Tag Archives: airport

Broward County Airport Vendor & Dale Holness Supporter Paid For Controversial “Diversity” Sign At Polls

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Campaign signs featuring the photographs of four Broward judicial candidates was paid for by the operator of restaurants at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The large signs featured Haccord James Curry, Stefanie Camille Moon, Tanner Channing Demmery and Jackie Powell under the headline “Diversity.” Moon and Powell won their elections to the Broward bench on Tuesday. Curry and Demmery lost badly. A small disclaimer states the signs were paid for by Tyrone Nabbie of Windmere, Florida.

The address on the disclaimer is shared by Superior Hospitality Group, an Orlando-area food service company. State business records show Superior Hospitality Group is owned by Tyrone Nabbie. In 2015, the Sun-Sentinel reported Superior Hospitality Group opened new restaurants at the airport:

“Concession operator Delaware North and its partner Superior Hospitality Group plan to invest more than $21 million in new food and beverage venues in Terminals 3 and 4, where it holds the restaurant contract.”

Contracts for concessions at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport are awarded by the Broward County Commission.

In 2015, Campaign finance records show Superior Hospitality and its restaurants gave thousands of dollars to the re-election of County Commissioner Dale Holness. In May 2018, the County-Sponsored “Broward Means Biz” conference presented an award to Nabbie.

A BETTER FLORIDA FOR ALL SCANDAL

Last week, REDBROWARD reported on the controversy surrounding the inclusion these four Broward judicial candidates on an illegal endorsement card. The partisan card was produced by A Better Florida For All, a political committee with deep ties to Dale Holness. Omar Smith, the treasurer of the committee, owns FlyerSmith. Campaign records show FlyerSmith has done extensive work for Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. For his 2016 re-election campaign, Dale Holness paid Flyer Smith $15,161 for marketing, flyers, IT services and consulting. Judicial candidates are barred from appearing on partisan campaign literature. When the State of Florida revoked authorization for the committee, a Broward Judge ordered the removal of the card from early voting locations.

Then, a stunning undercover expose by Project Veritas Action featured Omar Smith disparaging Florida voters. Smith called Florida a “cracker” state. He said Andrew Gillum was telling voters a “fairy tale” to win their votes.

The video and a follow up interview were recorded at Dale Holness’ real estate office.

DECLINE TO COMMENT

REDBROWARD contacted Tyrone Nabbie at his Orlando offices on Wednesday. Nabbie admitted to paying for the signs. When asked why, Nabbie claimed he wanted to be involved in the community. When asked if he discussed the signs with Dale Holness or Omar Smith, Nabbie said, “I have to decline comment.”

This appears to be the second time Dale Holness reached out for political help from someone doing business with County.

In September, REDBROWARD exposed how Dale Holness hosted an Andrew Gillum fundraiser at a building the County might purchase.

According to Broward property records, the building sold for $11.525 million in July 2018 to Spectrum Investors LLC. According to State of Florida records, Spectrum Investors LLC is managed by Sheldon Gross of Palm Beach.

In August 2018, The Sun-Sentinel reported Broward County Commissioners were looking for a new home for the Broward County Property Appraisers Office and the Broward Supervisor Of Elections Office. Located near highways and public transportation lines, the new building has a cafeteria, a hurricane-proof data storage bunker and room for a warehouse. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness said the building has a “real nice gym.”

The price tag for the sprawling new government campus is $24 million taxpayer dollars.

This building is the same one owned by Gross at 2050 Spectrum Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

Even though he bought the building for less than half that amount just three months ago, Sheldon Gross claims the $24 million dollar price is competitive for the area.

FLL ATTACK: Esteban Santiago Says He’s ISIS Fighter, Talked With Others In Jihadi Chatrooms

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An FBI agent told a Federal Judge that the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport shooter claims to be an ISIS fighter. On Tuesday, Esteban Santiago made another appearance in Federal court. Santiago murdered five fellow travelers on January 6, 2017 at the baggage claim area of terminal two.

According to published reports, FBI Agent Michael Ferlazzo said Santiago admitted he carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS. Santiago claimed he spoke to other potential terrorists when he visited jihadist online chat rooms. Santiago was denied bond and will remain in the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale.

Investigators said Santiago spoke with them for about six hours. “The first few hours of his ‘confession’ were audio recorded and all but about 10 minutes of his interview at the FBI office was recorded on video,” Ferlazzo testified.

These statements in open court seem to bolster earlier reports that Santiago created social media accounts in 2007 under an Islamic name. While some politicians were quick to discount terrorism as the motive, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the FBI never ruled out terrorism as Santiago’s motive.

Why Is Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief Disclosing Details About Fort Lauderdale Airport Attack Investigation?

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Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief continues to disclose details regarding the investigation of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) attack. On Friday, Esteban Ruiz Santiago shot and killed 5 travelers in the baggage claim area of terminal two. Federal officials have charged Santiago with multiple felonies including murder. Santiago could face the death penalty.

In the criminal complaint, FBI agent Michael Ferlazzo provides details on Friday’s attack. Santiago flew on a one-way ticket from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale on Delta Airlines. His only luggage was a checked case containing the weapon he used to kill his victims. After he was arrested and received his Miranda warning, Santiago told investigators he retrieved his case, went to a bathroom stall and loaded his weapon. He placed his weapon in his waistband and exited the bathroom. At approximately 12:56pm, Santiago pulled his weapon and opened fire. 

According to the compliant, Santiago admitted to planning his attack. He said he reloaded his Walther 9mm handgun once. Santiago believes he fired fifteen rounds.
FBI agents Ferlazzo states video surveillance of the attack exists and will be reviewed by investigators.

And that’s it. The official criminal complaint contains no more details about the ongoing investigation.

SHARIEF: SUSPECT PREVIOUSLY VISITED FRIENDS/FAMILY SOUTH FLORIDA 

On Sunday evening, Mayor Barbara Sharief revealed what appears to be a significant detail about the investigation to WSVN/Fox.  Sharief said, “I heard that there were…connections to south Florida. Not Fort Lauderdale specifically. They just said south Florida possibly Miami.” Sharief went on to say Santiago visited, “Close friends or family.” When asked if he visited friends or family, Sharief said, “I’m not sure.”

Why is Mayor Sharief saying anything if she’s “not sure.”

In a early morning tweet on Sunday, Sharief told REDBROWARD, “As Mayor of Broward’s 1.9 million residents & visitors I must keep them informed.”

But REDBROWARD reported how Sharief created massive confusion on Friday in an attempt to share information. 

Mayor Barbara Sharief repeatedly gave confusing information to CNN.  Around 6:00pm, Sharief told anchor Wolf Blitzer questions remained whether the suspect in custody was the real Esteban Santiago even though Senator Bill Nelson identified the suspect on MSNBC four hours earlier. A stunned Blitzer asked Sharief if CNN should stop referring to the suspect as Esteban Santiago.

During the eight o’clock hour, anchor Anderson Cooper referenced Sharief’s doubts in a conversation with a CNN reporter. When she joined Cooper, Mayor Sharief tried to claim she could no longer talk about it, but she again raised doubts. Finally, at 10pm, Sharief told anchor Don Lemon that the suspect was indeed Esteban Santiago. 
Hours before her Sunday television interview, Mayor Sharief blasted the release of video surveillance footage of the FLL attack. TMZ posted a short clip of the attack on its website. 

Sharief told the Associated Press, “Only a select number of people had access to this video….What’s troubling about this video being out there is we don’t want copycats.”

According to the Palm Beach Post, Sharief said the leak of the video was a “distraction” to federal and local officials investigators. “Our priority needs to be on the actual investigation,” Sharief said.
What?!?

Somebody needs to tell Mayor Sharief that disseminating wrong information (twice) on the international airwaves of CNN is considered to be a major “distraction.” Imagine the level of distraction federal and local investigators face when Wolf Blitzer calls up to see if they have an impostor in custody.

As for “copycats,” it’s hard to think terrorists need a 30 second clip on TMZ to inspire their murderous acts. More troubling is notion that Sharief’s comments to WSVN may have tipped off Santiago’s “friends” that the FBI knows about them and the visits. Let’s hope they get their news from a competing station.

The best way Mayor Sharief can serve her 1.9 million Broward residents and visitors is to stay off the television and let law enforcement handle the investigation.

Sharief & LaMarca: Broward’s Not Ready For Prime Time Players