Saturday, May 26, 2012

Javier Souto: county commissioner turns over a rock in West Dade, finds Muslims with beards blacker than Castro's ... by gimleteye

Fred Grimm tee'd off on Javier Souto the other day in the Miami Herald. Grimm had been alerted to a hateful diatribe by the longtime county commissioner from the dais, caused by a Muslim businessman's erection of an enormous house out of scale with the character of neighborhoods in Souto's district. The gargantuan home built by the Muslim businessman is scarcely a mile from the commissioner's home and near FIU.

Later, in an "unusual" press notification -- (For Shame, Eyeonmiami was not on the distribution list!) -- Souto was apparently wounded by Grimm's editorial focusing on the commissioner's jingoistic, anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Community activists who opposed Souto's votes with the unreformable majority of the county commission to move the Urban Development Boundary are often on the end of his barbs, muttered or voiced in breathtaking rambles of discombobulation from the dais. Javier Souto, who can find a Communist in every opponent to growth-at-any-cost, now finds Muslims in growth he does not like. There's a hierarchy, for you.

We speak from years listening to Souto "inform" his colleagues how being a community activist against moving the urban growth boundary in West Dade (to the benefit of big campaign contributors from the building, construction, and rock mining industries) makes us allies of Castro. "(Souto) also noted the house’s proximity to Florida International University, later telling a Miami Herald reporter that he was worried that someone would set up shop at the home “to work on the boys and girls of FIU.” At least, the opponents of moving the UDB have never been accused of that! We're "the wine and cheese crowd" in Souto's scrambled universe. (Note for the record: my preferred cheese is French.)

“This is serious business,” the commissioner said at the meeting. “You know what I’m talking about. Two and two is four.” Souto took a remorseful tone in his statement. “I am an elected official and should measure my words when speaking because anything you say seems worse when you later read it in print,” Souto conceded. “However, I am human and I am anything but a politician.” Say, what?

As one of the community activists who opposes moving the Urban Development Boundary to appease the Great Destroyers, I am offended that Javier Souto apologizes to Muslims but never apologized to us.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. Now that Souto opposes a development he does not like but that is within regulations and codes -- he finds evil worse than even Castro: he suspects Muslims with dark, bearded motives in the suburbs of West Kendall using inappropriate buildings to pervert FIU students... those malleable, impressionable future activists in his district! (Note to Fred Grimm: that's how you tee off on Javier Souto ...)

"Dennis Moss, Souto's fellow county commissioner, suggested along the same line in Grimm's editorial: "“Sometimes you don’t want to have regulations, but other times you do ... We need to take a look at the code, if you want to make sure this kind of structure can’t be built again.” But he warned that the moment commissioners tighten up the definition of “harmonize,” property-rights advocates will come howling."

Yes, like those crazy windbags from South Dade and the 8.5 Square Mile Area. But with Castro agents and Muslim terrorists hiding under bus benches carrying political advertisements, who has time to keep track of them all?

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the builder is planning an ACLF. 3 stories and an elevator, for the builders mother? Hmm.

Anonymous said...

A Public Servant, a Miami Dade County fire Captain - Brian Beckman, has been demoted as punishment for a personal RANT and is required to complete a Fit for Duty evaluation and Department-approved diversity and or sensitivity training before returning to full duty....
What should the Public Servant, Former U. S. Senator, Miami Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto's punishment be for his Public RANT against a Particular Religion? (there are County, State, and Federal Laws that prohibit Discrimination based on Religion.) What other Board of the County Commission policies has Commissioner Souto violated?

Anonymous said...

"hateful diatribe by the longtime county commissioner from the dais, caused by a Muslim businessman's erection of an enormous...." OH G O D !

Anonymous said...

They are called "Mc Mansions" a Moratorium will work.

Anonymous said...

Senator Souto is an excelllent public servant

He is the only one who is always available to his constituents. He holds two Town Hall meetings every month and is available every Saturday morning at Tropical Park for any Miami-Dade resident who wants to sit and discuss any issue with him. He also makes himself available to anyone who wants to invite him to their home to discuss something in private. He has a true "open-door" policy at both his downtown and District offices.

As for the atrocity built in District 10: please drive by and look at it. It is on 111th Ave & SW 46th street.

In the middle of a very modest neighborhood of single-family homes, suddenly, this three-story "apartment building" straight out of Disney's "Aladin" rises up! If it weren't so blatantly obvious that all codes were bent, it would be hilarious! (Seven bedrooms and eleven bathrooms!). What Souto is trying to point out is that code-enforcement inspectors were either drunk or looking the other way. To that I say, "Bravo Commissioner Souto!"

Anonymous said...

I live in district 10 and even thoughi do not like souti i have to admit he is extremely accesible, he is an advocate for the parks in miami dade county and is a strong advocate for our seniors so for me he is good to a certain extent but in everglades and environmental issues he is a damm train wreck he always votes tO move the UDB

Geniusofdespair said...

Javier Souto has Issues with non Hispanics. He calls the white Americans "the wine and cheese set" and that offends me as much as someone calling Hispanics "the rice and beans folks" or if he called Blacks "the watermellon and corndog set." he stereo types all the time. He cares about ONLY his district, he should be a Mayor not a commissioner. He doesn't care about the rest of us - he has contempt for us.

Anonymous said...

So let me get this straight. Souto believes tha code enforcement folks were asleep or worse with regards to this house which meets all code requirements, but he thinks DERM employees were breaking the law when enforcing wetlands permitting requirements in the 8.5 Square Mile Area (see previous posts by GoD regarding Alice Pena). I knew he rambled a lot, but I didn't think he did so out of both sides of his mouth... until now.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 3rd anon. If employees can be demoted for expressing politically unacceptable opinions on social media, why the hell shouldn't Souto be censured or sued for using his public platform to defame the owner of the house? Yet the rest of the commissioners just ignore him and wait for him to wear himself out. And every Dept. director shakes in terror when this little despot calls and demands some unreasonable personal favor for someone in his district. Shameful behavior.

Grillo said...

I have known Commissioner Javier Souto for more years than I can count and I also live in his district. I can only say that Commisioner Souto is not a bigot in any sense of the word. He is also 100% accessible to his constituents and and takes the time to help them with their problems. That is why he keeps being re-elected. As one of the posters above said, just drive by the house in question and then think if you would like to live next to that monstrosity. This house is only a bait and switch ploy enabled by the code enforcement inspectors.

Anonymous said...

Souto did not defame the owner of the house. He called him a Muslim. The man is a Muslim.
The house has an entire third floor open space designated as a "prayer room". That is not allowed in a residential neighborhood.
Have you seen the house? After you do, decide if you would allow that next to your home?

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon
"Senator Souto is an..."
"He also makes himself ......"
"He has a true......"
MDC D10 Commissioner Souto's office staff (Cronies) is that You???

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon
"He is the only one who is always available to his constituents." - Not when there are concerns with MDC Contractors doing substandard sidewalk installation work and MDC District 10 Residence Constituents try to bring it to MDC D10 Commissioner Souto's attention to make Souto aware of them.

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon
"He holds... and is available every... at Tropical Park any Miami-Dade resident who wants to sit and discuss any issue with him." - Not so, MDC D10 Commissioner Souto, used to meet at Tropical Estates Park but quickly ended that when MDC District 10 Residence Constituents had and still have numerous problems with sub standard sidewalk installation of new sidewalks, flooding, lack of french drains, favoritism for some residents concerning new driveways for some and not others, when MDC D10 Commissioner Souto does not want to hear from your group of MDC District 10 Residence Constituents, MDC D10 Commissioner Souto stops the meeting and walks away to his car with his staff (cronies) in tow.

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon
"He also makes himself available to anyone who wants to invite him to their home to discuss something in private. " Yes, MDC D10 Commissioner Souto sends his Office Staff (Cronies) along with Code Enforcement and cameras, to look for Violations at their homes, especially if Souto does not want to admit Souto has a problem in MDC District 10.

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon
"As for the atrocity built in District 10:....It is on 111th Ave & SW 46th street. "
- As for another atrocity built in District 10, (Commissioner Javier Souto did not complain to anyone???)in the same neighborhood, just a half mile to the East on the other side of the Lake: please drive by and look at it. It is located at 4250 S. W. 108 Avenue.
or copy and paste: http://goo.gl/maps/HCHy

Anonymous said...

the 6th Anon

In the middle of a very modest neighborhood..... If it weren't so blatantly obvious that all codes were bent,.... What Souto is trying to point out is that code-enforcement inspectors were either drunk or looking the other way. To that I say,...." - to that the 6th Anon is saying MDC D10 Commissioner Souto and D10 office staff (Cronies) were Drunk or looking the other way, because in fact MDC D10 Javier Souto and D10 office staff(Cronies) do make monthly drive-byes rounds along with Miami Dade County Police and Code Enforcement staff to look for Code Violations in District 10, (Is this part of their Job description?) especially target the MDC District 10 Residence Constituents that have been trying to get a meeting with Commissioner Souto about their valid concerns and MDC D10 Commissioner Souto does not want to acknowledge that these concerns are valid.

Anonymous said...

This is Souto's last term in office. There are some younger candidates laying down the groundwork to take him out in the next election.

Anonymous said...

I am the 6th Anon. I am not a member of his staff nor do I know Comm. Souto in any other capacity. I am a resident of district 10 and have lived in my home for 38 years. I am not Cuban. I was born in Ft Lauderdale.

Comm. Souto does not relate to me or others like me as "the wine and cheese crowd". He addresses me as, "Sir" and treats my wife and me with the gratest respect. Comm. Souto is a decent and moral gentleman. He is an excellent public servant. He speaks with a slight accent, but so did my grandparents. He is dedicated to his constituents and will be sorely missed when he retires.

As for the "Arabian Nights" monstrosity, I would like to see how many of these Anons have the guts to post an opinion AFTER they see the house. By the way, construction on it is halted again - for the third time.

Anonymous said...

I watched the Hearing on TV and I have seen the photos. It appears the developer is trying to build a ACLF. It is massive. Several bathrooms? 10 bedrooms? 10 bathrooms? Elevator? It is out of place in that neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

The paper said a house JUST AS LARGE is being built a few blocks away. Not a peep from Souto because they are real Cubans that didn't put Muslim motiff on the exterior. Well Cubans we could do without your fountains and decorative tiles and your endless house parties in our neighborhoods.

Geniusofdespair said...

Souto is not an excellent pubic servant to the county, far from it. He panders to his constituents, that is how he gets reelected.

Anonymous said...

It was not a Hearing but a Discussion item allowed to brought forward by the Chair without any public notice or public input, including the Builder... HHmmmm....
The right to face your accuser denied by Javier Souto
Libertad! Libertad!

Anonymous said...

ACLF or more likely is going to rent out rooms to the Frats from FIU or maybe for employees at Kendall regional hospital??? This would be okay. Right?

Anonymous said...

Maybe there's a plan for a "Bed & Breakfast" as deep South Dade has one in the spotlight. Maybe there's room to grow some black berry bushes, a mango tree, a mamay tree, etc that would give patrons "a taste of the tropics."

A winery close by could provide the 'spirits'. Agri-tourism is a go-go even in the urban-sprawled
connecting areas. There's no reason why Comm.Soto,the'cattleman
should bark at this, other than it's more than 6 bedrooms. (ordinance)

Riley

Anonymous said...

The massive size is completely out of scale with the neighborhood. Something fishy is going on. Souto was right.

Denny Wood said...

Poor Mr. Souto, it is time to retire from the commission.

His brain appears addled, and his tirades grow worse. This on on a Muslim was too much. He cannot pull back the words or jail threats.

Game over, for a man who helped people with disabilities all his life. Age appears to have caught up with Mr. Souto.