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“I’m so sick of all these ‘movements’…Black Lives Matter, ISIS, Radical Islam, LGBT Hate groups…. They’ve done nothing but disappoint, hate, kill and create pain for others.” –Lauren Linville, Coconut Creek Commission Candidate.

A Democrat candidate for the Coconut Creek City Commission equated the Black Lives Matter movement with ISIS and radical Islam in a Facebook rant. Lauren Linville, the owner of a crisis/emergency management group, is running for the District E seat against longtime Commissioner Joshua Rydell. In her July 2016 post, Linville wrote, “I’m so sick of all these ‘movements’…Black Lives Matter, ISIS, Radical Islam, LGBT Hate groups…. They’ve done nothing but disappoint, hate, kill and create pain for others.”

While many question the tactics used in violent protests and riots following the death of George Floyd, few would equate BLM with the murderous actions of ISIS.

In a Democrat stronghold like Coconut Creek, lumping Black Likes Matter in with ISIS and al-Qaeda is a losing proposition. Judging from her new campaign video, it appears Lauren Linville came to the same conclusion.

In her campaign video, Lauren Linville claims the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer “really pulled at my heart.” She also refers to “unity and community plans” being developed by the city. Linville says she wants to “bridge the gap of divisiveness” by being a “voice to both sides.” Suddenly, Lauren Linville wants to be the “voice” for a group she claimed did nothing but “disappoint, hate, kill and create pain for others?”

Did Linville change her view of BLM or is this just another case of political opportunism? Yet another candidate pandering to win votes?

REDBROWARD reached out to Lauren Linville.

After reading her post from 2016, Linville claimed equating BLM with ISIS was taking her words out of context. She said she was against divisive behavior and all forms of violence. Again pressing her on why she chose to lump in Black Lives Matter with radical Islam, Linville continued to use the “out of context” argument. Linville said she had another appointment and ended the call.

Coconut Creek voters will render their verdict in March.

Dean Trantalis voted against sewer bond money in 2018

It appears as thought the waterways are not the only things filled with poop in the City of Fort Lauderdale. As REDBROWARD reported, even though he says residents should not play the “blame game,” Mayor Dean Trantalis (D-Hapless) continues to blame previous city officials for the sewer and water issues across the City. Trantalis insists his administration and his fellow Commissioners made infrastructure their top priority from day one. But a key vote held while Trantalis ran for Mayor calls into question his true commitment to fixing Fort Lauderdale’s failing sewers.

On January 23, 2018, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission heard an item regarding $200 million funding to fix infrastructure issues. Agenda item R-2 concerned bond money to fund water and sewer pipe repairs across the City of Fort Lauderdale. The list of projects to be fixed included sewer mains in the Rio Vista and Victoria Park neighborhoods. Several residents spoke in favor of the $200 million dollar bond.

Mayor Dean Trantalis’ only comments on the matter dealt with the bond payments. Trantalis asked what would happen if the City did not have money in eighteen years to pay the principle on the bond.

Without any further discussion, the vote was called. Mayor Jack Seiler, Commissioner Romney Rogers, Commissioner Robert McKinzie, and Vice-Mayor Bruce Roberts voted to fund sewer repairs.

Then-Commissioner Dean Trantalis was the lone vote against funding the projects.

If it was such a top priority for him, why did Dean Trantalis vote against the $200 million dollars?

Trantalis did not even bother to explain his vote. He could have easily said, “I want to fix sewers, but….” Instead, Trantalis voted no.

Since the sewer breaks in December 2019, Trantalis claims he has been “very aggressive” in his approach to fix infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Mayor Trantalis scolded a resident who asked why he has not done more to fix sewergate. “We weren’t sitting on our hands, not waiting for a break to happen,” Trantalis said. “Unfortunately, it got ahead of us.”

But since his election in May 2020, Trantalis had $200 million dollars in the bank to use on sewers but he’s done nothing.

Even though Trantalis voted no, the money was there for him to use on day one. What if he started work in Rio Vista in June 2018? Could the City avoided pumping 200 million gallons of raw sewage into Fort Lauderdale waterways?

What was Dean Trantalis waiting for?!?

Now, Trantalis wants federal taxpayer dollars to bail him out. Will Mayor Dean Trantalis actually use that money?

Is this the real leadership Fort Lauderdale needs during this crisis?

Doesn’t Fort Lauderdale deserve better?