Posted by  Markham W. Vinette, Tampa on 10/07  at  04:41 PM

Another question, how is it that the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority which operates 165+ miles of highway doesn’t need a lobbyist and is self supporting without any tax money, including paying for State Police patrols and the rinky dink Tampa Expressway Authority which operates not even 1/5 of the mileage and relies on tax support for police patrols has to have a lobyist? How do we stop this insanity? How do we get these jokers out of their positions of “authority” and make them accountable to the public? Charlie Crist why have you not investigated this fiasco? 

Posted by  Markham W. Vinette, Tampa on 10/07  at  03:55 PM

Why doesn’t someone from the expressway authority just answer a simple question? Why do they even need a lobyist????

Posted by  JOE BURDETT, BLOOMINGDALE on 10/01  at  03:30 PM

AGAIN, ITS THE SAME OLD SAME OLD, “ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW WITH LITTLE MONEY ITS WHO YOU KNOW AND HOW MUCH WILL YOU GIVE ME.”

THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR GREED AND THE FUNNY THING ITS GAUGING US AND ITS LEGAL WHAT A SHAME.

MONEY IS WHAT MAKES THE GEARS MOVE EIHTER IN A GOOD WAY OR AN EVIL WAY.

Posted by  Ron Neu, Tampa on 09/02  at  01:33 PM

All of our local and state entities that have the name “Authority” attached need to be downgraded to lower ranking offices of some type with better direct supervision and accountability. Seems like too many people have their hands both in the money pot and oversight. Under their current New York-type organizational structure, this is what big government looks like and how big government corrupts.

Posted by  Markham F. W. Vinette, Tampa on 09/02  at  09:58 AM

It sounds to me like there is something drastictly wrong with this expressway authority.

In the first place, why would the authority even need the services of a lobyist?  The answer to that is far beyond my comprehension.

Secondly, why would the authority need so much legal advice, especially about something as rediculous as a dinner?

Sounds like they all have to go and the authority has to start anew.

Posted by  Johnnie Green, Tampa on 09/02  at  08:56 AM

Just think of the improvements that could be done to the cross town or the vetrans expressway if all this money that has been paid to Beck and his Company were spent on improvments and not wasted. Talk about Fraud, Waste and Abuse? I think the entire Expressway Board and it’s Director should be fired and lets start over with new people and preferably not lawyers. It amazes me at the waste and abuse in out local government.

Posted by  Bonnie Touchton, St. Pete on 09/02  at  08:15 AM

It is clearly self serving on Clark’s part.  I don’t like the idea of my money going to build a road to nowhere. I prefer a group of folks who will look at the long view when planing roads. It should also have some concern for the environment and look to preserving some of Florida for the future.  We don’t need to develop every square inch of Florida.  We need to look at the needs of the population for transportation in the future.  Most of the members of that board need to go bye bye

Posted by  FRED LLANA, GAINESVILLE on 09/02  at  07:12 AM

This fish “stinks” from the head down.
It appears county residents have been taken to the cleaners by a group of fast talking,back room dealing,board members. Just another example of the fine leadership of Jeb Bush as he appointed several of the “alleged” offenders.