The Lazy Tampa Tribune
Things seem quiet these days in regard to school board politics. No major issues are being reported by the Tribune, no blow-ups between school board members, no nuttin.
It even seems that Valdes and Griffin, a.k.a. Humpster and Dumpster, have become institutionalized by the superintendent and her staff. They seem to be keeping their concerns in-house. I guess they have finally become part of the district’s body-politic.
One funny thing, though. Besides Jennifer Faliero and April Griffin, seven other folks have filed to run for the three open board seats this coming election season. Have I missed something, or has the Tampa Tribune ignored all this.
As I’ve always thought, the local media treats school board candidates with as much press as Soil and Water Conservation candidates.
I guess City Council and County Commission seats are more important and our local school district, 8th largest in the US, is just part of the infrastructure, not a real interest to readers or voters.
Of course, the Tampa Tribune has its own problems with lost advertising revenues, layoffs, reduced reporting, and a shrunken paper in need of Viagra.
Maybe they just cannot afford to do some actual reporting.
My wife and I read the Tribune and SP Times each morning. Usually, we depend on the Times to produce a detailed story one day, which is then reported in a smaller version the next day in the Trib. I will say… the Tribune does a better job with Hillsborough obituaries.
Maybe….the Tribune should simply become the Tampa partner of the SP Times.
Scamster Endorses Scamster...Of Course!
In recent local news, the Honorable Susan Valdes (as she demands to be called) has endorsed Janet Cruz, candidate for the open District 58 Florida House seat.
These two deserve each other.
Remember, Valdes was the board member who spent $50,000 for travel in her first 3 ½ years in office, about triple the amount of other board members.
She made and received 400 hours of phone calls to April Griffin on her district expenses cell phone. After being exposed, Valdes ended up repaying over 1400 minutes of “personal” calls.
She was almost sued by the principal of a charter school for “slander.” She also claims to be a member of the Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council, but has yet to attend a meeting.
Now, she has endorsed a soul-mate in Janet Cruz.
Cruz, until filing for the District 58 seat, was Janet Rifkin. I guess an Hispanic name helps in a predominately Hispanic district.
Cruz-Rifkin also lives in south Tampa, and promises to move into District 58 only if she wins. Wow!!
And, as the St Pete Times reported, Ms. Cruz-Rifkin has had multiple bad check problems along with a mortgage fraud investigation. Until she married Dr. Rifkin. As least she married up.
Cruz and Valdes deserve each other. They make a better pair than Humpster and Dumpster.
The poor voters!!
Only thing left for Cruz-Rifkin is an endorsement from La Gaceta. Of course, Patrick would endorse a yuca if it were a Democrat.
SP Times Reporter Janet Zink Misses Great Question
In yesterday's Times, Janet Zink wrote about the financial woes of Janet Cruz Rifkin, who is running for the open District 58 House seat.
Apparently, Rifkin was beset by worthless check charges, foreclosure problems, and mortgages scams back in the 1990s. She blamed her troubles on former husband Ramon Cruz.
Miss Janet's money problemskis disappeared when she married Dr. Stephen Rifkin. Shazam!!!
But reporter Zink missed the most obvious point of all: Why is Janet Cruz-Rifkin running an election under her former husband's name.....the one she blames for landing her in poverty?????
Could it be because 75% of the electorate in District 58 are Hispanic????
And did I memtion: Cruz-Rifkin lives in south Tampa, not in District 58, and said she will only move there if elected????
What a Schimdthead!
April Files
First, we see that GED grad April Griffin has filed to run again for her school board seat. No doubt her campaign slogan will be, “I’m personally responsible for securing the $100 mil Gates Foundation grant.” I wonder if she’ll get another endorsement from the SP Times after lying about being a successful business owner.
Remember the Tribune caught her in another lie a few years back, and I caught her in multiple Sunshine law violations. Her only guaranteed endorsement will be from Patrick Manteiga and La Gaceta.
Two others have filed to run against her, but neither have name recognition to go against an incumbent. A third new candidate will file soon that does indeed have ability to beat her. I look forward to helping him win.
Also, Susan Valdes was recently elected board chair. This ought to be a hoot to watch and see the grist for future ruminations. I can’t wait for this high school grad with the huge ego to interact with the educated ones running the district.
As her first meeting as chair, her comment on the Business Process Improvement team was, “We really got into the weeds and got to see what everyone does.” What the heck does that mean? Does she equate the district’s business model with sandspurs and crabgrass? Or maybe, is that her natural habitat?
Gotta Love Those Democrats
Recently, Mike Scionti, Democrat state representative of District 58, announced his resignation to take a real job with the Defense Department.
District 58 represents West Tampa and Town N Country.
Immediately after Scionti’s announcement, longtime Democrat activist and fundraiser Janet Rifkin announced that she will run for Scionti’s vacant seat. Obviously, this whole thing was coordinated.
And, Rifkin already has many local Democrat endorsements. Wow!
One small problemski, though. Rifkin lives in the Culbreath Isles area of South Tampa. She told a reporter that she does not plan to move unless she’s elected. Talk about big brass ones!!!!
And, she has now changed her name to Janet R. Cruz. How convenient. Don’t suppose she’s trying to court those Hispanic voters do you?
This would have been a great job for Susan Valdes. Right up her alley. Ship her off to Tallahassee and let the school board get a new member with a light on. Trouble is, the salary for a state rep is only about $32,000 a year, or $8000 less than Valdes is making now. Since the school board is best money she’s ever made as a high school grad………….
Rifkin, though, does have contenders, such as Mike Suarez, former Hillsborough County Democrat Party chair, and Gil Sanchez, a former legislative aide.
The next few couple of months ought to be interesting.
Susan Valdes Gets Gigged by Elections Commission
My complaint to the Florida Elections Commission about the “Honorable” Susan’s campaign contributions has borne some fruit: Case # FEC 09-007
In a letter I received this week, she’s been found in violation of Florida Statutes for accepting and reporting a $250 cash contribution. In the letter, which is now public record, she tried to blame everyone except her own dumb self.
At one point, she tried to blame the Supervisor of Elections for not notifying her of the law. Of course, the investigator pointed out that she signed a form when she filed for election that stated the she had read and understood the booklet that contained Campaign Statutes. That investigator also considered her violations “willful.”
Let’s remember….Valdes has run for office four times now. A sack of oyster shells would know campaign law by now.
Soon, she’ll be on the hook for a $1000 fine.
Also remember, she had to pay back the 1400 minutes of personal phone calls made on her district-expensed cell phone after I requested those records. 400 of those minutes were conversations with April Griffin.
If Humpster and Dumpster want to keep playing fast and loose with rules and laws, I’ll keep their feet to the fire.
What surprises me the most: that our crack local reporters are so lazy and don’t catch these things themselves.
New Stuff
First, we see that GED grad April Griffin has filed to run again for her school board seat. No doubt her campaign slogan will be, “I’m personally responsible for securing the $100 mil Gates Foundation grant.” I wonder if she’ll get another endorsement from the SP Times after lying about being a successful business owner. Remember the Tribune caught her in another lie a few years back, and I caught her in multiple Sunshine law violations. Her only guaranteed endorsement will be from Patrick Manteiga and La Gaceta.
Second, Susan Valdes was recently elected board chair. This ought to be a hoot to watch and the grist for future ruminations. I can’t wait for this high school grad with the huge ego to interact with the educated ones running the district.
Speaking of Valdes, I haven’t heard anything regarding the Florida Elections Commission hearing on her campaign violation. Nothing has been posted on their website nor have I received and mail from Tallahassee.
