The Fort Lauderdale Observer

Fort Lauderdale Observer
Updated Saturday 2/6/10 • Email Corrections

NEW FORMAT: Click on images below to go to
complete pages, where much more will be found!

Click on images to see complete page

Click on images to see complete page

ABOUT THIS GRAPHIC: Contrary to Mr. Smith's assertion that I sat there like an idiot and took pictures every 5 seconds, this graphic was created by exporting a "stream" of still images from the computerized video of the meeting. A second program cropped the images and compiled them into this "photo catalog." All of that was done in a matter of minutes. Please do not send the men in the white coats. — Cal

Click for blowup

THE REEMERGENCE OF CONNIE HOFFMAN

Word is that former City Manager Connie Hoffman is once again interested in the job. I've never met or spoken to her; she had the job before I was an "active" citizen. But my impressions of her tenure are nothing but positive. – Cal Deal

By former Mayor Robert A. Dressler, April 2005:

"I served as mayor [of Fort Lauerdale] for two terms, through 1985, and when I left, the city was in great financial shape, with substantial financial reserves. Our focus was on planning for the future: There was the 1986 bond issue, which funded the beach redevelopment, Riverwalk, neighborhood improvement, etc. I credit City Manager Connie Hoffman and her excellent staff for much of what was accomplished. She never let us spend a penny more than was in the budget."

ABOUT THESE GRETSAS PAGES

Some people will say that I built these pages because I am bitter about losing the SE 13th Street median fight, in which Gretsas played a key role. Not even close. I built these pages because of what that experience taught me about the character of George Gretsas. I consider him to be a dishonest man, and I deplore The Gretsas Team's use of fear tactics against me as I fought for neighborhood causes. George Gretsas should not be our City Manager. We deserve better.

Further, some people will say that the police union is somehow involved in this. Nothing could be further from the truth. The police union will find out about these pages when they go online.

Finally, I feel these pages are necessary because of Mayor Seiler's repeated statements that he could not vote for "a three-year deal" with Gretsas. He never stated outright that it's time to move on, that he wants a new City Manager. Because he has the key vote, I do not consider the Gretsas Era over just yet. However, I find it hard to believe that Seiler would allow Gretsas to stay after the things Seiler said about the divisions Gretsas has caused in the city and on the Commission. That would be wrong.

Fort Lauderdale is too good a city to have a dark, divisive force like George Gretsas running City Hall. It's time for a change.

— Cal Deal, 11/29/09

PS: If you spot any errors, please let me know!

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Cal Deal
1317 SE 2nd Ave.
Fort Lauderdale 33316

(954) 295-3726

Always do right. This will gratify some people
and astonish the rest.
— Mark Twain