Since Mayor Carlos Gimenez is not exactly stepping forward to separate from Donald Trump, it is time for the county commission to provide decisive leadership: if we won't reject Trump completely, make his Miami-Dade enterprises pay full freight for services they receive gratis from police and fire protection and other departments. This isn't rocket science. A simple slap on the hand is not enough for Mr. Trump who seems to be cultivating the John Birch Society branch of the Republican Party. Why isn't Miami-Dade County on the list of municipalities, like NYC, that have already taken steps in the same direction. What's taking so long?
15 comments:
Ummm ... it's unconstitutional for the government to punish someone because it doesn't like his speech. This is a textbook case.
I know DiBlasio in NYC is a moron who doesn't know better, but I thought you understood the First Amendment.
I wrote that if Donald Trump is getting free services from Miami-Dade County for any reason or for any of his businesses, he should be charged full freight. That's not punishment. That's protecting taxpayers.
Free services? He is a taxpayer shelling out millions for his properties.
I don't think so, half his properties use only his name and are owned by others, the Dezer's come to mind in Sunny Isles Beach. He has everything in corporations and shareholders probably pay a good amount of taxes. If he doesn't have shareholders, this guy knows how to get out of paying for anything. Anyway, because he pays taxes doesn't mean he is entitled to more than we all get. Does it?
Gimspierre I say we Guillotine Mr Trump, how dare he make so much money and aghast speak his mind, the nerve...that right is reserved solely for those that agree with you.
TO THE BARRICADES!!!!
Wow. So sensitive are the Trump supporters. I guess you also didn't care when the shoe was on the Oderbrecht foot? LOLZ.
It amazes me how many people who either were educated in this country or came here and passed a citizenship test has no idea what the 1st amendment actually means. They just throw "freedom of speech" out on the table any time some idiot with a microphone makes an idiot comment and gets criticized for it. Listen up and learn: legal precedents are quite clear that the 1st amendment guarantees that the government may not abridge speech, including certain actions, but it does not mean that individuals cannot be held accountable for their speech or actions or that there may never be consequences for same. Of course, as we have seen, private entities and even the government have the right to legally terminate a contract with, or may openly criticize, an individual or corporation whose positions they find objectionable. The government just cannot make a law saying that the individual or corporation cannot take those positions publicly, unless the potential for public harm may arise (i.e. yelling fire in a crowded movie theater). There would be no constitutional issue with M-D County completely divesting itself of all contact or agreements (contract or otherwise) with Donald Trump and his subsidiaries.
BTW, burning the flag is protected from legal prohibition as freedom of speech...
I amazes me how idiots like the anon above claim to understand the first amendment but don't. This one is pretty simple. The government can't punish people for expressing unpopular political speech. Prohibited punishment includes cancelling agreements/contracts. Got it?
I for one agree with the Idiot Anon (expert on Amendment Uno) above but I say we go further and make a law that not only punishes people financially for their speech but their thoughts as well which will also includes as punishments long prison terms and maybe even bring old sparky out of retirement. I think we need a good old "re education" campaign.
Maybe the government can create a whole PR campaign around old saying; Watch What You Say Mister! (or Mrs or Ms or MrMs, in order not to seem sexist or gender biased, gotta keep up with the times).
Anon above "The government can't punish people for expressing unpopular political speech. Prohibited punishment includes cancelling agreements/contracts. Got it?" you could not be more wrong. There are myriad court precedents where individuals were punished for what they claimed was protected speech, but actually wasn't. And cancelling a contract is absolutely NOT considered government abridging free speech. You got it?
What do the experts say?
UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh said Trump’s First Amendment rights shield him from any interference with his local government contracts, citing the 1996 landmark Supreme Court case, Board of County Commissioners v. Umbehr.
In Umbehr, the Court held, “The First Amendment protects independent contractors from the termination or prevention of automatic renewal of at-will government contracts in retaliation for their exercise of the freedom of speech.”
Alan Dershowitz called any effort to cancel Trump’s government contracts because of his anti-illegal immigration comments “plainly unconstitutional.” Dershowitz said, “He would have a fairly open and shut case if they deprived him of any contract.”
No I don't get it. Cancelling a contract to punish someone economically for speech is punishment just the same. Comprende
As a long time volunteer for this tournament, I don't want to see it ended. A lot of money is raised for charity that helps a lot of youth organizations in the county.
I would like the PGA to ask Trump to take a back seat and let the tournament be about the golfers again and not his massive bloated ego. He doesn't need to be on the green when the trophy is presented and it would be nice if he stayed up in Palm Beach that week if he feels the need to be in Florida.
He is entitled to his opinion and let the chips fall where they may but the golf tournament, with a truly international field, should not be a casualty of his stupidity.
Agree or disagree with Trump is everyone's right.
Moving the golf out of Doral is Miami's loss both economically and charitably.
The PGA TOUR leaving Miami is every resident's loss with the exception of Trump.
He still will own the resort and the Tour will continue staging somewhere else out of Florida.
Support the Tour! By supporting the Tour, we will be supporting charities such as the First Tee and the United Way, charities that help many in our community. I inquired and the tournament has been at Doral for the past 50 years! Trump has been in Miami for only 3. I also learned that the PGA Tour has donated more than 30 million to local charities since 1962 this money has done a lot to help many individuals and families in our community. Not to mention the economic impact the tournament brings with Hotels, entertainment and dinning during the week which could be in the 10 to 20 million dollar range annually.
Concerned resident!.
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