Lobbyists Hired To Snare Hard Rock Casino Money
BY BUDDY NEVINS
The Town of Davie has placed a six-figure bet on two veteran lobbyists to preserve its share of Seminole gaming money.
At stake is a whole lot of slot machine quarters — $229,582.28 annually.
That’s what the town received last year from the local government-sharing portion of the agreement negotiated with the Seminoles in 2009. The money is for the impact of the Hard Rock Casino on Davie.
The money is at risk during the current session of the Legislature. The 2009 deal has expired and lawmakers are due to discuss a new Seminole agreement negotiated by Gov. Rick Scott.
Dave Ericks, a long-time lobbyist in the state Capital from Broward, was already on staff.
Newly hired Ron Book and Ron Greenstein.
Book is a decades-long veteran Tallahassee lobbyist who lives in Plantation. Greenstein is the former mayor of Coconut Creek and a former state House member from Broward, who is now a Tallahassee-based lobbyist.
Ron Greenstein, a former House member who is now a lobbyist
Davie is paying Book a maximum of $60,000 to insure that the town continues to get a piece of the Seminole Hard Rock’s revenue. Greenstein was tossed another $10,000
The three Davie lobbyists – Book, Greenstein and Ericks – represent Broward County, which also is seeking a piece of the Seminole’s revenue.
A conflict?
Davie Town Commissioners, who approved Book and Greenstein’s contract last week, obviously don’t believe there is any problem with the lobbyists working for both governments.
Book, however, made it clear in his proposal that he represented other entities:
January 12th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
This sounds like a shakedown by the Mob. Why is anyone other than the casino entitled to its profits? Isn’t it on Reservation land? Can’t they (or shouldn’t they be able to) just thumb their noses at all these greedy cities who want a piece of their action?
We live in a Kleptocracy.
January 12th, 2016 at 3:21 pm
@! I ahte paying taxes as much as the next guy. A Casino impacts local roads, requires police and medics, I am sure they pay a lot less in taxes % than I do. Its more to lobby to pay way less in taxes then they should.
FROM BUDDY:
The Hard Rock is on sovereign Seminole land. Therefore, I believe that any property taxes and/or impact fees they pay are most likely voluntary, i.e., part of the state agreement.
January 12th, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Sham,the real shakedown is having to pay lobbyists to obtain access to, and influence with, those legislators initiating and marking up the laws and compacts passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
With regards to the local governments including Davie and Hollywood wanting some of the compact revenues, the enormous traffic to and from the Hard Rock regularly results in the need for police and EMS services from patrons traveling through those cities on 595 and local roads. Why should local taxpayers have to pay for such predictable needs?
There are also many intangible issues from the Hard Rock like noise from their outdoor concerts which require the local governments to handle citizen complaints and investigate them.
Usually Sham I agree with your posts but this time your libertarian leanings are too theoretical and not realistic.
January 12th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Ron Greenstein is a died-in-the-wool Democrat whose mother I think was one of our Democratic leaders. Can someone tell me how this Democrat can get anything out of the Republicans in Tallahassee?
January 12th, 2016 at 9:19 pm
@Sam the Sham – exactly.
just wondering where the water and sewer for the Hard Rock comes from. Davie? But they already paid the “impact fees” to ‘whoever’ to connect when construction was complete. As to contributing to roads, well how many times have you ever actually seen complete asphalt overlays ever 10 years of so by the municipality responsible for maintaining the road?
The “revenues” are always “reallocated”.
Thank you Buddy and BrowardBeat for news not covered anywhere else.
January 13th, 2016 at 8:33 am
As long as VOTERS elected clowns…who after they serve as South Florida Congressmen become DC lobbyists Texas snakeoil salesmen or residents of foreign countries the lower down the ballot officials will serve THEIR own interests NOT their constituents! Yes lobbyists for Governments to lobby OTHER GOVERNMENTS is a RIPOFF by elected officials BUT THE BRAINDEAD PUBLIC goes along time aftef time!