DAVE HASTINGS INTERVIEW
Questions for the Hastings March 2010 election
WD: Do you have an opening statement?
No
WD: How long have you lived in Gulfport?
Since 1999.
WD: Where did you live before that?
Indian shores.
WD: What is your profession?
I’m a CPA. Certified Public Accountant.
WD: Do you have any affiliations with any businesses, either in Gulfport or outside the city limits?
I have my CPA practice, that’s the only affiliation I have other then I’m married to my wife who has the Havana Cafe and the Havana Cigar Shoppe.
WD: What city boards and committees have you sat on?
In 2003, I was appointed to the employee pension board or committee and I served on that ever since.
In 2007, I was appointed to the Planning & Zoning Board and have served since then.
WD: What non city organizations do you belong to?
The Florida Institute of CPA’s. I’m a trained patient advocate for the Oral Cancer Foundation.
WD: Why are you running?
I thought I knew that, I want to see if I can help the city with my expertise. That’s the sole reason. When I was asked to be on the Employee Pension Plan Committee, I agreed to see if I could help the city. And of course they asked me to keep coming back because I’m supposed to be a financial expert, being a CPA. Obviously, I spend all my time in numbers. I am much more comfortable with numbers then a lot of people. Planning & Zoning; I thought that would be an interesting thing because I‘ve gone up before planning and zoning. I guess this is kind of like the next step. Do I want to continue to help the city? If so, this is the next step.
WD: Do you have any further political aspirations?
I have no political aspirations, none what so ever, I just want to help the city. That’s all. I don’t even know if I can help the city. If I can, I am certainly willing to put the time and the effort in there to apply my expertise to accumulate the necessary input from everybody. And then hopefully they have the trust in me that I’ll make the right decisions.
WD: Will you be seeking election help from outside of Gulfport organizations?
No. I have not and I wouldn’t even know who that would be anyway, but no.
WD: What is you opinion of re-passing the city charter to make it only changeable by public referendum?
I really don’t have an opinion because I don’t know that I know enough of the background before I would make a call on that. I really like to get into an issue and see what’s going on before an issue. Talk to the current people involved and hopefully I have the wisdom to make the right decision at that point. I am afraid I am going to be answering that type of response to a lot of these questions because I am not on city council right now. I haven’t attended all of the city council meetings that you would need to really. In the background when they meet with city manager, a lot of those city council people have been on the city council for years and years, look at the mayor. They have so much history back then. I don’t possess that history. I don’t want to say something now that would be premature from getting the input.
WD: What is your position regarding examination and re-codification of our codes and ordinances to bring them into the 21st century?
My understanding is that process has already happened, the code review headed up by Emmett Walsh. I think that it’s kinda like in a holding right now. I was told that our city attorney, whoever that might be, needs to take the step further, so again, has that already been done? What would be the conclusion of the attorney and the recommendation of the attorney? I’d rather sit back and wait. And the same thing for the charter, the Charter Review Committee that was not really commissioned. They did they the work. I don’t know what the Final step to that would be.
WD: Should ALL city meetings be recorded and available on DVD’s?
I think so; certainly the officials of the city should have nothing to hide. That everything they would say they should be able to say it to you or to me. To further that end then why not make everything available?
WD: Do you feel that the videos of city meetings should be available on the cities web page on demand?
Tell me what you mean on demand?
WD: in other words, you go to it, click on it, watch it.
That would be a week afterward, or anytime?
WD: It should be anytime
Archive it for how long?
I don’t know what the cost involved of that to be. I know myself that as a Planning and Zoning Committee member I wanted to go back and try to find the minutes of previous meetings. And it’s difficult. If it’s cost effective and we can do it, then yeah, I don’t see why not.
WD: What are your impressions of the public sessions at the city council meetings?
I think that so far that, every thing that I have heard people comment on I think represents their attempt to help the city. I’ve seen some of the same comments coming back, meeting after meeting. Every time someone speaks, it appears that the Mayor or someone will get back you. Another two weeks goes by and the same comment is made. The same thing. Well, “someone will get back to you”. It doesn’t appear that that is happening; that someone is getting back to somebody. So they are having to come back and make same statement or ask the same questions.
You know you certainly can’t make these meetings last forever. When a person asks a question, it seems like somebody could give them kind of a quick response and then say, “We’ll get back in touch with you”, AND then follow up.
WD: What can you see the city doing to achieve green city status?
I don’t know! I am a big conservationist. I conserve as much water as I can, I recycle. I do everything possible. One thing that’s always kinda baffled me, as a homeowner, I have a recycle bin, I put out my plastic, I put out my paper. As a business owner for instance, the restaurant, we have tons of recyclable stuff but there is no avenue for it. We have to really make an effort to take that stuff off-site and find a recycle source. Again, it probably all comes down to dollars and cents, how much more would it cost to do business? You would think a business would have more recyclable material then an individual. If you have to choose between one of the two, let’s do the businesses, and let the individuals discard recycle material. Which is going to be worse?
WD: What is your opinion on allowing smoke pollution in Gulfport?
Meaning what?
WD: we are talking about the smoker scenario over on 49th Street.
That’s one of the things that I have been criticized for was my vote on the Planning and Zoning to allow that smoker operation on 49th Street, but I really think without the ability to go back and review everything that I said in the minutes…I can tell you that staff presented this smoker to us as already been checked out. Staff told us that this owner had a previous business relationship with the same smoker on 22nd Avenue, right down from my restaurant. I didn’t have any smoke problems from the restaurant, ever. I didn’t even know it was there, so to speak.
The owner assured us that this would not be a pollutions aspect. No one at the meeting spoke against his smoker from his previous business or saying we don’t want it in the neighborhood. In fact, we had people that gave, to the best of my recollection, that gave favorable comments about this owner and his operation with previous businesses. I know I questioned this. I know I did. And we were also told in the language that if it was a nuisance, that the city can come in and stop it. I think that, furthermore, we want to encourage business on 49th street. So, it was like well everything’s OK, everything’s positive lets give it a shot. If it doesn’t work the city has that right to come back in and shut him down. I am surprised that it has gotten to this point where it doesn’t seem that the city has been able to close it down if he’s gotten all these complaints.
WD: Do you feel the sound ordinance is consistent with today’s needs?
This is Florida. We do have a tourist relationship here. We certainly depend upon tourists. We have a Tourist Season. If you’re a tourist, you think of Florida; you want come down, you want to sit outside, and you want to enjoy music by the water. That’s kinda like the image that we want to project.
If we try to sell Florida in that light; where people want to come down and sit outside and watch the water and listen to music that’s all well and good but, unfortunately; we have businesses that are within earshot of residents, so it becomes complicated. The County has its sound ordinances which are supposed to go to the property line and certain decibels. If you even have an air conditioner sitting on the property line, so to speak, that can violate the county noise ordinance. We have adopted the county ordinances within the city. I know where I live, I can walk outside some evenings and I can clearly hear the music coming from down here. I don’t know where it is, but I can clearly here it. And that’s a little annoying to me as a homeowner. It’s a tough issue.
From a business side, I would love to have the ability to have outdoor music if I was near the water. It does attract, it does attract. But, then from the property owner; if I live right next door to the guy I say hey, you got to turn it off. I would not want to be the judge in that court case
WD: Do you have any solutions for the parking problem in the downtown Art District?
I am not that familiar. I’ve heard that we do have a parking problem and that’s a great thing. When we first opened Havana café, Cars parked all up and down 54th Street and my neighbors were just infuriated. They put railroad ties In front of the car’s wheels even though it was not on their property. The city, at that time, came to me and said, “David can you help us out?” The only way they said I could help them out was to buy an adjacent property and put more parking in. They said that, (pointing to the property to the west), would not work, the property right there. That property had already been sold recently for a high price at that time. She had done all these renovations and everything, so I didn’t want that. The property across 54th street, they said that was too dangerous. For all the traffic, they didn’t want my customers walking across 54th Street. So this was the only property available and I was lucky enough to acquire it. I don’t know. Certainly I have heard of Talk of expanding the parking right in front of O’Maddys, in from the Casino down there. I don’t know what the environmental impact of that is. I don’t know all the ramifications. I don’t see where they would do it. You’re right there at the sand and I certainly wouldn’t want to go into the beach to do that. I have heard talk that maybe behind there you could put a parking garage or something like that.
WD: Do you feel we should allow alcohol in the streets during our Spring- fest, Geckofest and similar events?
I don t see why it wouldn’t be worth a try. We have the concern about over drinking anyway and we have a lot of people that seem to be riding bicycles because they don’t have driver’s licenses because of previous problems like that. But again, I would want to hear some of the pros and cons from everybody that would be affected before I want to make my decision. I’m more inclined to say, well lets give it a try. You can always say no, rather then never giving it a try and seeing what impact it might have on us. Favorable, hopefully.
WD: Do you think that the Chamber of Commerce, possibly for economic gain, exerts too much influence within the city over the interests & concerns of the citizens of Gulfport?
Well, do they have that undue influence right now? As a business owner, I have never really witnessed that. At this point I would have to say no.
WD: Where do you stand on the mooring field?
Again, it’s a matter of economics to me. I want to sit there and study the numbers. It would be nice to have a place to attract people to come up there, but if that’s going to be a problem, where people are just going to abandon their boats. We read about that all the time; these people come in there and abandon their boats and they wash up on the shore. Is that less likely to happen, if they’re moored properly? Any storm right now could take a boat that’s not properly anchored or even properly anchored out there and just send it right into the streets or the houses behind there. I think I am in favor of it if the economics work.
WD: What are your feelings about Clam Bayou?
I’ll have to admit, yesterday was the first time that I went down and tried to find Clam Bayou. When I heard about all this at all these meetings, how polluted it was, and everything else, I was down there expecting to find tires floating in the water, everything. The part that I found, and again that I am not sure I found where everybody’s talking about, it really seems to be nice. That whole area down there seems to be nice. I was shocked about that park down there. I had never seen that before. That’s a really a nice area. Of course, I’d like to see it in the spring or in the summer because right now a lot of things have been browned up.
I don’t know what the main issue is. I would love, for instance, to visit Al Davis’s home because he obviously is the one that seems the most interested in this thing I’d like to really meet with him at his home and say, “OK show me what is this problem?” Is it just the dredging, is it the pollution, is it everything? I understand that there’s a lawsuit pending, so I don’t know if that may tie some of the hands, so to speak, that people aren’t going to be willing to do things till the lawsuit is settled. I am all for clean water. I am all for un-polluted waters. I just need to know more about that.
WD: How do you feel about police activity regarding victimless crime.
Can you give me an example?
WD: That’s the next question. Can you name some victimless crimes?
Without knowing what the definition of what a victimless crime is, it’s kind of hard to answer that question.
I personally like our response time in the city for police. This is probably not a victimless crime, but I know that on occasion we’ve had employees that have done some evil things at the restaurant and I’ve called the police and they’re here in five minutes. I like the fact that living in the city where I feel I can call the police and I can have a quick response.
WD: What is your position on the Gulfport to St. Pete Beach trolley?
It doesn’t seem to be working. It does pass by my wife’s restaurant here. I do see it a lot, and I hardly ever see any body riding in it. We’re coming up on its second tourist season maybe, we’re already here, it’s already the end of January. Let’s give it another couple of months and see what happens. We’re also in a period of time where the economy is pretty rough both on locals and on tourists. That may have affected (the ridership). If we had put the trolley in service four years ago, what would have happened as a scenario? I’m willing to give it a couple more months just to see. I understand there are ridership numbers. Someone’s tracked these things so it’s an easy enough thing to put it in there. If, in fact, at the end of this tourist season, that we still don’t see any improvement whatsoever, and we can take the money that we would have spent it on the continuation of the trolley and use it someplace else in the redevelopment district, I think I want to explore that.
WD: Have you ridden the trolley?
No
WD: Do you know any one who has?
No. It doesn’t stop at Havana Café. I always wondered why.
WD: Are you concerned that code enforcement is not dealt with evenly within all parts of the city?
I haven’t really experienced that. I know that was one of your concerns. But, I haven’t experienced that. If it is being applied inequitably or unevenly, sure it should be uniformly applied. The same circumstance should warrant the same response. So if it is being applied un- uniformly, then yeah, that should be addressed . I personally like code enforcement. We have rules. We should, one, be made aware of them if we don’t adhere to them. And we should be given the opportunity to correct it. If we don’t correct it, then something should be done. People can always change the rules, but if the rules aren’t changed, then we should all try to live by them.
WD: What do you think should be done about the Winn Dixie Property?
Let’s hope that something is going to happen. I go down there to the oriental restaurant, the take out spot, probably once a week. It’s usually when the restaurant is closed Sunday night. When I go down there, especially now with the nights getting dark sooner its pitch black and when you turn off of 22nd Avenue and you’re going right past Winn Dixie there are no lights whatsoever. Hopefully, the city has tried to get the owner of the property to keep those lights on. I understand that they made the request and the owner is not cooperating. I understand that there is some negotiations involved right now between the owner and some potential buyers or renters. Let’s hope something that can get resolved quickly that’s probably been sitting there vacant far too long. But again, the economy, pardon my expression, sucks right now. You got to find the right economic circumstances to attract a person to come in there to either buy that. Let’s hope something happens soon. You hear about Sam’s Club perhaps going in where the Office Depot is right there at 22nd avenue north. That would be a great place if we had the land to put a Sam’s Club right there. Let’s hope something can get resolved quickly.
WD: What is your vision for Gulfport?
I personally was attracted to Gulfport in 1997 when we opened up the restaurant. I was attracted to it because of it’s, I want to say, its small town appeal. It just seemed like a nice homey place not only to live but to even have a business in. I haven’t seen much deterioration in that comfort that I feel living here and having businesses here. I’d like to try to maintain this. We need to keep the city alive. We need to Support its tax base in those efforts, trying to improve the 49th Street corridor. That’s only a positive thing. The downtown redevelopment can only be a positive thing. When I first came here in 1997, the Downtown was just as nice as it is today. But, hardly anybody was down there and now with all these improvements and ideas that people have come up with, we have a parking problem. That’s a good thing. I like the small town atmosphere that Gulfport has.
WD: What would you like to accomplish during your term in office?
Just to try to help the city, whatever that would be. Whatever decisions the city council has to make to further the end of maintaining Gulfport as it is right now. That’s my goal, Just to help
Whether I will be any good at it, I have no idea.
WD: Any final comments?
I like Gulfport. I wouldn’t have put a business here, my wife’s business, when we lived in Indian Shores at the time. That was a horrible commute. It was 30 minutes one way. I think we had to go through seven different cities to get here and invariably with the restaurant, they always call you up and say we’re slammed or the kitchen’s on fire or something. Thirty minutes, that ain’t going to help. If it takes you thirty minutes to get there, the place is either burned down or the problem has been solved. That’s why we moved here. We built a house here. I like Gulfport. I love the fact I can drive to my work in one mile, one stop light, if I choose to take the stoplight route. I just like it.
Eleven years in town and Hastings just found Clam Bayou! Hmmm.
Not sure I want a guy on the commission who has only been to Clam Bayou once and doesn’t know what’s wrong with it. He has obviously visited at high tide. I am also suspect of people who do not speak in complete sentences. I’m just old-fashioned, I guess. BG
ONLY SALMON AND STEINKE RESPOND TO EMAIL:
I recently posed the following question, via email, and as with an earlier question regarding ‘Freedom of Speech” only Jennifer Salmon and David Steinke responded. I did, subsequently, receive an email address for Ms. Barbieri and forwarded the email to her but have not received a response.
One interesting observation….none of the current Council Members nor the Mayor respond to email via email. The Mayor and Member Worthington occassionally respond by phone. Why is that? Why are these people that work for us afraid to communicate–i.e. listen and respond / act?
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Ward 1 Candidates and Unopposed Candidates:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/st-petersburg-faces-12m-shortfall-in-next-years-budget/1067094
Kindly reference the attached article. Property values are expected to fall another 10% in Gulfport too. The purported $700K+ in savings from last year is unsustainable. If elected, you have a huge challenge ahead of you in finding a way to create a realistic balanced budget. Hopefully one of you will strive to have the budget include this year’s ACTUAL expenditures
to-date for comaprison.
IMO, the dropping property values do not just stem from “right sizing” . There are numerous instances, in Gulfport, where properties are derelict, dilapidated and detremental to the value of the overall neighborhoods. What is being done to correct this? We know it is not Code Enforcement as that is, for all intents and purposes, a passive activity. Perhaps there needs to be a volunteer community effort to clean up and spruce up the city? What are your ideas to improve the overall value and appearance of properties in Gulfport?
Regards and good luck to all!
Margarete Tober
P.S. – R. Barbieri is not copied as I cannot find an e-mail address for her.
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Response form Jennifer Salmon:
As soon as election day ends, I will ask for this year’s budget revenues and expenditures to date with comparisons by budget category back to 2000. As you know from our ad hoc committee last year, fees took a huge increase mid decade. I think we should participate in Paint Your Heart Out and extend it to the businesses on 49th as well!
Barbieri’s email:
Jennifer
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Response form David Steinke:
Margarete
We can clean up our act!
1. STOP selective code inforcement. When putting out our campains signs some of the properties are pretty bad.(what is our building and code inforcement doing since construction is down?
2. Park the Trolly.
3. Once a week trash pick-up.
4. Possible out source the Building Dept.
5. Mooring field on hold. (stop spending)
I will spent time in each city department and watch and observe.
Thanks Dave Steinke
P.S. These recomendations were the ones from the 157 surveys returned to city staff last year and nothing was done.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PUBLIC INPUT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS &WORKSHOPS
I also posed this question some weeks earlier, to the Ward 1 candidates and the unopposed candidates:
CANDIDATES: My question to you is: what is your position on public input at Council Meetings and Workshop Meetings?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Margarete Tober
Only two people–Jennifer Salmon and Dave Steinke responded, via email. At the time I did not have an email address for Roz Barbieri, however, I have since received it and sent it to her as well. No response yet.
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Stanley Solomans approached me at a Council Meeting and indicated something to the effect of: “you are always well prepared and wel spoken and I don’t know that changing anything would change that.” Feel free to correct me if I mis-understood you, Stanley.
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Jennifer Salmon:
Please see my thoughts at:
http://electjennifersalmon.com/Open%20government.php
I support public comment at workshops but at the end of the workshop so the public can comment on all aspects of what they heard. No decisions should be made at workshops.
JS
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Dave Steinke:
Margarete: I think it very important to have public input at both workshops and council meetings. The council men or women have the responsibility to get as much information as possible to make an intelligent decision. And not rely on staff.
Thanks Dave Steinke
At no time in Mr. Hastings remarks does he mention that there was a petition to stop the smoker from a dozen property owners, some that had experienced this activity in the past. Nor does he mention that fact that 4 residents from the adjacent properties stood before him pleading to stop this from going forward. Instead he claimed in the meeting that he had a business across the street and had no knowledge of smoke at his location. If anyone takes the time, as I have, to look at the two properties in question they will discover that there is at least 1000 feet separating the two and that the smoker was recessed in the lot on 5145, placing it about 40 feet away from the elementary school yard. The smoker was not even visible from the Habana Café’.
In a following statement before the vote took place Mr. Hastings said, and I’ll paraphrase here;
“”There is no evidence that this smoker will create smoke and the owner said he will use dampers, and since the city has nuisance laws they should be covered.”"
Hey buddy I had just finished telling you that once you passed this resolution it makes the smoker legal, which means everything that goes into, and comes out of that Smoker is legal, so there are no nuisance laws governing the activity…BUT YOY DIDN’T LISTEN.
Anyone who believes that a Commercial Smoker with no emission control will not create smoke needs to have their head examined. Anyone who thinks that dampening a wood fire to maintain 200 degrees or so will not produce excessive smoke hasn’t watch enough cartoons. A damper is like a blanket that the Indians use to send smoke signals, you smoother the fire to create smoke, collect it in a blanket and then release the smoke in the air. If you don’t lift the blanket the smoker leaks out from under and the smothered fire just smolders as the smoke permeates the atmosphere. The smoke stacks were 20 feet off the ground, so was the Gable End roof vent and when the fire was stoked and the wind was from the west the sparks and smoke went inside the roof vent. When the wind blew from the northeast the smoke went into the second story bedroom window. Hello
When asked if the smoker was inspected, Mike Taylor, the city official who promoted this toxic plot, told the P&Z that he had not. He never even seen the contraption, nobody inspected it, as a matter of fact I have photos of it being delivered to 1431 49th street with 4 inches of mulch covering the hood that collected on it from being parked under a tree for 4 years.
Not one person on that board had visited the location, even looked at the contraption, or knew what they were talking about, or listened to any of the resident’s testimony, nada. And as you can plainly see in his recollection to the WD, he blames the city and relied on them to do all the work. If all these people had a bad experience with a smoker before and were threatened enough to go through all the trouble to get involved, sign petitions, testify and plead with this kangaroo court, you would think the board would have been courteous enough to check into the matter. But no, the sign was already up on the property that said;” Smokin Joe’s Coming Soon” how could they interfere with the process when Larry Cooper was representing the proprietor?
One deception after another, false claims to beat the band, by the City, the applicant and the sponsor Larry Cooper, and even though every concern and fear that was brought to the Board’s attention that evening by the residents had come to fruition within a week, no one from the P&Z or the Council had the concern or courage to reverse their decision. After learning of the ill affects this vote had created, Marge Milford was the only person to express her regret. Michele King also apologized, but never did a damn thing to stop it. As a matter of fact she only made matters worse with her dumb questions in defense of her vote in public. After follow up testimony by residents explaining to the Council that the smoke was smothering our property, home, office, storage, vehicles…she asked if we were only seeing the smoke and not smelling it.
Why do I bring up Michele King, well it was she who sponsored Hastings to the P&Z and it is Michele sponsoring Hastings for the City Council. Michele King thinks this guy is worthy to govern the citizens of Gulfport. So my curiosity engages and I Google David Hastings…which led me to David Carter Hastings and a list of Criminal, Civil Court actions and Ethical Complaints going back many years. He’s got court activity in Virginia, about 30 issues listed in Hillsboro County, and half dozen in Indian Shores as well as a few in Gulfport.
DUI, Drug Possession, a non-payment of Child Support decision, CPA misrepresentation cases with fines and a reprimand for fraud by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Accounting Division. Seems like Michele King has picked a real winner. Go to the Pinellas and Hillsboro County records site and see for yourself. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Tallahassee will show three counts of misrepresentation of a CPA in Indian Shores and one count of falsifying documents in Gulfport. Hey Ed Jennings, you want to know why the voting public is voting against some candidates, well here’s a good example. This record is not just a guy making a mistake, drinking and driving or smoking pot, this is a pattern of reckless behavior going back many years. Reckless in business, reckless in relationships, reckless with the law, and reckless in positions of authority.
If this is the character that you want in your representative, then you deserve the government that you will get. I believe we deserve better.
2iview this is exactly whats wrong with society, people like you and steinke and the watch dogs. I have known the hastings for a few years and if YOU knew them you would know the TRUTH about all the CRAP you just talked about. you people think you know everything and your stupidity is beyond words. You just want to slander people.Has steinke ever told you about his years in new york state? Funny how he NEVER mentions that. Yes N.Y. does not release criminal records however when you are well connectted it is amazing. You also forgot to mention how SKANKY got busted in this city for operating a bussiness without a lic. and occupying a building without a C.O. And you do not mention how steinke does not even live at the address he says. Why? And even if he lived in his son’s house thats not even considered PYCC, that is Skimmer point. Oh and what about the 74 lawsuits that he has been involved in? And hey a real stand-up guy there you got in steinke, running around town,like a p.m.s.girl threatning people to drop out of the race OR ELSE. YOU ARE JUST REALLY WRONG!
Hey dogfish you love being a big fish in a small pond? Sad that people like you and your group are SO FOWL. Has it ever occured to you and your people how EVERYONE refers to you guys as the crazy people? if you would only try to get along with the establishment instead of ALWAYS finding fault with EVERYTHING. why don’t you try being part of the solution instead of the problem? As far as YOUR candidate,Steinke, he is a train wreck
a. carlin-Mr. Steinke deserves a better defense than that. We do not fact check comments since this is an open forum. We hope that others will provide the facts from which a discussion will ensue so that the truth will be discovered. Isn’t that better than rumors going around town without resolution?
We believe that dissenters and those who question the status quo are essential to the proper functioning of a democracy. We are also aware that those who are vested in the status quo, when short on facts, will resort to name calling and character assasination.
Please provide some facts which will either disprove or explain any of the facts cited in 2iview’s comment. If you have any information you think voters should know about Mr. Steinke, please provide them with as much documentation that you can. I believe Mr. Steinke, Mr Hastings and us voters deserve at least that.
Thanks for the compliment a. carlin, I actually feel like a small fish in a big pond.
As far as being a solution to the problem, sometimes it’s necessary to point out a problem before having the solution to get the best minds involved with a solution. Although I might like to take sides in this contest, I am neutral on the candidates, and I will on March 9th pick who I feel is the best person for the job. I gave all the candidates as much time as they wanted to answer the questions, which I might add, was a compendium of many citizens questions for the candidates. Although I would like to take credit for all the questions asked, I cannot. I think it can be fairly said that each candidate has their strengths and their weaknesses. I would think that the candidates can work on their weak spots while learning from those whose strengths are in certain areas.
It’s still a horse race in my eyes. I hope you will work to get your favored candidate elected.
What is the point of the name calling? This does not resolve anything or make anybody’s candidate look better. Perhaps I am being alturistic but can’t everyone just offer objective info? If you offer subjective info then please offer an opinion that is not laced with personal attacks. Hopefully, we all have the same goal, which is for Gulfport to be the best and led by the best.
Hey BIG DOG, YOU DO NOT FACT CHECK COMMENTS? WOW that is reckless. So you throw crap out there just for what? To ruin someone? Did you not sit on p&z with Hastings? Why would you not go to Hastings and ask what all the comments from 2iview are about? Are you afraid of the truth? Or are you just another watch dog coward? You are well aware of Steinke. Get2iview to check his criminal records and the civil cases against him. She did it on Hastings but she won’t do it onSteinke?Hastings has all the docs. you need for the TRUTH,but you and the watch dogs want Steinke in. PEOPLE OF GULFPORT BE AFRAID!!! Oh and by the way, Steinke lives at 162b royal palm.He even was (or is) the president of that ass. Why would he forget to mention that? Why is this guy not even truthful of his res? That doesn’t worry you? Or are you people just as bad as him? That would be my guess,you want to bully EVERYBODY to think that you are all knowing, like the smoker that 2iview b****** about, it’s EPA approved,but it’s not good enough for her. She needs to move to a perfect place.And as far as DOGFISH being “NEUTRAL” on the candidates, he really does not expect me or anyone else to buy that crap,does he? He is for steinke all the way. That speaks VOLUMES about him. All of you are for steinke,why kid anyone? Just like steinke, you are bitter and hostile people. All anyone has to do is listen to Lee, Al and the rest of you at those city council meetings to realize that.And one last thing that i hate to break to you guys, NO ONE IN GULFPORT TAKES YOU SERIOUSLY. You are a bunch of desperate failures!
a. carlin said:
2iview this is exactly whats wrong with society, people like you and steinke and the watch dogs.
First, I speak for myself, I don’t represent the Watchdog or Mr. Steinke, and I doubt they would need me to do so. The problems with society are many, and the lack of truth and accountability is high on the list. To the Gulfport Watchdogs credit and with much expense and diligence, they have successfully managed to protect this website from the mindless diatribe that can be found in online media. But since they have decided to allow you to post your opinion, I call on you to produce one shred of evidence or assemblage of fact to verify your outlandish claims.
a.carlin said:
I have known the hastings for a few years and if YOU knew them you would know the TRUTH about all the CRAP you just talked about. you people think you know everything and your stupidity is beyond words.
I Congratulate you in your friendship with Mr. Hastings, and your defense of him is noble, but that doesn’t change the Public Records. I’m sure Mr. Hastings will make a good argument as to why he has needed to appear in court as a defendant 40-50 times in the past three decades but non-the-less, his ability to follow rules, laws, and professional ethics seems to be a challenge for him. His ability to make sound judgments is also in question, as I have demonstrated in the P&Z hearing incident.
A carlin said:
You just want to slander people.Has steinke ever told you about his years in new york state? Funny how he NEVER mentions that. Yes N.Y. does not release criminal records however when you are well connectted it is amazing.
This is precious, I’m stating the facts as they appear on Public Record, you, that’s right you a. Carlin, are the one being slanderous. Why would Mr. Steinke tell me anything, especially about his personal life? When I discovered that Mr. Steinke was running for City Council I asked him if he would help our neighborhood to remove the Smoker resolution, he told me that he would need some time to look into the matter, and if he could help…he would. He stood up for us at a City Council Meeting and spoke against the resolution. Dr. Jennifer Salmon also took the time to study the issue and stand up for our community. Should their participation in our defense require them to tell me their life’s story? What kind of nonsense is that? Hastings brand of nonsense I suspect.
https://pubtitles.co.pinellas.fl.us/login/loginx.jsp?goto=/mainmenux.jsp
http://www.hillsclerk.com/publicweb/search_official_records.aspx
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/entercomplaint.asp?SID =
a-carlin said:
You also forgot to mention how SKANKY got busted in this city for operating a business without a lic. and occupying a building without a C.O. . And you do not mention how steinke does not even live at the address he says. Why? And even if he lived in his son’s house thats not even considered PYCC, that is Skimmer point. Oh and what about the 74 lawsuits that he has been involved in? And hey a real stand-up guy there you got in steinke, running around town,like a p.m.s.girl threatning people to drop out of the race OR ELSE. YOU ARE JUST REALLY WRONG!
You are one desperate character and judging from these ridicules allegation I have to wonder how much alcohol and or drugs you have consumed? Obviously you are a David Hastings supporter, reckless and thoughtless seems to be his calling card and would attract a friend like you. Say anything, do anything that you can get away with, and oh if you get caught, blame someone else. I happened to have read some of David Hastings court manuscripts and so I’m not surprised at your line of defense.
If anyone wants to know if David Steinke owns his home all they would have to do is search the public records. http://www.pcpao.org Records show the Mr. Steinke has been a resident of Florida and a student of Pinellas County Schools since he was 12 years old. I doubt Dave Steinke would jeopardize his reputation, his business, or station threatening anyone. Why would he want to, he has a distinguished service record, a successful business enterprise and an unsurpassed list of friends and customers around the Bay. Your post here on Watchdogs is clearly a reflection of a twisted, desperate, unethical individual and I hope the Watchdog continues their good work in editing out this level of discourse.
On a lighter note:
A vote for David Hastings is a vote for a Toxic Smoker.
http://www.2iview.com/BLACK_PLAGUE.html
margrte tober you have to ask the ? WHY none of the council members respond and why are they afraid to communicate? ARE YOU THAT STUPID? Council is in a no win situation with people like you, Lee,Al,Jim,Steinke and the rest of your following.Thats why voting for your steinke is throwing a vote away.You guys come off like a CULT,like JIM JONES,and we all know how that ended up!
2iview- As a P.I. you suck! This is what i “DUG UP” on Hastings;1)DUI 20 years ago,no accident nothing-like so many of us who have a couple of drinks and drive home,2)DRUG POSSESSION,you make it sound SO dramatic, according to the police record,there was Hastings and 6 or so of HIS wifes employees in the parking lot of the rest.SHE owns and some of the guys were smoking,Hastings would not comment as to who.3 of the employees have extensive drug charges (pot use) and hastings,wynn and henderson no priors with drugs.The cops found it in the parking lot NO ONE HAD IT ON THEIR BODIES. We all know how Gulfport cops can be.The child support and c.p.a issue the problem came with the move from one state to another.According to fla., he has paid.The c.p.a records show he hired a first amm.lawyer filed suit and actually won.Not to clear on the hillsbough thing other that he had to foreclose on some property that he took to secure a loan.If you know something else you should spill the beans!
In order to preserve the integrity of this forum, I have never edited any comment by any reader. Open, honest and sometimes rough discussions often take place, hopefully to the edification of our readers. Consequently, I sometimes don’t read comments as closely as I should. Recent comments in opposition to Mr. Steinke’s candidacy contained negative information unrelated to the race which I allowed to be published. That information has been removed from the Watchdog. I apologize to Mr. Steinke for my carelessness.
The above comment has been similarly edited. All information pertinent to the race is included as written.
Big Dog Thank you for consideration.
a-carlin said:
margrte tober you have to ask the ? WHY none of the council members respond and why are they afraid to communicate? ARE YOU THAT STUPID? Council is in a no win situation with people like you, Lee,Al,Jim,Steinke and the rest of your following.Thats why voting for your steinke is throwing a vote away.You guys come off like a CULT,like JIM JONES,and we all know how that ended up!
It is the duty of our representatives to respond to their constituents, fear of communication is a dereliction of duty.
Calling Margarete Tober, a distinguished members of our community Stupid, when You write like a 10 year old can hardly be taken seriously.
I doubt Mr. Steinke is a Watchdog, I’m not even a Watchdog, I just post here and support their efforts. I’ve seen no evidence of Mr. Steinke’s posts or membership in the Watchdogs. All the candidates were interviewed by Dogfish which doesn’t make them watchdogs, just willing participants in the process of democracy.
a-carlin said:
2iview- As a P.I. you suck! This is what i “DUG UP” on Hastings;1)DUI 20 years ago,no accident nothing-like so many of us who have a couple of drinks and drive home
So you found the DUI and Drug conviction as well, good work, maybe when you grow up you can be a microbiologist. As a private citizen Mr. Hastings has a right to do what he wants, to take risk with his life and disregard the law, that’s none of my business. But, as a representative of a collective of citizens he has to set an example, he has to respect the law, he has to follow the law, he has to understand the boundaries when he is given authority to create law and govern. His criminal record places his judgment in question.
2)DRUG POSSESSION,you make it sound SO dramatic, according to the police record,there was Hastings and 6 or so of HIS wifes employees in the parking lot of the rest.SHE owns and some of the guys were smoking,Hastings would not comment as to who.3 of the employees have extensive drug charges (pot use) and hastings,wynn and henderson no priors with drugs.The cops found it in the parking lot NO ONE HAD IT ON THEIR BODIES. We all know how Gulfport cops can be.
Drugs found on a parking lot could not be charged to Hastings. He admitted to the charge, so Blaming his wife’s employees, the Gulfport Police or who ever, is expected but not applicable. The fact of the matter remains, the record shows he was found guilty as charged, I reported what the records revealed.
The restaurant is in David Hastings name as well. As is the Cigar Shop, which also has a charge against it in the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The child support and c.p.a issue the problem came with the move from one state to another.According to fla., he has paid.The c.p.a records show he hired a first amm.lawyer filed suit and actually won.
The nonpayment of child support charge was not a mistake, or a lost check, it was a SUBPOENA that found him in Florida after a year and a half.
According to the records David Hastings was found Guilty of those CPA violations, he stipulated to the 5 charges, paid fines and received a reprimand from the Accounting Division of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. If you can produce documentation to prove otherwise I suggest that you do so, as of now the record stands. http://www.2iview.com/pages/hastingscpa.html
a-carlin said:
Not to clear on the hillsbough thing other that he had to foreclose on some property that he took to secure a loan.If you know something else you should spill the beans!
It appears that your not too clear on anything, from my observation.
In any case, David Hastings is your friend so I can understand your defense, and I suppose his defense as well, but it doesn’t change the facts, it doesn’t change the records. David Hastings is probably a good guy that takes risks with his life, his business and reputation, and as a private citizen that is understandable, but as a representative of our City it is our responsibility as voters in a democracy to know whom we’re voting for.
Mr. Hastings voted to bury us in Toxic Waste and make ridicules justification for his vote on the Planning and Zoning Board. If he is capable of such recklessness as a Board member he is also capable of the same reckless indifference as a Councilman, and I think we deserve better.
acarlin – pls get your facts straight. I haven’t indicated an endorsement of anyone!! i actully believe several of the candidates may do a very good job. I am sorry you find it necessary to be so hateful and outrageous in your discussion. If you’d like to have an objective discussion on the issues, let me know. Until then, feel free to wallow in your absurdity.
ACarlin…If you actually are a friend/supporter of Dave Hastings you are not doing him any favors with your comments. I’ve met Dave and Jo and quite frankly I think they have more class than to have a “friend” speak on their behalf in such a scurrilous fashion.
I haven’t laughed so hard in over a week.
a. carlin Don’t have a cow man!!!!
a-carlin said:
Hey BIG DOG, YOU DO NOT FACT CHECK COMMENTS? WOW that is reckless. So you throw crap out there just for what? To ruin someone? Did you not sit on p&z with Hastings? Why would you not go to Hastings and ask what all the comments from 2iview are about? Are you afraid of the truth? Or are you just another watch dog coward?You are well aware of Steinke. Get2iview to check his criminal records and the civil cases against him. She did it on Hastings but she won’t do it onSteinke?Hastings has all the docs. you need for the TRUTH,but you and the watch dogs want Steinke in. PEOPLE OF GULFPORT BE AFRAID!!!
Mr. Steinke did not harm us. If Mr. Hastings were not running for City Council none of this would have been necessary. We had to protect ourselves from further assaults by someone who is liable to vote for another Smoker or continue with the present resolution.
Originally my position was anyone but Judy Ryerson for Ward 1, who also voted for the Smoker, but learning that Mr. Hastings voted for it, in the P&Z, forced me to change my position and include him in my rejection list. Smokin Mary Stull, Bob Worthington, Michele King and Mike Yates are also on my rejection list. Anyone who was so irresponsible that they would vote for this resolution does not meet the criteria that I require from those who govern, regardless of any other duties they fulfill. The act of doing harm to others in the seat of authority is fundamental and their vote was a deliberate act of aggression against innocent families with infant children and sick and ailing Seniors. The destruction of a cohesive neighborhood, degradation of the environment, devaluation of property was not something I was willing to abide by any further.
a-carlin said:
Oh and by the way, Steinke lives at 162b royal palm.He even was (or is) the president of that ass. Why would he forget to mention that? Why is this guy not even truthful of his res? That doesn’t worry you? Or are you people just as bad as him?
The people who matter know where he lives and it’s to his benefit that you don’t.
a-carlin said:
That would be my guess,you want to bully EVERYBODY to think that you are all knowing, like the smoker that 2iview b****** about, it’s EPA approved,but it’s not good enough for her. She needs to move to a perfect place
YOU knowing anything would impress me right now. The Smoker was a backyard contraption, never inspected, and certainly never approved by the EPA.
a-carlin said:
And as far as DOGFISH being “NEUTRAL” on the candidates, he really does not expect me or anyone else to buy that crap,does he? He is for steinke all the way. That speaks VOLUMES about him. All of you are for steinke,why kid anyone? Just like steinke, you are bitter and hostile people. All anyone has to do is listen to Lee, Al and the rest of you at those city council meetings to realize that.And one last thing that i hate to break to you guys, NO ONE IN GULFPORT TAKES YOU SERIOUSLY. You are a bunch of desperate failures!
He can expect me to buy his neutrality, and of course people who know him and know that he conducted an honest interview. He still remains neutral, as he should. He appears to me to be a man of his word and a man with integrity.
I think you have done your friend enough damage here and not seeing anything of substance in your post. I think it would be a disservice to the Watchdog to protract this exchange any further. Take Care of yourself.
http://www.2iview.com/mr_nickols.html
This has to be a joke right, according to David Hastings website http://hastings4citycouncil.com he is a
Senior Patient Advocate, Oral Cancer Foundation
Contradiction= he owns the Habana Cigar Factory
Animal Lover
Contradiction= He voted to vacate a whole neighborhood canopy of nesting bird and beehives.
Conservationist
Contradiction= Conservationists advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment. This guy likes smoke.
His claims about the BUDGET: Responsible Budget Oversight, Responsible Spending
Contradiction= the Habana Cigar Factory was cited by the Florida Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for non-compliance in records and invoices.
He claims to have been a Licensed CPA 1974-Present
Contradiction= The Florida Department of Business and Professional
Regulation cited David C. Hastings for claiming to be a CPA in 1994, 95, and 97 for advertising that he was a licensed CPA and the proof was printed on his business cards, when in fact he was not. His excuse to the Hearing Board for printing the cards was that he was going to be a CPA, but went into another business. Citizens brought the charges of misrepresentation to the attention of the Department.
http://www.2iview.com/pages/hastingscpa.html#cigar
One business after another, one issue after another and for decades the pattern of recklessness continues from Virginia to Hillsboro and Pinellas Counties.
A vote for David Hastings is a vote for a poor example and a contradiction of what a representative and a role model should be.
David C Hastings is a liar.
At a Planning and Zoning Meeting on March 3 2010 I spoke against a proposed smoker to be installed at 5145 Gulfport Boulevard Gulfport Florida. I told the board that the Hotel&Restaurant Division of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation does not certify or regulate Smokers and that what goes in the smoker and comes out of the smoker is up to Gulfport to regulate. I asked them to require a standard, to require an EPA certified smoker and emission control.
David Carter Hastings said that my information was not correct; that they will regulate the smoker and that he was in contact with someone in Tallahassee that was about to certify the smoker.
I have an email from the Plan Review Department here that says they do not certify equipment.
Dear Client,
The Division does not certify any equipment for use in a food service operation. However if a food service operation is adding a outside BBQ/Grill the requirements are rather strict and they would be required to go through the plan review process.
The only government entity that Certifies Smokers is the Federal EPA Laboratory. There can be no legitimate person in Tallahassee that told David Hastings that they would certify this smoker. I will call the person that he claimed to have made this accusation and verify it, if they deny it then I guess charging Hastings with deceptive practices will be in order.
David Hastings also claimed that Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was the department that regulated this smoker. This is only partially true, deceptive is more like it. They regulate the impact a condition or environment will have on the employees. He claimed that OSHA hasn’t gotten down to this level of regulation yet.
They certainly do regulate restaurant safety condition.
Instead of requiring the applicant to meet the air quality standards of Gulfport, the P&Z Board with the exception of Bob Newcomb allowed the applicant to dictate to them what he was willing to do, maybe, if he feels like it. If you want to know why this P&Z Board is irrelevant, here’s a perfect example.
This is the same plan that was offered up by Smokin Joe’s who claimed along with the City that if there was an emission problem they had a solution. Neither Applicant or the City had a solution, the solution should be in the plan already and then approved. This is a Planning Board, chaired by an Airhead voting on a promise not plan. This Airhead has her beady eyes on the Mayor’s Seat. With her in the Drivers seat I can envision smokers and billboard benches with her face on them all over town.
My thanks to Bob Newcomb for having the intelligence and foresight to realize that there s a simple solution that allows the City to comply with their Nuisance Laws, with their environmental claims and protect the health of their community.
Mr. Hastings, CONGRATS! I hope you are the vindictive type!!!!
The Laws that Gulfport Citizens followed. I know people such as Hastings, who has no respect for the law may find it hard to read, but there it is.
What the City Council has done is to disregard the City laws. They didn’t go through the trouble of changing the Ordinance, as they would have for benches, Nope, they just break the law and invite people like Hastings to interpret the laws for us.
He says, there can’t be a violation if they haven’t created a nuisance. Well, there hasn’t been an accident so why establish speed limits?
Gulfport Nuisance Laws Sec. 12-1.a-1,3,5,6,7 Nuisance Law
” As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Nuisance means allowing or causing any condition or thing to exist which:
(1) Injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of any person;
(3) Is offensive to the senses;
(5) Renders other persons insecure in life or the use of property;
(6) Interferes with the comfortable and quiet enjoyment of life or property;
(7) Tends to or could depreciate the value of property of any person;
Sec. 12-2. f-j Specific nuisances.
The maintaining, using, placing, depositing, leaving, permitting, allowing or causing any of the following items, conditions or things to exist in, on,
over or under any public or private property shall constitute a nuisance; provided however that this enumeration shall not be construed to exclude
the identification of other nuisances not specifically identified herein:
(f) Any foul, offensive or unlawful emissions, odors or stenches and the causes thereof;
(j) Dense smoke, noxious or lethal fumes, lethal gas, soot or cinders;”
Sec. 7-3.1. Commercial fence regulations
(3) Outdoor commercial storage areas shall be shielded from view from any public way or from any residential district by solid walls or nondeciduous hedges or solid fences at least six (6) feet in height but not in excess of eight (8) feet, with access from public ways only through solid gates which shall be closed except when in use. Alternate shielding devices will be permitted subject to acceptance by the building official.
Sec. 1-6. General penalty; continuing violations.
Whenever in this Code or in any ordinance of the city any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or whenever the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, where no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision of this Code or any ordinance shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding sixty (60) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day any violation of any provision of this Code or of any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
In addition to the penalties hereinabove provided, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this Code or any ordinance shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be, by the city, abated as provided by law, and each day that such condition continues shall be regarded as a new and separate offense.(Code 1952, § 1.9)
2iview—- YOU ARE OFFENSIVE TO THE SENCES! The smoker guy has EVERY right to do buss. there. And what is it to you? you live on Newton and if you do not like living next to commercial prop. you need to MOVE! YOU best wake up,if You haven’t figured out how smart Hastings is yet, you better and fast!You come across VERY UNSTABLE. For someone who had a d.u.i.you should not be living in a glass house.You do not respect the law or people. You just want to CRAM crap down peoples throat.You are gonna have to change your ways because you ain’t getting anywhere with your current attitude,you are SO FAR GONE you just can’t see it.That is really to bad.If you want results,you need support from others,you are just pushing people in the other dirrection. SMART UP!
A-carlin,
City Councilman David C. Hastings of Gulfport Florida is a reckless criminal, who is a walking contradiction and blames others for his troubles. If you think he’s smart your probably easily impressed.
The Smoker Guys name is John Risseback aka Smokin J’s and he abused a community in South Pasadena with his illegal operation as the County records clearly demonstrate, and some of the community testified too on March 16th in the Council Chamber. A Pinellas County Special Educator and an 87-year-old citizen of the community who lived in that location for 47 years and another neighbor testified to Council how they were smothered in smoke both outside and inside their homes. They went on to say that, when Risseback (Smokin J’s) was closed down at Aherns Chevron by the code enforcement division of Pinellas County that he violated the law by moving his Portable Commercial Smoker to various residential locations. When an inspector showed up at his home on November 10th 2009 that his excuse for operating his Smoker in his yard was to smoke a family turkey for Thanksgiving. That holiday was on November 26th, 16 days later. The integrity of the County records or John Risseback are in question, I’m betting that the records are correct.
When a scheduled appointment with the DER Air Quality Division arrived he temporally attached a fan to his contraption to dissipate the smoke. Logic dictates though, that if you suck smoke out of a smoker, there is no smoke left to penetrate the product. So when examined, the smoker was not operating in it’s normal capacity as he claimed it was to the inspector, Mike Thomas Ojay.
I live in a commercial area because I have a commercial business, and a member of the City Council invited us to stay here and participate in the 49th street redevelopment initiative. We have been active participant in this city for 2 decades. We’re not the problem; the City’s lack of planning and inappropriate zoning is the problem, as stated in the conclusion arrived at by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Inadequate Zoning was their conclusion. There were not 12 property owners complaining about me, there were 12 property owners complaining about the inappropriate smoke and the City’s lack of enforcement.
A DUI on vacation in Tennessee is hardly a life long history of criminal and civil infractions. Besides, if Hastings had only a DUI, his life as a criminal would not be an issue. Fraud is an issue, especially in his profession as a CPA. Case #2006009152 7/05/2005 just for starters. His Drug history in 2005, what about Wrongful Acts at the Habana Café in 2008 (defendant David Hastings)
So let me recap this for you:
There are 6 Official Complaints filed against John Risseback aka Smokin J’s to the DER and numerous calls to the Code Enforcement division of Pinellas County and he was closed down, and you are stating that he has rights to continue this unhealthy and illegal activity because the City of Gulfport has granted him the right to come to our City and abuse our citizen, property and environment? Am I missing something here, or is this just the kind of work we can expect from a David Hastings criminal mindset?
That although most of the property owners within the effected range of the Smoker on 49th street have complained about the smoke, and that the regulating State body has concluded that the Smoker was inappropriately Zoned, and that the City has now changed their practices and procedures, and the property owner of the 49th street location has agreed not to allow a Smoker on his property… that I’m wrong, unstable, with no respect for law or people. Sounds like something David Hastings would conclude.
My goodness you are a crackpot aren’t you. And you thought you were outing me for a DUI, as if I’m running for something, or running from something? Cheap shot but I don’t run or hide. My ability to lead or represent this city is not in question. I was forced to represent my neighborhood against the irresponsible activities of a reckless City government. I have better thing to do with my life than micromanage a government gone astray, but when confronted with aggression I had no choice but to respond and will not relent until the issue is resolved. If David Hastings wants to challenge me on the facts of this issue he had better do his homework, at this point he’s mixing fact and fallacy and capping it off with a lecture on the philosophy of doing business and how they pollute. Can you imagine this cigar salesman is lecturing the public and making excuses for his inability to address the issue comprehensively?
Any other questions or comment a-carlin?
Come on people stop the personal attacks–they are not necessary!!
2iview-I think this discussion has run its course and has become counter-productive. Unless some new and important information comes up on smokers we will not continue it any further.
2iview—-Why so angry? the dui i was talking about was on your florida record, the one from tenn must of been another.Thanks for that info. YOU need to confront Hastings if he is the criminal that you say he is,or maybe take all this to the states atty. DRUG HISTORY! a person with a DRUG HISTORY doesn’t start “IT” in his fifties, and the cops found it in the parking lot.IT WAS NOT ON HIS PERSON OR ANYONE ELSE that was outside.And as far as i can tell,he filed a law suit against Fl. and won a undiscloed amount o $,must be a reason the state paid him,oh must be that the state did not make a mistake and paid him off anyway. You just DO NOT LIKE HIM and all your efforts are to slander him.DO YOU EVEN KNOW THE MAN?You are really out of control w/ this guy and the smoker issue.WHAT kind of a life do you have that this is ALL you have? I guess you are happy with Salmon, yeah she is just your type STUPID! mtober why is it that 2iview is always ATTACKING Hastings? I am shocked he hasn’t attacked you for giving to the Hastings camp.,unless that report was wrong.(the gabber)
2iview—The state of florida records shows only his wife on havana cafe and the cigar shop,i do not know what you are looking at.Is the wife a criminal too?
2iview–i have been thinking about your statement about the 6 official complaints-people complain about EVERYTHING! He has every right to run a buss. Besides if complaining was illegal YOU would be in jail! A complaint is not a violation!
It’s your bulletin board, do as you please. Refuse to post whatever you choose. I don’t think you need declare your objections unless your trying to make another point. If you really objected to the smoker issue you would have not posted the a-carlin diatribe IMO.
The issue goes on whether it’s here or somewhere else. The issue will grow larger now since the parents of 650 children have yet to be heard.
I have been asked many times to resume my Gulfport_Toxic_Wastes_blog http://www.gulfportinflorida.com/ but thought to help this site develop instead.
After one of your founders decided to try to equate the aroma from a gas or electric fueled restaurant with a wood smoker I began to understand how desperate some are for attention. The guy has been whining for years about polluted water and he’s defending the polluters of that water rights to pollute. Gulfport can no longer blame St. Petersburg for the pollution of Clam Bayou when they promote the unfiltered deposit of toxic waste into the air. A cord of oak wood in Florida weighs 4000 lbs. the ash from a cord of oak wood weighs 100 lbs. where does 3900 lbs of burnt wood go? Rainwater runoff and right down to your founding members back yard next to his crack pipes and used condoms that he seems to be so proud of showing off. Come down to my house on valentines day my dear and let me show you my crack pipes, barely used condoms….ash, soot, dioxins and PAHs in my back yard. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T WANT TO COME, ARE YOU DEFYING MY WISHES? ARE YOU ANTI ENVIRONMENT, ARE YOU AGAINST CLAM BAYOU? HOW DARE YOU MENTION SOMEONE ELSE’S PARTICLES AND NOT GIVE MY PARTICLES PRIORITY! I’M AL DAVIS AND I DEMAND TO HEAR MYSELF SPEAK!!
@ACarlin- You have beat this horse to death — please stop! Do you perhaps have an opinion, of any substanance, on issues that affect all of the people of G’port?
2iview-I guess I wasn’t clear. Discussion of the potential for smoke pollution and it’s effects is never off base. My concern only had to do with attacking David Hastings or anyone else for that matter.
I’m not attacking anyone Big Dog, the points made are valid and the people are public figures who want us to follow their lead or join their cause. Private citizen David Hastings record is his own and none of my business, but if I’m going be governed by this guy, his character will be in question. How do we know that the unethical behavior of Hastings record will not influence his choices and our lives? How can I be assured that he doesn’t have a need for smoked meat in his restaurant and will benefit from this vote to place a toxic wasted dump on 22nd Ave.?
With John Risseback’s record of defying the laws in S. Pasadena how do we know that he will comply with our laws? We are relying on the character of Hastings who not only wants him close by, but also wants him unregulated.
Al Davis’s position on wood burning is a contradiction to his cause. He claims to be an educated fellow, he certainly like to push the fact into the faces of the council at the drop of a hat, why then elect to add more toxins to the existing problem? He either doesn’t see the correlation of cause and effect, he has another agenda, or he just wants the attention.
The level of ignorance in this game of local politics is ridiculous. If we don’t point out the contradictions, hypocrisies and the charlatans how do you expect to be an effective oversight media outlet?
2iview, thats ALL you have done is attack people.Now you are attacking Al Davis because he maybe is seeing things on another level than you are AND you just don’t like that. John Risseback has NO record, maybe complaints but that is not someone who defies the law and as far as Hastings record,you now have the nerve to say that it is not your business? ALL YOU HAVE DONE IS DRAG HIM THRU THE MUD AND BACK.How many people sit on council?MAJORITY RULES! You seem to be placing ALL the blame on one person,you are LOOSING TOUCH.Why do you think that AL DAVIS has to have an “AGENDA?” YOU ARE 100% right AL DAVIS is VERY educated on his causes.YOU now believe that Hastings too has an agenda with Risseback, could it be that you might be a bit paraniod? It seems that if people don’t agree with you, you attack as if thats going to FIX anything,I PROMISE YOU IT WILL NOT!MAYBE IT IS YOU THAT WANTS THE ATTENTION.One more thing,everyone is well aware of “CONTRADICTIONS” life itself is that. The diferance is how you go about it. You just can’t seem to grasp that very simple concept.The only character in ? is really you.
in the Gabber today,it was pointed out that the “7″ are NUT BARS, it is because the actions of some of the 7,not all, come across as just that “NUTS.” THIS IS ALL I AM SAYING. Maybe it is time that another person points that out to the “7″.Honestly,the words and actions of 2iview are ridiculous and is brining everyone else down with him.As a group of concerned citizens,you might want to re-visit your association with him.
a. carlin.. ..Not sure what you are reading, but Salustri’s op-ed was in last week’s Gabber. that aside if you came to council meetings you’d know that 2iview seldom attends a council meeting so he may have been labeled a nut bar but as best as I can count he’s not part of the seven. In Salustri’s piece where she referred to cherry crusted nut bars she indicated that one person was under or over medicated and that the person claimed to know the Sunshine Laws but in fact didn’t. Well, interestingly the City Atty made a presentation on the Sunshine Law at last night’s workshop and essentially corroborated everything that particular nut bar has been saying. So who’s nuts now?
I’m curious a.carlin how do you feel about property ordinance enforcement in the city? Do you like all of the trashed up properties or would you like to see properties cleaned up and have less junk on them? I look forward to your response.
In July of 2008 David C Hasting was on the Planning and Zoning Board that decided on the Smoker on 49th street. There was a petition signed by 12 residents and four attending the meeting to testify that the site was inappropriate for a smoker. Some had testified that a previous smoke was in the area in earlier years and had blanketed the neighborhood in smoke.
David C Hastings did not examine the site nor did he examine the smoker but he said in summation and I’ll quote;
“”"There is no evidence that this smoker will produce smoke and the applicant says he has baffles”"”
Guess what, the neighborhood was buried in smoke and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined that the cause of the problem was INADIQUATE ZONING. The remedy for the problem was to STOP THE FUGITIVE SMOKE.
Now, if David Hastings can see a petition from 12 citizen apposed to the plan and hear the testimony of 4 residents that experience had taught them that the area was not suitable for a smoker and justify his vote in summation with a comment like that, without due diligence, without visiting the site, without examining the smoker your darn tootin that his judgment and motives need to be examined. This was a reckless determination by all on that Board, but only David Hastings was running for council and susceptible to the scrutiny of the electorate. I examined his record and determined for myself that this reckless vote was not just an anomaly, it was a pattern of reckless behavior that went back for decades.
To sit in that chamber and listen to him talk about his due diligence, and to have been a victim of his lack thereof is to witness hypocrisy in its highest order. The recordings of the P&Z meeting are in evidence, the criminal and civil records are in evidence, and as a victim of his reckless behavior I have a right to be concerned and a duty to examine the evidence and share with the interviewer and the watchdogs what this Public Figure is all about.
Al Davis made a comparative analysis of aroma from the kitchens of restaurants downtown to the wood smoke that we were trying to have regulated and if Al doesn’t know the difference he needs to pay more attention. There have been three restaurants in this area for decades, and a bakery, and the only time there were complaints is when the city recklessly decided to add a smokehouse. Maybe Al Davis could reexamine what he’s trying to accomplish with the comments that he made, but in the mean time I’ll continue to conclude that an intelligent observation was not high on his list. I’ll also add that the very toxins in the smoke are in the water he’s trying to clean, which was a point he also made, but doesn’t it seem contradictory to know this fact and still promote the toxic plan?
John Risseback (Smokin J’s) record is public information in the city hall as is the testimony of his victims, which by the way correlates with the official record. When a Special Educator fro the State of Florida testifies to the council I tend to listen. I also listen when an 87 year old mother speaks of her experiences which also matched the county records.
What you see as attacks is just me pointing out the public records. I’m not attacking anyone, examination of case files, comments and contradictions is hardly an attack. An attack is when reckless people make poor judgments and cause others harm, like placing a smoker in a neighborhood without due diligence and then justifying their actions with ludicrous summations.
2iview, When i see people “POINTING” out things and”COMPLAINING” i think that someone has WAY too much time on hand. Besides, who died and made YOU GOD?
m.tober,NO i do not like “TRASHED” up properties,but here again you guys want to CONTROL everybody and everything. Can’t be done!Here’s an idea, why don’t you and 2iview go to the houses that are trashed and offer to clean them up? That would be alot more usefull than “POINTING & COMPLAING.” Maybe the folks that live in the homes you are talking about can’t keep up with them. Maybe they are sick or elderly.But i still think it a good project for you and 2iview.
2iview YOU TEND TO LISTEN WHEN IT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HEAR!
A Carlin====I was just trying to redirect you to another topic and get your insight on it. Part of what you said relative to helping people bears merit and i think is needed. i am more than willing to help. How about you? Other than that tidbit, you obviously can’t have an objective discussion without including a personal attack or insult because this has nothing to do with control. Next time you talk to Dave hastings,ask him to show you my ideas relative to code enforcement, which he too thinks is lax.
City of Gulfport Florida Mission Statement
“The City of Gulfport is established for the benefit of its citizens and shall provide for the health, welfare and safety of those collective persons. Special attention shall be devoted to improving the City’s appearance, maintaining public facilities and infrastructure, and ensuring citizen safety and quality of life via a fair and equitable system of citizen involvement and input. Moreover, the City shall provide a positive administration of laws and ordinances governing individual activities and requests. It is the intention of the City not to be an obstacle, but to be a vehicle for citizens solution to problems and individual needs.”
GULFPORT WATCHDODS MISSION STATEMENT
“To create an informed electorate through accurate reporting and publication of news and thoughtful opinion on all matters affecting local government which includes City Government, Pinellas County Government and all other entities which have a direct impact on Gulfport.
To provide a voice in local affairs to residents of all sections of the City and to create understanding among various factions in the City.
To promote environmental awareness, patronage of local businesses by local citizens, responsible economic development and the work of the Gulfport Community Foundation.
To stimulate involvement in local government by a larger percentage of our citizens.”
mtober,One can ONLY have “OBJECTIVE DISCuSSIONS” with those who are open and “FAIR” minded.Someone who doesn’t even want to give a person the chance to run a buss.,who has already made the assumption that they are right and everyone else is wrong is not a person who is objective.And as far as the attacks go,no one has done more harm than one of your own.Thats a way you try to “CONTROL” people,1/2 truths,twisting things so that he can get the results HE wants.At the end of the day he has waisted much time on what? “NOTHING”,people should just agree to disagree.Maybe the actions of the watchdogs is up to your standards,but they are not up to mine.They just seek out problems for no reason at all.there is also a LACK of respect for people in genaral, the smoker guy is a example,a few coplaints and what? deny him his livelyhood? I’m sure he would have a nice lawsuit with the city,considering he has not done anything wrong up to this point.There are ways to do things other than beating the dead horse.The accurate reporting of the watch dogs has alot to be desired,it has been very misleading at times so that you can control your readers. See mtober it is about control.DONT KID YOURSELF!
A.Carlin– Could you please elaborate on the actions of the watchdogs that are not up to your standards. I am trying to understand exactly what your standards might be. Which articles and comments might you be referring to when you say you can’t have a discussion because people on here aren’t objective –open and fair minded?
Is it the latest article on the new police chief that bothers you? I can see where that wasn’t fair–way too many warm and fuzzies. No open mindedness there at all! Maybe all that polite back and forth between the Watchman and others in various articles is offensive to you? Heaven forbid a cop would want to shoot the breeze or have a debate with any citizen much less those on here!
Then again maybe the Foodie wrote someting that turned your stomach? Or maybe I caused you to shed a tear when I wrote about the brotherhood of the police some months ago? Again, maybe too warm and fuzzy for you? On the other hand maybe you didn’t like the tune Bigdog was singing when he wrote about the great concerts down on the point? Now that clearly was out of tune with any sense of fairness or objectivity! No, no, I bet it’s that great review of the play “Gulfport – The Musical” isn’t it? Clearly the BigDog was just acting as if he really liked it. Ahh, but then again, maybe it was that article about the Senior Center’s new exerise equipment that caused you stress? No fairness in that article either. It was just way too patronizing!! Let’s see, what else might it be? Maybe Dogfish writing about the environment and the future of our children and grandchildren? Some nerve, why be concerned about them? Then there was that article about “The City of Imagination”. Another article about the arts.I agree, enough already with the artsy fartsy stuff. You can’t be fair there!! Ahh, let me think a little more…there was that article about legalizing pot–did that cause a blur for you? All that talk about less controls definetly wasn’t objective, likely somebody just looking to collect more tax dollars and reduce police and incarceration expenses . Clearly Dogfish must have been on a high when he did the accounting on those numbers. OMG–accounting and controls they do go together!! That’s it, isn’t it? Oops wait, there was that article about the Blueberry Patch by somebody named DogFather. I don’t even know who that is, but that name alone must infer some type of control. I hear that the Bluebery Patch is a very regulated environment and under great control. Maybe this DogFather person is like the head of the BP mafia or something. I think he has probably the cause of all this negativity and closemindedness. Wow the thought of that makes me nervous too, A! I see what you mean now. It is all about control and not being fair and objective. I’m glad you took the time to bring this to light.
Mr. or Ms. Carlson, clearly this site is way too extreme for someone of your intellect and neutrality. Someone on here even implored David Hastings to be vindictive. Can you imagine encouraging a newly elected City Councilperson to be vindictive? You know, if I were you I wouldn’t keep coming back here. Clearly, things on this site are just way too dangerous and those ControlDogs, by golly, if you don’t watch out they may just pee on you!
Be well and all good wishes in finding a site more to your liking!
a-carlin, that was an accurate assessment of yourself.
If Smokin J’s used the proper equipment, and the city required him to do so, he might be able to find a location where this activity is suitable. He couldn’t use his smoker in a permanent location in Dallas TX where he comes from, I called them and he would only be allowed to use it at events and in temporary locations for a limited amount of time.
If you want to get into this argument you should know what you’re talking about. Risseback broke the law in S. Pasadena. The records demonstrate that the Code Enforcement division of Pinellas County closed him down.
Two different county departments followed him in S. Pasadena.
Then he moved his smoker to a residential area and violated the FDEP laws. He moved it again and again and more people complained about the smoke. 6 different complaints were filed. All the complaints were inspected days later. The smoker was found operating on residential land.
Why do you want to defend the criminal and trivialize the innocent citizens of S. Pasadena is the question is would raise? These people lived in the area without incident for 47 years and you want to blame them? You’re the one with the ridicules agenda here.
The City has an obligation to the citizens of Gulfport, not some renegade vendor pouring smoke toxin into the air. You seem to have a propensity to defend criminals and their activity, and then blame others for not overlooking the facts and records.
WOW NUT BARS DOes NOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN MTOBER & 2iview!Amazing how u 2 are. No one could ever deal with either one of you. YOU just can’t or wont ever get it. This blog is for people who are exactly like you 2.Closed Minded,Stubborn and NOT WILLING to see things in any other manner. The prospect of giving things a chance is out of the ?.Nothing will ever move forward with this group,you are like a dog chasing his own tail.
“This blog is for people who are exactly like you 2.Closed Minded,Stubborn and NOT WILLING to see things in any other manner. ”
Welcome to the club a. carlin.
If you drive on the road you need a license and a registered vehicle (car truck) with insurance. If you operate a restaurant you should be able to use 20th century fuel, let alone 21st century fuel. Your business should not require the City to remove their ordinances to accommodate you, nor should they spend more money defending the bad choice then the business will ever earn.
If Smokin J’s can’t cook with gas or electricity he should go to school and learn how too. He might even earn a cooking certificate that would assure the public that he knows how to prepare and serve food safely.
Something NEW is not reverting back to something the Native Americans taught to the new settlers in N. Carolina 300 years ago.
This is a rural activity shoehorned into an urban environment without the proper safeguards or common sense applied. Those who voted for this resolution without regulation were reckless and indifferent to the citizens, the property and the environment.