Curtis Lee; Pension Fund and Sleiman: "Justice" has been swift

[Patricia M. McBride]

 

Sorry this is so long.

I don't think I have ever know a government agency to take such fast action, and I am also including comments made by Curtis (below) who is, as you can tell, very angry. Curtis is a retired lawyer who worked a pension fund and has been involved in pensions for literally years and is an expert. For those who came to our meeting Monday, please remember Ted Wendler explaining the unfunded liability for the pension funds is now 2.4 billion (it has been updated and brought up to the actual current number; required audits were skipped and funds not added, but this year we will be 70 million in the hole on the budget, because we must contribute to the pension fundby law............of course I don't understand that since the union contract itself is outside the law since it is for 30 years and state law requires it not be longer than 3 years), and Ted is a CPA who has been a CPA for years and years. He is very good at his job as Curtis is very good at his. This is a slap in the face for the tax payers of Duval County, and we will likely be slapped with taxes to pay for the mismanagement of this pension account eventually. There have been statements made that we might have to continue to pay taxes to fund this and not receive city services if it gets bad enough. As you know from an earlier Email, the city council can take over and replace the members on this board, save the 2 the firemen and police can pick, with people who will actually manage it properly and choose people who could straighten this out is they choose to, but so far no noise from the council would indicate they will do that. In fact, there is nothing that would indicate anyone plans to take some sort of action to stop the blood letting for the taxpayers.

 

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CTDC members - forgive the dripping sarcasm throughout.

As I have already told you, and the article in the Times Union indicated, Judge Daniel determined that, although the Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF) had violated the Sunshine Law twice, it still was not obligated to pay my legal fees, because John Keane - young novice public official that he is - simply did not know the law, and innocently and in good faith made mistakes. I sought reconsideration - unfortunately it had to go before Judge Daneil - and he refused to change his mind. This forces me to appeal. I wonder if Judge Daniel has bought any swamp land lately , , ,

On the issue of my ethics complaint to the FL Commission on Ethics ("FCE"), re: Peter Sleiman, PFPF trustee for the last 25 years, and attorney for over 26 years. Justice has been so swift! After a mere 15 month wait, the FCE "public advocate" , also an attorney - her name is Melody Hadley (she supposedly represents us!!!) - has decided, in her great wisdom, that Peter Sleiman too has made innocent ("inadvertent" ) mistakes. He too is so young, inexperienced, undereducated and innocent. She recommends a fine of $500 for Sleiman's violation of financial reporting requirements in 2006, another $500 for his violation in 2007, etc., thru 2010 - a grand total of $2,500 for 5 violations of the law as a public official. This will really hurt Mr. Sleiman, who is so poor - at least poorer than Mitt Romney - information in the Complaint File suggests his assets exceed $40 million. Do you not feel sorry for this man?

Peter Sleiman - In his 50's, a lawyer, and a trustee of a $1 billion pension fund - the PFPF - and he just does not understand the definition of the word "liability". Perhaps he is ill.

And so, the FCE public advocate, this shrewd lawyer Ms. Hadley - supposedly representing us - agreed that Mr. Sleiman made inadvertent mistakes those 5 years in a row.

There seems to be an epidemic going on - 2 lawyers now who cannot define the word liability! Perhaps FL ought to make its bar exam tougher.

Needless to say, I know the definition of the word liability, and noticed that Mr. Sleiman failed to report them. Plus, I cannot abide by such overwhelming idiocy, and I have written the enclosed letter to the FCE. It is lengthy, but I am proud of my work. I am trying to shame the FCE into rejecting Ms. Hadley's "plea bargain" with Mr. Sleiman, which is, clearly, a mockery of justice. Whether it will succeed is another question.

The enclosure has another virtue - it draws together all the facts that show that the PFPF is a total basket case.

I hope you enjoy reading it. (Its 3 exhibits are omitted, and the proposed stipulation is omitted. The latter is summarized in the text, and also several of these docs I only have as hard copies.)

Curt Lee, 594 -6192