Concerned Taxpayers file lawsuit against City of Jacksonville

[FCTP]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County Inc. (CTDC) filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF) on June 3^rd 2011.  The lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court, Duval County and is docketed at 2011-CA-004348.

Curtis Lee, Chairman of the Public Employees Compensation Committee (PECC) and Director of CTDC, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, which seeks declaratory judgment and injunctive relief concerning contract negotiations conducted in violation of state labor laws and the Florida Sunshine Law.

Mr. Lee says that “for more than 10 years, the PFPF and the City have collectively bargained retirement benefits on behalf of PFPF members and future members, in violation of Florida labor law.  Additionally, these negotiations were conducted in secret without public notice or opportunity for the public to observe, as required by the Sunshine Law.  The City’s pension system is broken.  Unless serious pension reform occurs, where pension benefits are negotiated in a transparent fashion as required by state law, the pension crisis will only cost taxpayers more in the future.”

Victor Wilhelm Jr., President of CTDC, adds: “Mr. Lee and CTDC have been attempting to educate the mayor, the administration and the City Council about the unsustainable nature of the public pension status quo, how this harms taxpayers, and what can be done to reduce costs.  Unfortunately, we have what appears to be a pattern and practice of violations of the Sunshine and labor laws, all for the benefit of insiders.”

Mr. Lee and CTDC have retained the services of Robert Dees, Esq., of Milam Howard Nicandri Dees and Gillam to pursue this lawsuit.  Mr. Dees has more than 25 years of experience in Sunshine Law litigation. 

Additional information about the suit is available from Mr. Lee at 904-594-6192 or Mr. Dees at 904-357-3660, or at www.jaxtaxpayers.org

The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, Inc. is a not for profit corporation dedicated to serving the community as a watchdog group, to oppose corruption, waste, and tomfoolery in government.
Paid for by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, Inc., P. O. Box 2307, Jack

 

904-351-8126

www.jaxtaxpayers.org

Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, Inc.,

P. O. Box 2307, Jacksonville, FL 32202

-XXX-

 

 

[Jessie B Pittman]

i guess i`m the real dummy, i cut 1 of the signs off a light pole at the request of the people that lived  by the poland thought it was unsightly by their house. i cut up said sign and tossed it in the  perpertrators yard .He called the police and i waas informed i was guilty of criminal mischief.  i thought i was doing my civic duty.  Any way i`11ve called the city council man , Glorious  Johnson , 1 was informed of 9 more signs this same man has posted on light poles today.  Cheapest way to advertise  if the city lets stay up for 30 or so days and no penalties for doing so.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Thank you Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County!

[Jessie B Pittman]

My boss once told me,If you take care of the Pennies  the Dollars take care of themselves..   I`ve comtemplated that many times.    I have a pet peeve against a few people that knowingly  bright colored signs high on utility poles for the past 13 mos. that i know of. And we the taxpayers have to pay  people,vehicle cost and fuel  to remove ,yet the zoning police do nothing as far as penalizing the  culprit. so they continue.  Cutting trees , oaks at night in River Side, was reported, unliscened tree co. pays no ins. no taxes, no w.c.   has 8 employees. Larson   same  zoning  cop says hearsay , yet have pics, and over a dozen witnesses.   why are we paying clean-up for this?? It `s going on all over the city and adds up to a lot of manhours and $$$/