Thursday, August 16, 2007

Rebecca Wakefield's Column on Charter Review: Don't try this at home. by Geniusofdespair

This column in the SunPost illustrates why I keep reminding all of you: I am not a professional reporter. I was there but Rebecca "got it." I was trying in my column but she captured the discontent at the Charter Review Hearing (and she got the names which I always don't remember) and she is witty to boot:

"Brad Brown, former president of the local NAACP chapter (and a white guy, which speaks volumes about the state of black activism in Miami)"

We need to support our reporters. Read her column. Use The Force

I, like her, was struck also by Mack Samuels testimony:

Mack Samuel, a leader in the effort to incorporate a region in North-Central Miami-Dade County, made the most relevant point of the night. “Just having someone there [who looks like you] doesn’t solve the problem [of fair representation],” he said. “What solves the problem is someone who is concerned with quality of life. It’s not what someone looks like, it’s what’s inside."

Isn't that what Martin Luther King said in the "I Have a Dream Speech," - his dream was that we should get to a point where people are judged by their character not by the color of their skin.

Victor Diaz told Mack not to lose his sense of hope. Victor, that is all we have left when it comes to County Politics.

Thank you Rebecca for choosing to be a reporter and for writing very fast to get quotes. How do you do that?

WHERE IS THE MIAMI HERALD?
The schedule:

Public meetings:

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 6 p.m.
South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211th Street
Cutler Bay, FL , 33189
Conference Room 203

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 6 p.m.
Joseph Caleb Center Auditorium
5400 NW 22 Avenue
Miami, FL 33142

Thursday, August 30, 2007, 6 p.m.
Miami Beach Commission Chambers
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
City Hall Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was my favorite part:
The Force, as I will call the group for the rest of this column, is charged with deciding whether the theoretical underpinnings of our county’s home-rule charter should be altered, or in fact matter. I’m never sure about that since sometimes it seems like more than half of local residents can’t distinguish between Manny Diaz and Carlos Alvarez. It’s all just this big lump of government, seen in a montage of slicked-back hair and bad suits.

Anonymous said...

Genius---you were a bit rough on the Charter Task force at the public hearing, after all they-for the most part--are not the cause of the problems--with the exception of the evil one--DeGrande.

Geniusofdespair said...

despair drains the soul...

Anonymous said...

Everybody on Charter Reform knows where they are to end up, or else they would not be there. After all that has gone on in Miami Dade nobody should watch these "symbols of politics" and be so ignorant.

Geniusofdespair said...

same story....

at least you -- one person -- read my post August 14th...

Here is a heap of bad news for you....

Even though you and I are right. It doesn't hurt to try. And there are a lot of loud mouth big deals on this board, it would be interesting if the commission ignores their suggestions.

Anonymous said...

Rebecca Wakefield proves time and time again that she does her homework and is not afraid to say it like it is.

We should all be concerned, do our park, - keep dreaming, keep hoping, keep fighting . . .

Milly Herrera
Hialeah, Florida