For those who are interested, check out how the City of Fort Lauderdale's Community Services Advisory Board (pp 5-7 of that linked doc) keeps its citizens' best interests in mind.

First know this: We've recently learned that the guy who owns the Elite Bicycles pedicab company, some Kevin Green character, had a bogus insurance policy. The insurance agency has no record of it on file, and apparently, the agent who wrote it up had his/her license revoked by the state of Florida back in October and it's now a wild goose chase to try and find him/her.

People need to know that the Elite Bicycles pedicab business down on the beach is shady!! Mr. Kevin Green's business shouldn't even be operating without insurance (there's also talk that some of his permits were bogus; not confirmed, but suspected)…

And here is one that really gets me: The city of Fort Lauderdale says it's not their fault that no one checked on the validity of Mr. Green's insurance policy.

Oh yeah? ... Not their fault?

Well, take a look at THIS:

COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER 10, 2005 – 7:00 P.M., CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
– Clean Air Taxi/Elite Bicycles –
[Note: The full notes from this committee meeting can be found on Pages 5-7 of the document found at this link. Below are just some of the real gems.
My comments below are in bold.]

"Kevin Green stated that he was requesting permits to conduct his business for pedicabs and rickshaws along Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. Alfred Imgrund stated that he reviewed the police memorandum dated June 25, 2005, which recommended a denial of the business permits and reasons for such denial."

That's right. DESPITE a recommendation by the police department, which they based on Mr. Green's past arrests, citations, and run-ins with police, the city commission STILL voted to grant Mr. Green permits to operate his business.

But wait!...It gets even more shocking:

"Sanforf Rosenthal suggested that possibly one permit be granted to Mr. Green so as to help him establish a 'track record.' Chair John Hurley stated that in reviewing the police memorandum, he would like Mr. Green to clarify each issue listed. In a letter dated June 25, 2005, it stated: 'Mr. Green has been warned, cited, and arrested in the past for violations related to his illegal, unauthorized operation of a pedicab in the beach area.'"

"Chair John Hurley asked if Mr. Green had ever been arrested. Mr. Green confirmed and stated that he was 40 years old and had been arrested about three times. He continued stating that he had first been arrested when he was 17 years old for grand theft auto. He explained that he was charged as an adult. He explained that the second time he was arrested was in regard to trespassing, loitering, and other minor incidents. He stated that the third time he was arrested was in regard to domestic violence in 1998 or 1999, and he had been convicted and had served about two years in prison. 'Mr. Green has been involved in several disturbances in the beach area. He has also been cited for other complaints, including animal complaints, trespassing, and assault on the beach area. He has also been arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in the City of Fort Lauderdale.'"

"He asked if Mr. Green had been arrested regarding battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest with violence in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Green explained that while he was in jail for the domestic charge, he received the other violation. He stated that he had to defend himself. Chair John Hurley clarified that Mr. Green had not been arrested the fourth time because he had already been under arrest, and therefore, was served a Summons. Mr. Green confirmed. Chair John Hurley asked what was the result of such charges. Mr. Green stated that he served time for the charges and had been in prison for three years."

Sounds like a real winner, huh? Even better, he goes on to lie about his citations having been dismissed:

"Chair John Hurley asked about citations and notices to appear in Court that had been issued."

"Mr. Green confirmed that he had received such citations and notices and that was reflected in his driving record. He explained that 8-9 of them had been dismissed, but still appeared on his driving record. Chair John Hurley explained that a dismissed ticket would not appear on a driving record. He further stated that a memorandum had been provided regarding violations issued to Mr. Green regarding his operation of the rickshaw."

At least a few of the members of the board were operating with sound logic and reasoning:

"Diane Schuster stated that Mr. Green's past infractions show that he has some character flaws, and therefore, the citizens of the City should not be subject to his services. She suggested that he attempt to earn a living in a different manner."

Unfortunately, there were less sound-minded individuals on the board, like Ms. Jennie Brooks:

"Jennie Brooks stated that this was a difficult situation, and Mr. Green was prone to violations. She reiterated that everyone deserves a chance, and possibly one permit could be granted and Mr. Green would be put on probation to see how things worked out. She stated that a 'track record' could then be established for him."

A second chance????? 

Seems to me that with three arrests and well over eight or nine citations in his background, that Mr. Green was well beyond deserving any more chances. This man should NOT have ever been authorized to run his business.

And the verdict?

"The Board approved with the exception of Diane Schuster and Sanford Rosenthal who voted against the motion."

Sure enough, here we are two years later and finding out that Mr. Green had a bogus insurance policy. Shouldn't the city have looked into that? Granted, they can't check on the validity of every insurance policy that get issued; however, I think that in this case, Mr. Green was obviously one who should have been flagged and kept an eye on—as a matter of fact, what happened to this deal where he was approved but put on "probation"?

Didn't anyone come back around to check on Mr. Green and his so-called business???

Therefore, here is my public alert:

Please help me get the word out to the public of Fort Lauderdale that those pedicabs owned by Kevin Green and his Elite Bicycle company should NOT be ridden. As a matter of fact, they should be removed from the streets and Mr. Green's shotty permits REVOKED. They should not ever have been issued in the first place.

Nice of the lenient City of Fort Lauderdale's Community Services Advisory Board to ignore a police department recommendation from Day 1, but now that he's been caught with a bogus insurace policy, I'm hoping they'll do the right thing and get him OFF OUR STREETS (which includes opening a debate as to whether or not that A1A and Las Olas area are well-lit and spacious enough to even accommodate such a mode of tranportation in the first place!).

Again, for the full meeting notes and to see all this insanity for yourself, please visit: http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/documents/csb/2005/101005csb_minutes.pdf.

Thanks for your time,

~Julie Perry