This was found on Coconut Telegraph. Please put up on citizen jane bitch column.

[*Marathon no better than County*]

You said a mouthful. Can you believe that 3 of the Marathon council laid down for Singh? Councilmen Don Vasil and Mike Cinque were the dissenters. (Thanks Don and Mike for standing up and doing the job you were elected to do). Mayor Pete Worthington said the community needed the economic bump that a conference center would bring to the Community. Councilwoman Marilyn Tempest said the agreement would serve the greater good of the city since affordable units would be built and the conference center could be opened more quickly.

Citizens, these council people were voted in to protect your welfare. The three councilpersons that voted to give Singh his way better not hold their breath for the affordable housing being built. Singh is one of the builders that is causing the need for workforce housing along with the other developers, but he and other developers are not building the non affordable housing for their workforce, they expect the taxpayers to pay for the housing, just like Monroe County has done for Ed Swift. When Swift builds homes for the workforce, the County waives his affordable fees. That is money that our Growth Management/Planning Department pays their costs out of, but now Growth Mgr/Planning Department has increased public fees to cover their costs, and transferred money out of the NROGO account so the County can loan money to Islamorada ($50,000 plus) so the Middle Keys Land Authority can pay their affordable fees. Out of our pockets comes the money. For the County to cover their costs so Ed Swift doesn’t pay his affordable fees.

On Nov 2008 we need to ask our Commissioners to resend this resolution allowing Ed Swift not to pay affordable fees, this money is made up off our backs and our sweat.. Wake up Citizens get to these Council meetings/BOCC meetings and watch what your elected officials are doing to our costs to run our homes, our Communities and our Florida Keys!

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To the Honorable Gary Aubuchon;

Dear Representative Gary Aubuchon,

If Mayor Morgan McPherson receives legislative approval, he then would ask Monroe County commissioners to levy a fifth-penny bed tax that could be earmarked for work-force housing. Several of our Commissioners are upset because Mayor McPherson has not even come before them to alert or talk with them concerning this 1 penny tax. It will take a 4/5 vote to get this passed. The vote is not there. The Florida Keys are state mandated (unfunded) to sewer and the citizens are faced with finding funding to sewer our homes. The public may be faced with a 1 cent tax to help pay for the unfunded mandate. Key West is the city that needs affordable housing, please do not support this 1 penny tax…let the developers pay for their affordable housing; the developers are the ones causing the need for affordable housing.

Thank you

Kay Thacker Citizen of the Florida Keys

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Hopefully we will find out the answer to how and what went down at the infamous meeting between Neugent and the Pophams. Hopefully Jerry Coleman's Ethics complaint will nail Mr. Neugent and Mrs. Popham to the wall. P.S No I wasn't kicked off Big pine..... I just didn't want to pay another $250.00 to a guy(Ed) that it seems favors your bunch......Plus, I need to save that money for that beautiful house nestled in the beautiful 25 acre hammock, I?m putting it into rogo next month..... I?m kinda done with you folks anyhow..... There?s just so many times you can say you guys and girls suck...........See ya Sal

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I think Sal, with his attorney, is trying to set up the County for a takings lawsuit...Sal, think the County is on to you??? Why would you want to cut down hammock to build a house on, when there are scarified lots already made to be built on? [Sal is trying to *transfer development rights *from Sugarloaf Key to Key Largo to build in a hammock, and the county staff has recommended denial] That's why they have Lawyers Sal !

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Dear Jane, FYI - News from Sierra Club Florida Chapter

Letter to Florida Sierra Club Activists, March 26, 2008]

For those of you who hold membership in Florida Sierra, please be aware that national Sierra has completed a coup of the Florida Chapter leadership. Legitimately elected officers and committee chairs have been dismissed and national will take charge with an appointed steering committee.

Dear Florida Sierra activists:

The National Sierra Club Board of Directors made an unprecedented and unfortunate decision, as predicted, to "suspend" our Florida Chapter for four years, finalized March 25 on a 10-2 vote. Consequently, our Flexcom, our committees, and state-wide and regional entities are now suspended. Today national has also shut down these list serves: FL-CONSERVATION-FORUM, FL-SPRAWL, FL-COASTAL, FL-GLADES-COMM, FL-LEADERS, FL-MEMBERS, and will likely shut down all of the chapter list serves. We expect that National will also take the Florida Chapter pages off the National Sierra Club website soon. As over a hundred of us warned, Sierra's name and impact will be undermined now, possibly for years, since powerful public relations firms for the developers and their governmental and otherwise compromised environmental group apologists will doubtless take full advantage of the situation.Your specific role as a volunteer for one or more of our forty-some Chapter committees has been suspended, though some may be approached by the new national-imposed steering committee.

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I can't believe the Marathon Commission gave singh building permits for a convention center. The rule in Marathon clearly states affordable housing must be built first. I wonder how much the commissioners got paid?

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How is it that no Key West City commissioner is raising hell, publicly, when Morgan McPherson has taken it upon himself to go to Tallahassee to represent Key West, when he has yet to discuss it with the commission or taken a vote for funding affordable housing?

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sorry, but i feel that the poor mother who lost her child due to neglect, should never have been given 25 years in prison! there are murderers who kill people in cold blood who do not get 5 years in prison! It is obvious, that the mother is just skin and bones herself, that there is something mentaly wrong with her, and that the mother needs help as well. Prison time was not the proper verdict for this mother.

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Helen from the pines.... if you can read this, congratulatons for your hard work in saving the pines, and will you run for Sonny McCoy's seat?

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I can't believe all the corruption here in the Keys. the county and the city are just so corrupt. now we have an incompetant city manager for key west who is covering up for a corrupt police chief. was he thinking it would all go away?

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is sonny mccoy running for re-election?

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*County Commissioners*

Dixie Spehar (R) Not done 214 more needed

Bill Estes (D) Not done ?

Kim Wigington (R) Done as of 3-25-08 0

Sylvia Murphy (R) Not done 287 more needed

*State Attorney*

Dennis Ward (D) Done 2-27-08 0

Mark Kohl (R) Done 2-20-08 0

*School Board*

Duncan Mattewson (NP) Not Done 237 more needed

Andy Griffiths (NP) Done as of 3-20-08 0

*Sheriff Office*

Bob Peryan (D) Done 0

Sandy Downs (No Party) Not done “ 408 more needed

*Judges*

Julio Margalli (NOP) Done as of 3-17-08

Tegan Slaton (NOP) Done as of 3-17-08

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Deer Editor, in as much as I’m a raging-ultra-right-wing-nut-capitalist-swine I can applaud you for accepting the *filthy lucre* from KeyLargoKey.com. I just think that perhaps you should consider charging the grandstanding, lying, irresponsible, low life creep a lot more. In the rebuttal to Mr. Neugent, KeyLargoKey.com admits “well maybe there was nothing illegal going on”. Then he suggests that if anything at all happened it must “border on the unethical”. Why, because a couple of Monroe County hired hands refused to talk with him? Damn, folks, would you be comfortable talking with this rodent about anything? Then he pulls the $14 million number from thin air. Does he have any info whatsoever what the topic of discussion was? I think not. Is this guy so starved for attention that he has to toss feces just to get noticed? KLK’s real meaning is “kook, loony kook”. Klk owes some apologies, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. By the way folks, do the entire web community a favor and DO NOT go to the klk web site, every time someone visits it can increase his revenues. Sorry Ed. ~ wmac1@bellsouth.net

Kay Thacker – if you would only run for something! You would have whatever office or position you want! We love you Kay and will support you !

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Kay for mayor

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Hey jerry! Kay knows much more than you do!

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Sandra Downs – good letter to editor !

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Jerry Coleman…… you are priceless!

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I saw a new story where cities are using their sewer waste for drinking water. With our current water shortage, which will only get worse, we should build this plant to filter and clean waste water for drinking water. For those of you who think this is a disgusting idea….. you should understand the current quality of our drinking

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People, we have to make sure everyone votes in the next election and vote Dixie and Sonny out!

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I want to say good-bye to all my friends in the Keys, who have been my family for the past 12 years. It was a hard decision for me to leave. When I first came here, the island was so different. I could park my car, afford to go out.. There was such a nice feel  living here.  But not long ago, I had to take a hard, long look at where I was and what I truly wanted. My neighborhood was once filled with neighbors and today, all the people who have moved into these houses are all strangers.

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To the poster who is frighten about county not having money to repair roads....US 1 highway is a State Road, not a County road.... the money still comes out of our pockets but hopefully the state has done a better job of watching after our state monies than the County has?

what scares me about the county not having money to repair roads, is that our only road out of here, US 1, is just that........ our only road out of here!

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The reason why DOT wants a 5th lane in Key Largo is for hurricane evacuation...They are worried for our safety.

What a bunch of naive pollyanna garbage! Do you also believe in the tooth fairy? Fact - have you ever heard either Monroe County Emergency Management Department, or any other Monroe County Department, or Monroe County official say "we need" this 5th lane? NO !

Do you know that FDOT answers to the governor who is supported by massive political contributions from the road construction industry? This is all - and only - about MONEY !

Ask yourself this - HOW does widening sections of US 1 from approx MM 92 on and off up to approx MM 106 help evacuation. I live right in the middle of this stupid proposal's area - and I can tell you for a fact - IT DOESN'T !

Any possibility your comment is a plant , or you work for somebody with an agenda to get the US 1 project approved?

If so, fugeddaboutit.

Note to viewing public - I attended the FDOT public info meeting in Key Largo. and saw at least 3 people in the audience, who I know are FDOT employees, pretending to be part of local public. 2 of them started talking to other locals, saying what a good idea the project is, and how much it's needed. So beware - any time you hear or read some pro-widening spouting - ask them - are they affiliated with this project or FDOT.

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citizen jane should have a telphone hot-line for people to send their comments if they don't have a computer

 March 21, 2008

Every voter has an issue that they feel strongly about. Some may call it an agenda. As a candidate for public office, or hopefully an elected official, I don't feel I have the right to ignore anyone's questions, or arguments for their position.

Bill Estes

Candidate for Monroe County Commissioner District #1

305-923-4265

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I want to say good-bye to all my friends here in the Keys. I have lived here for 12 years.  I was a tourist in the 80’s and fell in love as  I was attracted to  the Keys for it’s  nature, beaches, serenity and variety of characters who lived in the different communities up and down Keys.

But since I have lived here, and for the past five years, there has been a change and a shift of community.

The special characters no longer are apart of the communities, my neighborhood is no longer filled with neighbors, but rather visitors who come for a month or maybe two. There is a sense of loss somewhere in my soul, and I realized that the Keys no longer is a community of people.

The  sunrise which I once viewed each morning, has been taken away by a row of large houses.

I stopped taking my daily trips to the beaches two years ago, as the water became  filled with fecal matter and daily advisory warnings about our beaches became daily news.

And I no longer feel the sense of community and it is time for me to move on. The Keys were once a beautiful place.

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Go to Fix Monroe

http://fixmonroeflorida.blogspot.com/ Vote and read results such as

Do you want Dixie re-elected? AS OF 3-17-08 92% said No 7% said Yes....

Would you change you party affiliation temporarily to vote for a candidate in the other party? 59% said Yes 29% No

Do you want Mario removed from the BOCC? 91% Yes 6% No

WOULD YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF A LAW TO MAKE IT EASIER TO REMOVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE? 100% said Yes

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I read in Keylargokey.com that Barry Paterson is going to Pakistan to start a tree farm. Is this a fact

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Dear Friends,

We have met the required number of petitions. Thank you so much for signing a card and collecting the signatures of your friends and neighbors.

You may still see me collecting signatures for other candidates and I want to concentrate on making sure everyone knows the importance the August 26th Primary. Winter residents that are voters are requesting absentee ballots for August and many Democrat and Independent voters that will be left out of that election have been switching temporarily to Republican in order to vote.

It is a very rewarding experience to be working with so many of you. People are motivated and very excited about this upcoming election.

I look forward to working with you throughout this campaign. Thank you again.

Kim Wigington

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RE: We at Keylargokey.com (bitch comment 3/13) - It seems funny that only the Candidates or Commissioners that have anything on the ball or are honest, have no personal agendas, want what is right for Monroe County and the taxpayers are the only ones that do not answer your questionnaires @ Key Largo Key .com. Such as Sylvia Murphy, George Neugent, or Kim Wigington. What has John Marston, Planning Commissioner, or "The Gang of Three" Mario DiGennaro, Dixie Spehar, Sonny McCoy done for this County? Other than run this County into the POOR HOUSE, or let any developer get whatever their hearts desire, at the expense of the taxpayers. Bill Estes, and Gary Bauman, watch out for this man. He bought Non buildable lots knowing this, and he paid less than $200,000.00 for these non buildable lots and now wants to sell them to the county for over $700,000.00....be on the lookout and what this man is trying to pull, get all of your facts before you befriend him.

Above was printed in the communist WebPages of Citizen Jane

As usual Kay Thacker who wrote this left out some important facts.....most of these lots are buildable and it was the state that offered to buy them.....they are the ones that sent me one of there felonious contracts.....These lots are in a 25 acre Hammock that idiots like Thacker and Hammernuts want to save. They are the ones that lobbied the then governor Bush to queer the deal. Well I think it has backfired cause now there will be a beautiful house in the middle of a 25 acre hammock 2 lots from the ocean.

That's what I wanted to do from the get go....

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We should keep our funding for fire, schools and all of our  municipal expenses using property taxes. Wealthy people, who could afford more expensive homes, which are  usually larger homes  that create a greater  impact to neighborhoods, which many have swimming pools that stress our water supply, use greater amounts of electricity to keep cool the house, etc. would then  pay their fair share of taxes. It’s like our regular federal taxes… the more you make, the greater amount of money one has to pay. But it is NOT a greater percentage that wealthy people pay.  This is a more fair system for our communities. It should be made clear that the reason why home taxes are much higher, is because the home owners bought the house at a much higher rate, or re- financed their homes and took out second mortgages. They played the real-estate game and got caught.

In a depressed economy, such as our current  recession, we stress the less wealthy families by finding funding from other areas, like increased sales tax (on essentials like clothing, house goods, etc) or increased gas tax.

And finally, in  normal economic times  (outside this real estate slump), those more expensive homes, net a greater amount of profit when they make their sale. Once the real estate gets back on track, these wealthy homes will benefit from the value of their homes, and sell at higher price, while the less expensive homes will sell at less of a profit.

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Hey congratulations to the Save the Pines organization!

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As they choose a new county administrator, they should at the very least do a google search on these people. If they had done a google search on tom willie, we could have been spared the pain and suffering.

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To comment: "I can’t believe the Key Largo deep-injection well drilling bid, is being protested by the company who bid over 1.7 million dollars more than the company who won the contract. They claim the Key Largo Sewer Board did not understand. I think the company that lost the contract, should lower it’s rates next time they make a bid! Appealing the townships decision will only slow down the drilling. Shame on you!"

To explain to this poster: I Attended the KLWTD meeting concerning this deep well injection bid, saw both companies and heard their presentations. The All Webb Enterprises Inc. has never drilled a well of this type or of this depth...do the citizens of Key Largo want a mess of cost overruns like Key West has with the airport? Youngquist Bros. Inc.is the leader in deep well injection well drilling. They have the equipment, the expertise and experience. Youngquist Bros. Inc. maybe able to sharpen their pencils with a lower bid....What is the rush, do it right the first time and it will save in the long run, don't you think?

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Dear Commissioners,

I am formally requesting you to please necessitate our Acting County Administrator, Debbie Frederick and staff to review and furnish the chosen candidate’s credit histories and financial records as part of their research criteria for your consideration. If you had credit/financial history when hiring some of our former County Administrator(s) would some of them not been hired?

You are going to be putting millions of our tax dollars into the hands of an unknown entity, and I think you would want all the information at your disposal, so that you make the best choice, with all the information you can garner? Our budget is in the pits, we are under a state mandate to sewering our county, getting fire department up to minimum standards, finding solutions for affordable housing for our workers, just to name a few obstacles we are facing here in Monroe County. If one of these candidates you have chosen cannot manage his personal finances, do you not want to know that before making your choice? I do a credit check on people wanting to lease one of my rentals, which is nothing compared to the hiring of our County Administrator, our financial leader, especially in light of our budget constraints. Hope other citizens here in Monroe County will also drop you an email requesting the same information be required.

Thank you

Kay Thacker

 March 16, 2008

 RE: We at Keylargokey.com (bitch comment 3/13)  - It seems funny that only the Candidates or Commissioners that have anything on the ball or are honest, have no personal agendas, want what is right for Monroe County and the taxpayers are the only ones that do not answer your questionnaires @ Key Largo Key .com.  Such as Sylvia Murphy, George Neugent, or Kim Wigington.  What has John Marston, Planning  Commissioner, or "The Gang of Three"  Mario DiGennaro, Dixie Spehar, Sonny McCoy done for this County?  Other than run this County into the POOR HOUSE, or let any developer get whatever their hearts desire, at the expense of the taxpayers.   Bill Estes, and Gary Bauman, watch out for this man.  He bought Non buildable lots knowing this, and he paid  less than $200,000.00 for these non buildable lots and now wants to sell them to the county for over $700,000.00....be on the lookout and what this man is trying to pull, get  all of your facts before you befriend him.

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Hey the value of the U.S. dollar has devalued so much, I don’t ever bother with dimes, nickels and for the longest time….. pennies. When I go into a store and get this kind of change back, I ask if they have a penny jar, cause I don’t want to carry the weight  in my pockets because it is worth nothing. I will take quarters though, but for the rest of the change…. The store can keep it. So, when we talk about the penny tax and 6 cents gas tax, what is the big deal? People, six cents, no matter how many gallons you buy, is nothing. Don’t’ be afraid of the word tax, sometimes it is a good thing, like keep our roads maintained before they get so bad that they turn into irreparable roads. Look at Boot Key!

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I can’t believe the Key Largo deep-injection well drilling bid, is being protested by the company who bid over  1.7 million dollars more than the company who won the contract. They claim the Key Largo Sewer Board did not understand. I think the company that lost the contract, should lower it’s rates next time they make a bid! Appealing the townships decision will only slow down the drilling. Shame on you!

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If no one in the U.S. bought gas, we would cripple the oil companies and force them to lower their gas rates. We should have a day of protest and no one buy any gas.

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Regarding the stock island waterfront preservation (development), attorney Horan states their hotel would be used for emergency personnel who stay on island during hurricanes. We already have a place for them to stay, it’s called the Grand Key Double Tree Hotel, which can withstand a category 5 hurricane and houses all these employees. Come on Horan…. You just want the hotel built and you will say anything.

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Great letter, Diane Beruldsen. I believe you're right on the money pointing out that it is stupid and counterproductive to keep building so-called "affordable" homes that are priced higher than those available on the market, due to the real estate slow down.

As you know, I've joined you and others in advocating solving our affordable housing issues with a combination of efforts, one of which is  to purchase homes that are available on the open market. This would have many benefits, not the least of which is that those residing in "affordable" homes would blend in with their neighbors rather than be lumped together in an "affordable" development, where those residents can become somewhat stigmatized, simply by virtue of their address.

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Hey, we need someone to run for Sonny McCoy's seat.............. are there no good decent people out there in Key West?

The new Fix Monroe webpage is just another one sided web presence. They do even offer the ability to post comments........A typical communist type media tool probably edited by Kay Thacker or Ron Miller.....www.keylargokey.com asks the hard questions, why do you think Kim Wigington and Sylvia Murphy avoid answering our questions? It's because we know the answers

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Good letter to editor by Sandra Downs. You go girl!

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2601 South Roosevlet - condo just sold for $300,000

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I heard another person tell me the Harris School should be used for affordable housing for our teachers, police officers and nurses. Well, just how many teachers, police officers and nurses do we have in the Keys?

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jane, could you tell us, or list times and dates when political candidates will speak at public meetings?

*Proposal for soundproofing, deed restrictions not in homeowners' best interests*

If you own a home anywhere in the Lower Keys up to about Mile Marker 20, you are about to have your home deed-restricted with dire results to its value.

M20, an alliance of community groups and individual citizens, has been created to oppose the imposition of deed restrictions on each of your homes as proposed by County Commissioner [Dixie] Spehar.

There is a move afoot to forever deny homeowners property rights, [a move] that will diminish the value of your home and your ability to buy, sell or mortgage it.

Deed restrictions were first signaled in a letter from Spehar and in a resolution at a County Commission meeting in which she proposed that the Navy should attempt to lessen its jet-noise impact on your homes by installing double-paned windows. Deep in the body of her letter it is revealed that if you accept the windows, your property will be deed-restricted ... by the Monroe County [Property Appraiser's] Office. These restrictions ... are disseminated to all Realtors and are made a permanent record, which [will] have the potential for much mischief, including some of the following:

1) By accepting Spehar's offer, you give up the right forever to object to jet noise or flight patterns over your property. Considering that there are much louder jets even than the F-18s in the pipeline, this means that no matter what the Navy chooses to fly over us, we will be forever powerless to oppose whatever shattering noise the Navy chooses to impose on us.

2) A deed-restricted ... property immediately loses value on the real estate market. Some experts believe that property [restricted] in the Lower Keys could be devalued by as much as 20 percent to 30 percent. In the face of the present depressed market for homes, this would represent a disaster for many homeowners.

3) Mortgage costs for a deed-restricted ... home will be much higher than for a home that is not [restricted]. Mortgage loan terms will be much more difficult, and interest rates much higher, adding tens of thousands of dollars to the eventual cost of any mortgage on your home.

4) If you are trying to sell your home, the potential buyer will find that mortgages are less available and more expensive, which may prevent a potential sale from taking place.

5) If you allow the Navy to "improve" your home, it is likely the IRS will view that as income and raise your federal taxes for the year of the improvement.

6) While a [deed-restricted] home is worth less on the marketplace, the so-called "improvements" could add to the assessed value of your home, thus raising your real estate taxes.

7) Depending on the details of the deed restrictions, it could be possible that you would not be free to make whatever alterations or additions to your home that might violate the new restrictions.

8) Should flood or fire destroy your home, it is likely that your insurance would not cover the rebuilding, because you would be obligated to rebuild according to the very expensive terms of the restricted deed.

9) Because the cost of rebuilding would go up considerably, it is likely that your insurance company would raise the cost of your homeowners policy.

M20 opposes Spehar's attempt to saddle each of us with these onerous possibilities. M20 has concluded from Spehar's own correspondence that her attempt to impose deed restrictions is not in the interest of the homeowners of our county. This process has been encouraged by the Navy, with the public support of Spehar, to allow the Navy to continue its F-18 flights, as well as allowing the Navy to bring a new generation of very loud jets to Key West without the need for an Environmental Impact Statement.

The mission statement of M20 includes the commitment to stopping deed restrictions ... and requires the Navy to follow the established environmental law. M20 is a nonpolitical and nonpartisan umbrella alliance that includes group as well as individual support.

We invite all to join us in this endeavor by contacting us at www.m20alliance.com <http://www.m20alliance.com/> to signify your support and assistance in fighting this dangerous move to limit our rights to do what we please with our own homes.

/Reese Palley is a Geiger Key resident and member of the board of directors of the M20 Alliance./

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We at Keylargokey.com realize that folks that post on this site and view it have very little respect for private property rights, that?s why you?re always berating John Marston, Mario Di Genaro and Bill Estes. I will also bring up in this tread that Bill Estes and Dixie Spehar were the only two candidates in the District 1 County Commission race that answered a group of questions Keylargokey.com prepared on property owners on the FEMA list. Kim Wigington did not reply to our questionnaire or phone calls regarding this matter. I will also add that Sylvia Murphy running for District 5 county Commission race also failed to answer these questions. Her opponent Gary Bauman( http://bauman4bocc.com) is very concern about this list and also answered all questions relating to the FEMA list??Sal at http://www.Keylargokey.com

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Dear Citizens:

Thanks for your response to my radio announcement concerning the amendment to the Monroe Copunty Code of Ordinances and to the press stories that followed. We need top obtain at least 8,000 members throughout the Keys to have any chamnc at changing the present commissioners or amending the County Code to permit citizen initiatives; recall officers; and put a limit on capital or payroll spending. I have the text of these amendments ready to go but we need an organization to press commission candidates to adopt these meaasures as their 1st act as newly-elected commissioners or run our own candidates. I have sent letters to George Neugent and Sylvia Murphy, along with the text of the amendments and asking for their comment and participation; I'll let you all know how we're doing! In the meantime, sign up some members by downloading the membership forms.

Thanks,

Bruce Ritson

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After reading yesterday's Keynoter it seems appropriate that a few of the candidates receive awards which are especially designed for the individual. Most folks who expect lots of spin in every election are rarely disappointed and yesterday's last-minute appeals were no exception. No doubt, sometimes in the heat of the moment, the spin itself provides a little election humor and desperate tactics that are deeply ingrained in the American political process. Keeping this sense of urgency in mind, we proudly present the First Annual Big Johnson Political Awards of the Islamorada campaign./

*THE CHEAPEST SHOT AWARD*

goes to *Paul Bates* for characterizing Don Achenberg as a "retired truck driver" when in fact Achenberg owned a major trucking firm and was a successful business executive. Bates has been masterful in costing Islamorada citizens millions in legal fees, consistently morally outraged whenever he's caught in another code violation.

*I DON'T HAVE THE FIRST CLUE AWARD* goes to *Jill Zima Borski* when she states "Accountability is lacking." Should she actually become elected, Jill's in for an education of a lifetime, as accountability in government is the ultimate oxymoron. While serving in her former position as Islamorada's Public Information Officer, accountability was mostly absent and there was little information. Borski was eventually dismissed and the position was eliminated.

*THE MOST DISINGENUOUS AWARD* goes to *Ron Levy* who said, "we are draining village coffers to pay off debt and have nothing to show for it." No kidding! Our massive debt is because of Ron Levy whose first council ignored the basic needs of the Village, spending every available dime he could beg and borrow for designer park projects including an Olympic pool complex which sits there basically unused except for out-of-town college teams. When people want to have fun and enjoy a pool many go to Key Largo.

*THE MOST TRUTHFUL AWARD* goes to *David Purdo* stating, "I'm a firm believer in progressive development and property rights for the individual." Ya' think? Just look at his contributor's list. David is so progressive for development his entire thought process turned to asphalt. He should have simply used a photo releasing a fish, any fish.

*THE GRANDIOSE BIG JOHNSON OF THE CAMPAIGN AWARD* goes to *Jim Rhyne* for dropping the 2010 wastewater fear bomb. Rhyne was my appointee to the Water Quality Committee because he was against unfunded mandates but now he flip-flopping like a dysfunctional sandal factory, as he was the driving force for the recent 115 million-dollar bond proposal that was shot down (5-0) by the current council. A Marathon businessman, Rhyne caused quite a stir as former county Mayor Mario appointed him as Islamorada's voice for the TDC. Our business people said "Not" and Rhyne was replaced. Ironically, A few years ago Rhyne lobbied me for appointment on the Land Planning Agency, saying, "we should give 380 agreements to all developers." Back then, he was told he was doing much-to-fine of a job on the water committee.

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When Navy planes fly overhead, I don’t hear the sound of freedom, but the sound of silence from Capt. Brown when he was asked directly who was involved with switching the AICUZ.

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I can't believe all the pain and suffering the AICUZ has given so many locals because on ONE Market rate building project in Key Haven!

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Hi Friends,

I am collecting petition cards from registered Monroe County voters. As you probably already know, these petition cards allow a candidate to be on the ballot without spending funds for the $2,656.98 filing fee. I need 472 signed petition cards to be on the August 26th ballot. If you haven't already signed a card for me, please print the attached card in the of size of 5 x 7. Print your name, address and date of birth (OR your voter's registration number instead of your date of birth). Please be sure to date and sign the card as your name appears on your voter I.D. card. Please mail the signed petition in an envelope addressed to:

Kim Wigington Campaign P.O. Box 5705 Key West, FL 33045

If you have friends who wish to print a petition and sign it, please feel free to forward my e-mail. This is not an endorsement of the candidate. It simply allows the candidate to file without paying the cost of the filing fee. Any registered voter from Monroe County whether Democrat, Independent or Republican may sign.

Thank you. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE ON AUGUST 26, 2008.

KIM

Visit my website: www.VoteKim2008.com

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List of what John Marston – Planning Board Commissioner, who was appointed by Mario Di Genarro does not know:

1)    His Appointer came into office without being elected

2)    When Nelson died, it was not Mario Di Gennaro who took his seat, but Glenn Patton

3)    The conspicuous  manner in how Mario got his seat ( his two other opponents dropped out of the race in the 11^th hour of deadline for anyone else to sign up to run – leaving ONLY Mario in the race and so, got the seat without a contest)

4)    As a planning board member – John Marston does know current events - and he makes very important decisions on land use

5)    His facts

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• Remember if you want to vote for Kim Wigington, County Commissioner, District 1, you must be a registered Republican. Sylvia Murphy,County Commissioner, District 5, Republican, is running against another Republican also. Remember you do vote for all the Commissioners, even if they are not in your District.

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If you want to change your party after you have voted in the Primary, print another copy of the voters registration form and change your party for the Presidential Election.  I know it is a lot of extra work, but are you ready for a change in our local government?  Thanks for your consideration

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FIRM held a Town Hall meeting in Key West last night.  They informed us that Citizens Insurance is planning for and is preparing to INCREASE WIND INSURANCE RATES by 91%-123% for all policy holders.  The new rate will take effect at midnight on December 31, 2008 (that’s the end of this year!) 

This will be a devastating financial blow to Monroe County’s hardworking residents and their families.

FIRM is an amazing, well-respected grass roots organization that took on Citizens last year, fought this same issue and WON a roll back of the rates then.  They must now take up the fight again.  Please,  if you are not already a member JOIN FIRM NOW.  Go to FIRMkeys.org and sign up.  Its free and they need everyone’s support.  The larger their membership the greater their influence in the State Legislature to stop this rate increase.  Their website also has a great deal of additional information.

Lisa Tennyson - Affordable Housing Coordinator / Monroe County, Florida

Is Heather Carruthers David Rice's candidate?  Didn't Rice picked Mario DiGennaro?

Winning the Primary will and is the deciding factor of who will be our next sitting Commissioner.  In the Primary you have to vote a straight ticket, which means if your registered a Democrat, you have to vote straight Democrat.  Kim Wigington is a registered Republican. 

Sylvia Murphy is also a registered Republican. Does any citizen here in Monroe County want to take the chance of not unseating Dixie Spehar?  Not getting rid of Dixie Spehar?  Having another 4 years of "The Gang of Three"?  Please give this some consideration. 

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Please read John Marston’s description of events that led up to how some of the county commissioners got their seats…. Priceless. It’s in the key west citizen, 3-7-08 paper  –  under guest columnist

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I’m tired of Mayor McPherson focusing on affordable housing, when we are in a housing slump and houses are on the market for lower prices than the affordable housing rates. They are wasting our time and money on this issue! There are more pressing issues to address.

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Maybe there should be rules during all public meetings, that would prevent special interest groups (ex: Jerry Colemen) from adding last minute changes to any item. It would be more fair if these proposals were made before citizens had their chance for public input, to help point out flaws to our public officials voting on these important items.

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Houses are dropping, and becoming more and more affordable. Check out the Good Deeds section in today’s paper: $340,000 for single family home, $329,000 for a townhouse. 

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To person who posted: Is Key Largo building injection wells for their sewer system? Any body know?

Here it is ……………..

"With the urging of its staff as well as a consultant on speaker phone, the local  Key Largo Sewer Board voted to hire an untested company to drill a well that will inject treated human waste 3,000 feet below this coral-structured island.  Jupiter-based All Webb Enterprises Inc., the low bidder, to drill the deep injection well, despite the fact  it has never drilled one and is trying to break into the highly technical and expanding  industry. All Webb won the job on a bid of $4.93 million, which was about $1.7 million  lower than a bid from Youngquist Bros. Inc., the Fort Myers-based industry leader in  deep-well injection.

"We've been preparing [for a deep-well injection job] for a long time," said David Webb, son of the winning company's founder. "Up to this point we have been drilling surface  wells. Now we're focused on injection wells."

Youngquist Vice President Ed McCullers, protesting the board's selection, said his  company has drilled more than 100 deep injection wells over the past 13 years.

"The low bidder does not have the experience you called for in your bidder's  qualification statement," he told the sewer board. "He does not have the required  experience that was so important. They're trying to break into the business, but they've  never drilled an injection well." This maybe more than you wanted to know, it is quoted  from the Free Press article written by Steve Gibbs, reporter for Free Press on 3-5-08.   Hope Key Largo does not end up with a problem like Key West has ended up with the  Airport.

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"If some Democrats switch to Republican to vote in the Primary and Kim still loses, will  they vote for the Democrat in the General Election." The question should have read; "How  many of the Republicans calling for Democrats to switch parties for the Republican  Primary will vote for the Democrat Bill Estes if Kim loses."

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Reopen site....yes

Keep closed......no

Sales and gas taxes affect every one in direct proportion to their consumption, which is precisely as it should be. Productive American citizens are already being unduly penalized with our confiscatory income tax structure.

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To the people writing to get Wigington elected. This is a light bulb moment. You are confusing "winning the primary" with "getting elected". What we all want is for Dixie to lose in the primary. Poof. For the November General election, let candidates Wigington (Republican) and Estes (Democrat), campaign, debate, tell the voters why people should vote them. You know, like a real election is supposed to be.

On the paranoid front, here's my real worry. Dixie is the master of dirty election tactics and tricks. That is where the Board of Elections, and all Monroe County voters should be focusing. Start now. Tell Dixie tricks will not be tolerated. No code enforcement harassment. No frivolous lawsuits. No unwarranted rejections of absentee ballots (actually, Dixie, you should remove yourself from the absentee ballot review committee, as a conflict of interest.)

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"Key West's chicken population declined dramatically Monday evening, when volunteers from the Key West Wildlife Center loaded about 416 of them into a truck headed for Eustis, Fla." - they are getting rid of the chickens in Key West. Call your district commissioner to save the chickens! call the commisioners office (305) 809 - 3844

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save the chickens!!!!!!!!

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I wonder where Jerry Coleman got his facts about the decline of the fishing industry and it not being a viable entity of the waterfront land use?

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To the Poster, who said Dixie and Sonny will tell Monroe County Citizens our budget crises is due to the state tax cuts....Dixie spoke up in Key Largo at the Civic Club, on the 26th of February and those were her exact words.....you sure were right and said a mouthful when you stated that is what they would do! Does Dixie think we are living under a rock instead of on a rock? Wake Monroe County Citizens, when you attend one of their forums or meetings and hear either one of them say that....make sure you list a few of their frivolous spending sprees that has this county in the financial bind we are facing such as; ...buying the Hickory House Restaurant, giving the developer 6 months with no earnest money down, to make up their minds if they want to purchase the property, if not they walk away scott free, sinking of the Vandenberg, six figure public salaries, Key West Airport over runs, keeping Tom Willi, 10 month longer after one Commissioner asked that he be let go, then paying him $282,000.00 when he did get fired, just to name a few spending sprees of "The Gang of Three" "just wait till the candidates for county commissioner have their debates. Dixie and Sonny will tell the citizens we are in a budget crises because of the state tax cuts. they will downplay their spending habits which cost monroe county millions of dollars"

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If there is more than 75,000 registered voters in the Keys. Then consider also the non-registered citizens who do not vote, add the illegal immigrants and wonder how in the world we are going to exit the Keys safely in a time of hurricane evacuation. and yet, the county and city allows for more building to take place. Whether it is affordable or not, it is not safe for us all!

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Is Key Largo building injection wells for their sewer system? Any body know?

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DEMS FOR KIM

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People are assuming that the Republicans are asking people to switch to Republican party to vote in the Republican primary for Kim Wigington. That is not the case.

Firstly, Republicans are not asking, fed up Democrats are leading this initiative, because we're putting our county's survival above our party (temporarily). Secondly, I don't know any voter, regardless of party registration, who wants Dixie re-elected.

Thirdly, in the November general election, party registration gets left out. Based on review of many past election results, it is obvious, Monroe County voters "vote the person, not the party".

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hey, some states have "open" elections, meaning that a person can vote for any political candidate from either party.

Florida has "closed " elections, in other words, Democrates can only vote for Democratic Candidates in primaries and Republicans, can only vote for Republicans in their primaries ( I feel sorry for the Independants, does anyone know how they get to vote?). Here in the Keys, there are so many Republican candidates who run for office, that the Dems are taken out of the picture (and other non-republican parties).

"If some Democrats switch to Republican to vote in the Primary and Kim still loses, will they vote for the Democrat in the General Election." The question should have read; "How many of the Republicans calling for Democrats to switch parties for the Republican Primary will vote for the Democrat Bill Estes if Kim loses."

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I have heard Obama speak and spread the word that we need change for this county as he gives the impression he is the person to do it. Sorry Obama...... I believe having a female president for this country would bring greater change than bringing in another man.... no matter what color he is. Also, if Hillary wins in Texas and Ohio, she has a real good chance in becoming the Democratic Candidate for President. The news media allowed for the war propoganda without asking the hard questions. It was the media that helped to sell the war to us all. I no longer trust the media nor their endorsement of Obama. Go HILLARY!

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. - Author Unknown.

If Kim Wigington can't beat Dixie in the August Primary, why is she running as a Republican. She could have run as a NPA. The People in the Republican Party that support Kim are so disgusted by their leaders in the party that they're begging people to register as Republican for the Primary. If some Democrats switch to Republican to vote in the Primary and Kim still loses, will they vote for the Democrat in the General Election.

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Developer Jerry Coleman, depicted the fishing industry in the Keys, as - on it's way out - and to make way for development of the working waterfront (build hotels, condos, etc). He decided that preserving 50% of waterfront property and taking out 'no net loss', was practical.

Scott Zimmerman - executive director of the Fl. Keys Commercial Fishing Association describes the fishing industry as strong and a viable business for everyone.

Who do you think the "gang of three" used to rationalize their decision making?

Scott Zimmerman should be used as the authority in this matter, yet they relied on Jerry Coleman's claims.

These County Commissioners should be held accountable for the destruction of the water front and it begs to also ask the question: is Jerry Coleman lying, or is he so stupid?

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great cartoon in sunday's key west citizen today!

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I don't trust the absentee ballots either.

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Everyone should join FIRM, and make a donation. They have been successful and need our monies to continue their fight for us all. Higher wind storm rates will effect home owner and renters.

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just wait till the candidates for county commissioner have their debates. Dixie and Sonny will tell the citizens we are in a budget crises because of the state tax cuts. they will downplay their spending habits which cost monroe county millions of dollars.