In a diary a few days ago I wrote about my experience about losing my business... a process that is ongoing and will most likely happen this week as I turn over the business and the property back to the bank in "in lue of". In my attempt to come to grips with the situation and in the grieving process, I have taken steps to inform Governor Crist of my feelings about the state of our economy that included an E-mail by me, a phone call and a visit to Tallahassee.
So today I got this E-mail response: Re: losing your business
more below the fold.
This was the orginal E-mail I sent on Thursday:
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:11 PM
To: Governor Charlie Crist
Subject: losing my business
Dear Governor Crist,
For the past 14 years I have owned businesses here in Florida. They have been, up until now successful and rewarding both to myself, my family and my community. Today, at 2 PM I see an Attorney to discuss bankruptcy (which seems unlikely under the new law) vs "foreclosure in
lue of" on my 2 car washes. The loss of these business will cost me everything I have saved, my pride, jobs and revenue for the Zephyrhills community. Can it be from my lack of experience? No. Can it be that this State, Florida is no longer a "business friendly State"? A resounding YES!
I can not survive in a economy where growth has stagnated for over 18 months, gas prices over that time have increased nearly 100%, disposable income for Floridians is a choice between getting to work or feeding their families, certainly not washing their cars. And what have YOU and the Florida Legislature done for business owners like me? My property taxes have increased 30% in 2 years (both personal and business)! My property insurance has also increased until last year.... o the point where I had to go back to work to pay my home owners insurance (it went from $500 to $1200 to $4100 to $8700 in consecutive years!). Yet I live 65 miles inland and have never had a homeowners claim. workers comp insurance rates have put many other Florida
businesses under also. Many friends have chosen to leave Florida than to continue to operate business here.... I managed to go under in an economic down turn.
My struggle is not unique. There are millions of Floridians who are struggling to make ends met, thousands even ten of thousands facing foreclosures this summer. What will be the economic impact? What will be the future of Florida? How can I ever start another business here, with a Governance of incompetent leaders who let the insurance industry write
policy a few years ago... lobbyist witting Florida policy? No wonder Floridians are now screwed and losing their homes and businesses? Am I culpable somehow for my business failing because of runaway insurance cost, property taxes and wages? Is it ok for GM to expect a FEDERAL BAILOUT in 2009 if the VOLT electric car fails? Or Bear Stearns to be
rescued in a federal bail out... but thousands of small businesses... whose wealth, personal wealth add up into the hundreds of billions will be lost get no assistance.... not even the ability to file bankruptcy to relieve debt? Has our Government.... and your party... once my party, become FACIST that only prop up the multinational corporations and to hell with the little guy?
I just thought you should know, that you should be in touch with what is happening to the people in your State. Soon, in a few days, 14 employees will be out of work and on unemployment, WIC and food stamps. Some have babies, one a psychotic wife and others no education (that's why they work in a car wash). They will find no jobs this time of year in
Florida. I'm lucky.... my wife and I are both Nurses and already have jobs in the local hospital.... but we lost our life savings (nearly $400,000) possibly our home, my car, properties I own. But I have time to recover, my staff are uneducated and have nothing to fall back on.
What will happen to them? Will they keep there water turned on? Will the have air conditioning (it's 99 here today outside)? When a business fails, the community as a whole suffers. Governor... you and the legislator have failed business and the Florida people.
Sincerely,
After sending this E-mail I visited the Governors office, as I detailed in the previous diary.
I took last week off of work that was supposed to be a vacation (I have plenty of PDO banked up, but I need the on-call and OT time now to make ends met with the business not giving me a paycheck in over 18 months), but I could not afford to stay in a hotel or at the beach as planned. My kids were at FSU in Tallahassee in band camp all week and I didn't want to drive the 200 miles (one way) back and forth and originally planned to stay in that area at a beach... but again with the business in dire straights (one of my favorite bands) I just could not justify spending the money to stay in that area. So I commuted to pick up and drop off the girls to band camp. I was going to be in Tallahassee on Friday and decided that I was going to drop in to see the Governor or his aide to voice my concerns... kind of a dying mans wish or a death bed confession... I have no pride left and nothing to left risk by speaking my mind!
When I returned to work on Monday, I heard about the party in St. Petersburg that some of my Doctor friends attended for Charlie (his engagement party). It was "boastful" and "bragging rights" of how they had access, at least that's how I took it. So while my wife was crying in the marble hallway to Mr. Hopengardener outside of Governor Charlie Crist office over the loss of her dream and the dozen employees who will lose their jobs... my colleagues had a "grand o'time" because they had an insurance company and bought influence to be with him!
I get this automatic reply from Charlie Christ office today in my mail box:
Dear Mr. Clemson:
Thank you for contacting Governor Crist. The Governor
appreciates your concerns regarding Florida's business economy and asked me to respond on his behalf.
Governor Crist wants to know how Floridians feel about the many critical issues we face and appreciates your taking the time to share your views with him.
Thank you again for contacting the Governor's office. For information about the Governor's initiatives and to subscribe to his weekly "Notes from the Capitol" newsletter, please visit our Web site at www.flgov.com.
Sincerely,
Julie A. Jordan
Office of Citizen Services
So, not being in the mood tonight to take shit (one of the Physicians who told me he was at Charlie's party kept me 2 hours late in the Cardiac cath lab tonight doing routine "normal" diagnostic heart caths) I decided to reply to Julie A Jordan:
Dear Julie Jordan,
After I wrote the E-mail (which I wonder if you read or just sent and automatic response) I not only called your office... but I came up to visit! I spoke to Cole Hopengardener specifically about the issues that I am concerned about... you know issues like you face in your life... like losing your business and $400,000... and being responsible for laying off 14 employees due to a crappy economy!
But that's ok... because Governor Crist didn't have time to meet with Floridians, constituents, like me..... he was busy.... especially having his engagement party in St Pete with my friends & colegues Dr.(strike out) and Dr. (strike out).... perhaps if I paid $30,000 to get to see him he'd listen to my concerns while at that party (but then again, I don't own an insurance HMO or have my name on the Tampa performing arts center... I'm just a lowly NURSE)? But I don't have that money BECAUSE I SPENT IT TRYING TO KEEP MY BUSINESS AFLOAT and my employees fed and housed!
Next time HAVE THE GOVERNOR CALL ME OR E-MAIL ME himself... or write me a PERSON E-MAIL to address my concerns!
Sincerely,
Douglas F Clemson
Zephyrhills
So, I wonder what recourse I have? What will catch Governor Crist attention? Obviously not that a concerned citizen has E-mailed him. And That a businessman, who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and bothered to drive up to personally ask to see him didn't seem to mater. And in an E-mail response, the respondent has first hand knowledge of the events and people who attended the party certainly won't catch any attention... because they obviously don't read the e-mails!
So maybe I send a copy of the links to my last two diary's posted here on DK where you, other concern Floridians and Americans posted and have commented on his flagrant disregard for Floridians in crisis and unwillingness to address PERSONALLY these issues that are affecting the average citizen! Maybe he's just TOO DAM BUSY TRYING TO BE THE VP CANIDATE to pay attention to the pain and suffering of the average Joe.... unless you pay $30,000 to have an audience with him at his engagement party!