Homestead and Wayne Rosen Update: Hudstead's Keys Gate Can't Catch a Break. By Geniusofdespair

Multiple neighbors are complaining on line about their houses shaking and cracks in their foundation. One woman replaced all the tile in her home....

Some of the copy that is with  Keys Gate petition:

Florida City Commission gives final approval to a rock quarry’s expansion despite earlier protests by homeowners, regulatory agencies and the superintendent of Biscayne National Park against Atlantic Civil. (Posted on Sun, Mar. 30, 2008).

Atlantic Civil will develop a rock-mining quarry on 589 acres of land that is so far projected to be located south of Southwest 360th Street and east of Southwest 167th Avenue. Some 72 acres are already being mined.

City leaders said the economic benefit of the quarry outweighed concerns raised last fall by homeowners as well as environmental and park officials.

Amanda Garner (a Homestead Council member at that time) appeared at the Florida City Commission meeting to express her constituent’s concerns about blasting damaging their homes. ''I can't tell you how many times I've been contacted by residents who've had damage to their homes -- foundation cracks, brand new homes with cracked tiles,'' said Garner, who's no longer on the council. ``People can feel it in their homes when it happens.''

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Meanwhile here  is an update on, in my opinion, a Self-Centered Man always on the move to make more money at the expense of...well anyone but him. God forbid that he should help the middle class people who live in the community that he built, people who love their homes despite their dwindling property values because of his failed golf course:

 Wayne Rosen Update on Keys Gate - in the Miami Herald:

You have to understand that you can’t ask me to build a golf course without having those single-family homes to to help pay for it. It’s called cash flow. - Wayne Rosen

“Why is the developer dictating to the city what should be built? A city and its residents should be dictating that, not the developer. The developer should conform to what the citizens and the city thinks are the best uses for those lands.” - Councilman Jon Burgess

Will Homestead get its golf course? Developer: only if city passes my request

With some misgivings and a promise to review at least part of the issues before taking a final vote, the Homestead City Council tentatively approved a zoning application by Wayne Rosen that would allow give him more flexibility than other developers to build what he wants in an area designated for mixed use — a combination of retail, single-family homes and condos.

Rosen told the Miami Herald he plans to build 91 single-family homes and that in return, he would pay to renovate the rundown Keys Gate Golf and Country Club, although the golf course is nowhere mentioned in his application. Golf course renovations weren’t part of the conversation Wednesday.

But passage on May 18 is not assured. Some council members are not comfortable with proposed changes to the existing mixed-use zoning code on Rosen’s 20 acres, and say they want to revisit the issue before the final vote.

“I think we’re giving up too much with this ‘mixed-use’ dialogue,” said Mayor Jeff Porter, who voted in favor. “If we don’t have some sort of concession, some sort of clarification, it’s going to be the biggest sticking point. I’m giving it a chance to live, knowing that there’s still a chance for it to die in second reading.”

 When I think of Keys Gate I always have Watergate in the back of my mind.

Don't Despair: We almost made it to Numero Uno! By Geniuofdespair

If it weren't for Darby, Pa. being number 1 we would have been tops.  However we didn't do badly. Out of the top most dangerous cities in the United States, Miami Dade County had 2 cities in the top 20 ranking.  We made it to number 2 with Opa Locka and number 3 with  Florida City.

The Line For Shakes at "Robert is Here", Population Overload. By Geniusofdespair

The line was the longest I ever saw for Shakes at Robert is Here. Once you ordered there were almost 70 shakes in front of you that had to be prepared.

This is way out in Florida City. I think that South Florida is reaching a saturation point. If the mosquito's don't get some the tourists, I will never be able to have a shake again. An hour is just too long to wait.

Seriously, we are starting a housing boom again when even a fruit stand can't handle the population.  This is a symptom of a greater problem no one wants to talk about in Little Manhattan (Miami). This fruit stand is our farming district (at least an hour from the Broward County line without traffic) or it is supposed to be our Farming district. We are eating away at it. How are you going to keep viable farming with all these people?

Shake, shake, shake Senora, the song says "Jump in de line."

 NOTE TO COUNTY COMMISSIONER DENNIS MOSS:

YOU ARE TOO LATE Dennis Moss, Gulfstream Park is building a major water theme park. They beat you to it. Now you can forgo that sensitive land you want to build your theme park on.

Water Theme Park in construction at Hallandale Beach's Casino, Gulfstream Park. The centerpiece of the park in an 11 story high Pegasus. Gulfstream park has gambling and horse racing too and a shit-load of shops. What can you offer in your District, Commissioner Moss? Build it and they WON'T come.

The $30 Million dollar Pegasus is right on US 1, not even a 1/4 mile from the Miami Dade County line.

Homestead: What Evil Lurks. By Geniusofdespair

Why would you change a polling place that many in the neighborhood could walk to? How about because there is a pool table in the middle of the room? That is what I heard from elections. They were wrong, it has been there for 20 years so it is not the pool table. Mayor Porter and Judy Waldman (she said there was a fire in the clubhouse) said there were renovations and a permit issue at the site. Everyone in Keys Gate and North Gate who do not vote at the country club are upset because the polling location is too far and they think they could also have gone to Keys Gate country club because it is huge -- or at the Gateway school -- as it is a big location.  People in Homestead think something is up that is making the elections department so rigid about the location. Is Gimenez involved to help his best bud Lynda?

Part of Keys Gate and North Gate, Homestead's largest polling precinct with about 2,614 is now about half at the Mennotite Church at 30601 SW 162nd Avenue not even in city limits.  There is a special election the 13th of May on the Seminole Theater and the police building that might be build on a Radon plot.  They couldn't wait till August? What kind of dough-heads are governing to hold a special election on two questions?

There was a meeting about all this, I heard Mark Bell, Lynda's Bell's husband was there stirring the pot.  Something is going on.  Let's say that with this change absentee ballots will be more prevalent, thus, more room for fraud.  This really sucks.

I heard Tim Milton a Black Boletera who usually works for Democrats, is harvesting absentee ballots in Homestead.  I am sure James Brady is out there too. Everyone is getting ready for Daniella Levine Cava Race with Lynda Bell in August.

I asked Elections about an update on the James Brady/Mark Bell absentee ballot case. They said it was in the hands of the State Attorney (that means nothing will happen). In any event, call the State Attorney because they love to have the statute of limitations run out on controversial cases. Ask them about the case. Don't let Rundle off the hook.

I heard Mayor for Life Otis Wallace of Florida City is holding a fundraiser for Former Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman legal defense fund. Is everyone daffy out there?

Mayor Gimenez: Last Night's Town Hall Meeting on Taxes in Florida City. Guest Blog by Florida City Activist

Standing Room Only. People lining up to speak. Link to VIDEO of meeting.

Mayor Gimenez showed up thirty minutes late to his budget hearing in Florida City to find the room filled to capacity. He was just late enough for the “he’s just another politician who can’t find his way south” jokes to start fluttering around the room.

The Mayor was well modulated throughout the hearing; however, he was visibly not thrilled when formerly ardent supporters (and fundraisers) from Kendall and the Falls area chided him on the library and pet shelter. Gimenez was tweaked on the “same old faces” comment by some of the same old faces (they reminded him that they were tax payers and they could go to public hearings). Some of the new faces took their time for a show of hands in the audience to offer-up to the Mayor and his entourage a whole new set of faces to study for the next meeting.

He started off with the comments explaining how they had to worked things around so no libraries would be closed, 4 police academy classes would start, the pets got an amazing 40% increase in their budget and that fire fighters would be pretty much the same.

It wasn’t until 15 minutes later that people began to understand that “no libraries would be closed” (that was what he called the “footprint” of the library system) – was not the same as keeping the librarians in them. Gimenez spoke about how hard staff is working to find everyone jobs --- looking even in the private sector to help them transition. That just turned up the heat a bit as that realization took root that buildings “open” did not equal trained librarians but maybe volunteers from non-profits agencies in them.

The room got rowdy when the Mayor cut off Kendall pet advocate Michael Rosenberg. Michael asked Gimenez why he let them go through the whole straw vote process to let the issue die in the commission. The mayor told Michael he and his people did a great job in a two year period by bringing the issue to forefront and resulting in a 40% budget increase for animal control.

A highlight of the evening was when a team of teens sang to the beat of rhythm instruments a “you’ll miss us” song about the librarians being gone from the library. Gimenez said that was the nicest way anyone had told him their opinion.

The oldest attendee was Connie Ingram of Florida City who came to the budget hearing on her 97th birthday. She was pleased with all the attention and hugs; but with her hearing being a bit lacking, she missed all the racket and catcalls directed at the Mayor making for a better experience during her visit.

The Mayor insists that this issue is the Commission’s problem. He can veto their final budget numbers and they can override his veto. He says he only makes the suggestions when he presents the budget; they fund what they want in it or not.

Florida City's Convoluted or Crooked Deal. By Geniusofdespair

I suspect kickbacks are in the works for someone in Government or is this just a very bad deal?  The property appraiser estimated the worth of this property in 2010 as $601,440.  Florida City paid $3,000,000 for it 10/2010.

It sold for $3,000,000 in August 2005 to Geo Group (they manage correctional facilities) -- that is the TOP of the market.  So why did Florida City pay so much 5 years later?  Did the owner pave it with gold? The previous owner submitted all the plans. I guess they will manage it. So what does the Geo Group do, buy expensive land and then sell it to a municipality for more than it is worth? What is going on? This appears to have been 5 years in the works. They are so sneaky and under-handed don't you think?

Florida City wants to built a detention facility here.  It just happens to be where Florida City recently did an annexation.

I wondered in my article on the annexation, why? Why now?  What is Otis Wallace up to? Now we know.  Someone should investigate this over payment. Or is this some sort of convoluted deal we will never understand?

There is so much wrong here: The jail would require a excavation and fill permit from the Army Corps as it would be filling in freshwater wetlands. It is also less than five miles to the eastern border of Everglades National Park. Wrong number 3, the property is outside the UDB.

Annexation area same as Army Corp's Application map area.

FBI: Read this post on Miami UDB issues ... by gimleteye

The Urban Development Boundary delineates land located outside the urban services area from land inside, where government may be obligated to provide basic services. Moving the UDB, for developers, is critical to the business of shifting infrastructure costs to taxpayers so serve their profit models. The arbitrage between land value inside and outside the UDB is enormous. For land aggregators and developers anxious to build the kinds of crappy subdivisions that sent the economy and housing markets straight down the shitter, moving the UDB entails finessing the political process process. On the other side are citizens maddened by the imposition of costs: traffic snarls that stretch endlessly, overcrowded schools, and inconsistent fire and police protection. For environmentalists, land outside the UDB is the last remaining open space to recharge drinking water aquifers and provide buffer lands between intensively urban, agricultural lands and the Everglades. That's why UDB battles have been for decades the finest bleacher seats from which to interpret the political corruption that is "barely legal" in the truest sense; from county commissioners rolling over to approve sprawl far from their inner city districts-- to raise campaign cash-- to state regulators who take their marching orders from the pro-growth lobby and legislators and governor's office in Tallahassee. (One such battle is going on, right now, over  an application called "Ferro" in West Dade. Eye On Miami is virtually the only place for readers to get an insiders view of the postures and positions.) 

More on the Florida City Annexation. By Geniusofdespair

I finally found a decent map so I could snoop around to see what is out there. The dotted line is Florida City's current boundary. There was an 8 to 5 vote in favor of the annexation yesterday at the PAB. In the meantime there are must-read articles in the Miami New Times, on the Mayor of Florida City, Otis Wallace and Otis Wallace, Florida City's "mayor for life," is corrupt with power:

On December 11, 2009, Baldwin secretly met with investigators in a warehouse across from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Doral and spilled his guts. In a sworn statement to the FBI and Miami-Dade Police's Public Corruption Investigations Bureau, Baldwin said he had served as Florida City's public works director for eight years but was fed-up with corruption.

Baldwin began by describing how Wallace had allegedly sold his vote to Steve Torcise Sr., a real estate developer who owned land in Florida City. According to Baldwin, the two made a deal: If Wallace voted to rezone 100 acres of land — and convinced commissioners to do the same — Torcise would sell the mayor a chunk for the cut-rate price of $100,000. Once rezoned, both men would resell the land for a huge profit.

Steve Torcise is also Lynda Bell's biggest supporter. He, with Lennar, tried to develop Florida City Commons a few years back. It all hinged on an annexation that the Mayor was advocating for (Commissioner Barbara Jordan is the sister of the Florida City Mayor).

What's Up With The Florida City Annexation? By Geniusofdespair

In the Herald today, there was a notice of a public hearing Feb. 22nd on the Florida City Annexation. A miniscule map was included.  I couldn't find the map on Planning & Zoning's website so I blew up the crappy one in the paper. It is unreadable.

I also looked up the area on the Miami Dade Property Appraiser website (map above).

My question is: Why does Florida City want this land -- mostly vacant land outside the UDB line? What is really going on??

Be Afraid for the Future In Miami Dade County. By Geniusofdespair

I like and supported Jean Monestime, but I didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling at the reception last night. As you can see by the last line on the graphic above, Lobbyist Ron Book sponsored the reception and was in attendance. Also in attendance was Mayor for Life from Florida City, Otis Wallace. Otis Wallace is brother of County Commissioner Barbara Jordan and arrested lobbyist Sandy Walker (she was also a former aide of Dennis Moss).

Yes, I know, attendance does not mean a lot but it scares the hell out of me. Commissioners are most vulnerable at the start before their roads are paved, when they are seeking council and forging relationships. I left early so I don't know who else came on my watch-list. Community Activists Mack Samuel and Lucie Tondreau were there, and that gives me hope. I greeted Jean and congratulated him, I don't think he knew who I was (forgot he knows me as Geniusofdespair) he was warm and friendly to me anyway.

A message to you Commissioner Monestime: We need you NOT to be beholden to the powerful in this town, or the unreformable majority of the County Commission. The people of the entire County need you and aligning yourself wrongly will shortchange them as well as your district. I was inspired by your speech at your installation as County Commissioner, please continue with your vision, not the vision of the tainted! I hope you can also embrace the vision for the environment that Katy Sorenson had. Your hiring of Sean McCrackine gives me hope for a broader view because you make decisions for all of us in the County. I want to be proud of you and look up to you, stay pure of heart. I have hope but I am still very afraid. (Also see a brief history of District 2's leadership.)

Vacant Townhouses in Florida City, a year later. By Geniusofdespair

I reported on this property in Florida City in March of 2009. I went back to see it because somehow the County was involved with it. The sign mentioned Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Foundation. Did we give the developer a grant from taxpayer funds?

I found that little had changed except now some of the units have their front doors forced open. And, there was a hearing by Code Enforcement for the over-grown lawn (that's all?) January 28th. The City noticed the defunct Corporation. I suspect Regions Bank might be involved as they had a lis pendens (foreclosure) in 2008 but no final judgment. There is a real estate sign on the property that says 16 units are for sale, the City could have asked them who to contact. The 2008 taxes have not been paid.

It is a crime that these units have sat vacant for over a year when there are homeless people in Florida City. (hit on images to enlarge them)