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Sunday, February 26, 2012

City of Deerfield Beach Home of "BLACK" Hole News .and No Justice

What's up with the news coverage???


I finally located one bleep on the radar related to the fatal hit and run accident that claimed the life of 22 year old Thetus Fleming Jr (Lil Thet) on Friday 2/17/12 by another young man 20 year old David Calderilla of Coconut Creek, who initially fled the scene after killing Lil Thet to only return later in a different vehicle.


I don't know if he was hoping that he could just anonymously come back in a different vehicle as a passerby/onlooker and check to see the results of HIS actions, which was the death of young black man, and then go home and live his life like nothing happened.


Which from the lack of news coverage would have been easy for David Calderilla, who as recently as last Thursday (2/23/12) posted to his Facebook page "Home Chillen" and then continued on to have a conversation with a female as if he had not killed someone and then ran off less than a week before.


Yeah, I creeped his Facebook page...murderers have no privacy as far as I am concerned and hopefully 20 year old David Calderilla-Alcocer of Coconut Creek will have none when he is finally arrested, convicted, and goes to prison for the fatal hit and run accident that took the life of 22 year old black male, Thetus Fleming Jr.


Anyway, after speaking with Diane Emmeot of the Deerfield Beach Observer on Friday 2/24/12 and realizing that she didn't even know of this accident or at least she pretended to not know, I scoured the internet for news again and found nothing.  However, Saturday morning, the day of Lil Thet's funeral I did find the only post and news of this FATAL hit and run on CBS local news online website, which can be read here.  If you notice they clearly have thrown their lot in with the murderous driver, David Calderilla because unlike the coverage of the white woman, Sandra Gail Limburg, who was killed in December in Deerfield Beach in a hit and run accident..whose hundreds of headlines read "Fatal Hit and Run..." or something similar, the one singular post about the young black male, Thetus Fleming Jr., killed in a hit and run his only got "Man killed..."-no charges filed.


No Charges Filed and the murderer is home on Facebook "Chillen"...what is going on here???


The little respect I held for local news media and these so-called journalist and reporters has all but evaporated after this.  Now, I have been made to witness the bogus reporting and total *black hole reporting of these journalist.  


*Black hole reporting-when a journalist or news media outlet is made aware of an event in the black community that many would consider news worthy and yet nothing is reported.  The news goes in but NO news escaped (was reported), like a black hole.


I myself have been victim of being misquoted back when I first broke the story about the City of Deerfield Beach having to payback FEMA and then intentionally hid the information from the public.  The article was written in such a way that it did not represent the actual news and even had the facts wrong and when read in its entirety it had a totally different spin on the events than what actually transpired.  That reporter was quoting and reporting on an event from a video-taped City Commission meeting from October 4, 2011, so how the facts and the quotes were misrepresented and dead wrong is beyond me, especially when the facts could be easily found in government report on-line (which can be read here.) that even children have access to.  That reporter is still employed by the Pompano Pelican and the article can be read here.  Make sure to read the comment(s) section of that online article, unfortunately the comments did not appear alongside the printed article of that paper on October 8 or so.  By the way we are still waiting on the update to this reporting and we are still waiting on the findings of FEMA if they will be requesting funds back from the City of Deerfield Beach.


I know I have personally emailed FEMA, the OIG, the City of Deerfield Beach regarding the final result, outcome and actula amount of payback of FEMA Funds that the City of Deerfield BEach would actually be responsible for out of the $3.9 million stated in the FEMA OIG report.


Obviously, I wrote this reporter a scathing email to which the replies only further disgusted me and proved that South Florida is severely lacking journalist and seems to be only filled with these "*sensationlist".


*Sensationalist- a person, sometimes this person may have even took a journalism course at a local JC, who is hired by a media outlet to "spin" and "slant" stories in an attempt to increase readership, in hopes of attracting and retaining advertisers.


Over the course of the last year I myself have sent several "TIPS" to local news rags and media and nothing. So I am fully aware of their agendas and the lack of real reporting in South Florida.  Hell, most of the major news that came out this year was from bloggers and not reporters, so that is saying something about the level of news reporting that South Floridian's are willing to accept.  


Bloggers have the ability to pick and chose what we post, because we are not reporting to inform the mainstream public on public happenings.  Hell, we don't even pretend to represent any large group of people. We write to our audiences and what intrigues and excites the particular blogger, which explains the different styles and subject matter on any given blog.  However, journalist, reporters, and their respective news media outlets have an ethical duty to report actual and factual news...  When they are no longer able to do that, then it is time for them to either hire professional journalist who can actually do their jobs and make sure their facts are right and their quotes are correct.  If they ave not able to do so then the world needs to turn to bloggers and just read the free blogs instead of paying for papers and having to read through all of those advertisements.  Speaking of advertisements, this brings me to a question.  Do advertisers dictate what is printed in the papers they purchase ad space from?


Does news media have an obligation to report news and not allow stories to be squashed by the will of their advertisers?


I guess that is why blogging and bloggers are so important because although we can put our spin on stories, many provide links to information where the public can get the unfiltered and unadulterated versions of the stories or the information for themselves, which many news articles do not provide.  We only get the spin...and as we all know to much spin will make you vomit and make you dizzy.  


Hopefully, in this particular case of the fatal hit and run accident of Thetus Fleming Jr in Deerfield Beach on Hillsboro Blvd and MLK on Friday 2/17/12 by 20 year old David Calderilla of Coconut Creek will make more news headlines. Maybe the fact that the City of Deerfield Beach and FLDOT have been warned that this is a dangerous intersection and they have both been dragging their feet for over thirty years and most recently within the last 6 months to improve the safety conditions of the residents of that community would be story enough for somebody to pick it up so something can be done.  Maybe the next accident and fatal hit and run or crash at the intersection will make the news and then the residents will see some action toward improving the safety conditions of that intersection, that section of roadway, and the many others in Deerfield Beach District 2 that never receive a post, an article, or a headline when tragedy strikes.


PS.


BSO's AL Lamberti and Deerfield Beach Chief Pete Sudler, when will charges be filed against the young man who hit someone, dragged their mangled body (the young man was almost cut in half) through the street for at least 40 feet, then left the scene of the accident (that resulted in the death of a young man), to only return later to face, so far, NOTHING!!!


Where is the justice, where is the law, where are the charges???

Friday, February 24, 2012

City of Deerfield Beach basically tells residents to "cross Hillsboro at MLK at their own risk and peril"...at least until 2015...possibly

Today my heartaches again...

I started my night at the wake for Thetus Fleming Jr.,the 22 year old young black male, who was killed by a hit and run driver at Hillsboro and MLK Blvd on last Friday night (2/17/12).

I would normally link to a newspaper article or some other source for the details, but in this case I can't because there was none.

NONE!!!

A young man loses his life to a hit and run driver, David Calderilla-Alcocer (20) of Coconut Creek (who on Thursday, Feb 23, 2012,  posted to his Facebook page that he was home chillen), in Deerfield Beach and not one single story is posted on any of the news media.  Odd!!!  Hell, from what I understand the young Hispanic male who hit Lil Thet and then dragged his mangled body from the intersection to the near the auto parts store and then left the scene of his crime..to only come back to the scene in a different vehicle, some say his parents forced him to come back...WOW!!!  


Now that is a story right there, but no one got to hear it.  You can check the online police report here.  Notice that no charges have been filed.  Why???  I thought leaving the scene of an accident was a crime in itself...What's going on here BSO???

Sandra Gail Limburgh, a 59 yr old white woman, is killed due to injuries sustained from a hit and run accident on Dixie Hwy in Deerfield Beach and the suspect is a black male and moments later it's on the news.  Which you can read about here or check any of the local news sources from December 10-20 and you will find out about poor Lil Sandra.

Now, all of this makes me wonder and question what is really going on in Deerfield Beach.  Heck, the reason I started this blog was because of the disparity in information that was being presented by the mainstream media and so-called news sources about events here in "Good Ol" Deerfield Beach.  So when I think about it, I am not to surprised that incidents, events, and other from District 2 doesn't even make a splash in the local news media.  I am however, upset that no one seems to care about this, let alone even acknowledge it.

Hell, the closest thing to it was an unrelated incident in the Deerfield Beach Observer's Crime report section detailing that a man had stolen Pringles from the gas station at 300 Hillsboro Blvd.  I guess that's news for you!!!

So, tonight after I left Lil Thet's wake I went to Ben Preston's District 2 Community Meeting.  I heard Ben speak on how important communication is, I heard other department heads speak on how much they do and have done for District 2 and the City.  I even heard Ben and others talking about how important it was to upgrade 15th Street by the High School so that parents could more easily drop their kids off to school without backing up traffic.  Obviously, at this point, especially after leaving the Lil Thet's wake this is not what I wanted to hear.  I didn't want to see City employees giggling and joking around.  I didn't want to hear my City Commissioner telling me that "better traffic flow" on 15th street at the high School was an important and vital part of District 2's future, especially when there is a  dangerous corridor between Natura Blvd to Dixie Hwy on Hillsboro Blvd, which is in District 2 that has seen it's share of accidents, injuries, and fatalities to warrant some kind safety upgrades.  The same corridor that I have been pleading with the City of Deerfield Beach and FLDOT to do something to improve the pedestrian safety to have it all blow up in my face and then result in the death of one of my friends after I warned the City and FLDOT repeatedly about the dangerous conditions.  Then to find out that not only I but District 2 residents for over thirty years have been concerned about that intersection petitioned the City to do something to improve the safety and traffic flow because of the dangerous conditions that it promotes.  To no avail!!!

So when I (visibly shaken and emotional) asked Ben Preston about what are they going to do now...it seems as if he was prepared for my question...well he was prepared to try and demonstrate that he and the City had done everything in their power to have that looked into.  He hurriedly and confidently reached intohis little satchel and pulled out a letter from FLDOT, which he stated he received as a response from his letter to DOT back in December.

Please note that Ben Preston and the City have been on notice since October about these concerns.

The letter basically stated that FLDOT have been made aware and will perform a case study that will be concluded at the end of January 2012...I listen to this Fuckery and had to fight back the tears and emotions that came crashing over me, like the waves at Deerfield's beach because I knew the truth and have the emails detailing the concern that was shown when these concerns were brought forth to the City of Deerfield Beach and to FLDOT.  

SO, end of January 2012 you say, well it's almost March 2012 and he still hadn't heard from FLDOT and obviously he hadn't checked back with them to see what the outcome was of their supposed case study...
I know I have been constantly emailing for an update and have not heard anything from FLDOT, except that someone will get back to me and no one has, not even after I notified them of the death at the intersection because I knew they wouldn't see it on the news or read it in any of the news rags.

So to Ben I say...How important was it for you???  Have you checked on the outcome since the death of Lil Thet on February 17, 2012 at the very intersection that we have been fighting over the pedestrian safety concerns for the last 6 months and not to mention for the last thirty years!!!  

It's late and I will update this post later with the other Fuckery that went on at that meeting from Assistant City Manager Keven Klopp, who tried to demonstrate that the City did all it can and that they have been in constant contact with FLDOT about the safety concerns but he indicated that we would basically have to wait until 2015 before any decision would be reached  about FLDOT making any upgrades to address the safety concerns of Broward County and City of Deerfield Beach residents who fear for the safety of their children and families when they "Cross at their own risk" on Hillsboro in the black neighborhood of District 2.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Deerfield Beach District 2 Residents Worst Nightmare Realized When Pedestrian Killed at Corner of Hillsboro Blvd and MLK in Deerfield Beach

I had planned not to update this blog until after I returned from Canada, so I would be rested and well ready to continue fighting for the residents of my District 2 and Deerfield Beach against the fuckery perpetrated against us by the people up at the Deerfield Beach City Hall.


However, I write this with a heavy heart, but that pain gives me new purpose.


If you have been following my blog then you already know that I have been for months fighting for pedestrian safety in my District and City at the intersection of Hillsboro Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd and other intersections in the City.  If you are unfamiliar then you can read the post 
City of Deerfield Beach:What's Going On??? 
where residents petitioned the City for pedestrian safety in District 2, to only be patronized and then later ridiculed by City Management and the Commissioners.  I also talked about the safety concerns at Hillsboro and MLK, which apparently fell on deaf ears.


Which prompted the next post 
City of Deerfield Beach Commissioner on Pedestrian Safety: "At Some Time in the Future the City May Take On That Project."  When after a District 2 resident pedestrian or bicyclist is killed...
where I advised my readers of the response that I had gotten from District 2 Commissioner, Ben Preston, who basically told me that no action is warranted there and the City didn't have the money right now to take care of the safety concerns at the intersection.  The Commissioners even went so far as to blame the County, which prompted me to contact the County and inquire to see if something can be done.  I ended that post with the following statement.
"Let's be proactive and fix it now before we are fixing it after a life is taken.   City of Deerfield Beach Commissioners will it be worth the cost then????"
I continued to petition the FLDOT to install street lights at that intersection and take other safety measures to no avail.  Well, from the last email I received from them they are doing case studies to see if these upgrades are worth it...


Well, I now know that they are worth it because I can now put a face to the tragedy that many in our City and our District have been trying to avoid for years.


Thetus Fleming Jr.  (22)  killed by a hit and run driver at Hillsboro Blvd and MLK 2/17/12
Ben Preston, Mayor Peggy Noland, City Manager Burgess Hanson Look into this young man's eyes...Look Damnit!!!  

Thetus Fleming Jr. (fondly known to those who knew him as Lil Thet) was robbed of his life by a hit and run driver at the corner of Hillsboro Blvd and Martin Luther King in Deerfield Beach last night 2/17/12 (details still unknown).  

This is a personal tragedy for me because I have known this young man his entire life and although he has had his troubles he was recently turning his life around to only have it snubbed out by a careless S.O.B., who I hope has the decency to turn themselves in or is apprehended by BSO, which ever comes first.  I had been with him all day yesterday and have a few regrets that I won't mention and unspoken truths, but I will not allow this thing to be one of them. When I left him last night he was smiling, laughing, and joking around and mere moments later, nothing.  He was reduced to nothing and WHY????  Somebody tell me WHY???  

Knowing that he died at the very corner where I and many others have been fighting to improve the pedestrian safety makes this tragedy all the more hurtful and painful to me and I have been crying all morning.  I don't want my tears and the tears of all of his family and friends to be in vain.  I don't want another family to go through this anguish of having to say goodbye to their loved one because of bureaucracy and idiocy.  This tragedy senselessness will mean SOMETHING.  Lil Thet's death will not be in vain!!

I am reminded of the post
City of Deerfield Beach, Possibly Kills Pedestrian Safety in District 2.

 where I detailed my observations and conversations with City officials and FLDOT officials about the safety concerns at that intersection and the length's the City went to just to postpone and put off the upgrades to that intersection.


So this post is not only dedicated to Thetus Fleming Jr's memory, but also as a vehicle to plead with the bureaucrats in charge of upgrading the safety precautionary measures at that intersection, as well as installing street lights and a turning signal to expedite their long process before another life is taken.  Before another District 2 and Deerfield Beach residents is killed.  


I am humbly requesting that all residents of Deerfield Beach come together to protect ALL pedestrians and bicyclist of our City and petition your Commissioner to act now to upgrade all safety concerns at major and minor intersections.  I believe that this tragedy could have been avoided, so before you spend a day crying and in pain as I am right now...ACT NOW!!!


So while Ben, Peggy, Burgess, and many in the City will be celebrating Cracker Day, oops I mean Founder's Day, over in District 1...me, my family, and friends will be mourning the senseless and tragic death of Thetus Fleming Jr. over in District 2.