Over the weekend a reader wrote: "Diplomacy is about talking to people who don't share your point of view. It's time to start taking the olive branch in to our commissioners, talking with them, and trying to make a difference. This is getting worse and worse, I am sorry to say. I believe it's time to put "I told you so" aside and start talking about what can be done, constructively, to put things on a better track."
The point, "This is getting worse and worse", is open to interpretation. What is not, is that the Great Recession or Little Depression has laid bare the dysfunctional order at County and City Halls in Miami-Dade and Miami, like a receding tide exposes the bay bottom. The only noticeable change in county government since the housing market crash, for example, is that the pressure of lobbyists has eased. That is not because commissioners have decided to change the way business is done. It is because there is very little business. County commissioners, whose incumbencies depended on expanding budgets (and employment) of government services during the boom-- in some cases, claiming themselves to be geniuses--, have proven unable to deal with the contraction.
There still is a certain expectation, as we enter year four or five of this 'recession', that the normal economic cycle will resume; especially the formulas for economic growth based solely on building condo and platted subdivisions and roadways and infrastructure to serve them. This isn't a normal economic cycle and when the tide comes in, it will not be based on miscalculating risk.
In so far as "talking with them" (government officials) about miscalculating risk, and "diplomacy" with those who "don't share (my) point of view"; the reader should go back at take a look at our archive feature, under the heading of "Charter Review". The enormous expense of time and energy of the Charter Review Commission shows that even the most diplomatic efforts to introduce reform (the "better track", as the reader described it) as the product of reason and logic have not succeeded in Miami Dade.
So where does this leave me, in respect to our reader's frustration. My view is simply; those who do not understand the past are doomed to repeat it. What we have done on this blog is show, for example, how the dominant order at County Hall is organized around the business of zoning changes in farmland and open space, mainly outside the Urban Development Boundary. There is an effort underway to re-write the history of the housing boom and all the collateral damage to Florida. This blog provides a counterbalance; a way to understand the present in light of the recent past in Florida is, itself, making a difference.
23 comments:
GE and GOD should just move away. They are clearly so bitter, pessimistic, and cynical that they are "unreformable." And the bile they write just alienates, showing they are only concerned with preaching to the equally-cynical choir, not building up credibility and educating people.
Preaching to the choir? We're closing in on 1 million page views, "building up credibility and educating people." Keep coming back!
Dear Anonymous:
"We, the people" does not mean, "We the people who agree with you". The country (YES, the whole country) needs people to write; to discuss and open eyes of others to things that may not be always obvious. It is not always an happy job... writers/activists may become a target of meanness and nasty people, even on the grass roots level.
So, before the bloggers and other media types pack their bags and go away, I suggest that corruption of the government and our souls be exposed. How else will the meek be protected from the tyranny of the powerful?
If you are not part of the solution, then you are definitely part of the problem. SO, Gim, GOD and our other buddies, keep your eye on the goal.
As the author of the comment that is the subject of the blog, I will say that I am a supporter of what you are doing here. Before I go further, "thank you" and "bless you."
I agree that some are unreformable. In short, their actions are self serving. Their brand of politics has corrupted and polluted the landscape of the entire country. But as Rome lies burning -- the embers appear to be darkening every doorway. Greed has come home to collect a payment.
I still have to ask the question:
1. who might be reformable?
2. who and what are we overlooking?
For those who are burned out, for the bloggers and the troggers and the fighers, for those who have participated in pointless charter review committees, who sit through lengthy putlic hearings and advocate for good land use -- what next?
I wish this blog would go viral,the likes of which we have never seen.
hallelujah
The service that this blog provides is essential to any reform movement in Miami-Dade County. Far too often we have seen the conventional press (Herald, TV, etc.) miss the big connections between officials and corruption.
But at the same time, we must be looking to get reform candidates in office. There seems to be a drain here in MDC at the local level that manages to suck in the potential reformers. It is done through personal attacks and constant harassment, scaring off anyone who threatens to change the status quo. I have been seeing just the beginning of it; as soon as I began speaking out, I got a huge target on my head.
The political climate here is a disaster. There must be a full assault on the establishment in terms of real debate and discourse that makes residents' interests the ONLY special interest. Until we take the huge amount of profit out of the equation, we will continue to see history repeat itself over and over.
-Stephen Murray
Activist and Candidate for Coconut Grove Village Council
www.stephenmurrayactivism.org
And to answer Anon's questions above:
1. who might be reformable?
No incumbent that has a vested financial interest in the status quo is 'reformable' in my view. They have proven themselves to be pawns and not leaders and must be removed from office.
2. who and what are we overlooking?
Individuals who want to change things here and have a track record that supports that. But, like any official, they must be held to the same standard once they have gotten into office and should also be removed when they have proven themselves ineffective or corrupt. There are plenty of agents of change here, but we must identify those who have a backbone and some integrity and get behind them full force.
Of the 13 Miami-Dade County Commissioners it appears only 3-4 care for the constituents. 9-11 of the Commissioners only care about getting re-elected. That means they only do what gets them campaign money and whatever bribe money they can make under the table.
Can anyone name a currently corrupt commissioner who can be persuaded to act honestly?
Bruno, maybe, but he has followed some of the others methods for so long maybe not, but still maybe.
He has shown on occasion a willingness for some transparency and openness.
I know about the family issues, but still maybe.
He might have to be persuaded by Luca Brasi but still maybe.
How sad. The best of the bunch of bananas is Bruno.
There is no such thing as an olive branch to our current crop of commissioners. Any body that would neuter citizen petitions, laugh at a chamber full of residents asking to not move the UDB, threaten speakers at public meetings (VNS, Souto, Martinez, Pepe Diaz to name a few), refuse to meet with residents with which they disagree, make a mockery of the home rule charter, refuse to let communities incorporate, have revolving doors for lobbyists, and strike down the only local government available to the people (community councils) will never be sincere in mending bad blood. Why should they? They have all the power and will never give it up. Did you know that the public can be removed from the chamber if they disrespect a commissioner but there is no such rule if citizens are disrespected. Kinda says it all.
THANK YOU LAST READER for some sanity. I go away for 3 stinking days, and people want us to make nice with the county commission. Only those that have gone to commission meetings on a regular basis have the right to speak on this issue. Until you have seen them in action, sat there for hours listening to their stupid, inane conversations, only then do you know what county induced torture feels like. Gimme a break. Go watch TV or something. Why do you bother reading our blog? We certainly don't need that first idiot who started this chain... We love our cynical readers and don't care one iota about what you think....
Ouch...well, that says it all. I am an "idiot reader" who has also been objectified. I'll take the slam - but it illustrates the point. I am a person who is actually very much engaged in and in support of the kinds of things you advocate for here.
I have spent a lot of time in my life being cynicle. I have also failed a great deal because of it. Go figure.
This blog is getting boring.
Try making an appointment with the Vile one or even Martinez! They hide behind an army of clerks and Kool Aid drinker! It's hard to discuss issues when they won't even call you back!
Keep trying. It will be important to maintain and employ a wide variety of "tools" in the reform tool-kit.
The Black commissioners have no vision for the progress of the Black community. They have no plan and no strategy in progress for education, or economic development, or jobs in their communities. When new leadership emerges and try to do something in these areas, they do everything they can to kill it. It is simply let me get what I can get for myself and friends and forget about the people. Maintain the status-quo at all costs. The result is all the scandals, a brain and talent drain to other places in the country, stagnation, and little hope in these communities. These areas are ripe for new visions and new leadership as they have been pimped long enough!
Speaking of status quo. I watched the painfully egotistical majority of the BCC yesterday discuss the employee salaray issue. At the end of the back and forth some commissioner had requests for funding from "their office accounts". Pepe Diaz laughed at one of the Commissioners and said something to the affect of "what are you doing with 'your money'. Well Mr. Diaz, it's not your money or their money, it's the taxpayer money! Stupid is as stupid does. Then Commissioner Jordan, who over spent "her office money" wanted a hand out from some of the other Commissioners. The entire BCC need to go along with "their money" and pet projects to buy votes. I could only hope to get a pay package like the MD employees have and they nit pick like they're doing us a favor? Save it. This is the same Jordan who always whines about affordable housing. You have to wonder if she's looked at the foreclosures, those are pretty affordable.
Speaking of affordable housing - I am afraid this will be the next building wave in the west and southwest. When a crush of government money starts coming down, affordable housing might become the new "make work" initiative. We don't need to build any more, though, because the inventory we have keeps getting more and more affordable every day. Jordan shouldn't worry. Its going to work out for her.
This blog is suppose to be an alternate voice. If you want the partyline read the Miami Herald. Why would you expect a blog to negotiate with County Commissioners? YOU should be calling them and doing that. This, to me, is an informational forum. Did you read Gimleteye's post on the Mining at the Collier-Dade Airport? If you haven't go back a few days. That is what this blog is about. Getting info the paper doesn't report. Thanks EOM!
What about Gimleteye's LIVE reporting from a county meeting about a week ago? Who could sit through one of those meetings? Only a brave blogger and a few well-paid lobbyists. I think some of the comments here are wrong. Probably written by the Lobbyists trying to infect the blog with discord. Keep up the good fight.
I am not amused by Javier Souto talking in code to describe whites:
"The wine and cheese set" (sometimes he adds: "that lives east of Biscayne Blvd.") he calls us. That offends me. I just find these commissioners so offensive in so many ways.
If I called Cubans "The rice and beans set" all hell would break out in the commission chambers. I would be immediately ejected but he gets away with it every time and no one calls him out on it, not even the Miami Herald.
How about the mojito and salsa set and then for blacks, the fried chicken and watermelon set... All of the CODES are racist no matter how they are presented. We should call Souto's office and ask him to stop immediately.
To previous blogger: "YOU should be calling them and doing that."
What makes you think we don't?
More Souto: "Those ladies with their Gucci shoes and purses".
VNS: Those people with their 5 acre estates who make the poor people clean their floors (anybody who lives in the agriculture area).
Yep, it's pretty bad when the commissioners try to marginalize certain segments; divide and concour.
Talking to or negotiating with this unreformable bunch is a waste of time. Their whole existence is based on breaking the rules behind the scenes. How many of them have "real" jobs?
Don't expect the State Attorney to protect us from corruption. She is part of and beholden to the same corrupt system. It is only with blogs like this that we can pressure these crooks to be honest
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