Tag Archives: betsy benson

Pembroke Pines’ Jay Schwartz Latest Broward Democrat Pandering To Local Muslim Group

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Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay Schwartz is the latest Broward Democrat pandering to a local Muslim political action committee. Schwartz is featured prominently on the Emerge USA PAC Facebook page along with numerous other Broward Democrat politicians and candidates. In 2014, REDBROWARD exposed the role EMERGE USA played in Charlie Crist’s campaign for Governor.

Schwartz attended several EMERGE USA PAC events in 2015 including a Ramadan dinner celebration. According to one published report, Schwartz spoke about “changing” America EMERGE USA at a February event. Schwartz said, ““[T]here’s a group of people, in this room, who are changing America as we know it, and that’s a great thing… If there’s anything I can do to help the cause, I’m a phone call away.”

Last July, REDBROWARD exposed how female Broward judicial candidates covered their heads at several EMERGE USA events.

Pictures plastered all over social media featured Broward County Commissioner Marty Kiar, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan. While these gentleman appeared as they do at any community or political event, the Broward women running for office looked very different.

Pictures show State Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed and several women seeking to be Broward judges wearing scarves over their heads.

Before you say they’re showing respect inside of a mosque, many of the pictures were taken under a tent in the parking lot.

Broward Chief Judge Peter Weinstein attended the event in his normal attire. Would a sitting female judge cover her head? Would she politely decline and use the opportunity as a “teaching moment” on womens issues in the Muslim faith?

Did anybody tell Rhoda Sokoloff, Betsy Benson and Andrea Gundersen to cover their heads?

Is this the change Jay Schwartz was talking about?

UPDATE: Schwartz has two challengers in the non-partisan race for Pembroke Pines city commission. The election will be held on Tuesday March 15th. Early voting continues through Sunday.
  

Judicial Candidate Discusses Her Role In Prosecution Of Broward Teachers Union Official

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In an exclusive interview on Bleeple TV, Broward County Court candidate Adriana Alcalde discusses her role in the prosecution of former Broward Teachers Union president Pat Santeramo. On Wednesday, a Broward jury convicted Santeramo on eight counts of corruption. Santeramo was charged in a kickback scheme which funneled union dues into his own pocket.

Alcalde, a former prosecutor, helped uncover the scheme where Santeramo and others padded construction invoices for work done at the BTU offices in Tamarac. Alcalde credited investigators at the Broward State Attorney’s Office as well as prosecutor David Schulson and Broward State Attorney Mike Satz.

A big supporter of Alcalde’s opponent, Betsy Benson, represented Santeramo. Attorney Larry Davis failed to convince the jury of Santeramo’s innocence. Davis served on Benson’s host committee for her campaign kickoff.

Last September, REDBROWARD revealed Davis blamed two minors for Wilton Manors sexual assaults. In April 2013, Davis was featured on WPLG Local 10 for his shocking comments to Wilton Manors Police detectives. Kids In Distress (KID) CEO Mark Dhoogie and Larry Davis, a KID board member, gave a video recorded interview to Wilton Manors P.D. Detective Nick Fiacco regarding two recent sexual assaults on the KID campus.

In January 2013, Brian Denby was accused of assaulting a 13 year old and a 15 year old living on the KID campus. A therapist contacted Wilton Manors P.D. to report a sexual assault took place on January 7, 2013 at 3:45 AM. According to charging documents, a group of minors were yelling and throwing rocks at passing cars. Denby yelled at the minors to stop and started talking to them. Denby provided cigarettes to the minors. He explained he had recently left the military and lost his wife. He told the children he had not engaged in sexual activity for more than a year.

Denby stated he would get in trouble if he had sex with the minor residents of Kids In Distress. Still, he climbed the wall and engaged in sexual acts with the minors on the KID playground. Denby is awating trial on three felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery on minor age 12-16 and two felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition in the presence of a minor under the age of 16.

DAVIS: I KNOW THESE KIDS & I KNOW WHAT THEY’RE LIKE

On the video first aired by reporter Bob Norman on WPLG, Davis shockingly takes the side of the sexual attackers. Davis said, “I feel bad for him because I know these kids and what they are like.” Recall, Larry Davis is a board member for a taxpayer funded organization tasked with protecting sexually abused minors.

Davis even puts himself in Denby’s shoes. “I could get over that wall, especially if I saw two sweet little 15-year-olds probably playing with themselves, telling me to come over,” said Davis. “I’d have been over that wall in a heartbeat.”

Once Norman started asking questions, Davis resigned from KID. Davis admitted his remarks were “inappropriate and insensitive.”

Adriana Alcalde is a former sex crimes prosecutor for the Broward State Attorney.