The $15,000 handout from Broward taxpayers to a Mirmar non-profit appears to be good news for Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness (D-Can I Join Your Board) and his campaign donors. Last week, the Broward County Commission voted 8-0 to give the Community Access Center, Inc. $15,000 to help celebrate Haitian Cultural Heritage Month. The Commission will chip in $1,700 worth of printing and postage. Sue Gunzburger had the common sense to be in the ladies room when the vote was taken.

Red Broward reported Commissioner Holness is the vice president of the Miramar-based Community Access Center, Inc. (CACFL). The CAC looks to be a conduit for costly government social programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, free HIV testing, free pregnancy tests and services, voter registration, and immigration services. For some reason, the Commission’s only Republican, Chip LaMarca (R-Hahahaha) voted in favor of this item which Stacy Ritter (D-Bon Apetit) called “pork”.

Last week, the CAC website was a bare-bones deal with very little information. This week, they added a link to buy tickets to their “Women’s Empowerment 2013″ event on May 18, 2013 at Memorial Hospital. Tickets are just $22.09. Is that why they needed $16,700 from Broward taxpayers? For a continental breakfast at a hospital auditorium seminar? The event claims it will “unleash the potential of emerging Haitian women leaders, and to create opportunities for more effective and successful careers and lives.” According to its Federal tax records, the CAC ain’t creating much of anything except rent payments for the landlord.

The 2011 Form 990-EZ, shows the CAC  had $30,358 worth of revenues. Great, the County Commission just gave them half of their normal take. Way to go, Chip. The CAC claimed $29,711 worth of expenses. Professional fees and payments to independent contractors amounted to $1,165. Printing and postage costs came to $2,610. “Other” expenses were listed as $5,624. But the CAC’s biggest expense was rent, utilities and maintenance which came to $20,312.

The CAC says its headquarters are located at 8910 Miramar Parkway Suite 208 in beautiful downtown Miramar. Records over at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office show the building at 8910 Miramar Parkway is owned by Palm Lakes II Associates, Inc. The State of Florida says the President of Palm Lakes II Associates is Jesse Dalen. Mr. Dalen is associated with other businesses including K.M. Buschbaum, Glendale Properties and Investments, Inc., Suriname Investment Group, Inc., and Prime Time Real Estate. Guess who gave big fat $500 checks to Dale Holness’ political campaigns?

On May 29,2008 the Holness campaign received $500 checks from Glendale Properties, K.M. & Buschbaum and Jesse Dalen. On June 18, 2012 the Holness campaign received $500 checks from Prime Time Real Estate, Suriname Investment Group and Palm Lakes I Associates.

Dale Holness likes to give almost as much as he receives…on June 27, 2012 he gave $500 to CAC to sponsor one of their events.

Holness promised the Commision a budget would be submitted by the CAC. Let’s hope so. Perhaps the Commissioners would be wise to ask how much the CAC pays in rent? According to their tax filings, the CAC didn’t spend much on their programs. Under program expenses, the CAC listed $65 for mental heath counseling, $235 for legal services and $2,005 for translation services.

Maybe Chip LaMarca can use their translation skills when he tries to explain his role in this boondoggle to Republican voters?

Broward County taxpayers will be footing the bill for a month of Haitian Cultural Heritage after Commissioner Chip LaMarca (R-?) voted for a motion made by Commissioner Dale Holness on Tuesday.  The motion calls for $15,000 in taxpayer dollars to be allocated to the Community Access Center, Inc  “in support of Haitian Cultural Heritage Month, May 2013″. The taxpayers will also provide $1,700 worth of mailing and web site design services.

According to state records, Commissioner Holness is the vice president of the Miramar-based Community Access Center, Inc. (CACFL). The group’s website reveals itself to be little more than a clearinghouse for dozens of government programs and handouts. Among the services offered by the CACFL are Medicaid, food stamps, free HIV testing, free pregnancy tests and services, voter registration, and immigration services.  The group says its mission is “to assist individuals and families with access to culturally competent, cost effective social and clinical services to ensure their needs are met and improves their quality of life.”

So why would Republican Chip LaMarca go along with a plan to hand over $15,000 is this liberal group?

During discussion regarding the motion, various commissioners voiced genuine concerns regarding the resolution.  Commissioner Lois Wexler made the observation there needs to be “accountability” for the money. Holness promised a budget would be forthcoming, but nothing was mentioned in his motion. Even Commissioner Stacy Ritter questioned the request. She stated that when she was serving in the state legislature, projects like this were referred to as “pork”. Ritter said when she wanted to support a Martin Luther King event in Coral Springs she used funds from her office budget. Holness said he doesn’t have money in his budget because he must employ a large staff.  Commissioner Sue Gunzberger worried this project was a “slippery-slope”.

LaMarca droned on about supporting “cultural tourism” and wondered if the money would be better spent by the government tourism bureau. Not once did he mention taxpayers. No, his default position was to give it to another government entity. In the end, LaMarca, the former chairman of the Broward Republican Party, voted to give Holness the money.

Commissioner Holness flippantly remarked “With a county budget of 3.2 billion dollars, it seems that we should be able to find the money for this…” It is unlikely that most Broward County taxpayers would agree with his sentiment.

Unfortunately for taxpayers, Holness’ motion passed.