tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305046022011-09-05T15:31:00.407-04:00Center for news of Charlie Grapski in his ongoing dispute with the city of Alachua, Florida.Catreonanoreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-39659349623668704152009-01-12T15:12:00.000-05:002009-01-12T15:58:43.696-05:00

At Howard Empowered People, a lively discussion has been going on with Hugh Calderwood, husband of Alachua's mayor, regarding Charlie's predicament. Since the discussion has become rather extensive, moving it here from HEP seems advisable. To review the discussion so far, visit these links:HEP comments for Saturday, Jan. 10 (starting near the bottom)HEP comments for Sunday, Jan. 11HEP comments

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-3839196538450061252007-04-01T21:44:00.000-04:002007-04-01T21:57:01.442-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLvKq2t43tEGrapski Defense just put up the first 10 minutes of that documentary on Charlie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLvKq2t43tE.You have to watch it. I tried downloading the one the other night but had trouble. This one is not the best size or resolution but it gives you access to it to begin to see what it is about.They are trying to get DVD copies made and

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-28144446243542572982007-03-31T23:40:00.000-04:002007-03-31T23:56:25.706-04:00

I apologize for the tardiness of this post. My computer has been on the blink today.Both Michael and Charlie himself checked in at Howard Empowered this afternoon. Their comments are below.http://www.grapski.org/downloads/Citizen_Grapski.movA Gainesville videographer named Tom Miller created this video in 3-4 days about Charlie Grapski's trials and tribulations in Alachua. There's much more to

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-30265848835893880432007-03-22T20:12:00.000-04:002007-03-22T20:25:58.592-04:00

AMY REININKSun staff writerA circuit judge on Monday dismissed a petition that would have allowed Alachua City Commission candidate Charlie Grapski to run against Mayor Jean Calderwood rather than Commissioner Bonnie Burgess in the city's April 10 election.Attorneys Gary Edinger and Joe Little had filed the petition on behalf of Grapski and Michael Perkins, also a commission candidate, on Friday.

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-82405788044173419992007-03-19T10:15:00.000-04:002007-03-20T16:39:37.019-04:00

JUDGE ROUNDTREE WILL CONVENE HEARING AT 1:30 PMCivil Court | 201 East University Ave. | Third FloorMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!Judge Robert Roundtree will be taking action tomorrow (Monday March 19) on a number of cases involving legal disputes between citizens and Alachua city officials. The public is welcome to attend this hearing.The Alachua cases currently before the Circuit

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-53731019019222658232007-03-17T21:35:00.000-04:002007-03-17T22:02:31.510-04:00

This was posted yesterday in comments at Howard Empowered People.I have just received this message from Florida!CHARLIE GRAPSKI SUPPORTERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE!Your recent correspondence to Governor Charlie Crist was forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) Office of Executive Investigations (OEI) for review. In your e-mail, you complained of the manner in which the Alachua

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-68964701334571225462007-03-12T18:01:00.000-04:002007-03-12T21:56:18.285-04:00

News from Alachua for friends of Charlie. He is doing well. But has been working 24 hours a day for nearly a year. The work has been difficult but is now starting to pay off as people are seeing through the haze of spin and framing.The local news blockade has effectively kept this story fairly quiet until now. But even the major media outlets in Alachua County are now seeing through the

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1173390587915955032007-03-08T16:47:00.000-05:002007-03-08T17:42:14.965-05:00

ALACHUA -- The city of Alachua will move forward with holding its elections, the city commission voted Tuesday, March 6, in an emergency meeting. The vote included allowing the elections' three challengers until 4 p.m. March 7 to "fix the deficiencies" in their qualification papers.The commission made the vote after a recommendation by City Manager Clovis Watson Jr. to extend the qualifying date

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-48463384089991670752006-11-15T10:15:00.000-05:002007-03-12T22:08:39.227-04:00

JURY SELECTION WAS COMPLETED MONDAY, TRIAL BEGINS THURSDAY MORNING AUDIO FILE OF CHARLIE'S "ILLEGAL" RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE - LISTEN at www.grapskidefense.org and read the transcript.In May everyone heard about Charlie's arrest in Alachua City Hall on trumped-up charges of felony wiretapping. Most people thought the arrest by Clovis Watson was politically motivated, and few imagined it

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-91433823714375333182006-11-09T08:00:00.000-05:002007-03-12T21:52:59.626-04:00

PLEASE FORWARD AND RE-POST!!CHARLIE GOES TO TRIAL MONDAY!FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Wednesday November 8, 2006Ad Hoc Committee for the Legal Defense of Charlie GrapskiContacts:Carol Thomas 386-418-3791Michael Canney 352-871-1991GRAPSKI TURNS DOWN STATE ATTORNEY'S SETTLEMENT OFFER, TRIAL STARTS MONDAY ON BOGUS "WIRETAP" CHARGEGainesville, FL – Former University of Florida instructor Charlie Grapski

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1155137342033682142006-08-09T11:25:00.000-04:002006-08-09T15:33:57.773-04:00

(from a friend, who posted in the comments at Howard Empowered.)The Alachua Project site announced this morning that the depositions of City officials has begun at City Hall (their own territory) this morning and the defendants all objected to Charlie being present even though he is a key investigator in this and is a plaintiff.Charlie's banishment from the City of Alachua has cost him very much

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1153513020893900222006-07-21T16:12:00.000-04:002006-07-21T16:17:01.000-04:00

Hello friends, I have decided this morning to NOT qualify for the 2006 general election for the Florida House. This was a difficult decision - as I believe I could have won this race and played a significant role in bringing change to our political system from the level of the State of Florida. With the legal battles ongoing I have had to neglect my campaign to instead redirect efforts into

ShadowTeaTimeTim in Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219681120315503729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1153317668075297082006-07-19T09:56:00.000-04:002006-07-19T10:03:51.210-04:00

The High Springs Herald is reporting " Except for his home, Grapski now banned from Alachua ALACHUA -- State House candidate Charles Grapski went too far in his actions at a recent Alachua City Commission meeting, a judge has ruled. Grapski has been banned from the city of Alachua -- except going to and from home -- and can have no contact of any kind with city officials, some of whom

ShadowTeaTimeTim in Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219681120315503729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1152582042242555752006-07-10T21:23:00.000-04:002006-07-10T23:30:43.450-04:00

Let me just start this afternoon or this evening by answering the question that almost every candidate gets asked by almost every person first. And that is “Why are you running for office?” And the answer I give is actually quite simple: We are in trouble. This nation, this state, this county, this community is in real trouble.I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is a war going on. And I don

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1152476122274080722006-07-09T16:08:00.000-04:002006-07-09T16:15:22.286-04:00

Lilliputian officials are protecting the status quoJuly 07. 2006 6:01AMWhere's the outrage when we as citizens are not only discouraged, but prohibited from being active in our government? Where's the outrage when people who represent us are made to pay the price personally and financially?Where is the outrage when right in our own back yard such abusive challenges are occurring? Eileen Roy, an

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1152221471260330872006-07-06T17:27:00.000-04:002006-07-09T16:27:39.213-04:00

Thu Jul 06, 2006Grapski was Right - City Run by City Manager, Commissioners Mere Rubber StampsThe problem is, the City's Mayor is ignorant of the rules and the law, and the City's Manager has never had any formal training for his "profession." Meanwhile, the City's other elected Commissoners praise the "efficiency" of a government in which their presence is rendered unnecessary - as it is run by

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1152217715193632122006-07-06T16:23:00.000-04:002006-07-06T16:28:35.210-04:00

The High Springs Herald is OUT. And in an unusual turn of events - is ONLINE the very same day. And the front page is LOADED with important information.The stories are as follows - and can be found at http://www.highspringsherald.com - these are a MUST read:Commisioners gave themselves pay raise without allowing residents to commentThis details the legal and parliamentary procedure battle that I

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1152209540965143662006-07-06T14:06:00.000-04:002006-07-06T14:12:21.130-04:00

Checking in.GREAT series of stories in Today's High Spring's Herald.They won't be online till tomorrow. But when I get a copy - I'll see what I can do to give you an update.Here is a teaser:I was "thrown out" (and threatened to be re-arrested) of the City of Alachua's Commission meeting - and subsequently "outlawed" (I really can say that I am a 21st century outlaw now - in the real sense of the

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151981142429330052006-07-03T22:43:00.000-04:002006-07-03T22:45:42.436-04:00

I just got an update from the Alachua City Commission meeting. (I am banned from the city you know - gotta protect them from me!).All hell nearly broke loose tonight.It started as the City placed on the consent agenda an item for the taxpayers of FLORIDA to pay $1 million to pave a driveway for the WalMart distribution center (and by the way - it goes the LONG way - so there are 2000 other acres

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151878918671733242006-07-02T17:04:00.000-04:002006-07-02T22:00:19.523-04:00

Here is an editorial from yesterday's Gainesville Sun:Looks like a witch huntJuly 01. 2006 6:01AMI am very concerned at what I see going on with regards to certain officials of the City of Alachua, the State Attorney's office, and Charlie Grapski. I wonder why taxpayers' money is being spent to go after a man who is exercising his rights - our rights - to see what our government is doing.The

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151785669044407282006-07-01T16:16:00.000-04:002006-07-01T23:20:26.100-04:00

Watson Switches PartiesCity Manager Clovis Watson Jr. switched political parties Friday, becoming a Republican.Just can't stand any more of the loony left.Meanwhile,"Alachua Wal-Mart may be delayed by county"same paper, same day.Common Dreams had this Thursday.The Dirty SouthDown in Florida, where the next president will probably be selected, politics are as loose and corrupt as everby Andrew

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151726504573322472006-06-30T20:15:00.000-04:002006-07-01T15:24:10.000-04:00

Charlie Grapski can go home but that's all he can do in the city of Alachua, a judge decided Thursday.Circuit Judge Peter K. Sieg barred Grapski from the city's borders - other than going home - during a court hearing over whether the Florida House candidate violated conditions set after he was released on his own recognizance following a May arrest for unlawful interception of oral

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151722065856384592006-06-29T18:20:00.000-04:002006-07-01T12:08:51.750-04:00

Here is what happened. The State (with Alachua-resident in tow - who is the State Attorney's Public Information Officer - but happens to be right smack dab in the middle of EVERYTHING to do with this case, in my view, highly inappropriately) sought the judge to rescind my ROR (release on my own recognisance) for the crime of felony wiretapping for which I was arrested but have to YET be charged

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151723727994654442006-06-27T22:20:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:18:12.936-04:00

06.26.06 - 12:21 pmJust an alert - it turns out that the City's set up of having me thrown out of the meeting - was used to try and have me thrown back in jail.The State Attorney - who HAS evidence in his possession that the original arrest made against me was based on perjured statements by the police commissioner - and has had an eyewitness state that he lied - and thus knows that I did not

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151813802453055792006-06-22T21:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T00:53:48.946-04:00

Morning UpdateGotta run to court on the election case. But if you saw it - the Republicans have orchestrated the airing of the video of my being ejected (unlawfully) from the City commission meeting.What they fail to mention is how they had set that up.And what they fail to mention is what I was doing and why.The City must follow Florida’s Open Government law - 286.011 florida statutes.But the

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151866807570775432006-06-20T21:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T15:12:08.223-04:00

VERBATIM CONVERSATION BETWEEN CLOVIS WATSON AND CHARLIE GRAPSKI APRIL 28th 2006CW: OK, now, with all due respect I know it look like I’m being recorded, which I don’t mind if I’m being recorded.CG: I just left it on since we … [interrupted][Note the recorder was on continuously from the beginning of the meeting with Alan Henderson, when Grapski, holding the recorder in plain sight, explicitly

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151873377571251132006-06-20T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T17:00:29.066-04:00

Posted at Howard Empowered People on the evening of June 19.If anyone is interested in updates on Charlie and Alachua there is an interesting story on the Alachua Project Blog about the sworn statements made to arrest Charlie and then at the end there is a TRANSCRIPT of part of the actual conversation they had!And Charlie was almost arrested at City Hall tonight. The Police Chief grabbed him and

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151880384603294122006-06-16T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T18:46:24.616-04:00

News Flash: Alachua County, FloridaAt around 1 pm EST today an amended complaint was filed at the Alachua County Courthouse in the lawsuit contesting the April 11th election in the City of Alachua.A copy of the amended lawsuit is available at the Alachua Project website.The lawsuit, brought by Charlie Grapski, State House Candidate (running in the Democratic primary), and other concerned citizens

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151881286325934142006-06-15T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T19:01:26.326-04:00

Hi everyone,Just checking in (still free!) - but things are really starting to heat up in Alachua.The Republican Executive Committee has been engaged in (its a national strategy) trying to bring the African American community into their fold. This is a key reason for the Gay Marriage issue by the way. And also for their Wal-Mart support (low wage jobs).The other night I was informed that the

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151881618284169142006-06-13T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T19:09:44.210-04:00

Putting up a new post to draw people’s attention to the following long-awaited addition to the Grapski Defense web site:SNAIL MAIL CONTRIBUTIONSThose interested in contributing via regular mail you can send a check to the following address. The Open Records Project is helping with the coordination of the Defense Fund and related efforts.The Open Records ProjectP.O. Box 611Alachua, FL 32615Attn:

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151883090534888832006-06-12T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-02T20:29:05.876-04:00

This is what bloggers can do when we work together. In response to the post Helping Charlie: this story needs "legs"!, Rayne commented that a major media outlet was interested in Charlie’s story, and that she had given them my e-mail address. Later that day, I received an e-mail from a reporter at Raw Story, and I gave her Charlie’s address and the latest update on his situation.Today, there is

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151769752853511452006-06-11T23:00:00.000-04:002006-07-01T12:02:32.863-04:00

Originally posted in the comments at Blog for AmericaWe still need to raise another $2,500 minimum by tomorrow AM to pay for the current legal expenses to date.We raised about that much between Friday evening and Saturday morning. I have to give the defense lawyers another $5,000 Monday morning before they will take any further actions - to cover existing expenses.As for those who come here

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151770682932818632006-06-10T09:00:00.000-04:002006-07-01T12:21:32.946-04:00

Good morning!Another year older - and still “out” of the you know what LOLI just want to say again - thanks to all for your efforts so far - your support for this cause, and for me personally, mean more than you can imagine.Its a very stressful and trying time - and I just have to look at it from the perspective that it is better than if it were happening to an average citizen (one who was not

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151774839202233732006-06-08T18:30:00.001-04:002006-07-01T17:30:54.816-04:00

Thanks for all who have come to the Defense Fund and contributed. I haven’t had a chance yet - but I will personally email a thanks to each of you. We still have a long way to go to reach the necessary $10,000 (not fun - I hate raising money) so we need to get the word out as widely as possible to anyone interested in democracy and elections in America.On another related point - this story has

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151776513978284892006-05-31T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-01T13:55:13.986-04:00

From Renee: I have crossposted this at Daily Kos, My Left Wing, and Booman Tribune. Recommendations would be appreciated. Also, Charlie asks that we share this story, so please post the link anywhere it would be of interest to people.There is a significant new development in the Alachua saga. For years there have been anonymous attack blogs spreading rumors about those addressing corruption in

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151791246513526762006-05-29T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-01T18:00:46.520-04:00

I covered Alachua politics for several years as a journalist. I wrote the novel Tortoise Stew as a way to deal with the drama and traumas of covering the official business of this city. Charlie writes in one of his messages that he is “exhausted” by all that has been happening. That struck a nerve with me because I too felt exhausted every time I had to fight a battle for public records or play

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151792743154941292006-05-19T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-01T23:36:20.156-04:00

The High Springs Herald has an update on the goings on in Alachua - and the refusal to provide access to public records in the investigation of the election.With county official now involved, situation heats up in city of AlachuaBy Ronald Dupont Jr.Herald EditorThere is also an editorial on this there too: Stop the games; show Grapski the documents.You can also check the Free Alachua blog for

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151793390597479922006-05-17T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-01T18:36:30.603-04:00

17th May 2006Here’s the latest message from Charlie Grapski:Hi all,I figured I would check in and give an update with the endeavors down here in Florida. The good news is that I am not in jail - although this effort to address outright corruption in the government of the City of Alachua has forced me to focus nearly exclusively on this battle while at the same time campaigning for office. But

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151794048543683582006-05-06T18:30:00.000-04:002006-07-01T23:07:22.870-04:00

Charlie Grapski founded the online Democracy University, and was a presenter at DemocracyFest I and II. He is currently running for the State House of Representatives in Florida.For background on this story, see the Wednesday, May 3 post at Howard-Empowered People, Charlie Grapski Arrested for Recording Meeting and the editorial ‘Alachua Gotcha’ in the May 3 edition of the Gainesville Sun. Also,

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151884403598624622006-03-22T18:30:00.000-05:002006-07-02T19:53:23.600-04:00

Hey everyone,Just stopping bye to say Hi - and give an update - busy, busy, busy lately (which is why I have been so “quiet” *grin*.The campaign is finally OFFICIAL and just now underway. We began collecting petitions to be on the ballot last night. We are now beginning our fundraising drive - and we will have a website up shortly. I certainly hope everyone will stop by and log in … I hope that

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30504602.post-1151885007003203702006-03-19T18:30:00.000-05:002006-07-02T20:03:27.006-04:00

You guys may know the story about the American Revolutionary Army under Washington.Early on - things were looking bleak - as Washington camped his troops at Valley Forge. The well-meaning, but ill-equipped army (the real problem however was poorly trained army - rather than just the equipment … which was exagerated a bit by Washington in an effort to get more support from Congress). They were

Catreonanoreply@blogger.com0