Margate CRA Power Struggle (Drama Rating: 8.5):
A nasty public feud in Margate, Florida underscores how governance turmoil can rattle economic development. City commissioners ousted Tommy Ruzzano as chair of Margate’s Community Redevelopment Agency after seven years at the helm.
The ouster came amid allegations that Ruzzano used the CRA’s home improvement grants to drum up business for his own construction company – a clear conflict that one official called “inappropriate”.
This kind of ethical firestorm earns a high drama rating. It shakes investor confidence and distracts the CRA from its mission of reviving the local economy.
On the upside, Margate’s swift vote to replace Ruzzano shows a house-cleaning that could restore credibility. Still, such public dysfunction – with contentious meetings and absent commissioners–signals to businesses that local leadership may be unstable. Economic growth loves stability, and Margate’s saga warns that backroom antics can spill into real development costs. (Jan 30, 2025)
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