The problem I have with the Women's Political Caucus is the same one I have with the NAACP. The support of women for political positions, just because they are women, and the support of inferior black politicians just because they are black -- both are just plain wrong.
The NAACP held a march yesterday: Black marchers call for resignation of Dade officials. Well, how about a resignation of that embarrassment, Commissioner Dorrin Rolle? And, many of the others are not much better. These Commissioners use the County as their feifdoms. There is is an absence of improvements or progress in places like Liberty City or Overtown and these black Commissioners have been governing there for years and years. Victor, Brad: Do you have to get hit over the head with a sledge hammer? As long as the NAACP remains silent on the crappy leaders that are in power in Miami Dade, the NAACP has no place criticizing the Mayor or others.
The NAACP becomes part of the problem when it looks the other way at the failings of the black leadership in government positions. Clean house!
I can embrace the NAACP request for proportional voting over at large voting but district voting (what we have now) has produced some of the worst candidates I have ever seen. It has got to go.
41 comments:
I was also offended by this story. AGREE.
Why doesn't the NAACP spend time trying to rid Miami-Dade County of corrupt black politicians? Or perhaps the NAACP could be advocating to rid Miami-Dade County government of over paid black workers. You know the type...those making over $85,000 per year who arrive late and leave early...and those who approve every corrupt deal that crosses their desks... those who regularly waste the taxpayers money.
Here we go again with the "race card". Who made Victor Curry the political genius and guru in MDC to assert that the Strong Mayor form of government is not working for African Americans and that Miami-Dade is not politically mature enough for this. I can assure Curry that there are many thousands of residents in MDC that are more mature and definetely more responsible than he is, that voted for this change.
The Herald really pandered up to this instigator and agitator, top headline and front page local news,; makes you wonder.
Its comical, Curry says we need checks and balances; I wonder what he knows about that, or did he mean to say he wants checks to increase his balances.
I found it facinating at last nights Charter meeting that Victor Curry called for a "re-vote" on the strong mayor's race because the turnout in the black community weas so low. Hello?? You didnt like the results so we are calling for a recount? It also made me sick when everyone on the dais congratulated Curry on his years of public service. Yes, he has advocated for his community, but he has also been one of the most polarizing and divisive people in our community.
I agree wholeheartedly with the premise of the post. The sake of electing a black (or a hispanic, or an anglo) because of their skin color is ridiculous. Curry and the NAACP rallying against at large districts is shortsighted and parroqual. All you have to do is look at his district (well, his church's district, Mr Curry lives in Broward) to see how disfunctional our system is. Comm. Rolle bounces checks, accepts contributions from shady developers and rallied for that Biotech parkm, which basically screwed his district, and people want him cause his black?? Its equivalent to burning your own community in a riot. Who are you hurting??No one but yourself!!
Single member districts institutionalized our differences and provide no motivation for any one segment to rise above their comfort zone. Rather than integrating our communities, single member districtys are segregating the county. Single member districts are nothing but a set-aside, which the courts have deemed uncosnstitutional.
Who will have the balls to challenge this in court???
Although I am white, I have worked to insure equality for all others and mostly for people of African ancetory.( by now you all know I can not spell) Therefore i can strongly agree with the writer that people of color have ruined their own lives by accepting the false fact that they must vote for their own color regardless of that persons honesty or lack thereof. That is the same reason we have an infamous black athlete living among us because he escaped justice in California after killing his wife and her friend.
Jose "Pepe" Recio, Citizens 4 Reform, you know, as well as I do, that you are not qualified to speak on this subject, because although you were the face of the Strong Mayor Petition, it was lobbyist extrodinare Jorge Luis Lopez who created the entire concept, and drafted the legislation. Why? Well, he is a lobbyist, who had to deal with the Mayor and 13 Commissioners for just about everything. Now, you just need to have your hands on the person in the Mayor's office. And if he got his way, the procurement reform would have been in the Mayor's control as well. I think there should be a re-vote, becuase people in this County deserve to know what interests were being served. Mayor Alvarez in his infinite wisdom said that he did not want to disclose the name of the individuals that prepared the Charter changes, because it could affect their business with the County (quoted in herald article in the week or so leading up to the vote). I think we know why now, because his inspiration for this change in government came from a lobbyist. Way to go "Pepe!" Way to sell out.
To the last Anonymous post:
1.Learn to spell.
2.Have guts and identify yourself-who are you, and talking about interest serving-who do you serve?
3.I am without a doubt more qualified than you or Curry to talk about Charter changes and the Strong Mayor form of Government.
4.Where do you get your information on Jorge L. Lopez; do you even know him? I do, and you are so far off from reality. He is not the only lobbyist you know.
5.Re-vote what a concept-talking about banana republic mentality-wow...you lost so you want to hit the try again button. Get real, you lost! SOUR GRAPES?
6.What difference does it make who wrote the Charter changes? This petition was analyzed, reviewed, scrutinized and challenged in District Court, 3rd DCA, and the FSC, then the County Attorneys prepared it for the ballot, and the people VOTED.
7.I'm curious what is your inspiration, could it be that the bones you have been chewing on have been getting thinner and leaner.
No foul language....
to Fight real corruption:
There are lazy workers in all segments of the population. I don't think that is the place where we want to focus or go. Sounds a bit racist to single out one segment of staff with such a label.
My focus is on the politicians that rape their own community -- who look the other way at the injustices going on within their OWN district. Rolle did not see the housing scandals right under his nose. He approved all the payouts and he only had to drive through the district to see NOTHING being built. Keep the focus where it belongs readers.
August 29, 2007
guys . . . let's get back on track here. we don't need this blog to turn into the herald comment area!
Yes Frank...let's all try to talk about a subject that everyone avoids -- in a mature manner. We need to talk and air frustrations to move forward. I removed a post with foul language that was not productive. If you can't be mature about this....don't post.
Hey anonymous . . . if Jorge Luis Lopez wrote the Charter, you can call me the tooth fairy.
Riesco knows who wrote the damn thing, anyone who knows anything knows it was that lawyer from the mayor's office.
The Jolly AntiChrist
Let's get this post back on track: where is the new leadership and where is the African American community that will stand up to the pathetic and corrupt status quo. POwer U? Workers Center?
Let's see some new leaders and not the tired re-treads who have used the strong mayor as a red herring. It makes you wonder whether this is a deal crafted by Hispanic county commissioners who don't like Mayor Alvarez: we'll ensure you get re-elected and cut you in on whatever deal we craft with HUD, if you kick Alvarez down Flagler Street.
PEPE, to your points:
1.Learn to spell.
How is this relevant in our discussion?? Sounds like a defensive argument if you ask me. It is a blog, there are no formal requirements of construction or format, or even spelling, so, lets talk about the issue, shall we?
2.Have guts and identify yourself-who are you, and talking about interest serving-who do you serve?
Once your Mayor tells the truth about Jorge Luis Lopez, then I will do the same. By the way, I have no absolute proof that you are Pepe Recio. For all I know, you work for the Mayor or Burgess, who knows...
3.I am without a doubt more qualified than you or Curry to talk about Charter changes and the Strong Mayor form of Government.
If you don't know who I am, how can you determine that you are more qualified than me? Answer, you can't and in my humble opinion, you are not. You have no idea how government works, and neither does your pee-brain Mayor. He is a lock-step cop who has no vision, and has done absolutely nothing to better the lives of County residents. All he has done is give himself more power. What a visionary! What a Mayor! Blah!
4.Where do you get your information on Jorge L. Lopez; do you even know him? I do, and you are so far off from reality. He is not the only lobbyist you know.
I know that Mayor Alvarez and Lopez are more than friends, they are (or were) family. I know that the first meeting Alvarez had before deciding to run for Mayor was with Lopez. I know what changes Lopez was advocating to Alvarez during those meetings... You really don't want me to tell everything I know. You have no idea how much I know, and you should keep it that way!
5.Re-vote what a concept-talking about banana republic mentality-wow...you lost so you want to hit the try again button. Get real, you lost! SOUR GRAPES?
Like I said, the motivation for the change was tantamount to fraud in the inducement. The people were sold a bill of goods by you and the Mayor, and by a cloaked Lopez, much like this Country was sold a bill of goods in Iraq. By the way, you do know that I would have every right to seek a petition to vote on charter changes that would reverse those that were imposed? That is called democracy, not a banana republic. How dare you even utter those words. Just like a militant Cuban to try to intimidate political adversaries.
6.What difference does it make who wrote the Charter changes? This petition was analyzed, reviewed, scrutinized and challenged in District Court, 3rd DCA, and the FSC, then the County Attorneys prepared it for the ballot, and the people VOTED.
Look at the answer above. The people didn't really understand the change at all. Don't tell me that they did. They saw it as taking power away from the Commission... The truth though is that it gave too much power to the executive. In addition, don't you think people would have been a bit less likely to vote for the change if they knew a powerful lobbyist (the only one that truly has the Mayor's ear) is the brain child. One thing is for sure, you weren't the brain child. Oh, and since you know it all, you must have read the quote wherein your Mayor admitted to having individuals who prepared the charter change that he did not want to name!!!! WHY? That's right, answer that one. You wont. Why? What is there to hide? There must be something to hide. I doubt we will be hearing more from you!
7.I'm curious what is your inspiration, could it be that the bones you have been chewing on have been getting thinner and leaner.
Actually, I have gained some weight since the vote, and life couldn't be better. Your rhetoric is pathetic. "Oh, you must be mad because you lost power, etc." Nope, I just am interested in good, open and efficient government, and your boy has not delivered on any! Go back to being a CPA and try not to sell out again.
TJA:
By the way, you are the toothfairy!! Thanks for the buck!
Oh, TJA, you probably didn't know this, but the Mayor admitted that someone outside the County worked on the Charter Changes, and he did not want to disclose their identity because they did business with the County... Doesn't sound like the job description of County Mayor Staff to me...
Nice Wings!!!
No one on this thread has any idea what they are talking about.
Can anyone name one thing that the mayor has done with his "new found powers", that has not been above the board.
The mayor got these powers in January. The legislature, subsequently, passes a bill requiring over $200 million in cuts.
The mayor doesn't cry about it and proposes a budget that cuts $240 million and eliminates almost 1,200 positions from the county's Table of Organization. (Whetther they are filled, or not, those were 1,200 "budgeted positions".
So he fired some department directors that deserved it, and didn't trash them in the media by listing their shortcommings, or offenses. Good for him. He should fire some more.
He didn't replace those department directors with cronies from the PD or outside government, he promoted from within.
I'm sure Lopez helped with the strong mayor proposal. So what? It was vetted by numerous attorneys. Alvarez said from day one he wanted to pass a strong mayor referendum. So people still elected him, and then voted to give him more powers.
Show me an example of how he has abused those powers.
Or else, shut your pie holes.
GENIUS . . . this one blog has gotten a bit ridiculous.
LOPEZ had nothing to do with it, stop drumming up business for that dude.
TIRED OF THE CORRUPTION
I’m tired of the “black/white” farce is nothing but a scam to hide real color, "GREEN". Alleged self-righteous individuals who clamor for racial equality do just the opposite because they fail to integrate themselves to society on the premise that they have been "wronged" while keeping their followers veiled in social and racial ignorance. The US was not the only nation to suffer slavery but it has been one of the few where people have not been able to grow up and move on by letting those wounds heal by continuing to victimize themselves through a false sense of martyrdom by keeping communities ignorant through victimization than overcoming any wrong and moving on.
Putting labels on everyone leads to this social disintegration. People should hold jobs based on worth as an employee and not the color of their skin nor their ethnicity, religion or any other social identifier. That is “tokenism” for the sake of meeting a diversity quota, but at the end of the day there are people in our county government who are inept at the jobs they do. We have seen an overabundance of scandals whether at the county jail, transportation and housing departments, Jackson Health Trust, and the list goes on and on. Department heads that are embroiled in these controversies should be fired. Do you remember the money being lost in the Water & Sewer Dept. because the ignoramus Director did not know that cell phones were lost/stolen? He should have stewarded his department better. What about the Watson Island land deal that our Commissioners sucked up and now residents are stuck holding the bill for years to come. We have seen county commissioners receive parcels of land, fishing trips and a whole lot more that has not yet surfaced and yet the first thing out of some people’s mouths is that it’s “racial”. Racism has nothing to do with the scandals but corruption and unilateral ineptness does. It’s time people took responsibility for your actions or be fired. Kudos to Mayor Alvarez for having the brass to do the right thing - fire all the bums and as elections come around vote the Commissioners out!
Whether you like Mayor Alvarez or not, democracy spoke and the Executive Mayor referendum was passed. Vilifying people based on their comments only proves ignorance at best. Just because you lacked the electoral insight to vote against the reform, don’t bash it now because you can only talk the talk and not walk the walk. Get a life and move on. Pepe Riesco is qualified to speak on the matter because while he can talk about your taxes, he was involved with this reform from day one, where were you? Were you in a Commissioner’s office plotting against the reform? Do you even know who works in the Mayor’s office to base your comments?
Anonymous, you mentioned “The truth though is that it gave too much power to the executive” but a government whose power is centralized in one body is not a representative democracy. In other words, as Pepe pointed out, there are no checks and balances to prevent the scandals that have happened. Understand something, the Commission is the legislative body that can make the necessary changes in our government. Voters’ wanting a decentralized form of government is but the first step. The procurement reform should be the next item on the agenda to help stop the “Quid pro quo” on the dais.
TIRED OF THE CORRUPTION
Anonymous: by the way since you are so concerned about spelling, perhaps you should give up your county job and go work as an English teacher.
Just make sure to wash your mouth with soap before getting to class.
Not to be confused with the other anonymous
anonymous to pepe ---
Who on earth made you the rule maker for this blog? Only G.O.D. or Gimleteye makes the rules and spelling of course counts. We are very strict on that rule. The bossy commenter who said spellling doesn't count is incorrect and Jose, thank you for pointing out the spelling errors.
“By the way, I have no absolute proof that you are Pepe Recio”.
*(The correct spelling is Jose "Pepe" Riesco)
ANONYMOUS, CONTROL YOURSELF, READ THE POST AGAIN-
PERFORM A SPELL CHECK.
“For all I know, you work for the Mayor or Burgess, who knows...”
*ANONYMOUS, WE DON’T KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS OR WHERE (IF) HE/SHE IS EMPLOYED.
WHAT I FEEL IS YOU MAY HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HAND... MAYBE YOU ARE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE?
MAYBE YOU ARE A PUPPET FOR A COUNTY COMMISSIONER?
YOU MAY BE ONE OF THOSE 13? Mmmm ???
I AGREE WITH GENIOUSOFDESPAIR’S COMMENT,
“My focus is on the politicians that rape their own community -- who look the other way at the injustices going on within their OWN district. Rolle did not see the housing scandals right under his nose. He approved all the payouts and he only had to drive through the district to see NOTHING being built. Keep the focus where it belongs readers.”
SO TRUE!
GENIOUS, I AGREE,
“I removed a post with foul language that was not productive. If you can't be mature about this....don't post.”
SOMETHING IS UP WITH THOSE WHO CAN’T CONTROL LANGUAGE.MAYBE A DISGRUNTLED COUNTY EMPLOYEE?
MAYBE IT WAS POSTED BY ONE OF OUR INFAMOUS…..
NAAAAAA, THEY DON’T HAVE THE BACKBONE OR GUTS.
I AGREE WITH MODERATE… SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!
8 IS ENOUGH
Ack! Spelling counts? It does at work. It can't here.
I come online to relax, not to be graded on my spelling. :(
All I will say about political offices, (ALL offices in fact) is "what you see is not what you see or get". Don't believe anything until you have experienced or seen it with your own eyes. All politicians, even the ones you believe in, do well with smoke, mirrors and a staff of minions. A little spit here, a little polish there, a smile and a handshake and you have happy campers.
Actually, some of the politicos don't give a hoot about what you or I think. Imagine that.
TJA said...
Hey anonymous . . . if anyone who knows anything knows it was that lawyer from the mayor's office.
I think he only accidently messengered it to the Clerks Office or the county attorney. That doesn't mean he wrote it.
I agree spelling does count. I also agree with Frank,
“This one blog HAS gotten ridicules.
*Now, can we turn our attention to the Charter Task Force?
Why are commissioners appointing themselves?
Why are CTF members absent from most of the scheduled meetings?
TBird
TIRED OF THE CORRUPTION to GENIUS OF DESPAIR ---
Please don't lose your focus on the spelling errors, as they can be typo's, but keep it on the issues at hand. As far as being "Bossy", well you are as entitled to your option, albeit erroneous because you do not know me in the slightest to base you comment, facts are facts whether anyone likes them or not. I agree with “no one is perfect” as I too come online to relax and speak my mind. Thanks God for the 1st Amendment! The Executive Mayor Reform and Citizens for Reform is not about Mayor Alvarez, nor Pepe Riesco, but about voters’ right to choose. Thankfully our democracy is based on majority rule, if you do not like something speak your mind on Election Day but then don’t go “Sour Grapes” as Pepe pointed out.
The issue at hand is protesting the firing of department heads based on race, ethnicity or any of the sort rather than the facts from which those decisions to terminate a county employee are based on. I do not believe for a second that our Mayor would fire any employee based on race but on performance or the lack thereof. If anyone were to read the charter, they would understand that the Commission can overturn the Mayor’s decision, but only by a super majority (term?) so that there is a check and balance much like is seen on the federal level and on both sides of the Legislative and Executive branches. Balance of powers is critical to ensuring the decentralization of a government. Venezuela’s government is centralized into one body, the Presidency and we all know very well the despotism that leads too, much like we have seen in Miami-Dade County as County Commissioners have spend taxpayer dollars among others to conduct surveys against the reform and even utilized taxpayer money against this democratic movement of reform.
Tired of the Corruption
Doesn't anywon have a sens of humer anymore. Do you really think I give a sheet about spellin'....
I really think this uncomfortable dialogue is good for the Community. Look at the Spence Jones news today. I believe we need HONESTY above all. If we have dishonest commissioners -- no matter what their background we have to get them out.
I think we all need to know what was in TEELE's backpack. That is where I want to focus. Teele knew what was going on and he wanted us to know. Why can't we get those records...
We have to support honest candidates.
Strangely, even though Natacha is such a witch, I don't think she takes kickbacks. I don't know why, but I think she does the Commission thing for power. Same with Souto. Of course I don't know, I am just guessing.
Focus on spelling guys, not the facts... Clearly, way too defensive and emotional... I know it, you know it... I am sitting back, and watching you all implode. It is just a matter of time that the real juice behind Alvarez comes from. By the way, I heard that he was looking for ways to privatize the PHT. I am guessing that would serve the interests of his medical care constituent who runs the health system in Jacksonville. The same person who hosted meetings between the County Commissioners and the elected Mayor before he took office.. What's his name, Charlie..... You really don't want me to say more.... Don't tempt me.
Genius: love the humor. We've got the sanity and humor is but one way.
Anonymous: hope your county boss doesn't find out about you doing this on taxpayer time....
The first thing out of someone's mouth when they are fired is, "It's racial", perhaps those people that got fired should have been doing their job to begin with. I'm tempting you, go ahead and say something... now go ahead and invent something about Charlie. Perhaps instead of focusing on the negativity of your fellings turn them into something positive and do something for your neighbors. We all know there are deep rooted "special interests" in every facet of American politics, what the heck in any government of the world. The difference is while others can only criticize it, we can actually do something about it. Step up to the plate, go out and educate people and maybe something productive might be done. Leave the political labels behind and do something right for the people.... remember, a plotician's worst enemy is an educated voter.
Out with the corrupt politicians.... I wish Alberto Milian would run again for State Attorney so we can get him to provide the busses to park outside the Stephen P. Clark Building and clean some of those Commissioners' offices like he said before, but the corruption has nested a vested interest in our SAO as well....
tired of:
County worker??? Sorry, my pay grade is a bit higher than that... Alberto Milian, you have to be kidding me. I like him personally, however, do you not know his history in Broward? I know it seems a world away, but, you can do some research. He was involved in physical altercations and ethics investigations when he was up there. Do your homework before you come out looking like you did.
Food fight!
Adequate representation and leadership of minorities presumes three things: representation, leadership and a concept of what is a minority.
One, representation, is not merely that people are allowed to vote, but that they actually do. If districts are created (or gerrymandered) to guarantee someone/anyone from one particular area a seat at the table he/she can be “representing” a passive block if the people don’t vote. This is indeed a fiefdom, a set aside.
At large voting rewards the results of political engagement. Concerned voters do have more a voice. Non voters don’t. There are no guaranteed “reps” from areas that don’t participate.
Second, the concept of “minority” is nebulous. Also, it seems to imply that minority is vs. community. How many, if any, circles do you bubble in on standard forms and to what end?
“Leadership,” also very subjective, of a “group” depends in part on the leader, but also on a cohesive “identity.” Unless this “identity” is ascribed (you don’t even get a chance to choose your own bubbles) that “identity” is also a fluid thing. (e.g./aside: when interviewing to share a room as a Berkeley student, the criteria read: “Lesbian/Marxist/vegetarian preferred.” With a total housing turn over of .01 percent I wondered where the wiggle room was. Hmmm, not dating, more or less liberal, can eat rice and tofu as occasion calls for…but I digress).
There are overlapping identity groups in South Florida, many of which have no clear residential breakdowns. This is good. We don’t want a Sunni/Shiah “cleansing.”
More at large voting makes sense for the politically engaged, and in the context that policies that are good for the community as a whole. Working out such policies can build community. This should be the case not just for the city but the school board.
Gerrymandering for proportion voting for specific districts to guarantee a minority voice has a historical argument in places like South Carolina, where the lines are consistently redrawn to deliberately keep (blacks) from ever getting candidates from areas where they form a population concentration.
But South Florida is not South Carolina.
Believe it or not the comments on the linked Herald article blog (really) are rather interesting and reflect a more thoughtful view than these recent slings and arrows. Maybe the Herald is doing a blog spot because of this one.
Finally, spelling and grammar do count. They are markers of class and education and thus do lend a level of credibility to what is expressed. Confused sentence structure is a confusing sentence. Draft in word and proof, copy and paste to blog spot (ctr+v). (Maybe g.o.d. will privately share the secrets of bold, italics, and linking in the blog spot, though I fear his misadventures into hypertexting has left him glowing in the dark)
S
That's all well and good, except, you forgot to take reality into account. Even if your utopia of an engergized electorate comes true, there is a majority in this town, and are minorities. If the respective groups vote at 100% turnout, you still have a situation were the majority will fill the at large seats to reflect their values, and yes, to some, race. How do you deal with this little problem????
You don't deal with it. I think it still boils down to the person who manages to get the most voters out on the day of the election wins. I know that is DUH. But, if you are going to run, you have to be ready to offer something to get people off their duffs and into the polling places. Like breakfast.
I hate spelling and I hate typos. But, it happens. So, live with it.
liked your post "S" except:
Believe it or not the comments on the linked Herald article blog (really) are rather interesting and reflect a more thoughtful view than these recent slings and arrows....
Are you calling the Herald blog comments better than our commenters? I don't think so. I know FRANK, you are uncomfortable with all this-- and I am sorry faithful reader -- but between the lines of some these there is some truth...you just have to know which lines to disregard.
Dear Tired of
I do not believe the mayor fired anyone on the basis of race because he has been inclusive in his firings and hirings. in the firings all are included, a couple of whites, a couple of hispanics and ONE black, Bradley?...sorry Angela Gittens was not fired by the mayor, whomever said that. The city manager was leaned on by the commissioners especially natacha to fire Gittens.
anonymous – all in one shot:
You missed the obvious intended mention of Milian with reference of having the brass that Kathy Fernandez-Rundle has not in dealing with public corruption. When he ran for SAO, that was one of his comments then and I personally applauded him for wanting to take on the status quo, irrespective of what other issues he may or may not have had or has, so I don’t need to do my homework because I don’t care what he does or doesn’t do.
Adequate representation also includes one critical and inherent element you did not mention and that is integrity. Many so-called minority leaders supposedly step up to the plate at their communities only to serve themselves and bask in the limelight of their 5 minutes of fame, at best. Thank goodness you recognize the “fiefdom” concept that we experience with the electoral process of county commissioners. In every sense of the word, I find it inconceivable that a commissioner of small district, by comparison to that of an entire county, can reach the height of Commission Chair and prior to the Executive Mayor Reform hold unbridled power over the Mayor, an official elected by the entire county with no heck and balance. Voters (of any ethnicity, creed, or color) cut their noses to spite their faces by voting based on these social labels and not values. It’s an electoral inbreeding that only makes the cycle of ignorance perpetuated across voting lines among the reasons why out of state officials call Miami a “Third World Nation”. Voting for “our own” based on our personal identification is ignorant, and this happens to blacks, hispanics, and other self proclaimed minorities just because they are afraid of losing “control” and as rotten sports then take their ball home, or burn their own communities.
I like your imagery of “bubbles” but if you’ve ever seen kids blowing bubbles you’ll know that when these bubbles touch each other, or touch something else other than the very air that is self sustaining it, they explode. This is why our individual social bubbles in Miami are always exploding with the threat of proximity and we continue having the Liberty City, Allapattah, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Little Vietnam, among others. Living in America, we are all Americans; so forget the crock of “Cuban American” “ Vietnamese American”, “African American”, etc. This is why we can never really be One Nation Under God.
Anonymous, do you even live in Miami? If you drive north over the 17th avenue bridge, past the 836 expressway you can see a clear marker of where the northwest section of Miami begins with the Dominican communities of Allapattah. I’ve lived in Miami all my life and I pretty much know them all: Allapattah, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Little Vietnam, Coral Gables, and the list goes on.
Voting not only makes sense for the politically engaged but the politically despaired who hang on a last thread of hope because of the living conditions they face. An oxymoron, Miami was voted among the most desirable for real estate development (just look at the hi-rises that not only make up the Miami skyline but are on almost every street corner on main throughways) and among the top poorest in the nation. This economic disparity, among other things is why many people continue to slip below the poverty line on an annual basis, disappearing the bourgeois from modern times. This is a reason why many exodus to the Carolinas and other nearby states whose living conditions attract those being economically marginalized by the self serving, term unlimited, politicians embroiled in scandal after scandal. So it seems apparent that the discriminated color really isn’t black after all but “green”.
Credibility is based on facts, not class nor education. This is why people should not believe everything they read, no matter how well expressed, punctuated or capitalized. Again, such class and education is well befitting of an English teacher.
In terms of majority and minorities, you are very confused. Issues affect all walks of life in this county, regardless of race, creed, and color, among others. Different “minorities” can vote a majority over an issue.
Again with the race card! Interesting mention of “ reality” because with the ever-present delusion of self imposed martyrdom (e.g. “RACE”) social acceptance can never be attained and you stay within your bubble waiting to explode. This is not utopian but what I believe to be among the fundamental elements required for social evolution.
Votes should be based on merit-based qualification; so elected officials should not carry their personal or economic agendas on the dais but the best interest of the community they serve, regardless of RACE. This is the difference between a politician and a public servant. God only knows that Miami is full of politicians, who almost all congregate at Versailles, but what we need are public servants.
genius: Well, looks like the "race" excuse is really out the window huh?
honestly: I compeletely agree, tolerance is lacking not only on the typos or grammar but on our streets as well.
P.S. I like Versailles so I'm not knocking it, nor the folks who frequent it...
Can’t have leadership of a community if there is not community
Re: “Utopia” anon
If there were an energized electorate and a 100% turn out Miami would be a different animal. (Maybe an animal just the same, but not the one we know). Values are indeed not tied to race, the issue is not community vs. minority and race itself is not a clear identity. Class vs. race is more of a problem in our community. Focusing on short term rather than long term interests is the tension between the selfishness we see vs the lack of city we might want.
Think of an earlier “development” policy: the building of I-95 in to Miami. (I was not yet in Miami at the time. When I arrived it was here and I was too young to drive.)
Who was at the table for this decision? What was the “minority” leadership at the time and how did the Miami Herald cover it? What was the opinion page saying then?
I was once practically accused of Holocaust denial for suggesting an author’s conspiracy story of big oil and Ford dovetailed neatly the plot of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” but whatever. (g.od. would suggest “It’s Chinatown” follow the water) As you may recall the trolley system is being undermined so that highways can be built, and then suburbs. A good working urban public transportation system was subplanted, all in the name of glorious sprawl.
There was once a trolley system here, according to historian Paul George going from Flagler to Miami Beach. Enter the highway…jobs…each man and little wife, Dick, Jane, Spot and puff, their very own piece of the green pie. The demographics changed accordingly. Downtown began it’s slide into the dump we know it as now.
Miami late 1950s/early 1960s was Jim Crow Miami. Where did the interstate go? Through Overtown. Who, if anyone, protested? What, if any, analysis of the impact was there? (note to g.o.d: get Paul George to do a guest blog).
There was a black leadership, there was an engaged minority community, which picked its battles. Ironically there probably was more minority engagement and cohesion but less activism due to segregation and implicit (or actual) threats. The best educated and articulate were themselves ghettoized. Thus neighborhoods had a different dynamic. With the end of segregation, the successful moved on and out. The black middle class is …middle class. Barak Oboma is an American politician, not a minority leader. (Identity is more class than race based and isn’t that the 3rd rail of American political discourse?)
Who was left behind in the community bifurcated by I -95?
Now minority communities have a different class/education dynamic. What then is a potential activist organizer to do? Regardless of whether such a person is scrupulous or not, their problem is an apathetic mass. How do you get people mobilized? Reread you Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” (along with “Robert’s Rules of Order” to go with Emily Post). An element of theater can capture the imagination, such as a protest that gets media attention. Then go back and try and build on that energy to rebuild local community. A generous interpretation of the NAACP protest, that looks sensationalized, might be “what do you do when you’re herding cats?
Back to “utopia:” no one benefits from a marginalized underclass. Some of this is the result of segregation. Black leaders were not on the table when decision were made that physically changed their neighborhoods. That was then. The texture of those communities is gone. We all pay the price.
Development, without participation of everyone to discuss its impact, creates a bad situation overall. Festering neighborhoods and schools undercut the city’s economic potential and funds are diverted to remediation: the 7 year plan at Miami Dade or pathetic accountability measures such as the FCAT. Real teaching is stifled so kids can pass the “test,” because it can not be assumed that after 12 years students can read and write (and once they are adults it can barely be discussed).
“Development” was part of the dynamic that did in black leadership – the physical layout of neighborhoods was destroyed, while class beat out race in post segregation Miami.
Re: Genius on Herald Blob spot…seemed to be blacks were blogging in saying dreadlocks were unprofessional, while here at EoM there were injunctions to “deal with it” concerning grammar. I suspect black professionals are not making the case for sloppy writing and not writing here. Go figure.
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