ICYMI

      Tommy Lopez went to work July 4th. like any other day to man his lifeguard station to provide rescue services to the residents and guests of Hallandale Beach.  Tommy had no idea his life was about to change in a  whirlwind of events. As Tommy did his job he became overwhelmed by inept government actions and callous supervision that would have dramatic impact on his life.

       I had the distinct pleasure to meet Tommy Lopez and get to know him, and something of his world outside the moment of Fame currently  surrounding him.   He is a fine young man, a student at Broward College studying business administration, and he’s jobless.

      Tommy is a great guy, and he deserves a break. He’s now jobless. Perhaps a business owner in need of a great employee in the reach of this message will seek him out and offer him a good job so he can earn his way through college.

      Now, not taking anything away from Tommy Lopez and his justly due honor, one has ask how does such a thing happen?

      I’ve looked past the moment to the causes in the hope there will be no other’s like Tommy experiencing the weight of the world crashing down on them from dispassionate corporations and inept government leaders.

     July 9^th, 2012  the Mayor of Hallandale Beach and the City Commission bestowed on to Mr. Tommy Lopez, lifeguard patrolling Hallandale Beach, a Key to the City.  Mr. Lopez was honored for his selfless disregard for his own personal safety and economic well being. A “Samaritan” who broke contractor rules in an emergency and saved a drowning man outside his assigned station, was FIRED! 

      During the ceremony conducted by Mayor Cooper of Hallandale Beach, it was really touching to watch Tommy pass on appreciation to his fellow lifeguards who attended the ceremony to support Tommy.  Several of them had also quit their jobs in support of Tommy being terminated.  Tommy was fired by a callous and unthinking corporate supervisor incapable of making rational judgments. A life saved by Tommy, and then he was fired as a consequence of poor judgment and a rule book.

      The story of Mr. Lopez’s termination caused by his doing the right thing, has become a world wide news event.  The reporting of this event has brought negative attention to the City of Hallandale Beach and raised severe doubt on City Mayor Cooper’s ability to protect the city residents.

       Mayor Cooper’s hastily fabricated media event, staged to the benefit of Mr. Lopez, should  be seen as largely self serving for Mayor Cooper. One must ask, if the world had not taken notice of Mr. Lopez, would he be so honored, and his reputation rescued from the consequences of Mayor Cooper’s flawed contract, and contract administration?

      “Any contract for services to provide public safety and has as its consequence, intended or not,  to disregard that very duty, is flawed beyond all good reason.”  Stated one Hallandale Beach resident.

     This is another glaring example of the lack of professional thoroughness exhibited by Mayor Joy Cooper. In this instance our Mayors prime directive is to is protect the public while on Hallandale Beach, beaches.  Mayor Cooper was grossly negligent in not assuring the community that the contract was properly drafted and that the contractor was performing as agreed. Mayor Cooper nearly failed at that principal duty, had it not been for the selfless act of Tommy Lopez. 

      As you learned in the above video, Glenna Milberg's investigation made clear that Mayor Cooper's administration entered in to a contract in 2003 with little or no defined responsibilities or service standards for life saving services. Worse city standards for performance were non existent, nor were City Contractor Jeff Ellis Management's internal standards detailed or defined.  In 2009, that contract was renegotiated at a 50% increase in fees and still no no objective measurable service standards were added. If that wasn't bad enough, we now learn City contractor Ellis maybe paying workers some $5.00 under agreed wages in the contract.  Mayor Cooper fails to manage a critical public safety contract for years with a "Sign and Forget" attitude.  For YEARS, my fellow resident, Mayor Cooper neglected her duty!  See the Contracts here!

      Former Vice Mayor Julian who originally sponsored the contract, and was supported with yes votes by Commissioners Ross and Sanders, and Vice Mayor Julian and Mayor Cooper. Voting no was Commissioner London. Julian on video seemed to agree that his objective in voting for the Ellis Aquatic Services agreement with Jeff Ellis Management was to slash wages and get new younger personnel to guard the beach. WOW!  Bill could you be any more discriminatory? 

      Neighbors and friends, let's try to help Tommy and the other fine young people who guard our lives on the beach who were involved in this "cram down" on their lives. Let's help them find local jobs in our town. We need good upcoming citizens like Tommy and his work pals to stay here and help us build our futures in Hallandale Beach.

And then let us take really close consideration on the following:

How much more of Mayor Cooper can Hallandale Beach citizens stand?

       Chad Lincoln Is a resident of Hallandale Beach and is a community activist seeking better more efficient local government in Hallandale Beach. He can be reached at   brec.y014@gmail.com.