Saturday, September 10, 2011
Another Banner Week for City of Miami ... by gimleteye
The re-instatement of city commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones after being suspended for alleged corruption was accompanied by the call to arms: "You don't mess with God's children" and Jones, herself, "God is great" reminding me that Dottie Peoples may sing "He's on On Time God" but for politicians in Miami, He is also a Pocket God. In other words, when you are in the back room talking about zoning changes and building permits, He goes back in the pocket. The ceremony had the feeling of a church tent revival meeting, but did nothing to dispel the years of legal wrangling around insider dealing on the city commission that may not have landed Jones in jail but nonetheless cast long, sad shadows over city government. Jones said to her supporters, "Power lies in the neighbors and not City Hall." Good sound bite but for enlightenment, you had to wander down to City Hall for the 17 hour circus surrounding the effort by the city commission to hold the police chief, Miguel Esposito, accountable to instructions by his supervisor, the city manager. Somehow Miami struggles through these crises. We are reaching toward the end of our anti-morality play; long past the inflection point where a community could ask whether gambling belongs in downtown Miami. Bring them all in: maybe the economic jolt from gambling will concentrate power in the hands of a few future business leaders who will have the public good at heart and fix what ails the Magic City. Miami needs a new symbol: how about a roulette wheel in a house of God?
The Hialeah Poll done in August. By Geniusofdespair
Will there be a major shake-up in Hialeah Government? Balsera Communications did a poll, released August 18 that was sponsored by the Hialeah Firefighters, here are the results:
State of City Government:
• 65% of Voters feel the Financial condition of the city is either average or poor.
• 26% of Voters feel Waste & Corruption In Government was the top issue followed closely by Property Taxes and Crime & Safety. Quality City Services was rated as the fourth most important issue to voters.
• 86% of voters feel the performance of the Hialeah Firefighters is either excellent/good.
November Elections:
• Former Mayor Raul Martinez holds a double digit lead over current Mayor Carlos Hernandez. Carlos Hernandez leads, third place finisher, former Senator Rudy Garcia by double digits.
• None of the current council members garners 40% against the field of challengers.
• All Council members appear to be vulnerable, particularly Jose Caragol, appointee Paul Hernandez and Isis Garcia-Martinez. The three incumbents are all tied or within the MOE with their respective challengers ( Julio Martinez, Frank Lago & Cindy Miel ).
• In the only open seat Alex Morales has a commanding lead on the field.
Methodology
A survey of the views and opinions of Hialeah voters was conducted between August 13 -16, 2011 by Balsera Communications. Using random digit dialing, 300 likely voters were surveyed. 83% of the surveys were conducted in Spanish and 17% were conducted in English. 59% of the respondents are republican, 27% Democrat and 13% NPA. 195 respondents were female and 105 were male. 86% were 56+ in age, 10% were between 40-55 while 4% were between 18-39 years old. The MOE is 5.6%.
State of City Government:
• 65% of Voters feel the Financial condition of the city is either average or poor.
• 26% of Voters feel Waste & Corruption In Government was the top issue followed closely by Property Taxes and Crime & Safety. Quality City Services was rated as the fourth most important issue to voters.
• 86% of voters feel the performance of the Hialeah Firefighters is either excellent/good.
November Elections:
• Former Mayor Raul Martinez holds a double digit lead over current Mayor Carlos Hernandez. Carlos Hernandez leads, third place finisher, former Senator Rudy Garcia by double digits.
• None of the current council members garners 40% against the field of challengers.
• All Council members appear to be vulnerable, particularly Jose Caragol, appointee Paul Hernandez and Isis Garcia-Martinez. The three incumbents are all tied or within the MOE with their respective challengers ( Julio Martinez, Frank Lago & Cindy Miel ).
• In the only open seat Alex Morales has a commanding lead on the field.
Methodology
A survey of the views and opinions of Hialeah voters was conducted between August 13 -16, 2011 by Balsera Communications. Using random digit dialing, 300 likely voters were surveyed. 83% of the surveys were conducted in Spanish and 17% were conducted in English. 59% of the respondents are republican, 27% Democrat and 13% NPA. 195 respondents were female and 105 were male. 86% were 56+ in age, 10% were between 40-55 while 4% were between 18-39 years old. The MOE is 5.6%.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Judge Threw Out Florida Redistricting Lawsuit. By Geniusofdespair
A Federal judge threw out the Lawsuit against Amendment 6 (Florida voters passed by 63%). Who do you think was on the WRONG side of the issue? That's right, none other than Stephen Cody, who represented Natacha Seijas and Lynda Bell at various venues. The Miami Herald said:
"Amendment 6 forbids the state Legislature from drawing congressional boundaries that favor a political party or incumbent — so-called gerrymandering.
Federal Judge Ursula Ungaro, following a short hearing in Miami federal court , ruled that the amendment passed by a majority of Florida voters last November did not violate the U.S. Constitution, as minority House members Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, argued in their lawsuit."
Redistricting starts in January and now they can't do it to favor ONE party anymore. Maybe the legislature will be better without all those Pubs in power.
"Amendment 6 forbids the state Legislature from drawing congressional boundaries that favor a political party or incumbent — so-called gerrymandering.
Federal Judge Ursula Ungaro, following a short hearing in Miami federal court , ruled that the amendment passed by a majority of Florida voters last November did not violate the U.S. Constitution, as minority House members Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, argued in their lawsuit."
Redistricting starts in January and now they can't do it to favor ONE party anymore. Maybe the legislature will be better without all those Pubs in power.
Thom Rumberger: environmentalist and Republican ... by gimleteye
It shouldn't be difficult for our political leaders to embrace conservation and the values of clean air, water, and irreplaceable natural resources. Rumberger was a singular example within the GOP, but he didn't have much company that would admit in broad daylight to sharing his passion and love for what sustains all of us, irrespective of political persuasion.
Rumberger's passing is a generational loss. Floridians forget the broad bipartisan consensus during the 1960's and 1970's to protect Florida's threatened wild places and wetlands. Florida Republicans who implemented the Growth Management Act, eviscerated by Governor Rick Scott and the GOP legislature in 2011, are gone from the political scene. And we are much poorer as a result.
Watching the presidential debate among Republican candidates this week and in particular Texas governor Rick Perry's aw shucks dismissal of science related to global warming was a depressing clue. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott recently authorized the wholesale dismantling of science capacity at the state water management district. That's the sole repository of science for the Everglades. As for drilling for oil in the Everglades, the fact that Scott stumbled on the subject at all is unconscionable.
Leaders like Thom Rumberger spent decades working behind the scenes because the GOP leadership had broadly retreated on the environment, on tough regulation against polluters and enforcement. It is not a level playing field. If the free market could police itself -- one of the many justifications that propel a radical legislative agenda forward, including attacks on the US EPA--then Florida waters would not be ringed by pollution and Florida's wetlands vanished as though by an unaccounted-for Rapture.
Thom Rumberger did his level best to keep the Everglades and Florida Bay for future generations. May God speed him forward.
Talk about arrogant: Why I hate this guy. By Geniusofdespair
No it is not Dusty or Mayor Gimenez, also in the photograph, it is the third guy Sergio Pereira who has earned my disrespect. He is a long time lobbyist in Miami Dade County and was a favorite of Former Commissioner, Natacha Seijas. He lobbies for Miami Dade Metal Recyclers Association, Amaralto Concrete Pump Inc., Spillis Candela, Wackenhut and Kent Security Services, among others (almost 50 clients).
You might not recognize him in this photo because he is without the slimy cigar he chomps on unlit in Miami Dade County hall. My interaction with him was this. I had spoken against something at the County Commission (I was pretty much against things I spoke about so that is a safe bet on why I was there). Pereira saw me in the lobby outside the chambers after I spoke and in front of about 4 other lobbyists he offered to help me on my issue and gave me his card. He said "Call me."
I walked away and looked at the card: It was Kris Korge's business card. He sized me up as a rube. I looked back and saw Pereira whooping it up with the other guys. I thought to myself politely: "putz" (and not so politely "self-important son of a bitch" and 'F------ A--H---") and decided to hold this grudge against Pereira.
A 9/11 Memory ... by gimleteye
A Keys newspaper asked writers for their memories of 9/11, a decade ago. Here is my recollection:
On Sept 11th I had a mid-morning meeting in South Dade, a forty five minute drive from Coral Gables. For six years, I had been leading a pitched battle to stop the Homestead Air Force Base from being converted to a major commercial airport at the edges of two national parks and a national marine sanctuary. My involvement continued years of advocacy attempting to protect natural resources in the Keys. The meeting on September 11th was another ventilating session on what should be built, now that the Air Force had recommended against the multi billion dollar airport plan. The school fish would all be there, and so would I. That morning, my wife and I had watched the unfolding tragedy in New York City with dread. She was in tears as I pulled out of our driveway. We had lived in New York City. I had been in the World Trade Towers many times. Our eldest son, a photographer in the East Village, had left a cellphone message with sirens screaming: he was heading downtown to the World Trade Center with his cameras. We couldn't return his call, of course. The circuits were jammed. Had he made his call before the first tower fell? Had he managed to get through the police cordons, because isn't that what I would have done if I were 21? I listened to the radio on the way to Homestead. No one knew anything. At some point I turned the radio off. Now I can't recall whether I watched the first tower fall on television before leaving the house or not. My mind still loops on the images: we know the World Trade Towers will fall, and they are always falling. The government center in South Dade was closing when I arrived. I went up to the meeting room anyway. A long horseshoe table in the conference room was set up with pads of paper and pencils and plastic pitchers of drinking water beaded with sweat from the ice. The chairs were empty. Down a hallway in one of the county offices, a small group of military and civilians clustered around a TV. More planes were down. The towers kept falling. I didn't talk with anyone, and I didn't stay long. It turns out: that was the last public meeting on the Homestead Air Force Base I attended. Eventually that afternoon on 9/11, my son called. He was on a rooftop with friends watching the rising inferno. I asked if the police had stopped him from a closer view. No, he said, it was the people covered with dust running the other way who made him turn back.
On Sept 11th I had a mid-morning meeting in South Dade, a forty five minute drive from Coral Gables. For six years, I had been leading a pitched battle to stop the Homestead Air Force Base from being converted to a major commercial airport at the edges of two national parks and a national marine sanctuary. My involvement continued years of advocacy attempting to protect natural resources in the Keys. The meeting on September 11th was another ventilating session on what should be built, now that the Air Force had recommended against the multi billion dollar airport plan. The school fish would all be there, and so would I. That morning, my wife and I had watched the unfolding tragedy in New York City with dread. She was in tears as I pulled out of our driveway. We had lived in New York City. I had been in the World Trade Towers many times. Our eldest son, a photographer in the East Village, had left a cellphone message with sirens screaming: he was heading downtown to the World Trade Center with his cameras. We couldn't return his call, of course. The circuits were jammed. Had he made his call before the first tower fell? Had he managed to get through the police cordons, because isn't that what I would have done if I were 21? I listened to the radio on the way to Homestead. No one knew anything. At some point I turned the radio off. Now I can't recall whether I watched the first tower fall on television before leaving the house or not. My mind still loops on the images: we know the World Trade Towers will fall, and they are always falling. The government center in South Dade was closing when I arrived. I went up to the meeting room anyway. A long horseshoe table in the conference room was set up with pads of paper and pencils and plastic pitchers of drinking water beaded with sweat from the ice. The chairs were empty. Down a hallway in one of the county offices, a small group of military and civilians clustered around a TV. More planes were down. The towers kept falling. I didn't talk with anyone, and I didn't stay long. It turns out: that was the last public meeting on the Homestead Air Force Base I attended. Eventually that afternoon on 9/11, my son called. He was on a rooftop with friends watching the rising inferno. I asked if the police had stopped him from a closer view. No, he said, it was the people covered with dust running the other way who made him turn back.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Quik Observations on the Republican Presidential Debate ... by gimleteye
Newt, done. Santorum, a league of his own. Bachmann, done. Ron Paul; sometimes you think he makes too much sense to be president and sometimes can't imagine him being anything else. Mitt, less electable this time than last. Herman Cain, 9-9-9 beats 7-7-7. Rick Perry, "The science of climate change is unsettled": baloney. Presidential candidates from Texas and Alaska should stay home in wide open spaces where their ideas can freely roam. That leaves John Huntsman, paying attention to the math of 2012.
What none want to admit; presidential candidates and presidents -- of any persuasion -- have very few tools, themselves, to alter the path of the economy. America is ill-equipped to be competitive in a world economy where technological advantages we invented can be grafted onto low-cost labor nations 24/7. Of all the candidates, Huntsman-- with his experience in China-- understands this best.
The broad benefits of technology and productivity improvements through the spectacular growth of Silicon Valley masked the obvious signs of industrial weakness straight through Reagan and the Clinton terms. California's loss was Utah's gain. Period.
Bill Gates had more to do with globalizing the world economy than Bill Clinton, and every president since has sold short the American middle class in favor of so called free trade. What presidents can do, is to influence the degree of speculation in the economy. In the modern era, the gamblers have been king of the realm and none more so than George W. Bush, the last "conservative" in the White House. Remember, "The Ownership Society"?
My quik sampling of Republican ether: Rick Perry can win the Republican nomination, but he can't win the presidency. Huntsman seems the most adult in the room, but is there enough sense in the GOP to get him through the primary? So far, not by a country mile.
What none want to admit; presidential candidates and presidents -- of any persuasion -- have very few tools, themselves, to alter the path of the economy. America is ill-equipped to be competitive in a world economy where technological advantages we invented can be grafted onto low-cost labor nations 24/7. Of all the candidates, Huntsman-- with his experience in China-- understands this best.
The broad benefits of technology and productivity improvements through the spectacular growth of Silicon Valley masked the obvious signs of industrial weakness straight through Reagan and the Clinton terms. California's loss was Utah's gain. Period.
Bill Gates had more to do with globalizing the world economy than Bill Clinton, and every president since has sold short the American middle class in favor of so called free trade. What presidents can do, is to influence the degree of speculation in the economy. In the modern era, the gamblers have been king of the realm and none more so than George W. Bush, the last "conservative" in the White House. Remember, "The Ownership Society"?
My quik sampling of Republican ether: Rick Perry can win the Republican nomination, but he can't win the presidency. Huntsman seems the most adult in the room, but is there enough sense in the GOP to get him through the primary? So far, not by a country mile.
What Does a Super-Sized Beer Ad, Draped on a City Building, Say About That City? By Geniusofdespair
The City's image?? First, as I previously reported, the Miami River Center was draped with a giant, 5 story ad for a TV show called Auction Hunters. Now Miami River Center (MRC) has a similarly sized ad for Corona Beer. BEER!! And the Commissioners are worried about the City's image? City Commissioners: That 'image' ship has sailed long ago. These ridiculous billboards on your municipal building say more about your City than a whistle-blowing, X-police chief.
Although, maybe Miami is ahead of its time in the garish department, could this soon be in our future:
The meaning of image I am using:
The character projected to the public, as by a person or institution, especially as interpreted by the mass media.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Public Meeting TONIGHT to Discuss Biscayne Bay’s Future Amid Threats from Port of Miami Expansion Projects, Pollution and Climate Change
Environmental and civic groups and interested citizens will attend the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve public meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 7 at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Auditorium, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, to discuss projects and policies imperiling the future of Biscayne Bay.
9/11 ... by gimleteye
At every airport, I am reminded of 9/11. What strikes me hardest is the TSA. I cannot get used to the bureaucracy screening every passenger as an equal threat. The TSA is only the visible tip of the iceberg: trillions spent to attack ill-defined enemies with poorly defined objectives. When I go through the screening machines, the TSA finds nothing but I see Iraq, Afghanistan and the treasures lost.
The attacks of September 11th, a decade ago, occurred in the context of waning American power and influence. Its trigger was the globalization of the world economy, a hollowing out of American industrial manufacturing, and the explosion of financial engineering as a means of creating wealth. Those were the threats American politics failed to adapt to, long before the planes filled with innocents crashed into buildings filled with more innocents.
But there is nothing innocent about the response of industry or government to 9/11. The treasury drained. The policies supported to gin up the economy through the housing bubble remain unchallenged. The culpable are fortified by their wealth. Advocates like Alan Greenspan-- former chair of the Federal Reserve-- appear on TV talk shows speaking with authority about the unforeseen. 9/11 was predictable. Americans keep looking for mysteries, but there are none.
The attacks of September 11th, a decade ago, occurred in the context of waning American power and influence. Its trigger was the globalization of the world economy, a hollowing out of American industrial manufacturing, and the explosion of financial engineering as a means of creating wealth. Those were the threats American politics failed to adapt to, long before the planes filled with innocents crashed into buildings filled with more innocents.
But there is nothing innocent about the response of industry or government to 9/11. The treasury drained. The policies supported to gin up the economy through the housing bubble remain unchallenged. The culpable are fortified by their wealth. Advocates like Alan Greenspan-- former chair of the Federal Reserve-- appear on TV talk shows speaking with authority about the unforeseen. 9/11 was predictable. Americans keep looking for mysteries, but there are none.
Stop the Port of Miami Tunnel NOW ... by gimleteye
If readers' comments are correct-- and how would we know, because the mainstream press is AWOL-- then the Port of Miami tunnel project is proceeding (a billion, for 3/4 mile works out to $142,000 per tunnel foot) without completed environmental permits. The worst of it; a plan to use polymers to fortify the crumbly lime stone beneath the bay. Interestingly, the extensive Wikipedia entry on the tunnel project contains nary a word on the polymer plan. I wondered, when I first heard; this has to be a joke.
The press-- even Miami Today-- let this story move forward without a whisper about an engineering design I venture to guess has never been tried in a submarine, karst geologic structure. Yes, you can inject a bone riddled with osteoporosis with filler, in order to drill it: it is not the same matter as boring a hole through lime stone underwater, wide enough for 18 wheelers.
How much polymer is going to be used? What is the effect of unleashing carcinogens into the bay? If the bore tailings are filled with toxics, where are they going to go? How did the plan go forward, without asking these questions of the engineers and contractors? And who among elected officials is going to have the guts to stop the "jobs" being created, until answers are provided? Governor Rick Scott? Mayor Carlos Gimenez? US Senator Marco Rubio? The Miami Herald?
The press-- even Miami Today-- let this story move forward without a whisper about an engineering design I venture to guess has never been tried in a submarine, karst geologic structure. Yes, you can inject a bone riddled with osteoporosis with filler, in order to drill it: it is not the same matter as boring a hole through lime stone underwater, wide enough for 18 wheelers.
How much polymer is going to be used? What is the effect of unleashing carcinogens into the bay? If the bore tailings are filled with toxics, where are they going to go? How did the plan go forward, without asking these questions of the engineers and contractors? And who among elected officials is going to have the guts to stop the "jobs" being created, until answers are provided? Governor Rick Scott? Mayor Carlos Gimenez? US Senator Marco Rubio? The Miami Herald?
Yes - I am here, didn't you read my post's Sunday, Monday and Tuesday? By Geniusofdespair
Anyway, when we talk about dredging as Gimleteye has above, we also have to look at what is going on nearby. This video was taken last year at the North American Windsurfing Regatta at Virginia Key beach. Virginia Key is not far, around the bend, from the dredging area -- You can windsurf easily from this race location to the beach at Fisher Island (where windsurfers are promptly evicted of course). But my sport depends on a clean and safe bay and seashore (this race is going on close to Morris cut on the City of Miami side). The area is world renowned for windsurfing. The windsurfers are also endangered by the outfall pipe expelling thousands of gallons of partly treated sewage each day -- when you are hitting speeds of 20 to 30 knots, 3 miles out is nothing ( The windsurfing speed record is 49 knots, reached in 2008 -- this is a link to an incredible video of the speed of windsurfing.). I digress, I have have been watching windsurfing videos for an hour now.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Harriet, The Bore: tunneling under the Miami ship channel ... by gimleteye
The engineers have dubbed the massive drill bit, Harriet, aiming to drill a new tunnel under the Miami ship channel. I wrote giddily on the news story that the contractor was seeking permission to use a polymer to reinforce the walls as the drill passed through the incredibly fragile lime stone.
You might have imagined, that would have been in the original permit application to Miami Dade and to the state. It couldn't be just me. Drilling horizontally through a few hundred yards of shallow lime rock is like drilling with a 1/8th bit through a foot of pie crust; easy to do, hard to keep the hole open.
Even though I made fun of the issue back in early July, it didn't occur to me the polymer issue would sink in a black hole. Where is Miami Dade DERM? Did DERM give its approval to using toxic polymers to "reinforce" limestone under Biscayne Bay? On what evidence that it won't prove harmful? Does anyone care? At the very least, The Miami Herald should follow up. Why should Eyeonmiami have all the fun?
(Undated photo of a Miami Herald newspaper reporter dictating story to secretary, back when Biscayne Bay was clear as a spring.)
You might have imagined, that would have been in the original permit application to Miami Dade and to the state. It couldn't be just me. Drilling horizontally through a few hundred yards of shallow lime rock is like drilling with a 1/8th bit through a foot of pie crust; easy to do, hard to keep the hole open.
Even though I made fun of the issue back in early July, it didn't occur to me the polymer issue would sink in a black hole. Where is Miami Dade DERM? Did DERM give its approval to using toxic polymers to "reinforce" limestone under Biscayne Bay? On what evidence that it won't prove harmful? Does anyone care? At the very least, The Miami Herald should follow up. Why should Eyeonmiami have all the fun?
(Undated photo of a Miami Herald newspaper reporter dictating story to secretary, back when Biscayne Bay was clear as a spring.)
Why is this comment left by a reader so offensive? By Geniusofdespair
Clearly the people who read this blog are miserable and lonely people who can't appreciate real change when it is happening or someone who is just trying to do the right thing for the county. Nothing is good enough for you people is it. Why don't you people run your selves or just shut up and stop complaing for the sake of complaining. Appreciate what some of these few but good politicians sacrifice in there personal lives to try and help the public. It's getting pretty old, get a life, accept parts of the process and then maybe some day we can unify together as cohesive community. - September 03, 2011I am reading "Blink". In it author Malcolm Gladwell outlines the work of Professor John Gottman, who also published the book "The Mathematics of Divorce." Gottman found in his research the greatest predictor of a divorce:
"You would think that criticism would be the worst because criticism is a global condemnation of a person's character. Yet contempt is qualitatively different from criticism. With criticism I might say to my wife, 'you never listen, you are really selfish and insensitive' Well, she's going to respond defensively to that. That's not very good for our problem solving and interaction. But if I speak from a superior plane, that is far more damaging, and contempt is any statement made from a higher level. ...it's trying to put that person on a lower plane than you. It's hierarchical."
I do not like 'contempt'. I never realized before why I hated this sort of comment so much. Criticism when it is laced with contempt is friggin' annoying. I finally understand why I throw out some critical statements and not others, it is the contempt included. At the end of the comment above the writer says "Let's unify together" - Is he/she kidding? After you insulted us in numerous ways and told us you are not one of us twice, who wants to be in your camp?
I bet the person who left this comment also has a marriage in trouble because as Professor Gottman said, contempt is the best predictor of a divorce to come, and I would put money on it that the comment came from a lobbyist.
End Import Quotas On Sugar? Watch conservatives turn and run from their principles ... by gimleteye
I just stumbled upon a 2010 editorial that appeared in the St. Pete Times, written by a professor from Pepperdine University in California, urging an end to import quotas on sugar. Pepperdine was the landing zone for former Clinton prosecutor Kenneth Starr. In other words: conservative, to the core. Economist Gary Galles joined his argument against the sugar subsidy to conservative think tank, American Enterprise Institute, and libertarian Cato Institute not to mention the Wall Street Journal editorial page. All have condemned protections for Big Sugar.
Yet Congress gives Big Sugar what it needs to continue polluting politics and the Everglades, one Farm Bill at a time.
AEI writes: "The sugar program diverts billions of dollars from American consumers to the “Big Sugar” cartel and would understandably make sense to the members of the American Sugar Alliance. But that very costly program certainly doesn’t make any sense at all for the millions of American consumers and thousands of U.S. businesses who were burdened last year alone with $4.5 billion in higher sugar costs."
The Cato Institute weighs in: "Federal sugar policies confer benefits on a small group of sugar growers, but they damage consumers and U.S. food companies. Congress has provided a sweet deal for sugar growers since it imposed import tariffs on sugar in 1789. Controls on domestic sugar production date back to the Jones-Costigan Act of 1934."
According to Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at the Cato Institute, "The sugar program also causes environmental damage." That part, Miami needs no help understanding. Big Sugar has not only polluted the Florida Everglades, its reach extends straight into downtown Miami law firms and lobbyists. Once when I was a Sierra Club activist organizing a press conference against the Homestead Air Force Base fiasco down at County Hall, the chairman of the county commission pulled permission at the last moment. I tracked back to what happened. It was a lobbyist for Big Sugar who had triggered the objection.
Cato writes: "Large areas of the Florida Everglades have been converted to cane sugar production as a result of sugar protection. That has caused damage from the related land drainage, runoff of chemical fertilizers, and the destruction of natural habitat. With all the negative effects of the sugar program, why does it survive? Because Congress often puts the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public good. In this case, sugar growers are well–organized and they protect the program by providing large campaign support to presidents, governors and many members of Congress."
Congress is hardly alone putting the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public. So does the Florida legislature. In 1996, a wide majority of Florida voters approved the "Polluter Pays Bill" requiring Big Sugar to pay all the costs of its pollution of the Everglades. Despite two Florida court rulings, the legislature continues to ignore the will of the people. Of course, when it comes to tearing the U.S. EPA into bits and pieces, the Florida legislature and GOP delegation from Florida can't move fast enough.
In 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush did the bidding of Big Sugar when he pushed a new law violated the federal consent decree and changed the specific provisions of the Everglades Forever Act, sending all the parties into federal court for nearly a decade only to prove that what Jeb Bush advocated and the legislature passed on behalf of Big Sugar was a violation of federal law. At the time, environmentalists dubbed the Bush measure, The Everglades Whenever Act. Still, the state files file one motion after another in federal court to delay the implementation of tough remedies and enforcement measures against Big Sugar.
Today, the economic crisis gives the current governor, Rick Scott, cover to slash science budgets in the state water district so that at some not-so-distant point in the future, Everglades restoration will be whatever we imagine it to be.
A cynic might be driven to tear his hair out at the persistence of the protection racket for Big Sugar. It would never happen without those sugar sprinkles of campaign cash. So while conservatives argue the rights of corporations as persons, their blind spot is big as Jupiter when it comes to cutting special interest programs like the sugar subsidy. Could the rightward turn of US politics finally do in the sugar subsidy?
Concern along this line is what drove one of the two major sugar producers-- US Sugar-- to attempt to sell its lands to the State of Florida. (We wrote extensively at the time and afterwards, how the actions of then Gov. Charlie Crist triggered retribution by US Sugar's chief competitor, the Fanjul billionaires, who prominently supported Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. Find it in our archives under "Big Sugar".) The original deal three years ago, for 160,000 acres, withered under the relentless attack. What was in it, for the Fanjuls? They claimed it cost too much, but in fact, they figured they could drive a better deal with the lands they hold.
The calculation of the Fanjul billionaires is that maintaining the status quo-- the sugar subsidy-- really doesn't cost that much compared to the benefits. Buying influence in the state legislature and Congress is just a marketing expense. From the county commission to the White House (Alfie Fanjul is golfing partner of Bill Clinton and fundraiser for Bill Nelson), from zoning changes for power plants, to expanded rock mines in the EAA, suburban sprawl in West Palm Beach, even what is called Everglades restoration: every single movement of the dial accrues to Big Sugar's benefit. Guess which special interest will never go dry in a drought? The one that is most heavily subsidized.
So, write on: Pepperdine, AEI, and Cato. When it comes to voting on the next Farm Bill, watch how conservatives turn and run from their principles. (For the St. Pete Time's editorial, click 'read more')
Yet Congress gives Big Sugar what it needs to continue polluting politics and the Everglades, one Farm Bill at a time.
AEI writes: "The sugar program diverts billions of dollars from American consumers to the “Big Sugar” cartel and would understandably make sense to the members of the American Sugar Alliance. But that very costly program certainly doesn’t make any sense at all for the millions of American consumers and thousands of U.S. businesses who were burdened last year alone with $4.5 billion in higher sugar costs."
The Cato Institute weighs in: "Federal sugar policies confer benefits on a small group of sugar growers, but they damage consumers and U.S. food companies. Congress has provided a sweet deal for sugar growers since it imposed import tariffs on sugar in 1789. Controls on domestic sugar production date back to the Jones-Costigan Act of 1934."
According to Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at the Cato Institute, "The sugar program also causes environmental damage." That part, Miami needs no help understanding. Big Sugar has not only polluted the Florida Everglades, its reach extends straight into downtown Miami law firms and lobbyists. Once when I was a Sierra Club activist organizing a press conference against the Homestead Air Force Base fiasco down at County Hall, the chairman of the county commission pulled permission at the last moment. I tracked back to what happened. It was a lobbyist for Big Sugar who had triggered the objection.
Cato writes: "Large areas of the Florida Everglades have been converted to cane sugar production as a result of sugar protection. That has caused damage from the related land drainage, runoff of chemical fertilizers, and the destruction of natural habitat. With all the negative effects of the sugar program, why does it survive? Because Congress often puts the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public good. In this case, sugar growers are well–organized and they protect the program by providing large campaign support to presidents, governors and many members of Congress."
Congress is hardly alone putting the interests of the favored few ahead of the general public. So does the Florida legislature. In 1996, a wide majority of Florida voters approved the "Polluter Pays Bill" requiring Big Sugar to pay all the costs of its pollution of the Everglades. Despite two Florida court rulings, the legislature continues to ignore the will of the people. Of course, when it comes to tearing the U.S. EPA into bits and pieces, the Florida legislature and GOP delegation from Florida can't move fast enough.
In 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush did the bidding of Big Sugar when he pushed a new law violated the federal consent decree and changed the specific provisions of the Everglades Forever Act, sending all the parties into federal court for nearly a decade only to prove that what Jeb Bush advocated and the legislature passed on behalf of Big Sugar was a violation of federal law. At the time, environmentalists dubbed the Bush measure, The Everglades Whenever Act. Still, the state files file one motion after another in federal court to delay the implementation of tough remedies and enforcement measures against Big Sugar.
Today, the economic crisis gives the current governor, Rick Scott, cover to slash science budgets in the state water district so that at some not-so-distant point in the future, Everglades restoration will be whatever we imagine it to be.
A cynic might be driven to tear his hair out at the persistence of the protection racket for Big Sugar. It would never happen without those sugar sprinkles of campaign cash. So while conservatives argue the rights of corporations as persons, their blind spot is big as Jupiter when it comes to cutting special interest programs like the sugar subsidy. Could the rightward turn of US politics finally do in the sugar subsidy?
Concern along this line is what drove one of the two major sugar producers-- US Sugar-- to attempt to sell its lands to the State of Florida. (We wrote extensively at the time and afterwards, how the actions of then Gov. Charlie Crist triggered retribution by US Sugar's chief competitor, the Fanjul billionaires, who prominently supported Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. Find it in our archives under "Big Sugar".) The original deal three years ago, for 160,000 acres, withered under the relentless attack. What was in it, for the Fanjuls? They claimed it cost too much, but in fact, they figured they could drive a better deal with the lands they hold.
The calculation of the Fanjul billionaires is that maintaining the status quo-- the sugar subsidy-- really doesn't cost that much compared to the benefits. Buying influence in the state legislature and Congress is just a marketing expense. From the county commission to the White House (Alfie Fanjul is golfing partner of Bill Clinton and fundraiser for Bill Nelson), from zoning changes for power plants, to expanded rock mines in the EAA, suburban sprawl in West Palm Beach, even what is called Everglades restoration: every single movement of the dial accrues to Big Sugar's benefit. Guess which special interest will never go dry in a drought? The one that is most heavily subsidized.
So, write on: Pepperdine, AEI, and Cato. When it comes to voting on the next Farm Bill, watch how conservatives turn and run from their principles. (For the St. Pete Time's editorial, click 'read more')
Monday, September 05, 2011
"The Leftovers", by Tom Perrotta ... by gimleteye
The release of the new novel by Tom Perrotta, "The Leftovers", coincides with the 10th anniversary of 9/11. A Rapture-like event before the story begins causes the instantaneous disappearance of millions of people (though unrelated in any way to the conservative Christian version). Perrotta inevitably summons the national anxiety tied to thousands of citizens vaporized in the World Trade Towers. Perrotta's work is filled with sharp observations of behavior through the many forms of stress and frailty. There is a particular American sadness that attaches to the failed expectation of Christianity when there is no balancing of the scales, rhyme or reason why some are taken and some, not.
But there is another resonance in "The Leftovers" that is less explored: the operations of the US economy on the individual that are making so many Americans, "leftovers". That is not the book that Perotta wrote, however. (Along that line, Richard Ford is more durable.) In Perotta's small town America, fully drawn characters cope in a world defined by disappearance but not necessarily of industry and jobs like so much of the nation is experiencing today.
The question is asked, though. Our anonymous leaders are barely noticed. Their reaction to the Disappearance is to pick up morale the way George W. Bush did, weeks after 9/11: urging Americans to go shopping. Fill the malls. Buy things with a smile. But what do we do, now?
But there is another resonance in "The Leftovers" that is less explored: the operations of the US economy on the individual that are making so many Americans, "leftovers". That is not the book that Perotta wrote, however. (Along that line, Richard Ford is more durable.) In Perotta's small town America, fully drawn characters cope in a world defined by disappearance but not necessarily of industry and jobs like so much of the nation is experiencing today.
The question is asked, though. Our anonymous leaders are barely noticed. Their reaction to the Disappearance is to pick up morale the way George W. Bush did, weeks after 9/11: urging Americans to go shopping. Fill the malls. Buy things with a smile. But what do we do, now?
Anyone Want to Run In District 5 for School Board? By Geniusofdespair
Can someone run against Renier for School Board in District 5? First he is all for virtual schools, the new money making enterprise and he did that creepy school board mailing to Republicans for his brother. Read my two posts detailing his deeds. I know your next question and the answer is 'NO'. The sex-party charter school is not in his district, but he does like those charter schools.
Most of all we need to replace him because he looks mean. Even when he smiles he looks surly. It would scare the students if they ever ran into him but fat chance of that if he gets his way with virtual schools.
Who is giving to his campaign: Lobbyist Ron Book and family, a couple of Corporations with Anibal J. Duarte-Viera as Manager, Lobbyists John Cerra, Robert Cerra and Ana Carbonell, Demetrio Perez (former School Board member), Florida School Services (Thomas Cerra) and Octavio Visiedo among others. Berkshire LLC a school on SW 8th Street gave to his campaign, might be a real estate school. Berkshire LLC is defunct in Florida.
Kidding aside, you won't win (although in comments they say his vulnerable) because his brother Alex is a campaign expert/animal, most recently he worked on the Gimenez campaign, but winning is not the reason to run against Renier. I want you to run so issues can be raised and he will be forced to go on record.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Is It Unsafe to Eat Out In Miami Dade County, Part 2. By Geniusofdespair
There was another restaurant robbery by 3 armed men at Hiro Sushi, 3017 NE 163rd Street. Again, patrons were ordered to the floor and robbed. Obviously the local police cannot get a grip on this crime wave. I think something more needs to be done. As I reported in Part 1, plenty of restaurants have been similarly robbed lately, this brings it to 6. How many more do we need to address it in a BIG WAY?
Luna Star, North Miami - Early August 6th
Hiro Sushi - North Mimi Beach - August 9th
Joey's, Wynwood - August 29th
McDonald's 15096 NW Seventh Ave. - July
Chili's, 174 St. - June
Doral Ale House, Doral - April
Luna Star, North Miami - Early August 6th
Hiro Sushi - North Mimi Beach - August 9th
Joey's, Wynwood - August 29th
McDonald's 15096 NW Seventh Ave. - July
Chili's, 174 St. - June
Doral Ale House, Doral - April
Three Charts to email ... by gimleteye
Published on Truthout (http://www.truth-out.org)
Three Charts to Email to Your Right-Wing Brother-In-Law
by: Dave Johnson, Campaign for America's Future [3] | Op-Ed
Federal spending dramatically increased under former president, George W. Bush and it has not increased much under President Obama. (Photo: Eric Draper / White House[4])
Problem: Your right-wing brother-in-law is plugged into the FOX-Limbaugh lie machine, and keeps sending you emails about "Obama spending" and "Obama deficits" and how the "Stimulus" just made things worse.
Solution: Here are three "reality-based" charts to send to him. These charts show what actually happened.
Spending
[5]Government spending increased dramatically under Bush. It has not increased much under Obama. Note that this chart does not reflect any spending cuts resulting from deficit-cutting deals.
Deficits
[6]Notes, this chart includes Clinton's last budget year for comparison.
The numbers in these two charts come from Budget of the United States Government: Historical Tables Fiscal Year 2012 [7]. They are just the amounts that the government spent and borrowed, period, Anyone can go look then up. Peoplewho claim that Obama "tripled the deficit" [8] are either misled or are trying to mislead [9].
The Stimulus and Jobs
[10]In this chart, the RED lines on the left side -- the ones that keep doing DOWN -- show what happened to jobs under the policies of Bush and the Republicans. We were losing lots and lots of jobs every month, and it was getting worse and worse. The BLUE lines -- the ones that just go UP -- show what happened to jobs when the stimulus was in effect. We stopped losing jobs and started gaining jobs, and it was getting better and better. The leveling off on the right side of the chart shows what happened as the stimulus started to wind down: job creation leveled off at too low a level.
It looks a lot like the stimulus reversed what was going on before the stimulus.
Conclusion: THE STIMULUS WORKED BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH!
More False Things
These are just three of the false things that everyone "knows." Some others are (click through [11]): Obama bailed out the banks, businesses will hire if they get tax cuts, health care reform cost $1 trillion, Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme or is "going broke" [12], government spending "takes money out of the economy [13]."
Why This Matters
These things really matter. We all want to fix the terrible problems the country has. But it is so important to know just what the problems are before you decide how to fix them. Otherwise the things you do to try to solve those problems might just make them worse. If you get tricked into thinking that Obama has made things worse and that we should go back to what we were doing before Obama -- tax cuts for the rich, giving giant corporations and Wall Street everything they want -- when those are the things that caused the problems in the first place, then we will be in real trouble.
Solution: Here are three "reality-based" charts to send to him. These charts show what actually happened.
Spending
[5]Deficits
[6]The numbers in these two charts come from Budget of the United States Government: Historical Tables Fiscal Year 2012 [7]. They are just the amounts that the government spent and borrowed, period, Anyone can go look then up. Peoplewho claim that Obama "tripled the deficit" [8] are either misled or are trying to mislead [9].
The Stimulus and Jobs
[10]It looks a lot like the stimulus reversed what was going on before the stimulus.
Conclusion: THE STIMULUS WORKED BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH!
More False Things
These are just three of the false things that everyone "knows." Some others are (click through [11]): Obama bailed out the banks, businesses will hire if they get tax cuts, health care reform cost $1 trillion, Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme or is "going broke" [12], government spending "takes money out of the economy [13]."
Why This Matters
These things really matter. We all want to fix the terrible problems the country has. But it is so important to know just what the problems are before you decide how to fix them. Otherwise the things you do to try to solve those problems might just make them worse. If you get tricked into thinking that Obama has made things worse and that we should go back to what we were doing before Obama -- tax cuts for the rich, giving giant corporations and Wall Street everything they want -- when those are the things that caused the problems in the first place, then we will be in real trouble.
Links:
[1] http://www.truth-out.org/print/5718
[2] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail/5718
[3] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083428/three-charts-email-your-right-wing-brother-law
[4] http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2744409333/
[5] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811201/
[6] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6089355018/
[7] http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy12/hist.html
[8] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010020717/huge-2009-budget-deficit-just-one-more-conservative-failure
[9] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083209/ten-years-ago-we-were-paying-nations-debt-then-we-elected-obama
[10] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811219/
[11] http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010104222/false-things-public-knows-they-go-vote
[12] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083426/sen-sanders-plan-actually-fix-social-security
[13] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083212/austeridiocy
[14] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail
[15] http://www.truth-out.org/content/dave-johnson
[16] http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6694/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2160
[17] https://members.truth-out.org/donate
[1] http://www.truth-out.org/print/5718
[2] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail/5718
[3] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083428/three-charts-email-your-right-wing-brother-law
[4] http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2744409333/
[5] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811201/
[6] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6089355018/
[7] http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy12/hist.html
[8] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010020717/huge-2009-budget-deficit-just-one-more-conservative-failure
[9] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083209/ten-years-ago-we-were-paying-nations-debt-then-we-elected-obama
[10] http://www.flickr.com/photos/davecjohnson/6088811219/
[11] http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010104222/false-things-public-knows-they-go-vote
[12] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083426/sen-sanders-plan-actually-fix-social-security
[13] http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083212/austeridiocy
[14] http://www.truth-out.org/printmail
[15] http://www.truth-out.org/content/dave-johnson
[16] http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6694/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2160
[17] https://members.truth-out.org/donate
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