FL Atty General under attack for focusing on Timeshare fraud

[TUGBrian]

Quite an interesting attack here, claiming that its the donations from ARDA that have the AG focused on timeshare fraud, vs the number of complaints in florida alone

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/16/2458515/crackdown-on-florida-timeshare.html

 

[UWSurfer]

Wow. I have several conflicting thoughts on this.

1) Good that she's taking this on and devoting time to it.

2) Good to the newspaper or group tracking campaign donations and candidates actions after being elected.

3) Smart of ARDA to contribute.


I can't say I like that (it appears) ARDA money may have help spur the action, but we live in the real world and I do like it when the "contribution" often bundled into our MF bills collected by developers actually are used for something which addresses a serious problem.

 

[theo]

A few thoughts...

Quite an interesting attack here, claiming that its the donations from ARDA that have the AG focused on timeshare fraud, vs the number of complaints in florida alone

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/16/2458515/crackdown-on-florida-timeshare.html

I have no dog in this fight, but I would nonetheless point out that:

1. The crusade against Florida-based timeshare fraud was actually initiated a few years ago now by former Florida AG Bill McCollum, who left to (unsuccessfully) run for another office. Pam Bondi, the current AG, is now (or so it seems to me) merely continuing forward wiith something long-since already begun by others.

2. It also seems to me that it is the author of the article (Toluse Olorunnipa....and Carl Hiaasen s/he ain't) and not AG Bondi who states that this matter is the "the Attorney General's top legislative priority". ARDA also openly acknowledges that it is their top priority. AG Bondi, however, has actually stated no such thing.

Like so much media "reporting", a subjective, biased and judgmental "spin" seems to have been coyly and deliberately applied to the writing of this article, one which should instead have been a much more straightforward, more historically complete and more objective portrayal of all of the pertinent facts.

Just my opinion...

 

[richardm]

I've published comments questioning whether new legislation would make any difference in the investigation or prosecution of the con artists in the resale industry. I don't believe it will have much impact since these individuals are already breaking the law in most cases. I personally felt the push for this legislation was more of a publicity stunt and PR move than anything else.

However- there is no question that Bondi has continued the fight McCollum began, and has been making great strides in the fight against consumer fraud as it relates to timeshare resales. Whether it is due to effort or just timing, I feel she has been the most aggressive AG on this issue by far and I would not question the AG's integrity or intentions for trying to stop what has become by far the largest consumer scam in the state of Florida. I believe that article shows the official tally of complaints received the last two years and it is staggering.

This brouhaha is just another example of our ultra politicized society and a sad statement about how often it doesn't really matter what a politician does or does not do- their political "success or failure" ultimately depends on how well their party can "spin" stories in the media.

Hopefully, Bondi will have the fortitude to stay the course.

 

[TUGBrian]

its been expressed to me that this legislation is "designed" to streamline the ability for law enforcement to shut these people down quicker....and if thats the case im all for it.

I however currently share your opinion, what they are already doing is against existing laws, its the enforcement thats the issue.

 

[Talent312]

Criticism of the Miami Herald reporters for doing this story is unwarranted.
Exposing conflicts of interest in public officials is an important function of the press.

It may be traditional to blame the messenger when you don't like the message.
I sometimes ask a client: "Would you rather I kept it a secret?"

So, perhaps the AG is downplaying foreclosure frauds because its not sexy enuff, fewer complaints, or as the reporter notes: "At least two former employees left the attorney general’s office for jobs with foreclosure firms under investigation this year, and a portion of Bondi’s campaign treasure chest came from firms that are being investigated for using faulty documents to foreclose."

But then, that's not important to us, so its really more a matter of who's ox is being gored.

 

[theo]

Clarification...

Criticism of the Miami Herald reporters for doing this story is unwarranted.
Exposing conflicts of interest in public officials is an important function of the press.

It may be traditional to blame the messenger when you don't like the message.

Reporting the matter is certainly entirely appropriate (...and once again, I have no dog in this fight at all).
My objection is to the factually inaccurate attribution and portrayal of "priorities" by the reporter, who has basically (and very inappropriately) put words never actually spoken by the AG right into the AG's mouth.

It's not my intention to "shoot the messenger". I'm merely expressing the (admittedly futile) hope that such media "messengers" might actually report (as a basic and fundamental journalistic responsibility) factually, accurately and with considerably more objectivity than is demonstrated in the article at issue.

 

[vckempson]

+1 for Theo.

And even IF the author's conjecture is true, that the AG's top priory is timeshare fruad, how is that inappropriate. It's the number one source and complaints in the state. According to the article, it's larger than the next four complaint categories combined. I'd sure as heck be thinking about making my number one priority if I was the AG.