On July 4th, I filed a complaint with the FLorida Public Service Commission against Florida Power & Light (FP&L), a regulated monopoly, for using ratepayer funds in co-sponsoring the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce's unethical pay-to-play "straw polls" in West Augustine and Ponte Vedra on July 15 and 24, 2014.
It is a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce, called "Politics in St. Johns."
It should be called "Poli-tricks" in St. Johns, "poli" meaning "many" and "tricks" meaning "Wstergate/Nixon-style dirty tricks."
The FPL-sphonsored pay-to-play scheme is a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce, and involves charging $20 to vote.
Candidates and their corporate supporters buy votes for $20, all just to inflate their numbers in the statistically unreliable, unethical "straw poll."
How gauche.
How louche.
How deeply insensitive to ethics.
How incredibly arrogant to raise money for the Chamber of Commerce by a pay-to-play straw poll.
How faux, phony and fake can you get?
The Chamber of Commerce's other sponsors include a corporate law firm (Rogers Towers), a lobbying group (Fiorentino), a beer distributor (Burkhalter) and two garbage companies.
Like garbage, this FPL-sponsored pay-to-play straw poll stinks.
The pay-to-play straw poll here in St. Augustine is being held the same night as a forum at the Willie Galimore Center sponsored by the Neighborhood Council, the umbrella group of St. Augustine's Neighborhood Associations.
Wonder why?
Perhaps to keep down attendance at the Chamber's phony event, so that other-directed candidates can easily win their pay-to-play straw poll.
St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, we see right through you.
Do attend the July 15, 2014 Neighborhood Council forum at the Galimore Center.
Do boycott the July 15 and 24, 2014 St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce's faux events, where you can purchase votes for $20.
So why does the Chamber of Commerce need a fund-raiser?
It lost support and half its staff because it was ineptly run.
Many local businesses dropped out of the Chamber of Commerce, realizing it is an advocate for the 1%, for the Nation's largest corporations, and not for small business.
Mainly law firms, accountants, builders and realtors belong to the Chamber of Commerce now. It has little relevance or support in our business community today.
Years ago, the Chamber's representative spoke to the legislators' annual delegation meeting, holding a private soiree. The three minute speech was ineffective. Can't tell you about the soiree (the 99% were never even invited).
Notice the timing of this pitiful Chamber of Commerce fundraiser.
On July 15th, the 99% will attend a forum, if not a debate. It is free. No charge.
Our local St. Augustine candidates will be answering our questions on policy issues with the candidates for Mayor and Commissioner.
Meanwhile, a clutch of companies that seek government favors -- Florida Power & Light, the Fiorentino lobbying group from Tallahassee, the Rogers Towers law firm from Jacksonville, two garbage companies and the satraps in the Chamber of Commerce -- the 1% have their own separate and unequal event. The 1% will be eating barbecue, drinking, backslapping and buying $20 straw votes for their preferred "empty suits" -- candidates who will show favoritism toward FP&L, Rogers Towers and Fiorentino clients, two garbage companies and the satraps in the Chamber of Commerce. Pigs at the trough. One-percenters. Corporate socialists. Crony capitalists.
Pure poetry.
St. Augustine candidates, please boycott this stinky Chamber of Commerce straw poll event.
Please rest up for the real forum -- the forum of free voices at the Willie Galimore Center.
The Chamber of Commerce's $20 vote-buying straw vote is a stench in the nostrils of our Nation's Oldest City.
It is so neatly symbolic and shambolic of the 1% over local government.
Buying votes for $20.
Shameful.
Outrageous.
Beyond corrupt -- sinister! Reminiscent of Sheriff NEAL PERRY, his wife SIDNEY PERRY, and the developers' corrupt "ISSUES GROUP," busted wide open by Anne Schindler and Susan Cooper Eastman and Folio Weekly ten years ago.
Just say "NO" to the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, FP&L, the Fiorentino and Rogers Towers law and lobbying firms, two garbage companies, et al.
Candidates: Please Don't Go.
In the words of Elie Wiesel to President Reagan before Bittburg: "It's not your place. Don't go."
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