Comment On PAC Issue

Rich Alpher (County Planning Commissioner) wrote the following in response to the recent political attack ads paid for by members of the development community and fronted by two Sarasota School system teachers:

RECOMMENDATIONS

ONE (1) - As I wrote when I first heard about the "teacher's" PAC I also noted that on the day I heard about it a report noted that Florida students were last or near last in SAT scores. I recommended that the $70,000 spent by the "teachers" (who have seemingly disappeared into an abyss of silence after their embarrassing sojourn into the PAC) be better used toward software that could help improve SAT scores.

Or, in the alternative, that the money be used to donate to Habitat to be used for two homes (leveraged) for teacher's aides here in the County. Or, that it even be given to our orgnaization, Rebuild Sarasota (RS), to rehabilitate substandard homes not for profit. That is an organization of which Joe [Barbetta] is also a board member; and unfortunately must soon resign. So far RS has turned 5-6 substandard homes into livable and affordable homes - I suspect that is more than all the contributors combined to the attack ads against Joe.

TWO (2) - in order to atone for the waste of thousand of dollars of their money in false and negative ads against a good and honest man, those on the list in the development and building industry, such as Tom Dabney, the Turners, Mr. Rivolta, etc. should donate a like amount to affordable housing. The total was nearly $90,000 which would leverage into 2 Habitat homes; or given to RS would allow us to rehabilitate 20 or more substandard homes to prevent gentrification and allow, especially, older people on fixed income to live out their lives in homes that don't leak, have good windows, have new paint and other minor repairs. To tell you the truth I never hear anyone on the list who appeared before the Planning Commission ever use the word affordable housing.

I don't know the e-mails of most people on the contribution list; but I have no problem for anyone who receives this e-mail to forward it to any of the individuals.

In fact, I challenge Messrs. Dabney, Turner, Rivolta and others to match what a great and conscientious and good-hearted developer (and a good friend) [Henry Rodriguez] did here awhile ago. He donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity which built two homes with the money. I was at the dedication of one of those homes. It was a nurse's aide with kids who was attending school to become a nurse.

THUS, THE ALPHER CHALLENGE TO PEOPLE ON THAT CONTRIBUTION LIST - GIVE SOME MONEY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT FOR PROFIT, PROJECTS. I'LL WAIT FOR A RESPONSE; ALTHOUGH TO QUOTE THE LATE AND GREAT ADLAI STEVENSON AT THE U. N. I MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL "HECK" FREEZES OVER - BUT I WILL.

You are welcome to forward my e-mail to whomever you choose. It is what it is.

Regards, Rich Alpher
Board Member, Rebuild Sarasota, Inc.