Carrie Meek Center For Business Implosion: Loses IRS Exempt Status, OIG Requests Funding Be Withheld, Florida Worker's Compensation Issues Stop Work Order

                     What Took So Long?

Homestead Is Home Stories: http://homesteadishome.blogspot.com/2011/08/carrie-meek-center-for-business.html

                                                     http://homesteadishome.blogspot.com/2010/02/cra-audit-business-incubator-needs.html

 301 Civic Court

Director Hilda Hall Dennis



http://carriepmeekcenter.blogspot.com/



IRS Revocation of 501(c)(3) Status

Inspector General's Letter

State of Florida Worker's Compensation Coverage Not Being Met

Employer Name	County	City	Date Served	Date Released*	Date Reinstated**	Reason
THE BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORP	DADE	HOMESTEAD	9/28/2012	not released	not reinstated	FAIL PRODUCE RECORDS IN 5 DAYS

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Hypothetical "Strong Mayor" Steve Bateman Business Acumen, Still Fishing For The Big One?

According to sunbiz.org records just three of Steve Bateman's thirteen ventures are still viable. Those three remaining businesses are marked with an asterisk. ZAC Construction, shown as one of two income sources, appears to be dissolved. 

Questions have recently arisen about Two Brothers due to the lack of permit pulls on record over the past few years. EB Southern Investments is the most recent endeavour and that is the Cash for Gold/Pawnshop on U.S.1. Golden Land Holdings is a rental property management company according to financial disclosures.

So when challenging the City Manager is the Mayor backing up his opinion based upon business success or does he just enjoy hearing himself talk? 10 of 13 failures is the record of Mayor Bateman, give him credit for trying, just don't give him any praise for proficiency. Fishing, yeah that's the ticket.

BATEMAN ENTERPRISES OF HOMESTEAD, INC.   F38177 TWO BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, INC. F38178* E B SOUTHERN INVESTMENTS, LLC L11000137310* ZAC CONSTRUCTION, INC. P09000005001 TBR CONSTRUCTION, INC. P93000001512 T B C PAINTING CONTRACTORS, INC. P94000087451 S & H COASTAL INVESTMENTS, INC. P95000043383 A.M.F. PUBLICATIONS, INC. S02022 . CUSTOM PATIO AND SCREENS, INC. 505250 GOLDEN LAND HOLDINGS, LLC L08000063675* GOLDEN BOYS ENTERPRISE,LLC L08000074784 S and H COASTAL INVESTMENTS, INC. P95000043383 HIDAS INVESTMENTS, INC. P95000040790
Mayor Steve Bateman did have a stake in an outfit called Homestead KIA Holdings but resigned in 2010.
Remember our story of the Florida City Shack where dozens of LLCs were parked? Meet the original Homestead KIA Holdings members. http://homesteadishome.blogspot.com/2012/04/dozens-of-corporations-and-llcs.html

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Homestead City Attorney Possibly Facing Advice Scrutiny in Bal Harbour Over Spending of Seized Drug Money

 http://ivn.us/2012/10/31/floridas-bal-harbour-police-department-epitomizes-the-perverse-nature-of-civil-asset-forfeiture-laws/
 
Forfeiture Fund Controversy

The Miami Herald filed a lawsuit to get records the community will not turn over and the Feds want the money back.

By Daniel Chang and Michael Sallah
dchang@MiamiHerald.com
 
The U.S. Justice Department shut down Bal Harbour’s celebrated federal forfeiture program and ordered the police to return more than $4 million, slapping the agency with crushing sanctions for tapping into drug money to pay for first-class flights, luxury car rentals, and payments to informants across the country
 
After years of seizing millions from criminals, Bal Harbour’s vice squad is now banned from the federal program that allowed the village police for years to seize cars, boats, and cash — and to keep a cut of the proceeds.
 
In a scathing letter to Police Chief Thomas Hunker, federal agents are demanding the prompt surrender of the millions reeled in last year by a team that operates from a police trailer just blocks from the opulent Bal Harbour Shops.
 
For years, the small coastal town known for speed traps became one of the most successful in Florida, with plainclothes cops jetting across the nation toting bags stuffed with cash from investigations that had no connection to Bal Harbour — and making few arrests.
 
The findings, released on Tuesday, were also sent to Mayor Jean Rosenfield, who could not be reached for a comment.
 
The action by the DOJ’s criminal division comes after a lengthy investigation that began last year with an audit and escalated into a deep probe that turned up a host of problems, including questionable expenses, hundreds of thousands paid to snitches, and missing records.
 
Neither Hunker, 61, who founded the unit after becoming chief in 2003, nor Sgt. Paul Deitado, supervisor of the squad, returned calls on Tuesday for comments.
 
One former prosecutor who ran the South Florida Money Laundering Strike Force said he was stunned by the development.
 
“Bal Harbour is going to have to answer for their transgressions,” said David Macey, a former Miami-Dade assistant state attorney who specialized in forfeitures.
 
“I’ve never read any correspondence to a law enforcement agency threatening the entire agency with penalties and criminal sanctions.”
 
Former Bal Harbour Chief Alfred Treppeda, now village manager, said the village council will meet for a special session on Thursday to talk about the troubled program, now under criminal investigation.
 
Treppeda declined to discuss the sanctions — among the toughest against any agency in the country. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk to the Department of Justice yet,’’ he said.
 
The Miami Herald reported on Sunday that the police department — a small-town force that mostly writes traffic tickets — has doled out hundreds of thousands to snitches, ran up $23,704 in one month for cross-country trips with first-class flights and Cadillac and Lincoln Town Car rentals, and misspent seized funds on police salaries and benefits.

Bal Harbour, which leads a task force with the Glades County sheriff’s office, helped seize $56 million in just three years — 2008 to 2011 — “without adequate written policies or procedures, prosecutorial oversight, or audits of undercover bank accounts,” said the DOJ.

The DOJ blasted Bal Harbour for tapping into $709,836 to pay employees salaries and benefits, despite strict federal bans on such practices.

Hunker told The Herald last week that all payments were approved by Treppeda and the village’s lawyers, Richard Weiss and Doug Gonzales.

The Miami Herald’s lawsuit is seeking records of how those monies are used, including credit card expenses for flights and hotels — and cops fronting cash to snitches.

Brian Mulheren, a village resident and director of the Bal Harbour Citizens Coalition, said the group wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday demanding a federal monitor to review the police department and the vice squad’s forfeiture program.

“This is the most disgusting, disgraceful, despicable thing that could ever happen,’’ Mulheren said. 
“We want our village to be clean and honest, and the public officials we have obviously allowed this to occur.’’

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/30/3075097/feds-to-bal-harbour-hand-over.html#storylink=cpy

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Homestead Will Relocate City Hall To Portofino Plaza Despite Mayor Bateman's Trailers Scheme

What Might Have Been?

By Christina Veiga

cveiga@MiamiHerald.com

Homestead’s City Hall will temporarily move to Portofino Plaza, council members decided Monday.
Council members decided to move the seat of government after an environmental review found the current city hall to be contaminated with radon, a radioactive, cancer-causing gas, as well as mold and asbestos. 

Employees will move to the plaza, at 650 NE Eighth Street, while a new City Hall is built in downtown Homestead.

The city will pay about $20,000 a month to rent the office space. The first five months of the 60-month lease — with an option to terminate the agreement with notice — will be rent free. The city is liable to pay taxes on the units its renting, and the landlord will build out the space at no cost to the city. The build out is expected to be done within 90 days of permits being issued, and the city is expected to move in sometime in 

December or January, according to a city spokeswoman.

All departments currently in city hall will be moved to the new location. Business hours will be the same.

Councilman Jimmie L. Williams III was absent for the vote to approve the lease agreement. 

Mayor Steve Bateman was the only member to vote against moving to Portofino, saying the city could move into temporary trailers at a fraction of the cost.

City manager George Gretsas said that, in hurricane-prone South Florida, trailers may not be practical. Plus, putting them on the current city hall grounds may just lead to more radon contamination because the gas seeps out of the ground, he said.

“You can’t put a price on people’s health. It’s time we move,” said Councilwoman Judy Waldman.
 
Follow @Cveiga on Twitter

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/30/3074734/homestead-relocates-city-hall.html#storylink=cpy

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Wings Over Homestead Air Show

Wings Over Homestead Air Reserve Base

Homestead Air Reserve Base
29050 Coral Sea Blvd
Homestead , FL 33039
Dates: November 03, 2012 - November 04, 2012
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Airshow Website

Performers:


Parking: Parking on base, which will include handicapped parking, will be available and is limited. Please remember to carpool if possible. RVs and campers will not be allowed on base during the air show.

 http://www.wingsoverhomestead.com/

 http://www.wingsoverhomestead.com/uploads/file/Homestead_Promo.pdf

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NBC 6 Reports Bomb Threat At Homestead Hospital

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Authorities-Working-Active-Bomb-Threat-at-Baptist-Hospital-in-Homestead-Cops-176424741.html


 

Authorities were working an active bomb threat at Homestead Hospital Tuesday, the Homestead Police Department told NBC 6 South Florida.

Det. Morales said officers, trying to confirm the validity of the threat, were working with Miami-Dade Fire officials and hospital staff.

Christina Armand, of Miami-Dade Fire, confirmed the team was working with police at Homestead Hospital, which is located at 975 Baptist Way.

There were no evacuations as of 10:53 a.m.

Stay with NBC 6 South Florida for updates.

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What Happened To Mayor Bateman's ZAC Construction Company?

Still in business, out of business? Belly-up or thriving? 

Does it matter?

Rumors persist the "strong mayor" remains a goal. Really? 

Does anyone think Steve Bateman can run the city efficiently, effectively and even remotely close to professionally? 

Professional Manager George Gretsas versus the Fear, Intimidation and Ridicule style of Steve Bateman. Which is better?

One example of Bateman's style:

Sergio Purrinos.227,"SPurrinos@cityofhomestead.com", "Incoming","","13052196419","","  When will the new landscape start going west. it,s ok if it start At 10 or 20,0000 just start please!!","  2010/01/24 17:40:53","2010/01/24 12:50:05", "Rx_Received","Update","1634468092"

Sergio Purrinos.227,"SPurrinos@cityofhomestead.com", "Outgoing","13052196419","","", "Next week... ", "2010/01/24 17:42:22","2010/01/24 12:50:06", "Tx_Sent","Add","1634557536"

Sergio Purrinos.227,"SPurrinos@cityofhomestead.com", "Outgoing","13052196419","","", "I told our guy to give me a quick proposal so that we can start right away...  I expected by tomorrow or so...  I'll get something going next week for sure....", "2010/01/25 01:12:38","2010/01/24 20:24:24", "Tx_Sent","Add","1661573832"

Bateman's Rental Property Contact Number Same As Text Message

ZAC CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Filing Information

Document Number P09000005001 FEI/EIN Number 352354657 Date Filed 01/16/2009 State FL Status INACTIVE Effective Date 01/16/2009 Last Event ADMIN DISSOLUTION FOR ANNUAL REPORT Event Date Filed 09/28/2012 Event Effective Date NONE

Principal Address

7300 S W 140 AVE MIAMI FL 33183

Changed 04/29/2010

Mailing Address

7300 S W 140 AVE MIAMI FL 33183

Changed 04/29/2010

Registered Agent Name & Address

ACKERMAN, STEVEN 7300 SW 140 AVENUE MIAMI FL 33183 US

Address Changed: 04/29/2010

Officer/Director Detail

Name & Address

Title P

BATEMAN, STEVEN 7300 SW 140 AVE MIAMI FL 33183

Title VP

SMITH, ROBERT R P O BOX 343469 HOMESTEAD FL 33034

Annual Reports

Report Year Filed Date 2010 04/29/2010 2011 04/28/2011

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State of the City, Chilly Mornings for Some

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ALERT: Early Voting Commenced Today, Lets Do This!

Location: Florida City City Hall, 404 West Palm Dr.  (Commission Chambers)

Everyday from 7:00AM-7:00PM until Saturday November 3rd!

View Larger Map

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Why Romney Doesn't Deserve to be President!

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Monday Special Call, Homestead Is A Company Town After All, Welcome To "Exploitationville"

“Exploitationville,” focuses only on profits, at the expense of employees’ well-being.

In the present day United States, it is relatively rare for any place in which a single company owns all the property to be granted status as an incorporated municipality. Rather, companies will normally prefer their wholly owned communities to remain unincorporated as this permits administration of the community to be carried out by appointed company officers rather than elected officials. 

However, there are incorporated municipalities that are heavily dependent upon a single industry or organization and may be loosely considered a "company town", even though the company does not technically own the town.

 

http://local.cityofhomestead.com/media/pdf/elections2011/election_campaign_treasurer_reports/Q2/Judy%20Waldman%20Campaign%20Treasurer%20Report%20Q2.pdf

 http://local.cityofhomestead.com/media/pdf/elections2011/election_campaign_treasurer_reports/Q2/Steven%20Bateman%20Campaign%20Treasurer%20Report%20Q2.pdf

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