Guest Author, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 7, 2016

“Keep it simple, stupid” (or KISS) is an adage that reminds us of the effectiveness of simplicity. From its origins in aeronautical engineering management, keeping it simple is usually good advice. At risk of being the contrarian, my argument is that sometimes things can be made too simple, especially where politics and economics intersect. To […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 7, 2016

On Nov. 16, 2015, the Orlando City Council approved a Consent Agenda item authorizing the largest-ever expansion and extension of the city’s red-light contract with American Traffic Solutions. The justification for the expansion was based on dubious safety claims and skewed data. After further investigation, based on responses to public records requests received from the […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 6, 2016

Welcome to 2016! It is a new year and, of course, a new you. Many of us have taken the rollover of the calendar as a chance to make changes and reaffirm commitments. Usually these decisions take the form of the New Year’s resolution. We are great at making promises, but unfortunately are lousy at […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 5, 2016

Last January I wrote a column titled, “Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Back to Work We Go” in which I gave advice to managers about making changes in the office that would help employees be more productive. I discussed how some simple modifications in the office’s physical appearance can have a positive effect. Here, I […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2016

Since declaring his candidacy for president, Donald Trump has been at odds with his Republican rivals, allegedly the RNC executive committee, political action committees, the Democrats, and particularly the media who appear to despise this political outsider. The media paint a picture of a loudmouthed, uncouth racist, who is greedy beyond words and, therefore, evil. Let […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2016

Here’s a New Year’s resolution every public official should make: Don’t ever conduct a job candidate search and promise to keep applicants’ names confidential. The board members of the South Broward Hospital District have learned in the past few weeks that trying to circumvent Florida’s open government laws to keep applicants’ names secret is just […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2016

Here’s a New Year’s resolution every public official should make: don’t ever conduct a job candidate search and promise to keep applicants’ names confidential. The board members of the South Broward Hospital District have learned in the last few weeks that trying to circumvent Florida’s open government laws to keep applicants’ names secret is just […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2016

The year 2015 is over and there’s been a variety of boring lists or designations put out there highlighting the best and the worst of people, songs, photos, recipes, books and the greatest and most dramatic events of the year. For example, Time Magazine named Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel its “Person of the Year Do […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2016

As we head into the New Year, the Florida Legislature has a hefty agenda to tackle in 2016. Session begins Jan. 12 and runs for 60 days or nine weeks, until March 11. Committee meetings have been held since last September, bringing the total time for the 2016 session to 15 weeks. As with every session, […]

Guest AuthorDecember 31, 2015

There’s some dispute about who uttered the line: “If I knew I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” Some have argued Mickey Mantle, George Burns, or Cary Grant. Researchers found the jazz pianist Eubie Blake made the comment in 1983. However, it appears Adolph Zukor, founder of Paramount Pictures, […]

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Image via Palatka Main Street.

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