“From Justice As A Foundation All Rights Flow”

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST

September 10, 2007

Re: Governor’s Budget Recommendations

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

Whoever created this revised budget proposal should have read Merriam Webster’s explanation about TRUST  -- or much better TRUST FUNDS [property (as money or securities) settled or held in trust] – before suggesting to raid these trust funds.

Trust funds are not a cookie jar where everybody who needs money can help themselves!  It is money entrusted to our government by a specific group of citizens who have a right to receive the services they pay for.  It’s not general tax revenue; it’s earmarked money!  If you have a budget shortfall, you might want to look why? This disaster was foreseeable for many years.  And it will not stop until the cost of living goes back down to a reasonable level.  What good does it do to help low-income families to buy a home, if they can’t afford to live in it?  It’s not really a matter of buying a home; it’s a matter of cost of living.  And since all attempts to reduce property taxes and property insurance premiums clearly failed so far, the economy will not be revived.  Before you start investing good money trying to help the construction and housing industry, make sure that you still have people who can afford to live in this state!

We have in the moment a big inventory of homes and condos nobody wants – being added to daily by a fast-growing number of foreclosures.  As soon as the real estate market recovers, you’ll see a lot more folks leaving Florida -- especially retirees – who just can’t afford to live here any longer. They were lured down here to Florida with promises of a “happy retirement” only to be faced with growing financial problems.

Governor Jeb Bush for many years raided the condo trust fund – much to the dismay of the condo owners.  The raids finally stopped, after causing serious uproar.  Do you want to follow in his footsteps?

If you want to save some money, you might consider firing the person who added these two sentences to your budget proposal (quote): “The Condominium Ombudsman provides very similar services to that of the division, including mediation of disputes.” and “The Department proposes to modernize condominium and cooperative management training by providing this training/orientation through on-line services only.”

Whoever is responsible for these sentences clearly showed his/her incompetence and a total lack of knowledge about these issues.  Removing this person from the payroll would definitely save some much-needed money without hurting Florida ’s citizens.

In my opinion, it’s not the lack of incoming revenues that creates the budget shortfall; it’s the incompetence of lots of government workers who are wasting our money!

Please, don’t raid the trust funds and destroy the last bit of trust we citizens may still have in our government.  You’re not reviving our economy by subsidizing certain industries.  You can revive our economy by making life in Florida affordable again for our citizens.

Warm Regards,

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

IN ALLIANCE WITH: