BROWARD COUNTY PBA DAILY CLIPS April 6, 2017
MEDIA OUTLET: Sun Sentinel HEADLINE: Activists hope state constitution commission will advance changes in Florida primary system BYLINE: Anthony Man LINK: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-florida-constitution-open-primary-20170405- story.html STORY: Government reformers and liberal activists and liberal groups want to reshape a central element of Florida s election system by changing Florida s Democrats-only and Republicans-only closed primaries into open primaries in which all independents can vote. They re hoping that the state Constitution Revision Commission, which meets once every 20 years, will endorse the idea. The commission holds public hearings Thursday and Friday in South Florida. Tim Canova, founder of the political group Progress For All, said open primaries are good for democracy. I think closed primaries keep voters away from the polls. John Opdycke, president of the national group Open Primaries, said in a statement that if the commission is listening to Florida voters it would place a referendum changing the system on the 2018 ballot. Polling conducted on behalf of Progress For All, Open Primaries and an organization calling itself Florida Fair and Open Primaries, indicates there s public support for changing the primary system. Allowing independent voters to participate in Democratic or Republican primaries was supported by 74 percent and opposed by 20 percent in a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling. Eliminating Democratic and Republican primaries for all offices below president, was supported by 70 percent of voters and opposed by 24 percent. Under the system, used in California, there is one primary for all candidates in both parties and all voters can participate. The top two votegetters, regardless of party, advance from the primary to the general election. Ending the ability of candidates to manipulate the system using write-in candidates was supported by 53 percent and opposed by 31 percent. Under Florida s current system, everyone regardless of party affiliation can vote in a primary when only one party is fielding candidates for a particular office. Since the primary winner in a race with no opposition gets the office without a contest in November, the intent is to give all voters a voice in who represents them. A primary candidate who sees some advantage in closing the primary for example a Democrat who's running against another Democrat who is likely to attract Republican voters finds someone to qualify as a write-in candidate. As a result, only one party s voters can participate in the primary. If there s no write-in candidate, all voters can participate. Public Policy Polling, used automated calls and internet surveys to poll 735 Florida voters from March 12-14. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. 1
Eight states have closed primaries like Florida s according to the National Conference on State Legislatures website. Nine states allow independent or unaffiliated to vote in Democratic or Republican primaries. Another 15 states have completely open primaries. The rest have several other variations. Commission The Constitution Revision Commission is convened every 20 years to recommend changes to Florida voters. The panel held its first public hearing on March 29 in Orlando, so it s too early to tell what changes it may propose. It s also unclear if the panel appointed by political insiders that got to power through the current system have any interest in pursuing changes sought by open primary advocates. Canova, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in last year s Democratic primary, said he hopes both parties recognize they d benefit from bringing more voters into the primaries since they ultimately need to appeal to no party affiliation/independent voters in in general elections. The 37 members include Darlene Jordan of Palm Beach, a philanthropist and major Republican Party financial backer; Fred Karlinsky of Weston, a shareholder with the Greenberg Traurig law firm and board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition; Belinda Keiser of Parkland, vice chancellor of Keiser University and delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention; and Chris Smith, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer affiliated with the Trip Scott law firm and former Democratic leader in the Florida Senate and Florida House. Its chairman is Carlos Beruff, a wealthy Manatee County home builder and friend of Gov. Rick Scott, who appointed him lead to the panel. Beruff unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the 2016 Republican primary. South Florida hearings Thursday: 5 p.m., Florida International University, Student Academic Success Center, Room 160; 11200 SW 8th St., Miami; doors open at 4 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m., Florida Atlantic University Stadium, Acura Club, third floor; 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Doors open at 8 a.m. 2
MEDIA OUTLET: Sun Sentinel HEADLINE: Trump, Chinese president's Palm Beach visit to get security help from Broward Sheriff's Office BYLINE: Andy Reid and Larry Barszewski LINK: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-pn-trump-china-security-measures-20170404- story.html STORY: Broward County reinforcements are being called in to help Palm Beach County with increased security demands expected from President Donald Trump s visit Thursday and Friday with the president of China. For the first time since Trump took office, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw has requested assistance from Broward Sheriff Scott Israel to help provide security during one of the president s visits to his Palm Beach estate. A Chinese contingent that could range from 200 to 2,000 people, along with Trump s entourage and an expected influx of protesters has the Palm Beach County Sheriff s Office preparing as if it was readying for a hurricane, Bradshaw said Wednesday. They re expecting all kinds of protesting, Israel said. There s going to be a massive response from the Broward Sheriff s Office. Bradshaw said having the leaders of the U.S. and China in the same area at the same time is the largest security undertaking Palm Beach County has faced since he took office in 2005. Palm Beach County deputies have been put on 12-hour shifts, with Broward deputies being brought in as back-up if needed, Bradshaw said. Road closures are planned near Trump s Mar-a-Lago estate and fences and barricades are in place around the resort in Manalapan where Chinese President Xi Jinping is staying. Bradshaw said temporary jails are being readied for protesters or anyone else who crosses security lines. The goal is to minimize road closings and ensure that the historic meeting comes off very peacefully, Bradshaw said. You will see a significant law enforcement presence, Bradshaw said. We are not going to tolerate any civil disobedience.... At the first sign of that, it will be dealt with. This will be Trump s sixth visit to his Palm Beach estate since taking office Jan. 20. Trump in February hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago. The security restrictions that have come with the Trump s frequent visits which can create traffic jams, flight delays and other hassles for local residents and businesses could be even more intrusive with two presidents in town. 3
Trump is expected to arrive between 2 and 3 p.m. Thursday, with the Chinese president arriving between 4 and 5 p.m., though the arrival times like much of the schedule for the summit are subject to change, Bradshaw said. The Chinese president is staying at the Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa, about 7 miles away from Mar-a- Lago in Manalapan, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff s Office. Trump and Xi are scheduled to have informal meetings and a dinner together on Thursday, followed by a day full of meetings Friday at Mar-a-Lago. Xi is expected to leave Friday evening, with Trump potentially staying through the weekend. With two world leaders on Palm Beach island, residents and businesses are bracing for traffic jams that could reach farther and last longer than those during Trump s other visits. A parade of about 40 buses is expected to transport the Chinese contingent during the visit, according to the Town of Palm Beach. In Palm Beach, road closures begin at 8 a.m. Thursday and are expected to last until Sunday evening. South Ocean Boulevard is being closed between South County Road and Southern Boulevard to keep drivers, bikers and any other travelers off the road that passes in front of Mar-a-Lago. That restriction even reaches across the beach to the ocean. The Secret Service has also prohibited commercial vehicles, considered anything larger than a passenger van, from driving into Palm Beach near Mar-a-Lago during the presidential visit, according to the town. In Manalapan, South Ocean Boulevard and other roads near the Chinese president s hotel will be temporarily closed at times when Xi and his contingent are coming and going from the hotel, Bradshaw said. We are going to keep the road closures as minimal as we can, Bradshaw said. Expecting heavy traffic, the Town of Palm Beach has issued a notice that strongly advises residents to avoid traveling during rush hour periods on Thursday and Friday. It poses an additional challenge, two days during the height of traffic, Kirk Bouin, Palm Beach s director of public safety, said about the presidential summit occurring on weekdays, instead of Trump s usual weekend visits. The timing of the presidential summit could bring delays for commuters off the island as well. Traffic can grind to a halt when the president flies in and out of West Palm Beach, as his motorcade makes the drive along Southern Boulevard, between Palm Beach International Airport and Mar-a-Lago. A newly built helipad at Trump s estate could allow the presidents to fly to and from the airport, but there would still be large presidential entourages on the roads. 4
Bradshaw said the helipad is primarily for emergency use and that he expects the two presidents to travel to and from the airport by motorcade. Kreusler Park and Phipps Ocean Park as well as the Phipps Tennis Center will be closed Thursday and Friday so they can be used for equipment and personnel related to the Chinese president s visit. Also, public access to the beach through the parking lots there will not be allowed during the Chinese presidential visit, according to the town. Bradshaw said he expects protesters to gather across the street from the Chinese president s oceanfront hotel. To counter the protesters, the Chinese government is expected to bring in greeters to show support for Xi, Bradshaw said. You have a lot of different factions.... Tempers could flare, Bradshaw said. We are not going to put up with people throwing things [or] going in the roads. Trump s latest visit comes amid scrutiny about the public costs of his frequent trips to Palm Beach, which some media reports have estimated could cost up to $3 million per visit. The Palm Beach County Sheriff s Office has estimated that it costs about $60,000 a day in overtime to provide security for the president when he visits. Bradshaw said he expects that $60,000-per-day overtime cost to be doubled during the visit by Trump and the Chinese president. And that doesn t include the costs of setting up temporary barriers and other security measures, he said. Bradshaw and the Broward Sheriff s Office, citing security concerns, wouldn t discuss how many local law enforcement officers would be involved in protecting the presidential summit. Israel said he wants the federal government to pitch in to help with the increased security costs that are threatening local law enforcement budgets. The Broward Sheriff s Office is used to added security that comes with election year campaigning, but now we re told we re going to have continued local visits from the president and the vice president, Israel said. Palm Beach County officials have called for the federal government to start reimbursing the local security costs. Bradshaw said he has talked to Trump about getting federal reimbursement, which Bradshaw said he expects to eventually come once approved by Congress. It s a cost to us, he said about the visits. 5
MEDIA OUTLET: Sun Sentinel HEADLINE: Broward to launch website on status of school bond projects BYLINE: Caitlin R. McGlade LINK: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-bond-projects-data-20170405-story.html STORY: Confused about the status of Broward bond projects at your school? The district plans to launch a webpage about the $800 million bond that will detail, school by school, a project s current costs, completion date and any changes being made. So parents at Northeast High in Oakland Park should know when their leaking roofs and electrical problems will be fixed and those at Stranahan High in Fort Lauderdale can estimate when they will get sprinklers and heat. County voters approved the bond in November 2014 to fix decaying facilities and update music equipment and technology at most county schools. But construction has yet to start on many projects that were supposed to be under construction by the summer of 2015. The delays could lead to a cost increases of about 25 percent and Bruce Bernard, of the Bond Oversight Committee, said the district could need as much as $300 million more to complete the improvements. He cited an example in which staff discovered that fixing the roof at one unidentified school would cost double what they d originally expected. We have concerns about the completion of all the projects within this bond that are listed with all the added financial concerns, Bernard said. 6
MEDIA OUTLET: Miami Herald HEADLINE: She used to be a sheriff s deputy. She s now in jail after zap with a stun gun BYLINE: Hannah Morse LINK: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article143032774.html STORY: A former Broward County detention deputy has been arrested after being found with rock cocaine, according to the Manatee County Sheriff s Office. Around 10 p.m. Saturday, a sheriff s deputy pulled into the back of an industrial complex where a blue BMW convertible was parked without its lights on. Kathleen Digaetano, 53, came out from behind a garbage bin and said she was waiting on AAA to help her with her broken down car. Digaetano asked for help in pushing the car, saying she was a retired deputy from Broward County, according to the probable cause affidavit. The Broward Sheriff s Office confirmed a person with the same name had been a detention deputy and resigned in August 1996. When the deputy looked her up in the system, she had an outstanding felony warrant in Sarasota County. As the deputy was getting ready to take Digaetano into custody, she began to back away, saying, I can t go to jail, according to the affidavit. She tried a few times to jump into the driver s seat of the BMW, but according to the affidavit the deputy used a stun gun on her three times as she continued to kick at the deputy, ignoring his commands. Kill me, Digaetano reportedly said multiple times. Once Digaetano was in handcuffs, the deputy said he saw a white rock substance fall out of her pocket. Another deputy searched Digaetano and found more crack cocaine, weighing in total 3.5 grams. In her car, deputies found 22 hydromorphone pills, which is an opioid pain medication that is high risk for addiction. Digaetano said she was prescribed the pills but they weren t in a proper container, according to the affidavit. Digaetano faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and a charge of resisting arrest without violence, and was being held in the Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $3,500. She has previous arrests in Sarasota County for drug-related charges, most recently in January, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff s Office. 7