Trails in The Sand by Peter Traciet

In the words of James Brown-‘Get up offa that thing and try to release some pressure’ […]

Counting to Five? […]

     Peter scurried through the dirt at Fort Lauderdale High School and watched as Lori Alhadeff of District 5, Jeff Holness of District 5, Brenda Fam of District 6, Nora Rupert of District 7 and Allan Zeman of the countywide, at-large seat were all sworn in for their respective School Board seats.  […]

       Tracing ain’t for the feeble and weak, but Ol’ Peter is up for the job. The Detective sat for two days in School Board meetings and watched in wonder as Superintendent Vickie Cartwright was fired, then considered for rehire, then confirmed as fired. […]

       Ol’ Pete gives Super Cartwright some credit. She was told to make good with the Black community and what better way to kick off the effort than to cross the threshold of the Black church with a King James Bible in one hand and a charm with a Black Jesus on the cross in the other. Contrarily, the Street Committee is talking, critiquing, and seeing through Cartwright’s efforts as being short of genuine. No amount or “testa-lying” (and she did plenty) can make up for the attack on Blacks that she executed at the beginning of her superintendency. Black parishioners told Peter that they don’t want to be pacified or patronized. They are seeking real atonement that starts with an apology, something they doubt Cartwright would ever extend. The Super made some erroneous assumptions when she came to Broward and was led astray by some folk with personal agendas. Peter Traceit, the Street Detective, is told Cartwright must first understand and embrace for herself that she was targeted and used to exact other people’s vengeance, and then she must seek out those who she hurt and atone.  […]

     The Super has 90 days to respond to some pressing issues and it is uncertain that she has what it takes to get it done. The  sand tunnels are filled with rumors that she has hired an Image Coach to work with her on her public perception. And while she was not very interested in engaging with the community, Instagram and Linkedin tell a story of her joining community boards like Career Source Broward to rally support. If you noticed, most of her community support came from businesses from her old school district in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin, where she was ousted after principals launched a no confidence vote. […]