Matt Nye

Veritas Omnia Vincit

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Letters to the Editor

Important to remember how Needelman conviction came to pass

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Florida Today, November 1st, 2017

Dear Editor,

On Tuesday, justice was served in the Needelman trial. While credit is due to FDLE and state attorney’s office for the investigation and prosecution, without the tenacity of Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis, none of this would have happened.

Back in early 2012, both the Florida Today and local law enforcement were spoon-fed the same information eventually given to FDLE, but neither did anything with it. At one point I wrote a letter to the editor describing the criminal activity and begging for someone to investigate, and… nothing. The only local media coverage of any of this prior to Needelman’s arrest was by Brevard Times.

It wasn’t until I physically met with FDLE investigators on July 16th, 2012, with information compiled by Scott Ellis and I, that things finally started moving. It’s taken more than five years, but Needelman will finally be punished for his crime.

In all of the media coverage of the trial one fact is repeatedly omitted: the investigation was begun at the behest of two private citizens. Not the newspaper. Not local law enforcement. Just two citizens who refused to look the other way while the largest corruption scandal in the history of Brevard was unfolding.

Smith’s Vote for Fisher Slap in Face to Infantini, conservative supporters

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Dear Editor,

By voting to elect Commissioner Fisher as Chair of the Brevard County Commission Tuesday, newly elected Commissioner Curt Smith began his term slapping the faces of Commissioner Trudie Infantini and all of the conservatives that helped to elect him.

One of the many things Smith said while he was running was that we must “change the tone” of the commission, yet he voted for a man who has a proven track record of lying on the dais when it serves his purpose, and who is most often the instigator of the unprofessional conduct Smith claims to deplore.

Smith accepted $300 in campaign contributions from Commissioner Fisher after the primary was over and his race effectively won. One cannot help but wonder if that money, plus all of the other he accepted from lobbying firms with ties to Fisher, played a part in his decision.

To all of the conservatives who worked so hard to get Smith elected, I implore you to let him know how you feel. This action is not consistent with the candidate who said he was going to provide back up to Commissioner Infantini, and who claimed to be advised by Scott Ellis.

Hold Government to Same Standard as Citizens

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Dear Editor,

Your recent article regarding the incorrectly timed red light at Malabar and Emerson in Palm Bay casts a spotlight on a double standard frequently used by government on its citizens.

When a citizen violates a rule or ordinance – whether the violation is committed willfully or out of ignorance – he or she is expected to pay the price.

The price these days is quite steep – $125-$158 according to your article. Yet when a government department or bureaucrat violates state standards, there is no penalty, and no justice for those affected by the violation.

Such is the case here, where citizens who trusted Palm Bay officials to follow state law in setting yellow light times were penalized for the city’s error.

Whether the error was intentional or accidental is irrelevant – the city should be held to the same standard as the citizens that paid the fines and refund the 800+ tickets. It shouldn’t be something that must be fought about in court – it should be done because it’s the RIGHT THING TO DO.

If you live in Palm Bay vote against any incumbent that was/is for these cameras and/or voted for the current city manager on November 6th.

Florida Today Tows Party Line on Tax Increase (Again)

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Dear Editor,

The Florida Today has again done a great disservice to its readers in the September 4th article on Brevard County property taxes by failing to ask the most elementary question possible: what would taxes be if the County Commission left the millage rate the same as it was last year?

Under last year’s aggregate rate of 6.21 mils a property valued at $100,000 would yield a tax bill of $621. Under the proposed rate of 7.24 that same homeowner would pay $724 – an increase of $103 – assuming his assessed value remained $100,000.

The Florida Today points out that because property values are down on average 16%, the homeowner’s value has decreased to $84,000, and he will in fact pay only $608 in taxes this year – a decrease of $13.

What the authors fail to point out is that were the rate not increased, the homeowner would only be paying $522 – $86 less than under the proposed rollback rate. The extra $86 being paid is called a TAX INCREASE. While I fully expect politicians to lie and cheat, I can never quite get used to the Florida Today’s failure to report even the most basic facts in stories like this.

Matt Nye, Brevard County Watchdog