Talking With . . . express authority executive director Mike Sn...

Mike Snyder is executive director of the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority.

[Jenny]

I cannot believe that people are not boycotting this lousey road which is run by crooked people.

[StopBuying]

At the very least, this man should have been fired. Lawson Lamar and Rich Crotty are in on this crooked cabal or he would be the subject of an investigation and possible prosecution. I have greatly reduced my use of the toll system but not completely eliminated it. I only use it when absolutely necessary. The first thing that should be done after this man is gone is to move everyone out of that fancy office with its own exit and entrance to the 408 and move them to an empty building downtown. Then rent that office out. I would do that even if it cost money just so that lousy bunch could not reap the rewards of its own arrogance.

[Zippy]

No mention of his $200+ thousand dollar a year salary. More great reporting from the Saltinel!

Bigger government and higher fees will solve all your problems!

[Littletommy]

What the H is "couch it". He used the term three times in this interview. Does he mean "guess"? I'm "guessing" that's what it means since they seem to "guess" everything at this corrupt organization!

I "guess" this dimwit should have been "couched" a long time ago!

[Uncle Ruckus]

Why does he keep saying he has to couch it? What does that mean?

[Bud]

The Expressway Authority has NEVER learned that the only thing they ever had going for them are the people that use the system so what do they do-------raise tolls!!! That was totally unnecessary and done in a "panic" mode. Bottom line is without the support of the people that use the system they couldn't afford to build a path to an outdoor outhouse!!!

[Redogg]

Snyder has proven himself inept, yet he continues to keep his job. Good thing so that he can use his huge salary to pay his $30 increase in tolls.

[o-town native]

"School is out and so-forth" What an idiot...Myopic and Out of touch; maybe up Crotty's rear. Since when does any student or parent driving a student use the X-way. This just proves this mans incompetence and stupidity...Exuses to pay those risky bonds...

Still tryingto pull the wool over OC residents...

ALAN GRAYSON RULES!
overturn toll tax hike...

Where's loud mouth Doug Guetzloe. Why isn't he trying to "Axe this TAX" This town is ridiculous...

[Lyn]

It just proves they are a bunch of idiot. Raising the tolls now was the worst thing they could have done with the current economic situation in FL. I know I can no longer afford to take the toll roads to work. As far as I am concerned if brains were gunpowder he couldn't blow his own nose. As for crotty - I wouldn't cross the street to watch him burn if he was on fire.

[The Problem Is]

How does this stiff keep his job?

[mnewcomb]

$30/month is nothing when this guy makes $250k/year. He Mike, how does that $30/month hurt someone making only $20k+/year?

[Corruption]

Florida is loaded with crooked cops and politicians. People, in Orange County have been getting robbed for over 35 years by crooked politicians. Folks go look up the sale of the Orlando Navy Base to the wealthy Jewish Pritzker Family. See how much they bought the Base for and how much they have made on Baldwin Park. So you wonder why your taxes nare so high? Call Bill McCollum and ask him what happen. He was involved with the closing of the Orlando navy Base. America is imploding!

[Wanto To Be Senator]

THE ISSUE: State ethics panel sides with Crist. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board June 28, 2009
The Florida Ethics Commission declined to look into allegations regarding the governor's use of private jets of wealthy businessmen. Gov. Charlie Crist said he had paid for those flights he considered personal, and in the minds of the commissioners, that was good enough.

With little fanfare, and a waste of state resources to convene the meeting, the ethics commission dismissed a complaint from a Marion County resident after the issue had been raised in the Sun Sentinel and other newspapers. The panel concluded it didn't have the authority to "audit a situation just to examine innuendo or speculation."

In March, a Sun Sentinel examination of the governor's schedule and flight itinerary raised questions of impropriety over the chief executive's choice of flights. Crist has two state planes — costing taxpayers roughly $3.5 million annually — available to him for public business. For political and private matters, the governor's left with either commercial or private flights. It apparently wasn't a tough choice.

Crist routinely uses private jets, whether it's a flight back to the capital from a Super Bowl in Tampa, a hop over to a Sheryl Crow concert in Gainesville or a golf tournament hosted by Donald Trump in Palm Beach. The governor insists he paid for the trips. He also declines to produce any receipts or other details of the payments.
"Legal insufficiency" is the legalese used to justify dismissing the complaint, but the panel's findings contain the following words that prove far more telling: "No factual investigation preceded the review, and therefore the Commission's conclusions do not reflect the accuracy of the allegations of the complaint."

Bad enough the state has a chief executive who won't offer any rational explanations after promising to preside over an open administration. Now Floridians must meet a proof-beyond-a-shadow-of-a-dou bt standard before the commission will conduct a valid inquiry.

If that's the type of evaluations Florida can expect from its ethics commission, maybe state lawmakers should either find a way to give the commission more authority to investigate complaints, or consider doing away with the panel altogether.

BOTTOM LINE: Decision should prompt the panel's "sunset review."