Ryan Houck, the baby-faced spokesman for polluters aiming to decapitate environmental protection in Florida, is spokesman for a slick campaign reminding like-minded jackasses that unions sided with business to defeat last November's ballot referendum, Florida Hometown Democracy. Never mind that a wee-wee percentage of Floridians believe that environmental and land use rules are too strict. Unions abandoned environmentalists once, Houck crows, and now it is time to abandon them again by throttling EPA's efforts to hold billionaire polluters accountable to nutrient standards in Florida waters. I say, give Houck and the Chamber jackasses feedbags filled with oats and methyl mercury.As for Florida's union members, this would be a time of soul-searching about leadership and how poorly working class Floridians have been served. In Wisconsin, environmentalists are battling with unions to stave off the money influence of the billionaire polluters. But here in Florida, it is a long stretch to find union leaders who ever reached out to environmentalists. Houck and his billionaire buddies crow about the victory of business and labor in defeating environmentalists over Amendment 4; the state-wide ballot initiative that was hacked to death by the Chamber and its big money funders.
Never mind that last fall Houck campaigned against Florida Hometown Democracy, claiming not even environmental groups supported it. The point: anyone can re-write history when others are too timid, weak, or indifferent to speak out. The same way that union bosses played members for fools, by refusing to support Florida Hometown Democracy, they are doing again; Exhibit A, the recall election against Hialeah county commissioner Natacha Seijas.
Seijas has been a nightmare for Florida environmentalists for 18 years. During that entire time she cultivated the support of union bosses. Union members, on the other hand, never questioned who and what Seijas stands for: the painted darling of land speculators and the Growth Machine that drove the Florida economy into the ground. It's not just Miami-Dade environmentalists who suffered, through the continuing meddling of Seijas and her staff in regulatory issues and infrastructure in Miami Dade. Today, Seijas is already arguing for a lock and hold on years of planning -- mandated by the state-- to fix all the billions of stuff she allowed to be left behind during her overly long career. That's because under Governor Rick Scott and the interests who hire Houck, Florida is in a race to the bottom to eviscerate environmental protections. Seijas is confidant of unions' votes in the recall election slated for March 15. SEIU contributed at least $20,000 to defend her, already. (If I were a union member and voter in Hialeah, I'd steer as clear of Seijas as Libyan soldiers are, of Khaddafi.)
Union members should do the math: who is stuck in cars in endless traffic, wasting family time and spending nearly $4.00 a gallon to commute to jobs from distant suburbs? Union members live in those distant suburbs. Who is paying the price for land speculators who support Seijas, Houck et al in order to shift the costs of growth to ordinary taxpayers? Who voted for growth and rock mining to wreck the wellfield protection zone, imposing hundreds of millions of costs on ratepayers? Who was taken to the woodshed by a Republican governor-- Jeb!-- for refusing to protect Florida's drinking water aquifers? You think union members might care to know what Seijas and Houck represents? They might, if their leaders brought it to their attention.
Now the unions support Seijas and they are being thanked in advance for supporting the Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries jackasses who think it is great they won the race to the bottom and now are twisting arms of the Florida Congressional delegation to oppose the EPA and prevent accountability for Florida's polluted waterways. It is fascinating to listen to Houck talk about union members joining with business to destroy the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Really, what it is, is nauseating.
20 comments:
Good post. It would be good if our readers understand the larger picture of what is going on. I hope they can read your post to the end. I have written about Associated Industries leader Barney Bishop many times. I hope readers start to recognize the names of people and organizations we know are ruining our quality of life in Florida. Our readers will not be sheep-- that is my goal, to educate them. And I know it is Gimleteye's goal as well. Silence has gone on for too long. Thank you readers for having the courage to want to live in a better place. Now is the time to take some action. Call anyone you know in Hialeah and Miami Lakes and get them to vote. Take them to lunch or dinner and then drive them to an early voting location. Lean on them for all of us. Although Natacha claims she only represents Hialeah-- she has been voting for all of us. It has to stop. iPhone
Can you please detail which union you are refering to that helped defeat Ammendmnt-4?
I am a part of one of the unions. I did not receive any mailers directing me to oppose it. In fact, I supported it because of the impact it would have on myself and my members. More growth without service being put into place. Which means existing service is overwhelmed leading to more work for the members. Not too big of a deal because you can only fit so much into a work day, but certainly is to the person who relies on you for services.
Probably the biggest hole in the county is South Dade. Look at the CDMP ammendments and what is planned for the area. Look at who owns land on the edge of the UDB and what will eventually be put in place on now empty fields. Drive through the many developments in Homestead and see the tin foil on the windows. Homes meant for a family are actually occupied by the extended family. The in-fill growth is service dependent except that there is no service.
I can't see labor siding with the chamber of commerces. The groups that are authoring the studies meant at attacking our pensions and disability language. Short cuts taken around the workplace to save a penny at the expense of the worker. The chambers of commmerce continually speak against any form of tax increase to enhance services. In fact it is groups like that which end up forcing labor groups to support less than stellar politicians.
I am personally repulsed by individuals who carry themselves in the manner that Seijas does. I am glad that not all labor organizations will be at the polls supporting her. At the same time, it is easier to educate a majority of commissioners on why taxes have to remain or be increased to maintain services as opposed to hudreds of thousands of residents who are using their services on a daily basis. You expect labor to go against politicians that support their services when the people using the services don't support it?
The union contract is a bargained tool meant to protect the employee. At the same time, it is a contract for the citizen who expects nothing less than excellence from their tax dollars.
It might surprise you that a large share of union workers are actually Republicans. Some of them don't vote for individuals that support their issues.
Politiicans who support workers rights are going to get the support of the workers. Just like individuals who support your issues will get your support. When the politician has alienated the very people who support the workers, then we have a problem.
the Florida AFL-CIO’s decision concerning Amendment 4 reflects an emerging consensus among diverse organizations across the political spectrum, of the opinion that Amendment 4 is will hurt working families.
Do your own research union dolt.
If ammendment 4 really would have hurt working families then why was the campaign against it financed entirely by corporate money? Communities have had to fight tooth and nail to get developers and corporations to stick to land use ordinances, Ammendment 4 would have simply placed the burden on the corporations to prove to the people why they should be allowed to develop instead of the other way around, I fail to see how that would impact working families. I really hate it when working class people are dumb enough to be tricked into thinking that the rich have their best interests at heart, trickled down economics and the like are proven failures and lies.
Really Kathy? So you're telling me that labor is in cahoots with organizations such as this: http://aif.com/ whose positions are this: http://www.floridacapitalnews.com/article/20110225/CAPITOLNEWS/102250327&theme
I merely said that I had not received any material (which apparently would have been from the AFL-CIO) that says labor supports it. I actually explained why I thought labor wouldn't support it.
I am a "dolt." More so for thinking that turning my back on politicians that you hate, that support my members, is going to really change the way you feel about me or my members. For all I care, continue to cut taxes and reduce services. I don't use them, I just provide them. I can get myself to the hospital. I have insurance to replace my home, I have a concealed weapons permit. As for everything else, it's pay as you go.
This is not the time to be attacking unions. I understand your frustration and anger with some positions taken by some locals at some times. But unionism generally -- the right to collective bargaining -- is under brutal siege right now. The opening salvo is against public employees generally, teachers in particular. Police and firefighters are being pitted against teachers; private employees against public employees. As I'm sure you know, labor is not the real threat to the environment; capital is. Tomorrow at noon is a rally scheduled in Bicentennial in support of the Wisconsin workers. Hope you'll be there.
Union People: Wake up. If you continue to support bad candidates, you are going to make the progressives that support you HATE YOU. WAKE UP.
If you denounce Natacha Seijas, one union here on this blog....I will show up at Bicentennial tomorrow.
You want me to denounce Vile Natacha Seijas? With pleasure, G.o.D. She's a blight - on our land and our water, on our people and our government. She is a reprehensible person and a pernicious politician. 'Nuff said?
See you tomorrow at noon, Torch of Freedom, Bayfront Park.
You are a union member, I want a UNION not a member.
I'm not a union member; I'm an attorney. Not sure what you were looking for in the way of denunciations. Just thought you might want to support teachers and other public employee union members who are currently under attack. They are the on the front line of the right-wing's campaign to further weaken working people and erode our middle class. (Not to mention that teachers do more vital work than anyone in this society with ever-diminishing wages, benefits and social status).
I'm new to your blog and have generally enjoyed it. Like you, I am baffled and disappointed by SEIU's support for VNS. But I try to see SEIU in the context of labor's national struggle for survival in the face of a sustained, disciplined and lavishly-funded assault. In that context, SEIU has been a fierce warrior, particularly for low-wage workers. I would be sorry to see your blog continue to lacerate the local over a single electoral issue without some context for your readers. Do you know why the local is supporting VNS? Is it possible that VNS has been non-V towards labor in a way that explains the local's support?
It is not just one union supporting Natacha. The unions are keeping bad people in office by interfering in campaigns. There are a myriad of other bad candidates they cater to. It is an ongoing problem. I was a union member myself. The members have to demand more from their leadership. I was accosted by union bosses at the recall trial...Natacha called them over. One I recognized from the police union. This is ongoing in Miami Dade County and you should be aware it is turning what normally would be union supporters against them. We need good people in office.
I wrote this guest blog for Eye in July-- maybe this new reader should read it:
http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2010/07/have-unions-lost-their-moral-compass.html
I can't speak for the PBA. I do know that the firefighters who have always backed her are not. Despite her having supported the fire budget, her arrogance and interference in internal issues was enough to close the open door she has had with endorsements and funds.
There will be a price to pay, but unfortunately the price will not be on just the employees but the citizens as well. Why? There is only so much cutting of salaries and benefits that can occur until direct service is impacted. There is no mood nor majority to do any adjustments to the tax rate.
Yes, the firefighters are supporting the Mayor.
I just read the post - "have unions lost their moral compass." I do understand that there are unions that take terrible positions on some issues; that there are unions that are corrupt and anti-democratic; that there are potemkin unions. Southern unions have historically been weak, for many reasons. And public employee unions are the weakest of all, because their members can't strike. My partner is a public school teacher in Metro-Dade -- his union is scandalously weak and corrupt. He and many of his colleagues, originally stalwart members, have long since stopped paying dues, for reasons I can no longer argue against.
I don't think you're supposed to support every union in every action just because unionism is on the progressive side of history. I've represented union members who sued their locals; I've represented unions as well.
I understand G.o.D.'s point that unions and unionism is becoming unpopular, in part because some unions are weak and corrupt. But I think it's important to look at the structure of our society, and the function of unions within that structure, whether or not any individual union is functioning well. We simply have no substitute representative for working people. Can you imagine the laws we would have were a legislature lobbied only by business and not by labor?
This is a progressive blog. Do you think there might be a way for this blog to solicit input from, or do some outreach to our locals (many of which are reliably progressive about other issues, and reliably vote for Democrats) to hash these issues out.
How bout that rally tomorrow?
I believe the dade county firefighters did NOT support VNS in the recall. Check the records.
I am enjoying reading these thoughtful responses. I don't want to hate unions and I am getting some very good arguments on why I shouldn't...But to see all the unions at Natacha's hearing as INTERVENERS on her behalf raised my bile to new levels-- it was bad enough they gave her money but to have two lawyers there for her at the hearing made me sick.
Unions that supported Natacha --- against the recall:
Service Employees Internationa
18441 NW 2nd Ave, Ste 502
Miami Gardens, FL 33169 $20,000
---------
Dade County PBA $10,000
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Local No. 349 Electro PAC Fund $5,000
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PAC 487 IUOE $500
Unions that gave to Natacha Seijas' 2008 campaign:
DADE COUNTY FIRE FIGHTERS
8000 N.W. 21st STREET
SUITE 222
MIAMI, FL 33122
DADE COUNTY PBA PAC
10680 N.W. 25TH STREET
MIAMI, FL 33172
FLORIDA FIRE-PAC
345 W MADISON STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301
INTL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
1750 NEW YORK AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON, D. 20006
FIREFIGHTERS FACTPAC
2328 S. CONGRESS AVE.
SUITE 2-C
WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33406
I.B.E.W. EDUCATIONAL COMMITEE
900 SEVENTH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20001
PAC 487-IUOE 487 CCE
1425 NW 36 STREET
MIAMI, FL 33142
HIALEAH FIRE PAC
752 E. FIRST AVE.
HIALEAH, FL 33010
OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES
8455 COLOSVILLE ROAD
SUITE 1250
SILVER SPRING, MD 20910
SEIU Florida State Council CCE
7001 Lake Ellenor Drive
Suite 130
Pine Castle, FL 32809
SEIU Local 11 CCE
1680 Michigan Ave
#1100
Miami Beach, FL 33139
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