“From Justice As A Foundation All Rights Flow”

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST

January 5, 2009

Re: Governor’s Letter Regarding the 2008-09 General Revenue Budget

                                    CONDO TRUST FUND

Dear Governor Charlie Crist, Dear Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp,  

Governor Crist, with all due respect, raiding the Condo Trust Fund for another $15 million just adds insult to injury. Not only is the dysfunctional Department of Business and Professional Regulation under your direct supervision -- you are the one who could personally order the much needed changes -- now you are proposing to raid the remaining funds, paid by the condo owners in good faith, hoping that they could trust their elected officials. That money is desperately needed for the purpose intended: Protecting Florida's condo owners and time share owners!

Please give me one good reason why condo owners and time share owners should pay their $4 dues in 2009? They are getting absolutely nothing in return. Why should they pay extra taxes?

What's the penalty for not paying the $4 in the trust fund? Increased maintenance fees and/or more foreclosures? The money is paid into the trust fund for a specific reason, definitely not to be used as a piggy bank for government executives who desperately need some money -- a desperate need caused in part by financial mismanagement -- and PORK!

We already visited the issue Condominium Trust Fund in 2007, when the legislature raided the trust fund for the first time. All the pleas of Florida's condo owners and time share owners went unheard -- the trust lost the money -- and Florida's citizens lost their trust in our elected government officials.

That was in 2007 -- now it's 2009 -- and Florida's condo owners are much worse off. The economy is down the drain, the real estate market is non-existent and many of Florida's families are fighting for financial survival -- trying to keep their homes. Many of the problems are caused by the lack of consumer protection, a service that should be provided by the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes, paid for by the condo trust fund. As we all know, the Division is failing to do its job and is one of the reasons why Florida made it to the NUMBER ONE SPOT of the NATION'S FRAUD LIST, a very dubious honor! I guess that's why we call it FRAUD FRIENDLY FLORIDA?

Florida's condo owners are desperate to save their lifestyle, but our government obviously feels free to raid their funds, paid by these owners to help protect their rights and their finances that are very much under siege!

Recently a well-qualified candidate for the vacant position of Condo Ombudsman didn't accept the job, because he was offered "peanuts" as pay. It is a very demanding job, very helpful for condo owners if occupied by the right person. Since his salary is paid from the condo trust fund that leaves only two conclusions: Either our government officials don't want qualified people for the job -- we already had one condo ombudsman who made the whole Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes look like a kindergarten -- or they want to save the money in order to sweep it for other purposes. What is it?

Warm Regards,

Jan Bergemann , President
Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.
http://www.ccfj.net/

IN ALLIANCE WITH: