City activists asked me what businesses I wanted to see downtown. I would like to see a comic book store, an electronics store, and a Radio Shack.

A new Hollywood City Manager, Douglas Stewart has been hired. According to the Sun-Sentinel the interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark "took over, leading the city through ... reducing employee salaries and benefits, and raising taxes." The hatchet man. Since she, and the City, knew that she wasn't seeking the position she was able to be a tough negotiator. $38 Million is a lot to cut.

My question: "...and raising taxes." Does the City Manager, an unelected official, raise taxes? Or does the City Council vote for the raise, and the City Manager implements the will of the elected officials?

Visited the Broward County Voting Department today. 16,000 voter records are soon to be mine. $14. Names, addresses and voting records. In the old days, 8 years ago, a candidate would have of walk to visit each one. Can social media save the day? 16,000 potential friends.

Finished listening to first 4-hour city hall meeting. My solution to the technically obfuscated, beware-the-leopard'ed, Real-Networked, PC/IE-only town hall archives. I recorded the meeting steams down to native Real "rm" format. I used Wondershare to convert the rm files to mpeg files. I opened the mpeg files in QuickTime, and exported the audio-only, which QT saves as "m4a" files. Using the shareware Audacity, I amplified the dynamic range of the too-quiet audio recording, and then saved the new files as Mp3. Loaded in iTunes, I now listen to them as I commute.

Since information wants to be free, I uploaded the audio file, and the video recording to my website. And for the final touch converted the PDF of the minutes for the meeting to HTML.

My secondary goal: When anyone types something wonky about City hall, I want my site google-rank. I may not outrank hollywoodfl.org, but I'll take the #2 spot.

My Planks. For the record, when someone in the future asks when I formed them:

For the residents of District 1, I promise to promote our district as the premier living and recreation choice for South Florida.

For the Beach & Circle Business Community, I promise to keep taxes and fees low, and ensure that no one business is favored over another. From the smallest ice cream store to the largest entertainment complex, the business environment will the a level playing field for all.

For the city, I promise to increase jobs. I will promote Hollywood as the Silicon Beach of Florida. I will introduce Hollywood to High Technology businesses and universities as the premier location to set up shop.

When I am elected Hollywood City Commissioner, District 1, I will start a conference, modeled after the early T.E.D. conferences with the end goal of sparking interest in Hollywood as the Silicon Beach of Florida (SiliconBeachFL.com). Armed with only my associates on LinkedIn, I have enough bodies to fulfill the T(echnology) and D(esign) part of a proto-TED. Maybe my friend Antonio Monty Shelton (Monty$$) can help me round out the E(ntertainment). (My linkedIn is http://www.linkedin.com/in/ricksterv - what's yours?)

20,000 friends. Help me get them to get elected! Please send out my link to everyone.

Wonks say that a candidate should focus on one platform. I've chosen "jobs". And my last post for Silicon Beach FL, is my position and solution. Hollywood is perfect for that title. 1) The downtown still has the bohemian atmosphere of Santa Cruz or Boulder. 2) A major airport is a 10 minute cab ride away. 3) The city is close to universities from FIU to UM to Full Sail. Most long-term Hollywooders are tightly focused on increasing Tourism, setting the city up in competition with every other city in South Florida. I think Hollywood could become the Tech-central of Florida - if city leaders focused on it.

I just finished the last page of the Old Testament. "Remember the laws of Moses my servant." 1,164 pages. Mostly, it's about war. And judgement. Except the Song of Songs, which is like the romantic interlude halfway through an action flick.

"The plans were on display, down in the cellar, with no lights, and no stairs... In the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying Beware of the Leopard."
- Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy

This is what I found when I tried to view previous City Council meetings - "the videos are all online." In a nested menu. In a PDF File, with an embedded link that only works in Windows, IE-only naturally. Which opens RealPlayer (!!) to a tiny streaming window.

The question: There is a 10 block area of crime off Federal Highway. How would you increase security of the area? (With no additional police.) My answer: Post 20 or 30 picocells with cameras on lamp posts and local businesses from which to draw power. Stream the continuous video to a website that is open to all. Add a blog or comment field to the site for feedback and fingering. My question: should the cameras be covert, or overt with big friendly signs?

Laura and I just attended a "Taking Back the Streets" anti-crime march. The Chief of Police, the Mayor, and 10 beat police marched with about 100 people. We had a good conversation with the Mayor, Peter Bober. He gave me some great tips. "How do you close a $38 million shortfall in the budget?" I better have an answer for that question.

Laura Dawn joined me for the civic meeting. She's definitely the better 1/2 and brought light and levity along for the ride.

Why am I running for City Commissioner, District 1?

1. Culture jam City Hall
I care enough about local issues to make the attempt.

2. Grok Social Media
Gaining total knowledge over a topic requires personal and passionate dedication.

3. Ego Surfing
I want my name to be #1 on Google. #2 still sucks.

What's great about America? It's free to register to run for any office. The hurdles to Democracy are very low. Two pieces of paper, and you're in.

Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, and I.
http://www.hollywoodfl.org/election/2012/2012list_candidates.htm