Tag Archives: Diane Gonzalez Simpson

Outside Progressive Groups Flooding Coral Springs Political Races With Campaign Cash

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Since 2017, national progressive groups have flooded Coral Springs politicians with campaign contributions. Normally, municipal races are funded by friends and neighbors of candidates as well as local business owners and developers. However, a review of Coral Springs campaign reports show contributions from progressive groups across the United States and Florida with very few contributions from Coral Springs residents or businesses.

In 2018, Joshua Simmons, a Broward school teacher, beat incumbent Coral Springs Commissioner Lou Cimaglia. Despite being a political novice, Simmons managed to collect nearly $32,000 in campaign contributions. Simmons received contributions from MoveOn.org, Emerge (Emgage), and Latino Victory US. Simmons had the financial support of politicians like Rep Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Broward School Board Member Rosalind Osgood, and Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

None of these politicians represent the City of Coral Springs.

According to the reports, more than 75% of Josh Simmons’ campaign contributions came from outside the City of Coral Springs.

The numbers were even more stunning for the 2019 mayoral campaign of Nancy Metayer. Her campaign received numerous contributions from progressive groups like Common Voices, Alliance For A Better Community, FLIC Votes, SEIU and Ruth’s List. None of these groups are located in Coral Springs. Metayer had the support of politicians like Dale Holness, Tamarac Commissioner Mike Gelin, Sunrise Commissioner Mark Douglas, West Park Commissioner Brian Johnson and Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana.

According to Metayer’s campaign reports, only 30 contributions came from Coral Springs. Over 90% of her 304 contributions were made from people and groups from outside Coral Springs city limits.

In a stark contrast, Metayer was defeated by Scott Brook who received 53 percent of his campaign contributions from Coral Springs residents.

Coral Springs commission candidate Khurrum Wahid is showing numbers similar to Nancy Metayer. For the upcoming June 18, 2019 seat 2 election, Khurrum Wahid reported 202 total contributions. Only 21 of the contributions came from Coral Springs. Ninety percent (181) of Wahid’s contributions were made by entities outside Coral Springs.

Why are progressive groups and outside interests flooding Coral Springs elections with money? What do they want in return?

Coral Springs Candidate Khurrum Wahid Wants To Use “Behavior Modification” To Reshape City

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Forget free will. City Commission candidate Khurrum Wahid stunned some Coral Springs residents when he called for “behavior modification” as a solution to city problems.

When a Coral Springs resident asked about transportation solutions at a recent voter forum, most of the candidates for the upcoming city commission seat 2 election gave familiar answers. One talked about solving traffic congestion at the busy intersection of Sample Road and University Drive. Other candidates described transportation options in big cities and density studies. Candidate Shawn Cerra recounted talking to residents on a recent ride across Broward county on a bus. But candidate Khurrum Wahid stunned voters with his call for “behavior modification,” ride share subsidies and electric bicycles as a solution for Coral Springs.

Wahid called on the city to work on “behavior modification” as a solution to transportation problems. He said, “Right now, we have too many cars driving around. So we need to start designing a city for the city we want.”

Mentioning his business interests in technology consulting, Wahid told residents to follow California’s testing of autonomous buses as a possible solution along with the use of electric-powered bicycles. Wahid called for the City to pay for senior citizens use ride-share (UBER/LYFT) options.

Wahid gave no plan on how he would pay for these options.

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION VS FREE WILL

According to The Atlantic, “B. F. Skinner’s notorious theory of behavior modification was denounced by critics 50 years ago as a fascist, manipulative vehicle for government control. But Skinner’s ideas are making an unlikely comeback today, powered by smartphone apps that are transforming us into thinner, richer, all-around-better versions of ourselves. The only thing we have to give up? Free will.”

Basically, Skinner believed human behavior could be controlled by reinforcements–positive or negative. Think of the “carrot and the stick” analogy. Good behavior is rewarded. Bad behavior is punished.

Do Coral Springs residents want to give up their free will to city politicians?

How would Khurrum Wahid “punish” the bad behavior of residents?

Who says Khurrum Wahid knows what is good?

How does Khurrum Wahid know there are too many cars in Coral Springs? What is the correct number of cars? What would he do to residents with cars? Buy them back? Force them to give them up?

To paraphrase Jon Snow, what about all the other Coral Springs residents who think they know what is good?

Last month, REDBROWARD exposed Khurrum Wahid’s call for changing Coral Springs. Wahid said:

We can make history. We can change the City of Coral Springs and continue the work [progressive candidate] Nancy [Metayer] started and you’re all supporting. A lot of folks are very excited about this campaign because we’re going to move Coral Springs–more progressive, more in a way that is going to give us all more of a voice, better opportunity. This is a diverse city and it has to start looking more diverse in its leadership. It has to start speaking to those voices that are currently not being heard.

Will Coral Springs voters give control to Khurrum Wahid on June 18th?