Lurking around in the sewers of Florida politics is the peculiar group known as Electioneering Communication Organizations (ECO's). These organizations exist for the sole purpose of disguising political agendas that are too dirty to own publicly.
You've seen 2 of these pieces in the North Bay Village Election cycle. They came from a group called "Common Sense". Hey, with a name like that who could be against them? It's just common sense, right?
So who are these civic minded publishers who are so concerned with the political future of North Bay Village? Well, that's a bit hard to say.
"Common Sense" is an ECO headquartered in Tallahassee, City of Dreams. Common Sense is registered to Mark Herron and is funded mainly by Floridians For A Strong Future (also registered to Mark Herron, as are dozens of other clandestine ECO's.) Why two? Well, it's to make it less obvious who is paying for this.
To understand who is looking out for their own best interest in North Bay Village, follow the money. Look at who contributes to Floridians For A Strong Future. The contributors are property developers and the lobbyists who represent them. In other words, the same people who benefit from North Bay Village having a poorly run commission that allows them to do what they will. Not a single resident of North Bay Village gave 10¢ to these ECO's because the ECO's are not citizen focused, they are focused on profits. Here's the link to the contributors.
This year Common Senses spent money to link Jorge Gonzalez to Donald Trump, which is odd because I don't think Gonzalez and Trump chat regularly, although I haven't asked either of them. But I'm pretty sure Trump is not interested in North Bay Village.
Another flier by Common Sense exposes that Richard Chervony can be crass. Perhaps they should rename themselves "Common Knowledge" because that surprises no one. In fact when I read the flier, I thought "Hmm Chervony seems unreasonably restrained." The ECO then went on to make the bizarre claim that he voted against local school funding, a weird lie, but what they really wanted you to hear. Chervony in fact vigorously supported the school funding but did insist on reports on how the money was spent which some found objectionable, especially the mayor. TIES is now a D school.
This year Common Senses spent money to link Jorge Gonzalez to Donald Trump, which is odd because I don't think Gonzalez and Trump chat regularly, although I haven't asked either of them. But I'm pretty sure Trump is not interested in North Bay Village.
Another flier by Common Sense exposes that Richard Chervony can be crass. Perhaps they should rename themselves "Common Knowledge" because that surprises no one. In fact when I read the flier, I thought "Hmm Chervony seems unreasonably restrained." The ECO then went on to make the bizarre claim that he voted against local school funding, a weird lie, but what they really wanted you to hear. Chervony in fact vigorously supported the school funding but did insist on reports on how the money was spent which some found objectionable, especially the mayor. TIES is now a D school.
If it's not true, then it must be against some sort of campaign law? Nope. Not in Florida. There is zero accountability, which is why ECO's are beloved by skeezy politicians.
And how the profiteers love our current mayor. Her disorganization on the dais and her complete lack of interest in zoning issues, along with her predisposition to give rich people whatever they want, is perfect, if what you want is to use a small island city to play real estate shell games.
Just look at our causeway. None of the developers were going to build there. They are all hoping to sell and profit by holding their parcels and their magical thinking has made our causeway a sad, desolate ruin. A better organized mayor with a competence in zoning would be a threat to that but we don't have one.
Just look at our causeway. None of the developers were going to build there. They are all hoping to sell and profit by holding their parcels and their magical thinking has made our causeway a sad, desolate ruin. A better organized mayor with a competence in zoning would be a threat to that but we don't have one.
And our mayor loves to use the ECO's. Two years ago, she was supported by ECO's who helped our mayor take a strong stand supporting the right of profiteers to steal from the Kennedy House residents and attacked her opponent Jorge Brito for objecting to this. That it turned out Brito was right and multiple convictions followed, including one of the mayor's closest campaign workers, Alejandra Salcedo, is not something Common Sense or the mayor has published.
Our mayor also used the same ECO to disparage her openly gay colleague for well, being gay at a time when that meant arrest. So I'm only surprised that this year seems milder but no less dishonest as Connie Kreps continues to enjoy the fervent support of people who enjoy their special profits.
Hiding behind these dark, clandestine committees is a bad thing. We are not getting information but carefully crafted scare tactics. I urge each of you to contact the Mayor at cleonkreps@nbvillage.com and ask her about the mailings. Does she agree? Does she approve? And ask her about her trusted campaign worker's conviction.
After all, it's only Common Sense.
Kevin Vericker
November 1, 2016
Spot on, Kevin! !
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