Morse, Moffitt, Ritchie and Villages Bashing
 

I opted to give this topic a separate thread because it suggests a broader perspective then current threads concerning the latest Orlando Sentinel and Lauren Ritchie contrived assault on The Villages. While existing thread topics are included I am attempting to define a bigger picture. Apologies to similar thread starters....no hijack intended. Administrators feel free to adjust if you disagree.

Moffitt Center, Relay for Life and the Morse family.

Today's Village Sun pretty much spells out what prompted the Relay for Life decision that Lauren Ritchie and the Orlando Sentinel manufactured into a sinister, evil plot by the Morse family. In simple terms, a disproportionate share of the funds raised were going outside the Villages. The developer exercised leverage to insure a larger share went to medical care for Villagers. To this end, a new charity called Mission for Moffitt will insure that goal. Editorial articles by the founder of Relay for Life, Sonny Resmondo and Evan Richards should expose Ms. Ritchie's pattern of Villages bashing. Speaking of which.....I wonder how Lauren and the Orlando paper will spin this into another assault on Villagers and the Morse family?

Further, it occurred to the me that Ritchie and the critics are selectively painting the developers role with Moffitt and the physical plant in a fashion that perpetuates their bias. It appears to me that the Morse family is contributing the land and construction. The Orlando paper is selectively vague on that point while stressing largely by innuendo, potential lease revenues as a diabolical plot to generate contributions. In any case, that is between Moffitt and the developer. I haven't seen anywhere where the Morse family is the recipient of contributions to the Moffitt Center. Further, no one is being forced to contribute so why are some trying to demonize and intimidate vicariously, those who contribute. It's not your money. I choose to contribute and respect your right not to. Please take care to do no harm to honest fund raising that can help my family, friends and neighbors benefit from what Moffitt and Boissoneault offer.

Litany of Bashing the Villages

In fairness to Ms. Ritchie, she has emphatically disclosed that she is not a reporter. She is a columnist whose work product does not have to be supported by fact or empirical research. Accordingly, in my opinion, she has in the past used her pen to incite angst and distress for many Villagers. Relevant excerpts from my previous posts are included below.

In the August 29 Orlando Sentinel, Ritchie further tweaks Villagers with her recent statement, "Ritchie: It's got to be unsettling and frightening to wonder what's in store. Not to mention expensive. The district already has spent more than $209,000 of residents' money so far, nearly all on high-powered lawyers on both coasts."

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

The most frightening and unsettling circumstance is Lauren Ritchie's selectively alarming language created to further distress those who view them. In my opinion and notwithstanding opinions to the contrary, it is desperate, insidiously sinister and ethically challenged. Ask yourself, do you get the impression Ritchie is rooting for the IRS and would love to be able to say to Villagers....I told you so? .........and that is why balance, or lack thereof is significant.

She lost all credibility with many when in an early article she, with cavalier arrogance and presumptuousness stated, "And it is time for homeowners to worry less about their tee time and marvelous activities and more about their future property values and financial liability."

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

What is her purpose in admonishing Villagers to worry about their "property values and financial liability"?

That calculated statement created angst with many Villagers and potential Villagers. It did what Laura Ritchie wanted.

Here's another Ritchie hatchet headline on the Villages. We Villagers are such a greedy lot....according to our friend Lauren.

Greedy Villages fires first salvo in water war COMMENTARY - LakefrontMarch 11, 2007|By Lauren Ritchie, Sentinel Columnist

Starting to see a pattern?

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...water-villages

Has the columnist reported on the positive developments that have blossomed and benefited the people of Sumter, Lake and Marion counties as a direct result of the growth of the Villages?

The hospital and copious medical services and resources that came with development would not exist for so many area residents that have availed themselves of its services and care.

The tax revenues from new Village property owners that have improved police, fire, emergency medical, public safety resources, roadways and general municipal service would not exist.

Multiple safe, planned, quality entertainment and shopping venues that are enjoyed by thousands of non-Villagers would be on some one's drawing board.

Not once, to the best of my knowledge, has Lauren Ritchie written about the the evil developer's role in bringing the Charter Schools to the region. Thousands of children benefit from first class facilities and quality educational processes now in place. Not once has Ms. Ritchie written about the scores of Villagers, many with professional education backgrounds, who volunteer and work with kids from the area....who generously donate and raise funds for educational programs. That, from my viewpoint would be a benefit to the area's educational services that would not exist without the development of the Villages....and the "evil" developer's vision.

Has anyone seen an article from Ms. Ritchie about the economic and employment opportunities that result directly from the development of The Villages. Now that would be an interesting series of articles comparing the region's economy and job growth before and after development. It would probably sell papers.....ahhhh.....but wait. It might put the evil developer in a positive light and that would be inconsistent with Ms. Ritchie and the agenda of an assortment of Village bashers. Further, it would require a real journalistic effort accompanied by empirical research and Ms. Ritchie has often reminded us that she is a columnist....not a journalist. She is unencumbered by the journalistic concepts of objectivity and balance. From a personal perspective, I am not a shill for the developer. On balance, I believe he has done more good than bad and I believe that is a net positive.

Notwithstanding those that think her "scare" commentary is beneficial in some abstract way, I believe the dearth of real, in depth reporting on this issue speaks louder than her contrived assaults on the developer and the vicarious, intended or unintended distress it may contribute to Villagers of good will.

For balance, I guess if I was born and raised here, I may have some resentment about what progress has taken away. A quiet, idyllic countryside dotted with watermelon patches, horse farms, cattle grazing peacefully and fishing holes that never heard the whine of an outboard motor. A lifestyle that insulates you from car, truck and traffic noises. A lifestyle that keeps you from the pollution of progress. Damn Walt Disney and Gary Morse.

Moffitt Center Controversy

I have had suspicions that the biased reporting on the Moffitt/ Robert Boissoneault Oncology Center controversy has been used as a circulation booster and/or part of a continuing pattern of contemporary Florida style yellow journalism directed at the The Villages and the developer.

I have heard nothing but positive accolades about the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Center and the Moffitt Cancer Center. I recently lost a family member to this insidious disease and do not understand why having both centers would be anything but positive for Villagers who need treatment options.

Wouldn't the competition offer patients more options?

Wouldn't two outstanding centers facilitate prompter treatment by virtue of more beds or appointment opportunities?

As we grow as a community, would we want to block Sloan-Kettering from opening here and competing with services?

I'm sure you can add to the list.

It's a wonderful country that gives us freedom of the press. It's equally wonderful that you can take exception to the commentary that you disagree with. If you disagree with my assessments, I would welcome divergent opinions.

For the record.....I have no connection to the developer, the Morse family or any of its varied interests. I am a 5 year Villages resident who has never met anyone in the Morse family. On occasion, I have publicly disagreed and questioned some of the developers decisions.

Very convenient timing for such a long post. Talk about a media blitz!

cabo35;

Extremely well written thread!! You make many excellent points and I hope this will start people thinking about the misconceptions and innuendos that are so blithely being bandied about. I'm not asking anyone to agree with your opinion or mine. Just give it all a thought.

Thank you for your most thoughtful post.

Morse,Moffitt,Ritchie and Village Bashing
 

Cabo35

Very well written and agree with your comments. You pointed out many of life's truths.

No good deed goes unpunished.
OPM (people always are very generous and envious with other peoples money).
Competition and more choices are always better for the people.
We are free to support any charity we like.

I believe someone went to the Orlando Sentinel to squeeze the Morse's and I think they let them do it. Private business people do not roll easily with threats.

I am glad to see other people feel like I do on this subject.

I just went through today's Sun & can't find the article that you speak of.You sure it's in today's Sun? 2-10 11

Interesting...I missed the article also. What date and page please.
And Morse is building the building with his own funds and financing it and leasing it to Moffit....typical business transaction.

Both articles appear on today's Daily Sun, February 10, Thursday, page C8, Opinion page.

FOUNDER OF VILLAGES RELAY FOR LIFE SETS RECORD STRAIGHT

THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE, VILLAGERS ARE POSITIVE

Go Red Sox. My wife is a die hard Yankee. Makes for an interesting household especially at playoff time.

I haven't seen an investigative report from a real reporter and only suggest what appears to be the deal based on limited input to date. I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary. I doubt the contract between Morse and Moffitt will ever be public info.

First off let me say thank you to Cabo for alerting me to these well written letters in today's Sun.I have to say this topic has been one that has been bothering me for a while & these two letters in the opinion page are very enlightening.Sonny Resmondo's ,founder of the Relay For life in the villages,really brought to light the facts that I was unaware of .The american cancer society said no to an event organized that could have resulted in more money if it meant they had to share a single dollar with Moffit?
I now believe if "The Mission For Moffitt" organizes a fundraising activity that recognizes survivors the sting of the Relay For Life leaving the villages will be lessened.I wish the two could coexist but it sounds to me that the American Cancer Society has it's guidelines and isn't going to change.Too bad!
So Thank you Mr Resmondo,cabo & Evan Richards for putting me at ease in this debate.I now feel good about The Moffitt center & will be donating to this cause!!

I hear Sun City has homes for sale.

There is no question that Ritchie and the Sentinel have an agenda against the Morses (it's a Democratic paper; the Morses are diehard Republicans). Anything written in the Sentinel should be taken with a grain of salt and investigated.

The "articles" in today's Sun are NOT articles -- they are letters to the editor appearing as articles or columns. They should be taken with the same grain of salt that should be applied to Ms. Ritchie.

As to the Relay for Life incident, I'll happily take the word of F16 and Whalen, both of whom were at the meeting and both of whom are very active in Relay, where it was announced there would be no Relay on Villages' property. ACS has always had the policy that it will not share proceeds with another entity -- it is in their Bylaws. To make them the heavy in this patently unfair.

So, maybe someone can explain how it was that the Morses donated the land and the cost of building to the Moffitt Center on TV property and it is now a lease deal? The Sun did originally say the Morses were donating the land and building and that $6.3 million in contributions were needed for the equipment. Now, the land and building are not donated and the money has decreased because some of the equipment was found to be already available.

I still see no advantage to having a Moffitt on TV property and one in Leesburg. At best, it seems superfluous. Tell me one is a Moffitt center and one is a Shands center and it might make more sense -- there might actually be some difference in treatment plans between the two facilities, but not if both are from the same cancer center.

As to Morse bashing, I'm the first to admit I'm not a fan of the Morses and do feel they are a bit too greedy. I also believe that Harold Schwartz's vision would never have occurred without Gary Morse's hard work. I also believe that the Morses are a great business family and have created something truly remarkable here. That doesn't mean they are perfect. Nor does it mean that everything they do is altruistic or greedy. It means they fall in the middle -- some things are truly done with the best of intentions; some things are done because of personal beliefs; some things are done out of pure, unadulterated greed and the belief they can get away with it because they are the Morses. Regardless, we shouldn't blindly revile them nor praise them without getting all the facts possible. In the case of the Moffitt Center, it will be hard to get the facts -- too much of it is closed off to the public and too much is already lost in rumors, half-truths and lies. Some of us do the best we can with the information we have. We may interpret things incorrectly but we do the best we can with what we have.

I recall that the Morses were greedy bums when the Buffalo went away.

It was a huge fiasco. The mother buffalo gave birth and were acting nasty to the grandkids being held over the fence. The buffalo were occupying space as farmland to keep the taxes low. Tch. Tch.

The Morses moved the buffalo just to build houses. They should have kept the buffalo, some said it was promised to them.

We are all still here and the buffalo aren't.

The building will be built and rented to the cancer specialists and when you are diagnosed you will be grateful.

The Relay for Life will return to the high school track and life will go on.

Couldn't agree with you more, Red. You definitely have to look at the articles in the paper today with skeptical eyes - one written by a Villages exec and one by the VHA VP. Not exactly unbiased or without a conflict of interest, I'd say. And you're absolutely right, Morse is above all a business man and his job is to make money. Good for him - he's made a lot of it. Just tell me the truth when you want mine.

Redwitch......as usual, your post is articulate, enllightening and contributes to the dialog. I don't share all your views but your insight is always appreciated. I also hold Whalen and F-16 in high regard. I do not dispute the facts that are represented. However, until recently, no one from either side mentioned the controversy over where the bulk of contribution revenues were going was at the root of decision making. If in fact, apparently, the developer used his leverage to insure greater financial advantage for Villagers. If there is fault to be found, I'm not sure finger pointing helps the cause, it is my opinion the developer could have disclosed his decision making rational earlier in the process. I think many, not all, would have agreed with him. I do understand that sensitive negotiations with Moffitt may have been underway and caused certain confidential material information to be held back.

Thanks for offering constructive insights.

Have a good evening.

The Daily Sun is what it is. Why spend $.25 for something that doesn't provide you with the information that you desire?

First, thanks for the kind words. It really is nice when someone has differing opinions but doesn't feel the need to bash the other one over the head. You've shown how to do it with grace.

Second, I think it was always clear that the issue with Relay for Life was about where the contributions were going. At least that's how I understood it. I just feel (and, from what I can tell, so do Whalen and F16) that the Relay should have been held on TV grounds regardless of the fact the money would go to ACS.

Where are opinions totally diverge is whether it is a greater financial advantage to Villagers. I think it is a greater financial advantage to the developer (not Moffitt, not Villagers). It's not like we will be getting free medical services -- we or our insurance companies will pay through the nose to be treated at Moffitt. The only true benefit is getting Moffitt onto TV grounds and, to my way of thinking, that is a distinct advantage for advertising for the developer but not much of one for Villagers given that Moffitt is going to be built in Leesburg.

I am so very thankful that today's "letter-editorials" appeared.

I am so very tired of being so inundated with bashing messages, blaming everyone from Mr. Obama all the way down to Ms. Ritchie for everything.

My reasonably substantial contribution to Moffitt was made several months ago in Good Faith that there really was a viable reason for it. Today's entries validate my original faith and give me comfort.

Indeed, there may possibly be more money forthcoming!

SWR
:beer3:

Nicely stated. As usual, you are a jewel and a calming voice in the midst of storms.

That's Creely a choice. Good suggestion?

Well stated thread cabo35, thanks!

Thank you Cabo for your thoughtful and respectful comments. I have long thought to respond to some of the posts on other threads pertaining to this Moffitt debate. Being a cancer victim myself and having lost my sister, my father and now have a daughter fighting breast cancer, from an emotional standpoint I decided not to. Your post is so on the money, that I felt the need to thank you. I wish that I had the ability to articulate my feelings the way that you do.

What is it they are up to?

Pollyannas?What makes your opinion the right one?People on the street?How about forming your own opinion ?

I owe Morse and his family nothing - I just bought a house from him. He means nothing to me and I mean nothing to him, and that's just fine. I am under no false pretenses that he cares one way or the other about my welfare, nor I him. Somehow, I picture The Wizard of Oz with a little man behind the curtain, controlling the newspaper, the radio, the bank and even a TV station (shall we discuss how bad that one is?), trying desperately to control all that is seen and heard in his land. Alas and alack, someone pulls the curtain back but some don't want to look. No one should have the amount of power he has over this community. Cabo, I don't want happy news - I want the truth. You say we are not getting the truth from Lauren Ritchie because she dislikes Morse and because it was on the Opinion page, it has no basis in fact because she's not a real reporter. Well, where were the two "articles" today in the Sun? Oh yeah, on the Opinion page and written by two people who owe either a) their livelihood, or b) their position to Morse. Let's see, who has more credibility...hmmmm.

Bottom line is it's your money and if it makes you "happy" to give it away, go ahead. Personally, I ain't buying what they are selling. They are using stories of people's tragedies with cancer to their advantage, and it makes me sick to see facts twisted and blurred to their advantage.

***********************************************

WOW!!! Articulate...I couldn't have said this better!!! In reading some of the other threads...one would get the opinion there's a master conspiracy going againest us. I haven't lived here long and if I wasn't an independent thinker...I'd have wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into by moving here. People, this is a free country that has grown with the Free Enterprise System...and kudos to the Morse family for having an idea and a dream and we all get to benefit from it. I say I'm happy that I have options here if the need would arise. Enough said...let's stop and smell the roses and not be looking under every leaf for something bad to pop out at us!!

Yes! Yes! Yes!:BigApplause:

Tabloid opinion writing
 

Lauren Ritchie ought to be working for National Enquirer or one of the other checkout line tabloids.....maybe write about Elvis appearing amongst alien space creatures on the White House lawn or something "newsworthy" like that.

It is so evident she has a personal axe to grind w. the Republican developers. If anyone could name some non-republican developers/city planners who could or have built a community as beautiful, clean and fiscally solvent as TV, then maybe we could be convinced of the "conspiracy" theories and the "atrocity" of wanting to bring a nationally recognized Comprehensive Cancer to TV.

Especially in a time when healthcare OPTIONS are dwindling for many people w/o insurance or who are underinsured, it is appalling to see people here fighting against more OPTIONS close by for cancer victims. Until you've walked in those shoes, you have no idea as to why you ought to "be careful what you wish for" (no more cancer center options here....limit them to present providers/facilities).

And meanwhile, cancer incidence will increase by leaps and bounds as baby boomers age:

"To date, investing in cancer care has been a good bet. Cancer incidence has increased dramatically since 1975, and though it has leveled off recently, it is expected to rise an estimated 45% over the next 20 years and to nearly double by 2050. Experts point out that cancer risks increase with age and, with 76 million baby boomers entering their 60s and medical advances keeping people alive well into their 80s, demand is expected to skyrocket.
By 2025, 3.2 million New Yorkers will be over age 65, a 40% increase over today's 2.3 million, according to U.S. Census projections. Cancer is already the top killer of Americans under the age of 85...."

"Brooklyn's Maimonides Medical Center expects to record 50,000 cancer patient visits this year, up 66% in just two years. ..."

And then consider how many New Yorkers retire here in TV, much less all who come from the other 49 states.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...SUB/308229982#

[QUOTE=nitakk;329905]I owe Morse and his family nothing - I just bought a house from him. He means nothing to me and I mean nothing to him, and that's just fine. I am under no false pretenses that he cares one way or the other about my welfare, nor I him.

In past postings I have taken a similar position. The Villages is what it is, the Morses earn their money in a variety of ways, and we have a lovely home surrounded by many friends in a community that their creativity has made special.

Having said that, I think all news sources need to be read/listened to objectively. The Sun is a mouthpiece for the Morse family. The Sentinel is a liberal paper, and Lauren Ritchie - as Cabo pointed out in detail - has a history of bashing The Villages, the Morse family, and occasionally Villagers such as ourselves.

If you held a dance at a rec center the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, how would you feel if you were only allowed use of the center if you turned over 50% of your proceeds to a charity within TV? IMHO, that is the crux of the issue here.

Red, I agree with much of your comments - but as we baby boomers age, we should be happy to have multiple top cancer centers in the area.

I have been a proud supporter of Relay for the 2 years we have lived here and will continue to be. I will likely also contribute to Moffitt - but admit that I find their fund raising no to be my cup of tea.

People, people, people!
 

Let's not make this an us against them thing. #1 I don't think most of the people uncomfortable with this thing are really against more choices in cancer care here. #2 I think most of us understand that everything one reads is colored by the bias of the writer, whether from Orlando or from the Sun. As usual, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

I know, personally, my discomfort is due to the way this was presented at the beginning. I think we (Villages residents) deserved to know that the developer was not donating the building for the center, but was building it with the intent of leasing the spaces. I have no problem with that arrangement. If you recall, when the POA discovered a potential Moffitt/Leesburg association, they wondered out loud why it was not to be located in TV. The reason at that time was there was no spaces adequate for the center. Well, then the developer comes forward with plans to build a facility that can house the center. Why not tell it like it is? To me, they came to the rescue. Why publish the decision as a donation when it is not? If we were told the truth at the time, what would be negative? If we were told at the beginning that Moffitt and/or CFHA usually relied on donations for equipment needs, would there be as much concern? I don't understand the apparent decision to spin the story at the beginning. :shrug:

Don't shoot the messenger
 

Once again, Lauren Ritchie is attacked for reporting news that that our alleged local newspaper, The Daily Sun, either does not report, distorts, or buries on a back page. One may disagree with Ms. Ritchie's tone and/or her interpretation of the facts, but where are the factual inaccuracies?

I find the allegations that the Orlando Sentinel is doing its reporting on The Villages to increase circulation to be particularly absurd. How many additional subscribers do you really think the Sentinel has gotten as a result of Ms. Ritchie's articles? In fact, what the Orlando Sentinel is doing with its articles on The Villages is is what real newspapers are supposed to do-- report the facts of stories that are of importance to their readers.

Red:

I really appreciate your comments regarding life in TV, for me they are a breath of fresh air that is just slightly influenced by the usual right wing banter.

GG:

When is your next open house? Your friend -


Chuck

I think if you read many of the recent posts - we are not attacking the messenger, nor praising the Daily Scum - er Sun. BUT had I written any articles in my high school Journalism class, I would have failed as the teacher would refer to what she writes as "yellow journalism."

A few examples from her article... "stunning snag" "there should be ranting about the Morse family, their hired henchmen" (hired henchmen???)

PS - If her reporting is not to increase circulation, then why publish what she writes?

Just one short question. Are you sorry you bought your house?

Follow the Money
 

:BigApplause: Could not have said it better!

Cabo and Redwitch, you both are extremely bright, and wonderfully able to articulate your ideas without venom and hype. I respect you both mightily.

In fact, this is one of the best examples of a discussion that I have read on this forum.

Only a couple people vented, ranted, and failed to address the issue.

I had to be sarcastic so I got a D-.

The rest of you. I am so proud to know you.

I agree Gracie. I have been here 7 years full time and love it. It's an amazing place. That being said, our secret complicated ruler has lost some of my confidence through the years. I'm so glad he or rather they are being watched. So like Red, I love it here but not everything.

Flunking high-school journalism or getting an A+?
 

Yellow journalism? Perhaps. Inaccurate reporting? I don't think so. Do I always agree with her tone, her occasional hyperbole, and her interpretation of the facts? No.

Flunking your high-school journalism class because you wrote like Ms. Ritchie? It the assignment was to write an AP-type, just-the-facts-maam, news bulletin, clearly an F. However, if the assignment was to investigate and comment on a major news story being covered up or distorted by the local newspaper because the story involved the owner of that newspaper, I think you would have gotten an "A+" if you dug deep, exposed the truth, and came our swinging the way Ms. Ritchie does.

With respect to the PS: So every article in every newspaper is published to increase circulation and should be ignored even if factually correct? Should we get our news from TV instead?

I repeat what I think is the central question: Has anybody found any material, factual inaccuracies in any of Ms. Ritchie's articles about The Villages? The personal attacks on Ms. Ritchie and on her writing style, and one can certainly disagree with her writing style, seem to have deflected attention from this central question.

No, I am glad I bought my house - you can still enjoy living here without agreeing with the developer's way of doing things. I think it is important for people who think we are "Morse-bashing" to understand living here and agreeing with him are not related in any way. I bought this lifestyle but it doesn't mean I have to agree or support whatever he wants. I will say I have been disappointed when it fully hit me how strong the leash is and how some people seem practically devoted to him. Sorry, I just don't get it!

Fair and reasonable. I don't know that people are devoted to the Morses. A good many people respect them for all they have accomplished. No one knows what they are like personally because they don't "walk among us". and I wouldn't either if I were them, it isn't easy or possible to please everyone.

This is NOT a democracy, it is a different form of government and people need to understand that amenities and restrictions aren't going to be changed and you have no vote in it. The paper is Republican (and the majority of people living here are too)

The Morses have my respect for arranging and building this very well run place. It is impossible to please everyone all of the time, but I think most people most of the time are pleased.

If you are considering moving here it is wise to know that you can't do a lot of things, i.e. park your boat or RV in the drive or even wash your car there. You can't put up "stuff" out in your yard without approval, and you can't do this and that.

But you can still do all of the wonderful things that the Morses have thought out and arranged.

I think we can give them that.

No place is perfect. This place is close.

I would agree that most have not met any of the Morse family.
 

As far as them walking among us, most of them do. Many of them shop along side us like Mrs. Morse, Mark Morse, Jennifer Paar and many of the related that have positions of strength in the family in TV.

Like any other corporation or private business entity, their priority is, first and foremost to make a profit for their share holders or owners. By providing a reasonable, quality and competitive product, with reasonable after the sale service. Corporations or privately owned companies are not democratic entities.

Does not mean we the people need to agree with anything they decide/do in the process. And we are so fortunate to still live in a country where we can state our feelings, opinions or preferences in either agreement or disagreement.

btk