Turmoil in Cooper City

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Turmoil in Cooper City
> Posted by Anthony Man on April 9, 2008 08:07 AM

Dozens of residents, religious leaders and community activists packed into Cooper City's City Hall Tuesday night, divided on how the city should deal with a now-defunct, controversial blog that had antiSemitic postings about the mayor. Holding signs that read "Zero Tolerance" and " Cooper City is a hate free zone," some called for the resignation of Commissioner John Sims. Read the full story here.
COMMENTS

The reporter who wrote this article is as bad if not worse than the mindless mob that showed up at Cooper City Meeting. You say the blog had anti-Semitic remarks on it. Well, as one of the authors of one of the other blogs which Lori Green tried to indict by her comments let me advise you of the following; the blogs mentioned by Lori Green, Debby's campaign manager, on the police report (you should read it) did NOT ever, before during or after the swastika incident, have ANY anti-Semitic, racist or discriminatory remarks. They did contain many critical remarks about the Mayor, her leadership, conduct, both personal and professional. The mob that showed up had been worked up ( the absence of any facts and the presence of a hate sheet written by a indicted drug trafficker and his co-conspirator with a history of child abuse) by the heretofore respected Rabbi Pinny, a historical civic dissent and major local ordinance violator )his rap sheet is lengthy) who still bears in his voice the anger for what the code enforcement personnel of Cooper City put him through when he thought he could refuse to obey the local ordinances. In turn, he is a staunch supporter of the Rabbinical Law which in the short form says you are 'guilty unless you can prove your innocence'. No one has spoken out for fear and I use that word very advisedly as strange things can happen when your name is listed in the Cabal's S*** list. Mr. Anthony Man, you should take a little time and contact some of the persons in Cooper City in order to really get the facts straight and then write the story not the reverse. BTW, It really causes one to question the real meaning of the events when the very busy Scott Israel and Judy Stern were seen huddling in whispered tones outside the city hall during the kangaroo court session, AKA the Cooper City Commission Meeting. Is there a large meaning to this conspiracy of personal attack?
Posted by: The buzzman | April 13, 2008 10:07 PM

50 gather to begin drive to recall Cooper City Commissioner John Sims
> Posted by Russell Small on April 23, 2008 11:14 AM

Nearly 50 residents intent on ousting Cooper City Commissioner John Sims from office gathered Tuesday evening to kick off the recall effort against him. A committee, led by former Commissioner Elliot Kleiman, met with volunteers inside the Embassy Lakes Clubhouse in Cooper City for about an hour to review the details of the petition and answer questions from residents who will start collecting signatures on Saturday. The petition accuses Sims of neglecting his duty as an elected official, failing to be prepared for meetings and publishing Internet blogs containing hateful and abusive material. A now-defunct, controversial blog containing anti-Semitic postings about Mayor Debbie Eisinger was registered to Sims.

"The owner of blogs has total and absolute control of what's posted," Kleiman said at the meeting. "To deny any responsibility is just not the truth. "We cannot tolerate this behavior from an elected official," he added. Sims, 49, who was elected in March 2007, has said he had nothing to do with the postings about Eisinger. In January, the Broward Sheriff's Office started investigating anti-Sematic postings about the mayor on www.savecoopercity.blogspot.com", a blog registered to Sims that has been taken down. Investigators also sought those responsible for etching a swastika into the car of Eisinger's campaign manager, Lori Green. The Sheriff's Office considered both incidents hate crimes. They have not charged Sims or anyone else with a crime and have suspended the investigation until they get more information. Sims said Monday he will not resign, despite the recall campaign. "I've been accused of something I haven't done," Sims said. "It's typical dirty politics to destroy anybody they can ... I'm not going to worry about it." Florida law requires the recall committee to collect signatures from at least 10 percent of the city's registered voters, or 1,900 names, within 30 days of the date of the first signature. The recall committee is aiming for 2,500 signatures, Kleiman said. Volunteers will begin collecting signatures at the city's Founder's Day celebration Saturday at Brian Piccolo Park. -- Elizabeth Baier, staff writer
COMMENTS

i am not surprised at the actions, why is Kleiman doing this?> does he want to go back to being a commisioner? Wonder why? Also, why did our mayor NOT tell us about the increase in the water fees until AFTER the elections..........
Posted by: fred | April 23, 2008 1:31 PM

Unbelieveable! What a way to celebrate Founder's Day. I'll bet Morris Cooper is turning in his grave. Thanks Debby Eisinger for another insult and disgrace to our city. All for what? Political gain...
Posted by: Dude | April 23, 2008 3:35 PM

Unbelieveable! What a way to celebrate Founder's Day. I'll bet Morris Cooper is turning in his grave. Thanks Debby Eisinger for another insult and disgrace to our city. All for what? Political gain...
Posted by: Dude | April 23, 2008 3:35 PM

a good read.
Posted by: battery | June 5, 2008 10:27 PM

Cooper City recall effort abandoned
> Posted by Anthony Man on May 29, 2008 09:55 AM

Residents intent on removing John Sims from office because of anti-Semitic Web postings have dropped the recall effort, saying the city can't afford it. The residents started the rare recall move against the city commissioner last month to hold him accountable for a now-defunct, controversial blog registered to him that posted anti-Semitic statements about Mayor Debbie Eisinger. Elliot Kleiman, a recall committee organizer, said Wednesday the group collected more than the needed 1,900 signatures, or 10 percent of the city's registered voters. He said he could not provide the exact number of signatures because he stopped counting when they reached the required amount. Kleiman said the group hoped to hold the recall in November to coincide with the presidential election, but the process would likely take longer and force Cooper City to conduct two special elections. Doing so would cost the city about $55,000 apiece, according to City Clerk Susan Bernard. "Based on the economy and all the problems with city budgets, we just determined that it just wasn't worth it," Kleiman said. In January, the Broward Sheriff's Office started looking for evidence leading to those responsible for antiSemitic postings about the mayor on a now defunct blog. The Sheriff's Office considered the incident a hate crime. They have not charged Sims or anyone else with a crime and have suspended the investigation until they get more information. Sims, 49, whose term ends in March 2010, has said he had nothing to do with the Eisinger postings. He said Wednesday he thought the recall petition "was a big joke." "I wanted to take them to court and show what a frivolous recall it was," Sims said. -- Staff Writer Elizabeth Baier POSTED IN: City-Town-Village Government (183) > Discuss this entry
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Let's get this straight! There were NO anti-semitic comments on the blog that Lori Green created ! There was NO hate crime committed on the blog that Lori Green created ! There were only ALLEGATIONS of hate and anti-simitism against Comm. Sims ! There was no PROOF of Sims being involved per the BSO Police ! The petition was not legally sufficient to sustain the charges which were so vague and uncertain that Commissioner Sims could have no conception of the particular act or acts which substantially related to the alleged cause(s) of removal from office and would not have been able to eve formulate a response. Therefore, the baseless allegations contained in the Petition for Recall could not constitute malfeasance, misfeasance or neglect of duty. The legal requirements were not met where the statement(s) in the petition were nothing more than conclusions or opinions without any tangible basis of facts. There was absolutely no truth, factual allegations nor justification to any of the false charges levied against Commissioner Sims by the Recall Committee (Yes, that Committee includes EVERYONE who signed it) by an ex-Commissioner who rarely showed up sober for a Commission meeting. I am glad the majority of voters showed support for Commissioner Sims' dedicated service to the community by not signing the ridiculous petition.

The lie told by the Green's and Esiinger's wasted alot of Elliot Kleiman's time and money...
Posted by: morons | May 30, 2008 11:00 AM

I don't believe the recall committee got the required number of signatures. Shredding the list seems to be the best evidence that they didn't get the signatures. This mean-spirited group of peabrains would have moved forward had they had the signatures. Heck, only 2 weeks ago Eliott was up at the podium at the last commission meeting doing his recall rant. If they had the signatures, they would have moved forward. What a bunch of losers. Also, Elliot told me they didn't have even half of the signatures required as of last Saturday. There is no way in HE!! that they got over 1,000 signatures on Memorial Day weekend. You are a liar Recall Elliot. He told me that he did not have the signatures. Sounds like Judy Stern/Debby Eisinger spin to me to save face. Elliot also told me that more than half of the people said they didn't care about his stupid recall and the other half called him a sore loser (and a senile old drunk). Even people on the recall committee told me that they didn't get all of the signatures. If they did, prove it, don't shread them. You can't tell me they shredded all of the signatures...for what? I can assure you that if you did indeed get enought sigs, that you all would have pressed forward. Since when did Elliot care about spending money? You are all a bunch of liars. The recall was a big lie. The blog posting accusing Sims was not a hate crime, nor was it anti-semitism and was all a big lie. What improper things has SIms done, please tell us in detail, because it certainly wasn't spelled out in the fake petition. They were nothing but false allegations with no facts whatsoever. BSO did NOT find that he owned the blog. They said, and I quote "The blog was REGISTERED to Sims". How about I 'register' a blog under Elliot, yours or Debby's name and start bashing Christians? What would happen then when the tables are turned? Sims will indeed prove he was not involved and win his lawsuit. You people are all ignorant and the scum sentinel is biased... Thank God Sims is in office.
Posted by: Elliotsux | May 30, 2008 11:04 AM

Thank You, Lori Green, Debbie Eisinger, Greg Ross, Elliot Kleiman and many others including those who signed the petition. You have done more to embrass Cooper City than anything John Sims allegely did. Your lies, half truths and malicious political attacks have not done anything more than to make Cooper City the laughing stock of Broward County. If you had real cause to recall the effort would have successed with the support of the decent citizens of Cooper City not the loud mouth hatemongers.
Posted by: I hate CC | May 30, 2008 11:07 AM

This whole thing, and their statement makes absolutely no sense to me. IF Sims were even involved and if he or anyone else had committed a crime, the Governor would have removed him or there would be charges filed. Cooper City would STILL have to PAY for a special election. IF Sims did anything wrong, which he DID NOT, then why go through all of this effort to embarrass the city and not follow through with all of the threats and attacks? Mr. Kleiman! You are a hypocrite and a liar... To Commissioner Sims, if you read this, MAZEL TOV!
Posted by: gosims | May 30, 2008 11:09 AM

For another view of this despicable attempt to circumvent the legal if not the right way to deal with this please view http://coopercityinsider.blogspot.com .
Posted by: CC Insider | May 30, 2008 11:11 AM

It failed because it was based upon a false premise. The lie told by the supporters had traction in Embassy Lakes Cabal only. The majority of residents in the rest of Cooper City relied upon the law enforcement people to determine if a crime had been committed not a group of religious fantanics whipped into a mob by the lies and half truths feed to them by the likes of Debby Eisinger, Lori Green and 'Former' Commissioner Kleiman, who was voted out by the electorate due to his indiscretions (drinking on the job) which were readily visible on video tape. The resident with good common sense smelled the foul oder of deceit on this one. Particularly when he told a candidate for city commission recently that this was 'payback' for Sims allegedly being involved in the law and disorder scandal, which he was not...
Posted by: No way | May 30, 2008 11:14 AM

They did NOT get hardly any signatures! This is Bull S***! Elliot Klieman is a LIAR! They did this simply as payback to Sims for the Law & Disorder drinking debacle...and he wasn't even involved! Former ousted Commissioner Kleiman told many people that this was 'payback' on many occassions. Too bad our Mayor Debby Eisinger got involved and was on the recall committee. In regards to the Recall effort by The Recall Committee, Elliot Kleiman, Lori Green and Mayor Debby Eisinger, The actions of the Recall Committee should be very troubling to everyone in Broward county. I don't agree with the tactics that were used against Sims by the Recall Committee, Elliot Kleiman, Lori Green, Greg Ross and Debby Eisinger among many others. The recall effort was nothing short of frivolous and it was deceitful just to get signatures. This was just one of many tactics designed to continue to discredit Sims through character assassination because the recall committee doesn't like what he has to say, nor do they like free speech outside of the commission chamber's walls, much less inside, and we all must admonish these political and morally reprehensible tactics. Yes, Judy Stern! It was alright for the Mayor to allow µfree speech¶ and personal attacks against her opposition up until election time, and then afterwards it was again permitted by her cronies. Sims was falsely accused of Anti-Semitism by the Mayor and Elliot Kleiman. He was slandered and defamed by them. They created this conspiracy. I hope Sims will seek justice and unfortunately, the citizens of Cooper City will have to pay dearly for that. If reports in this piece of sh*it paper are to be believed, then we must all admonish those who created this debacle which has been nothing short of disgraceful. This in and of itself is concerning. Although no crime was committed by Sims or by the actual perpetrators of the so-called 'hate blog' of which Sims was falsely accused of creating, one of the basic tenants of American law is that you have the right to know who your accuser is, and that you are indeed innocent until proven guilty. These are all true statements. I know, I was part of the inside group that promoted the recall...
Posted by: No Recall | May 30, 2008 11:15 AM

Now that it is over, they should re-group and hang on a good drunk (at the taxpayers expense of course) and go back to work or whatever it is that they do!
Posted by: Chang | May 30, 2008 11:16 AM

Recall the Recall. It has ended. Not to be left hanging the perps have one last message (read lie) to attempt to feed us. The recall is being withdrawn. Yes, that is what we are being asked to believe.

First, let¶s really look at some of the facts of the petition withdrawal. We are being asked to view this petition process as one of benevolence. The process is being halted as it would cost Cooper City $110,000 to continue. The figure head leader of the effort had been the former commissioner Kleiman who had stated when he withdrew his support just a few weeks ago, that it appeared to him that the basis of the petition was in fact very weak and probably not founded on any real facts, only allegation or suggested supposition. This is after a resident of Cooper City, the Rev. Bob Sands took Mr. Kleimen to task on the concept of hypocrisy. We have it on very good authority that he then received a blistering phone call from the originator of the petition action, the infamous if not notorious Lori Green, campaign manager for Mayor Debby Eisinger and companion while both were seen walking of the streets of Embassy Lakes knocking on doors to obtain signatures as the petition drive lost its steam. With that in my mind we are being asked to believe that it is the cost that is the primary consideration for the withdrawal.(Cooper City has at least $22 million in liquid assets. Based upon the last 5 commission meetings, the Mayor has a dummy on either side, ready, willing and quite able to approve any expenditure that she may desire.) Secondly, the time frame of this process was well known to all who can read (including the lawyers leading the pack) and some of the time line discussion by the backroom manager Lori Green is really just a subterfuge. It is simply verbal condiments added to the meal of a failed petition needed to feed the hunger mob at Embassy Lakes that so passionately drank the µKool Aid¶ of lies, half truths, slanderous and malicious attacks upon a Commissioner who did not follow in line as the previous group (Roper and Valenti, want another beer, brother) did in order to satisfy a political agenda of the power hunger and control freak Mayor of Cooper City, Debbie Eisinger. Last, but by no means least, the truth that was being told by a few staunch supporters and µThanks¶ to a perceptive and thoughtful segment of the population of Cooper City who were able to see through the vitriolic rhetoric of the boisterous if not obnoxious Greg Ross, well known ambulance chaser of the more seedy Broward streets, the hypocritical commentary of (dismissed by the voters and discarded by the Mayor) commissioner Elliot Kleiman, and the tragically flawed arguments of the well meaning group of Embassy Lakes residents who had been sucked into the mob mentality without looking. They had accepted on faith,(ponder the pun) the allegations as truth based upon a false propositions of bigotry and anti-Semitism, propagated and perpetuated by the real source of this disgusting misuse and betrayal of Judaism, Lori Green. We, the nonjudgemental and concerned citizens, hope the lesson here is µLook and think before you accuseµ. P.S. It is particularly note worthy that many unsolicited comments were made by the residents of this embattled city that we live in a country in which the process is 'one is innocent until proven guilty'. Kudos to the residents of Cooper City whose common sense and decency brought this horrendous nightmare to end.
Posted by: recall the recall | May 30, 2008 11:18 AM

Bravo for John Sims. Seemed like a witch hunt to me.
Posted by: No witches | May 30, 2008 11:19 AM

What do you expect from a senile old drunk (Kleiman) who never showed up at a commission meeting sober? And that Lori Green...They are the real Jew hatemongers! Don't even get me started about Debby Eisinger and Judy Stern!!!!!! ARRGGHHHH!!!!

Posted by: no more | May 30, 2008 11:21 AM

I denounce Elliot Kleiman and his use of the Kiwanis name to promote the fake Recall Petition at Founder's Day at the Kiwanis Booth. I saw it on Channel 7 (WSVN) news and was appalled that the Kiwanis would sponsor such hate, libel, slander and defamation of a sitting outstanding Commissioner. Demand that Elliot be removed from his office and copy the TV news stations and newspapers.
Posted by: No Kiwanis | May 30, 2008 11:22 AM

Quote by a Recall Volunteer on Topix - "I saw the pages of signatures. They had not been approved by the elections dept, that I will give you all. Someone involved,told me in an election year, this effort would not be a priority to verify each signature which would take longer." This is absolutely not true. The Clerk has merely a ministerial duty to either reject or accept the petition. If the petition was sufficient in regards to the number of signatures, the Supervisor of Elelctions MUST continue with the effort. I read the Petition and as a matter of law that the grounds stated in the recall petition were insufficient to invoke the recall election. That is not for the Clerk to decide. The reasons for recall whether true or false do not affect the proceeding. Their truth or sufficiency is not for determination by the Clerk. The grounds for the action was contemplated to be something stronger than a belief or an idea; and the ones set out in the petition amounts to no more than either one of these. The recall petition in no way apprised the Commissioner of the charges he would be expected to respond to were the recall election held, nor would any elector participating in such an election know what issues were intended to be drawn. The recall petition constituted nothing more than the statement of a conclusion or opinion without any tangible basis in fact. No one reading it could tell what was in the recall committee's minds or, for that matter, whether they were of one mind or each had a different reason for setting the recall effort in motion. The grounds in the petition did not sufficiently set forth a violation of some duty to the electorate which could be sufficiently identified for the electorate to determine the truth of falsity of the charges; nor did the grounds apprise the Commissioner of the charges he would be expected to meet were the recall election held. It constituted nothing more than a statement of conclusion or opinion. The ground stated in the petition drastically failed to form a foundation for a recall. Let us assume that the motive of each signer was of the loftiest character; we still have only an opinion. Let us suppose any issue where the sentiment of the community has been sharply divided, one segment feeling sincerely that a certain course would be "to the best interests of the citizens," the other feeling as strongly that an opposite course would be. As soon as the Commissioner became allied with one group and exerted himself in their behalf, the opposing group could, doubtless conscientiously, swear that the official had engaged in activities inimical to the best interests of the citizens simply because they entertained the belief that the wrong group had been chosen or elected. Sims has a property right in the office to which the people had elected him and he could not be forced into a recall election to determine whether he should be ousted, but a few months after entering his term, in the absence of a substantial compliance with the law prescribing the procedure for such drastic actions. Because the petition failed utterly to form a foundation for the recall, the petition would have been enjoined by a court of law.

The Supreme Court has pointed out on several occasions that an officeholder has a property right in his office and that this right may not be unlawfully taken away or illegally infringed upon. The law states that the petition under consideration absolutely imposes upon the city clerk or some other appropriate officer the duty of ascertaining whether the recall petition has been signed by the requisite number of qualified voters, no more and no less. Upon the certificate of such officer that a sufficient petition has been filed, the duty of the municipal council to call a special election is purely ministerial. Clearly the City and the Supervisor of Elections cannot pass upon the sufficiency of charges contained in a recall petition. The Clerk and Supervisor has an interest and indeed a legal responsibility to see that a recall committee follows the proper procedures when a public official is so challenged and sought to be removed from office and that responsibility is strictly a ministerial one without any room for decisionmaking on their part. There should be a real foundation for such a harsh test as a recall election, that the charge against an official sought to be recalled is related to the performance of his or her duties of his office, and that the grounds of the action should be something stronger than a belief or an idea. The grounds as stated in the petition constituted nothing more than the statement of a conclusion or opinion without any tangible basis in fact.
Posted by: Recall Attorney | May 30, 2008 11:25 AM

So the lynching party is over, it's about time saner minds prevailed! Now the residents should question their Mayor, about the insider deal her and her hubby did with the Montera fiasco. That smells of a REAL CRIME!
Posted by: West Hollywood Dissident | May 30, 2008 11:33 AM

We will see how stupid Debby Eisinger, Elliot Kleiman, Greg Ross and Lori Green are when they are hauled off to jail for civil conspiracy. Commissioner Sims WILL prove the blog was not his in court. Just watch & wait. He will be a rich man at Cooper City taxpayer's expense when this is all over...
Posted by: Go Sims | May 30, 2008 11:35 AM

We will see how stupid Debby Eisinger, Elliot Kleiman, Greg Ross and Lori Green are when they are hauled off to jail for civil conspiracy. Sims WILL prove the blog was not his in court. Just watch & wait. He will be a rich man at Cooper City taxpayer's expense when this is all over...
Posted by: Go Comm Sims | May 30, 2008 11:37 AM

There have been a multitude of unethical as well as legal questions as far as this whole recall thing.....I hope somebody is looking at these !
Posted by: questionable | May 30, 2008 11:39 AM

This is BS! The city hass $22M in unrestriced reserves, money in the bank. They can afford this, they just lied about it because they didn't get their signatures...
Posted by: BS | May 30, 2008 2:28 PM

I have learned alot from this, that Debbi's character is worse than I thought. With all the alcohol related issues she has had publically and personally she ought to shut her mouth and clean her own closet of the impropriety instead of blowing smoke in an attempt to cover her lack of character and leadership. BTW now that hurricane season is starting Let me remind everyone that during Wilma Debbie promoted halloween , for all the kids to go out and about trick or treating. I guess that was ok in her neighborhood cause they had power, how nice for them! In my neighborhood, we had down power lines, absolutely no light and droves of kids in black costumes nearly getting hit by cars in the dark. It was the single most

dangerous situation I ever witnessed in Cooper CIty and the Mayor was all for it. It was a miracle no kid was electricuted. Bad Bad leadership!
Posted by: No More Debby | May 30, 2008 5:13 PM

To the petition gatherers and city leaders: I would like to go on record as objecting to the use of email addresses from members of the City's Education Advisory Board, along with those of other school parent leaders, as a recruiting tool in the recall effort. I most certainly did not give my email address to the city, to then be used by a particular group to further their own political agenda. That's wrong. And it was clear that we all got the emails asking us to please help collect signatures, because all the recipient email addresses were listed. In fact, two such emails went out to all of us. I guess that's because Elliott had access to the addresses as a former commissioner, but I found it very offensive. Jackie Dougherty
Posted by: Jackie Dougherty | May 30, 2008 5:15 PM

The residents of Cooper City also share the view that the boundaries of appropriate conduct of the chairperson/mayor are capricious and arbitrary in light of the past year. The failure of the mayor to compote herself in a manner of the impartial conductor of the commission meetings as it relates to the total disregard for behavior of those whose commentary is of benefit to the mayor political agenda can only be described as abominable. It is also note notable that the rest of the city commission did not speak up or even comment about the manner of the dictatorial posture of the mayors position, rather some commented on the political correctness of the meeting as though that allows for any previous egregious mistakes. That is a little scary. Posted by Cooper City Insider
Posted by: Wow | May 30, 2008 5:25 PM

Is Elliot and company so stupid that they think we would believe they DID NOT KNOW the cost of a recall before starting it? Bunk!!!!
Posted by: No More Debby | May 30, 2008 5:26 PM

Is Elliot and company so stupid that they think we would believe they DID NOT KNOW the cost of a recall before starting it? Bunk!!!! It is so transparent that they were attempting a recall only to discredit Commissioner Sims. Does anyone ACTUALLY think that they did not know the cost of a recall before starting it? They are like condocommandos and should just move to a place where people appreciate bullsh!t.
Posted by: No More Debby | May 30, 2008 5:27 PM

Is Elliot and company so stupid that they think we would believe they DID NOT KNOW the cost of a recall before starting it? Bunk!!!! It is so transparent that they were attempting a recall only to discredit Commissioner Sims. Does anyone ACTUALLY think that they did not know the cost of a recall before starting it? They are like condocommandos and should just move to a place where people appreciate bullsh!t.
Posted by: No More Debby | May 30, 2008 6:59 PM

http://www.fightthesmearcampaign.com

Commissioner wants to restrict citizens' political expression
> Posted by Anthony Man on July 15, 2008 07:39 AM

Dare to wear an Obama or McCain campaign pin to a Cooper City meeting and you might get hit with a $75 fine. That's if city leaders embrace an ordinance that would outlaw wearing buttons or clothing with a political message at city events held on public property. Political signs and literature, profane language and boisterous behavior also would be banned under the plan the commission is expected to discuss tonight. Commissioner John Sims said on Monday he is pushing the proposal as a way to restore polite behavior at the city's notoriously raucous public meetings. "You've got to hit people where it hurts, in their pocket," he said, explaining that a $75 fine would discourage rowdiness. More from staff writers Susannah Bryan and Rachel Hatzipanagos: Sims' proposal comes two months after the commission approved a resolution that discourages verbal attacks during public meetings. At the time, the commission said the measure was an attempt to bring civility to City Hall. Sims, the target of a failed recall effort earlier this year, said the current rules don't go far enough. Longtime resident Gladys Wilson railed against Sim's new plan. "I have a First Amendment right to wear a pin, a necklace, a pair of earrings, whatever I want to wear," she said. "It's just ridiculous what's going on." Mayor Debbie Eisinger doubts such a measure would be legal. "On public property, I don't think that you can stop someone from campaigning or taking some political activity," she said. City Attorney David Wolpin said former City Clerk Susan Bernard drafted the proposed ordinance at Sims' request without consulting him. Wolpin declined to discuss the proposal, saying he planned to share his legal opinion with commissioners tonight. Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, said the proposed law is "clearly unconstitutional" and goes too far in prohibiting free speech. But Marc Rohr, also a law professor at NSU, said the city's elected leaders have the right to limit free speech, including campaign buttons, during public meetings. "There are certain settings in which government entities can control the forum," Rohr said. Earlier this year, some residents targeted Sims, saying they wanted him removed from office for a nowdefunct blog registered to him that posted anti-Semitic statements about the mayor. Sims has said he had nothing to do with the postings. Sims said local campaigns were the main target of his new proposal, but added he has no problem banning Obama or McCain campaign buttons. "The meetings should not give a venue for people to express their political views," he said. "My attempt is to limit political grandstanding inside City Hall." Diane Sori, an outspoken critic of City Hall, said she plans to speak out against the measure. "This is not how freedom of speech works in the United States," she said. Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi said Sims' plan goes too far.

"I don't think this would be passed. If it does I'll be dumbfounded," Mallozzi said. Walt Jolliff, a Sims supporter, compared some City Commission meetings to a "Salem witch hunt." While critics say the new rule would trample on free speech, Jolliff doesn't share those concerns. "You have to start some place," he said. POSTED IN: City-Town-Village Government (180) > Discuss this entry
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These Commissioners shouldn't be Commissioners if they do not realize that political free speech, anywhere in America (except within a restricted voting poll zone) is a prohobited infringement against the constitutional rights of the people. Are these Commissioners interested in CREATING A LAWSUIT they'd surely lose in Court? Go ahead...squelch Free Speech Mr. & Mrs. Commissioners, and then YOUR TAXPAYERS will surely be stuck (once again) footing the legal bill for your stupidity in office.
Posted by: Congressional Student | July 15, 2008 8:54 AM

Residents say Cooper City trying to shush them up
> Posted by Russell Small on February 11, 2009 01:31 PM

Staff Writer Susannah Bryan reports ... Thin-skinned Cooper City commissioners afraid of a little criticism are muzzling residents at City Hall, critics claim. A new policy approved Tuesday night in a 4-1 vote forces residents to speak at the end of late-night meetings about items not on the agenda. Before Tuesday, residents could bring up concerns at the beginning of meetings. Another policy approved last year forbids personal verbal attacks as well as any political statements for or against candidates or election issues. ³Why even bother going to a meeting?´ said gadfly Diane Sori, who filed a complaint this week with Attorney General Bill McCollum alleging the policy violates the First Amendment. ³You don¶t shut up the people who put you in office,´ Sori said before the meeting. ³I just think they don¶t want to be criticized. They¶re denying us the right to free speech.´ Mayor Debby Eisinger defends the policy as a way to ³conduct the business of the city´ while preventing residents from being ³disrespectful, discourteous, abusive and slanderous.´ Hogwash, says Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova. ³It¶s an attempt to squelch dissent,´ he said. ³They don¶t want anybody to be a troublemaker because they don¶t want any negative publicity.´ Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi cast the lone dissenting vote Tuesday night.

She worried people might not wait till the end of a meeting to have their say. And if the commission refuses to extend a meeting after 11 p.m., those residents would not get the chance to speak at all, she said. Eisinger pointed out that residents with concerns can always make a phone call or send an e-mail to City Hall. She backed the resolution along with Commissioners John Sims, Neal DeJesus and James Curran. more of Staff Writer Susannah Bryan's report on the jump Angel Palank, a former city commissioner, chastised the five-member board for being undemocratic. ³If you can¶t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,´ she said. ³We took our pot shots up there. If you don¶t have the spine to take the shots, give that seat to someone else.´ Tuesday night, Sims complained about nasty comments that had been directed at him during previous meetings. In an interview before the meeting, he explained why he was supporting the measure. ³All they¶re doing is bashing everybody and putting a bad image on the city,´ he said. ³We spend way too much time on citizens bashing citizens and citizens bashing staff and it¶s not something we can tolerate any longer.´ POSTED IN: City-Town-Village Government (180) > Discuss this entry
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COMMENTS

kinda sounds like the new obama administration
Posted by: LOU | February 11, 2009 3:44 PM

I am just a negative B!TCH who complains about everything, so I guess I should take the blame for this. Lisa Mallozzi is also a conspirator of mine. We can really seem to get to the Mayor, Neal and Sims. I guess it worked!
Posted by: Diane Sori | February 12, 2009 8:42 AM

Ms. Diane Sori 3794 Bimini Avenue Cooper City, Florida 33026 Re: Item 7, February 10,2009, City of Cooper City (the "City") City Commission Agenda Dear Ms. Sori: This is written in response to your email of February 6, 2009, to Florida Attorney General McCollum, in which you criticize the City Commission for its previous enforcement of administrative procedures and decorum rules concerning your presentation in early May 2008, and seek to question the validity of a proposed amendment to those rules, as presented in proposed Resolution 09-2-3, of item 7 on the February 10,2009, City Commission Agenda. A review of the video tape of the Commission meeting of May 13, 2008, indicates that the Mayor's decision to terminate both your first (during the Citizens Concerns portion of meeting) and second presentation (during the Open Public Meeting portion of meeting) before completion of your presentations at the Commission meeting of May 13, 2008, was based on the

encroachment of your remarks into the arena of personal attacks upon members of the Commission. You will recall that a lack of decorum at Commission meetings caused the City Commission to determine to commit to enforce existing decorum rules prohibiting personal attacks and to subsequently adopt and commit to enforce revised decorum and administrative procedure rules at the Commission meeting of May 27, 2008, as reflected in Resolution 08-5-7. Prior to the adoption of Resolution 08-5-7, the Commission received substantial public input at a Commission workshop and at a regular meeting. The City Commission was well within its authority to adopt the revised administrative procedures and rules of decorum which are provided by Resolution 08-5-7. The City is very cognizant of the vital importance of First Amendment rights. The City values, welcomes and recognizes the need for timely public input as a key component of the decision-making process. However, the courts have recognized that the right of free speech is not absolute and that a governing body has the right to reasonably enforce decorum rules which maintain the good order of governmental proceedings. Further, in Jones v. Heyman, 888 F.2d 1328 (11 th Cir. 1989), it was noted that courts grant great deference to the decorum maintenance rulings of presiding officers which must be made expeditiously during the course of a meeting. The further revision presented by proposed Resolution 09-2-3, as item 7 on the February 10,2009, Commission meeting agenda simply serves to limit comments made during the Citizen Concern portion of the Commission meetings to comments on items which are listed on the meeting agenda. The proposed revision does not alter the additional opportunity for interested persons to provide comments on any matter of concern under the Open Public Meeting portion of the meeting agenda which comes immediately before Commissioners' Concerns/ Reports. Accordingly, the amended procedure preserves an opportunity for residents and other interested persons to be heard by the Commission, both at the beginning (under Citizens Concerns) and ending (Open Public Meeting) portions of the meetings of the Commission, as well as on public hearing items. The Citizen Concern portion enables interested persons to each speak for up to three (3) minutes. The Open Public Meeting portion enables interested persons to each speak for up to five (5) minutes. However, neither portion of the meeting agenda allows persons to engage in personal attacks which are disruptive to the good order of the Commission proceedings. Subsequent to the adoption of Resolution 08-5-7, you and other interested persons have regularly made presentations at the Commission meetings, both during the Citizen Concern and Open Public Meeting portions of the Commission meetings. This has provided you and others with a multitude of opportunities to address the Commission on a divers array of matters. That opportunity will not be impaired by Resolution 09-2-3, since ample opportunities to speak at the beginning of the meeting upon any agenda item and at the concluding portion of the meeting upon any issue, will continue to be available. Further, contrary to the implication of your letter, the City rarely cancels regular Commission meetings, and except for the summer and holiday seasons, routinely meets two (2) times per month. Accordingly, it is my opinion that a decision to adopt the revision to the administrative procedures via Resolution 09-2-3, as provided in Item 7 of the February 10, 2009, Commission meeting agenda, is on solid legal ground and constitutes a decision which fully complies with applicable law, including statutory and constitutional law. David M. Wolpin, Esq. cc: Honorable Bill McCollum, Attorney General Mayor and Commissioners Bruce Loucks, City Manager Susan Poling, City Clerk
Posted by: To Diane | February 12, 2009 8:51 AM

I have attended my fair share of council meetings over my 20+ years of residence in CC. On rare instances, some members of the small number of attendees could be disruptive however most meetings are not attended by that many CC residents unless it was a matter of major importance, like when the PD was absorbed by BSO. Still, this is a blatant attempt to squelch the public's input. Each speaker is only entitled to a few minutes anyway. Why would the commission move this to the end of their meetings if not to hopefully bore you into leaving before the end? Professionalism is not a term I'd associate w/the CC commission anyway. Over the years, I personally have sent e-mails to the various city commissioners, mayors & city manager in regards to a variety of issues & rarely have I ever gotten an e-mail or phone call response. With rare exception, the only time I ever hear from them is when it's election time & they want my vote or put a sign in my yard. As an educated & responsible electorate, it is our responsibility to watch over the shoulders of those we elected, even in small town politics like CC. I've worked in a government capacity for nearly 30 years and every day my activities are monitored. The CC commission should expect no less. The day we "leave the work to professionals" is the day this democracy fails. Turn your eyes to current day Washington DC to see this as an example in action when we, the public, don't exercise our rights. I don't always agree w/Angela Palank but on this one, she's dead right- if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Posted by: Lee Spector | February 13, 2009 12:26 AM

If you want to know why we have lousy, cheating, lying politicians it's because sleazy slobs like those who send out this trash get their candidates elected. yes YOU Diane Sori!. Decent people who want to serve the community can't take a chance that these despicable people will smear their names with horrible lies like they did with Comm. Sims. So the bad guys prevail. Nice job. Stack the political seats with people who have no morals and let society continue to corrode. I bet those who send out this trash are pillars of our community, showing a false face to their neighbors. Let us know who you are so our community can see who is to blame for our current crop of sub-standard politicians.
Posted by: I hate Debby | February 23, 2009 4:15 PM

If you want to know why we have lousy, cheating, lying politicians it's because sleazy slobs like those who send out this trash get their candidates elected. yes YOU Diane Sori!. Decent people who want to serve the community can't take a chance that these despicable people will smear their names with horrible lies like they did with Comm. Sims. So the bad guys prevail. Nice job. Stack the political seats with people who have no morals and let society continue to corrode. I bet those who send out this trash are pillars of our community, showing a false face to their neighbors. Let us know who you are so our community can see who is to blame for our current crop of sub-standard politicians.
Posted by: I hate Debby | February 23, 2009 4:15 PM

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