Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial September 12th: The Deadly Fruit Fly and Nazi's in Jacksonville. By Geniusofdespair

The Miami Herald Would Charge You to Read a Saturday Editorial... If They Even Had One!

FRUIT FLY INVASION IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY

Generic Fruit Fly - Might Not Be The Invader

Fruit farmers in South Miami Dade County respond candidly about the crisis:

First fruit farmer:

Those of us in the quarantine area cannot harvest/sell/move our fruit without executing a compliance agreement with DPI of FDACS. No problem in general as we all want to eradicate this potentially devastating pest.

BUT the dysfunctionality of DPI/FDACS makes compliance very difficult:

a) Promised updates to their website have not been there and the information posted is mostly outdated, inaccurate, and irrelevant.
b) One specific bait/lure/insecticide item that is required for virtually everybody will not be available in the quantities needed for all of us to comply. They have no "Plan B" to take account of this situation.
c) There are other agencies that could be of great assistance in checking/inspecting transportation of produce and nursery plants for compliance but they have not interfaced with them to help doing so (e.g., Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade Police Department's Agricultural Patrol unit).

I could go on and on but these 3 give you a hint of the situation. I liken their response to that of a Haz Mat unit that is responding to a massive release of a toxic substance and they begin to say things like "We really need to order our Personal Protective Equipment" and "It would be a good idea to have hoses to wash the stuff" etc., etc.

A second fruit farmer said:

The growers who still have fruit on the trees (avocado, guava, pitaya, longan and more) are truly agonizing over this along with the shippers and packers who must be in compliance yet try to stay in business. The hope is that no more infected fruit gets smuggled in and the USDA treatment program will nip this in the bud. 

 A third fruit farmer said:

At this moment  we can appreciate the FDA and its staff down here to eradicate this fruit fly before it becomes a large infestation. Thanks to Brian Benson and staff  and to our local team at IFAS and TREC Ag Center.

This is a giant problem for our fruit farmers folks. Pray for them or whatever it is you do to help others. Most important: Don't bring foreign produce into the U.S.

HATEFUL PEOPLE IN JACKSONVILLE  (worse than Hudstead)

Yes that is a Nazi symbol in the inset that is on the back of this Ford Truck and there is a photo of Hitler on this Jacksonville truck. The American flag is upside down and they have a Confederate flag. And then they display "In God We Trust." Hey Jacksonville person, I trust God will know what to do with you. I wouldn't trust him in your case with anything less than a visit to the ninth circle of Dante's Inferno.  I guess people can look up your license plate and avoid you like the plague. I wonder what happens when a Black cop stops you?

His mother lets him go to school like this? Where is the administration? Jacksonville you are slated for damnation for your hate. I predict that the soon-to-be discovered zombie virus will settle first in Jacksonville and all these haters will contract it. I think that new show "Fear of the Walking Dead" is filmed in Jacksonville and it is actually a documentary. You heard it here first! Stay out of Jacksonville normal people.

Free speech is not supposed to be HATEFUL. I don't understand racial hatred at all. It doesn't make sense. I blame all of Jacksonville because they look the other way. I would beat up that kid with the confederate pants. And I would be loading up that Ford Truck owner with traffic tickets. He is disabled (See space)? Probably mentally.

CAMPAIGN FINANCING 

Will Gimenez's gobs of money over-power Raquel Regalado's Mayoral campaign?

School Board Member Raquel Regalado has passed the $200,000 mark. That is no small feat considering everyone is afraid to give to her as they are afraid of Gimenez's temper. The reason you register to run is so it is LEGAL to collect funds for your campaign account. The current Mayor of Miami Dade County, Carlos Gimenez has not even registered to run. He is working through a PAC where there are no limits on donations. I asked Raquel what was up with her campaign. She said August is a very busy time for the School Board and at the moment her complete focus is on that. I guess when you have a job to do, you have to do it. She said look for more action on her campaign in the Fall.

Commissioner Xavier Suarez is watching from the sidelines to see if Raquel Regalado can gain traction in the Mayoral race. I think he could possibly jump in if his commercials are any indication. He is certainly a more likable and smarter candidate than Carlos Gimenez. So is Raquel. I like Xavier but I would like to see a woman Mayor for once. We are dominated by men in higher office.

The Brick or Brass?

Carlos Gimenez doesn't have to worry, Brian Brickmeier or Brassmeier (much more accurate name than 'Gold'meier) is raking in the cash for him (PAC) with subtle and not so subtle persuasion of donors. I have heard stories about Mr. Brick's strong arm tactics with those that do business with the county. Political Committees are such a fucked up way to collect money.  Speaking of PAC's, Miami Dade Residents First (to benefit the Mayor) has Collected $159,700 last month for a total of almost $1,500,000 Remember, PACs have no money donation limits like campaigns do. Many have dropped lumps of $25,000 And $30,000 on Gimenez's PAC. Lefrak City (UGH, ugly, ugly development in Queens) Developer in New York gave $25,000. A lot of New York money is in this PAC. It appears Gimenez's PAC exhausted Miami donors and is at the bottom of the barrel scraping by with 3rd tier contributors.

Here are ALL the donors for August to Miami Dade Resident's First:

1	8/18/2015	Royal American 1400 NW 107th Avenue Ste 405 Miami, FL 33172		Business	realestate	Check		$500.00
2	8/18/2015	Bayardo Aleman 1206 Columbus Blvd Miami, FL 33134		Individual	attorney	Check		$100.00
3	8/18/2015	Javier E. Fernandez 6090 SW 85 Street South Miami, FL 33143		Individual	attorney	Check		$500.00
4	8/18/2015	Richard E. Schatz 5921 SW 105th Street Pinecrest, FL 33156		Individual	attorney	Check		$1,000.00
5	8/18/2015	Tate Enterprises 1175 NE 125th Street Suite 102 North Miami, FL 33161		Business	realestate	Check		$250.00
6	8/18/2015	Fronton Holdings, LLC 3500 NW 37th Avenue Miami, FL 33142		Business	realestate	Check		$500.00
7	8/18/2015	Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler 150 West Flagler Street Suite 2200 Miami, FL 33130		Business	law firm	Check		$7,500.00
8	8/18/2015	Miami Marriott 9090 South Dadeland Blvd Miami, FL 33156		Business	hotel	Check		$4,000.00
9	8/18/2015	Eugene Stearns 250 Cape Florida Drive Key Biscayne, FL 33149		Individual	attorney	Check		$1,000.00
10	8/18/2015	Oak Plaza Associates 3841 NE 2nd Avenue Suite 400 Miami, FL 33137		Business	realestate	Check		$5,000.00
11	8/18/2015	MDDA Holdings, LLC 3841 NE 2nd Avenue Suite 400 Miami, FL 33137		Business	realestate	Check		$5,000.00
12	8/18/2015	Sweet Bird Associates 3841 NE 2nd Avenue Suite 400 Miami, FL 33137		Business	realestate	Check		$5,000.00
13	8/18/2015	Michael A. Belfonti 2319 Whitney Avenue Hamden, CT 06518		Individual	realestate	Check		$10,000.00
14	8/18/2015	112 Development Manager LLC 200 S Biscayne Blvd Suite 3600 Miami, FL 33131		Business	realestate	Check		$5,000.00
15	8/18/2015	700 Miami Development Managers 200 S. Biscayne Blvd. Suite 3600 Miami, FL 33131		Business	realestate	Check		$5,000.00
16	8/18/2015	Frances Anillo Toledo LLC 3191 Coral Way Ste 400 Coral Gables, FL 33145		Business	architect	Check		$2,500.00
17	8/18/2015	Andelson Construction Co. 7380 NW 77 Ct. Miami, FL 33166		Business	construction	Check		$5,000.00
18	8/20/2015	Harrison Tucker Lefrak 40 W. 57th Street 23rd Floor New York, NY 10019		Individual	realestate	Check		$6,250.00
19	8/20/2015	James Lefrak 40 W. 57th Street 23rd Floor New York, NY 10019		Individual	realestate	Check		$6,250.00
20	8/20/2015	Richard S. Lefrak 40 W. 57th Street 23rd Floor New York, NY 10019		Individual	RealEstate	Check		$12,500.00
21	8/24/2015	Annie Hernandez 701 Brickell Avenue Ste 3300 Miami, FL 33131		Individual	attorney	Check		$100.00
22	8/26/2015	Steven Sonberg 4022 NW 24th Terrace Boca Raton, FL 33431		Individual	attorney	Check		$1,000.00
23	8/26/2015	Agustin R. Arellano 9045 SW 68th Avenue Miami, f 33156		Individual	construction	Check		$5,000.00
24	8/26/2015	Windsor Investment Holdings 28 Tahiti Beach Island Rd Coral Gables, FL 33134		Business	realestate	Check		$500.00
25	8/31/2015	Skyport Development 8231 East Prentice Avenue Greenwood Village, CO 80111		Business	realestate	Check		$6,000.00
26	8/31/2015	Dfass Group 555 NE 185 Street Miami, FL 33179		Business	Retail	Check		$25,000.00
27	8/31/2015	Robert Diener 8877 Collins Ave, PH2 Surfside, FL 33154		Individual	hotelier	Check		$5,000.00
28	8/31/2015	Karen Pope Consulting, LLC 3179 East Wood Valley Rd Atlanta, GA 30327		Business	consluting	Check		$2,000.00
29	8/31/2015	Tran Nguyen 3648 Princeton Avenue College Park, GA 30337		Individual	concessions	Check		$1,000.00
30	8/31/2015	Bernie Tokarz P.O. Box 12121 Atlanta, GA 30355		Individual	consultant	Check		$500.00
31	8/31/2015	ATL Concession Partners 100 Peachtree Street NW Ste 1900 Atlanta, GA 30303		Business	retail	Check		$250.00
32	8/31/2015	Atlanta Restaurant Partners 1760 Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309		Business	retail	Check		$2,500.00
33	8/31/2015	Beloff Law, P.A. 1691 Michigan Avenue Suite 360 Miami Beach, FL 33139		Business	law firm	Check		$1,000.00
34	8/31/2015	A National Limousine Service 1990 Metropolitan Pkwy SW Atlanta, GA 30315		Business	transportation	Check		$1,000.00
35	8/31/2015	Benchmark Management, LLC 100 Peachtree Street Suite 1900 Atlanta, GA 30303		Business	Constructionmgmt	Check		$1,000.00
36	8/31/2015	Sunshine Gasoline Distributors 1650 NW 87th Avenue Miami, FL 33172		Business	gasdistributors	Check		$25,000.00

MDDA is Craig Robbins. DFASS group is Jonathan Potash and Bernard Klepach. I suppose they are Airport Concessionaires.