Michelle Spence-Jones is innocent, dummy!

A A A Comments (38) Thursday, Jul 29 2010

Uncle Luke, the man whose booty-shaking madness once made the U.S. Supreme Court stand up for free speech, gets as nasty as he wants to be for MiamiNew Times. This week, Luke revisits the ongoing saga of suspended Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones.

C. Stiles

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Turns out Michelle Spence-Jones was telling the truth. And the evidence clearing her of using a forged letter to obtain $50,000 in county grants was sitting inside one of 52 boxes that Assistant State Attorney Richard Scruggs reviewed before he decided to charge Spence-Jones with grand theft. This makes me believe more than ever that the suspended city commissioner was targeted for political reasons. To recap: Scruggs's star witness, Barbara Carey-Shuler, says she authorized releasing the funds to a company owned by Spence-Jones and her family. The former county commissioner previously denied doing so but changed her testimony after Spence-Jones's attorney showed her drafts of the letter. They were written by Carey-Shuler, who blames Scruggs for the foulup. She forgot writing them; then the prosecutor neglected to show her the documents during two meetings.

So how is it that a veteran prosecutor, who spent many years as an assistant U.S. attorney, overlooked the drafts? His job is to seek the truth. Instead, he presented Carey-Shuler and everyone else with only half of the facts.

Sometimes it is not about seeking the truth. Sometimes it is about destroying a person's character in the court of public opinion. Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin once told reporters who were covering his legal troubles to write about his vindication with the same intensity they had described accusations against him. When you are a public figure and you are accused of wrongdoing, the media puts the spotlight on you. They splash you on the front pages of newspapers and make you the top story on the evening newscast.

When Spence-Jones was arrested, every local news outlet crucified her. The Miami Herald ran a front-page story the day before she was formally arrested. Yet when Carey-Shuler's deposition was made public this past July 14, WPLG 10's Michael Putney and Miami New Times were the only ones to report it. The Herald waited two days to catch up, publishing a story this past July 16, on a Saturday, the day no one reads the paper. News stations such as Telemundo 51, Univision 23, WSVN 7, and NBC 6 didn't report it at all.

In my mind, there is no doubt the two criminal cases brought against Spence-Jones are bogus and meant to keep her out of office. That way, her enemies can capitalize on all the money that is pouring into the Overtown and Omni community redevelopment agencies. They are sitting on close to $60 million that is supposed to be used to redevelop those blighted neighborhoods. With Spence-Jones out of the way, her greatest enemy, Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, can now dictate what happens with that money. He is now chairman of the Omni CRA.

And don't expect Rev. Richard Dunn, the man appointed by the city commission to sit in Spence-Jones's seat, to oppose Sarnoff. If he wants to win the November election, Dunn has to be down with the commissioners who got rid of this lady. Or else they are going to get rid of him too.

Follow Luke on Twitter: @unclelukereal1.

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Tonyahilton 03/10/2011 6:21:00 AM

Sweetheart, too bad you don't know half the real story that only a person who knows her personally knows. I guess you're caught up in the hype. Damn, is she screwing you too?
ILYMED15 03/07/2011 4:51:00 PM

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, LUKE! YELLOW JOURNALISM AT ITS WORST!! THESE SO CALLED "REPORTERS" OF THE MIAMI HERALD, CHANNEL 4, JIM DEFERE, ETC., ARE JUST A BUNCH OF LIARS SEEKING HEADLINES! POOR MICHELLE. HER REPUTATION HAS BEEN RUINED BY THESE EVIL BASTARDS. SHE SHOULD RUN AGAIN. SUIT THE LIARS, INCLUNDING THE STATE ATTORNEY. LIARS, LIARS, LIARS!!! TRY TO HELP HER LUKE, YOU HAVE THE POWER!!!
ELIYEL BEN ISRAEL 08/29/2010 9:27:00 PM

ON OCTOBER 7 1990 YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH IN HISTORY AS A PROGRAM ., HOW TO MOVE FROM POVERTY TO RICHES . WHATS IN A NAME GEN. 4:7 . ON NOV. 7 1990 CAIN BECAME OF HIS FATHER JOHN 8:44 JUDICIAL MURDER IN COURT AGAINST YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH .PROPHECY AS BEING FULFILLED , SATAN REVEALED BY YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH NO TRUTH IN HER COURT ROOM 'THE WORLD BEST KEPT SECRET REV.12:9, BECOMES THE JOHN 12:31 OF TODAY , JOHN 8:32.
Barbara 08/03/2010 6:24:00 PM

Great Article
arale norimaki 08/02/2010 2:29:00 AM

she innocent like O. J. Simpson murder case
Tiny 07/31/2010 2:25:00 AM

Mr. Stanley, I'm trying to figure out what point you're tying to make. I don't even understand your message. You can post an intelligent statement and get your point across without using such words. By the way I'm black. You may say fuck me too, but I'm just trying to give you some pointers. Your comment sounds ridiculous.
Javier 07/29/2010 5:57:00 PM

Terr, your pretty deep in your perception of life. I really dig your thoughts man. Why don't you replace Uncle Luke here...you might really have a future. Again, i still say your Terry (the person i posted earlier) but if you want to hide your identity, that's cool as well ;)
Terr - Help me Lord 07/29/2010 7:34:00 AM

Kirkslade, Warning: any person living anywhere can hurt you or choose to assist you. Life will have to teach you better. My family had it hard, but one is an accountant and one is a top saleperson making $65,000 a year. Some tests are unfair and some you get a second or third chance to master. Point is that we dont know what the criminal histories existed prior to the arrival of any immigrant. And there does not appear to be much support to assist people with criminal records turn their lives around. Its not the same. A poor diet is not a Black thing. But it goes as far back as Slavery. I became so ill about 25 years ago that I was forced to quit eating meat I never ate it again. But I learned that it is an addiction for most people. Our grocery stores are full of cheap poor quality of food. Physicians dont teach preventative nutrition either. why should they. And your name isnt traditional either, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What does this have to do with Michelle Spence Jones, innocent or guilty, railroaded? The history of this country's treatment of African Americans is surreal. I wouldnt with this on my worst enemy, but some people I think need to change places with us to really beleive it, Life can arrange that for you.
Terr.....Never Give Up 07/29/2010 7:17:00 AM

As for Luke, this is a well written article. Because of this we now know that the funds are poised to be transfered into Sarnoff's office accounts as we write.
Terr - Never Give Up on Humani 07/29/2010 7:14:00 AM

Javier, my name is not Terry Greene. But thank you for reading my comments. I dont agree with Luke's path in life, how ironic that he has this column, but my path is not without adverse controversial actions that I regret. That is between him and his God and he should know that what he does will come back to him and his family that is all I can say. Javier, my blood pressure goes up when I see so many Hispanics working in businesses, but I have made genuine relationships with with many races of people. Im fighting to keep my emotions in check but someone has to let Hispanics know that they are only creating the same circumstances or allowing the same thing to happen that led to them to having to flee their own countries. Nice people but they are wrong in this regard. So dont get so mad about the race card, I wish I had a different explanation for you but this is what I lived. You have to find the truth for yourself. Im fight with myself in order to accept the truthabout all of us whatever the race.
07/29/2010 5:37:00 AM

Help me I'm black! My leaders are killers and rappers. I keep it real. Ghetto blacks suck!!!! We can't take test because the tests are racist. Even though we have long criminal records, we should be treated the same. I don't have enough money to tattoo my whole body, only half. I am fat as a whale because my diet is fried grease and Burger King. I can't argue because I can't substantiate anything with facts. I have 38 kids and I'm 22. I have to name my kids the most outragoeus names I can think of. GHETTO BLACKS SUCK!
Javier 07/29/2010 12:12:00 AM

Terr, is this you? Terry Greene Sterling By the way you write, i would assume so...if so, pretty nice resume you have. Again Hat's off to you. Luke is still an idiot though.
Javier 07/29/2010 12:07:00 AM

Please also don't mention that Black Americans don't get hired because we have a BLACK PRESIDENT for christ sakes!!! Please don't use the race card anymore as that died in 2008 on November 3rd. It really upsets me to hear race come up even by your beloved president (he isn't my president...and not because of the color of his skin...he is just incompetent as the rest of this country is starting to come to realize).
Javier 07/29/2010 12:03:00 AM

Ok Terr, you are the small percentage of people from OVERTOWN who actually have a good head on their shoulders....but i have no pity for people who are there and haven't made anything with their lives. THEY HAVE A CHOICE!! WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE IN LIFE! If they stayed there, they chose to stay there...there are other poverty stricken areas where they could of moved to with much less violence than in Overtown. You gave me more information that i expected (actually, this is what you would say during a speed dating episode)... but nevertheless, i commend you and my apologies for my blatant remarks earlier. That still doesn't change my ideology of Overtown and their inhabitants.
Terr - 07/28/2010 8:51:00 PM

What has this got to do with Michelle Spence Jones? Everything....study, read, learn.
Terr - Truth will set you free 07/28/2010 8:29:00 PM

Fast forward to today after working 38 years in any business that would hire me and in the 4th year of college, and my children are both professionals I learned that I struggle to find work 95% of jobs Im not allowed to apply for because I dont speak Spanish. I know that this is a part of the "unspoken war" that has been going on since the 1980 riots that is killing us in a different way. We were simply replaced with the Hispanics by White employers, then by Hispanic employers, then by many Black professionals. Also, that our problems have financed the lives of people and their children in other communities. And also, you need to know that the way Black Miamians use their words is a dialect like the people who live in New Orleans. Most of us speak that way. The word is that Hialeah wants to take over Liberty City, if City of Miami allows Overton and Liberty City to go down it will be cheaper for other communities to buy out. If anyone wants to save our children, we need businesses our own for our people to work in. The private owned business stopped hiring us in the 80's. Just look around when you walk into a doctor's office or private company. They wouldnt employ Black people and they did not, adn they still dont, so people survived how they could, on welfare, and worse for those with trouble with the abuse problems and criminal records, many moved to Overtown. A lot of professionals saw us disappearing, they didnt want to loose their jobs complaining and that meant more for their own race if AA's were out of the picture so they didnt do a whole lot about it. But they were wrong, now we all have to be very careful and get down on the floor when the shooting starts. Its coming out though because the Government wants everybody of Welfare to get training and a job, they will soon discover that IN MIAMI THEY DONT HIRE BLACK AMERICANS. I guess its reataliation for standing for our civil rights and for the riots, ie colleges flunked us out and advanced other cultures, public schools did not sound the alarm they tried to handle it internally, AND EVENTUALLY TOOK OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ANY OTHER BLACK PROFESSIONAL THAT ROSE TO THAT LEVEL, hospitals seemed oblivious BECAUSE THEY HAVE HUGE COLLEGE LOANS TO REPAY they cant afford to tell what they were seeing, and the rest, judges, lawyers, State's Attorney police, just think about it you know who they are. They know it too, shame shame shame. A white policelady once told me after noone cares about you....she had a point. We are America's experiment. Some escaped many did not. African Americans, dont make liquor, dont make drugs, and they dont make guns AND NOW THEY DONT WORK IN MEDICAL OFFICES OR LABORATORIES, ETC. What you are saying cant have any history attached to it. Know our History before you talk about us. Now tell me about your people. Why did you leave your country? REPEAT MANY MOVED TO OVERTOWN WHEN THEY COULD NO LONGER SURVIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
Terr - Truth will set you free 07/28/2010 8:28:00 PM

I was born in Overtown, lived in Lincoln Fields in the 60's, moved to Scott Projects in about 1965, we crossed 15th avenue to get to the Pok N Bean. I had cousins that lived in the Pok N Bean, and the other side of Scott Projects by Poinciana Park Elementary School. We were all young and strong, and some of us were beautiful as we grew up, but I realized at a young age families all lived and survived in different ways, some had Grand parents too, most had no Daddys living with them. Many parents worked, many stayed at home, some got jobs gradually and were never home much after that. We were left with the older kids, some kids were wild and mean you had to either protect yourself from them or you had to be protected. I was protected some time, but I had to become mean and fearless just to keep people off of me. Fear ruled. There were days when we got along, but children, adults and families would have fights. I did not see a lot of killing. After integration I was in the eighth grade, I was bused to Miami Springs. I never cared about school again, and remember only one person caring about us passing. Groups of children that lived across from Poinciana Park were bussed to Westview, the white people chased them down 22nd Avenue on somedays. They never went back to school again, they ran the streets well into their late twenties but before I was 15 years old, I witnessed the first riot, herion and needle using and selling drugs became popular many developed Aids some died before they were 35, by 16 they used the go-bag to get high (sniffered red motor oil) my 17 year old cousin went to prison for 5 years for robbery and came back bisexual, someone killed the the ice cream man, and then the police shot the most handsome bodybuilding teenager in the projects dead, his name was Staughter, his family moved away. During these years, My beautiful brilliant cousin fell on the rock hard concrete porch in the Pok N Bean project adn three years later died of bone cancer. Technically enclined Luis who could fix radios and TV's, drowned in the canal. Shortly after the strongest toughest guy in the neighbor was said to have beat a girl, the police said he hung himself in juvenile detention. After the guys came home from the Vietnam war, I saw the impact of herion and marijuana. I did not see many young men working, But they never bothered me. We all got along. We loved Northwestern High, we loved our music, we wanted to be with each other as we grew older. I found a job at movies, restaurants, every summer and bought my clothes and a gold tooth. But when I was young, I swam at Manor Park, Edison and later beautiful Poinciana Park Pool. My mom sent us to the YWCA, I skated in the Pok N Bean every Christmas and hung out with kids when they just wanted to have fun in all of the projects. But it wasnt like that for most children, their houses were not like mine, their Moms spoke different from mine. Now I know it was education that made my mom different. Her Mom died when she was 13, she said she worked for the Jews, she learned to cook their food, and clean their houses before she went to Lindsay for her GED. Janet Reno went after my Dad for child support. Then My Mom kept a car, and we had a telephone and a washer but many did not. I got jobs since I was fifteen. We moved out to 37th Avenue and 199 Street. After we were bussed from Dorsey Jr. Hight school was boring to me too, also it was too late the project lifestyle was in me. But I had project social skills. I had survived by being fearless, I was proud because of the riots. I was emotional and White American knew this about all of us, but they had caused a great deal of it. But I had a brain, I could pass a test By twelth grade, I was assisting doctors and nurses at Jackson Hospital, a school program. I was hired by the County at 18. I was there when Paulette came in she had been shot in the neck by a scared girl, she never woke up all because she threatened to beat someone up over her boyfriend. My lack of knowledge of life and social skills eventually got the best of me, by the time I graduated from high school, my life began to spiral out of control...... I woke up primarily after two kids, drug addiction, depressed and anxious, few morales and values, and having lost my grip and my good background. This was not caused by laziness. Then the cycle of poverty and ignorance came back with a vengence but I refused to give up,I went on Section 8, it helped me so I would not become homeless. My mom had worked, got her GED and began college while I was growing up, too tired to explain what she had learned to me.
Javier 07/28/2010 6:03:00 PM

John, thanks for that....and i feel for you since you live there. Do you need me to put together a search and rescue team to save you from there? I can put something together for you.
John 07/28/2010 6:00:00 PM

Javier, i agree 110% of everything you say. I live in Overtown unfortunately and its just sickening to see all the people on welfare who don't a shit about getting a job to support themselves or their families. Everyone here is living off the government, or is hoping they can do some type of fraud to live off the government. The difference between blacks and Hispanics, is that Hispanics actually do WORK!!! How many hispanics do you see cutting the grass and making a living instead of just standing in the corner doing drugs, or drinking. If i see (1) black person cutting grass, its a miracle of god. And those idiots that mentioned about Hispanics doing FRAUD, why don't you see how many BLACKS are in the news killing people, robbing people, and doing anything and everything they can. The majority of any robbery here are done by blacks. The FRAUD as you mention it isn't done by Hispanics, there are plenty of GRINGO's that have done the same, especially in the medical field. Overtown is isolated from the rest of Miami for a reason. They should just build a HUGE WALL around the whole area so that we don't have to see anything that goes on in there. If they want to burn it down, then let them do it, but don't give them a god dam penny more. Let them all find jobs and work for a living for a change.
Jim 07/28/2010 8:14:00 AM

And maybe Spence-Jones is really Miami's own version of Shirley Sherrod ?
Terr - truth liberates 07/28/2010 6:49:00 AM

2nd - I hope you are hearing what Im hearing - someone needs to put this on blast email, facebook,etc. Watch the Overtown/Omni money. 3rd - teach what you know and build your team we are not the enemy - there is no time for hate, there are too many problems that need to be handled. One thing about Pres. Obama, he had the email text thing together. 3rd - Havent you ever been sabotaged, if you havent your you dont know your own power or weaknesses yet. 4th - learn to sift through the bitterness, take away the gold. Metal sharpens Metal, which are you? Im just getting started.
Terr - truth heals 07/28/2010 6:26:00 AM

Such an ideal place for others has long been a nightmare for African Americans, which brought out the worst and the best in them. For foreigners it was a new beginning (with no past criminal history) and they got a second chance. Polite people but they hardly share with anyone but their own. People came from everywhere - how do they make their money? I know this for certain - the wrong person OR ENTITY does not have to win. First thing, the Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms Bureau need to find out who is selling the guns.
Terr - truth heals 07/28/2010 6:25:00 AM

One thing is certain, AFTER READING THESE COMMENT IT CONFIRMS Miami is a messed up place, it's residents are on the brink of civil war. Im uphappy with a lot of things, but Im looking for answers that will correct these problems for good.
Terr - truth hurts 07/28/2010 6:22:00 AM

Javier - my hope is that you get to change places with a Black person or even live in Overtown, I dont think you could survive, it. Life can arrange that for you - I was raised in the Black community I know the cycle of pain all too well. If you think that hundreds of years of slavery did not have any impact. Think again. We may never know how deep the impact really is. That is one cycle I would not wish on my worst enemy.
Javier 07/28/2010 5:54:00 AM

"Marc Sarnoff is a racest muthafucka!! He's the lil ho who set Michelle up. And if "step & fetch it' Dunn thinks his peeps are gunna support his Uncle Tom pussyass instead of Michelle his back on dat pipe. That dude Sarnoff is a lyin piece of shit, every black person in Miami knows that. He got no love for us!!! Fuk you Sarnoff!!!!!!! " CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HAND ME THE E-BONICS BOOK OF THUGS TO TRANSLATE THIS?
Javier 07/28/2010 5:53:00 AM

Listen little BLACK GIRL peach of shit, you are probably one of those THUGS that are popping those babies out faster than bunnies do. I am a well respected Community Organizer ok....i know a thing or two about how to run a country....oh shit, that's obama...sorry about that folks.
Javier 07/28/2010 5:50:00 AM

SHE IS NOT INNOCENT!!!! SHE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION PEOPLE!!! Gay Luke has nothing else to write about, so he decided to write this to stir up the RACE CARD which ALL BLACKS DO! We have a god damm STUPID ASS president who is black already!!!! Please drop the fuck'n race card you idiots!!!!!
nevergetcaught! 07/28/2010 4:35:00 AM

The real culprit is the media, using truisms, and 'trimming' facts to paint distortions. They shape public opinion through polarizing and illogical messages, all to promote hidden agendas. Agendas that never make the headlines, but that affect our community.
Soap Box 07/28/2010 1:26:00 AM

You're all a bunch of backward asses.
David 07/28/2010 1:22:00 AM

It's sad to see all the wrong doing that going on in miami. they business searching into Ms.Spence -jones but who checking on the commissioners and govern Mr Chris.This is why Miami is so screw up. The people at the top robber the on the bottom.The real question is who cares. We better wake up people
winster 07/28/2010 12:57:00 AM

Luke, you are a trip! She got into "public service" to enrich herself and cronies with money menat for the poor in her district, and all the blacks in overtown support her anyway...bc she black!! lol blk folk!
Bill Stanley 07/28/2010 12:40:00 AM

Marc Sarnoff is a racest muthafucka!! He's the lil ho who set Michelle up. And if "step & fetch it' Dunn thinks his peeps are gunna support his Uncle Tom pussyass instead of Michelle his back on dat pipe. That dude Sarnoff is a lyin piece of shit, every black person in Miami knows that. He got no love for us!!! Fuk you Sarnoff!!!!!!!
Hater 07/28/2010 12:39:00 AM

Hey Blackgirl! Get a Job... The truth hurts doesnt it. However, I agree with the immigrant problem here in America maybe we should kick them out. Along with all of the thugs from overtown that dont want to get a real job, steal for a living, live off of others hard work. Oh and let's not forget about the sista's poping out babies so the welfare checks keep increasing. Come on the RACE CARD is all worn out. People elected Obama and you can see how that has FAILED!!!!!! America is going to hell in a hand basket....
Jon B 07/28/2010 12:03:00 AM

This is so jacked up!
blackgirl 07/27/2010 11:52:00 PM

Javier, I believe you are probably one of the illegal immigrants that hopped on a boat from cuba and brought your gringo a$$ here to get all the free stuff you can from America.Miami needs to get rid of all of these thieving drug dealers, healthcare frauds, and welfare users such as you and your people. why dont you get the hell out of this country loser!!!!
Cyrus 07/27/2010 11:48:00 PM

She is innocent. Yeah. Sure. Just because The New Times says it.
HATER 07/27/2010 11:10:00 PM

Luke You're an Idiot! The b/s spewing from your mouth oozes like the oil from the Gulf.
Javier 07/27/2010 11:04:00 PM

Spence-Jones got what she deserverd! She is a political HASBEEN who's only purpose of running for office, where people don't know any better than to vote for her , is to use it for her own personal agenda. She is a THUG like the majority of the blacks in Overtown and deserves to continue living in the slum that they all created over there. Leave it to the blacks in Overtown to turn a once nice part of town into a Trash Can. They did good in making sure she doesn't come back to office, since the money would be better served to cater the areas that don't BURN down their own towns, or rob any jane, dick, and harry that walks in there. Uncle Luke, i am sure you have a few Ho's that you frequent over there.....stop protecting them.