News from Around Miami Dade County. By Geniusofdespair

Stealing: February 5 (from a Rundle Press Release) -

Ram A. Schratter, a former County supervisor with 20 years’ experience in the Internal Services Department’s (ISD’s) former Alarm Unit, was charged today with one count of First Degree Organized Scheme to Defraud and surrendered in Circuit Court. The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office (SAO). The investigation uncovered that Schratter was purchasing security alarm system equipment intended for use in County facilities and diverting the equipment to his private security alarm business, Moon Security Systems, Inc.

Schratter was immediately sentenced and will serve six months in jail followed by six months of house arrest (technically, a total of 12 months of community control), followed by two years of probation. As part of an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office, Schratter was required to pay $200,000 in restitution to the County and costs of investigation to the OIG. Schratter will also forfeit his 20 year County pension and any leave he had accumulated prior to his resignation. In addition, Schratter will be debarred from contracting with the County for a period of 5 years, have to perform 75 hours of community service and cannot hold any public employment until the expiration of his probationary period.

Now why was he allowed to have a private business if he was working full-time for the county? Part of his punishment: He can't work with the county for 5 years? OMG they would hire him again?

Fire Boats:

Miami Dade County moved the Fire Boat serving the North End of the Community South. Commissioner Sally Heyman was not happy as she is Commissioner of all the high-rise communities to the Broward line. She said to the Miami Herald:

“It’s a shame,” said Sally Heyman, a Miami-Dade commissioner whose district includes some of the causeway as well as waterfront cities like North Bay Village and Sunny Isles Beach.

Heyman has been pushing for a fire boat to be deployed even farther north, near the Haulover Inlet, and says the ritzy high-rise canyons and waterfront mansions in her jurisdiction pay enough property taxes to merit a boat nearby.

Heyman  called her district a "donor" community. That means they give more than they take from the county. If one of her waterfront high-rises had a fire on a high floor it would be in deep shit and she would unfairly shoulder the blame and she knows it. She has the area from Aventura to parts of Miami Beach. Gimenez complained the fire boats were not being used. So what? They have to be there as a precaution. Now we have two fire boats almost in sight of each other. That makes no sense. This is the wrong way to run a government. Not everything is there to make money. You need services sometimes that don't make any money.

Tropical Park:

This was on Rebeca Sosa's Facebook Page...

Put the Youth Fair at the North Campus. There is plenty of room there. On the vote, were people made aware that they would be losing green space and that a lake would be filled in? Here is the ballot language you dumb clucks that voted for it:

Charter Amendment Exempting from Article 7 Florida International University’s Expansion onto Youth Fair Site. The Dade County Youth Fair site at Tamiami Park is exempt from the public park purposes use restrictions and construction limitations in Article 7 of the Charter. Shall the Charter be amended to:
•Extend this exemption to Florida International University (FIU) for its expansion onto up to 64 acres of such site upon relocation of the Youth Fair; and
•Provide that no County funds be used for FIU’s expansion and the Youth Fair’s required relocation?

This was terribly worded and had three issues in it. Norman Braman and Raquel Regalado...how about a lawsuit on this one too? Let's throw them all out.

Lester Sola:

Currently tapped to head the Water and Sewer Department with a raise, I found him to be a sub-standard Elections Department head. I think Penelope Townsley is 10 times better at the post. He would send me the stupidest emails that never solved anything.

Lastly, I found this blast from the past (2013) on a selection committee for a  bid from AECOM and CH2M Hill on my computer that should interest someone (not me) Lester Sola was a CC on the memo:

New ECO has Plenty of Money and Only Sally Heyman's Name Popped Up. By Geniusofdespair

(2013 is a "New" ECO in my view. It is meant for the 2014 election.)

Ernesto Martinez, Jr. is the officer of this ECO "Miami Dade County Working With You" and the treasurer. The only name I could find was Sally Heyman. Does that mean she has an ECO with $126,950 for her campaign along with her campaign finances $146,804. Heyman was reimbursed for $92 of postage on this treasurers report. I thought candidates were not supposed to coordinate with the ECO. What do I know.  I don't even know if it is hers.  If it is, I wonder if she is worried Wolfson will run against her.  Expect Lynda Bell to have one of these...it is our future. $300,000 to $600,000 collected for a $6,000 a year job. It is all the Procurement. I show you all the names so you can start to learn who is running the county.

Campaign Treasurer's Report - Itemized Contributions
	Date	Contributor		Occupation				Amount
	2/26/2013	Akerman Senterfitt 495 North Keller Road Suite 300 Maitland, FL 32751		GovernmentAffairs				$2,500.00
	3/5/2013	Manuel A. Diaz, P.A. 1221 Brickell Ave. 19th Floor Miami, FL 33131		Attorney				$500.00
	3/29/2013	County Line S. Properties LLC 347 Don Shula Drive Miami Gardens, FL 33056		RealEstate				$9,500.00
	3/29/2013	Christian Alonso 1130 SW 104th Ave. Miami, FL 33174		DirectorLegalAffair				$2,500.00
	3/26/2013	Amer. Engin. & Develop. Corp. 11765 W Okeechobee Road Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018		EngineeringandDevelopm				$2,500.00
	3/15/2013	Prodesa International LLC 2730 SW 3rd Ave. Suite 601 Miami, FL 33129		GeneralContractor				$2,500.00
	3/26/2013	POP Holdings, LLC 13701 SW 143rd Ct. Suite 104 Miami, FL 33186-5625		RealEstate				$2,500.00
	3/20/2013	Alberts Electrical Service Inc 13701 SW 143rd Ct. Suite 104 Miami, FL 33186-5625		ElectricalServices				$2,500.00
	3/28/2013	Leza's Plumbing Corp. 9448 NW 13 Ct. Miami, FL 33172		Plumber				$500.00
	3/27/2013	Artistic Glass & Mirror of Mia 13275 SW 136th Street Unit 37 Miami, FL 33186		Glass &MirrorService				$250.00
	3/25/2013	Turnberry/Doral GP, LLC 1972 S. University Drive 2nd Floor Davie, FL 33324		RealEstate				$1,500.00
	3/22/2013	Bercow Radell & Fernandez, P.A 200 S. Biscayne Blvd. Suite 850 Miami, FL 33131		Law Firm				$1,000.00
	3/29/2013	Global Projects Inc. 3430 Poinciana Ave. Coconut Grove, FL 33133		BusinessConsultant				$1,000.00
	3/29/2013	Strategic Edge Inc. 235 Catalonia Ave. Coral Gables, FL 33134		Consulting				$2,000.00
	3/21/2013	Ronald Book PA 18851 NE 29th Ave Ste 1010 Aventura, FL 33180		Law Firm				$15,000.00
	3/25/2013	Sunshine Gasoline Distr., Inc. 1650 NW 87th Ave. Miami, FL 33172		GasolineDistribution				$2,500.00
	3/27/2013	Sofia Holtzman 3400 SW 27 Ave. #506 Miami, FL 33133		Consultant				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Century Laguna, LLC PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Century at Giralda Avenue, LLC PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Century Tower, LLC PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Alexandra Prop. Holdings, LLC. PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Atlas Holdings Group, LLC. PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Private Lending Group, LLC. PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		Investors				$250.00
	3/26/2013	Century Commercial Group, LLC. PO Box 261358 Miami, FL 33126		RealEstate				$250.00
	3/25/2013	The Stern Organization, Inc. 1665 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139		RealEstate				$2,500.00
	3/25/2013	Jeffrey L. Berkowitz Trust 2665 S. Bayshore Drive Suite 1200 Coconut Grove, FL 33133		Developer				$2,500.00
	3/18/2013	Jorge Munilla 7231 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143		RealEstateDevlopment				$500.00
	3/19/2013	6201 of Miami, LLC. 6201 SW 70th Street 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33143		CommercialRealEstate				$500.00
	3/19/2013	1401 Professional Center, LLC 6201 SW 70th Street 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33143		CommercialRealEstate				$500.00
	3/19/2013	1695, LLC 6201 SW 70th Street 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33143		CommercialRealEstate				$500.00
	3/25/2013	IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund 900 Seventh St. N.W. Washington, DC 20001		ElectricWorkersUnion				$2,000.00
	3/17/2013	Richard A Berkowitz, J.D., C.P.A. 19910 NE 19th Ct. North Miami Beach, FL 33179		Attorney/CPA				$500.00
	3/20/2013	Marin and Sons, Inc. 16155 SW 117th Ave. Suite B21 Miami, FL 33177		GovernmentConsultant				$2,500.00
	3/4/2013	Weiss Serota HPCB, P.L 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 700 Coral Gables, FL 33134		Law Firm				$2,500.00
	3/10/2013	Mitchell J. Burnstein, P.A. 3190 N. 34th Street Hollywood, FL 33021		Law Firm				$500.00
	3/5/2013	Gilberto Pastoriza P.A. 1876 S. Miami Ave. Miami, FL 33129		Law Firm				$500.00
	3/6/2013	Nina L. Boniske, P.A. 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 700 Coral Gables, FL 33134		Law Firm				$2,500.00
	3/15/2013	Miami Moving Corp. 9981 S.W. 70th Street Miami, FL 33173		MovingCompany				$750.00
	3/15/2013	Daniel Sanchez-Medio PA 2540 SW 24th St. Miami, FL 33145		BusinessOwner				$750.00
	3/15/2013	Grueninger Law Group, P.A. 267 Minorca Avenue Suite 100 Coral Gables, FL 33134		Law Firm				$1,250.00
	3/15/2013	Ponce Davis Estates, Inc. 267 Minorca Avenue Suite 300 Coral Gables, FL 33134		RealEstate				$1,250.00
	3/15/2013	Ferosa Enterprises, Inc. 1134 Alfonso Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33146		RealEstate				$1,000.00
	3/12/2013	Greenberg Traurig 8400 N.W. 36th Street Suite 400 Miami, FL 33166		Law Firm				$5,000.00
	2/20/2013	New Leadership Network CCE 95 Merrick Way Coral Gables, FL 33134		CCE				$1,000.00
	3/22/2013	Yellow Cab Company 3775 NW 36 St. Miami, FL 33142		TaxiService				$5,000.00
	3/15/2013	Daniel Sanchez-Medio PA 2540 SW 24th St. Miami, FL 33145		BusinessOwner				$-750.00
	3/15/2013	Daniel Sanchez-Medio PA 2540 SW 24th St. Miami, FL 33145		Accounting				$750.00
	4/12/2013	Haifa C Hernandez 8495 SW 68 St Miami, FL 33143-2435		Housewife				$100.00
	4/12/2013	Ronald N Armstrong 314 Porpoise Drive Saint Augustine, FL 32084		Businessman				$100.00
	4/12/2013	Shoma Development Corporation 3470 NW 82 Avenue Ste. 988 Doral, FL 33122		RealEstate				$500.00
	4/12/2013	MS Capital Investments LLC 3470 NW 82 Avenue Ste. 988 Doral, FL 33122		RealEstate				$500.00
	4/12/2013	Pars Realty Inc. 3470 NW 82 Avenue Ste. 988 Doral, FL 33122		RealEstate				$500.00
	4/12/2013	Newslink Mav, LLC 6910 NW 12th Street Miami, FL 33126		Concessions				$2,500.00
	4/12/2013	Centerplate 1 Independence Pointe Ste.305 Greenville, SC 29615		Hospitality				$5,000.00
	4/12/2013	Advocacy Associates, Inc. 108 South Monroe Street Ste. 200 Tallahassee, FL 32301		GovernmentRelations				$500.00
	4/12/2013	Charles Dudley, P.A. P.O. Box 428 Tallahassee, FL 32302		GovernmentAffairs				$500.00
	4/12/2013	Robert Frank Reyes 108 South Monroe Street Ste. 200 Tallahassee, FL 32301		GovernmentAffairs				$500.00
	4/12/2013	Felix M Lasarte PL 3250 NE 1st Ave. Ste. 334 Miami, FL 33137		Law Firm				$500.00
	4/17/2013	Francis T Jantzen 17982 NW 9th Court Pembroke Pines, FL 33029		HealthCareExecutive				$250.00
	4/17/2013	James M Repp 3842 East Hibiscus Street Weston, FL 33332		HealthCareExecutive				$250.00
	4/17/2013	Gilberto Neves 8488 SW 94th Street Miami, FL 33156-7308		ConstructionExecutive				$500.00
	4/17/2013	Luis Simon 15351 SW 77th Ave. Palmetto Bay, FL 33157		Construction				$500.00
	4/17/2013	Grand Futura Properties, Inc. 8105 West 20th Avenue Hialeah, FL 33014-3231		RealEstate				$5,000.00
	4/17/2013	American Traffic Solutions Inc 7681 East Gray Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260		TrafficServices				$5,000.00
	5/10/2013	Miguel De Grandy, P.A. 800 Douglas Road Ste. 850 Coral Gables, FL 33134		Law Firm				$2,500.00
	7/11/2013	Wayne Rosen Inc 277 Galeon Ct. Coral Gables, FL 33134		RealEstate				$1,500.00
	7/12/2013	Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. 3111 Stirling Road Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312		Law firm				$1,000.00
	7/12/2013	Alan S Becker 13494 Stirling Road Southwest Ranches, FL 33330		Attorney				$500.00
	11/13/2013	Rafael Garcia-Toledo 5250 Granada 3rd Floor Coral Gables, FL 33146		Construction				$7,000.00
	11/6/2013	Global Tel Link Corporation 2609 Cameron Street Mobile, AL 36607		Communications				$5,000.00
	12/6/2013	Fred Dowding 5950 Hazeltine National Dr. Suite 210 Orlando, FL 32822		ExecProjectMgr				$2,000.00
						Total Contributions		$126,950.00

Oleta Park Land Taken off the DEP Excess Land List According to Sally Heyman. By Geniusofdespair

County Commissioner Sally Heyman's Chief of Staff has told me that Oleta State Parkland is OFF the DEP excess land list. Thank you Sally that is really good news. Thank you to everyone that made a big stink. It worked!

Commissioner Sally Heyman: No Competition? By Geniusofdespair

While Lynda Bell has raised $120,075 for her campaign and Jean Monestime $102,715 for his, Sally Heyman has raised $6,000.  She is popular in her district and gives us some pretty good votes on the Commission. She is one of our more liberal Commissioners, representing one of the more liberal districts in Miami Dade County: District 4.

Heyman only has 4 $500 donations, most come from lawyers.  Sally is in a unique position. Most of her district is comprised of cities so the developers have to go to the cities not to her for favorable changes -- unless it is a DRI development. Anyway, even thought it is incredibly early in the race (over a year away) barring some sort of extraordinary circumstances, I think she will run unopposed.

Commissioners Moss and Heyman: Good Work! By Geniusofdespair

Why we shouldn't move the Urban Development Boundary: 2 Miami Dade County Commissioners made the argument yesterday against sprawl on the West side of Miami-Dade (I saved you a few hours by editing, leaving you the best of the hearing):


Link to video.

Commissioner Moss makes a compelling argument. I really do like this guy.


Link to video.

Sally Heyman and Dennis Moss are 2 County Commissioners we can be proud of on this issue. I personally thank them for holding the line on urban sprawl. I also have to thank Commissioners Audrey Edmonson, Javier Souto and Jean Monestime.

County Giving Away Our Tax Dollars. By Geniusofdespair

Yes, I know County Commissioner Sally Heyman gave away about $460,000 of our tax dollars to many good causes a couple of week ago -- much of it given to groups out of her district. It was reported in one of Matt Haggman's last columns for the Miami Herald.

The problem is, Heyman gave the money to non-profits close to HER heart, not mine and probably not yours. For example I wouldn't have given $5,000 to Lauren's Kids (Ron Book's daughter - the non-profit is in Ron Book's office) and the Latin Builder's Association would not have gotten my funds. Heyman gave to the Jewish Federation, but what about money to St. Bernard de Clairvaux Episcopal Church in North Miami Beach, in the heart of her district? They run a food program. Also money to Fairchild Tropical Garden Education -- not my choice. It is a case of selective giving, her selection to be sure but NOT HER MONEY. She didn't take a survey of the County or even her constituents on what to give to.

The Commissioners don't get that it might have a public purpose but it is OUR MONEY. I think the County should not be funding non-profits and religious groups. Collect less taxes from me and let me do my own giving -- to the LBA, NEVER. I would give to help families left homeless or living in cars and to people losing their homes. I would also give to environmental groups. At yesterday's budget meeting Pepe le pew Diaz asked to use $25,000 for a Christmas luncheon and another $10,000 for a Spring festival. What?? That is so much worse than what Heyman is doing...he is literally buying votes in his district.

Here is a video of Sally Heyman listing all the groups she gave money to and how much. She admits she still has about $400,000 to go:

  (Video Link)

Marlins Stadium Deal: Commissioners Carlos Gimenez and Sally Heyman on HBO tonight.

Watch Bryant Gumbel tonight on HBO:

Ep. 163: Stadium

Quirky video, same on HBO website but you get the idea...

Mayor: So You Want to Be a Contender? By Geniusofdespair

Whether it is the Miami City Mayor's race (Sanchez and Regalado) or the County Mayor's race (Maybe Gimenez, Martinez and Sosa) there are disturbing connections for all of them. For example, this Lobbyist in the photo, recognized for excellence by the Latin Builder's Association, is Carlos' Gimenez's son. Carlos is also distantly related to the Vile one. How do connections factor in? Both City of Miami Mayor hopefuls are getting campaign contributions from many of the people/corporations that I believe contribute to or encourage the ills in our community.

Connections -- especially in campaign contributions -- are most troubling but everyone has them (and you can bet the future County reports will be chock full of them like Regalado's and Sanchez's reports). The problem is, you can't conduct a viable campaign without a lot of funds. And, even more disheartening, you can't raise funds against an incumbent (contributors are afraid of backlash if the incumbent wins so they stay with the "known").

That is why the contributions on these two Mayors' races are so interesting: No incumbents. You can see what sector is giving the most dollars to whom. Doing a collective analysis, you can guess the candidate a sector wants and vote for the opposite. However with lag time on publication of campaign reports and with most smart (tainted) power-brokers holding their contributions till the end, you will not know for sure until it is too late. Warning: The acceptance of contributions doesn't mean the candidate will vote favorably towards the sector giving. County Commissioner Sally Heyman, for example, does not always vote her contributions. Similarly, Carlos Gimenez doesn't always vote for what his son is lobbying for.

I don't think we can ever sever the ties that we don't like in people running for office. We did make a start when the County had public financing which helped rid the evil connections. The demise of public dollars for campaigns is a twisted, sad chapter in County history perpetrated by S.O.B.'s on the County Commission -- Read Beskin Op Ed for the story.

Miami Herald on Urban Development Boundary: leaves out citizens, otherwise known as subscribers ... by gimleteye

The Miami Herald has consistently supported protecting the Urban Development Boundary, even if the newspaper's publishers have been 'fraidy cats; failing to offer critical views of the excesses of the development community (except for supporting Jim Morin's cartoons) that lead to so much overdevelopment whose misery and costs total billions in its subscriber area alone.

Reading today's editorial reinforces the sharp divide that exists between the newspaper and its advertisers from citizens who subscribe to the Herald. The Herald acknowledges stakeholders from government and the development community but fails to even mention that the critical support for the Urban Development Boundary to be contested in court is through the involvement of citizens who are, often, unrecognized and "Un-Heralded" volunteers. If you were to read today's Herald editorial alone, and not this blog, you would get the impression that it was just the development community, the county commission, and objectors from state agencies and local planners from government who had taken the Urban Development Boundary issues to court. The UDB issues would never have happened without the active involvement of citizens and civic groups that rely on contributions from the general public. You should write your own checks, in thanks, to them.

Volunteers like Karen Esty and Barry White: two citizens who stepped forward to put their names as affected parties on legal complaints in relation to the UDB. There is Michael Pizzi (who represented them), an attorney and civic activist, who also stepped to the plate and won election as a public official in Miami Lakes (running against a candidate thrown in his way by county commissioner Natacha Seijas and her developer supporters.) Volunteers like Pat and John Wade, who spent years and years as plaintiffs against bad development decisions that lead to the glut in housing and infrastructure deficits that plague this county.

Special mention, in the Herald, is deserved for Richard Grosso, Robert Hartsell and the staff of the Everglades Law Center, based in Broward and Nova University. Given the scale of our communal problem with overdevelopment, the Everglades Law Center should be staffed by 100 lawyers. But few step up to fund and contribute to the ELC: as a result, a handful of lawyers-- a single handful-- cover this critically important part of the public interest. (You can signal your thanks for their work by writing the biggest contribution you can, to their efforts on behalf of the public.)

1000 Friends of Florida deserves note, for its support of UDB issues. But in the main part, the UDB is supported by local groups with paid staff supported by members like Clean Water Action, Tropical Audubon, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Urban Environment League. These are groups that deserve mention in the Herald, not just Eyeonmiami, for organizing public opinion polls, radio ads, mailings, who attend public meetings and coordinate turnout to county commission meetings: turnout, by the way, that is far different than the rent-a-crowd performance by Lowe's or other applicants to move the Urban Development Boundary. It is a bizarre manifestation of corrupt democracy to know that most of the bought bodies to fill seats at County Hall have no idea they just to provide "cover" for the bad decisions of the unreformable majority of the county commission.

The development community advertises in the Herald. Citizens only subscribe. It is an enduring frustration with the Herald that civic groups who engage to protect and uphold environmental and growth management laws are left out. It is a calculated appeasement of the paper's advertising base: we will offer our strong views to you, Mr. Developer, but we will stay within the lines; ie. that civic activists are "outside" the lines. We value your contribution to our enterprise, Mr. Developer, and we won't incur your anger by blessings that hurt our respective bottom lines.

The good commissioners on UDB votes deserve to be singled out, too: Katy Sorenson, especially, who has endured disrespect from the unreformable majority on growth issues for as long as she has been on the commission. Commissioner Sorenson has an articulate ally in Carlos Gimenez; they have been joined by Sally Heyman, and periodically by Rebecca Sosa and the current chairman, Dennis Moss. County Mayor Carlos Alvarez has been steadfast on UDB issues, except the Hialeah application in 2004: showing that when county-wide elections are at stake, the Urban Development Boundary is a very powerful issue for voters and candidates.

But the unreformable majority needs to be called out, too: their leader is Natacha Seijas. She is supported, always, by Pepe Diaz, Joe Martinez, and Bruno Barreiro in particular, and on the UDB issues by Barbara Jordan, Audrey Edmunson, and Dorrin Rolle. Their campaign finance reports-- filled with contributions from speculators, developers and rock miners outside the UDB-- tell you all you need to know.

Finally, understand this about the Miami-Dade delegation to the state legislature. Far from the prying eyes of citizens (and of the Herald, too) these elected officials have been promoting new bills that are highly damaging to the chances to protect our communities from rapacious, greedy developers and land speculators and rock miners. If there is one phone call you can make on Monday morning, it would be to ask Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the horrendous legislation that they supported: SB 360 and SB 2080. I'll be writing more about these lousy bills from the Idiocracy on Monday.

Here is a link to the full Miami Herald editorial, or, click more ...

Clear UDB message: Don't move it
OUR OPINION: Administrative law judge backs up planners, state agencies

Even though his split-the-baby decision allowed one project outside the Urban Development Boundary to go forward, administrative law Judge Bram D.E. Canter basically sided with the majority of stakeholders in the ongoing battle to manage growth in Miami-Dade County. In the case of the UDB, the majority is decidedly against moving the line for development further west.

However, those for moving the line, minority or not, are a powerful bloc: the majority of the County Commission and the development community. Defying both the experts and the market, they keep pushing at the UDB.

Standing against them from a growth-management aspect are the state Department of Community Affairs and South Florida Regional Planning Council. The county's Planning and Zoning Department opposed expanding the UDB because there is a healthy inventory of developable land inside the line.

On behalf of the county's water supply the state Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District put the brakes on past attempts to move the line. Both said the county couldn't justify new growth until it came up with new sources of water besides the Biscayne Aquifer. In response, county officials scrambled to devise alternative water supplies in a plan that will take decades to complete and cost millions of dollars.

Judge Canter agreed with the experts' arguments for not moving the UDB west. He rejected a proposed Lowe's Superstore at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Southwest 137th Avenue on a 52-acre site. There is ''no need for more commercial land, and no need for a home improvement store, in the area of the Lowe's site,'' said the judge, relying on the county planners' data.

In the other case, Judge Canter ruled that a commercial project that would expand the UDB on 42 acres on west Kendall Drive for shops and offices complies with state law. He ruled that its particular features make it not very conducive for agricultural use. In other words, it's more an anomaly than a precedent setter when it comes to future applications to move the boundary.

There's a message here for the proponents of moving the UDB: The law, the expert information, logic -- not to mention the dismal economy -- all tell the same story. This is not the right time to expand development west and south in Miami-Dade.

In his ruling on Lowe's, Judge Canter said that it is ''beyond fair debate'' that any real demand exists for more commercial development in that area. The same can be said for residential development in a county with one of the highest home foreclosure rates in the state. It's time for the County Commission to say, ``Message heard. Message understood.''

The County Commission 101: District 4, Sally Heyman. By Geniusofdespair

I decided I would do brief bio’s of the County Commissioners, Eye On Miami style. Some of you might not know a lot about County Commissioners, but you should! So I will do every Commissioner and here is District 4 (also see District 3, District 2 and District 1 -- IT HAS BEEN UPDATED since first published).

Miami Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman can vote the right way, in my view, most of the time. The photo above shows her getting an award from the Urban Environment League for her no votes on moving the Urban Development Boundary. She is pictured here with Commissioner Carlos Gimenez and Jeremy Glazer (representing Commissioner Katy Sorenson).

The one vote that truly disappointed me was on campaign financing:


Heyman sponsored a bill to raise campaign contribution limits from $250 to $500, and to allow corporations to make contributions (they had been barred). This was her most disappointing vote. You can try to reverse this Sally! There were a few others I didn’t like, one having to do with Carrie Meek, but for the most part her votes are better than at least 7 of the other Commissioner (we call these 7 the unreformable majority).

Her financials are not very interesting: Her net worth in 2003 was $303,696, in 2004 it was $342,793 and in 2005 she was worth $337,990. Her net worth in 2007 jumped to $573,500 due to an inheritance. She shows no other income except for the County's $47,977. She has 5 acres elsewhere in Florida which she valued at $40,000 in 2004 and also in 2007.

Her Discretionary Funds for 2007 showed $7,000 to the Aventura Marketing Council (Greenberg Traurig’s Clifford Schulman should be happy). $10,000 went to “I Have A Dream.” Another $10,000 went to the Miami Symphony Orchestra. She also gave $7,000 to DERM. Most of her discretionary money donations were under $10,000, $2,000 to $5,000 being the norm. The three previous Commissioners gave larger donations to single entities. Heyman has a better handle on the giving than the first three commissioners but I still hate the use of a couple of million of our tax dollars on these discretionary funds.

Society: Lobbyist Ron Book’s Daughter to Wed. By Geniusofdespair

In case you missed it, Lauren Book, campaign contributor to Carlos Gimenez’s campaign, has graduated from college and is slated to marry June 7th. Invited according to the Miami Herald: (My invitation must be late) County Commissioner Sally Heyman, Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, Broward Property Appraiser Lori Parrish and Dade County Police Benevolent Association President John Rivera (755 guests total). This posh wedding is at the Fairmont-Turnberry Isle Resort. Why isn’t Carlos going? What about Gwen Margolis (Book friend but no fan of Sally). Ron gave $2,500 to Natacha Seijas’ campaign so far, I wonder if he will extend her an invitation, and, what about Ron Book critic Max Rameau (of Umoja Village fame)?

Rebeca Sosa Flips on UDB Vote by Geniusofdespair

Last time around Sosa voted NO on these same 2 applications to move the Urban Development Boundary. I was too busy to listen to her reasoning. Anyone have an answer about what she was thinking or if she was thinking?

Voting no on the two applications were Sally Heyman, Katy Sorenson, Dennis Moss and Carlos Gimenez. Next it goes to the Mayor for a possible veto. And, then it will go for lawsuits.

I expected the Vile Natacha Seijas, Dim Bruno Barreiro, Diaz, Martinez and Souto to vote yes. But the really, really dumb ones are: Edmonson, Rolle and Jordan. They are too stupid (or crooked) to realize this hurts their districts in the long run. You would think after the train funding fiasco they might have smartened up. No such luck. You three: You ain't ever going to get that train as long as we do Westward Ho!

This was a super-majority vote: 5 No's were needed.

Another County Audit: Another Boondoggle Found. By Geniusofdespair

Your tax dollars at work!

The February 14th issue of Miami Today reports on a county audit of "Art in Public Spaces." Even the County Commissioner who called for the audit is appalled at the report and rightly so. Commissioner Sally Heyman said of the questionable practices found by the audit:

“...(it) amounts to negligence to the point of being criminal.”

Much of the very expensive 630 piece collection, paid for with our hard earned tax dollars and estimated to be worth about $28 million, are damaged from neglect even though the program had $3.6 million in its bank account last year. The audit said:

“It is ill-advised to procure expensive artwork without consideration of long-term maintenance costs.”

Who dropped the ball on what the auditor called a "program in shambles"? The program is overseen by a 15 member board of trustees and the commission retained final oversight. The audit says that these trustees have not done their job. In addition, there is an 11 member advisory committee and they get paid $500 a day plus expenses when their services are used.

I think County Manager Burgess And Michael Spring have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do but I think they will weasel out of this mess with a slap on the wrist. Also, here are the trust members (I bet each is on multiple boards and most offer little more than their names, as usual, to County Boards):

Cindi Nash, Chairperson
Susan Ackley
Felice Dubin
Vera Dubson
Sandi-Jo Gordon
Julio Grabiel
Cheryl Jacobs
Penny Lambeth
Dr. Paula Levine
Becky Roper Matkov
Graciela N. Solares
Carol Damian

Posting on Weekends: A Chore. By Geniusofdespair

Gimleteye and I (that is awkward) have not missed a day since we started but I am beginning to think posting on weekend is a waste of time. I did a lot of research for my Saturday post on the elections. When Sunday comes, I always figure there might be something in the paper, but the Miami Herald disappoints. I know there is that cruise ship dumping story...doesn't excite me. I am left with nothing today. I was looking for an article on Councilwoman Nancy Simon, Miami Lakes: nothing. I couldn't even find anything in the God-awful Neighbors section of the Herald.
I did find this interesting photo in Elena Carpenter's "Miami Monthly" of the Ziff's and Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Sally Heyman at the Arsht renaming ceremony at the Performing Arts Center. The photo got me thinking: hmm. For instance, look at Dolores Ziff's body language.

South Florida Regional Planning Council: What the hell is it and why did they vote on our UDB? By Geniusofdespair

Believe it or not, we do have growth management guidelines in place in Forida. Really, I am not kidding. I am not calling them laws, because they have no teeth but there is this shitload of rules that exist.

Quick civic lesson: The Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) is the State Department in charge of growth management. There is this part of the DCA, which I don't quite understand, called the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) which votes on regional issues. Regional issues are those that impact more than one county. The SFRPC offices are in Hollywood. Government elected officials from Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe County sit on the SFRPC board. The 3 Miami County Commissioners on the SFRPC are Moss, Heyman and icky Pepe Diaz. Katy Sorenson was removed by that snit Joe Martinez when he was Commission Chair. It was ugly.

Anyway, The SFRPC met this morning to evaluate, among other things, the 3 applications to move the UDB line that the County Commission moved forward (remember the Mayor's veto and the override?).

The outcome of the vote on the 3 applications to move the Urban Development Boundary at the SFRPC:

Applications 5 and 9 - SFRPC Transmitted the applications to DCA as inconsistent with the Regional Comprehensive Plan. This is a good thing. Pepe must not have been a happy camper on the Lowe's application. The "school property" that Lowe's was going to sell cheap did not entice Broward and Monroe County members of the board.

Application 8 - (The one way West on Kendall Drive) went through with small caveats...Moss, the Mayor's appointee and a Commissioner from Monroe voted no. Everyone else transmitted it. Sally Heyman supported it and spoke in favor of it — she was the cheerleader for some dumb road right-of-way the developer was dangling in front of Miami-Dade County and the developer proposed removing any residential element from the application.

Now the 3 applications are officially transmitted to the Department of Community Affairs for review and we can send our personal comments to them: Paul.Darst@dca.state.fl.us and Charles.Gauthier@dca.state.fl.us.

Boring, huh?

Here are the members of the SFRPC:
ASSEFF, Patricia B. (Chair)
Wimbish-Riteway Realtors
950 South Southlake Drive
Hollywood, FL 33019
PHONE - 305-931-8266
FAX - 305-933-1141

BLYNN, Michael (Immediate Past Chair)
Councilman, North Miami
15516 Biscayne Boulevard
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
PHONE - 305-947-8882
FAX - 305-947-9420

BROOK, Scott J.
Mayor, Coral Springs
9551 W. Sample Road
Coral Springs, FL 33065
PHONE - 954-344-1142
FAX - 954-757-1770

CHERNOFF, Jay R.
Commissioner, North Miami Beach
17011 NE 19th Avenue
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
PHONE - 305-948-2986
FAX - 305-787-6036

DIAZ, Jose "Pepe"
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Miami-Dade Center
8345 N.W. 12th Street
Miami, FL 33126
PHONE - 305-599-1200
FAX - 305-470-1791

GUNZBURGER, Suzanne
Broward County Commissioner
Governmental Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
PHONE - 954-357-7006
FAX - 954-357-7129

HEYMAN, Sally
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Miami-Dade Center
111 N.W. 1st Street, Suite 220
Miami, FL 33128
PHONE - 305- 375-5128
FAX - 305- 372-6179

LIEBERMAN, Ilene
Broward County Commissioner
Governmental Center
115 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
PHONE - 954- 357-7001
FAX - 954- 357-7295

McPHERSON, Morgan
Mayor, City of Key West
P. O. Box 1409
Key West, FL 33041
PHONE - (305) 809-3840
FAX – (305) 809-3847

MOORE, Carlton
Vice-Mayor, Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale City Hall
100 N. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
PHONE - 954- 828-5011
FAX - 954- 828-5667
MOSS, Dennis C.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street, Suite 320
Miami, FL 33128
PHONE - 305-375-4832
FAX - 305-372-6011

NEUGENT, George
Monroe County Commissioner
Stephen P. Clark Center
25 Ships Way
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
PHONE - 305-872-1678
FAX - 305-872-9195


PEREZ, Marta (Vice-Chair)
Miami-Dade County School Board
1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 700
Miami, FL 33132
PHONE - (305) 995-2794
FAX - (305) 995-2786


RIESCO, José A.
Certified Public Accountant
Jose A. Riesco, PA
2801 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1000
Coral Gables, FL 33134
PHONE - (305) 445-0777
FAX - (305) 446-8576

SCUOTTO, Joseph (Secretary)
Commissioner
City of Sunrise
10770 West Oakland Park Blvd.
Sunrise, FL 33351
PHONE - (954) 746-3250
FAX - (954) 746-3243

SPEHAR, Dixie M.
Monroe County Commissioner
500 Whitehead Street, Suite 102
Key West, FL 33040
PHONE - (305) 292-3440
FAX - (305) 292-3466


WALTERS, Sandra
Sandra Walters Consultants, Inc.
6410 5th Street, Suite 3
Key West, FL 33040
PHONE - 305-294-1238
FAX - 305-294-2164

WEXLER, Lois
Vice-Mayor, Broward County
Governmental Center
115 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
PHONE - 954- 357-7005
FAX - 954- 357-7044

DONN, Gary L.
Director of Planning and Programs, Dist. 6
Florida Department of Transportation
602 South Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33130
PHONE - (305) 377-5900
FAX - (305) 377-5967
KENNEDY, Chad
Watershed Management & Planning
Program Manager
Department of Environmental Protection
400 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 200
West Palm Beach , FL 33401
PHONE - (561) 681-6661
FAX - (561) 681-6755

WATERS, Elbert (Bert)
South Florida Water Management District
Broward County Service Center
8211 W. Broward Boulevard, PH3
Plantation, FL 33324
PHONE - 954-713-3200, ext. 4981
FAX - 954-475-4169

The county commission... by gimleteye

Another profoundly banal day of bad decisions at County Hall. Sally Heyman was the bad commissioner. It was her vote that allowed a supermajority override of Mayor Carlos Alvarez's veto of the applications to move the Urban Development Boundary, that Bruno Barreiro tied in with all the other CDMP applications.

Mayor Alvarez was in attendance, like a guest of honor. He's learned to be a good guest.

The vote was quickly taken, on the motion by Joe Martinez: "We have talked about this ad nauseam."

Martinez wanted a voice vote and Barreiro was happy to oblige: it was over before anyone could count. When votes are taken that way, it is hard--almost impossible--to figure out who voted which way.

But the commissioners know how the game is played, and the minority would be heard. Dennis Moss piped up, and Gimenez too. The vote was retaken as "recorded". Souto slunk in his chair, mumbling assent, practically out of view. Heyman turned out to be the bad vote (and if her constituents pay attention, they should turn her out too at the next election.)

Mayor Alvarez, after the vote was taken, made light of the result at the microphone. And all the lawyers in attendance shuffled off, knowing that the drama now goes to lobbying Tallahassee where Governor Crist and Tom Pelham, the DCA secretary are on the hot seat. Who knows what deals will be cut, now, behind Tallahassee's tall walls.

There was nary a word about the UDB applications in conjunction with the issue of water supply. Or drought.

In 2005, water was the threshold issue that killed the frenzy to move the UDB except for Hialeah's. And that lack of discussion was interesting, because the first agenda item of the day had Chip Merriam, of the South Florida Water Management District, racing through a presentation on the 20 year consumptive use permit that was several years in the making and which, the developers will claim, reinforces the justice of the decision to move the UDB: ie. all our water supply needs are taken care of!

And even during Merriam's presentation, he and the county commission raced like banshees through the slide that showed FPL's proposed nuclear reactors requiring 70 million gallons per day, without any explanation of how to fill that need. Wow.

So, praise was heaped on county commissioner Natacha Seijas for the "great work" she did as chair of the environment committee to hammer the deal through with the water management district, when it is common knowledge--if you pay attention--that for a decade it was Seijas who personally held up any progress on modernizing the water supply infrastructure in Florida's largest county.

Chip Merriam pitched the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as delivering benefits to the cities, and if you listened to the environmentalists, you would know that the Everglades plan is more about supplying developers with water than protecting natural resources.

There was no mention of how badly government agencies have failed to protect either the environment or the public interest, except to fob off whatever unpleasantness might have existed between the agencies as a function of "management issues": ie. letting former Dade water czar Bill Brandt take the fall for Natacha's intransigence on behalf and as a reflection of the preferences of the Latin Builders and South Florida Builders Association.

I didn't stick around for the megaplan vote: Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was hobnobbing with the county commissioners off the dais, waiting for his star turn. The hall was thick with lobbyists.

And not a word. Not a whisper about the economic reality-- the housing bust in which the county commissioners and city commissioners played a major role, as the zoning authority that let all this excess go into the ground against all reason, against the complaints of citizens and environmentalists.

The bottom line can be framed this way: government is a staged act, on the order of a seventh grade school play. What you see on TV, or in the audience at County Hall, is all laid out for the electorate in ways that make everyone shine and accountability vanish.

Have you signed and mailed in your petition for Florida Hometown Democracy yet?

County Commissioner Rolle - Stackhouse Donations to Campaign. By Geniusofdespair

After reading the report in today's Miami Herald about Stackhouse' illegally reimbursing employees for campaign donations to Commission Rolle, I did a quick look at Rolle's Campaign Finance Report. I found $6,000 in donations, from Stackhouse related entities (related to that Poinciana Park phony biotech project). The Herald reported $2,500, I wonder if anymore of the $3,500 are fraudulent campaign contributions?

This is exactly why we should not have corporate donations to campaigns. Thank you Commissioner Sally Heyman for getting that changed because we had done away with corporate financing thanks to Former County Commissioner Jimmy Morales but this lousy Commission supported Sally and over-turned Jimmy's hard won reforms.

Gonzalo Sanabria Revisited by Geniusofdepair

I wrote about him yesterday (take a look) and I have more to write today.

On his website Coral Gables own, Gonzalo Sanabria, admits to clients such as Vulcan (Rock Miners), and production home builders Lennar, Caribe Homes and Century. He also counts as his clients Latin Builders, Inc. Law firms that appear before him, such as Greenberg Trauig, are also his clients. I don't remember him recusing himself from the Florida City voting when Lennar was clearly involved and Lennar is clearly counted as a client on his website. He was involved in a lawsuit with Ciara Investment while voting on UDB Changes. Ciara had a lot to gain by UDB changes. Ciara sold a massive 466 acres to Krome Gold (3 of our biggest developers: Armando Guerra, Agustin Herran and Rodney Barreto) outside the UDB 12/20005. Sergio Pino, Carlos Martinez, Michael Adler: All clients of Sanabria at some time.

Has Sanabria ever recused himself? Can anyone recall? Better yet, in my opinon, get the hell off the Board...you are too conflicted Gonzalo Sanabria.

I don't have a problem with his being who he is. I have a big problem when he is representing the community and he is so entwined with just about every development interest in town.

In fact, this guy appears so conflicted it is just not funny. It is like me recommending an insurance company to you and I have worked for Geico in the past and hope to again. I am not going to recommend Hartford to you even though I know they will give you a better deal. The incentive of more work from Geico would be too great.

This Gonzalo Sanabria has a Real Estate firm and on their website it says: "Real Estate Works is one of Florida’s premier, privately-owned, boutique real estate investment, development and consulting firms."

He is too involved with real estate and development to offer unbiased planning decisions for the good of the community. Gonzalo Sanabria even admits it on his website copy:

"Gonzalo Sanabria has an uncanny ability to understand real estate and all aspects of future trends, as well as the highest and best use of a vacant parcel – whether it means acquiring it, developing it, re-zoning it and/or marketing or co-venturing it with the right group of partners."

This is not the mindset we need on a board making decisions for the "Good of the Community" and "Good Planning." It is the mindset of a profiteer. Does he sound like a greedy little fellow intent on development from what was written on his own company's website? You be the judge. Commissioner Sally Heyman: Rethink this appointment.

What kind of havoc can Gonzalo Sanabria play on the MDX? Anyone have a clue. I don't know much about transportation.

Gonzalo Sanabria: ICK! By Geniusofdespair

This is a good picture of him. Really! In person with his black dyed hair and eyebrows bushed up, he looks a bit like Lucifer.

Tucked in a corner of the Miami Herald is this very, very bad news, this guy votes the opposite of everything I believe in.

Here is the entire article because it is so important:
FORMER BOARD MEMBER RETURNS TO THE MDX.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same at the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority. County commissioners have returned Gonzalo Sanabria to the 13-member board of directors.

Sanabria, 59, served on the Expressway Authority from 2002 to 2006, but wasn't reappointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush when his term ended. A Cuban-born economist-turned-commercial developer, Sanabria will be finishing the term of longtime MDX board member T. Gene Prescott.

Prescott was one of four MDX board members who abruptly resigned just before July 1, when stricter new financial disclosure rules became law. The other three slots, which had been held by Darryl K. Sharpton, Cesar Llano and Justin Sayfie, remain vacant and await gubernatorial appointments.

Sharpton was recently succeeded as MDX chairman by advertising executive Maritza Gutierrez, a longtime ally of County Commissioner Natacha Seijas and the wife of Miami political operative Armando Gutierrez. (Me: That is just great, Ick.)

''I'm very happy with the new regime that's on the board,'' said Sanabria, who was immediately appointed to chair the MDX Technology and Business Development Committee."

From his bio: He served as Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Planning Advisory Board for five consecutive years, and as Director for the Latin Builders Association. Mr. Sanabria is a Trustee Member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

He has been -- by far -- the worst member of the Planning Advisory Board. A word to the wise Commissioner Sally Heyman: He doesn’t live in your district and he doesn’t work in your district. Dump this crappy guy. He is your appointment. Why is he your appointment on the Planning Advisory Board?? He voted on everything that is wrong in this county and against most of your votes. I know he gave to your campaign Sally but get someone from your district. We have 4 or 5 members from Coral Gables on the Planning Advisory Board, it is too many from one place.

And Barf on that Maritza Gutierrez appointment on MDX. These two will be so bad for our quality of life, I can’t believe it. Watch Board Appointments people they are a symptom of what is wrong in our community! More about the MDX:

From their website: MDX is a state sanctioned, locally administered, public agency created in 1994 by the State of Florida and the Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County. MDX is governed by its Board, comprised of 13 volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and the Governor of the State of Florida. MDX oversees, operates and maintains five expressways: State Road 836 (the Dolphin Expressway), State Road 112 (the Airport Expressway), State Road 874 (Don Shula Expressway), State Road 878 (Snapper Creek Expressway), and State Road 924 (Gratigny Parkway).

Press release on Maritza: (July 10, 2007) - The Board of Directors of MDX has elected Maritza Gutierrez to head the governing body which oversees the Authority. President of Creative Ideas Advertising, a full-service marketing and public relations firm in Miami, Ms. Gutierrez becomes the first woman to serve as Chair. She will serve a one-year term.

“In my business, I believe in building a strong consensus among the audience we target,” said Ms. Gutierrez. “These are the same principles necessary to move the mission of MDX forward. We have a new strategic plan in place and we need to build on that; making the tough decisions that will positively affect mobility and, ultimately, South Florida’s economy, for generations to come.”

That last paragraph is scary! To see Much More on Gonzalo Sanabria, who was the Natacha Seijas of the Miami Dade Planning Advisory Board: Enter his name in the search - top left of this page.

The Blame Game: County Manager in the Dog House By Geniusofdespair

Shirley, Shirley bo Birley Bonana fanna fo Firley
Fee fy mo Mirley, Shirley!

Oh, sorry wrong game. We are playing the Blame Game not the "name game".

The Miami Herald reported that the County Commission blames Burgess over biotech deal. Yes, he should have researched Stackhouse as I said in a previous post. Just a Google away was the information that would have nixed the whole deal. But I bet Burgess was under pressure...as always...to get it through. He more than anything, is obedient. Obedient to a fault!

Under fire from the Commission Thursday, Burgess did what any Manager would do: He passed the blame on. He blamed the non-profit Miami Dade Empowerment Trust, Inc. Hmmm. There seems to be a lot of blame to go around.

I looked up the Trust. Aundra Wallace was the Registering Agent and is/was the CEO and President. He also has another corporation with Irby McKnight. Willard T. Fair is on the Empowerment Trust corporate papers as is Dean Goldsby, Sr. and Willie Carpenter. Some are big powerful names in the Black Community.

Affordable Housing Cynthia Curry was the registering agent in 2000 when the Trust did their first annual report. At that time, Alex Penelas, Joe Carollo, Steve Shiver and Otis Wallace were the officers. What a crew! Red flag, red flag!

It is fair to say that Commissioner Dorrin Rolle should take some of the blame, after all didn't Rolle say in a Poinciana press release (I found on Black PR Wire) put out by the trust Feb. 26, 2007:

“This little project that couldn’t has turned doubters into believers.” A joke Dorrin?

And, the Herald said:

They “found that Rolle -- one of the driving forces behind the project -- received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and a $10,000 donation to a social services agency (the troubled JESCA I presume) he heads from Stackhouse -- the money drawn from project funds, records show.”

And if we are looking for people to blame let us return to that Poinciana press release to see who the Trust thanks because that is who should get the blame, the people thanked:

“It was a vision we gave birth to, fought hard for, and planned out over many long days and nights,” states Aundra Wallace, 39, president and chief executive officer of the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust. “The great works of many people, including County Manager George Burgess, Senior Advisor Cynthia Curry, Commissioner Dorrin Rolle, Vice President and CFO Rodney Carey, the GSA department, our elected officials and the Miami Dade Empowerment Trust Board, have helped greatly...”

There you have it in the blame game: we now have a list.

Commissioner Sally Heyman summed it up best at the Commission Meeting:

''We're past the point of bruising. We're bleeding. We've lost credibility''

Ya think? Credibility was lost long ago girl. The affordable housing scandal - House of Lies - was just the icing on the Commission's credibility cake. You are bleeding.

You share the blame for this one Sally, as the Herald said:

“While commissioners blamed the manager's office and the trust, records show the County Commission was responsible for making the trust the master developer of Poinciana.

Under a 2001 agreement, the county was to receive annual financial statements about Poinciana and quarterly progress reports. But that never happened -- and commissioners never questioned why they weren't receiving the updates.”

Feh! Yiddish for Ick.