Tag Archives: Miami Herald

Governors Stop Flow Of Syrian Refugees, But They’re Still Coming To South Florida

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Update: Florida Governor Rick Scott moves to stop Syrian refugees. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday he will oppose efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in Florida, but also wants Congress to take action to ensure refugees are denied entry to the Sunshine State.”

Following the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday, several U.S. Governors have stopped the flow of Syrian refugees to their states. While still early in the investigation, French officials believe at least one terrorist came to France masquerading as a Syrian refugee. The Governors of Arkansas, Indiana, Lousiana, Michigan and Texas asked for more information before allowing more refugees into their states. In Florida, it appears Syrian refugees still have the greenlight.

Last month, REDBROWARD revealed a well-known Jewish group was using tax dollars to move Syrian refugees into Broward county.

The Tampa-based Gulf Coast Jewish Family And Community Services (GCJFCS) was picked by the U.S. Department of State to resettle refugees in Broward. GCJFCS is one of hundreds of private voluntary organizations (VOLAGS) which receive public funding to provide a myriad of social services to immigrants.

In 2014, GCJFCS stated some of its funding came from the Broward Behaviorial Health Coalition and the Childrens Services Council of Broward County CSC. The U.S. Office For Refugee Resettlement lists funding for programs from the Broward County Commission, Broward College and South Florida Workforce Board.

GCJFCS claims the Refugee Resettlement & Placement program helps “resettle refugees from around the world who have been persecuted based on ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or membership in a social group.” GCJFCS said it helped “refugees primarily from Iraq, Cuba and Congo find a better life for their families in Pinellas and Broward County.” Last month, The Tampa Tribune reported a big jump in Syrian refugees.

“So far this year, 41 Syrian refugees have resettled near Tampa, said Janet Blair, community liaison with Florida Department of Children and Families’ Refugee Services. Last year, there were three.”

On Thursday, the day before the Paris attacks, the Miami Herald expained how tax dollars are used to help Syrian refugees.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) greeted both families, helping them with housing, furniture and other services. The families receive aid from the IRC for about 30 to 90 days, then are switched over to a federal self-sufficiency program called Matching Grants. This program, administered by the IRC, helps refugees with job placement, public transportation, education, English classes, etc. In general, families are helped for about six months.

Today, a South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial mocks the notion of Florida Governor Rick Scott stopping the Syrian refugees. Daniel Vasquez wrote, “No state other than Texas is more prepared for a small-scale gun attack than Florida. Florida is the Gunshine State. We have more people with guns than trees with oranges.”

Cute. But there are real issues involved with the refugee resettlement.

Nobody wants refugees fleeing war zones to suffer. However, taxpayer dollars are being used by private groups to fund programs. It benefits these private groups to claim a problem they can solve is growing.

As we asked last month, can Broward County handle 2,000 or 3,000 refugees?

Is anybody even asking this question?

State Sen. Chris Smith Tied To Shadowy Miramar Political Committee

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State Sen. Chris Smith

Official State and local records show the political committee of State Senator Christopher L. Smith (D-Fort Lauderdale) contributed money to a shadowy political committee in Broward. Last week, REDBROWARD exposed the role the secretive “Alliance for Better Governance (ABG)” political committtee played in the March 2015 Miramar city commission elections. The committee spent tens of thousands of dollars on the elections, but campaign reports listed fictitious names and addresses for donors and campaign workers.

According to campaign reports filed with the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office (SOE), the “Alliance for Better Governance” received five contributions from the Miami consultant “ABCD” located at 12345, Miami FL 33027. This “consultant” made contributions of $7000, $1500, $750, $1000 and $1800 between February 19, and March 9, 2015.

Roderick C. Kemp, the contact person for the “Alliance for Better Governance,” is a close associate of Alexandra Davis, a former Miramar city commissioner. Records show Kemp registered the domain name “voteforAlexandra.com” in December 2013. Davis used this domain name for her campaign website during the March 2015.

When contacted by REDBROWARD, Kemp admitted the political committee worked to get Davis elected. He said, “We helped [Davis] and lots of municipal candidates.” Kemp said he registered the domain name when Davis “needed an email address.”

As for the fictitious names and addresses, Kemp said the person who filed the reports for him “must have made a mistake.” Kemp promised to fix the mistake.

The very day REDBROWARD reported the story, “Alliance for Better Governance” submitted an amended report with the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office. This new report raises more questions than it answers. The donors include the relatives of a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and the political committee of State Senator Chris Smith.

ABG claims it received two contributions from B&B Professional Consulting Inc of West Park. Once again, the address given for B&B Professional Consulting Inc is fictitious. State of Florida records show the corporation is based at 3840 SW 26th Street, not 3649 SW 26th Street. The company is owned by Billy and Barbara Hardemon, the uncle and aunt of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon. According to the Miami Herald, the Hardemons are longtime Liberty City political powerbrokers.

Could this be another simple “mistake” by the person filling out the forms? Perhaps. However it is not the only fictitious address on the amended report.

ABG reports a $1,000 contribution on March 2, 2015 by Florida’s Future. The report claims Florida’s Future is located at “3316 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. HOLLYWOOD, FL 33021.”

According to IRS records, Florida’s Future is located at 3816 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood.

Last week, the Miami Herald reported how Florida’s Future funded the travel and dining expenses of State Sen. Chris Smith. Records were murkier at Florida’s Future, a political action committee operated by Smith, the Senate’s former minority leader from Fort Lauderdale. Expense filings were not matched with individuals. Committee treasurer Roderick Harvey, a CPA, blamed the tax season for a two-month delay in responding to a media inquiry to break down charges. 

Smith told the Miami Herald his committee funded “voter outreach in Broward.”

“Smith said all expenses were related to the committee’s voter outreach in Broward County and ‘not for a particular candidate.’”

The Herald reported the PAC’s registered purpose, which it is required to file with the Florida Secretary of State, is “supporting candidates who believe in creating a solid foundation for Florida’s Future.” When the reporter asked Smith why the committee spent money on outreach and dining instead of spending on a candidate, Smith said, “I honestly don’t know. I need to check that out.”

Last week, the Florida Division of Elections sent an audit letter to Florida’s Future regarding its March contribution to the “Alliance for Better Governance.” Florida’s Future listed a March 2, 2015 expenditure to “Alliance For Better Government.” It failed to include legally required information including the address, City, State, and expenditure purpose.

Florida’s Future has seven days to respond to avoid a violation of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.