Contact: George Raudenbush, Christian Citizens against Corruption, 423-761-9518, tennccc@gmail.com
TREASURE ISLAND, Fla., June 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- On July 30th 2009 a CNW press release from Washington D.C. announced a Mom and daughter event to be held at the Bilmar Beach Resort on Treasure Island, Florida.
Sgt James Kennedy of the Treasure Island Police Department instructed hotel staff at the Bilmar Beach Resort that he was ordering the event to be canceled. A certified bill for the expenses and losses to the mom and daughter Christian event was sent to the town's mayor Robert Minning and town's attorney, Maura Kiefer, receiving no response.
According to the Treasure Island building/permits department, the city's 1.6 square mile land radius has 78 bars and stores that serve and sell alcohol. Wikipedia, an on line encyclopedia describes Treasure Island as a thriving bar community. So why do most of all the travel agencies and on line vacation sites advertise Treasure Island, Florida as a good place to take your family for a vacation? It's rather simple; advertisers receive incentives for promoting Treasure Island businesses.
When Treasure Island residents wanted to ban alcohol off their public beaches where families gather, Mayor Bob Minning stood against the ban. Residents filed law suites against city manager, Reid Silverboard involving the presence and influence of alcohol around their homes and families. Local attorney Tony Battaglia representing the residents says he feels the case is moving in the right direction.
Maura Kiefer, city attorney for Treasure Island appears to have a sorted past history concerning unethical conduct with the Florida Bar Association. Disciplinary action by a judge involving issues of integrity, formal complaints being lodged against her and being barred from a court room are just a few examples of Ms. Kiefer's character.
Some of Ms. Kiefers clients have included mobster Anthony Ianza with the Genovese crime family and the international people's democratic movement or Uhuru movement which members claimed responsibility for a riot that took lives and cost Florida tax pays millions in damages. It appears Ms. Kiefer has a tendency to represent organizations and individuals that promote inappropriate behavior.
The Florida commission on ethics has received several complaints about Treasure Island officials resulting in the largest fine ever levied on a city official in Pinellas County.
In 2005, Treasure Island city officials fined a residential alcohol recovery facility $182,250 in hopes of banning the treatment center. A jury found that city officials violated the Federal Fair Housing Act when it tried to shut down the residential treatment center. A recent federal court verdict could cost the city of Treasure Island millions of dollars in damages and attorney fees.
In August of 2009, Treasure Island officials banned a Christian family values event. Attorneys advising the foundation for the event say the ban could cost the city of Treasure Island and its officials additional millions in torte damages and attorney fees if they don't reimburse the foundation for their losses.
