Busy little law firm & the Ax the Tax controversy in Florida.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Interesting articles in the Orlando Sentinel these last two days. Apparently, the Ax the Tax guy, Doug Guetzloe, has found many Florida development organizations really like him because they're giving him BIG cash gifts. I think there's the perception that the Ax the Tax guy is taking money to prioritize the projects he gives a hard time to. The Orlando Magic paid him $200,000. And the law firm, Lowndes Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed paid him a whooping $471,250. That law firm represents "controversial projects." That's putting it lightly.

I'm not saying that it has anything to do with that law firm in particular, but has any land use activists out there ever noticed if a law firm has gone into a city representing two, unrelated projects? Maybe one project is private, commercial, but perhaps has zoning problems, and the other might be a non-profit organization, like say, drug rehab? And the drug rehab project withdraws, but the private, commercial one sails through? The perception is that there was a leverage thing going on?

Anyways, two very good articles put out by the Orlando Sentinel. Here's cuts from today's paper, snipped at random:

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State investigators revealed last week that the law firm directed $471,250 in payments to Guetzloe's political-consulting firm at a time when Guetzloe was embroiled in controversies in cities where the firm was pushing major development projects for clients

With its stately headquarters on Lake Eola, Lowndes is known as the pre-eminent land-use law firm in Central Florida, employing at least 350 attorneys and support staffers. Its influential connections reach into the top levels of local government, electoral politics, the arts and philanthropy.

Some of its most prominent clients have heavy stakes in the three public projects recently approved by Crotty and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: a $1 billion blueprint that includes a new performing arts center and arena, and Florida Citrus Bowl renovations.

The firm has many noted lawyers, ranging from its founder, Lowndes -- who was a member of a prominent local land-development and construction partnership for 40 years -- to former federal Judge John Reed and ex-Congressman Lou Frey.

Kantor, 61, is frequently seen in county and city chambers across Central Florida lobbying for malls and condo developers. In political races, Kantor and other lawyers in the firm regularly contribute to the campaigns of area politicians. Kantor also is on the board of advisers for the Hamilton Holt School at Rollins College.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-mthefirm1406oct14,0,7992196.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Kick. Guys, trust me. This is important if you really want to take a

peek behind the curtain and see what's going on in the back room.