Corrupt Officials, Orange County Schools mirror NBA
Very good reporting by Erika Hobbs of the Orlando Sentinel whose investigative desk has been combing through the vast amount of Central Florida muck this year.
Her article looks into why the State Attorney’s office has decided not to look further into allegations of public corruption by a former official from Orange County Public Schools. As a basketball fan, I was taken to a less than happy place by School District Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher’s statement which eerily mirrors that of NBA Capo di Tutti Capi and Don of All Dons, Commissioner David Stern.
School District Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher said he thinks the allegations against Gaston are “an isolated incident,” but he wants to ensure there were not systemic problems with the school district’s contract and bidding process.
“We did a massive look when this first came out,” he said. “We combed a ton of documents and records and could find no evidence that this was anything other than rogue conduct by one individual.”
Let’s compare that to:
David Stern blamed a “rogue, isolated criminal” Tuesday for a betting scandal that has devastated the league and threatened the credibility of every referee.
A subdued Stern said he felt betrayed by former referee Tim Donaghy, the target of an FBI investigation for allegedly betting on games, including some he officiated, over the last two seasons.
Stern said he believed no other officials or players would be implicated in the betting scandal.
Fun, eh?
I can’t imagine it’s an isolated incident that every one of our public/private groups has problems with people that just can’t seem to separate themselves from the PUBLIC monies they’re asked to manage. As if management of that money entitles them to personal access.
It’s the sense of entitlement regarding money that “comes from nowhere,” so no one will miss it and it doesn’t really “belong” to anyone. There seems to be a great deal of resentment amongst Orlando’s public officials who are reticent to admit that we are a one-horse town and that they have no real control over Disney. No one truly cares about the tech corridor in Lake Mary, or the defense research by UCF because none of those would be there, had the mouse not established our town.
And let’s be frank, Disney is NOT IN ORLANDO. Disney has so much swag, pull, clout, stroke that they operate a tiny, but immensely powerful government known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Good for them because I wouldn’t let anyone in our local government help them decide the ply of EPCOT’s toilet paper.
It’s a two-bit town that is mismanaged from the top, and takes its cues from My Two Dads. Yes, the seminal 80s sitcom with Greg Evigan and Paul Reiser. The one where they both banged some slut of a woman who didn’t know which was the father of the girl the two “roommates” eventually adopted.
The City of Orlando has a mayor, and his name is BUDDY! Orange County has a mayor, and his name is RICH CROTTY! Rich manages to spend a lot of his time on poorly run commissions and authorities, figuring out how he can elevate himself to higher and even more disappointing election to a higher office. Buddy likes to make stupid bets with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that make our town look even dumber.
These two manage to get less than nothing done in the best interests of Orlando. People that promise us lots of financial benefits from their involvement like Rich DeVos, Cameron Kuhn and Lou Perlman got insanely rich, or even more insanely rich (dead broke as far as Kuhn and Perlman ended up) have their best interests taken care of.
To quote Owen Hart…”Enough is enough, AND IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE!”
He was also a wrestler that died after falling from the rafters into the ring.
