POKER ROOM LAW CHANGES

Alabayea

Did you look into your crystal ball and "see" this version of truth? You imply since Southern Strategy was paid by OPKC that Southern Strategy indeed had a hand in massaging legislation which brought local control to gambling enterprises.

Please pick up a copy of the Clay County Leader where it quotes Howard Korman, President of Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, as saying, the legislative change was initiated in South Florida because some gambling enterprises there are located in incorporated areas of the county. I don't believe a man of Korman's stature in the Clay community would lie about where the legislation originated from. What motivation would he have?

What you've provided is a tracking of the legislative bill as it went through the various committees. You have not adequately tied Southern Strategy to this specific legislation.

There's no law saying a company cannot pay a lobbyist for a legislative presence. Having a legislative lobbying presence does not equate into what you are implying by false innuendo.

Some of us out here see what you're doing. And it's cheap spin.

Yes Alabayea why would you question the OPKC as Key2life says "I don't believe a man of Korman's stature in the Clay community would lie about where the legislation originated from. What motivation would he have?

Maybe for the same reasons the OPKC would engage in building in the OPKC without proper permits. Isn't that a violation?

From:  Fritz BehringSent: Thu 8/30/2007 3:57 PMTo:  George BushCc:  George Bush

Followup to the citizen complaint provided to you.

Based on the information provided by a resident of Orange Park, County staff investigated whether work had been done at the Dog Track without a permit.  The first visit did not show anything.  Wednesday, we conducted a second inspection and found that there had been building renovations done without a permit at the site.  The City of Orange Park was notified and the property owner is cooperating.

Fritz

The original bills were introduced by legislators from South Florida, however, none of their original bills changed the language contained in CH 849.086(16) Florida Statutes.  That change from County to Municipal approval was made in Regulated Industries Standing Commitee of the Senate on 4-9-07. 

As to what lobbying service Mr. Thrasher furnished Jacksonville Greyhound, Inc., during the period of 4 -1-07 -  6-30-07, you'll have to ask Mr Thrasher. 

Alabayea,

Where is the public record that says the change made in the Regulated Industries Standing Committee from from county to municipal was initiated by Southern Strategy? Are you implying that's where Mr. Thrasher influenced this legislation?

It matters not to me what Mr. Thrasher was paid for. It matters to me that someone is offering public records as concrete evidence and then conveniently misconstruing that information to sway public opinion.

Angela, you're off topic.

I found this statement posted by Fish Food in another blog. Since it seemed to fit so well into this blog I thought I would post it for the readers.

Fish Food "Plus nothing new will be build, just an upgrade to the inside part of the existing facility".

Looks like the cards are stacked. Questionable legislator/lobbyist practices with bills and renovations to the facility without a permit prior to the vote. I think they call this stacking the deck in poker language.

It's possible that Southern Strategy has clients other than OPKC. They may even be in South Florida.

As far as the renovations go, people should check their facts before they form opinions. Just because something is printed in the paper doesn't mean it's entirely factual or represents both sides of a story. The story can be "spun" to read at whatever slant the writer desires.

As you can see in the copy of the e-mail to Mr. Behring, the complaint was made by George Bush.  What a surprise.  The way this business has been treated by the Town and the County, it makes you wonder why they want to stick around a do business here!

How about putting up a six-foot, chain link, barbed wire fence around the "park" in your backyard, OPKC?  Make sure you get a permit!

My first thought when seeing Mr. Behring's email to George Bush is that he planned that trying to do damage before the Town Council vote.

People keep talking about how the Clay Commission voted down the Poker Room in March.  But if memory serves me right then the Orange Park Kennel Club didn't even ask them for  a poker room.  How can you say no to something that wasn't even asked?

Sounds like Mr. Bush is a little upset and taking revenge maybe??????

Commissioner Bush is out of a job. And he's going to go down in a fiery flame.

Those Constitutional Officers should watch the Clay Elections web site to find out what Commissioner Bush is going to file for next. He likes a government paycheck and a stage upon which he can perform.

Janie, the renovations that are in question here are the renovation "inside" the "existing" facility to house the corporate offices that used to be located in Jacksonville.  From the Florida Times Union today.

I heard that permits were pulled but not all the permits needed.  If a company has enough money to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity then why do you think they would purposelly try to do something wrong.

I can honestly say that when my house was built I didn't verify that the contractors I used pulled every necessary permit needed.    I guess I should have.

Isn't it possible that the people in charge at OPKC didn't know?

Just because we don't like someone or something doesn't make them criminals.

What I saw from the email was stated as a Followup to the citizen's complaint provided to you. That should be the responsibility of the Commissioner to bring complaints from citizens to the attention of the County Manager. This does have some questionable circumstances surrounding how this whole matter has come about. If anybody was attempting to do damages to the owner then it was complainant's timing that should be questioned not Commissioner Bush.

Take the personalities out of the argument.  If South Florida originated the change in legislation or not, the fact is that the change took an issue to be decided by the representatives of all Clay County residents and vested it with the representatives of a tiny portion. The people of Clay County did not cede that right, it was taken from them.

Key, you must be kidding.  I don't know Mr. Korman, though I've been aware of many of his organization's considerable charitable contributions over the years.  In no way do I mean to impugn his character.  But, geez, Key, to say that a man of his stature would not lie to the community is incredibly naive and ignores innumerable examples that prove otherwise.  Motivation?  Money, ego, power, etc.  It's all in the history books and not always apparent at the time.

Are there public records that indicate legislation is initiated by lobbyists anywhere?  You can't ask someone for proof in a form you know doesn't exist.  That's not fair.

If the contractor for office renovations didn't pull proper permits, the owner - Orange Park Kennel Club - in all likelihood had no idea local regulations weren't fulfilled.  Anyone who hires a qualified and licensed contractor to do that.  So, what's the big deal?  It's getting fixed.

If Bush knew someone was breaking the law (however minor) and didn't inquire about it, wouldn't we hold him responsible for his silence?  It's silly to make an issue out of that.

Funny, I don't feel silly!  I don't think the issue is who made the complaint, I think the issue is the timing.  

The timing was established by the Kennel Club's renovation.  When else would the timing have been more appropriate?