|
What is happening in Florida. What a setup for failure, because of the
outcry of the public, the government appoints an "Ombudsman" to monitor
unfair elections, and assist condo owners with complaints. Then this
appointee isn't funded, or staffed properly to deal with the flood of
complaints from owners. So when this guy tries to do his job the
powerful law firms in the area go after this guy and essentially have
him dismissed. So there you have it, democracy in action! What a sham,
the iceberg is just too big, fraud, waste, and abuse is rampant in
certain communities, and some board directors, and managers, are
getting away with it. It is time to organize and vote these legislators
at the local level out, unless they start helping out with this huge
problem.
Please read the following:
Dear Friends,
please consider writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper
in regards to the Governor firing the condo ombudsman Dr. Virgil Rizzo.
Below the How-To for the main papers in the Tri-County area. Below as
well the Letter to the editor of the Miami Herald written by House
Representative Julio Robaina for your info!
Take care
Jan
http://www.ccfj.net/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
"Governor Bush Ousts Florida's First Condo Ombudsman"
The action of Governor Jeb Bush to remove the state's
first Condominium Ombudsman was nothing more than an end to a witch
hunt. When the Governor first appointed Dr. Virgil Rizzo, the Governor
appointed someone who did not know the politics in Tallahassee, and who
was not a bureaucrat. This individual's work ethic, sometimes working
on Saturdays and Sundays until the wee hours of the morning, responding
to hundreds of emails and calls with nothing more than a lap-top
computer and a cell phone, went far beyond the expectation of
commitment to the State of Florida.
The truth behind the matter is that when we established the office of
the Ombudsman, the first of the powers we gave him was the power to
review the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, which
oversee condominium regulations in the State of Florida. His
responsibility was to look into what was happening within the Division
and to report back to the lawmakers what the problems were within the
Division. This created the rift between the Division and Dr. Rizzo
making him the unwanted step-child, or as often referred to as by the
employees of the Division as "big brother watching." The Division
of Condominium Regulation and many law firms within the State of
Florida wanted Dr. Rizzo's position removed because for the first
time, we as lawmakers had someone reporting back to the legislators.
For the first time in Florida's history, law makers had someone
telling them what was really going on in Tallahassee, and reporting the
actions of the Law Firms and Property Management Companies which where
out to act in their own best interest, disregarding the rights and
interests of condominium owners statewide, and he was also educating
condo unit owners of their rights.
The resentment against Dr. Rizzo was a result of his actions on behalf
of condo unit owners, which cost many of the law firms millions of
dollars, and a Division that never wanted him. Every time he advised
unit owners of their rights to defend themselves against the unruly and
unethical Boards of Directors, Property Management Companies, and Law
firms, the powerful special interest groups lost out. Simply put, Dr.
Rizzo was doing what his position was created to do, which was to clean
up the problems that existed in the State, and look out for the
thousands of condo unit owners in Florida that had no where else to
turn to.
Sadly enough, special interest organization's collective and
organized effort to discredit him have again won out over the citizens
of the State of Florida to be fairly protected by a non- bureaucrat of
the government. Dr. Rizzo went above and beyond all expectations of his
newly created position. In his short time in office, he diligently
looked out for the best interests of condominium owners, much to the
dismay of the profit seeking Law Firms, Boards of Directors, and
Property Management Companies. I only hope that in the future our state
will not bend to the need of powerful special interest groups, but will
spearhead efforts which will support and protect our state's
citizens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
The Honorable Julio Robaina is a Florida State Representative for
District 117, and has been since 2002; he chaired the Committee on
Condominium Governance for the State of Florida, and is currently
serving on the following committees: Local Government Council, Health &
Families Council, Health Care General Committee, State Administration
Appropriations Committee, Transportation Committee and the Select
Committee to Protect Private Property Rights.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
House Representative Julio Robaina
6741 SW 24th Street
Miami, FL 33155-1766
Legislative Assistant: Nubia Villegas
District Secretary: Grethel Aguiar
Phone: (305) 442-6868
E-Mail: julio.robaina@myfloridahouse.gov
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
ADDRESSES LETTERS TO EDITOR:
Miami Herald:
The Herald values its readers' letters. We receive far more than we can
print, so we try to publish the most representative, interesting, and
provocative. To give more readers a say, we condense letters. And we do
not publish letter writers more often than once per 60 days. Letters
must bear the writer's name, full address, and daytime phone number.
HeraldEd@herald.com
Article Header: Condo ombudsman is fired
SUN SENTINEL
TIPS ON LETTERS
Tips for getting your letter published:
=B7 Keep your letter brief.
=B7 Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
=B7 MOST letters are edited for clarification and length.
=B7 Choose your words carefully. Letters that contain libelous or
slanderous statements will be edited or rejected.
=B7 Do not send us copies of other people's work.
=B7 Do not send your comments as an attachment.
=B7 Do not write again immediately after a letter is published. We
won't consider your next letter for 60 days.
letters@sun-sentinel.com
Article header: Governor fires condo watchdog who became thorn in the
side
Palm Beach Post
Go To: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/info/mail.html
Article header: Health department attorney named new condo ombudsman
|
|
The iceberg is big and no one to help owners
