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Featured

Attorney General Bondi and FTC Obtain Final Orders Shutting Down Robocall Scam

Posted on June 5, 2017

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission obtained permanent injunctions halting an Orlando-based robocall operation. All Us Marketing LLC, f/k/a Payless Solutions, LLC and affiliated businesses and individuals allegedly bombarded millions of consumers with nationwide robocall campaigns designed to trick consumers into paying up-front for worthless credit card interest rate reduction programs. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the case.
“This massive robocall operation bombarded consumers with millions of unwanted calls and misled victims into purchasing ineffective financial services—but thanks to our joint investigation, this scheme has been permanently shut down,” said Attorney General Bondi. “We look forward to continuing to partner with the FTC to shut down robocall scams targeting Floridians.”
“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is committed to protecting Floridians’ hard-earned money from all kinds of scams and deception, and we’re proud to have worked with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission to shut down one of these frauds,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
Consumers paid between $300-$4,999 for these programs that claimed to substantially reduce credit card interest rates, and save thousands of dollars in a short time. The defendants, however, did not provide the promised interest rate reductions or savings. Additionally, the defendants allegedly used the robocalls to falsely identify themselves as representatives of consumers’ banks or credit card companies, and in some cases, make unauthorized charges to consumers’ credit cards. The defendants also allegedly charged consumers a fee in advance of providing debt relief services and called consumers with telephone numbers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry.
As part of the permanent injunction obtained by Attorney General Bondi’s Office and the FTC, all of the defendants are prohibited from the following:

  • Telemarketing;
  • Offering debt-relief products and services;
  • Misrepresenting financial products and services; and
  • Making deceptive or unsubstantiated claims.

The defendants include: All Us Marketing LLC, f/k/a Payless Solutions, LLC; Global Marketing Enterprises Inc., f/k/a Pay Less Solutions Inc.; Global One Financial Services LLC; Your #1 Savings LLC; Ovadaa LLC; Royal Holdings Of America LLC; GRR Financial Services LLC; Auto Guardian USA, LLC, Premier Marketing International, LLC; Gary Rodriguez; Marbel Rodriguez; Carmen Williams; Jonathan Paulino; Fairiborz Fard; Shirin Imani; Alex Serna, Christian Serna, and Kimberly Coarse.
To view the permanent injunctions against the defendants, see below:

  • Alex Serna, here;
  • Christian Serna, All Us Marketing and GRR, here;
  • Coarse, Auto Guardian USA and Premier Marketing International, here;
  • Fard, Imani and Global Marketing Enterprises, here;
  • Gary Rodriguez and Your #1 Savings, here;
  • Marbel Rodriguez and Global One Financial Services, here;
  • Paulino and Royal Holdings of America, here; and
  • Williams and Ovadaa, here.

Attorney General Bondi’s Office and the FTC filed the case in the Middle District of Florida.
These permanent injunctions are the final actions in the joint efforts of the Attorney General’s Office and the FTC in taking down this massive robocall operation. For more information about the actions halting this operation that bilked millions from consumers across the country, click here.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Federal Trade Commission, Robocall Scam

POWERBALL jackpot swells to estimated $375 million

Posted on June 5, 2017

More Than $27.8 Million Will Go To Education

The POWERBALL® jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing is an estimated $375 million; the largest in the nation. In addition to the large POWERBALL jackpot prize, players have the opportunity to win lower-tier prizes from $4 to $2 million by matching any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations. The POWERBALL jackpot has rolled 18 times since the April 5, 2017, drawing and has generated more than $27.8 million in contributions to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days after the draw to receive the cash option of an estimated $235.4 million. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize.
As a reminder, players are encouraged to sign the back of their tickets at the time of purchase and keep them in a safe place. Players should also check their tickets carefully because even if they don’t win the jackpot, they can still win cash prizes of up $2 million.
Purchase your tickets at any of the more than 13,000 authorized Lottery retailers for your chance to become Florida’s newest multi-millionaire. The Florida Lottery would like to remind all players to please play responsibly, as it only takes one ticket to win. As with all Lottery products, players must be 18 years of age or older to purchase POWERBALL tickets.
The next POWERBALL drawing will be held Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at 10:59 p.m. ET, tickets must be purchased by 10:00 p.m. ET to be eligible for this drawing. National POWERBALL drawings are broadcast live, in high-definition, from the Florida Lottery’s state of the art draw studio in Tallahassee. Florida Lottery game drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: florida lottery, Jackpot, Powerball

Senator Bradley's Office Holds Local Office Hours in Baker County

Posted on June 5, 2017

The legislative office of State Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) will begin holding its monthly office hours in Baker County this week. Staff representing the Senator will be available to answer questions and provide constituent assistance from 1:00pm – 3:00pm on Tuesday, June 6th at the County Administration Building, located at 55 North 3rd Street, Macclenny, FL 32063.
“Our Senate district is geographically very large, so I want to be sure that people know that they have access to the office and the services we can offer to assist them,” said Senator Bradley.   “If residents have issues with a state agency, a legislative request or need information about a state program, then this affords them an opportunity to sit down and discuss the matter with us.”
In addition to local office hours, constituents can obtain assistance on matters relating to state government by contacting the Senator’s office toll free at (888) 347-3483 or emailing [email protected].   Additional contact information for Senator Bradley and his staff is available at www.flsenate.gov.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Baker County, Local Office Hours, State Senator Rob Bradley

Florida City and County Management Association Elects New Officers and Board of Directors

Posted on June 5, 2017

At the Florida City and County Management Association’s (FCCMA) 2017 annual conference at the Hilton Orlando this week, the organization elected new officers and members of the Board of Directors. The Association, created in 1946, is the professional association for city, county and some special district managers, and their management team members. FCCMA is an affiliate of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Outgoing president Bobby Green, City Manager for Auburndale, presided over the conference and recognized those board members completing their respective terms.
Incoming president Jim Hanson, Town Manager for Orange Park, recognized new board members following the election and congratulated them for their time, commitment and leadership. “The lifeblood of any association is its active members; and we are very grateful for the dedicated leadership, vision and hard work of our board of directors,” he said. “I want to thank the new board for volunteering to represent their areas, and for their commitment to leading the Association for 2017-18.”
The following FCCMA members were elected to serve as officers and members of the Board of Directors:
President: James (Jim) Hanson, Town Manager, Orange Park (Clay County)
President-elect: Michael (Mike) Cernech, City Manager, Tamarac (Broward County)
Secretary-Treasurer: Shannon Lewis, Deputy City Manager, Melbourne (Brevard County)
Past President: Robert (Bobby) Green, City Manager, Auburndale (Polk County)
District I Director: Michael Beedie, City Manager, Fort Walton Beach (Okaloosa County)
District II Director: Danielle Judd, City Manager, Green Cove Springs (Clay County)
District III Director: Suzanne Sherman, Assistant City Manager, Satellite Beach (Brevard County)
District IV Director: Lori LaVerriere, City Manager, Boynton Beach (Palm Beach County)
District V Director: Jorge Gonzalez, Village Manager, Bal Harbour Village (Miami-Dade County)
District VI Director: Charles Chapman, County Administrator, Hendry County
District VII Director: Matthew Campbell, Town Manager, Kenneth City (Pinellas County)
District VIII Director: James (Jim) Gleason, City Manager, Mascotte (Lake County)
At-large Director: Mark Cunningham, Assistant County Administrator, Sarasota County
At-large Director: Micah Maxwell, Assistant City Manager, City of Clearwater (Pinellas)
At-large Director: Ryan Leavengood, City Manager, Lake Alfred (Polk County)
FCCMA was formed in 1946 and is an affiliate of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), which awards the designation of Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM). The FCCMA has more than 600 members across Florida. FCCMA is a member-driven, ethical, inclusive organization committed to the council-manager and commission-manager forms of government, dedicated to effective partnerships with elected officials, devoted to the advancement of excellence in professional management of local government in the state of Florida and determined to provide quality of service to its membership and the local governments it serves.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Florida City and County Management Association

FADMO Statement Regarding Gov. Scott's Call for Special Session

Posted on June 5, 2017

Statement By: Gil Langley, Chairman, Florida
Association of Destination Marketing Organizations

“Florida’s tourism industry is greatly encouraged by today’s announcement that Governor Rick Scott has called the Florida Legislature together for a special session to discuss measures and funding related to tourism promotion.
Restoring VISIT FLORIDA’s funding to $76 million and removing restrictions that hindered operations will not only keep tourists and revenue flowing into Florida, it will preserve the jobs of the 1.4 million Floridians who count on tourism for their paychecks.
We applaud the leadership of Governor Scott, Senate President Joe Negron and Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran and their efforts to ensure Florida’s tourism industry remains a significant driver of Florida’s economy and workforce.
This is an incredibly positive step forward. We look forward to working with legislative leaders in the coming week to bring Florida’s tourism promotion budget back in line with competing states.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: FADMO, Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, special session

Small Business: Include Workers’ Comp in Special Session

Posted on June 5, 2017

Statement from Bill Herrle, NFIB/Florida Executive Director, on the need to address workers’ compensation reform during special session:
“We’ve asked Governor Scott, President Negron and Speaker Corcoran to include workers’ compensation reform in the special session.
“Jobs are at stake. The Senate and House were very close to an agreement that could have delivered significant savings to the job creators of Florida during session – we owe it to business owners to finish the job now that we have the chance.”
NFIB’s Letter on Special Session

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Florida, National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB

Florida City and County Management Association Announces 2017 Award Recipients

Posted on June 5, 2017

At its annual conference at the Hilton Orlando, the Florida City and County Management Association (FCCMA) presented its 2017 awards to individuals for significant contributions to the management of local government in Florida.
“Every year, FCCMA gathers to honor members who are receiving these awards for their outstanding contributions to the profession and to this association,” said association President Bobby Green. “This is an opportunity to show our respect for each recipient and to thank them for all they do.”
The following individuals were recognized during the 2017 Awards Ceremony:
President’s Award (Given by the president in appreciation for individuals who have unswervingly supported the profession of city and county management)
Wendell Lawther, Ph.D., M.A., Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Central Florida
Casey Cook, Executive Director of FCCMA and Senior Legislative Advocate, Florida League of Cities; Linda Bridges, Director of Association Services, Florida League of Cities; and Carol Russell, Executive Assistant, Florida League of Cities/FCCMA (joint award)
If You Care, You Do! (Given by the board of directors to an FCCMA member for going above-and-beyond on a project or program)
Micah Maxwell, Assistant City Manager, City of Clearwater
Richard (Dick) Simmons Lifetime Achievement Award (given in memory of a past president who was a 60+ year FCCMA member, to honor an individual who served the profession or the Association in a manner or to a degree that merits such recognition)
David Harden, Retired City Manager, City of Delray Beach & City of Winter Park
Michael J. Roberto Award for Career Development (given in memory of a past president who emphasized mentoring and development of others; nominated by the local government)
Carl S. Harness, Chief Human Services Administrator, Hillsborough County
Award for Career Excellence (given in recognition of an outstanding career in local public management; nominated by the local government)
Joseph W. Yarbrough, City Manager, City of South Daytona 
Assistant for Excellence in Leadership (specifically for a deputy or assistant; nominated by the local government)
Roger Reinke, Assistant City Manager, City of Naples
President’s Gavel Plaque (given in recognition of voluntary leadership by the board of directors and membership)
Bobby Green, City Manager, City of Auburndale
Outgoing Executive Board (given in recognition of voluntary leadership by the board of directors and membership)
Michael Pleus, City Manager, City of DeLand
Harold Farmer Scholarship (academic scholarship given in memory of an FCCMA past president; includes stipend to attend the annual conference)
Neysa Herrera Cuello, Graduate Student, Florida Atlantic University (Master of Public Administration) 
Raymond C. Sittig Scholarship (given in memory of the long-time FLC executive director, who emphasized advocacy; includes stipend to attend conference)
Desiree Casanova, Graduate Student, Nova Southeastern University (Master of Public Administration)
Emerging Professionals Scholarships (provides conference registration and stipend to future local government managers)
Marsha Noel, Administrative Intern, Orange County Facilities Management Division
Aubrey Phillips, Graduate Student, Florida Gulf Coast University (Master of Public Administration)
Eve Sweeting, Human Resources Analyst/Generalist, Charlotte County
FCCMA was formed in 1946 and is an affiliate of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), which awards the designation of Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM). The FCCMA has more than 600 members across Florida. FCCMA is a member-driven, ethical, inclusive organization committed to the council-manager and commission-manager forms of government, dedicated to effective partnerships with elected officials, devoted to the advancement of excellence in professional management of local government in the state of Florida and determined to provide quality of service to its membership and the local governments it serves. 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Award Recipients, Florida City and County Management Association

Mallea Campaign Highlights Perez Support for Obama Policies on Cuba

Posted on June 2, 2017


The Jose Mallea Campaign today released a Spanish-language video exposing Daniel Perez’s support for Obama-Castro Cuba policy, which allows travel to Cuba for specific purposes and also softened regulation on business and trade with the island dictatorship. The video features glamorous photos of Perez and his fiancée in Cuba, taking advantage of Obama’s relaxed stance toward oppression while millions continue to suffer nearby under the Castro regime. The Miami Herald recently published the photos.
“The residents of House District 116 deserve to know the truth about the candidates in this race,” said Mallea. “Because voters deserve transparency, we call on Mr. Perez to produce all travel and visa documents, pictures, videos, and other related material related to his 2016 Cuba trip in order for residents of House District 116 to be able to judge for themselves what a candidate who claims to be against the Obama-Cuba travel policy was doing in Cuba.
“These photos reveal either ignorance or callous indifference to the decades of suffering the people of Cuba have endured and continue to endure today. Neither is acceptable in our community’s next representative in Tallahassee. House District 116 deserves a champion for freedom, not someone who will enable a murderous dictatorship. I will always stand on the side of liberty.”
To view the video, please click here.

Paid by Jose Mallea, Republican, for State Representative

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Cuba, Jose Mallea Campaign, Obama Policies

Gov. Scott calls special session to fight for students and jobs

Posted on June 2, 2017

Governor Rick Scott today signed the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year and vetoed $410 million in legislative projects that do not provide a great return for Florida families. Additionally, Governor Scott vetoed the Florida Educational Finance Program (FEFP) funding portions of the budget. Governor Scott is also vetoing HB 5501 which decreased funding to VISIT FLORIDA by over 60 percent. The Governor’s full budget veto list will be released later today.
Governor Scott is calling a special session to discuss the following measures beginning on June 7, 2017 and ending on June 9, 2017 (click here to view the proclamation):
Funding for Florida’s K-12 students through the FEFP: Governor Scott is calling on the Legislature to provide an additional $215 million to K-12 education than previously authorized. This would increase the per student funding by $100.
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund: Governor Scott is proposing to establish the new Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to promote public infrastructure and individual job training which will encourage more businesses to choose Florida as a destination to grow jobs.  Governor Scott is calling on the Florida Legislature to fund it at $85 million.
Increase VISIT FLORIDA Funding: Governor Scott has been focused on funding VISIT FLORIDA at $76 million in order to bring more tourists and support for Florida small businesses. The Governor is calling on the legislature to pass legislation that funds VISIT FLORIDA at a total of $76 million and includes comprehensive transparency and accountability measures at the organization.
Governor Scott said, “Florida’s students deserve the very best and we must always do everything possible to provide them with the resources they need to get a great education. It is my goal that a total of $215 million more is allocated to the FEFP which is a $100 per student increase over current year funding during the upcoming legislative session. Our students are the future of our great state and I know Speaker Corcoran is committed to our students, parents and teachers and ensuring Florida offers a world-class education to students at all levels.
“In addition to our common focus on ensuring a world-class education for Florida’s students, Speaker Corcoran understands the importance of ensuring future economic growth for Florida’s economy. Today, I am announcing that I intend to veto HB 5501 relating to Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA. While I believe very strongly in these programs and their ability to help bring more jobs to Florida, there needs to be a new bill relating to these organizations and how they operate.
“During the special session, I am calling on the Florida Legislature to consider new legislation that funds Visit Florida at $76 million. Additionally, I am proposing to establish the new Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to be funded at $85 million to promote public infrastructure and individual job training which will encourage more businesses to choose Florida as a destination to grow jobs. I have fought for jobs since my very first day in office and I do not intend to stop and this new fund will give our state the tools we need to compete with other states and nations for jobs.  Like the Legislature, I strongly believe in transparency, accountability and a strong return on investment for any taxpayer dollars used. There needs to be legislation that allows us to market our state for tourism and grow jobs while maintaining these important principals. I look forward to working with the legislature during the upcoming special session to achieve these important goals for Florida families.”
Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “I am proud to stand with Governor Scott as we fight for continued strong job creation, giving every child a competitive and world class education, ensuring Florida competes as a tourist destination, and faithfully stewarding taxpayer dollars — goals that unify us.
“The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will create both public infrastructure and job training and put taxpayers in the driver’s seat.  All Floridians know that Governor Scott is committed to jobs. His willingness to work with us on this new model for economic development demonstrates that commitment and is greatly appreciated in the House. It’s truly a model for the rest of the nation wrestling with ending corporate welfare. In addition, this special session will secure Florida’s place as the premier tourist destination in America while ensuring that VISIT Florida is completely open, accountable and transparent to the taxpayer.
“The people of Florida should be proud today that you can have leaders with competing opinions and still compromise to meet common goals — government in Florida is working and the biggest winners are all Floridians.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Florida, Governor Rick Scott, jobs, special session, students

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam’s Statement on Special Session

Posted on June 2, 2017

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement regarding Governor Scott’s call for a special session beginning June 7, 2017:
“I’m grateful to Governor Scott for his leadership in calling for a special session, for his unyielding commitment to providing our children with the best education possible, and for his continued support of economic growth in the Sunshine State.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Commissioner Adam Putnam, FDACS, special session

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