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An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.
Published
June 7, 2011
THERE
IS NO FREE SPEECH HERE -- that is exactly the attitude displayed
by Robert Tankel, an attorney from
Pinellas
County
. Tankel is also the latest addition
to the Advisory Council of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN), the
lobbying group of the law firm of Katzman Garfinkel & Berger (KGB).
LinkedIn is a bulletin board mostly frequented by
attorneys and CAMs. Tankel's
POSTING on the LinkedIn discussion board
"Community Association Ink" -- subtitle "Florida
community association bill on way to Gov. Scott for signature"
-- was in
response to my POST, where I called
the excuse used by Senator Fasano for not being able to regulate HOAs
"PATHETIC."
But
that seems to be Bob Tankel's modus
operandi. He would rather
shoot the messenger if he doesn't like the message, instead of coming up
with facts to argue his opposing position. I dare to say: There are no
good arguments to counter my statements. Finding out how many mandatory
homeowners' associations and how many homes are located within these
associations can be achieved in no time by a computer search -- if the
legislators really want to know.
Tankel's
dubious methods and actions have caused lots of lawsuits in community
associations. His run-ins with the FLORIDA BAR are well known:
See
10-Year Discipline History for Robert Tankel:
| Action
Date |
Reference |
| Suspended
- with Conditions |
09-18-2003 |
200111266 |
| Admonishment |
11-12-2010 |
201010232 |
|
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I
guess everybody knows how difficult it is to get punished by the Florida
Bar -- but Bob Tankel succeeded twice. What does that tell you?
My
INITIAL RESPONSE to Bob Tankel's post on the
discussion board didn't pass muster with the host -- who says life or a
bulletin board host is fair? It was removed, while Tankel's personal
attacks were obviously allowed. In this case I'm taking Tankel's advice
and will post on the CCFJ website. I think it's important for everybody to see
where some of these "ADVOCATES" are coming from --
you know "the people who are wrestling with the beast that affects about 9 million
Floridians" -- but are in reality only interested in filling their
own pockets. With this kind of attitude displayed by these
"advocates" -- why do we wonder about the mess, uproar and
financial disaster in many of Florida's community associations?
On
a side note: In 2008 Bob Tankel filed a membership application
with CCFJ. His application was denied and his membership fee was refunded,
because a lot of our members would have revolted if we had accepted
him as a member. As we all know: Advocacy organizations like new members,
but not all new members are assets -- some are serious liabilities!
And
a professional who uses this e-mail address: [email protected]
sounds rather like a guy from a dubious collection agency than an honorable
attorney!
Well,
well -- long live the FREEDOM OF SPEECH!
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Bob Tankel • Jan you have a website of your own where your viewpoints (which are pretty well known) are published. You misuse the privilege of being a member here by posting contrary, self serving items and turning this into a series of ad hominem attacks on the people who are wrestling with the beast that affects about 9 million
Floridians ("pathetic explanations"??). Get off this board!!!
There is no free speech here, and I for one don't think your speech is welcome here in the fashion in which you present it. I hope you get banned...if I pay the price for this comment and am banned for calling you out, then so be it, but someone had to do it....Leave or be banned; Group????
May
31,2011 |
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Jan
Bergemann • You
know the old wisdom: Most theories are good -- until humans get
involved!
Senator Fasano was Sunday on CondoCraze & HOAs. He is the
Senate sponsor of the bad bills from the last two years. I have
barely ever heard more pathetic explanations and answers than
yesterday from the legislator who is responsible for the
legislative mess created in the last two years for community
associations. No wonder we are in such a mess. He still hasn't
figured out that there is a difference between voluntary and
mandatory HOAs.
He opened his statements with this disclaimer: I'm not well
educated, so I can't answer all your questions.
How do you like this explanation: "We don't even know how
many HOAs we have in Florida -- how can we regulate them?"
That's exactly what Pete Dunbar said to me in front of a House
Committee in 2004. But that doesn't stop them from adding each
year more stupid HOA laws to FS 720 -- right? Our new billboard at
the I-95 warns: HEALTH CARE ALERT -- HOA SYNDROME. See: http://www.ccfj.net/HOASyndrome.htm
May
31, 2011 |
Jan
Bergemann: Bob, it's always great to hear from you. Yes, CCFJ
actually has two websites, but having websites doesn't mean
somebody shouldn't have the right to post here. Quite a few
others, who are posting here, have websites. So do you! I
wasn't aware that this discussion page is for Kumbaya singers
only. By the way, Mark's post confirmed my opinion that
this is a place where free speech is still allowed -- even if
you don't like it. Especially when the opinion is based on
facts. I always wonder why people like you want to shoot
the messenger -- if they don't like the message. I still
remember when you wanted to join CCFJ. I sent your money back
and told you that we are pretty picky in choosing who we accept
as member.
Like
it or not, I still say that the excuse used for not
regulating HOAs in Florida is pathetic. Donna was present when
Pete Dunbar came up with the same stupid excuse at a House
Committee hearing about 7 years ago. When I explained how easy
it would be to find out, if the legislature wanted to find out,
Pete Dunbar had no answer. Sorry, but my "pathetic"
statement stays!
Looking
at your YouTube videos you normally have an explanation for
everything. So instead of rambling on and declaring that FREE
SPEECH is not wanted on this discussion page, you might want to
explain why that excuse is not pathetic in your opinion? I
really like to hear it!
And
please don't tell me that you count yourself as one of the
people who are wrestling with the beast that affects about 9
million Floridians. In my opinion you are much too busy writing
"nasty" letters to homeowners (I have a whole
collection), adding outrageous legal fees to your collection
attempts (I have quite a lot of examples) and fighting BAR
complaints.
Your
attitude clearly shows: In your opinion FREE SPEECH isn't
welcome. That's exactly the same attitude I see from some
association boards you represent. Could it be that you are
telling them as well to suppress FREE SPEECH?
Accusing
me of posting self-serving items? Talking self-serving? How
about attorneys who are pushing legislation to enrich
themselves, but claim they do it in the interest of
associations/owners? That's what I call self-serving! But I
guess we'll never agree!
Was
posted: May 31,
2011
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OUTRAGEOUS LATE
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ELECTION
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