Neugent And Monique
By Rick Boettger
I am going to be filing a formal complaint with t
Already a subscriber? log in.
Read this article NOW for Free...
...and get 10 Free premium articles each month.
How? Simply sign up here (no credit card required) to get access now.
Ready for full access?
Subscribe to support Konk Life and gain access to all our local news, information, and community events (or log in).
Thanks to Konk Life, reporter Rick B. and Editor Guy D. for having the courage to write about one of the most egregious Bubba scandals in Monroe County history. Looking forward to next installment.
My compliments to Rick for having the guts to stand up against Commissioner Neugent on behalf of SUFA. If we the people don’t get some sort of handle on some of the backdoor dealings in the Keys, we may as well stop voting and submit to whatever the government throws our way which will only be in government’s (or the official with greased pockets) best interest.
I admire Rick Boettger for his willingness to stand up to a system that needs overall and corrective action. No individual is above the collective good of the citizens of Monroe County. How can we expect good intentioned citizens to be active in non-profit organizations and serve for the good of the order if they have to worry about being sued and threatened by a government entitiy.
Throughout the protracted persecution of Linda Gottwald and SUFA, Rick Boettger has been the one member of the press who has both persistently and consistently sought and reported the truth. It is encouraging to know that not everyone in the Monroe County media is under the thumb of Mr. Neugent and his crooked compatriots. Kudos, Rick and please continue your quest to expose corruption in the Keys!
This whole conspiracy and attack against SUFA has brought nothing but shame and a loss of credibility to the government of Monroe County. Linda Gottwald and SUFA ran the happiest, most efficient, most community-friendly shelter we have ever seen in Monroe County. I commend Rick for taking on the defense of SUFA, at a time when most people would bury their heads in their Netflix and let the government do what it will with their money and their future. Some day they will wake up to discover that their beloved pet has been euthanized and they have no rights, because the county animal control has been hijacked. I only wish we could bring back Linda Gottwald and her supporters, and indict Neugent forthwith for the damage he has done to SUFA, the voters, and Monroe County.
The bubba system always was alive and well in Monroe County – witness who had to get rid of lower enclosures and who didn’t – but George Neugent, along with some County puppets who seem not to be able to think rationally, if at all, took it to extremes. Destroying the reputation of a woman who ran the best animal shelter in the Keys – and it was truly a “shelter” – just to give the contract to his special interests and subsequently to steal the organization’s money was reprehensible, but to accomplish this by deliberately ignoring numerous Florida statues is, without doubt, the best example of what is so wrong with the BOCC and Monroe County Government.
Of course, it was only taxpayer money, so it was easy to spend it in his vendetta against an organization running two shelters and who’s Director only asked to be compensated in line with the FKSPCA which runs only one. But that was unrealistic it seems, and it unleashed actions which would be laughable anywhere but in the Keys where they are too common.
I really admire and appreciate a newspaper and reporter who are not afraid to tell the truth! Years ago, that was what newspapers did – they exposed corruption – read about Watergate. However, these days most newspapers publish articles so slanted that they are not worth reading. Konk Life is a breath of fresh air, sorely needed in the Keys.
Sadly, media has earned the reputation of entertaining rather than factual reporting. SUFA was a loyal supporter of animal lives, and Linda Gottwald was an outstanding director. It’s our loss that local politics and politicians destroyed her standing in the community. We are left without animal care and control in Big Pine Key other than the occasional visit from SHARK (not to criticize their work as they are also basically a no-kill shelter). I look forward to seeing Mr. Boettger’s next article as he has apparently done his homework and presented facts rather than the spurious accusations and false claims presented by an ever-deteriorating political system.
I applaud Rick and Konk Life for having the guts to report what really happened. The people of Monroe County are tired of the apparent corruption in our elected and appointed officials. Let’s get these people out of office. The problem is finding someone honest to take their place!
I look forward to the next article.