Funny, the tempest in a teapot over David Samson's condescending comments to a Beacon Council breakfast, focusing ire on that radical voice of the left: Miami Today publisher Michael Lewis. According to reports, Samson didn't have much good to say about Miami politicians (we don't, either) or Miami voters or Norman Braman (whose response in the Herald was to flick off Samson's comments like a fingernail expressed against a mosquito). Michael Lewis tried to wage a battle of the facts of the awful, horrendous deal that Miami politicians permitted, saddling taxpayers with the largest share of a privatized professional sports stadium in the United States. Who cares? There is a simple way for Miami residents to respond: don't go to the stadium. It is how I feel about the performing arts center, unfortunately. Although I've tried to enjoy the place this year, the sordid facts of mis-spending, mis-allocation of resources, and such rise like the little bit of vomit that gets stuck in your throat (cf. Jim Defede). The PAC has the charm of a Marriott Hotel Conference Center. So there you have it. I'll buy a ticket to the Miami Heat when the owner and the county fork over the public park promised when that deal was done. And I'll go to Marlin's Stadium when Eyeonmiami is assigned private parking and suite like the county commission.
21 comments:
David Samson and his ex-father-in-law Jeffrey Loria are greedy pigs who saw an opportunity to take advantage of stupid elected officials and corrupt government administrators and they took full advantage. The taxpayers will now pay far more then $3 BILLION including debt service for the Marlins Stadium and Garage. The foreign based Marlins keep 100% of all ticket sales and 100% of the naming rights.
Voting Yes. Joe Martinez, Bruno Barrerio, Dennis Moss, Joe Sanchez, Angel Gonzalez, Marc Sarnoff, Michelle Spence-Jones, Angel Gonzalez...
Morning, Gimlete! I'll second this post and everything contained in it! Heck, I'll even pitch in for that parking space!
I was floored by this article this morning....Here is where the Herald got it:
http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/120308/story4.shtml
-------
From Miami Today:
Mr. Samson also had a few words about state officials.
"I went to Tallahassee," he said. "I don't know what they do up there. There are so many special interests. You walk through the building, and they're watching "Family Feud.' You see people running around, working on legislation. All I know is that gavel goes down and nothing gets done."
AND:
He called politicians "not the intellectual cream of the crop," adding about the entire population, "We're not the smartest people in Miami. If you're in this room, you're instantly in the top 1%."
Samson's comments about the idiotic politicians seem right on to me.
So don't go to these venues as a form of protest? Deprive myself of going to some great shows because the PAC looks like a Marriott to you? Watch theses places fall into oblivion?
Cut off nose, spite face?
Now that the money has been spent, lets watch it all go to waste? To prove we were right?
How about:
now that we got screwed already, let's go support these things, possibly help recoup some of the revenue, help these places exist so that there will be jobs (ticket takers, janitors, whatever) for local residents.
In addition, you might see some good shows or some great play on the field that will bring you enjoyment.
Support the Lion King! Cats!
So the 1% screwed the 99% again, what else is new? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice......
Although it was all insulting, it is pretty much true. We are all idiots to have trusted him.
I agree with the above (except the Norm Braman cracks). Politicians and voters in Miami do...well...suck.
Dave Samson is an intellectual midget who works for the guy who left his mother. She must have had a good divorce lawyer. "I want the home in Long Island, the Jaguar, a monthly alimony, and you have to hire my little David." Braman was right to brush off this worm.
First, The Beacon Council needs to release ALL the tape and put it on Youtube as a public service. We paid for the stadium, public funds support the Beacon Council budget. We deserve to know.
Second, there's another story here about what the "business elite" talk about when they talk among themselves. Samson thought he was among "friends" so he let loose. Is this what the so-called business leaders of our community also think of the community? Did anyone in that room feel uncomfortable? Are they willing to stand up for average Miamians, who are paying for the stadium with their tax money, their art in public funds money, their tourist tax monies (which could have gone to creating beautiful PUBLIC amenities or cultural facilities.
It is all disgusting.... The Beacon Council, The chambers (all of them) and the tourist agency think just like that... We are nobodies to them ....
Well it seems Michael Lewis and his newspaper have been caught in a lie misquoting Samson. The Beacon Council released the tape.
Inexplicably, the beacon council releases PARTS of the tape. Why?
The point is Samson and Loria were easily able to convince Carlos Alvarez, the disgraced Manny Diaz, George Burgess, the stupid and corrupt (finally fired) Larry Spring to divert over $3 BILLION from the taxpayers and give it to the privately owned Marlins.
Samson is right. Elected officials and government administrators and attorneys were idiots. Or corrupt. Probably both.
And the voters...
Best post I have read lately!!!!
Elected officials exposed and by the latest one who took them, and us, to the cleaners.
Now we know what people outside of Florida think of us and, even more shameful is that they are right!!!!
Release the full tape Beacon Council, the people who pay the big bucks have the right to know exactly what was said.
Gimleteye is correct. We should all stay away from the games, both Marlins and Heat until they do what they promised.
And the County and City must give up their box...Why should these new voriche reap the benefits of their failure to guard our money?
Watch it on television. You will see it better there anyway.
What a waste!!!!
We can blame the elected officials for the corruption in Dade County all we want. The real fault rests with those who are eligible to vote and do not bother to register and the registered voters who do not vote and the ones who do vote keep electing undesirable and ill prepared candidates to lead us. As I have said before: we vote for he/she who screams loudest last.
David Samson and his boss Marlins owner
the Canadian Jeff Loria live in NY. Occasionally they visit Florida. Neither stays in Miami.
Samson is correct. The elected officials and municipal executives he met were sheep. They gave away $3+ BILLION to Loria and Samson.
Taxpayers got slaughtered.
Michael Lewis wrote numerous editorials listing facts and reasons why the Marlins deal was a scam. In fact, the SEC is finally investigating. (The same SEC that let Bernie Madoff steal for 25 years so don't get your hopes up.)
The taxpayers are stuck with a $3+ BILLION bill and David Samson is still short, cocky and obnoxious.
Samson smiles at how easy it was to get a majority of the 18 County and City Commissioners to divert over $3 BILLION from the taxpayers and build his private company a new stadium.
The Greater of Miami Chamber of Commerce and the black Chamber of Commerce ended up being promoters of the scam. So easy. Samson paid a few long time Chamber members and they promptly lied for him.
Disgraced ex-Mayor Manny Diaz should be indicted.
$3+ BILLION diverted? The Feds should make him do a perp walk.
City of Miami Commissioners Marc Sarnoff and Michelle Spence-Jones voted Yes for the Marlins scam. Spence-Jones extorted concessions from the promoters for her vote. After the vote they took back every promise they made her. Maybe she got money on the side personally?
Samson was right. Elected officials are idiots.
Post a Comment