Good Morning Florida Keys

An email exchange with Ann Layton Rice, concerning the ethics complaint filed by Sandra Downs against Anne’s husband, Major Mike Rice, of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO).

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Dear Sloan,

This is just a naked little note about my feelings regarding Sandra Downs’ recent accusations of unethical behavior at MCSO. You may remember me as the petite, dark-haired librarian with the office in the far corner of the Public Library in Key West.

As a librarian, I’m an active supporter of First Amendment rights. I am proud that these rights are a core value of my profession. Free speech must extend to all, even though we might ardently disagree.

What is causing me great pain is Ms. Downs’ accusations against my husband, Mike Rice. Mike and I met just a few days after my arrival in Key West. I was smitten by his deep sense of integrity, stellar work ethic and darling dimples. That was 10 years ago and I remain in awe of his strong character and abiding sensitivity. I grieve to hear these very qualities impugned by Ms. Downs.

Ms. Downs recent complaint to the State Ethics Commission is akin to throwing noodles at the cupboard and hoping some will stick. Her accusations are not based on fact. For example, Mike’s father did not perform his son’s psychological test for employment. That would be wrong. Ms. Downs has no information in this matter and is merely HOPING that something will stick.

Our local print and radio media reported on the complaint with utter disregard to journalistic integrity. Was there any attempt at investigative reporting? No, the stories were just meant to be tantalizing. (On your website, you even characterize Ms. Downs as “colorful” and her stories as “yarns”.)  The truth is utterly boring in this case. And when the State Ethics Commission releases its findings on Ms. Downs’ complaint, will that story receive play in the local media? Sigh, I expect not.

During this sad time, I meditate on God’s words: “Be still and know that I am God.” I’m trying to shut out this distracting chatter of utter meanness that surrounds my family and to treasure what I know is Truth.

So, yes, the First Amendment protects our freedom to vilify someone’s character with all manners of nasty lies. And with the Internet, it is available for all to read anywhere/anytime. But I will continue to champion Ms. Downs’ rights to free speech and your rights to print her colorful yarns.

In my job, I’m constantly reminding our customers, especially senior citizens and children, that just because something appears on the ‘net doesn’t mean it’s fact. Now I have a very apt and personal example.

Best wishes,

Anne Layton Rice

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Thanks for writing, Anne.
 
Did you send Sandy a copy? I ask, because she’s the one airing the MSCO issues, some already published, some to come.
 
However the local press reports the Ethics Commission’s findings, I will report if I’m still on this planet.
 
Sandy asked me to ask you who did the psychological evaluation on Mike, if it wasn’t his father? Such evaluations were then and still are required for all MSCO new hires.
 
You don’t see anything cozy with Mike sending MSCO applicants and employees to the Guidance Clinc, while his father owned it and was a County Commissioner? While his father also had a contract with MSCO, to do psychological evaluations of all MSCO employment applicants? A contract he still has, under Mike’s oversight and approval, even as he has a consulting contract with the Guidance Clinic? With Mike being head of MSCO personnel? With MSCO’s #2, Colonel Ramsay, being on the Guidance Clinic’s Board? With no bid contracts?
 
Sandy tells me Mike’s rise to #3 at MSCO was metoric, and was not hurt by his father being a county commissioner and his mother Chair of the Aqueduct Authority, under whom Mike worked before going over to MSCO. Do you really think Mike would be #3 in MSCO but for his parents’ influence?
 
You don’t know me, Anne. So I will tell you that when I ran against George Neugent in 2006, I saw David Rice at many of the candidate forums. One forum night we had dinner on Key Largo. I tried to talk him out of using attack ads against Ron Saunders, and to focus on the issues. David said it wasn’t him but was the State Republican Party doing it. I said he could stop it if he wanted to. Just threaten to quit being their candidate should take care of it, if they didn’t stop the ads. Some time later I got a chance to ask David again, in a public forrm, to stop the attack ads. No dice again.
 
I never saw a dirtier political compaign than David’s. When  his campaign began, I was in his camp. I felt he would make a good state representative. I did not want to believe what I started hearing about him and the Guidance Clininic and MSCO. It took Sandy Downs to get through to me.
 
What I’m saying, Anne, because you come across as a nice person, is I’m encouraging you to step back and try to be more objective. Your allegiance to Mile is understandable and admirable, but you don’t want it to be blind allegiance. Consider what happened recently to that poor woman who is married to the now former Governor of New York.
 
Were I in your shoes, I be urging Mike to get MSCO to stop doing business with his father, and to get Colonel Ramsay off the Guidance Clinic Board immediately. And stop giving out no-bid contracts. And stop sending MSCO employees to the Guidance Clinic on the Shierff’s dime. Because it all needs to be done at arm’s length.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sloan 

I’ve been in South Carolina for over 1 week to host the big affair, my only daughter’s wedding. She passed her medical boards on Monday and got married on Friday. My whole family came from all over to attend this event. Many friends I’ve made along my life’s journey came as well. It was a grand get together and week long party.

I’ve just caught up a little with what’s went on in the Keys for the past week,..evidently it is just continuing to spiral into a hole leading to hell. We’ve got drug dealers with wires and incriminating evidence on sheriff deputies. Is there an Internal Affairs investigation going on by the sheriff’s department to see who else may be involved? It does not appear so, and why not? This alleged drug-using deputy was sworn in as an officer to uphold and enforce the laws. He must have friends that use drugs too. Isn’t Sheriff Roth concerned there may be more of his staff involved?

Where is the investigation by Sheriff Internal Affairs Director Cindy Peryam? Or is Cindy busy shredding documents again; maybe the ones pertaining to her husband’s affair with the young girl. Maybe Cindy Peryam is so busy covering up her husband Capt. Bob Peryam’s messes, that she has no time to pay attention to what is going on today. 27 years of clean-up for Cindy, because that’s how long her husband has worked for the MCSO. And Capt. Bob was involved is some dirty messes: affairs, young girls, drug dealer rings, disappeared persons, purloined diplomas and alcohol related accidents.

But back to the drug sting. Sometimes we find that the Citizen and the Keynoter printed half-truths, lied, didn’t get the story straight, didn’t check facts, or intentionally misled us. Who else was caught in this sting? Was a “Bubba” caught that the paper won’t name? Who will be protected from embarrassment and prosecution ? Will they get off scot-free because of who they are, who they know, or they’re a Judge’s son?
 
The Chief of Police [Key West] sexually harassing a female? Nothing was done to Mayor McCoy for the same, so hey why not? Open season on women I guess.  Hey women, where is the outrage amongst the females that nothing was done to Mayor McCoy for setting this vicious example? And hey, all of you men, what if that was your sister or mother or your daughter?

The way I look at it is, what if this was my beautiful daughter who just got married, and sexual harassment was what she was subjected to every time she showed up for work, while she tried to earn a living and have a career? That’s how I look at everything, I put my dear ones in the same position in my mind, and then I can clearly understand how outraged I should be. That is how I look at all the news, all the time. I pretend it’s my son in Iraq, my mother who was mugged and robbed robbed on Mallory Square, etc. You should try this approach, all of you pacifists out there, and see if it doesn’t move your ass.

Is this what women that work should expect to be subjected to? When nothing was done by Mark Kohl for McCoy’s victim, Celeste Bruno, she was forced to file a lawsuit as her only means of justice. Why wasn’t Mayor McCoy jailed for God’s sake? He did this as a commissioner. He’s still a commissioner. It is unacceptable. The taxpayers will pay the lawsuit for his behavior, did you all know that? So more harassment is no surprise,coming from another pathetically weak man in a position of power. Real men don’t do this to women. Only egotistical self-absorbed cowards do, because they can’t properly court and earn respect or love. Something in their tiny brains tells them they can just take what they want.

The reason sexual harassment is important for all of us; gays, straight men and women victims, is because the predator mind is so close to the mindset of a rapist; taking what they want in complete indifference to their victims well being. And we have these people still in power in the Keys even after they were caught! I want them to have integrity and step down. I certainly cannot believe anyone would consider naming airports after them, or voting for them again. Sexual harassment crimes have victims. These victims are as important as the men they filed charges against. Name the airport the “Celeste Bruno Airport” (CBA for short), or at least give her a section of it!

My ethics complaints were filed and were very clear. Yet two newspapers muddled facts intentionally. Carey Goodman’s family with whom she lives destroyed state owned mangroves, not mangroves on their property as the Citizen states. And the Keynoter can’t even get the names straight saying David Rice son is named David. Intentional lies and deceit to eliminate the public’s ability to understand what is being done. Or these journalists are plain ignorant.

And no Alyson I did not file charges, I filed complaints. Mark Kohl could file charges, but we know he won’t. And I follow with a yes vote to Sloan’s suggestion. If Larry Kahn is changing what you write, and diminishing your report, then you are no longer a journalist printing news. You are his pawn, and you should quit. How could you even allow your name on something altered Alyson? Why are you not filing your own complaints against Larry Kahn to Wayne Markham. Because Alyson, when they changed your words, it discredited you not me. And I will ask Sloan to post up the actual complaints since neither paper has been able tprint any of the truth.

Sad state we are in in the FL KEYS, and it is not going to get any better as long as the citizens accept it.

Sandra Downs

Edidtor’s note. The text of the complaints against Sheriff Rick Roth, Sheriff Major Mike Rice, his father, former County Commissioner David Rice, and local Republican Party Chairwoman Carey Goodman, without the supporting exhibits, can be veiwed on the “Sandy’s ethics complaints” file of goodmorningfloridakeys.com.

My last dream before dawn today was of my Key West friend, Roy Stone. A really good dream. A kudo for Roy dream. From heaven kudo. Two reasons for the dream come to mind. No, three.

Reason one. Stone to me in dreams is about leaving no stone unturned. My life with God is one of leaving no stone unturned. Jesus said it a little differently when he told his disciples that if they abided in him, they would come to know the truth and the truth would set them free.

Reason two. Once Roy once was a longstanding member of a Key West church that kicked me out because I was trying to help a person in the church who was in grave spirtual jeopardy. My efforts came in emails to her and her church and her future employer, in which I explained what I was being told by heaven, and that this woman was coming to me in dreams and asking me to do what I was doing, even though it was the very last thing I wanted to be doing. I broke out in painful staph-like boils in my nose and one of my ears, certain signals that I was being demonically attacked by spirits aligned with the woman and her church. In a dream toward the end of the ordeal, the church was compared to the Luftwaffe, which was heaven’s way of confirming what I had already concluded: I was dealing with Nazis. I emailed them about that, too.

Roy was the only member of the church’s board of directors who opposed my being kicked out. Some time later, something happened between this same woman and Roy, which the church sat by and watched, that caused Roy to resign from the board and quit attending the church. He was its biggest financial supporter. About two weeks ago, another member of the church told me he had only recently heard of my being kicked out. He nosed around, then asked to see my emails, which they had saved. He said clearly I was trying to help the woman. I had no personal agenda and obviously didn’t want to be doing it. When he got nowhere with the board, he left the church.

Reason three. Once upon a time, Roy inherited Roy’s Trailer Park on Stock Island from his father, Roy Sr. The park was run down. Full of drug addicts, and some dealers. Scary people, the dealers. Roy rolled up his sleeves, started going into the park, trying to get to know his tenants. It took a while, but he finally befriended them and helped them organize a tenant association. Now trusting Roy, they told him what was wrong with their individual units. Faulty wiring, broken waterlines, etc. And about the drug dealers. Roy dealt with the drug dealers, fixed the plumbing and wiring and so forth. He installed a scaled-down version of Key West’s sewerage treatment plant on Fleming Key. He offered this tenants a choice between keeping their outdoor swimming pool, or all getting cable. They chose cable, and the beautiful swimming pool was filled in.

After the park was in good shape, Roy offered his tenants a sweet buy-out deal: small down payment and easy terms. Each tenant buying his or her own lot, or the tenant association buying it all. There were no takers, even though Roy kept telling them he would sell it some day, and they would be better of if they bought it instead of letting it go to someone else. Eventually Roy did sell it, and now the tenants live under the treat of the purchaser some day refusing to renew their leases and trying to turn the trailer park into yet another unneeded vacation or second-home development.

If we are to have developers in the Keys, I propose Roy Stone as our role model. He did everything right. His tenants did everything wrong. They didn’t take his incredibly generous offer, a pittance compared to what their lots would go for today. As I recall, Roy finally sold the park for $1.2 or 1.3 million. Last year, the purchaser was quoted in Key West Citizen as saying he could get close to $20 million, if he sold it. He was trying to get one of our local governments to buy it for a few $million, then lease it back to him for a maybe a dollar a year, and he would manage the park and collect the rents, around $500,000 profit a year after expenses. In this way, this much needed affordable housing stock would be preserved. Affordable housing Roy’s tenants could have purchased for a pittance, with very easy terms.

I keep think lately of Pritam Singh. Just yesterday in Key West Citizen, I saw where he had reneged on his deal with the City of Marathon to put three affordable units in his posh Tranquility Bay development up there. And they seem to have gone along with it. It causes me to think Pritam never intended to build three affordable units. It causes me to think Pritam built everything he wanted to build up there, very high end, and then went hunting for more than he was supposed to get. Bait and switch comes to mind. And Buddhism. Pritam claims to be a Buddhist, or influenced by Buddhism.

No real Buddhist would have a reputation of threatening to sue people and governments that do not do his bidding. And when they do not cave in, burying them in an avalanche of motions, interrogatories and other legal documents. No real Buddhist would make $millions and millions off of Keys developments, and use several $million of it to develop and promote a fancy spiritual retreat in rural New England, and sell off high-priced estate parcels to rich people. No real Buddhist would buy and tear down a perfectly good, and by Key West standards, moderately priced Hampton Inn, and cram onto the parcel a cluster of motel suites only the very $rich can afford. No real Buddhist would threaten to sue the Key West Planning Board for declining his bid to “redevelop” the old Strunk Hardware parking lot in Old Town Key West into condominiums.

Pritam Singh could learn a great deal about Buddhism sitting at the feet of Roy Stone, who does not claim to be a Buddhist. Even so, he reminds me a great deal of the few real Buddhists I have known. While Pritam reminds me of the devil. He even looked like the devil in his photo in the recent Key West Citizen. It was in his eyes. In his smile. It gives me the willies just being in the same government meeting with him.

Pritam seems to have buffaloed Marathon. Will he capture Key West? Monroe County? Will he sue me? I sort of hope so. My senior partners just might be itching to smother him in a blizzard of Buddhist teachings. Do for him much the same they did for the woman in Roy Stone’s former church.

Sloan Bashinsky, non-partisan county commission candidate, District 3 (Key West)
Political advertisement, written, approved and paid for by me

Yesterday’s Key.News post garnered this response from a Key West amgio: “So, Sloan, what to you really think?”

I wondered if he was joking, as I was pretty straightforward in the post. But I replied: “No comprende question. Think about what?”

In appearance, this fellow reminds me of my younger brother, who came to me in a dream before dawn this morning. He is driving me up to our father’s home in Birmingham, and tells me he has been carrying something very heavy for me, and he doesn’t think I have known about it. Next thing in the dream, I’m headed back to Key West to deal with something undefined.

Waking, I feel pretty roughed up. Been feeling pretty roughed up for a good while, but extra so for about a week. In my soul. In my organs. On my belly, where a painful, ugly staph infection seems to be brewing. Looks like I might need to see a doctor about this one. My worst fear realized: I nearly died from a staph infection in 2003. My thoughts start running.

In yesterday’s Key West Citizen was a report about Key West Police Chief Bill Mauldin accused of sexually harassing Christie Phillips, who works in his office and in City Hall. Reminded me of charges filed by Celeste Bruno against Monroe County Commissioner Sonny McCoy over stuff that happened while she was his aide, and later when she was Commissioner Dixie Spehar’s aide.

Day before yesterday I received a letter from a woman in Birmingham. About my age. Different. Gifted. Troubled. Wounded. Difficult to relate to. Yet once I wondered if she and I would be put together, and sometimes she says something that causes me to still wonder that. An example in her letter:

“Turning from wicked ways has proved much, much more difficult than I thought. Denial is a wonderful aspect of our situations. When I asked to be shown my wicked ways, my perception of my character changed considerably. I am still working on this as hard as I can, trusting God. So far, I’m claiming progress.”

I know denial well. I know of many times when God penetrated it for me, and the terrible feelings that came. Chagrin. Contrition. Embarrassment. Dread. Terror. Wondering how I would ever get through it? Yet somehow I did get through it. It never was easy. Always I was given something to do that moved me ahead, perhaps balanced the scales in some way. Always I had to work to feel cleared. Cleared, not absolved. I had screwed up, it was mine to bear.

Alas, I only described denial God penetrated and took me through. There are things I did that I never denied or felt okay about. A few are in my thoughts right now. All were terrible. One was, well, devastating. I will never feel okay about it, any more than I would ever feel okay about having killed someone, even by accident. Except this was no accident.

The person still lives, but inside is dead in many ways, because of what I did. I have felt for quite a while this has a lot to do with how truly rough a life I have had, plagued by forces, sensations, feelings and body aches and pains that seemed to have a life and will of their own, totally unresponsive to medical intervention, diet, exercise, psychiatry, yoga, tai chi, chi kung, prayer, meditation, spiritual practices etc.

How many times have I initiated conversation with this person about it. How many times have I tried to offer suggestions that might lead to healing. Always kindly declined. The confession that I did something truly hurtful denied. I will live out my days with it. Jesus will not and cannot save me from it. Nor will God. We are responsible for what we do. As we sow, so we reap. There is no getting around it.

So I pretty much have to think this truly wicked thing I did is what my brother told me about early this morning. I think it’s the staph infection and all the other heavy weight I’m now feeling. I asked for help several times yesterday and last night. The last time in real distress. Then I calmed down. Fell asleep. Went into the space where my ego has a whole lot less say-so, where I’m given most of my instruction and correction.

So I return to my Key West amigo’s question: “What do you really think, Sloan?”

What I really think is this world would be a very different place if people were treated by God the way my woman friend wrote she is being treated. If people were treated by God they way I am treated. But that isn’t happening. By and large, people are allowed to do what they do, without feeling the rebuke that would turn them into jelly, cause them to fear for their very souls. Initiate a complete change in their life perspective. Move them to abandon nearly everything they currently view as important, and behave in entirely new ways.

Alas, I think were God to take every person over, the species simply go stark raving mad, because it had finally come face to face with God and it was nothing like had been painted by religion, or by anything. That’s the dilemma. And perhaps that’s why God leaves it up to us to ask to be shown our wicked ways, our denial. Perhaps that is the truth that sets us free, but not in any way we actually want to experience it.

I think very few people are going to take the conscience/conscious elective route my friend in Birmingham is taking. I did not take exactly that approach. I simply asked God for help once upon time, and offered my life to human service. I knew I had screwed up my life. Had failed, utterly. Had no way of digging myself out of it. That plea was when I lost control over my life, although it took a while and many rough experiences for me to see it. Twenty-one years of being dragged and pushed and carried and led and shoved, and I expect it to continue until I leave this world.

I suppose either surrender method works, but I don’t think too many people will go there voluntarily. Meaning, unless they are taken over by God as if they had asked for it, they will not change. And nothing will really change on this world. That’s what I really think.

Meanwhile, I will keep doing what I am told to do. It’s the only thing I can control: doing what I am told to do, in the way I am told to do it. In the way I was trained to do it. Even though I seldom want to do it.

Sloan Bashinsky
Key West

 If this is a political advertisement, I’m a parrot fish.

27 March 08

To Wayne Markam, Publisher, Keynoter

Dear Wayne,

I write to you about Alyson Crean’s front-page piece — “Candidate: I filed charges” — in yesterday’s (26 March) issue. The piece was written after discussion between Alyson and Sandra Downs, and between Alyson and me.

The piece starts out summarizing pretty well the complaints filed by Sandy against Sheriff Rick Roth and David Rice and his son, Sheriff Major Mike Rice, Sheriff Roth’s #3 in command.

Alas, a crucial part of the “evidence” was left out out of Sandy’s complaint. And out of Alyson’s piece. The part about Colonel Ramsay, Sheriff Roth’s #2 in commmand, being on the Board of the Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys. Alsyon and I discussed this before she wrote her piece. We agreed Colonol Ramsay’s board membership shows the depth of Sheriff Roth’s ties with the Guidance Clinic.

The clinic was founded and run by David Rice. Eventually he sold it, but remained on as a paid consultant. All along, he had a separate work contract with Sheriff Roth. David’s son, Mike, is in charge of sheriff personnel. Before and after David owned the Guidance Clinic, Mike made many referrals from the Sheriff’s Office to the Guidance Clinic, paid for by Sheriff Roth. The Guidance Clinic, on whose board sits Colonel Ramsay.

The rest of Alyson’s piece centers around the ethics complaint against Carey Goodman, Chair of the Keys Republican Party, an attorney and court mediator, and member of the Board of Florida Keys Community College. Carey was Chairwoman of that Board when the shenanigans with DEP took place. Shenanigans described in detail the in the ethics complaint Sandy filed against Carey.

Shenanigans not described in Alyson’s piece, which said, “What exactly she [Sandra Downs] alleges is unclear . . .” Then the piece describes stuff not in the complaint, which Alyson had before her. Stuff Sandy and I had told Alyson had nothing to do with the complaint, but might be the basis for a second/future complaint filed against Carey and her parents.

I called Alyson and asked her about “What exactly she alleges is unclear . . .” Alyson said it was an editorial add on after she wrote it, and she knew nothing of it until she saw it in yesterday’s Keynoter. I said this is not journalism, I had warned Sandy something like this might happen, and now was wishing I had talked her out of going along with it. And it made me reluctant to do any further newspaper interviews, and I would advise Sandy to be reluctant, too.

When I asked Alyson if Larry Kahn did the add on, she said yes. I said Larry is no journalist and needs to get out of the newspaper business. His add on was done with malice, and was bait-and-switch. And if I were in her (Alyson’s) shoes, God would have me write an editorial about what Larry had done, and if the Keynoter didn’t publish it, I’d be told to resign my employ there.

The irony, Wayne, which you already know from receiving my earlier writings on this topic, is before the ethics complaint against Carry Goodman was even on the drawing board, Sandy and I both offered Larry the full Monty about Carey and her parents’ shenanigans with the mangroves and the Department of Environmental Protection, if Larry had the balls to write about it. As you also know from my writings, he smugly declined he had the balls in an email to Sandy.

Now, totally out of the loop, Larry the Brave does this low-down, chicken-shit revenge thing, putting Alyson to take the rap for making Sandy out to look like a dumb blond who can’t speak clearly. Well, Wayne, having gotten to know Sandy pretty well now, I have to say that pegging her as a dumb blond is a darn good way to end up with your balls stuffed down your throat with a pretty smile.

The thought keeps coming that Carey Goodman has some sort of hold on Larry’s. And I keep wanting to take the little twerp outside and beat the living shit out of him. But that could, and should, as Sandy would surely say, get me arrested by the Sheriff and thrown in jail. So I’ll just do it in print, like Larry should have known would happen when he pulled his really stupid three-year-old stunt. Like I said, Wayne, you don’t need Larry at the Keynoter. What you need there are journalists. And right now, I don’t see any. Real journalists don’t flinch. And they don’t play games.

You first met me when, Wayne, December 1985? You wrote for the Miami Herald and interviewed me on Miami Beach about a mince-no-words consumer book I’d written. You learned then that I don’t screw around when I set my teeth into something. Nothing’s changed. Except now I have a posse of Navy SEALS with great huge wings and big sharp swords and all sorts of other impressive ordnance looking over my shoulder day and night. As does everyone I come across, whether they know it or not.

Meaning, the beatings will continue until morale improves.

Sloan Bashinsky
626 Josephine Park Rd #102
Key West 33040
(303) 407-4285

cc Larry Kahn, Alyson Crean, Sandra Downs . . .

I suppose this somehow can be construed by someone as a political advertisement, written, approved and paid for by said Sloan Bashinsky, non-partisan county commission candidate, District 3 seat (Key West)

Dear Key West Citizen:

Yesterday’s (25 March) issue featured a letter to the editor from my budding friend, Jerry Coleman. An attack of Kay Thacker of Key Largo for presuming to know and speak out for what’s best for the Keys, and a promotion of Jerry knowing far more about what’s best.

Jerry spoke strongly in favor of property rights. But not of the property rights of thousands of Keys people trying to sell their homes. And not of how much harder it is for them to sell because of all the new houses, condominiums, etc. being built by developers who could care less about the Keys or people living here.

I kept expecting to see my name in Jerry’s epistle, because Kay Thacker isn’t running for public office and I am. Jerry knows I see no way to be a strong advocate for property rights and also a strong advocate for the Keys. Like many people, Jerry switches the Keys for people when he talks about what’s best for the Keys. But when I look at a satellite photo, I just see islands.

I recently lamented to County Commissioner George Neugent that Keys officials behave as if they are cast under a magic spell whenever “property rights” are flayed about, and like lemmings they march straight to the sea. For the umpteenth time I said the Keys are already way over-developed and no one living here can stand before a mirror and honestly argue otherwise.

I told George I’m okay with people purchasing land on which to build a home in which to live full-time, but not as a second home. I said the county and our cities need to build affordable RENTAL housing on their own lands, using private contractors probably. And, with George’s strong amen, we don’t need to be paying any more affordable housing consultants.

Jerry Coleman was paid $400,000 and some change by the County Commission to advise on workforce housing. So where is it? Housing built for our poor working stiffs, without whom Jerry would be picking up his own garbage and mowing his own grass and doing all sorts of grubby things he isn’t used to doing.

I told someone yesterday that Jerry needs a brain transplant. I’d offer mine, but he might feel better with something slightly more normal, like a baboon’s. So rewired, er, redeveloped, maybe Jerry could join me in a two-man teetotaler burlesque at Red Barn Theater. “Ed & Swift.” Or “Pritam & Singh.” Or “Spotts & Wood.” Or perhaps just “Female Termites’ Revenge” would do.

Sloan Bashinsky

Political advertisement ?, written, approved and paid for by me, non-partisan county commission canddiate, District 3 (Key West) seat

Yesterday, Sandra Downs was approached by a prominent Keys journalist about looking over the ethics complaints recently filed by Sandy against Carey Goodman, Chair of the local Republican Party, and against former County Commissioner David Rice and his son, Mike, and Sheriff Rick Roth. I told Sandy I had concerns about her letting the complaints out in public before the Ethics Commission had had time to consider whether or not to launch an investigation, but I felt it was okay to let the journalist know the complaints were not about Sandy’s own personal beefs, but were about stuff that had adversely affected the public welfare generally. This was passed along to the journalist.

About then it occurred to me that at some level Sandy had been set up when she was invited to speak at the Republican candidate forum at Cheeca Lodge. Somewhere in all of that, it was never intended she would actually speak. It was a way to pay her back. Get even. Invite her up there. Assure her, over her own reservations, that she was welcome to come and speak. Let her work hard on what she would say in the three minutes allowed. Then not let her speak after she had sat through the entire event. No, not all Republicans there knew this game of chicken was in play. Carey Goodman and her parents were not there. It’s hard to imagine they did not know.

So, a dream this morning before dawn about a big meal of store-bought packaged chicken. But it isn’t clear how the meal is to be prepared, cooked, except there is something about the number 3.

This fowl tale all started when Sandy reported the Goodmans to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), for cutting mangroves on a state-owned island near their home on Cudjoe Key. Before Sandy knew the Goodmans three were the head peacocks in the local Republican Party. Before Sandy knew the Goodmans were already plucking DEP’s puppet strings. And Sheriff Roth’s. And State Attorney Kohl’s. And the County Commission’s.

Holy Cow! For all we know, the Ethics Commission is just another little pet chicken on the big Republican chicken ranch! For all we know, the only fair trial these no good fowl will get is in the court of our national bird: the great wild chicken! So let the trial begin. Consider The People’s Case, in Sandy’s own words. This is just the text. The supporting exhibits are not included, but were sent with the notarized text to the Chicken Commission.

Eat more chikin!

THE PEOPLE’S CASE

Carey Goodman lives at the end of my street and her family was violated for destroying mangroves without a permit. See my attached Letter to the Editor which sums up the event quickly. Exhibit A

Carey Goodman holds 3 positions which are:

Florida Keys Community College Board (at the time of this she was Chair)
Chair of the Republican Party in Monroe County
Mediator with our Circuit Court

I was asked by the Goodmans if I knew who they were, after they learned I had reported them for destroying the mangroves. It was Carey’s misuse of her position which gave her family the preferential treatment of receiving no fines for their violations, and an illegal permit given to them by DEP to allow them to repeat their destructive acts in the future.

1. Originally the Goodman’s were violated by DEP. Exhibit B

2. The Draft Order originally drawn up by DEP was revised on Carey Goodman’s demands. Exhibit C/7 pages ( 2 original pages of draft order with fines and admission of guilt, 2 pages of computations which were deleted altogether in final order, DEP notes 1 page from a meeting with Carey and her mother, DEP meeting with Carey and her parents 2 pages **notice Carey‘s arguments made to DEP in both meetings, which are highlighted)

3. In the Final Order pretty much negotiated and drawn up by Carey Goodman on behalf of her parents and her interests, the fines were eliminated, and any admission of guilt was stricken. The arguments the Goodman’s made pertaining to prior violators, storms, the PMT they used, and grandfathering in provisions was conceded by the DEP as having no merit. The evidence and facts were concluded, the Goodman’s had caused the destruction to the 72000 sq ft of offshore state owned mangroves with their hands alone, and without a permit for doing so.

4. Carey Goodman repeatedly bargained with DEP to secure future privileges of trimming illegally and in violation of the laws pertaining to mangroves and to eliminate fines and admission of guilt for the previous violations. See Exhibit D &E

5. Later Carey Goodman drew in the County Attorney for Planning to assist her efforts. DEP tries to find a loophole to lessen the impacts of what Goodman’s had done to the mangroves and discuss lessening the mitigation amount with County Attorney. Exhibit F

This is a violation of Misuse of Public Position. Carey Goodman secured a special privilege, benefit, in the form of an illegal permit, to allow her family’s continuous cutting of our state mangroves after their known violations of same, and were fined $0.00 for their violations, and relieved of requirements of abiding by the laws pertaining to mangroves. The permit DEP issued after the violations occurred, was pulled for them from phosphate mining, of which they are no proper recipient and do not mine phosphate.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE NEVER BEFORE HAS THE DEP:

1. Forgiven violators ($0.00) of all fines or mitigation, when 7400 sq ft of state owned offshore mangroves were cut in violation of a permit, many of which died as a result of these illegal actions.

2. Issued a new permit after the violations were proven and sustained by DEP, that would condone and allow future illegal mangrove activities in blatant disregard of our mangrove laws after such a violation had occurred.

3. Allowed a private homeowner to cut mangroves on state owned lands after destroying same and to be released of the legal requirement of using a Professional Mangrove Trimmer which is dictated by law and cannot be set aside in this case.

4. Allowed the violators to write up their own consent order, and to demand language be inserted/struck without any regard for the law.

5. Required no mitigation or fines to restore the dead mangroves belonging to the state.

Carey Goodman represented her family’s issues to DEP and secured an “exemption” of fines and guilt which is otherwise not available for others.

She misused her position to the detriment of society, our lands, and people. This is a law violation and her misuse of her position is a breach of trust, and is specifically spelled out in intent of the Commission on Ethics. This is a violation of 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees of agencies and local government attorneys (6) Misuse of Public Position.

Carey Goodman is a local government attorney specializing in mediation working for our Courts and is also on the Board of our local college.

Sandra Downs

I received this reply from County Commissioner George Neugent to yesterday‘s (Easter) Pissing.Contest post. Below it is my Easter Evening reply. And below that, other stuff.

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Now that’s much better. That’s the Sloan I know and love.

G

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First, George, I need to say there is a Sloan my family knows and loves. Not the Sloan who wrote Pissing.Contest, probably, but a Sloan they knew for many years before they decided they really preferred not to be involved with him any longer. My father and brother and sister turned away first. Then my daughters. I suppose I can say the same about my wives, all seven of them. And quite a few very close friends. There is a Sloan they all know and love, but they no longer care to be involved with him. As I write this, I am reminded of Jesus telling his disciples in the Gospels that they would experience much the same thing.

The other thought that came to me after reading your email was of a diamond with many, many facets, throwing off different aspects of Sloan. Some of which I now know pretty well, others I yet have to make their acquaintance. Whether we know it or not, in our spirit all of us are like a diamond, and we each have the opportunity to have our many, many facets opened and illuminated, as we age and experience the different situations thrown at us and into which we are thrown. Far as I can tell, this is the whole point of our being on this world, and everything else is part of it coming about. Or not.

As I read the Gospels, this was what Jesus was about. Himself, as he went through life on this world. And others, as he tried his darndest to teach them why they were really here and what they could do about it, if they wanted to do something about it. Of course, most of the people who met him didn’t want to do anything about it. Or they only wanted to do a little about it. And little has changed since his day. The sparkling multi-faceted diamond he was has nearly gone out on this world, because it has been ignored and even thrown way.

What I’m getting at, George, is there are many Sloans. Sal probably doesn’t like the one who wrote to him yesterday and this morning. You like that one. You don’t like other Sloans. This campaign season is going to bring many Sloans out. Some of them might be new to me, while others may be familiar but haven’t been allowed out much, if at all, since I came to the Keys in late 2000, to call them my home. On this world. My real home has no physical location. It is a state of being, awareness, sensation, feeling, knowing, seeing. This body and mind and feelings that are me are part of it, but only part of it. The part that keeps me anchored on this world, until it’s time for me to not be here.

Sloan

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One of my wives used to tell other people, “Sloan’s the mail man.” If they needed further explanation, she’d say, “He delivers the message.” I told someone the other day that all my life I have been the mail man. Even in my family, when I was a little boy. It wasn’t what I wanted to be, but I was the one in my family given the job.

Along those lines is a fairly recent email to Diane Burledsen, co-founder of the local chapter of Citizen Jane (citizenjane.net).

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Hi again, Diane.

Something’s been in my thoughts . . .

I haven’t seen Kim, or Dixie or Sylvia, or Sonny, George or Mario, apologize to Sandy [Downs] for the way she was treated by their own Party at Cheeca Lodge. Their silence leaves me with serious concern for their moral character and suitability for public office.

This is FYI, for now. Not to be posted or shared elsewhere.

Thanks.

Sloan

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Then this follow-up email to Dianne. I do not and am not allowed to give people the benefit of the doubt, when they are given chances to do to others what they want done unto them, and they don’t do it. And I am not allowed to keep matters private, when the public welfare is involved.

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Hi, Diane.

Certainly, many Republicans were not at the Cheeca Lodge candidate forum, and knew nothing of Sandy not being allowed to speak. Or that she had been specifically invited to speak, after expressing her reluctance in being here. And then it was scotched while she was there, getting ready to speak. No hard proof, but it’s difficult to imagine Carey Goodman, Chair of the Republican Party, who, along with her parents, Sandy had been calling seriously to task, along with other high profile Republicans — Sheriff Rick Roth, State Attorney Mark Kohl, and County Commissioner George Neugent — was not in some way behind Sandy not being allowed to speak.

Later, word got out about what had actually happened. All five county commissioners received emails from me about it. I can’t imagine Kim Wigington did not learn of it, given the Coconut Telegraph and how many times I hear that my emails/posts are being generously passed around the Keys. It is about this part of it, these top Republicans’ silence in the face of what they now knew had happened, that I wrote to you yesterday. They are behaving very badly, and we do not need people in office who do not face down their own party when it really screws up. What we need in office is people who will confront their party, and, if necessary, leave it, if it doesn’t straighten up. Otherwise, what we are putting into office is their party.

You can publish the above two paragraphs to Citizen Jane. You also can post what I sent out today — Keys. Ethics — about the ethics complaints filed yesterday by Sandy, against Carey Goodman, David Rice, Mike Rice and Sheriff Roth. I also sent it to the bitch bitch address. Please show my name as the writer . . .

Slown

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I was told in dreams earlier this morning to publish all of this today. And to say that running for public office is not supposed to be a popularity contest, and if you are not prepared to die, you do not have what it takes to do what the office requires.

Political advertisement ?, written, approved and paid for by Sloan Bashinsky, non-partisan county commission candidate, District 3 (Key West)

Recent email pleasantries with the webmaster/host of keylargokey.com. I corrected a few typographical errors I saw on both sides of the pissing contest. Sloan

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Hi, Sal. Just saw your take on me today on keylargokey.com [Keys Politics section]. Like the Indiana Jones motif. Might use it elsewhere, if I can find the hat.

I told you at the Big Pine Planning Commission meeting last week that I would write to you about my views on development, which I did at length, and published all over the Keys, under the title Squatters.Rights. It was given its own permanent menu page at goodmorningfloridakeys.com. I sent you a copy, which you quoted in small part:
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“After the meeting, Sal Guitierrez (sp?) asked me what was my position on development on Big Pine Key? I said I had sympathy for people who had purchased land who wanted to build a home and live in it. But I had no sympathy for people who purchased land with a view toward selling it. I knew when I said this that Sal was such a person who had done that [somewhere in the Keys]. It got pretty heated between us after that.

“In the heat, I told Sal that anyone who comes into an restricted, endangered area like the Keys and buys land on a speculative basis, or to develop and sell it off, is fucked as far as I’m concerned. Got what they asked for. I added that I understand that the courts would not likely look at it that way, but I was saying how I felt.” [your bold type face, Sal.]

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Then, you provided a web link to the full text of what I wrote — thanks for that.

Then, you commented:

…..We guess all you folks that just moved down here or bought land to build on should avoid voting for this guy, plus the language seems a little strong for a County Commission candidate. We will be endorsing Sonny McCoy (Who will win anyway)….I don’t think that will change unless he fails to run…..if that’s the case Sloan will become the new Mario Di Gennaro (elected through default). Then we’re all screwed.

Gee whiz, Sal. You slap dab left out the conversation I reported with Alica Putney, where we said to each other that we had no problem with people buying land in the Keys to build a home on it and live here full time. And those who want to build and live in the Keys only part time get to go to the end of the line (for a building permit).

As for the language I sometimes use, yep, I sometimes use it. You ain’t too terribly prim online all the time yourself.

As for your endorsing Sonny McCoy, if he runs again for the Key West county commission seat, he’s been pretty chummy with developers all along. Far as I’m concerned, commercial developers ought to be deported slap dab out of the Keys, permanently. Not the courts’ view. My view.

I’m hearing Sonny will run again, and Heather Carruthers also will run. If that comes to pass, we will have a Republican (Sonny), a Democrat (Heather), and an a non-partisan (me) in the race. As such, there will be no primary, and we will face off in the general election in November, the one getting the most votes, I suppose, going into office.

If I end up being the only candidate, I will give very serious thought to pulling out of the race. I firmly believe in contested elections for public office. No way would I want to get there the way Mario got there. And I doubt he’d want to do it that way again, after the hell he went though afterward over it.

Saying this another way, the public is entitled and needs to see candidates for public office grilled to hell and back at candidate forums, in the printed press, and on radio and television. The pubic needs to see candidates written/typed answers to candidate questionnaires prepared not by the candidates or their campaign committees. For all of that not to happen is a miscarriage of democracy, and we all are indeed screwed, to use tame language.

As for insinuation that I might be like Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro, who seems to love developers as much as Sonny and the other commissioners, he’d find that a big laugh. As would Sonny and the rest of the county commissioners. And everyone I know. And everyone you know, who knows or gets to know me. They can do that at goodmorningfloridakeys.com and goodmorningkeywest.com.

I’m the only county commission candidate who goes way, way out of the way to make sure the public has every opportunity to get to know me in ways no candidate for office you ever heard of anywhere does or did. I’m the only commission candidate who has no money or political debts, accepts no campaign contributions, owes no favors, seeks nothing for myself or any other special interest group.

I only seek to represent the Keys, these sacred islands on which I live (you do not live here anymore), the sea around them, and the poor working stiffs who live here and are being jerked all over the place by politicians, elected and not, and their cronies (sometimes called bubbas), and developers. The rest of the people down here have plenty of representation already, starting on the county commission, and working down and through all other Keys governments and mainstream organizations.

Who will be screwed if I end up on the county commission, to the extent I can bring it off, is politicians, elected and not, and their cronies and developers. And any crooks not already included in the above.

You do publish replies to your website creature features, don’t you Sal? I do.

Indiana Sloan
Key West

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That’s great……don’t you know what default means?

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Come on, Sal. You know I know exactly what becoming a county commissioner “by default” means. I wrote about it plenty after Mario ended up on the county commission just because he was the only candidate who had filed qualifying papers and paid the filing fee. Presto, he was a county commissioner. That’s why I said I’d have to seriously consider withdrawing from the race, if I ended up being the only candidate. It’s just not democratic. Or is it? Then, by default, which I did not say, the Governor would appoint someone for the District 3 seat on the county commission. Peachy. So please do all you can to get someone else besides me into the District 3 race. Even if he or she is pro-development, like Mario, and, it seems, all of our present county commissioners. I could take your reply as indication that you do not post replies to your ramblings. I’ll be sort of surprised, though, if I do not post these between us. Now if I can only find that cute Raiders of the Lost Ark hat.

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Don’t bullshit me Sloan…..You would love to be a commissioner. If Sonny dropped dead tomorrow you would piss your pants.

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You could not be more wrong, Sal. I dread being a commissioner. Putting up with the likes of you, the likes of what I’ve been watching the county commission do for several years now. Why not check myself straight into the state mental or hell instead? ‘Bout the same thing, far as I can tell. But if I end up a county commissioner, I’ll do what is given to me to do. And I doubt many people will like it any better than what I’m doing now. Like it matters if I like what I do. Like it matters if anyone likes what I do. Like it matters if I want people to like what I do. All that matters is dong what God tells me to do. You are going to publish all of this, aren’t you, Sal? Well, aren’t you? Sloan

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No sir, won’t print a word….But I agree with everything you say about being a mental patient to run for office. I would also hate to put up with folks like [Kay] Thacker, [Ron] Miller, Diane Bureldsen, and the likes of similar idiots running around the County. Nope they’re all yours…….Sal

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Political advertisement ?, written and borrowed, approved and paid for by Sloan Bashinsky, non-partisan county commission candidate

Dear Citizen Jane: bitchbitch@citizenjane.net

Yesterday, Sandra Downs filed complaints with the State of Florida Commission on Ethics against: Republican Chair Carey Goodman; former Republican County Commissioner David Rice; his son, Mike Rice, #3 Officer in the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; and Republican Sheriff Rick Roth. The complaints pertained to acts of conflict of interest and violation of public trust.

I encourage Citizen Jane to make Sandy the recipient of its next Citizen of the Year Award: for filing these citizen complaints, and because Sandy filed knowing the first time she took on the local Republican Party, without knowing what she actually was doing, she and her family were terrorized by the Sheriff Roth’s Office, and later by the Office of State Attorney Mark Kohl, also a Republican.

Sloan Bashinsky
Key West