Here's something else the Auditors should look into...
Has the Land Trust had any financial dealings with other non-profit organizations that it's Executive Director is a principal in.
Here's a short list to start with:
LOOK UP REACH OUT ENTERPRISES, INC.
LEGACY INITIATIVES, INC.
KEY WEST AFRICIANS' MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, INC
THE HARRY CHIPCHASE SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC.
In it's financial dealing with other non-profit organizations, did any of them involve organizations in which the Land Trust Director was also a principal?
Since Legacy Initiatives is registered to her home address, that'd be a good place to start. Also, pay close attention to any located in New Jersey and Ocala, Florida.
Also, the Auditors should check under all names known to be used by the Land Trust's Director:
That's apparently been the case with appliances and furniture at Land Trust properties while Clayton's opponent was the organization's Treasurer & President.
The Land Trust would install brand new appliances so the building would pass the Certificate of Occupancy inspections.
Then, they'd whisk those appliances away and install them in the next building to be inspected.
Whomever ended-up moving into the earlier units, got stuck with substandard appliances.
This Land Trust property is literally falling apart, "yet," brand new windows - actually the entire window casings - have been installed, along with new shutters.
Here's a closeup view of one of these new windows.
Was this simply a "Make-Work" Land Trust project to funnel money to the construction company owned by the Executive Director's son?
Walk-by some day - Look into any of the first-floor windows. You'll see the floors covered with debris from the collapsing ceilings and roof.
"But my... don't those new windows look nice."
Notice the new window casings on another one of the Land Trust's dilapidated buildings, this one on Petronia Street.
Again, brand new windows all around, in a building that's completely uninhabitable. Heck... this building doesn't even have exterior walls, but it's got brand new windows.
Hope the Auditors take a look at these billings.
Who was Land Trust Treasurer?
Who was the President that let this happen?
You guessed it... the same guy who say's he's "Accountable," and therefore should be the new District 6 Commissioner.
This is just the kind of mismanagement our City doesn't need.
The Land Trust's Executive Director channeled hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to her son's Construction company, Conquering Lion Construction.
For the longest time, Conquering Lion wasn't a licensed general contractor. It's been claimed that he was operating under the license of some legitimately licensed contractor.
Question: If so, were Land Trust checks issued to this other construction company, or Conquering Lion?
Question: Which company or person, received the large amounts of cash, supposedly to pay the undocumented workers? The Executive Director's son, or the real construction company?
What, if any, legitimate documentation exists to show how much of the $20 per/hour the Land Trust handed-over in cash, was actually paid to the undocumented workers?
The Land Trust's Executive Director channeled hundreds of thousands of dollars to her son's construction company.
At the same time, she was also the Treasurer for her son's construction company - Conquering Lion Construction.
Firstly, it's a Conflict of Interest to channel all the non-profit's construction business to a company owned by your son.
Secondly, it's a HUGE conflict of interest for the Director of any non-profit organization to channel any of its business to a company in which that very same Director is also the Treasurer for that business.
These two conflicts together, creates one "massive" Conflict of Interest.
Jimbo just doesn't get it.
The other day, he said it didn't matter that the land Trust's Executive Director was the Treasurer for her son's company. Further, that the son had a right to setup his company any way he wished. He chose his Mother because he trusts her, and that's just fine.
Well... no, it isn't.
As Treasurer for her son's construction company, she stands to benefit from the profits of her son's company. As Land Trust Director, she's able to direct work to her son's company, from which she may benefit. That's not permitted.
Even if she never saw a nickel from her son's construction company profits, you don't do this because...
1.) He's still your son, and he still benefits from what ever work you pay for with these non-profit organization's funds.
2.) It creates a HUGE appearance of impropriety.
Wake-up! Jimbo.
This is how you were 'Accountable?" Good grief!
You were the Treasurer, then the President while this was going on.
If this is the limit of your comprehension regarding Conflicts of Interest, then it's one more reason you have no business becoming the Land Trust's puppet on the City Commission.
By the time this forensic audit is completed, the lack of insurance on BCCLT properties is going to be one of the lesser items of concern. The larger question - even this early into the audit - is why the Land Trust is so broke that it can't afford insurance. What happened to all the money?
They double-billed the City for the $102,000, so that's totally extra money that they should still have - but they don't. Where'd it go?
The forensic audit occurs in three phases: 1.) Initial interview, 2.) Review of books, 3.) Reconciliation of issues discovered.
Apparently, just the Initial Interview was so bad, the Auditors took the unusual step of notifying the City that serious issues are already afoot at the BCCLT that need to be addressed NOW - before the Auditors even begin Phase II.
Have you heard the latest excuse coming from Jimbo regarding the Land Trust's double billing of the City for the now-famous $102,000...
"We didn't double-bill the City. The City accidentally double paid the one bill we sent."
Ahh... Jimbo... you forgot one little tiny detail....
When you sent the first bill, you were the Land Trust Treasurer, and signed it as such.
When you sent the second bill, you were the Land Trust President, and signed it as such.
Sorry to bust that phony bubble.
Monday, September 21, 2009
For 10 points… Which District 6 Candidate "claims" to have been an accomplished affordable housing advocate (for people other than himself)?
For 15 points… Which District 6 Candidate says his management experience as Treasurer & President of the Land Trust best qualifies “him” to be Commissioner?
For 100 Extra Bonus Points… In the following photograph showing several "Land Trust properties," which is former Land Trust Treasurer & President James Marquardt’s current home...
Clayton told me the other day, that his heart was most-warmed by a man who approached him after last Monday's debate. A man who arrived at the debate as part of the opposition's entourage.
"I came here tonight, because I wanted to see what you had to say about the bad things I was hearing about you from your opponent. Plus, they urged me to come, so I did."Clayton, I came here with every intention of voting for the other guy, but after I heard you speak, I realized you're the person who truly cares about our community. More importantly, it's clear you're one who cares most about the people. I voting for you."
When the forensic audit is completed, the results will likely be rather scathing. So before that happens, let me say this... "That was then - This is now."
The new Land Trust's Board of Directors is sincerely striving to revamp the organization, trying to bring it in-line with its original purpose and intent.
Whatever the audit results, they intend to use this review as a tool for positive change.
I've said all along, the former members of the Board of Directors weren't aware of what was going on regarding the everyday finances and management of the organization. Marquardt wasn't - to the best of my knowledge - part and parcel to the financial shenanigans that I think occurred.
The problem is, he was its Treasurer, then its President; so he should have known. It was his responsibility, especially when he was Treasurer. That's what being "Accountable" is all about.
Board members knew there were lax policies with how this non-profit's money changed hands - such a large cash transactions absent proper documentation - but saw it as an expedient way to get things accomplished. They likely had no idea how these lax policies were abused.
This forensic audit will likely not only identify these extremely lax policies, and recommend immediate corrections, but will get down to the nitty-gritty of what actually occurred.
This city has too much invested in the Land Trust to see it collapse; it simply needs a change of direction that restores the much needed community trust.
Marquardt's platform is one of "Accountability." Like Clayton said last week....
"I want you to do just that... Hold him Accountable,
"Hold him 'accountable' for what he should have done as Treasurer,
"Hold him 'accountable' for what he should have done as President,
"Hold him 'accountable' with your vote on Oct. 6."
"Vote for the person who's been 'Accountable' his entire life...
"Vote for 'your' City Commissioner, Clayton Lopez."
Once upon a time, there was a man named, Jim, who lived in Arizona, N.Y., N.J., Mass., Calif., and many other places, but who decided he really wanted to live on a beautiful island. So off to the island he traveled, to find a home.
But the homes on this small island were very expensive. So expensive that families who lived there for many generations couldn’t afford to repair them. A small band of concerned islanders formed a Land Trust organization so these historic families could afford to live out their lives in their modest homes.
Along came Jim, saying I want to be one of these families too. So Jim bought a house, but not the land - the Land Trust bought the land, but not the house. It was a good deal for Jim.
Jim then went on to become the Land Trust’s Treasurer, then President. This story might have a happy ending for Jim, except that he had trouble being good Treasurer.
People started asking questions about what was happening with this Land Trust’s money. The people were upset, because it was their money that funded this organization, and the very land upon which Jim’s house sat.
The organization started to run out of money. It sent the people a bill for $102,000, and the people said, OK, and paid it. They sent the people another bill, for another $102,000, and the people, in good faith, paid that bill as well. Yet that wasn’t enough.
Still the organization couldn’t maintain its homes, and the good people began to wonder: "Where is all our money going?"
The people complained louder and louder that their money was being taken and the homes still looked shabby.
"Enough!" - the people said, and insisted the houses be fixed. Since the organization didn’t have the money, they complained they were being harassed. The peoples’ leaders said "We don’t permit harassment" and began looking into what was happening.
The leader was looking into the complaint when he discovered the Land Trust had billed the people twice for the same $102,000.
Then came the Big Bad City Commissioner huffing and puffing at President Jim’s door.
"What say you about the extra $102,000?" the Commissioner asked.
"If you were hurting for money, why did you give the boss’ boyfriend a $26,000 bonus?" "What say you." the Commissioner asked.
"You didn’t have money to fix your homes, but you paid your Director $91,000 a year. When she said that wasn’t enough, you gave her a $25,000 cash advance. Still... the houses didn’t get fixed.
"What say you?" the Big Bad City Commissioner asked.
"Stop picking on us," President Jim whined. "You’re attacking us... I feel threatened... Leave us alone... Go away!"
"No," the good people said. "We want answers." They demanded to know where their money had gone, but the organization stalled.
"It is but us poor few minions to meet your needs, and we can not," the Land Trust said.
The good People were not deterred.
"Not one more nickel from the People, until this is resolved," bellowed the Big Bad City Commissioner.
"What ever shall we do?" pondered President Jim. "Ah Ha!," he shouted. "I have it!"
"I will depose the Big Bad City Commissioner," President Jim declared. "No longer will he be able to huff and puff and threaten to blow our house down."
"No one will dare challenge us then, for I will become the Big Bad City Commissioner," he said.
"I will be the Land Trust’s friend on the City Commission, and all will be well again in our land of broken down homes, double billings, conflicts of interest, cash transactions, huge bonuses and pay advances."
"I will do all the huffing and puffing, and scare away anyone who dares ask questions of us," President/Treasurer Jim said.
With that... Jim shed his President/Treasurer’s cloak and began to roam the land.
From house to house now-Candidate Jim went, crying to anyone who would listen, that he was a victim and so too his Land Trust.
The Big Bad Commissioner was an evil person. So too was the Big Bad Mayor... and the Big Bad City Attorney... and the Big Bad Consultant. Everyone was bad but him.
The Big Bad Commissioner extended Candidate Jim an olive branch. Candidate Jim snatched the olive branch and used it to thrash and whip the Big Bad Commissioner.
"They threatened me!" Candidate Jim cried, as he ran to tell the High Sheriff.
Leaving the Sheriff’s office, he ran immediately to the town crier proclaiming, "Take heed, take heed! I’ve been threatened, I’ve been threatened!"
"Not so," said the High Sherrif, as he dismissed the charge.
"Ahh... the High Sherrif must be in on it too," whispered Candidate Jim to any who would listen.
While slithering about the market one day, Candidate Jim spied the Big Bad Commissioner’s once-betrothed from two decades ago.
"Dear Lady, share with me the dirt that caused your nuptials to sever," Candidate Jim pried, as the venomous salivate dripped steadily from his carnivores chops.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Sir, but there was no dirt to share. To this day, all is well," the Dear Lady replied.
With that... Candidate Jim flew into a rage. "She too, must be in on it," he growled while storming away.
To this day, Candidate Jim walks the land, whispering one thing on one side of the village, whispering a different song on the other.
To all whom may listen, beware the siren’s song from this wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing.
Shortly, a scroll will be placed before you. Consider wisely, then place your mark aside the name of Clayton Lopez; the not so big... not so bad... City Commissioner.
Credits...
The part of Big Bad City Commissioner was played by current City Commissioner Clayton Lopez.
The part of Treasurer/President Jim was played by Lopez’s opponent James Marquardt.
The part of the Land Trust was played by the Bahama Conch Community Land Trust - a nonprofit organization.
Written, Directed & Produced solely by Scott Fraser as a "Paid Political Advertisement paid for by Scott Fraser, PO Box 4215, Key West, Florida 33041 independently of any candidate. This advertisement was not approved by any candidate."
This guy has the gall to disparage Clayton Lopez's character. The following is an excellent example of this guy's scummy politics...
"I was the only Candidate for District 6 that remained for questions after the forum. In fact our current commissioner left the building after our debate. Character."James Marquardt, September 15, 2009.
Yes, Clayton Lopez left the building. He did so because so many people were coming up to congratulate him that he went outside so he could continue speaking with people without disturbing the ongoing debate.
Clayton spent nearly an hour out in front of the building conferring with constituents. Most of whom expressed their appreciation that Clayton had finally discussed* the elephant in the room, Marquardt's complete lack of accountability when he was Treasurer and then President of the Bahama Conch Community Land Trust.
Marquardt doesn't want people to know he was the person in-charge when all the questionable financial dealings occurred at the Land Trust. During the debate, he wouldn't even say the words "Land Trust;" instead referring to it as "another organization."
He repeatedly says this race isn't about any other issue, except who is the best candidate. He says this as a means of trying to deflect criticism about the time he was in charge of the Land Trust, and that he's running to be the Land Trust's puppet on the City Commission.
*Note: For details of what Clayton said, see the article below about Clayton having Cleaned this Guy's Clock.
The last, and most important debate, was a banner night for Clayton.
When his opponent tried to pull another one of his slimy tricks, Clayton “cleaned-his-clock.”
Frustrated for some time, by his Opponent’s whispering campaign to spread outright lies throughout the district, Clayton’s tolerance level was exceeded when the guy said Clayton recklessly had a new soccer field installed atop a hazardous waste dump.
“There you go again, Jim. Trying to mislead the people,” Clayton scolded his Opponent.
“You know full well that the soccer field isn’t even on the same lot where the hazardous waste is located, but once again you’re trying to scare people.”
“Like I’m going to put kids at risk like that," Clayton told him. “Shame on you for trying to scare people like that when you know it isn't true.”
His Opponent immediately started back-peddling, saying he didn’t mean to suggest the soccer field was atop the hazardous waste site, only that it was in the same vicinity. His excuses were too little – too late. It was evident to everyone that he tried to slime Clayton and got publicly slammed for it.
Already fired-up, Clayton went on to deliver a rousing closing…
“I’ve got This Opponent, because of what’s been going-on at the Land Trust and my efforts to stop it,” Clayton told the crowd.
You already know about…
• The $25k bonus to Wheeler Winstead, who scurried out of town when things began to get hot.
• The $26K salary advance to the Executive Director.
• The Land Trust double-billing the City for $102K.
• Executive Director channeling “Hundreds-of-Thousands” of dollars to her son’s unlicensed construction company.
Did you know…
• Among those thousands-of-dollars, were cash transactions upwards of $5,000 at a time, supposedly to pay undocumented workers $20 an hour.
• Guess whose campaign sign is on his construction truck… my Opponent’s. The guy who was President of the Land Trust when this was going on.
Did you know…
• While the Executive Director was sending all this money to her Son’s construction company, she was also the Treasurer of that company.
Did you know…
• The Land Trust has one set of decent appliances and furniture that they keep shuffling from building to building just before they’re to be inspected. Then go back and replace the originals with substandard appliances.
When I start asking questions…and not getting answers… I started saying “NO.”
This prompted my Opponent and the Executive Director to take out a full page attack ad against me.
Now you’re more than welcome to do so – it’s been done before – but don’t do like they did and pay for it with the non-profit organization’s money.
Their Board of Directors didn’t even know about this until they read it in the newspaper the same time we all did.
This “Our” money – This is your “TIFF” Money!
Don’t be gullible!
Don’t Place this “Land Trust Puppet” on the City Commission!
He’s running because he says he’s “Accountable!”
I ask you To Do Just That!
Hold him accountable…
Hold him accountable for what he should have done as Treasurer!
Hold him accountable for what he should have done as President!
"Nudity at[he named a specific local business], or even in your own back yard is illegal. We need to look at changing that."James Marquardt, Key West Lodging Assn. Candidates' Forum, Sept. 11, 2009.
You've got to be more adept than this if you want to be a City Commissioner.
He was probably talking about the city's public nudity law, completely unaware
that nudity at the establishment he named, and in your own backyard, is completely legal so long as there's a six-foot high fence.
If it's not "public nudity" - since its behind such a fence - then it's doesn't violate the "public nudity" law. Duhh!
Here's what Key West City Ordinance Chapter 42-9 states:
Sec. 42-9. Nudity; body painting.
(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Nuditymeans the exposure of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering or the exposure of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple.
Public place means any place where the conduct may reasonably be expected to be viewed by others. However, any private property enclosed by a fence or wall of a height of six feet or higher shall not be considered to be a public place.
(b) Prohibited conduct. No person shall sunbathe, bathe, wash, or swim in any bay, lake, pond, pool, bight, ocean, gulf, beach or public place within the city, being in a state of nudityor insufficiently clothed to prevent improper exposure of his person.
(c) Body painting. No person in a public place shall paint all or a portion of a human body that is in a state of nudityor partial nudity. Body painting establishments shall be screened from public view. During the week of Fantasy Fest (the preceding Monday through the Saturday of the parade), a person who has had his or her body painted shall not be considered nude, provided that such person not display genitalia or the pubic area in a public place. Body paint shall not be deemed to clothe or cover genitalia or the pubic area. This body painting exception to the nudityprohibition is applicable only to a person who is located within the boundaries of a "Fantasy Zone," the area designated by the city for the primary Fantasy Fest activities. For the purposes of this section, the meaning of "body painting" shall include "airbrushing."
Sec. 122-1532. Definitions 5) Adult business means a commercial enterprise that offers or provides for any form of consideration, physical contact between persons of the opposite sex or o f the same sex in the form of a massage or rubdown or washing or scrubbing, where one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or is seminude; provided, however, that a massage therapist licensed by the State of Florida pursuant to chapter 480, Florida Statutes, or a person licensed by the State of Florida as a physician, nurse, physical therapist or athletic trainer are not deemed to be engaged in an adult business. An adult business shall also mean any other similar adult entertainment establishment not specifically described herein, including but not limited to: a business whose customers are or are invited to be in a state of nudityfor sexually oriented purposes(but not for mere sunbathing), and a business that offers the use of adult booths.
State law references:Offense defined, F.S. § 775.08.
At the very least... do a little research before you go spouting off about the law.
Filing charges against me was just a publicity stunt, and this week the State Attorney's Office will report that there's no merit to the accusations that I somehow threatened Clayton's opponent or committed any crime.
I met with an SAO investigator and told him what really happened. He could tell I was being completely truthful. Plus, I gave them a copy of the other guy's Letter to the Editor (Key West Citizen) of one year ago when he claimed to have been threatened by the Mayor, showing he has a past history of claiming people threaten him. (Click here to view his letter.)
First it was the Mayor, then me... good grief, who's next.
Now... I'm free to share with everyone what really happened during this meeting.
This is a statement I prepared for the SAO, in case they asked for one.
For legal reasons, I've censored the names of some people who were mentioned and weren't present during this meeting.
During the 2005 campaign for the Key West City Commission’s District 6 seat, I served as Clayton Lopez’s campaign manager.During the present 2009 campaign for the same seat, I’m serving as a consultant to Commissioner Lopez’s re-election campaign.I am not, nor have I ever represented myself as Lopez’s current campaign manger.
About two months ago, I received a telephone call from a James Marquardt.Marquardt told me he was intending to run for the same District 6 seat, challenging Lopez.Marquardt asked me to be his campaign manager.
I told Marquardt I had been under the impression that Wheeler Winstead was his campaign manager, and expressed my concern that Winstead might be inappropriate given that as an employee of the Bahama Conch Community Land Trust (BCCLT), Winstead had received a large and very controversial financial bonus.Marquardt told me Winstead was planning to be his campaign manager, but had subsequently moved out of town and was no longer available.He said [name censored], the executive director of the BCCLThad urged him to run for this office in her place.
I told Marquardt, I was planning to assist another candidate (not Lopez) with his run for another seat on the city commission, and declined the offer to be his campaign manager.Marquardt said he was very disappointed and hoped I wouldn’t decide to help Lopez.
During the following 45 or so days, several people’s concerns about the financial integrity and management of the BCCLT came to my attention; concerns that I found, if true, to be rather distressing.Among these concerns, was that Marquardt and the ED had used this non-profit organization’s funds to pay for a full-page newspaper add attacking Commissioner Lopez, who was only trying to do the right thing for the community. Further, that the land trust's Board of Directors was unaware the organization's monies were being spent for this purpose, and had no knowledge of it until they themselves saw it in the newspaper.
I told Marquardt, that I had concluded he was likely a shill or proxy candidate for the BCCLT’s Executive Director, [name censored]. It was then I decided to assist the Lopez campaign as a consultant.
A few days prior to August 18, 2009, I had a conversation with Commissioner Lopez about the direction this race was likely to take.I explained that it appears that Marquardt is going to run on a platform of “Accountability.”If so, we’d be forced to address the severe lack of financial accountability that occurred at the BCCLT under his watch as its Treasurer and ultimately its President.
The Commissioner told me, he was concerned that the campaign could disintegrate into a battle about the BCCLT rather than who is best qualified to be the city commissioner.Lopez and I discussed that it was possible the BCCLT could collapse like a house of cards, and a good organization with lofty goals - that should benefit the community were it operated as originally designed - could be lost forever.
I offered to meet with Marquardt to see if there might be some common ground that would prevent a nasty campaign that might forever damage attempts by the BCCLT’s new Board of Director’s to revamp its policies and procedures.
The Commissioner agreed, saying his only reservation was that when Marquardt had met with him a month or two earlier, Marquardt had assured the Commissioner that the campaign would only be about the issues. However, immediately following that meeting, Marquardt left and began making personal attacks against the Commissioner; thus the Commissioner had reservations that his opponent wasn't an honorable person.
This was further aggravated by a recent encounter Marquardt had with Lopez' ex-wife of some two decades ago. Marquardt had assumed that the separation had been adversarial - which it hadn't - and attempted to solicit from the ex-wife, anything controversial that he could use against Lopez during the campaign. The Commissioner's former wife immediately telephoned her former husband and warned him this guy was seeking some dirt on the Commissioner and just up to no good.
I telephoned Marquardt and asked to meet with him, saying that since we had last talked, I had decided to help the Lopez campaign.Marquardt, sounding upset, asked what we would have to talk about if I were helping his opponent’s campaign. I said that concerns about what may have occurred with the BCCLT’s finances had convinced me to help the Lopez campaign, and that the Commissioner was concerned that a nasty campaign exchange might forever damage the BCCLT’s worthwhile purpose, which is something he wished to avoid.
Marquardt agreed to meet me at his 204 Olivia Street home at 10:00 a.m. on the morning of August 18, 2009, and I did.Sitting within earshot of this meeting between Marquardt and myself, was someone who had been introduced as Marquardt’s partner.
I explained to Marquardt, that the Commissioner was concerned that the BCCLT could be irreparably damaged by a negative campaign, and wanted to see if there was a way to avoid that.
That if he, Marquardt, touted being “Accountable” as a campaign platform, then as the opposition, we’d be forced to point to his very window of severe accountability during the time he served as the BCCLT’s Treasurer and President.By default, this could be a very nasty exchange that ultimately could hurt the BCCLT, at a time when its new Board of directors were tying to address shortcomings with its financial policies and procedures.
I explained to Marquardt, that I was aware of his future aspirations to run for the state legislature, and that he was running for this city commission seat to further those aspirations.Additionally, that were he seeking name recognition from this race to further future campaigns for a higher office, this may very well backfire on him, leaving him with negative name recognition.
Marquardt said he didn’t have any intentions to run for higher political office, but said Lopez might be under that impression, because he, Marquardt, told Lopez, this when they had met a couple of months earlier, when Marquardt announced he was “throwing his hat into the ring” by becoming a candidate for the District 6 seat.I told Marquardt that was confusing, even to me.
I told Marquardt, that from my perspective, he was simply a “shill” or “proxy” candidate for [name censored] and her BCCLT intentions, who couldn’t run for public office because of recent public disclosures regarding her financial dealings involving BCCLT funds between her, her [censored "relative"] and [relationship censored] (Winstead).Marquardt denied such.
Marquardt asked me what had changed since we last talked, to make me decide to help the Lopez campaign.I told Marquardt that I had helped Lopez compose list of approximately 53 concerns related to the financial and administrative procedures of the BCCLT dating back to its founding in 2006.That I wasn’t naive enough to believe that all these concerns expressed to the Commissioner were valid, and that it was the Commissioner’s belief that this list of concerns be given directly to the auditors (once selected), where they can be professionally investigated, rather than just tossed out in the open for public consumption as mere unfounded accusations.
I explained that from what I had heard, it was my belief that the BCCLT’s Board of Directors probably weren’t aware of many of the financial irregularities that supposedly occurred when these policies were, at best, very lax.That if any of the serious allegations proved to be true, the auditor’s report might ultimately be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office for further investigation.
That from what I had heard, the audit results may likely surprise the BCCLT’s board members, and be worse then they might ever expect. I also said that I didn’t believe there would be time for a full and complete audit to be conducted prior to the October 6 election.
That among the concerns that the board members weren’t aware of, were large unsubstantiated cash transactions given to the Executive Director’s [name & relationship censored "relative"], who was performing general contractor services for the BCCLT while he wasn’t licensed as a general contractor. That one of the accusations was that the ED’s [name & relationship censored "relative"], was given upwards of $5,000 BCCLT cash at a time, supposedly to pay undocumented alien workers at a rate of $20 an hour, when he allegedly only paid them $10 an hour.Further, that the BCCLT’s Executive Director, was also a principal in her [relationship censored "relative's"] construction company, and that this created a disconcerting conflict of interest.
That if even one of the approximately 53 concerns were true, then the BCCLT’s existence as a nonprofit organization, would be in jeopardy unless it made drastic policy and procedure changes.
Further, I told Marquardt, that I had recently met with two BCCLT board members, who had expressed their sincere desire to rectify these shortcomings within the organization.Toward that end, I had urged these board members to halt efforts aimed at thwarting the forensic audit, and publicly embrace the audit results as a tool to achieve their goal of complete transparency and financial accountability.I suggested that were he, Marquardt, to share this attitude, a great deal of negativity in this campaign could be avoided.
I told Marquardt that Commissioner Lopez had expressed to me that he didn’t intend to run for a third term, and that during the next four years, he, Marquardt, could either remain part of the opposition or become part of the solution.If he worked to help better the BCCLT as an organization, he’d be in a much better position to run for the District 6 seat in four years without Lopez as an opponent.Further, that fours years from now, whatever ultimately ends up happening with the BCCLT, will, one way or another, have been a thing of the past.That he could turn his present stewardship of unaccountability into something more positive, that would better serve his future aspirations for higher office and leave a revamped BCCLT in place.
Marquardt told me, that he had no doubt he would win this race for the District 6 seat and had every intention of asserting his past ‘accountability.’
I asked him if he had considered what the results might be if he didn’t win.That his name recognition would be negative rather than positive and that the BCCLT as an organization might be damaged beyond repair.
Marquardt said Lopez had already started going negative when he announced that he was running for re-election because Lopez had - among other things - cited he wanted to ensure nonprofit originations receiving city tax dollars be as accountable to the public as is the City.
I replied, that saying you wanted to hold such nonprofits accountable for their finances wasn’t the same as pointing out during the campaign that he, Marquardt, wasn’t the least bit accountable, especially when he served as Treasurer, during which time it was his responsibility to watch over the nonprofit’s money.
Now he claims I threatened and intimidated him. This seems to be his usual response after meeting with someone who doesn't share his views on a certain topic.
Last time it was the Mayor who supposedly threatened him. Here's an excerpt from his Letter to the Editor published in the Citizen one year ago...
"As president of the Bahama Conch Community Land Trust, I approached [Key West Mayor Morgan] McPherson before the mayoral election with the goal of an open and working relationship between the city and the BCCLT. I was met with threats and allegations."
First it was the City Attorney, then the Mayor, now Me... who's next?
Oh good grief... what a Nervous Nelly this guy is. Clearly, he hasn't the fortitude needed of a City Commissioner.
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