Letters to the Editors

Unneeded, unwanted Brown Schools must be stopped quickly

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

Editor: On June 8 I toured the buildings on County Road 491 near Beverly Hills formerly housing the Heritage Psychiatric Hospital and currently being prepared for use by the Brown Schools of Beverly Hills, a facility which has been the center of a good deal of recent controversy. I asked my guide when the "students" would actually occupy the building and was informed it would be three weeks, or about the end of June.

If this information is accurate, Brown's strategy becomes clear. This for-profit institution apparently plans to take possession of the building, move in the juvenile offenders referred to it by the state Department of Children and Families and, thus entrenched, fight off attempts to evict them long enough for their presence to become a fait accompli.

Unless someone with authority in the county administration has the guts to stand up for what is right and uphold the laws and regulations clearly prescribed for operating facilities such as the one Brown Schools intends, their plan will succeed.

How could there be a need in the middle of a Citrus County residential area for a facility to house and detain juveniles accused of violent crimes elsewhere in the state, but judged to be incompetent to go to trial? The possibility that 150 jobs might be created in such an institution is not a relevant criterion for a certificate of need, though one wonders how there could be so many unemployed county inhabitants with the special skills and experience needed to qualify for work with dangerous juveniles.

Is there a need? Such a facility isn't even welcome, certainly not right behind Surrey Place, whose elderly and often infirm residents are especially vulnerable in their unsecured building and grounds that adjoin the property on which Brown Schools would operate. Several thousand other residents, many of us senior citizens as well, live in Pine Ridge, Beverly Hills and Black Diamond Ranch, within a mile of the planned facility.

Despite the secrecy with which Brown Schools arrived on our doorstep unannounced and unbeknownst to the School Board (which will be expected to supply special educational programs for Brown occupants), or the Sheriff's Office (which will be expected to supply security within the institution), ignoring the usual procedures and formalities in such a matter.

Despite the undeniable differences between the innocuous programs dealing with abused and emotionally disturbed children falsely described by representatives of Brown Schools in community meetings and the written contracts (a matter of public record) drawn up between Brown and the state DCF for the detention instead of sexual offenders and alleged felons too mentally impaired to stand trial.

Despite two separate, well-documented legal appeals for review of zoning restrictions clearly violated by the Brown facility.

Despite the fact that Director of Citrus County Development Services Gary Maidhoff specifically denies he gave Brown Schools an official go-ahead and now states it is necessary for him to examine all applicable contracts and applications in the matter and demand written guarantees before Brown Schools may proceed further, and such documents had not been received as of the open house I attended June 8.

Despite the fact no one in authority seems to have actually given Brown Schools permission to have such an open house in the first place, or a grand opening ceremony, let alone to renovate and occupy the premises on a permanent basis.

Despite all these factors, occupancy of the Heritage facility by Brown Schools is on the verge of becoming a done deal.

Once the site is occupied, it is very possible the curtain of secrecy that always pertains with juvenile offenders in the state legal system will be lowered and it will be impossible to determine who is living at Brown Schools, what their medical or legal status is, and what sort of treatment is being administered and by whom. Claims are being made that this facility will become the flagship of the whole Brown Schools system, supplying leading-edge comfort and support for troubled kids and bringing about something called "Competence Restoration," by which kids with a 60 IQ will acquire the ability to understand the Florida Penal Code and offer help in their own defense when they have their day in court. It will become a landmark, a Beacon on the Hill, we are told, which Citrus residents can point to with pride.

But what if, as the evidence strongly suggests, the facility actually will be a detention center for sex offenders and accused felons too mentally impaired to stand trial for their alleged crimes? Or where medication is the major form of treatment and guards have to pass through security checks to make sure they are not bringing in drugs and weapons for the inmates? Will not Brown Schools of Beverly Hills then become a notorious embarrassment to the county, as well as a threat to the safety of its residents? But that's not what our public officials are apparently concerned with. We only hear about jobs and the bottom line.

Wasn't it ever thus with traffic in human flesh?
-- David E. Scherer, Lecanto

Sullivan rude to visitors from Citrus

Editor: When I bought my St. Petersburg Times June 18, I did not notice it contained the Hernando Times rather than the Citrus local edition. But it proved interesting, particularly as it included a front-page article and illustration relating to a proposed pig farm at Hernando Beach, and several references to Hernando County Commissioner Paul Sullivan, whom I believe resides there.

A few months ago, I attended a commission meeting in Brooksville, together with a number of Citrus County residents, to oppose the construction of yet another cement plant less than 2 miles from the county line. Sullivan, as chairman, instructed us to declare the geography of our residency as a precursor to any comment. It was absolutely obvious that (a) he did not want us there, and (b) he had no intention of listening to our concerns.

Very quickly I formed the opinion he was probably the rudest local political figure to come to my attention, and his later dismissive and discourteous comments toward fellow Commissioner Pat Novy left no doubt that assessment was correct. He may not like Ms. Novy, but that does not excuse his crass behavior.

Later, I spoke to a Hernando resident who had confronted Sullivan during a personal interview, and learned he was "really ticked off by the people from Citrus County at the cement plant meeting." My answer to that is, "Tough, Mr. Sullivan." An elected official must be equally receptive to input from everyone and not simply those within a certain voting district or geographical area.

Recently, a journalist for the Citrus Times asked for my comment during "Courtesy Month" for government. She printed my complimentary remarks in respect to Citrus County Commissioners, but omitted my negative observations on the parallel authority in Hernando County. I specifically offered Mr. Sullivan as the (negative) example of a reverse role model.

A very cursory piece of research told me Commissioner Sullivan is now a resident of Hernando Beach, and that when growth and development have a personal impact on his quality of life, he executes the classic shift of position. A politician is only consistent by virtue of inconsistency. His comment that "the days of the good old boys are over" was certainly not mirrored when those same "good old boys" wanted another cement plant close to our back yard.

When those in favor of expanding Brooksville's cement capacity took the podium, Sullivan treated them like visiting heads of state. I was surprised he did not offer them a mint julep and a swing chair.

I was absolutely disgusted with the manner in which the meeting was conducted, and I said to a friend afterward that I would never again submit myself to such an indignity. The Hernando Commission is certainly not the ultimate authority on planning and permitting issues, and a challenge to higher state and federal bodies would be infinitely more productive.

The irony is that we were asked to attend the commission meeting by a number of Hernando residents who had a high opinion of our track record on issues in Citrus County. But, as invited guests, we were treated like inconsequential fools.
-- Chris Lloyd, Lecanto

Weaver's killer should stay behind bars

Editor: The shocking news that Roger Weaver's killer has been arrested again recalls the tragedy and promotes disbelief and anger about the senseless, brutal murder of the former superintendent of schools in 1986.

A mere 15-year sentence "because of overcrowding" -- so it is said -- with only three years served is a disgrace to the criminal justice system. If a child who murders can be considered for a life sentence, surely a man should deserve at least that. The accused had invaded Weaver's vacation home, where he committed the undisputed murder. He was released in 1992, and had been in and out of prison since; now he's arrested for arson.

Surely we should expect intelligent decisions and justice for grieving families and friends, and protection for the citizenry.
-- Catherine Snyder, Crystal River

Arrogant to anoint Hickey as front-runner

Editor: Re: Superintendent candidates should keep campaign civil, June 15 opinion column by Jeff Webb:

Webb's characterization of Chris Becker as an underdog candidate for the office of Superintendent of Schools is somewhat premature. Assistant Superintendent David Hickey is in the race for only one week and Mr. Webb anoints him as a front-runner? Such arrogance.

Mr. Webb hopes for a civil campaign. I hope for a campaign that will expose the ineptness and inability of either Superintendent Pete Kelly or Mr. Hickey to head our school system. They are both presiding at this time over the mess the school administration has become. The blatant political maneuverings by good ol' boy insiders like Carl Austin, David Langer and others must be eliminated if our school system is to survive as the vehicle for training our young people for success in the 21st century.

Becker is in a unique position to know the workings of the system without being a part of the insider power structure that has brought us to this sorry state. The Citrus County school administration has too long been operated as a secret society with no accountability and for the benefit of a few connected insiders.

Insider politics should not be the driving force behind the selection of a superintendent. It is high time we make the switch to an appointed superintendent. That is the only way we are going to bring accountability to that office. Until we are able to accomplish this (I will have more to say on this subject at a later date), Becker is our best hope for an honorable and open administration.
-- James C. Bitter, Homosassa

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