the common citizen but there is hope he may be reeled back in with the makeup of the new Council.
So you want a business person who isn’t involved with the chamber? Everyone who is a member of a chamber also has a home and maybe kids in the schools and buys products and equipment in town. They may have employees who also have a home and kids and spend money. Why do you assume that the only thing that motivates a local business owner is business. We all live here and make a living for us and our employees.
You are all so good at shouting ‘conspiracy’ if two people espouse an opinion different then yours. You accuse and imply and insinuate that there is an organized effort. But you virtually all cases have your basic facts wrong. The insinuation about Mayor Green and who the owner of the shopping center is was misinformed and factually incorrect. Yet, this doesn’t deter you from continuing your tirade.
Yes, Don has a business here. Whether he handles loans for businesses should not be the concern. And it is unfair to insinuate that he would be biased in some official action. Officials are required to exclude themselves from a vote if they have any involvement with an applicant whether it be a business owner, developer or an individual. And there is a form for publishing their involvement when they exclude themselves from such votes.
So, Concerned Citizen defines the ideal candidate as some one involved in the community and possibly a business owner. By my inference you mean involvement like homeowners associations, church groups, youth groups, and community service organizations. Don, Sonya, and even Bob Ford, are involved in such organizations. Of the three Sonya is a business owner. So I guess she meets your requirements exactly.
I’m sure you will all reply with accusations and insinuations about me, my business and that I am one of the ‘conspirators’ of the chamber. Have at it.
One less idiot to worry about, Larry McKinney has officially withdrawn his candidacy. As we surmised, he no longer lives in the district. Thus the common citizen now has Mr. Stiltner supporting them.