Tag Archives: judy stern

Sun-Sentinel Editor Steve Bousquet Takes REDBROWARD “With A Grain Of Salt” As He Cites Our Reporting In Yet Another Endorsement Video

Here you go again. Sun-Sentinel Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet takes a shot at REDBROWARD while citing our reporting during an interview with the City of Tamarac mayoral candidates. Bousquet, a resident of Tallahassee, said he takes REDBROWARD “with a grain of salt” before asking Elberg Mike Gelin about his desire to run for Broward County Commission. On September 22, 2022 we detailed Gelin’s Facebook Live interview with a Honduran immigrant rights group.

The Facebook interviewer asked Gelin if running for mayor was part of his future plans. Gelin said he was currently running for mayor. But then, Gelin’s face lit up when he said really wanted to be a Broward County Commission. Gelin made no mention of his plans for Tamarac if he became Mayor. Instead, he explained how a Broward County Commissioner had jurisdiction over multiple cities.

Gelin tried to qualify his comments but stating a run for County Commission could be eight or ten years down the road. Gelin told Bousquet he did not plan on challenging popular Broward County Mayor Michael Udine for the District 3 seat.

Elberg Mike Gelin Facebook Interview

But Gelin’s track record shows he is not a patient politician. Many political insiders were shocked when Gelin decided to challenge the popular incumbent Mayor Michelle Gomez.

GRAIN OF SALT

For some reason, Steve Bousquet failed to accurately describe our report. He said REDBROWARD “claimed” Gelin’s desire to seek higher office was based on a Facebook post. No, it was based on a live interview of Gelin on Facebook. REDBROWARD included Gelin’s exact quotes as well as a video clip of Gelin’s comments. The clip was included in our report and our YouTube channel.

This reporter knows they get YouTube in Tallahassee and Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

In the 1970s, Bousquet was a fixture on WPLG Channel 10 news with local news legends like Ann Bishop, Dwight Lauderdale and Molly Turner. Since then, he’s covered establishment politics in Tallahassee for various newspapers before being named opinion editor for the Sun-Sentinel. Guess no Broward based reporters applied for the job.

Earlier this week, we shared another example of Bousquet’s snark towards REDBROWARD. We welcome criticism and snark. You should take everything you read with a healthy dose of salt.

It just seems odd that Bousquet takes shots at an outlet he repeatedly cites in his endorsement videos. Perhaps Steve should come join our field trips to commission meetings in Tamarac, Plantation, Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale. Things have really changed since the 1970s.

And don’t worry Steve, we won’t tell Judy Stern.

REDBROWARD reached out to Steve Bousquet for comment. He did not respond.

Ex-Pahokee City Attorney Burnadette Norris Weeks Threatens To Silence Reporter, Again!

Burnadette Norris Weeks

Burnadette Norris Weeks leveled legal threats to stop REDBROWARD from covering her termination as the Pahokee City attorney. The threats came via a comment on our most recent story on the Pahokee matter. On Tuesday, REDBROWARD reported on last week’s chaotic City of Pahokee commission meeting where Norris Weeks attempted to provide legal advice to the very commissioners who “fired” her the week before.

On Thursday morning, Burnadette Norris Weeks left a comment on our report. Needless to say, she was not pleased that Broward readers learned of the chaos in Pahokee.

Norris Weeks claims the story is “utterly unacceptable and ridiculous.” She wrote, “Requesting that this be removed immediately. This is clearly an attempt to do anything to somehow discredit me with bits and pieces of a story.”

Then, Norris Weeks wrote, “You would not have a blog if it were not for targeting black people in leadership positions.”

By the way, what does Dale Holness have to do with my legal contract and a client,” Norris Weeks wrote.

Norris Weeks continued her attacks on our reporting. She wrote, “You Republican hitmen are unbelievable. Who is paying you.

Finally, Burnadette Norris Weeks insinuated future legal action against REDBROWARD. She wrote, “Perhaps I’ll find out in discovery. I’ve had enough.

This is not the first time Burnadette Norris Weeks threatened to silence REDBROWARD.

“SEEKING AN INJUNCTION TO SHUT DOWN THE SITE.”

In February 2015, Burnadette Norris Weeks was unhappy with a REDBROWARD report about a Fort Lauderdale Commission candidate hosting an event at her offices. The original story was posted on the now defunct Daily Broward website.

Norris Weeks used similar language in a threatening email to the Daily Broward editor:

The purpose of this e-mail is to request that you remove all references to me on your website RedBroward. For some time, (along with a few others that you consider Black community leaders) I have been a target of your site. Research shows that Judy Stern is behind the malice and misinformation that you are constantly writing.

Your consistent attempts to taint my reputation leaves me no other choice than to reach out to you and request that you remove the derogatory comments throughout the RedBroward site. Your failure to do so will result in my seeking an injunction to shut down the site. Your attempts to contact my clients, taint my reputation through malicious posts and even target my computer has resulted in a loss of business — which is provable.

Why aren’t you targeting the millions of dollars that have been secured by non-Black business owners from the CRA? These folks do not live in the area and could care less about the people here. We received a relatively small amount of funding from the CRA compared to so many other businesses.

Again, kindly remove the untruthful posts or I will have no choice but to seek an injunction and sue personally. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation!

VULTURES

The next day, Burnadette Norris Weeks sent another email. Once again, it contains similar themes as the ones used in her comments on the Pahokee story.

Norris Weeks wrote:

Again, I am asking that you remove the malicious references that are proving to be damaging to my longstanding good name and professional reputation.

While you and your partner have been paid to post this racist garbage and probably think it’s fun, let’s hope that the vultures are also planning to defend you.

While she’s no longer the city attorney in Pahokee, Burnadette Norris Weeks is still the city attorney for several south Florida municipalities including the City of Miramar.

In addition to hosting a public affairs show on local television every Sunday, Burnadette Norris Weeks is a frequent guest on the WPLG/ABC news program This Week In South Florida.

Wonder what Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney think about Burnadette Norris Weeks’ repeated attempts to silence this reporter?

Dale Holness joined Burnadette Norris Weeks on her public affairs television program