Supermarket Gift cards emblazoned with the name of Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton appeared in photographs promoting a private turkey giveaway in Plantation. The Tapatia Supermarket gift cards were used in social media posts by Nataneisha “Jahmel” Richards promoting a “turkey and pie giveaway” at Car Accident Referral Services (C.A.R.S.) in Plantation. Jahmel Richards is president of The Great Commission Center And Outreach non-profit organization of Tamarac.
Last week, REDBROWARD broke the news how City of Tamarac employees instructed officials of the non-profit Parks And Recreation Foundation Of Tamarac (PAROT) to write checks to local businesses supporting Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton’s personal Turkey Drive In November. Established in 2011, PAROT historically sponsors local golf and bowling tournaments to support parks and recreation issues in the City of Tamarac. Yet emails show a high-level Commissioner staffer as well as City Parks and Recreation employees told to PAROT to write the checks totaling more than $2,000 for Bolton’s turkey drive even though the PAROT Board rejected a formal request at their August meeting.
In August, Greg Warner, Director of the Parks and Recreation department, asked PAROT to fund Marlon Bolton’s Turkey Drive. According to PAROT Chair Julie Fishman, the board flatly rejected the request. But in October, the PAROT treasurer received requests from City staff about the event.
On October 28th, Eliane Benjamin, administrator for the Tamarac City Commission, asked Warner if he could “kind assist” with getting a $500 check issued to The Great Commission Center And Outreach organization. Benjamin said Peter Richards would pick up the check.
Peter Richards is the husband of Jahmel Richards.
On November 2, 2021 PAROT wrote a $500 check to The Great Commission Center And Outreach. A note on the check reads, “Commissioner Bolton’s Turkeys.”
In another email, Benjamin follows up with Warner after a meeting. Benjamin tells Warner that a $400 payment has been promised to Garfield McLean, owner of Ackee Tree Jamaican Restaurant, for fifty boxed meals. While McLean will pick up the check, the meals will be picked up and distributed by Peter Richards of The Great Commission Center and Outreach. Benjamin tells Warner that Richards will also pick up fifty turkey vouchers from Tapatia Supermarket. The meals and turkeys were to be distributed at Bolton’s Turkey Drive on November 13th at Caporella Park.
On November 3, 2021, PAROT wrote a $400 check to Ackee Tree Jamaican Restaurant. The note on check reads, “Commission Bolton-boxed lunches.”
On November 9, 2021 PAROT wrote a $1,341 check to Tapatia Supermarket. The note on check reads, “Comm. Bolton—turkeys.”
A promotional email sent by Commissioner Bolton lists Tapatia Supermarkets, the City of Tamarac and PAROT as sponsors of the event. Bolton makes no mention of The Great Commission Center and Outreach.
Photographs posted by Marlon Bolton of his November 13th “Big Give” At Caporella Park show residents carrying City of Tamarac tote bags while waiting in line at tents and tables. The event appears official and well-organized.
So why was a separate yet simultaneous Marlon Bolton event at Caporella Park operated by The Great Commission Center and Outreach charity?
NO TURKEY JUST TOILET PAPER
Photographs posted on Facebook by The Great Commission Center And Outreach president Jahmel Richards document the second Marlon Bolton sponsored event held on November 13, 2021 at Caporella Park.
Richards’ promotional flyer for the event stated the turkey giveaway was sponsored by The Great Commission Center And Outreach “in association with Fire Forged Recovery and The City of Tamarac.” The flyer included Bolton’s official logo as well as the logo of the C.A.R.S. attorney referral service in Plantation. The only contact information is a West Palm Beach telephone number belonging to Peter Richards.
The pictures show this event was held at the bathroom pavilion at Caporella Park. There were two plastic tubs filled with bottled water and pudding. Two other tubs contained plastic bags with toothpaste, toothbrushes and a roll of toilet paper. The photographs show the bags contained religious pamphlets as well.
Other photographs show Peter Richards and other volunteers handing out boxed lunches to homeless residents.
Marlon Bolton does not appear in any of these photographs.
CARS
Nine days later, Jahmel Richards went on Facebook to promote a turkey and pie giveaway at the C.A.R.S. office in Plantation. Richards posted numerous photos and videos before and after the event. One photograph and one video clearly shows the Tapatia Supermarket gift cards with a sticker which reads, “Courtesy of Commissioner Marlon Bolton District 1.”
Other photographs and videos show Jahmel and Peter Richards volunteering at the Plantation event.
Why was the President of The Great Commission Center and Outreach charity still in possession of gift cards, on November 22nd, purchased with PAROT funds for a City Of Tamarac event on November 13th?
Why weren’t all of these “turkey vouchers” distributed to Tamarac residents?
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