SO LONG, FAREWELL, AUF WIEDERSEHN, ADIEU.....GOODBYE

     This is a message to Peter Cruz, a man who should be barred from UCO. To put it simply - the man is a fascist. He advocates the use of force and certainly, at the very least, the implied use of force and fear. Just read his most recent comment on the other blog and you will agree. And I quote:

      Plcruise said...

The voting was NOT accurate. The counters were completely confused as to who or what to count. I asked the guy counting on the stage left and he was not sure what motion was being voted and did not record any pro Wi Fi votes as he proceeded up the rows (I watched closely). As someone who was THERE, the meeting was out of control and Dave's fellow UCO officers, the ones that are not trying to stab in him the back continually--you listening Ziccardy et al. --just sat there offering no support. A very bad scene and it will be continued in January if PBSO is not present.

     (Please note the underlining is mine.)

     Lie #1. The voting was as accurate as any other DA vote. They all stink and are rife with miscounts, by accident and on purpose and I would even agree that the number of 78 Pro votes was off - there were far less. I was THERE TOO and looked at the hands in the air.
     Lie #2.  The point is that there was an overwhelming anti Wi Fi vote there, by hand or by voice. The issue was a moot point, obvious and strong. Trying to count nearly 200 votes against was a ridiculous idea and we would have been there forever with the system. Even the Grand Poohbah realized that and accepted the inevitable.
     Lie #3. This is the worst. First, it was not a bad scene. It was an energetic explosion of pent up anger at what the Grand Poohbah and buddies have been doing all along to suppress opponents but the worst is the statement that the vote and the situation would have been different and will be different if PBSO officers were there. FASCIST!!!Would the presence of PBSO deputies have forced the officers to speak vows of support? There are countries in the world who do this and if you need to go there to be more comfortable with your views, then please do so, but do not attempt to practice nor force these views and behaviorisms on us here in the Village.
Are you actually suggesting that we need to have our votes controlled by police officers and implied and real threats to our physical safety? Are you saying that senior citizens need to be watched with implied and real threats in a fake demonstration of democracy? FASCIST!!! You are a disgrace to every American who ever stood up for the rights of all, for every American who fought in wars to defend our democracy. FASCIST!!! Get the hell out of UCO. You should be ashamed of yourself and you, David Israel, should disavow his statements or else understand that you, too, are a fascist at heart.

MUSINGS OF AN EARLY MORNING

     Busy time of year. Making sure all is in readiness for the onslaught of guests at Hotel Sutofsky and checking on all the weather situations all over the USA well into January, worrying whether flights will be ok or not, whether Orlando weather will be good, whether West Palm weather will be good. And of course, what the heck do we do with the kids if it is not!!!!!
     When they visit, these kids do not see anything wrong here in the Village. To them, it is life in a year round hotel what with the courts and the pools and even the shows. What they want to know is why they can't go to the shows!
    It is too bad that their bright view of our "year round hotel" is not quite the way they think nor the way it should be. We obviously need a new hotel manager and staff and resignations would be a wonderful holiday season gift and end year bonus to the residents, but if that does not happen, I am content, I have decided, to watch the Grand Poohbah fall into more and deeper holes as he ignores the wishes of the residents, as he tries to fumble his way out of the holes he has dug for himself and let him enjoy his last year in office - if he can, knowing that there are close eyes on his deeds.
     What we do need to do is look for new staff, new Board members, if not for this election then for the following one, a major one. Victory is at hand if we remain strong and deny the Poohbah his perceived power, if we ignore the inanities of his crew. Actually, I am quite pleased to find myself assigned a level of power I never knew I held. I am a "train wreck", someone who will ruin the village. Truly?? I know even one voice can make a difference, but I believe I am here to help save the Village rather than destroy its integrity, its financial stability, and make sure that reality is the way we attack our issues, rather than with expensive and unnecessary pipe dreams.
     I early morning daydream of a bright Village with great roads, a safe perimeter walkway, of well kempt swales, of clean and functioning drains, of a WPRF that stops spending our money on nonsense and hires contractors that actually do a job that will last more than three years, of an election process wherein we return to the values of the USA - of open debate, of free campaigning, of impartial processes, of truths rather than lies.
     Quite frankly, I could care less who is elected president in that election. I could care less about the names of those elected to two VP seats open this election and to the names of Executive Board members. What I do care about, and care about deeply, is the hope that the people attached to these names do the right thing. That they realize that they are here to serve the people of the Village, rather than the other way around. That they are not rulers, but rather the ears of the residents, the council that is supposed to come together and improve the Village, the council that consults with the Village and does not take a conceited and egotistical viewpoint that they know best and will plan for the incompetent children of the Village. That - we do not need anymore.
     So join me in my early morning musings and daydreams and let us make it a reality, one that the Village sorely needs. Proof of the pudding - go look at the anger and the vitality evidenced in the past delegate assembly. A favorite popular singer sang "Hear me roar" - well, Poohbah, et al - hear us roar.

HERE WE GO LOOP DE LOO....

     It seems that that old saw, "The more things change, the more things remain the same" applies to life and UCO here in the Village. It seems that if one does not like what one sees, then just do it again and ignore the result, even if it was a dramatic result.
     We saw this behavior with the term limits last year when the Grand Poohbah was third time lucky as he had an assembly composed mainly of his zombie delegates and good soldiers . We are certainly expecting him to be planning his campaign for Wi Fi and we can see the first steps to that. Yesterday, Petey Boy, (it figures), posted a most inane posting about a suit in California with Comcast which is one of the stupidest things I have ever read. It makes no sense and has no tie to us here. First and foremost, while I do not know the details there, NO ONE was forced into the OPT OUT program here as it was an association vote and decision. Quite unlike, I would say, the plan by the Grand Poohbah to force all of us into his plan so, Petey Boy, think again and think real carefully of where the suits would be if the shoe were on the other foot. OK. First dud missile but there is another interesting detail. Why, on the list that Ted Herle, the CAM, keeps circulating month after month, with the same things crossed off and the same things to be done, why, oh why, do we see at the bottom of the list "WiFi - WIP (work in progress).
     THERE IS NO WORK IN PROGRESS. THERE IS NO WI FI. THE ASSEMBLY, AND THUS THE VILLAGE, VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO OPPOSE IT. SO WHY IS IT STILL THERE, TED? YOU WORK FOR US, NOT DAVID ISRAEL. NOT ED BLACK. NOT THE WI FI COMMITTEE.
     This is an example of what the Grand Poohbah does. He perseverates, wears people down, buys them off with his gifts of petty little kingdoms, and plays his political machine game. The only problem is, this is not a game and we barely escaped miring ourselves once again in a multi million dollar fiasco. We must be alert to him. What we all need to do is show up at the next Wi Fi meeting and the next and the next, etc. so our Grand Poohbah will realize that we are watching, very carefully, and any plans he has or wants to make will have to be advanced in secret, for we will not allow him to openly subvert the wishes of the Village.
     And while we are at it, let us press forward with the hard questioning that must take place on the budget.  We cannot seem to get a final budget from Howie O'Brien, for each budget is so termed and then voila! we get another one. It is magical, for money appears and disappears, is appropriated and assigned on the whims of the Treasurer who seems to sway quite nicely with the whim of the Poohbah, and other numbers change as well. We get assigned a larger fee due to a "blended" budget, but who voted on that number and increase? Not the assembly, that's for sure! And now that we have this money from the Wi FI reserve and UCO has NO MANDATE or permission to spend or expend funds on it, why cannot this money go to lowering the fees or better yet, stick it in the road reserve for sure as shootin' we will be there soon enuf! Notice that figure change as well. The budget handed out said on the life expectancy line 30 years for the roads. Are they drunk or just dumb!! Now the figure is down to 10 years. Yes, folks, 10 years and the Treasurer said he now has that figure after he and the CAM went around the Village. Could have saved him the time as we certainly have been pointing out its deficiencies since day 1 of the job.
    Numbers. Dances. Here we go again. We must be alert. We must be vigilant and not let our guard down, certainly until the Poohbah is out of office and speaking of that - who among you are ready to pull the trigger and start the recall procedure? Who will sign the petition? Or do you still think the man has magical powers? HE DOES NOT. He is the man behind the mirror - useless, powerless, and concerned not with your requirements, not with the needs of the Village, but only of his own thoughts, desires and pet projects. Time to go, Poohbah, time to go.

GUEST POSTING FROM PHYLLIS RICHLAND

 

It is a shame that those of us who knew Barbara Shapkin and Roberta Fromkin for more years than a lot of folks and worked with them in UCO , are unable to post on the other blog because he who is an idiot won't allow it. What I would like to say is these women were kind and gentle and caring. They gave of themselves to this village without any return only the satisfaction that what they did helped others.

  I am sorry they are gone. This village would be in much better shape if we had more people that cared without an agenda as these women were.

May they rest in peace and pray for all of us.

Phyllis

WHAT ELSE?

     Let's continue the autopsy of the UCO administration and see what else has infected it so much that it has become useless - no, worse than that - dangerous to the residents. We already know that it is consumed by a ruling theory of lies, lies, lies, and have shown that to be the case in many a posting, including the most recent one entitled TRUTH AND ANALYSIS where the lies were just running wild as they tried to explain away the resounding trouncing they took in the Wi Fi vote. Now let us look elsewhere in the corporate body for other signs of rotting disease.
     Aha! There it is! In plain sight. It is the disease of cronyism, an often fatal disease and one which certainly leads to great suffering to the constituents and to eventual uselessness in that same body corporate. Cronyism is the form of government wherein only friends of the Grand Poohbah can have a part in the government and all else may only enter and be accepted after they agree to sell their souls for some chairmanship or petty committee and pledge their loyalty to that same Grand Poohbah and his Grand Vizier.
     UCO has become exceedingly stagnant and self focused. No new ideas are brought up or even allowed to be discussed unless it coincides with their wishes, their "legacy" plans, their warped scheme of finance and budgeting. Check the lists of volunteers and personnel of UCO and you will see the same people over and over again, in committees, in positions, etc. The use of non elected people to head important committees is another nail in this corporate body as non elected officials generally do not owe allegiance to the residents, but to the one who appointed them. Bad news, bad news indeed!
     Here are some examples of that. Ed Black, the same man, who as Treasurer, fooled around with our funds, the same man who pulls David Israel's strings, is the head of about 5 or 6 committees, including Security, Channel 63, etc. Barbara Cornish, non elected, is head of the Bid committee and though she does try to demand that UCO remember the Bid committee in its process, it is more often in the breach rather than the observance - and what can she say - she is not even elected, just appointed. Or how about the fact that the VP Joy Vestal is also editor of The Reporter and in that position has blocked any opposing viewpoints, has pointedly said she will NEVER allow it to happen and this despite the fact that the editorial policy states exactly the opposite premise and it is a principle of journalism
    Finally, we come to a grossly wrong, just wrong, series of appointments of one person, Broomhilda (AKA Gorodetzer), also NON ELECTED - to the positions of head of the By Law and Articles rewriting committee and mind you, she basically works with David Israel on this and the others are yes men; to the head of the Election committee and wow, does she do a "job" on that, using real polite language to deal with people who have the nerve to question and point out irregularities; so for all intents and purposes, this non elected, most unpleasant personage, now controls the keys to the kingdom, the paths to the future and non partisan is not even in her dictionary. Now that Marc Friedman has recused himself from UCO, with whom is she supposedly consulting and mind you, all that consulting means is that the documents are checked for correct legalese, not content of said by laws and Articles and hence are proving to be even more restrictive of rights for our residents than ever before.
     Now we need a new head of nominations for unfortunately Roberta Fromkin has passed away. So who now? Well, Broomhilda might be available or perhaps one of the resident lounge abouts of UCO who nod and jerk to the tune of David Israel and Ed Black. How about someone impartial or a co-chair situation for this and for the elections committee and for by laws etc.? Nah! Never happen.
     Yes, our body corporate is sick indeed and our living autopsy is quickly turning into an autopsy of the rights of the individual residents here. Facts are denied. Excuses are made. They love to blame a "dedicated group" (their term) when it is obvious that the stench of their misdeeds, the stench of their rotting body corporate is overwhelming and people are reacting, asking questions and voting NO to David Israel's plans.
    But we must do more. Much more. We must be vigilant. We must run for offices. We must vote new people in. We must encourage co-operation, honesty, transparency, capability rather than incompetence, process and procedure rather than whims and stumbling along. WE must do better if we are to have a viable Village future.
     We must have a slate of officers and personnel of UCO who actually move their rear ends  out of the office where they can stuff their faces all day on candy and cake that WE pay for, away from the mirrors that reflect back their own supposed glory - and go out into the world, meet the residents, take part in functions, go to shows, see what is there, maybe trip a bit on our lousy and uneven perimeter walkways or break an ankle at the dangerous bus stops - take the one across the street from my building where we have been asking multiple times to fix this before the worst happens - get away from your stupid computer games where our esteemed Great Leader takes away the password to the cloud so an opponent in UCO cannot get on and get needed information, or when he breaks their computer and "wonders" with a smirk, just how did that happen?
     Yes, we must eliminate the stench, the cartoonish but dangerous antics that go on and get something fresh going here. Autopsy complete; conclusion - fresh blood, new ideas, healthy minds - all are necessary and there is a strong need to cut away the rotted and corrupted parts that have infected the body corporate. We can revive the body corporate, but it means hard work and involvement. No waiting for others to step up to the plate while you sit back. Step up!Let's get to it.


PS  for Gracie: Thanks for the laugh you always provide right at the moment I need it but I must remind you - get on a committee? Are you for real? Your own lord and master, the Grand Poohbah, has openly stated on his blog that he will NEVER allow me nor any opposition member to serve so why not go talk to him. Open your mind up already. I almost feel sorry for you and the fact that you are so easily hoodwinked. Such is the UCO we have and such is the UCO YOU support. Shame on you.
     Today is a good day for that hot chocolate discussion. You up for it?

WHAT IS UP NEXT FOR THE VILLAGE - BUDGET TIME

     We are on a high, and rightfully so, as we defeated the Wi Fi issue, decisively and loudly. And no, to the poster on the other blog, a roll call would not have had you win. It simply would have been a voiced by number defeat of the Wi Fi, although roll call is the way to go, not the asinine way we have been doing it, rife with errors, accidental and on purpose.
     But what is immediately next, though not alone, is the issue of the budget. I am not an expert with numbers. I am not a CPA nor even a plain old accountant. However, I have worked with budgets both in my personal and professional life, and NEVER have I ever come across a budget that was so fickle, so changeable, that it changes every couple of days or so and not by a little. Oh, no! It changes by hundreds of thousands of dollars and not just once.
     This cannot be. A budget can change by smaller amounts as importance and need or real anticipated expenditures are evaluated and prepared for, but not by that amount! Unless someone can show me a devoted and wealthy philanthropist who donated that hundreds of thousands of dollars that suddenly became available, then I believe that there is something definitely off here, something rotten in the state of the Village.
     Whether it is because we suddenly have shifted monies into fewer reserve or designated funds - NOT a good idea - or we fiddled the numbers somehow, or we plain lied or whatever the reason and cause - THIS BUDGET IS NOT TO BE APPROVED. In fact, NO budget should be approved until we get some answers and then we need a forensic audit. I have been saying this too for months.
     We were lucky that we had Dorothy when we did for she saved us from bankruptcy. We were lucky we had George when we did, for as president and an accountant, he had a sharp eye on things. During those years we saved a half million dollars a year for the roadwork and then in one fell swoop GONE, just gone, under the "leadership" of David Israel and Ed Black. Over $2 million dollars just signed over on a blank piece of paper, no delegate approval, no proper contract, no oversight, no common or business sense and on and on.
     If you think this type of irresponsible fiscal behavior is over and done with _ WRONG, SO WRONG. Our contracts are not written nor signed with the residents benefit in mind. Even now, with the security contract that they ballyhoo about - tell me the final cost? Tell me the placement of cameras around the Village and where it is written in the contract? And no, that is supposedly for the gatehouses, UCO building and WPRF facilities. We saved ourselves grief with the defeat of Wi Fi for now, millions of dollars, but let us save more with the budget - a review, an overhaul and an accounting by a team of people from within and without the Village and NOT NOT NOT only by David Israel's minions.
     In the meanwhile, this "blended" contract and its raise in fees should be defeated. We never approved a higher fee, only to extend the contract. This is illustrative and symptomatic of what is going on here in the Village.
     I still say, time for a motion for a vote of no confidence in this administration and then recall or resignation. we still have our future to prepare for. Let us do it properly and begin with the budget.

TRUTH AND ANALYSIS

     Reading the various blogs, it is difficult to understand how we were all at the same DA. Here is the truth as it truly was and is. Compare it to what is posted on David Israel's lying blog in the comments by his flunkies.
  Petey Boy - "Many attending the Delgate meeting showed an extreme lack of even basic preparation for the issues to be discussed--letting a few crazy vindictive people prance around the room inciting confusion..... We are probably not ready for continued self government here "
     "....unlike some of the creatures dwelling under rocks on the other blogs."

The truth is - No one was prancing around the room.

Movement in a crowded room is expected. I myself was up about three times, to answer a call or two and for personal reasons. I saw no frogs or toads, possibly a troll or two, but nothing else other than some very unhappy people, tired of the sentiment that they do not deserve self government. I have been saying this for months.

David Israel, our esteemed self styled  Great Leader: "Today's meeting was an exercise in orchestrated disruption.

As usual, the Malcontents contribute nothing, no signal; only noise!"

The truth is - there was no orchestration by anyone on the opposition. He himself sent out videos to thousands of people to come - we also urged people to come - and come they did - to his detriment. The truth is, the Great Leader lost control of the meeting - so strong was the element of disgust and "had enough" that ran through the delegates - 250 plus residents.

Be careful what one wishes for - could rise up and bite one in the rear - as it did on Friday.

Bocaratonic (from Boca CV) : "Given the spotty performance, unreliability and droppy connections that we get at on the Village Wi-Fi system at CVW in Boca Raton from the vendor that you selected, the delegates may have done you a big favor.

Wait for the technology and bandwidth cost to improve."

The truth is - we have been saying this for months and months.

Nasty is as nasty does and liars never change. Above is the proof of the pudding and there is more. Watch the videos and you will not see a sign of anything but people who were and are disgusted by the behavior of the current leadership, if it can be called that, and had enough. If they shouted out for a roll call, it was because we are tired of the fake counting that goes on at these meetings and we had to wait while his "counters" could not add up a few numbers (need help in math?) and Israel tried all sorts of ways to delay and put off the proper voting. He was creamed and then stunned. His own people, his own delegates, except for the good soldiers who always follow his orders, voted against the Wi Fi installation in every aspect of his proposed plans.
     But there is yet more. He did stifle discussion, as I predicted, limiting people and time, allowed a "neutral" speaker to take up the slot of an anti speaker and then cut off discussion whenever he felt like it - for example - when I stood at the mike. EVEN MORE TELLING WAS HIS STATEMENT "OH, JESUS" WHEN A RESIDENT CAME UP TO SPEAK. This can be checked out on the video of the meeting. He did not realize the open mike was right there. OOPS! Evidently he could not take another resident daring to speak and he intimidated her so that she pleaded for him not to be upset with her. Really???!!! What right did he have to be upset, he of the Chair who did not remain or even begin to be neutral.
     This is not the end, for he is well known for coming back again and again to an issue until he has the proper population of delegates to get his way - never mind the larger votes that had turned down his demands before. Remember term limits.

There is much more to be done and in another posting later today or tomorrow I will address these issues. In the meanwhile, another thanks to all those who came, KNEW what was going on, in contrast to what that nasty Petey Boy wrote and just for a starter - THINK ABOUT A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN DAVID ISRAEL, INDEED IN THE WHOLE OF UCO AND A DEMAND OF RESIGNATION OR RECALL. Just a beginning, folks, just a beginning, the first step on the way to true self government, true transparency, true expertise, process and procedure, true adherence to the needs of the residents, true attention to our fiscal needs and realities, true and trustworthy by law and Articles revisions, true and fair and honest election and for that - the first and major step is to get rid of Marilyn Gorodetzer, AKA Broomhilda, who has been arbitrarily appointed to head all of these - including the counting at assemblies! - WE WANT A NON PARTISAN CO CHAIR - OR AT LEAST ONE FROM EACH SIDE.
     Put all this in your pipe and smoke it, David Israel. Come down from your high chair up there and debate. Be a man. I know it is hard - but do try.

PS to Petey Boy. Are you that dumb or what? You could have had 100 PBSO officers there and they would have stood there with their thumbs up their rears as there was no actionable deeds at the assembly. People calling out their disgust, their impatience and doing all this while in their seats - and you think PBSO would have acted upon this. Actually, I would have liked to see that tried as what a bunch of civil law suits would have arisen out of that and then maybe David Israel and crew would truly and finally gotten the message.

GUEST POSTING BY EDWARD ROSS RE DAVID ISRAEL

ISRAEL, THE PRESIDENT OF UCO, SHOULDN’T BE PRESIDENT OF ANY ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE!
On Thursday, December 4th at 1:14 P.M., an e-mail was sent to the President of UCO, David Israel, with a copy to other UCO officers and personnel.  Israel responded with an e-mail.  Both are reproduced below so that you can digest what we’re dealing with in the Village. It is pathetic!
“An incident occurred that you and others in authority should be aware of.
On Wednesday, December 3rd, while exiting my unit, no. 201, at Oxford 100, water was gushing out of the ground and flooding surrounding areas at the irrigation pump between the Oxford 100 and the Dorchester H buildings.  I had noticed yesterday that the area beside the pump was dug up.
I called the UCO office; it was late in the morning.  Natalie answered and she was most cordial.  I told her what was happening and she referred me to the Property Manager, Ted Herle.  She rang his phone and he answered about 2 minutes later with “Yeah”.  I asked if I had the Property Manager and he said, “Yeah, what?”  I gave him my name and address and told him what was going on.  He said that he couldn’t hear what I was saying.  I slowly and loudly repeated myself and before I was finished telling him again, he said, “You’ll have to come into the UCO office and see me about it.”  He then immediately hung up the phone.  
It was and still is difficult for me to understand what had transpired.  I’m reporting something to UCO that needs immediate attention, and it is ignored.
I just got back from up north and I’m greeted with attitude and seeming hostility in an emergency situation.  Because of other stories that I have heard, I would like to think that this is not the attitude of everybody at UCO.
EDWARD ROSS”




Response from David Israel
“Hi all,
This matter must be immediately referred to Eduardo!
Dave”

Can you believe for one moment that this light-minded man is the President of UCO?
One could expect such a reply to a serious e-mail from a dense, if not an altogether unsophisticated dope.
Israel’s reply is typical of a man who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the office he holds and its professional responsibilities in serving the people, - - but more of a pathological preoccupation of himself.  I cannot fathom why the people of Century Village allow this man to remain the President of UCO.
Israel reeks of paranoia and he should go back to pushing the keys of his PC and secretly spying on people rather than serving as President of UCO.
I can relate Israel’s asinine statement to a state of emergency wherein a tornado hits the UCO building and the only thing Israel has to offer is “Is my chair damaged?”
EDWARD ROSS

VICTORY FOR THE VILLAGE

                             WE WON!!!!!!!


    Thank you delegates and residents of the Village for the resounding and sound defeat of the Wi Fi proposal for the Village. It was an expense of uncertain duration and an open ended multi million dollar price tag and a very unsure state of quality and workability.
     So pompous videos and put on airs do not work. Appealing to the common sense of our residents does work.
     Perhaps it is time that the UCO officers realize that they do not have the temperature of their constituents and they must remedy that. Frankly, I would have loved to see a vote of no confidence in this UCO administration. That is how out of touch they are with reality. They need to open up UCO to the rest of the world and stop trying to keep all in their tight hot little hands.
     David Israel needs to go to school to learn how to run a meeting properly, how to exercise control in a positive manner and not by arbitrarily deciding that something is or is not out of order or by arguing his feeling from the dais. That is verboten! He must learn to share the wealth in terms of appointing people to count ballots for example, not keep it partisan - exactly as was done in the elections.The chair MUST remain neutral and believe you me, this man does not.
     Onwards and upwards we will go now. We will tackle the other issues that plague us in the Village and watch very carefully that David Israel does not try to raise this again when the Village is quite empty and he has only his zombie delegates, exactly what he did with term limits.
     Congratulations to all of us !!

TELL THE TRUTH

      There is actually one problem in this Village which leads to all the others. That is the fact that the current administration of UCO does not tell the truth. It tells outright lies, half truths, lies of omission and simply ignores questions when the answers are harmful towards them and their ilk. Then again, when one is paranoid, when one is fixated on retaining presumed powers, then it is hard to recognize and accept the truth even when it rises up and smacks one in the face.
     One cannot be for term limits, against term limits and then for term limits again. One cannot be for transferring funds and then against it after financial shenanigans and pressure on a treasurer to bollix up budgets.
     One cannot claim to be a "defender" of liberty and the values of this country and then block arenas for free speech and assembly, for communication.
     One cannot say that he is for what is best for the Village when he put us into debt for a crappy road job and then wants to play the same game again by transferring all funds into one reserve fund so he can spend and spend, without DA interference.
    One cannot stand or rather sit there and pontificate how the "DA is the Board of Directors of the Village" and then do everything he and his cronies can do to shortcircuit these same delegates.
     One cannot use the story of an isolated multi settlement village in the mountains of Italy and their installation of Wi Fi to the situation here in the Village. But, if one insists, then let us take a look at it more closely. That was an isolated village with primitive Internet connection. The installation was done on a wing and a prayer with little financial output and no multi million dollar contract and infrastructure. It was basically done by one guy with a drive and a dream and no one dunned the people of the village for millions of dollars.
     But let us take a look at another Times story of two days ago where the perils of a Wi Fi system that is open, such as the one that the Great Leader wants to install here is VERY DANGEROUS. The security is poor, financial transactions should not take place on them for all your information is out there and ready for the taking. Smaller systems are better, more secure in this very insecure world of the Ethernet.
     The people here in  the Village are getting poor information, no information and misinformation. THERE IS WI FI IN THE VILLAGE AND IT IS WORKING FINE. Comcast has the fastest and widest bandwidth at present in the USA. You can have an installation of business quality Comcast Wi Fi in your own Association for a mere pittance, without financially crippling yourself or the Village for decades to come. Gracie keeps babbling about how we have none and how this will enhance the selling value. Are you selling up and leaving, Gracie? Oh, what a pleasant thought!.
We have Wi Fi, we can install more at a pittance, and we will not burden ourselves with debt. We are not the Federal government with its endless resources. Now NO DEBT will enhance the selling value - maybe even convince you to sell, Gracie Girl. Bye!
     This is our money, our funds, that are being misused here. This is our Village, our Channel 63 - not that of David Israel. He had no right to use their facilities to make his ridiculous video with its pompous dramatic music and his posturing and he certainly then should have offered an opposition outlet as that is the way it is done here in America.
    But the problem is that David Israel thinks he is a RULER, the KING of all that he sees. Well, he is not. Just watch the tricks he tries to pull today at the Assembly. Let's see - limiting discussion time and speaker time and then stacking the deck with his flunkies. I mean, who is putting forward the motion but his flunky techie Ron Rosoff, he of the filthy mouth and bug eyes when he shouts at someone and calls them a piece of shit. (Sorry for the language, but that is the exact term and behavior he evidenced and used when he did that to me last year at a committee meeting.) And what did our esteemed Great Leader do - sat there with a grin and bounced up and down in his chair in glee instead of using that damn gavel of his and calling Ron Rosoff out of order.
    So what else - aha, forbid certain speakers, violate Robert's Rules where the chair of the meeting must remain neutral and of course, the vote that always goes his way since it is impossible to be done correctly or impartially the way he does it. One at least has to count row by row by walking the aisles and at least two people together must count each section and they must be either impartial - ha! or from opposing viewpoints for counting to be fair.
     People, delegates - do not let this man and his nefarious crew ruin our Camelot. Vote NO   NO   NO on all motions today. Send this man and his ilk a message. We will not be dictated to, lied to, cheated, or condescended to. You are not king and no one died and appointed you the boss. What you are supposed to be is the servant of the people, their representative and that - you certainly are not.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THEY?

Who, you might ask, are “THEY” – they are the officers of UCO – all of them!
I have just returned from attending the funeral of a resident who gave much of her time to CV.  Her husband, was a Vice President of UCO.  She was beside him all the time and often spoke at Delegate meetings.  She is one of the nicest people I met here.
Who, is this person you might ask.  Barbara Shapkin is the answer.  She and Phil had only the best interests of CV in mind; to the extent of leading the opposition on the issue of developing the golf course.  
So – why am I even writing this?  Because I am appalled that NOT ONE UCO officer took the time, maybe one hour, to attend the graveside service which was held locally.  Could they not even find someone to represent UCO?  Perhaps a member of the Executive Board or one of the committee chairpersons who aren’t even Executive Board members.
What a sad commentary.  What have we become that we need to carry grudges over to the grave!  For shame!!
DOROTHY TETRO

SHAME ON YOU

     Just returned from the funeral service of Barbara Shapkin, wife of Phil Shapkin, and one of the sweetest women one could ever have the pleasure of knowing. It was amazing to see all those who attended and gave honor to her, one of the highest good deeds one can do in the Jewish religion - paying honor to the one who just died.
     What was nasty was the fact that not one official from UCO could be bothered to attend this service. Not a one could spare the time. Not a one could honor a deserving person and why? Because they are so busy? Because a meeting has never before been postponed? Or was it because Phil often spoke against David Israel's plans?
     Whatever the reason - it is no excuse. Shame on you.

PETER, PAUL AND ED BLACK

     Here we go again. This ride is getting truly nauseous, what with the same uphills and downhills, the same turning upside downs keep repeating. Now it is even getting dangerous.
     Ed Black, a man who is not an elected official of UCO, yet who runs approximately six committees and basically runs David Israel, has often stated that the financial principle of "rob Peter to pay Paul" is a financially sound one and just fine of our Village. Well, it is not. I repeat, it is not!
     With budget after budget being presented, with Howie O' Brien, the Treasurer, seemingly going every which way that David Israel and Ed Black want him to, we are back to the future again. Once again we have a budget that has no basIs in reality. Once again, we have a budget that does not present the truth but only numbers that make no sense. Once again, we have a budget and a proposal that will take all the monies out of various reserve funds, without explaining that to the delegates, and leave us once again in a no cash situation to pay our bills. We had that once before and do not need it again.
     One cannot live from the air. Money is needed to pay current and forthcoming bills and money is needed to be put away for future needs. They have got our roads lasting for 30 years. Are they out of their minds - no, only liars and cheats and financial incompetents with egos and minds fastened only on their own needs, their own desires and not the Village's.
    The only way to defeat this, to send a message that we will not have this is to vote NO  NO   NO at the assembly. Defeat all of the motions to transfer money, to spend money, to add more money with fees and to discuss a contract with DSL, the same company that was rejected by UCO's OWN expert last time around. Read Dorothy's article and understand the danger we are in.
     Read the article just before this one, written by Dorothy Tetro who pulled our nuts out of the fire last time. Read it and weep for she is no longer Treasurer and the one we have appears to be selling us down the river. They talk of property values? Well, watch them sink into the sea when we become a bankrupt village.

NO  NO  NO

HERE WE GO AGAIN - FINANCIAL VOODOO

HERE WE GO AGAIN!  OR SO IT SEEMS – SHIFTING MONEY & HIDING THE TRUTH!

Are we on the verge of another Ponzi scheme?  It would appear to me to be just that.  If I have correctly understood the latest article in the Reporter, “excess” money in UCO Operating (checking) accounts is to be transferred to a reserve fund.  So again, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

Folks, we were there before when it became necessary to use money from ALL the accounts – operating and reserve – to pay for the roads.  And now, in an attempt to make things look just peachy, the powers that be have decided that all that needs to be done is to transfer operating funds to the reserves.

When I took office in March of 2012 the balances in the checking accounts were dangerously low.  The auditors made note of this fact in their annual report and recommended TWO  months as a minimum balance on hand at the end of each quarter.  Bear with me as I attempt to explain this using numbers that may just be more personal.

It’s the first of the month, and your checking account balance is $412.  Your basic monthly expenses, that is shelter and utilities, are $1,000.  You cannot pay all of your bills until your social security check is deposited.  Your check is deposited to your account on the third Wednesday of the month.  How will you pay for food, medicine if necessary, and perhaps you would like to be able to spend just a few dollars on a haircut.  Not possible until the third Wednesday.   Is this the way you would like to live?

So, by transferring what is apparently considered excess money to reserves, that is ostensibly what is being proposed.  By the end of this month – December – it seems to me that if this proposal is accepted, there will not be enough money in the bank on the first of January to meet January expenses.  Yes, quarterly payments are due that month just as your social security check is due on the third Wednesday.  

And, one last point – money in reserves are to be spent for the specific purpose as indicated by the account name.  And, as a courtesy if nothing else, the Delegates should be given the opportunity to approve the expenditure.

So folks, please think very very carefully before approving this shuffling of funds.  Ponzi scheme or shell game, call it what you will.  Your treasurer last time was Ed Black.  Who is really responsible for this money-shifting scheme?  The cast of characters is practically the same as it was for the road paving fiasco - Israel and Black.   Where is O’Brien in this picture?   Howard O’Brien, a practicing CPA , should know the importance of maintaining proper ready cash balances.

DOROTHY TETRO 

CAMELOT AND US

And I paraphrase -
      "and once there was a spot..... for happily ever aftering....for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."

     Last night I saw a performance of Camelot at the Kravis Center. Again, the voices, particularly the males, did not come to Broadway standard, though Guinivere's was wonderful. The music was excellent; I love the songs from Camelot and recommend it if you have the chance.
     But what is more important is the nostalgia - and the thoughts of today - that this show induced. I remember when I was in sixth grade and I had to represent JFK in primary debates in the classroom, my first experience with politics. I still have all the information sent to me by the campaign office of JFK, schlepped it with me through all my moves. Why? Because, whether we look back with a jaundiced eye or not, the truth is that JFK brought out the best in the young. He stood for idealism, for hope, for the future, for our own version of a modern day round table. We were asked to give of ourselves to and for others, to honor the virtues of justice, charity, caring, honor, etc - all the virtues that Mordred made fun of and all that King Arthur stood for.
     So for one brief shining moment we had Camelot. and then the world fell apart with the loss of JFK and RFK who had given us one more last brief shining moment of hope for a new Camelot, and then the war in Vietnam tore us apart and we have never returned to the way we were. We bite and snap at each other. One party threatens to block any progress in government and the other party flounders around in a quandary, wondering just what to do. We have another president in a series of presidents, many of whom failed in their responsibility towards us, the residents of the USA, a man who epitomizes the Peter Principle, who has reached beyond his scope and ability.
     So where is the us in this? Simple. We too once were a Camelot until fighting nearly split the Village and thus UCO was formed to help unite, to help negotiate and life resumed. But unfortunately, many of the virtues necessary in a good leader, in a member of Camelot, were missing in many of the ":leaders" of the Village. Presidents of associations took, even demanded, money from their residents and just yesterday I had a conversation where I heard that one association has to leave money in a laundry room, in a special box just for the president of the association, or else face the consequences. Really. This is medieval and why does it still exist and better yet, why is it allowed to exist?
     This rot that pervades some areas of the Village comes from the top. Our "top leaders" are disconnected with the daily life of the Village. They are never seen out and about, talking with people, looking around, hearing the issues that most concern them. They are stuffed into their offices, planning away, planning their own monuments to their lives here, their petty "legacies" and is there bad rot here? Oh, yes indeed. I will not name names but there are many who raise the question about who benefits from these sadly, tragically, incompetent contracts that we sign. Who gives us contracts for elevators that are not fixed immediately in a senior community, a contract which subjected residents to humiliating and frightening experiences even though the firemen and EMTs were as wonderful as ever.
     Why are we continuously playing with budget numbers till they say what David Israel and Ed Black want them to say? Why are we playing around with projects that have no place right now in our Village? Why do we worry about shifting bocce and petanque courts again and again, wasting money as if it were water - and we know that even water is becoming scarce in many areas! Why are we insisting on millions of dollars in debt to be added to our burden when there is no need for it, when the momentum against this is building up. Why is the president of UCO using UCO facilities to make videos, oh so dramatic, to plead for his project, his pet project that will form his "legacy"- a multi million dollar debt and an incompetent system that will remain here long after he is gone.
     People, where is our Camelot? Where is our shining moment? Where are our virtues of civility, justice and openness? Where is our welcome of other thoughts, knowing that a variety of thinking leads to new and improved ways of life? Where is our Camelot? It is in your hands, that is where it is. Save our future. Vote NO NO NO at Friday's Delegate Assembly.
     Wi Fi is here in the Village. You can install a financially responsible system in your association or pay a huge and growing increase in order to pay for our own Mordred's system. It will not be only an additional $2 a month. Trust me on that! Or just keep your Wi Fi as is- with it being your own private decision.
     And remember what is coming next - the sneaky, nasty, dictatorial by laws and Articles of Incorporation that are being done oh so privately by Broomhilda, David Israel, and input by our infamous non elected "official" Ed Black, he of the "let's move funds around to pay for what we want and never mind the legality or the justice or the rightness of it."
     Oh, and don't forget - the threat to use armed force on those who dare to disagree with the Great Leader. Well, I disagree with you, David Israel. You are too cowardly to debate in open so why not step down from the dais and speak as a resident and stop violating Robert's Rules. Stop being the bully in the schoolyard. Or are you going to try to shut me and all other speakers down in your usual dictatorial manner?
     Where is Camelot? In our own hands to keep or to lose.

BARBARA SHAPKIN

It is sad  information that I pass on to you.

I am sorry to report the death of Barbara Shapkin, beloved wife of Phil Shapkin.

Services will be at 10 AM on Thursday December 4th at 5601 Greenwood Ave
Royal Palm Beach Memorial Gardens
Section F

May her memory be for a blessing and may we all know and share only happy occasions from now on.

Directions: 45th St.  past St Mary's to Greenwood Ave,  make a left turn, go a couple of blocks and it is on left.

NO!!! NO!!!! NO!!!!!

     The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. In this case, I am not sure who is the more insane - we, "the dedicated few or small group" or David Israel and Co. Again and again, this man continues to strive to bring into the Village things that are not good for it, that are unnecessary strains on its  budget and financial stability, that are only monuments to his egotism and selfishness, his insane drive to "leave a legacy". Well, since he is no relative of mine, nor a friend of mine, nor even a man to admire, I could care less about his "legacy", particularly as it impacts on me and those about whom I care.
     What is even worse is that he cannot distinguish between lies and truth, not even in the statements that come straight out of his mouth. For example, he ran on a campaign plank during his first election, on a firm term limits demand. Then, once he was in the presidential seat, suddenly he campaigned insanely for a retraction of term limits so that he could retain his "power". Then, at a recent meeting, he stated that we need to have term limits! Yup, that is what he said.
    That is one example and here is another. He stated that there was a need to shift the collected Wi Fi funds over to the general reserve funds as there was a definite need for it. Suddenly, there was a shifting around of funds which stinks to high heavens and suddenly, oh, we do not have to do that. Lies, half truths, omissions, etc. The man cannot be trusted with the English language.
     Now we get a video that begins with dramatic music. Truly! Does the man think he is the president of the country, of the state, of the world!!! He then speaks in a somewhat sideways position, mimicking several important historical personages and makes an appeal to the delegates whom he has already lied to, and states that we need to have the Wi Fi funds and program, so get to the DA this Friday. Gimme a break!
     I would like to know who made this video and who funded it? If it used UCO funding or Channel 63 funding then there MUST be a public statement to that effect and then an equal opportunity for the opposition to do the same. But never you mind, it will never be spoken of honestly and there will never be an opening for the opposition of which, contrary to Israel's statements, THERE ARE MANY.
     So - how to vote? NO NO NO!!!!!
     NO TO TRANSFERRING THE FUNDS
     NO TO IMPOSING MORE FEES And remember, this will increase your monthly fees and there is a whole lot more coming down that path.
     NO TO ALLOWING THE FUNDS TO BE MARKED EXPENDABLE. THESE FUNDS ARE NEEDED ELSEWHERE. DESPERATELY.
     So where are they needed? Just look at the list of needs and reserves in The Reporter. Look, for example at the repaving. We need close to 6 million dollars and we have about $600,000. These roads will need redoing very soon and where are we to get the funds that were wasted, stupidly, criminally stupidly, on the job we are now living with. We need all the money we can find, and stick it in that reserve. Look at the fencing needs, etc. Why are we wasting money on Wi Fi when we already have the capability of it, the reality of it.
     NO  ON OPENNING CONTRACT TALKS WITH DSL EXPRESS, THE SAME COMPANY THAT WE REJECTED LAST TIME FOR INCAPABILITY OF FULFILLING THE CONTRACT, FOR INCOMPETENNCE AS EVIDENCED IN A MOST UNSATISFACTORY JOB IN BOCA CV. FOLLOW THE MONEY, FOLKS.
     We have Wi Fi via Comcast for the individuals that want it. We have another option in wiring up associations and many have done that already for a great alternative and a great economic choice. We cannot afford a debt of more millions of dollars to be taken on. We do not have the money, we cannot afford to set it aside for this when there are other more pressing needs, we do not need to invest right now in an field that is changing so rapidly that before it is done, it will be outdated, and we do not need to force this funding on people who do not wish Wi Fi in their homes. This is not a common element of the Village according to the by laws and we should be careful of the new by laws as they will attempt to shoe horn this in right under our noses.
     Delegates, yes, absolutely, come to the assembly. Vote and vote NO NO NO if we are to have a viable Village. We want sellability? We want to command higher value for our apartments? Then do not take on a ridiculous debt and make us a debt ridden Village for then NOBODY will want to live here and people with any sense will bail out. Join those who actually think for themselves, who care about you, the resident, and not about some trumped up personal and selfish "legacy", who wastes our money and who wants to have a police state right here in CV right in the middle of the good old USA. Do not give up your rights. Fight back!!!
     Speak up at the assembly. You do not have to be a delegate to speak. Do not let the little man who thinks he is the Great Leader frighten you. He can do nothing to you. And if he yells or calls you a name - screw him. So what!! Do not hide behind the others who are willing to put themselves out week after week, month after month, and take the abuse. Speak up. Join in. For all our sakes.
   Addendum: Please note that some people have stated that they think that $2 is a great price for Wi Fi. Well, it is , but that is not what the $2 is. That is simply a fee to be collected and the REAL COST of the Wi Fi will be announced after it is too late to pull out and we will be facing millions of dollars of debt to be paid for - AGAIN!If you want a truly reasonable Wi Fi in your Association, then go for the OPT OUT program.

PARANOIA AND SHOES

     Just returned from several wonderful days in NY with the kids and even more blessed computer free days. Every electronic device from phones thru pads, tablets and computers were being used for more important things - like games, etc.! It was great!!!
     Now from the sublime to the ridiculous. It seems that in my absence, David Israel had several paranoid fits and as such, deserves our pity, but as he inflicts it upon us, he does not earn it. First we have his full blown paranoia when my husband went to visit a friend who lives in Greenbriar and thought it was C and had to return a lost cell phone.. It was actually the next building over.
 When he went to check the mailboxes, there was the troll who then accused him of following him from UCO to spy on his mail! I kid you not! This man is sick, sick, sick. Gerry was never at UCO, just drove down the road from Wellington to get to Greenbriar and David Israel was at his mailbox. So what!? Should he consult with the paranoid man for his routes around the Village? Or his timing of visits?For G-d's sake, David get a life. Get a doctor. Get over yourself. You are not a computer flunky  in the NSA any more and no one cares about your mail except for you. 
     As for your witness, fool, it was a man who used to be in the shul and has since left and asked Gerry if he was still the president. Gerry said yes and that was your "bellow". Sick in the head, some people, suffering from hallucinations and fantasies. If the shoe fits .......
     More paranoia. Big Brother from Brave New World, from 1984, from North Korea, from wherever there exists a dictatorship, is now amongst us. First we have him beaming into our homes via HIS blog, telling the world of a "few malcontents" who are ruining his programs and they should be ignored. Hey, Wizard of Oz - should we not ignore the man behind the curtain! Then we hear that his shills, Petey Boy and Her Ninnieness, want to have armed guards, deputies, police at every meeting. Really! Now we are openly to turn into a police state???!!!! Are you total idiots or what? Never mind, I answered the question myself as it is quite rhetorical, is it not? Then we  can add to the mix the cameras he is so excited about adding to the Village, wherever he can find a place for one. All we have to do then is just look up somewhere, anywhere, and smile and wave at Big Brother, our Great Leader. The whole thing is sickening.
     As for you, Your Ninnieness, no one called you an anti Semite, though if the shoe fits, though it should be quite uncomfortable for one to wear, then..... by the way, hate speech is hate speech, not a name or in fact, a statement of fact, unpleasant as it may be. You are a laughing stock of the Village, Gracie Girl, like it or not. Hate speech is based on race, religion, ethnicity, etc. As for the rest - now that is protected speech. What is not protected speech is the threat to do bodily harm which your buddies have threatened several times and there is one of them who must slobber every time he talks, because his venom just pours out of him in each email he sends and not to worry - I HAVE THEM ALL, DATED, TIMES, IP'ED, ETC. Once again, need to have it all explained to you - come, I will do so for free and maybe even over that hot drink.
     IF THE SHOE FITS - WEAR IT.
     AND PETEY BOY AND DAVID ISRAEL, PICK ON ME. I AM THE ONE MAKING YOUR LIFE A MISERY. AFRAID OF ME, SO YOU GO AFTER MY HUSBAND? YOU ASSES. HE IS ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE AROUND AND YOU DON'T EVEN COME TO HIS TOES IN COMPARISION.