Volume 4 Number 25
June 22, 2007

Dear Floridian,

The death of nine Charleston, S.C., firefighters on Monday while battling a furniture store fire is the biggest loss of U.S. firefighter lives since Sept. 11, 2001.

This tragedy has deeply affected firefighters and their families throughout the nation.

Certainly all of us in the fire services will be studying the events in Charleston to learn how to improve firefighter safety. One thing we do know is that sprinklers could have made a difference. The Charleston furniture store did not have sprinklers.

Coincidentally, Ormond Beach Fire Chief Barry Baker announced on Thursday a similar fire occurred in Ormond Beach, but with a much different outcome. Ormond Beach firefighters on Wednesday night responded to a fire at a furniture store, but this store had sprinklers.

If you own property, I urge you to consider installing sprinklers if you do not have them. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sprinklers reduce fatalities and property loss by at least half. Sprinklers could save your life or your family’s life or the lives of your employees and customers, and could save your business or help you get back in business faster after a fire. Your security and that of others makes it worth looking into.
 

Sincerely,

Alex Sink

 CFO SINK ANNOUNCES FIRST MEETING OF
FINANCIAL LITERACY COUNCIL IN TALLAHASSEE ON MONDAY, JUNE 25

In an ongoing effort to increase financial literacy and help Floridians make better financial decisions, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced that the Financial Literacy Council will convene its first meeting next week in Tallahassee. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Monday, June 25, 2007, at the Capitol Complex, House Office Building, Room 306.

The following nine individuals are members of the state’s Financial Literacy Council: CONTINUED

SUNCOAST TIGER BAY HOSTS CFO

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink visited the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club in St. Petersburg on June 22 as their guest speaker. She spoke about her role as chief financial officer, being the top fiscal watchdog and a consumer advocate. 

The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club is a non-partisan political club that fosters a better understanding of public issues. Members and guests meet over lunch and listen to an invited public figure. Afterwards, they spend time peppering the speaker with questions.

SUCCESSFUL MEETING HELD BY TASK FORCE ON CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CLAIMS HANDLING AND RESOLUTION

The legislatively-created Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution met on June 19, 2007, in Ft. Lauderdale with a responsive audience and an effective discussion of the issues.

Consumers who have homeowner policies with Citizens or who have open claims from the 2004/2005 hurricane seasons attended the public hearings and provided public testimony. The task force heard comments from 26 citizens on a variety of specific issues.

Citizens representatives were available to facilitate claims and answer concerns of policyholders. Those with open claims with Citizens are encouraged to contact Citizens for resolution of the issues. CONTINUED



 
STATE FIRE MARSHAL SINK SUPPORTS 2007 INTERNATIONAL FIRE AND EMS SAFETY STAND DOWN

Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink is calling for Florida's firefighters to join fellow responders around the nation in a "stand down" this week and suspend all non-emergency activity to focus on safety during the 2007 International Fire and EMS Safety Stand Down, being held this week through Saturday, June 23, 2007.

Florida is at the forefront of firefighter safety as one of the only states to mandate a Firefighter Occupational Safety and Health program by law. In 2006, 105 U.S. firefighters died in the line of duty; however, Florida was fortunate that no firefighters or EMS personnel died in the line of duty last year. So far this year, 53 U.S. firefighter lives have been lost, including one in Florida and nine who died on Monday while battling a fire at a furniture store in Charleston, S.C.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of those fallen firefighters,” said CFO Sink. “Emergency responders know there is great risk in what they do, yet their courage and commitment to serve their fellow citizens is strong. I can think of no finer way to honor their lives than to learn from their deaths how to make the job safer for those responders who will follow in their footsteps.” CONTINUED
 

PUBLIC  AUCTION OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY TO BE HELD IN ORLANDO IN AUGUST

Alex Sink, Florida’s chief financial officer, is urging treasure hunters to join the bidding for unclaimed jewelry, coins, antiques and collectibles at a public auction on Saturday, August 4, in Orlando. The auction offers items for bid to the public. The net proceeds of the auction are deposited into the State School Trust Fund for the benefit of Florida’s public schools. Since the inception of the Unclaimed Property Program, the state’s public schools have benefited from more than $1.5 billion in unclaimed property proceeds.

The items offered for sale at the auction are unclaimed contents from abandoned bank safe deposit boxes that have been turned over to the Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Unclaimed Property, after being unclaimed for at least three years. The Bureau makes an effort to find owners or heirs and last year returned more than $100 million in cash and property to rightful owners.  In addition, the proceeds from items sold at the auction are always available to the owners or heirs to claim.

The auction will be held on August 3 & 4 in Orlando at The Florida Hotel and Conference Center at the Florida Mall. CONTINUED

 

 

Agents’ Licenses suspended for improper selling of DISCOUNT HOME HEALTH care service plan 

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced that the licenses of two Sarasota insurance agents have been suspended for making “false and worthless promises” to more than 40 elderly Floridians who thought they were buying a home health care services plan but paid nearly $200,000 for access to providers and never received any services.  One of the victims was a 96-year-old blind woman. 

Michael D. Carll, 49, and James W. Crain, Jr., 41, both of International Life and Health in Sarasota, had their licenses and eligibility for licensure as insurance agents in the state of Florida suspended for a period of 24 months. The two also sold insurance through several other Florida corporations, all of which were located at 2477 Stickney Point Road, Suite 315B in Sarasota.  They cannot apply for reinstatement of their licenses even after the suspension period until full restitution has been made. 

“It is cruel to sell senior citizens on expensive false promises that will not provide the services they need,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the department.  “If they fail to pay back every penny, they will never get their licenses back.”  CONTINUED

 

CFO SINK REVOKES LICENSE OF TAMPA BAY AGENT FOR DECEPTION IN SALE OF ANNUITIES

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has issued an order revoking the license of a Tampa Bay-area insurance agent for exploiting seniors in the sale of annuities.

Sharon Razdar, 49, was accused of misleading and deceptive practices in the sale of annuities. She and her husband Bijan Razdar owned and operated American Independent Financial Services, located at 10633 U.S. Highway 19 in Port Richey. An investigation by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) determined the Razdars targeted elderly Florida consumers through radio advertisements and seminars, with the goal of soliciting seniors to purchase annuity contracts that would earn the couple high-dollar commissions. Bijan Razdar’s license was revoked last year.

“It is reprehensible that anyone would take advantage of any Floridian, most especially a senior citizen who is looking for help with investing hard-earned money,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the DFS. “I am relieved that these two are out of the insurance business in Florida, and I commend everyone in the department who helped make this happen.” CONTINUED