The School of Unethical Behavior
Monday, October 27th, 2008
The School of Unethical Behavior presented by Mary Brandenburg
Click here or on the image above to play this animated political cartoon.
Archive for the ‘Online article, Palm Beach Post’ Category
NONPROFIT FILES SUIT AGAINST WEST PALM
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008BYLINE: THOMAS R. COLLINS, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DATE: December 15, 2007 PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)
EDITION: FINAL SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: 3C
……..The suit also includes a claim under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, saying Frankel, Briesemeister, former city commissioner Ray Liberti and state Rep. Mary Brandenburg “engaged in a pattern of criminal activity” including “the sale of political influence, approvals, and support relating to development projects and the sale and purchase of real estate.”
The suit claims Brandenburg tried to help Frankel extort a campaign contribution from the group when she told Renaissance officials that a campaign donation would help the group become an “insider” and help with project approval.
Brandenburg, who didn’t return a call early Friday evening, has said she told the group a contribution would generate “goodwill” but that the remark was made innocently. Read this article in its entirety
Pay-To-Play Rreport Objectors May Lose Legal Veil of Secrecy
Monday, October 13th, 2008
BYLINE: TONY DORIS, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DATE: September 4, 2007
PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: A SECTION PAGE: 1A MEMO: Ran all editions.
Some secrets regarding a grand jury report about the city’s pay-to-play politics may soon be revealed.
Seven months after the panel harshly criticized West Palm Beach as a place where developers looking to do business in the city believe they must contribute to officials’ campaigns, entire sections of its investigation report remain sealed. That’s because motions by state Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-West Palm Beach—keep reading
Grand Jury Agrees Lawmaker Gave ‘Pay To Play’ Advice
Friday, October 3rd, 2008BYLINE: KELLY WOLFE, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DATE: June 7, 2008
PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: A SECTION PAGE: 1A MEMO: Did not run MSL.
A county grand jury concluded state Rep. Mary Brandenburg “did not act ethically” in July 2006 when she told the members of a neighborhood nonprofit they would have to get out their wallets if they wanted to get things done in West Palm Beach.Brandenburg told members of the Northwood Renaissance redevelopment group that “the way to successfully conduct business in the city of West Palm Beach was to write substantial checks to the mayor’s campaign account,” ……Keep Reading
Lawmaker Tried To Keep Findings Sealed
Monday, September 29th, 2008BYLINE: TONY DORIS, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DATE: April 22, 2007 PUBLICATION: The Palm Beach Post
EDITION: FINAL SECTION: A SECTION
PAGE: 1A MEMO: Did not run MSL.
For the past two months, a state lawmaker has waged a secret legal battle to keep her name out of a grand jury’s report about “pay to play” city politics.
State Rep. Mary Brandenburg, Read More………
Two seek Secrecy On “Pay to Play” Report
Friday, September 26th, 2008THEY WANT INFORMATION ABOUT THEM IN CORRUPTION PROBE SEALED BYLINE: TONY DORIS, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer DATE: May 18, 2007 PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) EDITION: FINAL SECTION: LOCALPAGE: 1B MEMO: Ran all editions.
Despite the end of the legislative session and mayoral race, state Rep. Mary Brandenburg and at least one other person mentioned in a sealed grand jury report on “pay to play” city politics are pursuing legal efforts to keep the sections referring to them secret. Read More……. (more…)
Complete Grand Jury Report Released in late June 2008
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Palm Beach County Fall Term 2006
Grand Jury Presentment
Part B
January 31, 2007
Excerpts from
“Individual Unethical Behavior within the City of West Palm Beach Ethics Committee”
In July 2006, after her appointment to the Ethics Committee, Mary Brandenburg met with Northwood Renaissance…….she made it very clear that if Northwood Renaissance wanted to make progress in the political arena, they were going to have to play the game the way everyone else did.
…Mary Brandenburg progressed to how commissioners or elected officials could receive compensation for their votes.
Mary Brandenburg discussed the right way and the wrong way to make contributions, giving an example of an inappropriate way to offer money, bribes and bogus consulting agreements with a spouse of the elected official.
Mary Brandenburg did not act ethically in her position as an Ethics Committee member … Her goal was clear and concise: Deliver a message to the Northwood Renaissance organization. Act like all the other developers. “Pay to Play” … financial contributions will make you an insider and get you votes and support.
The Grand Jury is appalled by Mary Brandenburg’s lack of compassion and concern for the citizens of West Palm Beach. This Grand Jury is saddened by the loss of affordable housing opportunities for lower to middle income residents of the city of West Palm Beach.
Mary Brandenburg met with volunteer members of a non-profit organization and instructed that the way to successfully conduct business in the City of West Palm Beach was to write substantial checks to the Mayor’s campaign account.
Click here to download a PDF of the complete Grand Jury Report
Redacted Grand Jury Report Feb. 2007
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
FALL TERM 2006
IN RE: THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF
THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY BY
THE STATE OF FLORIDA
The Grand Jury Presentment on the City of West Palm Beach
Part A
“Pay to Play” Introduction
After irregular and illegal practices surfaced regarding Republic Properties and the West Palm Beach City Center project1, this Grand Jury was convened to investigate corruption, ethics and whether the City of West Palm Beach conducts business under a “pay to play” practice. Witnesses who testified included residents, the mayor, elected city officials, former and present city employees, commissioners, vendors, developers and businesses who have conducted business with or within the city.
In addition to witness testimony, the Grand Jury received and reviewed documents, correspondence, emails and other evidence.
1 Republic Properties Corporation, a real estate development company, paid consulting fees to then City Commissioner Ray Liberti in relation to the City Center project. The City Center project is the construction of a civic complex that will house City Hall, the public library, and a non-profit cultural and educational institute in downtown West Palm Beach.
Pay to play
One of the questions addressed by this Grand Jury is: Is the City of West Palm Beach a “pay to play” city? The question posed in another way: Is it the understanding among developers and businesses that in order to successfully conduct business with the City of West Palm Beach, the developers and businesses must make large financial contributions or other considerations?
The evidence is as follows: