BREAKING NEWS: STUPID WATERFRONT BECKHAM SOCCER STADIUM
Apparently Frank does not like to be blindsided. He was shouting in English and in Spanish. Other members of the Trust were aghast but no one was as vocal as Frank Carollo Chairman of the Trust. Members include Marlene Avalo, Alex Cardenas, Pedro R. Diaz, Ralph Duharte, Jeanie Hernandez, Nathan R. Kurland, Marie Louissaint and Jesse Manzano.
I do not know where the document came from but I assume the Mayor's office. This freight train for a David Beckham soccer stadium on the waterfront is going to be hard to stop with all the idiot elected officials we have. Frank, stay strong, don't fold. Don't wall off our waterfront.
The Army Corps of Engineers has told me that they would have to review this project if any filling of the bay is involved. Unless built on uplands, they said they have jurisdiction and they have not received an application on filling in the Historic FEC slip. That process likely would take over a year.
Also see Al Crespo on this....
40 comments:
Good for Frank Carollo. We hope he continues to take a leadership role protecting the FEC slip and Bicentennial Park from the speculators. This smells too much like the Marlins Scam...
It is Sarnoff not the mayor with this bright idea.
Who drafted the document? Was it City Attorney Victoria Mendez or was it drafted by a lobbyist for Beckham and his foreign backers? Commissioners should be demanding an investigation.
Nathan R. Kurland is a Sarnoff crony, guess he was installed by his boss in the Bayfront Park Management Trust to be his eyes and ears. By the way these are the same people who have been systematically destroying historic Coconut Grove to make way for high rises and franchise businesses to replace small moms and pops businesses.
Great, Commissioner Carollo - keep up the good work!
By the way, I don't think Nathan Kurland should be considered anybody's "crony"
Nathan Kurland is completely independent. Maybe too independent for Sarnoff? Sarnoff refuses to reappoint Kurland as his appointee to Bayfront Trust.
These are also the same people who figured out how to bypass their historic advisory board when it looked like they might get in the way of development. Have they no shame? (Oh I forgot - they are elected officials who will do anything for campaign dollars), Disgusting!!!
Carollo is my city commish for the Roads. We do give him a hard time but he is going the right way on this one and I am completely supporting him. I have totally given up my support for Gimenez and I dont care what he does this was the clincher, unless he publicly states he made an error in judgement he's toast to me. I like what a commenter who is pro stadium in the slip said-- he or she called it "a gutter" and I can see their point. Many times its filled with tons and tons of blown in sea grass and all kinds of litter but its just priceless to have that access without a building on the site and there are ways to better utilize it with public input and interaction for the future but it must be kept open and accessible from land on all three sides. Que Viva Carollo ( Frank not crazy Joe)!!!! BTW it was funny to see Crazy Joer at Miami Commission where he weasled on to the agenda last week to get the dingalings to denounce Globo tv b/c of human rights abuses in Vz and read a letter from Marc declaring them persona non grata!!!! It was priceless!!!! Fun like a juggling unicycle rider, Crazy Joe grasping at straws trying to stay relevant and our singling out a few rich guys out of tens of thousands of scum bags in our county to tar and feather them. best entertainment value for your dollar I swear to G-d!!!!
Other than citizen activists and bloggers, who is looking out for the residents? Remember what happened with the Marlins Stadium?
Nathan Kurland has honorably and selflessly served our community for many years. He truly cares about our Miami, its history, residence, businesses and quality of life. He would make an excellent City of Miami or MDC Commissioner that we could all respect, trust and be proud of. Be sure to tell him so, the next time you see him. Perhaps with enough encouragement and support he will continue to help us improve our government.
BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST - 2007 TO PRESENT
MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY - BOARD MEMBER - 2008 TO PRESENT
MIAMI BAYSIDE FOUNDATION - CHAIRMAN - 2010 TO PRESENT -
SCENIC FLORIDA - BOARD MEMBER - 2013 TO PRESENT
SCENIC MIAMI - DADE - STEERING COMMITTEE - 2012 TO PRESENT
CENTER GROVE NEIGHBORES ASSOCIATION - VICE PRESIDENT - 2007 TO PRESENT
GIVE IT BACK - CHAIRMAN - 2012 TO PRESENT
COCONUT GROVE ART FESTIVAL BOARD - 2011 TO PRESENT
KING MANGO STRUT BOARD - 2009 TO PRESENT
GIFFORD LANE ART STROLL - STEERING COMMITTEE - 2012 TO PRESENT
POLICE COMMISSIONER SEARCH COMMITTEE- CITY OF MIAMI- 2012
BUDGET REVIEW TASK FORCE - CITY OF MIAMI - 2010
URBAN ENVIRONMENT LEAGUE
MIAMI NEIGHBORHOODS UNITED - 2010 TO PRESENT - CENTER GROVE REPRESENTATIVE
Is this even legal? Is it a maneuver to get around the referendum requirement of an election when the City sells or leases waterfront park to a private entity? Remember the trick they played with the Marine Stadium Basin land - waterfront public land that should be a public park but is slated for commercial development, too. The City transferred it to the Sports and Exhibition Authority so there won't be a public referendum. Is this what will happen to the FEC slip?
It takes awhile for people to fine out what is happening and to organize and also for the media to ask the hard questions and bring out the truth - like the fact the soccer stadium is really a conduit for commercial development - lined with restaurants and shops to "animate" the park and that it will span several city blocks long and be 10 stories tall, thereby blocking the views and access to Biscayne Bay. Or to find out who the real "investors" are behind Beckham the spokes model and brand ambassador. The faster things move, the less likely the truth will come out, the more likely they will prevail in taking away our public waterfront park.
Note: Referring to earlier comment, Marine Stadium Basin Land has not been transferred to Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority.
Not yet transferred you mean. But that's the direction the City voted to take it in. In order to avoid a public referendum. That same play has been done before - who's to say that's not what is planned on the FEC slip?
Manny Diaz and City officials gave away 9 or 10
acres of Bicentennial Park to two very broke museums by bypassing a Voter Referendum. Diaz used the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority and corrupt City staffers. Miami Science Museum is 4 years behind schedule, and there is doubt it will ever get finished. Condo residents on Biscayne better hire some top lobbyists if they want to keep a massive 10 story building off the FEC slip.
The two museums were supposed to get no more than four acres each. Many of us recall that from our earlier battles and the huge public design workshop back in 2001. Who has checked on the reality of this non-profit "taking"? It should be done. With the Beckham stadium heist we appear to be witnessing another in a long line of "takings" of public land by private (sometimes nonprofit) interests (who so often cater to upscale corporate party event goers.) Which city or county commissioners stands up squarely for the public interest rather than reflect the interests of campaign contributors. Maybe the public, who awoke from their sleep to oust Mayor Alvarez, will bestir themselves again. But it takes work by many people. Maybe Mayor Regalado will also awaken sooner rather than later and stop this freight train with a front man.
This ordeal is very disrespectful, and if the Beckham group hadn't ignored the City of Miami, I wouldn't believe they'd be so dense. Seems their timeline needs to have the deal signed and sealed way before a November election.
Mayor Gimenez has a track record of knee jerk reactions to lobbyist ideas with no research into the historical or legal consequences.
I just read that there are only two cities vying for the 2022 winter Olympics...Mayor Gimenez, don't you think that would be a great use of resident's tax dollars? Think of all of the new construction, the media attention, the use of all of these stadiums!
Harry, have Sarnoff and Kurland had a falling out? Why is he not renominating him for Bayfront Trust? How long did it take Kurland to see the real Sarnoff?
Between FPL, BECKHAM, and elected officials in Miami and Miami Dade , there is a clear message to taxpayers: FLEE!
Army corps move at glacial speeds, even under the best circumstances, I'd say its at least a two year plus permitting process.
I've posted an Exclusive on who was actually behind the document and why. www.crespogram.com
We can't cut and run. We have to stand and fight. Given our wonderful tropical environment, con men will continue to come here every year trying to take what little is left of public spaces. The only way to keep what we have is to fight. . .
Hundreds of newly informed citizens have caught on to Marc Sarnoff and his pandering to various sleazy corrupt speculators. Citizen leaders are emerging.
crespogram.com and Patricia Mazzei at the Herald have insight into this story. Beckham's schemers are working like little beavers behind the scenes trying to buy commissioners votes. Do board members at Miami Art Museum and Miami Science Museum know Beckman's handlers hired their lobbyist? Yup, the lobbyist for MAM and MiaSci is now working to pave the newly renovated park and take away their views south.
Suit the city
Law suit
All this money for a soccer stadium which we don't want...and at the same time the Mayor and commissioners are planning to lay off at least 95 library employees, restrict library hours and stop many library services. Write your commissioner today!
Last Anon, "all this money for a soccer stadium"? When you make completely ignorant arguments like that, it totally undercuts your argument.
For the 1,000 time, the stadium is going to be funded with PRIVATE MONEY, including the cost of filling the essentially useless FEC Slip to generate another 9 acres of WATERFRONT parkland (in addition to the 4 acres of so of PARCEL B, that is currently used to stage elephants when the circus is in town).
As to the State of Florida "contribution" it is merely a rebate on sales activity that would not be there without the stadium development. There are sales tax rebates for tons of things, including construction materials, etc., and every State in the Union offers it. Economic incentives are part of what government is there for.
I actually like the site. It is along Biscayne Boulevard, not the water front. During games days, the water front will be as active as any other time. We have concerts, and other events in the area (AAA, Bayfront Park, etc.). This would create an amazing venue for sports AND Entertainment.
Not only that, it would generate more parkland, and create a larger water front, with access all the way from the Port Bridge to the 395. It is a give and take, and I suppose reasonable people could disagree on the plan, but, I like it, and it will not cost the local taxpayers one cent, in fact, the local taxing authorities will derive income from the plan as currently composed.
Vision for the future doesn't mean that leave things alone and do nothing, you take what we have, and make it better. That is what we have here, in my opinion, but, I am sure some of you folks will opine differently (interestingly, I saw some numbers that show a majority of people that actually live in downtown would like this to happen, funny thing, when you live the urban lifestyle, you actually want more assets like this to bring more life to a Downtown that not too long ago was shut down right at 5 pm.)
The 9-10 acre site coveted by David Beckham and his foreign bosses might be valued at $400 mil to $600 Mil. Beckham et al have never offered to pay cash for the site. It is cute Beckham offers to give Parcel B back to the City SINCE HE DOES NOT OWN PARCEL B. People need to remember the Marlins scam.
I'd like to point at that no one has yet to actually see any renderings of what the actual stadium will look like including sky boxes, restaurants, bars or even the access roads.
Up to now we've been given nothing but renderings that are more like architectural porn than reality.
This is really significant, because I'm willing to bet that the Beckham posse will try and keep that information out of the public's eye as long as they can.
Also there is an interesting story on the Miami new Times website today about what is actually going under the water in the slip.
Lastly, to the person above, the $15 plus million in taxpayer money that has already been spent fixing up the seawall and surrounding area so that big ships can tie up - like will happen in the middle of June when that area is officially opened as a park is public money that will have been wasted if the Beckham posse has it's way. They do not want to reimburse the city for any of those monies, and if they succeed and cover all of that effort over with dirt, then that's a real expense of taxpayer money that you cannot ignore.
Imagine if you will David Beckham removed from the project.
Now with that said would this project be going forward?
He is the ultimate straw man for developers. Take him out of the equation.
I've just posted a copy of a letter released by the design team for Museum Park opposing the Beckham Soccer Stadium in the park. Click on my name to read it.
Alexander Cooper, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Ana Gelabert, Mr Dover... This letter should drive a stake in the heart of the stupid idea to put a 10 story building in Bicentennial Park.
Sarnoff, Suarez, and Gort will be the 3 votes. Steve Marin controls all 3. Oh he hasn't registered you say? Since when does that f'n matter?
Stupid ideas and Bicentennial Park are synonymous.
What I heard on issues was if the City can get its cash without the Ommni CRA strings attached, they are in. The easiest way is sell it the county, just like they did with the AAA which means the BCC gets the final say and guess who the swing vote on this issue may turn out to be? Right, the mayor's clique, led by our favorite flatbilly.
Normally I'd say there is no upside for a challenger to weigh in on this issue because the incumbent already had to (and then defend her record later when it turns out to be the wrong position) . Plus a "no" position now pisses off the fans and the big money downtown... why make enemies over something she may never get to vote on? Plus does anyone really have to guess where the challenger stands?
If it were me I'd go with "at this time it's impossible for me to make an informed decision as I have not been a part of the process and only know what has been reported. Naturally I support sports as a great community engagement tool and also support the public's right to weigh in and explore the best possible methods to both to leverage and protect our natural resources. "
siri
Steve Marin does NOT control Xavier Suarez. The other two, I don't know, but not Suarez.
Francis Suarez and Steve Marin sure were close when Steve Marin was whispering in lil' Francis's ear. Sarnoff always does whatever Marin wants. Gort is a dope.
Lobbyists are a common topic on this blog and most of us agree that we dislike them. But have any of you actually met Steve Marin? He is the most obnoxious, gross, bad-mannered human being on the face of the earth. He lacks proper command of the English language. He can't speak two sentences without using four letter words. And if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of sitting at a meal with him as I unfortunately was, I recommend you just sip some water. The man is a foul beast! He chews with his mouth open. He talks with his mouth full if food. He sweats profusely. He spits when he talks. Gross! Gross and vulgar and disgusting!
And his track record isn't very good either.
Lil Francis still has a lot to learn. He surrounds himself with quite a number of fools. Xavier Suarez is another story. He's no fool. He's very wise and has learned a lot from past mistakes.
Steve Marin helped get Sarnoff elected. Surprise, surprise. Marin almost never registers his lobbying clients. Sarnoff always advocates for Marin's clients. Slime.
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