Good News and Astounding News

John here.

My peripatetic sister was out twice today and returned each time with News.

Dog Day

This morning, Alverson was before Judge Nick Nazarettian on three charges from last April when two of his dogs attacked Carolyn and her Mario


in Carolyn's driveway(!). The dogs bit Mario once and Carolyn twice. Of course they had not been vaccinated for rabies.

The Judge imposed a penalty, which looks to be up to $500 per count. In light of Alverson's history (failed to pay property tax; $504.45 unpaid water bill) we can anticipate having an opportunity to see what happens when he doesn't pay this.


Note added on Aug 20: I (at last) figured out how to access the Tampa court records. It seems that Judge Nazarettian talks a better case than he judges: The fine was only $25 (the same as the copay on Carolyn's tetanus shot) plus $110 in costs. Sigh.

Pants on Fire at Code nonEnforcement

On August 1, Carolyn filed a Public Records Act request with Jake Slater at Code nonEnforcement for records of the inspections at 6003 and for

any public records that would excuse the accumulations at 6003 Otis that are not visible from the road from the requirement of Section 19-237 of the Tampa Code of Ordinances.

The same day, Joe Papy of Code replied:

Those records are available for public inspection at our public access walk up kisok at 2105 N Nebraska Ave, between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Copies may be purchased for 15 cents per page.

Today Carolyn visited the kiosk. The extremely helpful Dee was not available but the equally helpful Lisa Middleton provided the inspection reports and told Carolyn that all they have there are inspection records.

Let's be clear about this: Code says trash is OK if it's not visible from the street. Carolyn asked for records saying it's OK to pile up your trash so long as it's not visible from the street. Code said the records are at the Kiosk. There are no such records at the kiosk. The only conclusion is that the Code website and their manifest practice are contrary to law.

That's right: Code nonEnforcement is supposed to enforce the law and, instead, they are telling lies and not enforcing. My sister and the other law-abiding citizens of Tampa get to pay taxes to support this mendacity and nonfeasance.