BlogWood: MT Archives

Ed Turanchik's plan to take over the world

Secret deals, conflicts of interest, federal dollars, winks and nods. Many “public-private” scams have been pulled off in Tampa using these tools, and it looks like a big one is about to be shoved down our collective orifi.

Ed Turanchik’s plan to take over the world is striking for its secrecy. Ed says secrecy was important. See, these selfless rich white men needed property, and if the economically challenged natives got word that they were looking, then said natives may have been able to command a fair market price for their land instead of the handful of shiny baubles that most probably received.

Ok, fair enough. I can see where a little secrecy may have been rather necessary for the good of everyone involved (and by everyone, I mean Civitas). Of course, the cat’s outa the bag now regarding this deal, so why not share some of the details?

Maybe Ed is taking a cue from BushCo. W’s handlers have taught us all that it is next to impossible to debate unknown details. “It’s too confusing.” “So many details.” “Trust us!” “HURRY! Must act NOW!”

Ed has been working on these plans for years. Former Mayor Dick Greco was aware of the Civitas plan when he was in office. There is no reason to spring it on an unsuspecting public at the last possible minute during the hectic holiday season. Well, there’s one reason. It leaves no time for the few people who are actually paying attention (in between holiday parties) to figure out what is really going on.

Despite the secrecy, and Ed’s challenge to the media to find the properties that Civitas has been acquiring, the SP Times has found 130 properties that exude a distinct Civitas odor. These parcels may or may not be involved in Ed’s dream plan, but if they are, they weren’t all that difficult to dig up. Some properties apparently sold for “huge sums.”

The land-buying patterns of the trustees closely mirror Turanchik's plans.

The trustees have bought land next to the Central Park housing project for huge sums, and others for a pittance. All of the 130 properties linked to the trustees and identified by the Times are located in the area Turanchik has said he's targeting.

His group may have options to buy other properties, and deals may be pending. He also has the right to buy scores of city-owned property, which have been set aside by the mayor for him.
......

Turanchik has been adamant about secrecy, creating at least 15 companies and trust agreements to shield his activities. He has said he may not even share his list of properties with the housing authority, even though he proposes a land swap with the agency.

Mindful of Florida's public record laws, Turanchik has said he might let officials look at the list - but not take a copy with them. If officials wanted to see the properties, Turanchik said, he would drive to the sites with them.

In an editorial board meeting at the Times last week, Turanchik challenged reporters to track down the properties.

You won't find them, he said.

Which properties sold for more than market value? Why did these properties command a premium? Were some sellers already in the know? Were property owners with paler skin tones and/or the right last names favored with premium offers? We don’t know. Ed says it’s a secret.

What’s up with the city properties that are “on hold” for these guys? Do they already have deals cut? Are the prices fair to the taxpayer? Or is this another hidden taxpayer funded subsidy for Ed and the boys?

Are you tired of reading questions yet? So am I. Let’s get back to the meat.

A big part of the Civitas plan is to partner with the Tampa Housing Authority to apply for a Hope VI grant from the feds. (More public money, despite Ed’s claim that no public funds would be sought) At least 3 Tampa Housing Authority board members have troubling conflicts, including board chairman Robert Shimberg, whose Uncle “Hinks” sits on the Civitas executive board.

Private developers want the Tampa Housing Authority to vote for a partnership with them today, but three of the agency's seven board members face questions about apparent conflicts of interest.

Sybil Kay Andrews Wells, whose situation was publicized first, is not the only member with personal ties to another board that could benefit from a ``yes'' vote. Hazel Harvey and board Chairman Robert Shimberg have connections, too.

Gerald White said Thursday he was ``shocked'' to learn three of his board colleagues could have conflicts.

``That's unprecedented for government,'' White said. ``It's up to the members ... to declare a conflict so they conduct themselves appropriately on public business.''

The connections should be discussed immediately at today's board meeting, White said. But he added: ``I believe we can deal with the issues of conflict and set it aside. ... All of these people are credible people. I'm sure they'll do the right thing.''

Hmmm... board member Gerald White is “shocked” BUT he thinks that ``All of these people are credible people. I'm sure they'll do the right thing.'' Did none of these people even hear a glimmer of this plan before last week, and think of doing the right thing then? The Chairman of the Tampa Housing Authority board has an uncle “Hinks” (I’m not making that up) who sits on the board of Civitas, and little Robert never had a clue as to what his uncle was up to? Bullshit. These people have been hearing about this deal for months, yet they expect the public to buy the story that the Tampa Housing Authority is just as surprised as everyone else.

Late update: I had planned to finish and post this monstrous piece by Friday morning. Then Friday happened. It’s now late Friday night / Saturday morning, and tbo.com has an update on the conflicts of interest:

Three of the Tampa Housing Authority's seven board members said Friday they would abstain from voting on a partnership with private developers because they have ties to others who could benefit from the deal.

Board Chairman Robert Shimberg and member Hazel Harvey said they had nothing to gain personally by approving the proposal but would recuse themselves anyway so the public doesn't get the wrong idea.

Sybil Kay Andrews Wells, who serves on the board of another organization trying to sell property to the developers, said she had planned all along to abstain.

None addressed the relationships publicly until Friday, just before they were expected to vote on the partnership. After they did, their four board colleagues decided to postpone the vote until more details emerge from continuing talks with the developers.

With three abstentions, the board will need only three yes votes instead of four to approve the partnership.

``I know we need at least a 48-hour cooling-off period,'' said board member Gerald White. ``I can't read and analyze all these documents sitting up here this morning.''

The documents involve Civitas, the redevelopment firm led by former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik. Civitas needs the housing agency's help to turn 157 acres between downtown and Ybor City into a ``gateway'' neighborhood.

Turanchik has said the plan won't work without some control of the housing agency's 28-acre Central Park Village complex. After the agency wasn't receptive to selling the complex, Civitas proposed Monday that both sides swap some land and together seek a $20 million federal grant to demolish and replace it.

Wells is on the board of the Lily White Security Benefit Association, which co-owns Tampa Park Apartments, a nearby complex Civitas has a contract to buy. Turanchik has said Civitas needs both properties for its plan to work.

Harvey's brother-in-law, Perry Harvey Jr., is president of the International Longshoremen's Association, the other co-owner of Tampa Park Apartments.

Shimberg's uncle, Mandell ``Hinks'' Shimberg, and cousin, Scott Shimberg, are board members of Civitas.

Rick Gilmore, the housing authority attorney, said Shimberg's and Harvey's relatives are not close enough kin to cause a conflict under state law. Wells' father is the head of Lily White, but because it's a nonprofit organization, Gilmore said, it shouldn't result in personal gain and therefore isn't a conflict.

Bullshit. An Uncle may not be close enough to count under State law, but I seriously doubt that little Robert would cross Uncle “Hinks”. Also, Well’s father will absolutely benefit personally if his non-profit benefits. Wells non-profit will be able to increase his salary, as well as the salary of his son. Wells, as head of his non-profit will benefit from the non-profit’s extra economic clout. The notion that he will not profit personally from this deal is laughable.

HOPE VI money was last used ‘round these parts for the razing and rebuilding of the College Hill and Ponce De Leon projects in East Tampa. The plan was to raze the ghetto and rebuild with mixed income housing. Residents were moved out and told they could move back to their neighborhood after demolition and construction. Sound familiar?

It sounds like a blueprint for the current Civitas plan. Only the Civitas plan is much bigger. 75% of former Ponce De Leon and College Hill residents have not been able to come back to their old neighborhood. They have been displaced. Ed and Civitas plan to displace 2,500 people. Using College Hill and Ponce De Leon as our guide, that translates to permanent removal of 1,875 people from the neighborhoods where many of them were born and raised.

Let’s Summarize:

Shhhhhhh!

HURRY!

Ed and his Civitas partners loudly proclaim “no public funds”.

Civitas proposes a “partnership” with Housing Authority that will give Civitas control or ownership of large public assets as well as millions in federal funds.

The Tampa Housing Authority has at least 3 board members who have conflicts of interest.

Conflicted members abstain. Oh, and I’m sure they wont be leaning on the other board members to vote in their favor, ‘cause they, like, you know, wont benefit personally, or at least not as much as some of their close relatives.

Lots of “Gee whizzing” and befuddled head-scratching wonderment at the marvels of modern development follow as the rest of the 7 member board goes along with whatever the insiders tell them to do? (Ed. note: while this event has not actually happened yet, no one is going to be surprised when it does.)

Oh yeah... more public money: tax breaks, city sponsored streetscapes and lotsa other publicly financed goodies are all in the plan.

Let’s find out more... let’s see... Google “Civitas Tampa”. Hmmm... no Civitas web site? Even small companies have web pages these days because this whole Internet thing is the wave of the future, you know? Why, the web is the perfect way to disseminate info... unless you want as little info as possible reaching actual people. In fact, the actual written plan can be found nowhere. To my knowledge, it has not been printed in a newspaper and is not available online. Someone send me a link and tell me I’m wrong! (No, really: I’d like to read that damn plan.)

Something stinks.

So far, I’ve seen lots of pomp and circumstance, many vague promises, and absolutely no concrete details. What are the real goals of this project? No one except the insiders can say, but I’m willing to make a few wild guesses:

(1) Take federal dollars meant for the poor.
(2) Move the poor away from downtown (DISplace residents).
(3) Make money for people who already have gads of it.

Looks like a boondoggle in the making, designed to steal public funds from people who really need help and funnel the money to an elite group of Tampa insiders and their lackeys. In other words, business as usual.