Monique’s Purchases

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT
WORK. ARREST WARRANT
ALLEGES THAT MONIQUE
ACEVEDO CHARGED
SEXY COSTUMES TO HER
SCHOOL DISTRICT CREDIT
CARD, SAYING THAT THEY
WERE FOR “CHILDREN’S
PLAY GROUP”

THE RIDEME-COWBOY
OUTFIT (left) as
pictured on the
Amazon.com
website. Here are two additional
fantasy costumes available from
Amazon.com— the “Sexy Delivery
Girl” outfit (right) and
the “Sexy Aviator” outfit (below).

The most recent arrest affidavit,
prepared by the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement,
alleged that Monique
Acevedo, the wife of Randy Acevedo,
former superintendent
of schools, ordered costumes
similar to these from Amazon.
com, paying for them with her
school district credit card.

Election Analysis: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCPHERSON ELECTION MACHINE?

KWTN Team Report

It is unlikely that many Key Westers were particularly
surprised that Clayton Lopez, Jimmy Weekley and Billy Wardlow
won their districts’ city commission seats last Tuesday. But
it is also likely that many were surprised that Craig Cates— a
beginner politician— was able to garner more than 50 percent of
the vote— in a four-candidate race— to win the mayor’s chair
without a runoff. That feat will be discussed and dissected by
City Hall watchers for a long time.

The big question is: What went wrong for incumbent Mayor
Morgan McPherson? After all, he had whipped Jimmy Weekley,
the incumbent mayor in 2005. At that time, Weekley had been
mayor for six years and, before that, he had been the District 1
city commissioner for 14 years!

Apparently thinking that his defeat by McPherson had been
a fluke, Weekley challenged McPherson again in 2007, only to
be humiliated again. This year, to avoid the possibility of being
embarrassed for a third time, Weekley lowered his sights and ran
for his old District 1 seat, which was being vacated by retiring Bill Verge— who had defeated
incumbent Tom Oosterhoudt
in 2007.

PAGE ONE COMMENTARY: Commissioner Lopez: The BCCLT Must be Restructured From Ground Zero Up

RECORDINGS OF BCCLT BOARD
MEETINGS REVEAL THAT
MEMBERS DISCUSSED AN
“UNDERGROUND” CAMPAIGN
TO TRY TO DEFEAT LOPEZ.
THE BOARD LAWYER ALSO
SUGGESTED SUING THE CITY

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

It is no secret that relations
between city officials and
officials of the Bahama Conch
Community Land Trust (BCCLT)
are, at best, strained.

BCCLT officials have been
pushing the City Commission
to approve a 99-year lease on
a 6.6-acre parcel of property
on the soon-to-be developed
Truman Waterfront property.
BCCLT officials say they want
to use the property for affordable
housing.

But city officials say that
is not going to happen until a
comprehensive audit of the BCCLT
has been completed. The
audit was launched after city
officials learned that the BCCLT
had billed the city twice— and
was paid twice— for $102,000
for projects associated with two
of the trust’s properties.

Auditors have already
discovered that the BCCLT has
allowed flood and wind insurance
policies to lapse on about
40 of the trust’s properties.
Also, the trust is reportedly at
least 30 months behind in sewer
payments to the city.

Letters From Baghdad: The Devine Ms. Cline

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ken Davis’ Letters from Baghdad are
scheduled for publication every-other-week. They are excerpts
from his book-in-progress “Road to Baghdad.” Davis is the former
head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency here in the Keys
and was a candidate for sheriff in last year’s county elections.
“The Road to Baghdad” chronicles the tales and stories of the
women and men in Iraq, written as seen through Davis’ eyes.
The story is based on solid truth and written with a humorous
license. The names are changed to protect the guilty and confuse
the innocent.

by Ken Davis

Throughout my life and
career I have been helped,
guided, assisted, prodded,
threatened, and protected by
strong women. Not necessarily
as wives or girlfriends, but as
friends, partners, professional
counterparts, equals, or in most
cases–betters.

As a child my sisters Mary
and Becky were the guiding
light and strength of our sibling
bunch. Later my Aunt Rose
took me in. In my career, my
wife Heidi was my first female
DEA partner and made a huge
difference in my investigations
with her Spanish language skill
and knowledge of the Mexican
culture. Deborah Rhodes, an
Assistant U.S. Attorney, (who
later became the U.S. Attorney
in Alabama) prosecuted my
investigations. As my next
partner, Lois Delaney, covered
my back, guzzled coffee with
me, and monitored all my
undercover meets. She could
tell when things were right or
wrong just by how I was talking.

She saved my butt more than
once. Later, Alicia Fuentes from
U.S. Customs, worked with me
undercover and as my partner. I
never saw anyone work harder
or be more prepared to share the
trouble and the blame. When
I promoted, Julie Blenkle, was
my back-up supervisor. Again,
I found myself being covered by
a woman watching my 6 and
advising me when to step back
over the line…or joining me on
the other side of it. Maureen
Monks, an Intelligence Analyst,
taught me how to write, and
became the knowledgeable,
intelligent confidant every man
should have.

Elected Officials Will Be Sworn in Tuesday

A new mayor, two new city commissioners and three incumbents
will be sworn in to office next week following the Oct.
6 Key West citywide election. As outlined in the city’s charter,
the swearing-in ceremony will take place at noon Tuesday on
the steps of Old City Hall at 510 Green Street.

Taking the oath of office will be the newly elected Mayor
Craig Cates, District I City Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, District
III Commissioner Billy Wardlow, and returning District VI
Commissioner Clayton Lopez. Utility Board members Peter Batty
and Lou Hernandez will also renew their oaths.

A change in election law means the newly elected officials
cannot be certified by the elections office until Friday. The city’s
charter stipulates a two day waiting period after certification. Since
Monday is a holiday, the ceremony isset for Tuesday, Oct, 13.
Following the oath of office, City Clerk Cheri Smith will
formally seat the new commissioners. The public is encouraged
to join in this important event. Refreshments will be served.

Pedal Pusher Poker Run Saturday

Key West is gearing up for another poker run, but short pipes
and revving engines aren’t an issue. That’s because participants
in this poker run will be pushing pedals, not throttles. The firstever
Pedal Pusher Poker Run, this Saturdat, October 10, will offer
a $200 first prize for the best poker hand held by a bicycle rider.

The ride begins at 10a.m. at Bayview Park and winds around
the island via the safest routes for bicyclists, stopping along the
way at participating bike shops to pick up poker hands. Registration
runs from 10 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and the last hand will
be played out before 1:30 p.m. At the finish, cyclists can play out
poker hands for prizes donated by local merchants.

No bike? No problem! Head to 830 Eaton St. Eaton where
The Bike Shop is offering free rentals for this event.

The poker run is timed to dovetail with the Sons of Italy’s
Fourth Annual Pasta in the Park at Bayview Park, which features
games, activities, silent auction, and a chance to purchase a delicious
pasta dish.

Rain date: October 11. Info: Tom at 305-766-8330.

Letters: Why Didn’t Judge Jones Give Me the Acevedo Deal?

Dear Editor:

Please allow me to reintroduce
myself I am Ronald Sands a multi-generational conch. It is said that
my people came over with
the conquistadors. Fact is, my
grandfather the honorable
Lofton B. Sands was Key West’s
first master electrician and he
wired this town.

My father, the legendary
Woodrow ‘Pop’ Sands, followed
in his Fathers footsteps
and not only became a master
electrician, but a master
plumber as well.

Sandwiched in between
are numerous educators: Theodor
“Teddy” Sands, Winnerford
Sands and Roosevelt
Sands.

I am the Sands who invokes
whispers when I walk
by; rogue, barbarian, crackhead.
It is what it is and I am
what I am.

Letters: Who Pressured Judge Jones to Give Randy Acevedo a Watered- Down Sentence?

Dear Editor:

I write letters to your
paper now and then when I
have had it with the corruption
and/or politicians in Key West
and Monroe County. Having
worked on many political
campaigns and community
issues for the last 6 or 7 years I
cannot remember a time when I
have been as angry as I am with
the sentence given to Randy
Acevedo.

Dennis Ward is a friend
and I think his team is doing a
phenomenal job. I had a very
poor opinion of Mr. Do Nothing
Mark Kohl!

It now seems we are once
again dealing with that small
group of “Conch criminals”
for whom there are no true
repercussions because of local
bloodlines and “connections.”

A really big concern of
mine is what message does this
send to potential CRIMINALS,
Conch or otherwise, and to our
school children. We tell them
crime doesn’t pay . . . or does it?

Rhonda: Cars Again? Really?

by Rhonda Linseman-Saunders

Oh Jesus, another car column? I hear you. I do.
I promise a chick column next week. But I just want
to follow up on the car thing because I received some
additional great information based on last week’s
plea for help in guiding a new driver toward a safe
vehicle. Surely I’m not the only parent of a teenager
with questions.

If money were no object, we would be looking
at the latest safety statistics available on brand new
luxury vehicles. Unfortunately, and to his dismay, that
is not the reality for my teenager. If he wants to own
a vehicle, he is responsible for buying, maintaining,
and insuring it. So, looking at the latest safety stats
and brand new cars isn’t very useful for him, or for
the majority of regular kids who are in the same
position.

Here are some stats on vehicles more in the range
of attainable for the unfortunate teenagers born to
middle-class regular schmucks like me (and parents
who could buy their children a vehicle, but refuse to
rob them of the life lesson and experience of earning
their first car):

Hang On! I’m Sending Help!

by Hal O'Boyle

This column on socialism was originally printed
in 2004.

Over a wonderful dinner recently a dear friend
and lifelong socialist asked me, “What do you have
against socialism? Don’t you want to help people?”
My objection to socialism, I said, is that it is immoral
and coercive. I want to help people as much as anyone
but I prefer to use my own money rather than what
I can swipe from my neighbors.

My friend insisted that socialists didn’t force
people to do anything they didn’t want to. He pointed
to the accomplishments of labor unions as proof.

I asked, “If socialists aren’t coercive why is it
so dangerous to cross a picket line?”

“Well, those people… they’re just SCABS,” he
said. He said the word “scabs” as if naming a vile
subspecies in need of immediate extermination.

“So it’s OK to beat up scabs?” I asked, thinking
that one man’s scab is another man’s low bidder.

Continue reading here.