Mimi Lash 5.18.12 For the Marion Sun Times

Ocala brings hundreds of low paying jobs to Marion County.  Good news and bad news!

Good news first.  Management for the telemarketing firm will bring in jobs paying above poverty line.  The influx of new employment revenue will pay back the incentive $2.500,000 in just a few decades if all goes well.

The bad news:  Setting up a magnet to draw low income families to Marion County will add to the poverty centers such as Ocala.  Once a vibrant location, Ocala is currently on a down hill economic journey.  A from south Marion near the wealth of The Villages toward delivers an increasing frequency of For Sale signs.  100 properties out of business or foreclosed were counted on a recent trip to Ocala.  Once in Ocala 10 per every few blocks out of business or signs of economic failure shout we need to turn around the economic fortunes of the Urban area known as Ocala.

Thriving employment is in the government sector.  Management in all government organizations are 6 figure with the leader Steve Pervus receiving a cool $600,000 annually plus benefits.  That is well above the $10,000 a month that most government officials are receiving.  Followed by non taxed private companies such as the EDC.  A small private company the EDC is run by Mr Pete Tesh who has been in the $120,000 plus income bracket for years, while he works to bring in jobs that average below $20,000 a year.

Marion County School Board  

Marion County Administration

Marion County Sheriff

Ocala Police Department

Ocala Administration

Central Florida Community College

Monroe Hospital

Try to imagine the cost for every family drawn to Marion County that is in the below $20,000 range.   Child care, food stamps, free lunchs, assistance at the tune of $20,000 per couple is required just to keep alive and housed.

Yes, some workers are already here and $20,000 will provide help covering the basics of life, but for the most part high pressure jobs like call center work is high turn over and a draw for low income families from across the nation.  When word gets out that a move to Florida will qualify a family to public housing assistance, food help, transportation help, shelter help, and other public assistance, the people will come.

Government grants, and other assistantance is the game in bring in more poor to urban neighborhoods.  Grants, from the city, state and county from a failing federal economic system is now considered a viable approach to funding the mase of organizations that are themselves tax exempt and live off government handouts themselves.  Non tax paying status is the key to $100,000 plus incomes for the lucky operators of these companies.

All great organizations but based on a need for additional proverty and grants. 

Children's Alliance

Workforce Connection

Kids Central

Hospitals and other health care groups

Foundations of all kinds.  

Some make incredible incomes being in charge of a small tax exempt private company.

Big example is the Domestic Violence Central organization.  A look at the Tax Report 990 shows the head person receives over $300,000 annually to be in-charge of the local county branches.

Every time you see Tax Exempt or Non Profit rest assured that a look at the required 990 will show stunning income that the rich receive to mind the problems of the poor.

Now you see why an urban area like Ocala would bring in and pay millions for workers that receive less than half of what it takes to live in poverty.

Could you live on $50,000 per month?

That is only $12.000 per week!

Or just a little over $300 per hour.

But remember as you struggle on this meger salary, you also will receive benefits, health, auto, and travel expenses, so while the salary is meager there is hope! 

Post political era to begin with new CF president.  Selection will bring fresh, and hopefully non political CF President.

Known for attempting to set Public Policy from CF educational job, Charles Dessance has stepped down creating an era of education.

The Public Policy Institute of Marion County is an inappropriate political forum for a non elected public official serving as a College President.  The attempt at "Regional Political Clout" has all but dissolved in the post Dessance non political posturing of CF. 

As the leading political forum for Regional Water Policy CF may have diverted from its Core Mission. 

Current Art Committee Selection Committee Members for the Courthouse is Clerk of the Court David Ellspermann a staff member and Judges McCune and Ohlman.  

______________________ 

Fresh new opportunity for the Central Florida Community

Dr. James Henningsen takes over the leadership of Central Florida College 

Citizens ask for CF to replace highly controversial renderings of Women, Youth and Christian religious depictions. 

Muslim vs Christian highly charged war images seem to not meet Constitutional guarantees to a fair trial if Jurors are influenced during selection and exposure in the courthouse setting.

Normal non contriversial "Art in Public Buildings" is considered appropriate a fair opportunity for all judicial experience.  Marion County has a chance to set the record straight with the hiring of a new CF president. 

Art titled Courthouse Construction Crew is reinstated in the courthouse over the objections of County Judge Jim McCune.  

Citizens ask, was it a "sour grapes" jesture puting in in the Men's Room cubical off the main lobby?  Teachers showing students art will hardly be expected to stand in the way of the Men's Room entry to view art.

On the other side of the same wall, in the lobby area, there is a blank wall waiting for display.  The question of Clerk of the Court working for the people or is he under the direction of the judges in the courthouse?

Going into a first time republican primary challenge may answer the question. 

 CFPPI was developed to give a counter point public policy input from the private sector to balance the CF Sponsored Political Public Policy Institute and Heart of Florida Political Regional Influence developed with Tax Dollars.

 Keeping on mission may require a sign-off for all future use of CF for political action.

CF Mission: "College of Central Florida offers educational opportunities which are accessible, affordable and high quality. In a climate that nurtures excellence, CF provides undergraduate instruction and awards associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees and certificates; prepares students for careers requiring professional and technical training; encourages student success through a variety of support services; and promotes the economic, social and cultural development of the community."  The non elected nature of the CF presidency position calls for resignation if there is political disagreement with  public policy advanced by CF Officials.  We recommend Public Policy be left to public officials elected to set public policy and private citizens.  Dr Dessance public policy efforts were less as a private citizen and mostly as the president of CF.  We hope CF as a political organization stays in the past.