Does Stephen Cody Play Fair? By Geniusofdespair

Stephen Cody has an ethics complaint against South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard.

Stephen Cody was hired by someone when we were examining ballots for the Lynda Bell/Gene Flinn election -- I was there and he was watching us. As I watched him looking over our shoulders, I thought "scum." After he had his license suspended as a lawyer by the Supreme Court, I made peace with Natacha Seijas's lawyer/friend Stephen Cody - even friending him on Facebook when he posted cute pictures of his granddaughter Olivia.  Those days are long over.

Cody doesn't play fair. He can be vindictive. He ain't no friend of mine.  I unfriended him in February, when he was attacking Phil Stoddard. He had Valerie Newman do a robocall for his PAC. Everyone knows that Valerie is a known enemy of Stoddard  and has been accused of questionable activity in that regard.

My last words to Cody as I unfriended him:

I doubt you care as much about feminism as you do at helping your pals at FPL.

 I really think that Cody,  in a corner of his clouded brain,  thinks he is being a good guy, but I am apt to believe he is just a hired gun. He has used this tactic before, in Miami Lakes for instance. I just do not like someone who plays by his murky rules and I don't like anyone lecturing me on what kind of a Me-Too survivor I should be. Sorry Steve, ethics rules are not in effect. No response needed by you. And since when does Ethics do anything anyway? This case is a no winner for them. The Mayor asked Council. That should have ended it. And, does Steve Cody have standing if he is not a lobbyist?

Did this make Stephen Cody a bottom feeder?

You are a bully still, trying to explain it away as you hide your supporters behind a 501-C4's.  I wrote this in 2012 about him:

The big question always comes down to: Who is paying Stephen Cody? He doesn't appear to do work when he isn't paid. He charged Natacha Seijas and her PAC's a small fortune over the years. He has had a shadow client before like he has in Miami Lakes. He tried to get Eugene Flinn thrown out of the District 8 County Commission race. Who paid him for that? No one knows.

We have an example of the importance that Cody puts on getting paid in a recent (4/13/2011) Florida Bar "Admonishment" where he was fined about $2,000 for minor misconduct. In the complaint, even though he had a $5,000 retainer, he did not answer calls from his client so she stopped paying 2 installments due. In return, he says for NON-PAYMENT, Cody then failed to send his client correspondence advising his client of the status of the appeal. In Cody's signed admission he stated:

"Respondent (him)  failed  to  send  written  correspondence  to Vazquez advising her of the status of the appeal and/or his failure to file the appeal due to her nonpayment."

 So why is Stephen Cody in Miami Lakes snapping photos and passing out 15 pages of stuff, most of it dismissed ethics complaints (deemed frivolous), at a meeting in Miami Lakes?  Kevin Morejon, a 20 year resident said he wanted to know.

Kevin said he went to the meeting held by Mayor Pizzi with 75  to 100 of his neighbors.

Pizzi was having the Town Meeting at the Royal Oaks Park Community Center  on January 17th at 7:00 pm. The topics were public safety, park and lake issues for homeowners in Miami Lakes. The town of Miami Lakes is a very long way from Cody's Palmetto Bay office. When people arrived, they were confronted by Stephen Cody, and some workers he brought with him, according to Kevin Morejon. He said Cody and his crew confronted everyone going into the meeting and passed out a  bunch of pages with an unflattering photo of Mayor Pizzi stapled on the front.  According to Pizzi the content of the pages were an old ethics report of false allegations against him. He said the multiple page flyer cut off the portion of the report that said that these were allegations from years ago and that they were all dismissed.

Morejon said that he didn't know who the group were crashing the meeting, until he heard an employee call the man in the blue shirt Mr. Cody. He said they were disturbing the residents and they were unprofessional. Morejon said "I thought it was wrong that they gave under-age kids the stapled papers.  Mr. Cody was taking numerous photographs too. I thought he was a photographer at first. My guess is he took 25 to 30 snapshots. It was very disruptive." Apparently for a time he was blocking the view of  Mayor Pizzi as he was talking, filming or snapping photos.

Morejon said, after I revealed Cody was an attorney: "Now you tell me he is an attorney. If he is a lawyer, I am surprised he was doing that.  Some residents left because they were scared." Then I said to Kevin: "What would you think if I told you that he was Natacha Seijas' lawyer?"  He said: "I would freak out. Why would she stoop to his level if she sent him? She might as well have been there herself giving out the papers." He said a lot of people ripped up the papers in front of Cody.

I also spoke to Mary Collins, of Miami Lakes who, like Morejon, wanted to know why Cody was in Miami Lakes. She said, "Why is Cody so interested in Miami Lakes he doesn't even live here?" Good question. If I had, to guess, this is who I think is paying Cody.  I told Mary that he was once Natacha Seijas's attorney. She said: "I didn't realize he was her lawyer but I did not sign that recall petition."

SOUTH MIAMI: A twisted tale of old enemies working together in coming election. By Geniusofdespair

 

Two Bad Pennies...Why do they always keep turning up?

This photograph shows former South Miami mayor Horace Feliu and former South Miami Police Chief Orlando Martinez de Castro dining recently at Casa Cuba in South Miami.

A twisted tale of old enemies and odd allegiances in South Miami’s coming election

Fourteen years ago, South Miami Mayor Horace Feliu was arrested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement shortly after taking a big check from the city’s parking vendor inside city hall the night before the election. Early the following morning, South Miami Police officers who worked under Chief Martinez de Castro were outside city hall with printed signs reading “FELIU ARRESTED”. Former commissioner Valerie Newman, a Martinez de Castro friend and Feliu opponent, had told neighbors the exact date of Feliu’s future arrest a month ahead of time. Feliu logically figured that Chief Martinez de Castro had something to do with the arrest.

According to the Miami Herald, “Feliu was charged with three misdemeanor counts for accepting a campaign contribution in excess of the $500 state limit; for accepting a contribution in a public facility; and for accepting a contribution within five days of an election.” Astonishingly, in a trial held in Orange County because the state attorney was conflicted, Feliu somehow dodged a conviction using the bizarre defense that he was planning to give the money to the Democratic Party that would (illegally) return 90% to his campaign. Two years later, the good people of South Miami again elected Feliu as mayor. He soon ousted the city manager, and brought in a new city manager who quickly obtained Martinez de Castro’s resignation.

In 2010, FIU biology professor Philip Stoddard, a political novice, ran against Feliu, winning by a wide margin. With Feliu out of the way, Martinez de Castro wanted his old job back. In an elaborate conspiracy involving two commissioners, a city attorney, and a city manager, his pals got him rehired as South Miami’s Police Chief.

About a year later Stoddard learned through The Strawbuyer blog that city departments under the chief’s supervision were doing business with members of the Martinez de Castro family. Stoddard led the charge to oust the manager and chief, a task that took another year and many machinations.

Stoddard is now running for his fifth and final term (because of term limits) as mayor. Feliu, who has failed in several attempts at returning as a commissioner or mayor, is challenging Stoddard for the third time. It appears that the two ousted regimes from the bad old days of South Miami are teaming up under the adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Feliu doesn’t deny it. At the mayoral debate hosted by Rise-Up Florida last week, Feliu expressed his gratitude for campaign help by his old nemesis ex-police chief Orlando Martinez de Castro.

South Miami’s image as a well-run city has risen immeasurably under Mayor Stoddard’s leadership. South Miami has stabilized its government, reduced taxes, and decreased expenses while managing to increase reserves. Most importantly, they have reduced crime by a remarkable 40% through the introduction of community policing policies.

We hope South Miami voters have no desire to restore the previous regime under Feliu which ran South Miami in a style that rivaled Sweetwater, Opa-Locka, and Hudstead.

We support Philip Stoddard as South Miami's Mayor.

Bad Behavior: The Two Faces Of FPL ... South Miami Aims To Lead Florida In Solar Adoption For New Residential Construction ... by gimleteye

Thanks to South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, the city commission will consider a new ordinance promoting solar power on new residential construction. FPL, naturally, wants to dictate to consumers and to prevent consumers from adopting their own choice. One commenter observed, "
I am perpetually and simultaneously amazed and yet not surprised at what lengths FP&Lies (can we borrow that one from Delaney as it is very apt?) will go to to stop people from generating their own power. ... we will continue to work to expose the lies and bad behavior ... A bit of good news is that Gov. Scott signed SB 90 into law ... another step forward having our tax policy in a much better place. That along with the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the declining cost of solar (even better with the co-op pricing), we will all be able to move solar along. I love the solar ordinance and requiring solar in new buildings. Makes perfect sense unless of course you make profits (11 1/2% return to be precise) keeping captive customers addicted to natural gas."

FPL is a monopoly and it acts like a monopoly: attacking at every and at any point where its control of the marketplace is threatened by consumers.

Instead of constantly investing in opposition, FPL should be that friendly supplier of electricity its advertisements and marketing campaigns portray.

Did you get a robocall urging you to oppose a solar ordinance in South Miami? Many people did.  Let me explain what’s going on. South Miami is on the verge of making history, becoming the first municipality in the Sunshine State to require at least some solar energy production on new residential construction (not on existing houses).  The idea was first rolled out in four California municipalities, beginning in 2013.  The results in California have been positive: “The most transferable lesson may simply be the readiness with which Lancaster residents adapted to solar requirements, said industry officials, especially because the city is largely Republican.” [Marketplace].  Encouraged by the municipal experience, the State of California, an independent signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement, is considering making solar a statewide requirement for new construction [Greentech Media]. When South Miami first went public with a draft of our ordinance, modeled after those in California, the City received a phone call from FPL, warning us to check the Florida Statutes (which of course we already had).  No surprise FPL was anxious.  In the last election cycle, electric monopolies led by FPL and Duke energy spent $29 million to fight the development of solar energy in Florida [Tampa Bay Times]. Our ordinance took a year to develop and was approved on first reading by the City Commission.  It went on to the City’s Planning Board for further review, where, after an evening of intense exploration and discussion, the five community members who comprise the board unanimously approved the ordinance.  It will come before the Commission for second reading on Tuesday.. Hello FPL - it's hard to fool South Miami In advance of the Commission meeting, South Miami residents were bombarded with robo-calls from a lobbying firm in D.C., misleading residents with claims that the City was proposing to require solar power on existing residential construction.  One resident wrote me: “Hey, Phil!  Got a robocall from this outfit today badmouthing the City’s proposed solar ordinance.  States that it ‘will require solar on all new houses and existing houses in the city.’  FPL highjinx?” Despite all their slick ads about promoting solar energy, FPL is planning to increase our dependency on fossil fuels over the next 30 years, while providing only 1% of our power from solar by 2025 (up from their current 0.1%)  [Energy and Policy Institute].  FPL received state approval to charge their rate-payers for new gas “peaker” generators despite their parent company, NextEra Energy, stating that solar power with battery backup is now cheaper than natural gas-powered peak load generation.  FPL’s plan for Florida will charge us more money to increase our CO2 emissions!  Their plan should be outlawed, but don’t hold your breath.  Florida’s governor, cabinet, and most of the legislators receive big campaign contributions from FPL.  If we in South Miami don’t do something ourselves, nobody will. Sure, but why make solar mandatory?  South Miami made it mandatory to install large numbers of native trees and shrubs on new construction.  Good for the climate, good for the City.  Nobody complained – not even FPL which has to trim trees away from the power lines.  We require expensive protection or relocation of big trees during construction – a larger expense than solar panels.  No complaints.  The fact is, rooftop solar is a benefit to residents, not a hardship: residential solar is now cheaper than utility power.  Solar is even cheaper yet if its installed during construction, rather than as retrofit.  Financing solar on new construction is much cheaper than as a home improvement. Residents with rooftop solar save a lot of money, while helping slow climate change and sea level rise.  We do it not only for our pocketbooks, but to help the climate and make a better future for our children and our grandchildren. We are also developing a new program with non-profit partners to provide free solar and other energy efficiency upgrades for veterans, disabled persons, and low income residents.  These new programs will benefit our residents and won’t cost South Miami taxpayers a dime.  Interested in solar for your home?  Best prices are currently available through the co-op If you are interested in getting solar at these prices, the South-Central Miami-Dade solar co-op will remain open until 25 August.  Solar buying co-ops obtain group prices below the regular retail rate. Regards, Philip

Zika back in the news. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Herald

I read the other day in the Miami Herald that an asymptomatic man's donated blood tested positive for Zika.  Having a virus without knowing it could mean that there are many more people harboring the virus in their unsuspecting bodies.  Maybe that is why I am so cranky...nah, it is Trump.

Knowing Mayor Philip Stoddard cared about the environment and his constituents, I asked Philip Stoddard of South Miami what his city did about Zika prevention.

"In November I sponsored a resolution to have the County spray the mosquito larvicide Bti in South Miami. It was approved unanimously by the Commission. Bti proved to be the only product that was effective in reducing populations of the mosquito that transmits Zika. Bti is super-specific to the sub-order of flies that includes the mosquitoes. It may cause problems if contacted directly, so we do require it be applied at night. See item (d) at top of page 4.

Also, the dominant insecticide class we discourage the County from spraying in South Miami cannot and did not control the mosquitoes that carry Zika when it was applied in Miami Beach. The local Zika-carrying species, Aedes aegypti, evolved resistance because of insecticide overuse to control salt marsh mosquitoes which do not carry human diseases. However use of this insecticide class was linked last year to 25% elevated levels of childhood autism in NY zip codes where it was applied for mosquito control.

I am looking out for health of our kids at all ages."

Amazon Sucks and Mayor Philip Stoddard Says The Press Should Stop Sanatizing the Neo-Nazi's. By Geniusofdespair

Why would anyone BUY ANYTHING AT AMAZON??? I WOULD NOT.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?skip=true#b

 Not only the press Philip, how about everywhere?  (I wrote about this NEW re-branding of the white supremacist movement on December 12 and 11th.)

Letter to the Miami Herald Dec. 18th

Just a T-Shirt? No. DANGER, DANGER!

Now it is time to make Philip laugh:

Talk about a wolf guarding the hen house...note FPL is not just a sponsor they are a PRESENTING SPONSOR.

On Politico's Top 50 List: Mayor Philip Stoddard and Dr. Harold Wanless ... gimleteye

Politico's guide to thinkers, do'ers and visionaries for 2016.

Well deserved and congratulations. Check our archive to understand the work of both, like Dr. Wanless' efforts to obtain a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio (denied) to discuss climate change.

Wanless, a geologist from the University of Miami and South Florida’s climate change Cassandra, has said for years that much of South Florida would sink; his prediction that the state’s southern tip has only a half-century left above water has earned him the nickname “Dr. Doom.” He predicts that the rate of sea-rise will be much faster than most models suggest—Miami Beach will experience 10 to 30 feet of sea-rise by 2100, he says—and that moving to higher ground will be the only real option for many residents of South Florida. For that reason, he has openly criticized Miami Beach’s program to install flood pumps as a waste of money. “Why would you put $100 million into infrastructure that won’t even survive the next foot of sea-level rise?” Wanless asks.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/politico50/2016/philip-stoddard-harold-wanless

2016 Elections: How FPL Turkey Point became a flash point ... by gimleteye

These days FPL can't get out of its own way. The problems at its Turkey Point nuclear reactors have been building for decades. Two nuclear reactors are creating one of the industry's major headaches in the United States, leaking polluted water into nearby drinking water aquifers and into state waters and Biscayne National Park.

At the same time, FPL has run roughshod over municipalities in South Florida, through the planning process towards two new nuclear reactors at the same facility in Homestead.

FPL's unilateral power and authority over state politics has been on bright display for years at the Public Service Commission and, last year, through the blanket approval for siting the new reactors last year, by Gov. Rick Scott and Ag. Secretary Adam Putnam.

But with Fair Districts, the tectonic plates in Florida politics shifted at roughly the same time the FPL Turkey Point reactors finally surfaced as a major problem for South Florida.

Where politicians like state senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla once felt comfortable representing FPL as a lobbyist and as a state lawmaker at the same time, that is no longer the case.

Sen. President Joe Negron and Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
at recent FPL Turkey Point field hearing in Homestead FL

At a recent, rare state senate field hearing in Homestead, GOP legislators were unanimously in favor -- articulated by Senator Anitere Flores -- "not looking back" to mistakes of the past, but "looking forward". The issue is so important that Joe Negron, senate president, came to Homestead to give support to two local state senators (Flores and Diaz de la Portilla) who are in jeopardy if voters remember to "look back" at all the South Florida politicians who have fallen all over themselves in support of FPL Turkey Point.

For its part, according to this morning's Miami Herald (see below), FPL has decided to delay planning for the new nuclear reactors, but still wants ratepayers to spend hundreds of millions in addition to what ratepayers have already paid for planning reactors that may never be permitted. To that, add the rate increase FPL is promoting to the Public Service Commission, now.

We are thankful for FPL for delivery reliable and affordable energy -- as its advertisements constantly emphasize when the company is facing public relations obstacles -- but its heavy-handed tactics are winning few friends.

Flash point, indeed.

Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla's firm lobbies for FPL in South Miami, which is at odds with...FPL
MIAMI HERALD, May 10, 2012

When South Miami commissioners were readying to take a vote opposing Florida Power & Light's proposed base-rate increase, Mayor Philip Stoddard got an unexpected phone call -- from his state senator.

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a lawyer and lobbyist, called on behalf of his firm's client: FPL.

"He did ask me to delay it, and I think they wanted me to delay it again," said Stoddard, who pushed back the resolution for unrelated scheduling reasons. "I wouldn't delay it a second time."

It's not the first time that Diaz de la Portilla or any other lawmaker lobbies a city in his or her district. Nothing prohibits them from doing so.

Picture of the week. By Geniusofdespair

Photo by South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard - Taken during the King Tide October 26th at Matheson Hammock

Who Is Cloning A Miami Official's Cell Phone and Why? The Competition For Eye On Miami 2015 Story of the Year Heats Up! ... by gimleteye

Around this time of year, our thoughts turn to the best story of 2015. What have we heard and written about that makes the top grade? It is not every year we have a David Rivera and Ana Sol Aliegro mystery, to light up our readers' eyes.

Up to now, this year's leading candidate for Eye On Miami Story of the Year was Miami-Dade County Commissioner Pepe Diaz' recent arrest and videotape by Key West police. Diaz was captured for time eternal on his motorcycle wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word, “CARTEL”.

It is so much more succinct than “Unreformable Majority”. Anyhow, we have a competitor.

South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, FIU professor, leading advocate against new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point by FPL, and spokesperson on climate change, reports the following:

"On Oct 2 at 4:01 pm, I received a phone call from South Miami Commissioner Bob Welsh’s mobile phone. I recognized the phone number but I did not recognize the male caller’s voice. His accent was American and the connection was clear. The caller asked, "Did you leave this bag of cables on the table for me?" I replied, “Excuse me? I’m sorry who is this?” The caller abruptly hung up."

Mayor Stoddard used the recent call feature on his phone to call back Welsh's number. Welsh immediately answered.

"I asked Bob if he was with anybody,” Stoddard told this reporter, “Or if he had possession of his cell phone for the past few minutes and he said, yes, it was in his hand now, and he’d had it with him all day.”

Evidently, someone had gone to the trouble of hijacking Bob Welsh’s phone by cloning it and then mistakenly dialing Mayor Stoddard’s phone number.

Mayor Stoddard suggested that City Commissioner Welsh get a new cell phone.

This story and wise advice makes this, a real contender for Eye On Miami Story of the Year.

South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard on National TV interviewed by Chris Hayes on Climate Change. By Geniusofdespair

IT IS A BIG NEWS DAY ON EYE ON MIAMI - 3 STRONG BLOG POSTS...MAKE SURE YOU SCROLL...




Watch on MSNBC

Mayor Stoddard lashes out at the two Presidential Candidates from Florida.

Floridians bamboozled by electric utilities determined to suppress solar power ... by gimleteye

The political operatives who set up the dark money campaign against South Mayor Phil Stoddard in 2012 are behind the sham ballot initiative to counteract "Floridians for Solar Choice". What FPL wants to do is to confuse voters, by funding a competitive petition that misleads voters. If Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature did their jobs to protect the welfare of people, citizen ballot referendums and the cost would not be necessary.  But as we witnessed in the case of the rubber stamp, rush job that FPL did with its permit application for two new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, Gov. Scott, his Cabinet including Adam Putnam, and the state legislature are no friends of people.

The following letter is from Floridians for Solar Choice. Please do your support and support energy choice in Florida, not energy monopolists like FPL.

Dear Friends,

As you know, the Floridians for Solar Choice ballot initiative is a grassroots effort to spur meaningful solar rooftop development by inserting competition for solar power in the Sunshine State. We now have approximately 50 endorsements from organizations - across the political spectrum, and business groups - and have garnered over 100,000 verified petitions. That apparently does not sit well with the status quo.

Enter the big power companies ….

It has recently been revealed in the press that FPL is involved in the introduction of a sham solar petition introduced (by a group called Consumers for Smart Solar) - meant to derail the Floridians for Solar Choice citizen petition drive. There are some links below to the stories, and the Forbes story is reproduced in whole - which indicates that this is not the first time FPL has engaged in nefarious tacticts against an electoral process (see Taking Back Our Power).

It's unfortunate that the state's biggest power company is trying to disrupt a legitimate citizens effort with a sham solar petition meant to confuse voters. Don't be fooled. It won't stop our citizens solar petition drive from moving forward.

Thank you for your continued support for Floridians for Solar Choice. If you haven't signed the petition, volunteered, or donated to the campaign. please visit the website today. Onwards, thanks,

George Cavros

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/trigaux-keen-to-preserve-own-power-florida-electric-utilities-up-fight/2237488

http://thedailyfray.com/blog/florida-solar-power-fpl-promotes-duel-sun/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2015/07/18/more-smoke-more-mirrors-for-solar-politics-in-sunshine-state/2/


More Smoke, More Mirrors For Solar Politics In Sunshine State

The politics of solar power seem to have taken a decidedly dark turn in the Sunshine State.

To be fair, despite the license plate slogan, Florida has never been very sympathetic with the sun. Under current law, only utilities are able to sell electricity to customers in Florida, including power generated by solar panels.

The Most Fabulous Interview Ever! Don't Miss This One!! By Geniusofdespair

Top: County Commissioners Xavier Suarez, Daniella Levine Cava and Juan Zapata. End of top: Candidates Grace Solares for City of Miami Commissioner and Raquel Regalado (School Board Member) running for Miami Dade County Mayor. Bottom Row: Mayors Eugene Flinn, Palmetto Bay; Cindy Lerner, Pinecrest; Philip Stoddard, South Miami and Daniel Dietch of Surfside.

We have some of the best sports in the world here is Miami: They answered my interview questions. Some questions were silly but they answered anyway and I have to give all who participated a lot of credit for their sense of humor.  These are the things I WANTED TO KNOW about them, you know, the really important things. Now the lobbyists will know what ice cream to bring them! I asked the questions of County Commissioners, City Mayors and two candidates. I gave an opportunity to the Mayor to respond (because I asked his opponent Raquel Regalado) and I asked Theresa Sarnoff through her campaign (because I asked her opponent Grace Solares to respond). Anyway, this is what I got back and I enjoyed reading all their answers and I know a heck of lot more about them now.  Thank you candidates and sitting public servants. I used their first names for their answers.

And, we are not allowing any negative comments on this post but we welcome positive comments. This took so long to compile, it will be up for two days.

What is your favorite color?
Juan: Red
Daniella: My campaign colors: poppy red and teal blue (new Americana colors; Patriotic with Miami flair).
Xavier: Blue
Cindy: Anything in the purple/ magenta shades
Eugene: I say it’s Palmetto Bay blue, but many tell me I like Green.
Philip: Gray
Daniel: Green
Grace: For dressing: black - for oil painting: dark yellow/orange
Raquel Cobalt Blue

What is your favorite food?
Juan: Pizza
Daniella: Anything with fresh curry leaf. My wonderful husband got me a plant so we could use it in everything and anything. It loves Miami weather.
Xavier: Ball park hot dogs with tons of mustard and a cold beer.
Cindy: All Seafood.
Eugene: Far too many to list.
Philip: Pauillac
Daniel: Cheese
Grace: desserts
Raquel: Its a tie- Low country (Shrimp and grits) and Peruvian food (ceviche and tacu tacu)

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Juan: Coconut
Daniella: Coffee. With pecans and homemade chocolate sauce.
Xavier: As a kid it was chocolate; now I go crazy for Haagen-Dazs "Dulce Leche."
Cindy: Chocolate
Eugene: Chocolate Trinity
Philip: Vanilla, with the little black specks
Daniel: Ginger
Grace: vanilla/hazelnut
Raquel: Two again; Caramel and sea salt gelato and vanilla ice cream with hot peanut butter 

What is your least favorite road to travel on because of traffic?
Juan: US 1
Daniella: Too many to name. I am riding Metrorail whenever I can. I arrive at my destination without stress.
Xavier: The intersection of the Palmetto and Dolphin expressways; the biggest waste of $560 million in toll monies that could have been used to fund 5.5 years of free Metrorail and Metrobus. 
Cindy: South Dixie Highway
Eugene: US1.  When I can, I jump on the Metrorail and ask myself, “What are they thinking?” when I see so many stuck in traffic, especially returning from court on Friday afternoons. The view from above is outstanding, especially when the Royal Poincianas are in full bloom.
Philip: Cross Bronx Expressway.  We have nothing in South Florida that comes close.
Daniel: I-95
Grace: US 1
Raquel: Alton Road

What is the password of your bank account?
Juan: I forgot
Daniella: Can't remember passwords.
Xavier: Genius2015
Cindy: Don't do online banking, I bank the old fashioned way.
Eugene: BOSCO
Philip: So long and complex that a supercomputer would take two years to figure it out.
Daniel: I could tell you, but then I’d have to _____ you.
Grace:
Raquel: Nice Try Genius!

If you didn't answer the previous question, answer this: what is your mother's maiden name? Pets name, first car/job?
Juan: Mom, Fido, big wheel and selling newspapers.
Daniella: My mom is the best, and her parents were a huge influence in my life. My maternal grandmother died two years ago at age 104 after winning her bridge game. Lots of cats and dogs over the years. My first car (used) required AAA road service so often they tried to kick me out of the program. I wrote a letter pleading for leniency since I was a struggling student unable to purchase a more reliable car. They reinstated me and almost 40 years later I'm still a member.
Xavier: Pets names I might use include "Fido" and "Lassie."
My mother's maiden name goes back many generations to a Viceroy of Spain who was also Governor of Cuba and despised by the island's residents. I would not want to bring it up at this time. My first job was delivering newspapers (Washington Post).
My first car was a glorious red-and-black Mustang with a 289 HP engine and three gears that could really kick up a storm. I sold it to go to law school, and then began my professional life by driving a $75 Buick station wagon with a hole in the floor on the driver's side that was covered by a piece of metal, so my feet would not protrude from the bottom. It burned more oil than gas and I had to retire it soon after I arrived in Miami from Boston.
Cindy:
Eugene: 
Philip:
Daniel: Buick Opel
Grace: Dog, Charlie
Raquel:

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Juan: Coach Soccer
Daniella: What's that? Actually I do spend wonderful time with family, friends, and outdoor adventure. I love to canoe in the Everglades and everywhere.
Xavier: Read and write books.
Cindy:  What's that?  If I can schedule a vacation, I love the Rockies and go hiking, exploring.
Eugene: Bike South Florida, time in the gym, spending time in Florida Keys or at any of the bayside lookout points in Palmetto Bay: Deering North, People’s Dock, Snowden’s Point, or  Thalatta Estate. Update and inform through my one and only blog: “South Dade Updates.” Posting “global warming” as anonymous responses to official Florida online surveys.
Philip: Watch birds and mess around in the garden
Daniel: Spend time with my family, go to the beach and bike in local parks.
Grace: Paint (oil/mixed media)
Raquel: Sleep

Did you ever fall asleep at a meeting? Did you ever want to?
Juan: No and Yes.
Daniella: I did not always stay awake at law school. At BCC meetings I am on high alert!
Xavier: I have fallen asleep at church but not at meetings of the BCC since we have cameras on us. Plead the Fifth on the second part of the question. 
Cindy: Never at my own meetings, but probably have come close at other s meetings.
Eugene: Never.  This is when we address the issues that have been percolating or when we can work on projects together.  Meetings are not always exciting, but it is the time we have to work together. 
Philip: Please tell me I wasn’t snoring or drooling.
Daniel: No. Yes
Grace: No. Though some meetings do require an extra coffee to get through.
Raquel: No actually after sitting still all day at a meeting I need to burn some energy so I usually go for a run while listening to an audio book after a session.

Do you get cranky? How do you get out of that mode?
Juan: Yes. I eat sweets
Daniella: Yes, but then I remember how fortunate I am and how much I am learning from the experience.
Xavier: When I get cranky, "I simply remember my favorite things."  If that doesn't work, I pray.
Cindy: Not cranky, just bitchy. A visit with my grandbabies chills me out instantly.
Eugene: Anyone who says they don’t get cranky is not being truthful.  I best resolve through an aggressive workout at the gym or leaving it in the dust of a strong bike outing.
Philip: Yep.  A plate of latkes can end the funk.  So can a walk most times.
Daniel: Yes. I am still working on it…any tips?
Grace: Yes. I listen to music
Raquel:  I bake, have a latte or hot chocolate and watch reruns of the Lawrence Welk show . . . nothing puts life in perspective like 60/70's fashion and some polka! 

Do you have a relative that drives you crazy?
Juan: They all live in Columbia so the distance helps.
Daniella: No.
Xavier: Are you kidding me? I have thirteen brothers and sisters and more than 50 nephews and nieces, not counting my wife's side of the family. I ain't touching that! 
Cindy: Yes.
Eugene:  I can’t tell which one that is, so it must be me.
Philip: I did. Before she got Alzheimer’s disease, my loving aunt drove everyone crazy.  She once went into a department store and insisted they sell her a globe of Europe.  When a parking lot attendant became so frustrated with her that he shouted “Go f*** yourself lady!”  She retorted: “If I could I’d stay in bed all day!” 
Daniel: Who doesn’t?
Grace: No.
Raquel: Nope I drive them crazy.

What is your worst habit that you would like to change?
Juan: Procrastination.
Daniella: Better diet and more exercise would be good.
Xavier: Lack of patience - though that is not really a habit.
Cindy:  No time to worry about bad habits. If someone complained to me about one, I would address it in the order of complaints received.
Eugene: My worst habit is my too long list of favorite foods.  I wish that Pizza did not call me by name.
Philip: Telling people how to solve their problems.  People rarely want their problems solved, so much as they just want an empathetic listener.
Daniel: Procrastinating.  I’m still working on it…
Grace: Compulsive buying.
Raquel: It appears that I talk too fast . . .

Are you a dog or cat person?
Juan: Both
Daniella: Cat really. But some dogs have been my favorite companions.
Xavier: More dog than cat.
Cindy: Both, have 3 dogs and 2 cats
Eugene:  I am definitely a dog person, but don’t let my fav pet, Pumpkin (the cat) know.
Philip: I’m a cat person who has a dog who likes to think he’s a cat.  But we both know he’s a dog.
Daniel: Dog
Grace: Dog
Raquel: Generally a dog person but I have both a dog and a cat.

Who is your hero?
Juan: My father
Daniella: Shero: Elizabeth Warren
Xavier: Winston Churchill in politics, followed by any of the four presidents on Mt. Rushmore, depending on which is the latest book I have read on them. Recently it is Jefferson, after reading John Ferling's intertwined biographies of Jefferson and Hamilton. 
Cindy: I have many heroes -  guess they are all sheroes -   Carol Marbin Miller, Rachel Maddow, in the media. Angelina Joie in her role at UN and her personal women's health issues,  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, taught me how to fight for what I believe in, and Anat Hoffman, fighting for women's rights in Israel
Eugene: President Theodore Roosevelt.  There are so many people who have answered the call for causes that far too few people care about.  Anyone that steps up and shows a commitment to principle is a hero in my book.
 Philip: My grandfather, Louis Kraft.  Grandpa Lou worked to help Jews get out of Europe before and during WWII.  Afterwards he founded the Jewish Welfare Board and worked to reconstruct Jewish society in Europe.  He also worked on the creation of Israel.  Israel named a library after him.  I’d like to do something worthy of having a library named after me.
Daniel: William Rathje (an American archaeologist)
Grace: My father/mother
Raquel:  I have childhood heroes that I have mentioned in the past but presently I don't have a hero. And while there are people that I admire for their strength, conviction and achievement I take issue with Cinderella complexes. At some point we all have to grow up and be our own heroes, we have to strive everyday to be the best version of ourselves and take ownership of our strengths and weakness.

What would you say is your best attribute?
Juan: Being honest
Daniella: My Children
Xavier: My wife would say that I wash dishes and generally pick up after both of us.
My kids would say that I am a great baby-whisperer, as I can put any of the six grandchildren to sleep.
My staff would (hopefully) say that I inspire them.
My constituents would say that I serve them well and listen to them.
My political adversaries would acknowledge that I never give up.
My g-d, assuming one exists, will hopefully say that I went about doing good.
Cindy: Speaking truth to power
Eugene:  My sense of humor.
Philip: No question, I married well.
Daniel: Patience
Grace: Good listener
Raquel: I am an out of the box problem solver, I believe that people can work things out if they are candid, open minded and not risk adverse. As far as I'm concerned its not a matter of if we can figure it out its just a matter of when we can make finding a solution a priority and figure it out.

Is Florida on the right or wrong road?
Juan: Right road.
Daniella: 78% voted for Amendment 1. That is a very promising sign.
Xavier: Judging from this legislative session, one would have to say the wrong road. However, as a state we have gone a long way from the way we were in the earlier eras described by Mike Grunwald in his mesmerizing book, "The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise."
Cindy: Been on the wrong road for two decades!
Eugene:  Road?  We are deep in the weeds! But I believe we have identified the issues and we are working through the issues.  We will get there.
Philip: Not exactly a road, we seem to be on one of those water slides at the theme park, only there’s no water waiting for us at the bottom.
Daniel: I am eternally optimistic.
Grace: Florida needs to refocus its priorities to better position itself for opportunities such as green energy and technology.
Raquel:  After this legislative session I doubt anyone could argue that we are going in the right direction, unless of course you consider the right direction being the punch line for late night TV jokes.

Did you ever say the words "Global Warming"?
Juan: What is that? ;-)
Daniella: I can't stop thinking and talking about it.
Xavier: I said it a few times just in the last couple of days.
Cindy:  Yes, with great gusto!  I am proud to be a strong proponent and leader of an effort to better educate all elected officials  about the impacts of climate change, to incorporate the role as a steward of their own constituency to address  Climate change.
Eugene: Often - Three times fast, but simply saying it doesn’t help.
Philip: Yes, on March 10th, 2015, in the Capitol rotunda in Tallahassee.  Nobody tried to stop me, perhaps because Gov. Scott’s henchman had just forced out the head of FDLE.
Daniel: Yes, although I prefer the term “climate change.”
Grace: Yes
Raquel: Yep and also say "Sea Level Rise" with frequency

What are the last 4 digits of your social security number?
Juan: What are yours?
Daniella: If you are in financial distress I know many places that can assist. I am proud of my former nonprofit for its great work with the Prosperity Campaign and am sure they can steer you in the right direction.
Xavier: XXXX  Note: since "X-man" is my nickname, it is easy to remember....
Cindy: I have been advised to not disclose to prevent identity theft.
Eugene:  The same as yours, Genius.
Philip: 33143
Daniel: Whole numbers between 1 and 9.
Grace:
Raquel: 1234

Where would you like to retire?
Juan: Don't plan on retiring.
Daniella: Wherever my children and/or grandchildren (to come) will be, if they'll have me.
Xavier: Miami Beach. Really.
Cindy: Part time in Telluride , Colorado.
Eugene: Retirement is a state of mind.  I would like to have the flexibility and health to live in several different locations – Palmetto Bay, the Keys, New Mexico, and Upstate NY.
Philip: Above Sea Level.
Daniel: Surfside, Florida
Grace: right here in Miami, by the waterfront
Raquel: In the best place there is to live; Miami Dade County! But on a sailboat that has an espresso machine and WiFi

Brag about one thing in your community (that you didn't marry or give birth to).
Juan: We have Best Soccer talent in the Country.
Daniella: We have a gem: farmland in South Dade. Let's nourish and protect it.
Xavier: We are the most creative community in the world; in terms of architecture, technology, the arts and government, we are a cauldron of diverse experiences that if, forged correctly, can lead to greatness, despite our relative youth. 
Cindy:  Pinecrest Gardens has become a real community jewel, combining a beautiful Botanic,Garden, a cultural arts center and a play space for children and families
Eugene: Parks, parks and more parks!  Our original village council worked diligently together with the community to set aside green areas, purchase new park land and improve existing parks.
Philip: South Miami banned the spraying of nerve poisons (insecticides) in our public air spaces, with an exception for addressing a mosquito-borne disease outbreak.
Daniel: The intelligence and engagement of our residents
Grace: Some of the great people that make up the fiber of Miami.
Raquel: For all its issues Miami Dade County has amazing residents, people who have survived and overcome many challenges. People who believe in new beginnings, people who want a better life for their children and grandchildren. People who understand that personal and professional achievements require hard work. But we rarely apply this pioneer spirit beyond our friends and family. As a native miamian I am proud of the people that make up our unique miami dade communities and believe that we can make our collective home a great place if we hold government accountable and elect leaders who value our communities, believe in hard work and respect our residents.

What did I miss that I should have asked you?
Juan: How crazy are you for being in Politics?
Daniella: What is my assessment of my first six months in office? It has been exciting and eye-opening. I have a great team: we have been deeply engaged with the residents and businesses of the district, and have brought some important legislation forward. It is an honor and joy to serve.
Xavier: What is the single thing that drives me most in my political life? I would answer it is trying to provide jobs to the 70,000 or so county residents that are looking for work.
Followed by the single thing that I feel I can do to improve our county: "Make Transit Work."
Cindy:  were you in scouting?  What inspired you to run for office, what will you do next in life, who are you encouraging to run for office?
Eugene: How’s it feel to be back in office after serving as the first mayor? I am really grateful to once again lead Miami-Dade County’s best community!  I have such a supportive family which is both helpful and inspires me to put in all the hours required in order to ensure that Palmetto Bay is protected and moves forward in a positive way for generations to come.
Philip: If you could turn the clock back, what mistake would you remedy (other than failing to invest in Tesla when it went public)?
Daniel: Question: Why politics?  Answer: I learned from my parents that you make the community that you want to live in.
Grace: Why do you devote so much time to advocacy/activism?
Answer - I believe that our community can achieve its greatest potential when community members are engaged and pushing for more
Raquel: What do you eat straight out of the container when no one is around? Peanut butter
What would you not let your children borrow? My shoes
If you had to be an animal what animal would you be? A lioness
If you had extra time what would like to learn to do? Fly planes, would love to get my pilot's license.

Now lobbyists, you know what color to wear when visiting these people! Not such dumb questions after all.

President Obama, South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, and FPL Nuclear ... by gimleteye

In great environmental battles -- like the one to determine whether FPL will be the first utility in decades with the permit to build two new nuclear reactors -- there is always a turning point. That turning point may have occurred the other day when a camera caught South Miami Philip Stoddard informing President Obama: if you are really concerned about climate change and protecting Americans, then you can't allow new nuclear reactors -- costing $24 billion -- to be built by FPL in the region of the nation most vulnerable to sea level rise.

South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard with President Obama on Earth Day with a Nuclear Message.

What this photo says is that presidential candidates for 2016 are going to have to take a position on new nuclear at Turkey Point by FPL.

In the late 1990's, when the battle was raging over the fate of the Homestead Air Force Base -- whether Miami-Dade insiders would hijack a military base for private profit -- we never had an iconic image like this, but then we didn't have ubiquitous camera phones, either. Good for Mayor Stoddard and the team fighting FPL both on the new reactors, the high voltage power lines up the US 1 corridor, and the horrendous pollution of FPL's failed cooling canals in its two ancient reactors.

The battle is set between civic activists, environmentalists, and community leaders and one of the nation's leading electric utilities.

Don't forget how FPL -- in the last mayoral campaign in South Miami -- funded a reprehensible personal attack against Mayor Stoddard. Its lobbyists and at-arms-length subcontractors tried to accuse Mayor Stoddard of pedophilia. Gutter politics claims all one must do is allege to cast doubt. It didn't work with voters. FPL tried to walk away from its ugly fruit, but it lost big time and also incurred lasting enmity. Corporations are people, too.

What threatens FPL about Mayor Philip Stoddard is not only that he has a command of science and fact, but he is also a very effective communicator. Between now and 2016, opponents of FPL nuclear power at Turkey Point need to make every single presidential candidate -- in the primaries and in the general election -- take a position on Turkey Point.

No one, though, should shed a tear for FPL if its armor is pierced. The pay of top executives is profit-based, and it will continue to accumulate in private bank accounts to the tune of tens of millions of dollars at ratepayers' expense -- thanks to early cost recovery of the new nuclear it is planning, Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP state legislature. FPL execs will make millions right up to the final annual report after its plans for Turkey Point are cancelled when they'll wash their hands and smile, "That was a profitable fight."

Eye on Miami's Saturday Editorial Page: Turkey Point Hearings - Special Taxing Districts Op Ed. By Gimleteye and Geniusofdespair

Eye on Miami has replaced the Saturday Editorial Page of the Miami Herald - They do not have one

 
One of the very few chances for the public to be heard on the expansion of FPL Turkey Point and $24 billion of new nuclear reactors at sea level By Gimleteye

Mayors of three important South Florida municipalities (Tomas Regalado, City of Miami, Philip Stoddard, City of South Miami, and Cindy Lerner, Mayor of Pinecrest) are taking the lead in opposing the expansion of FPL's Turkey Point nuclear reactors. 

The public has very few opportunities to directly address the "deciders" on whether or not to allow the FPL plan to move forward. Here are two meetings and information related to public comments. Please take time to read the Environmental Impact Statement and comment directly on that document through the links provided below.

Turkey Point Nuclear Expansion: Meeting Information

These meetings will be hosted by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Hearing in Miami, Florida

When: Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Where: Florida International University 
Stadium Club Room 
FIU Stadium 
11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami

Hearings in Homestead, Florida

When: Thursday, April 23
First Session: 1:30-4:30 p.m. 
Second Session: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Where: Hampton Inn and Suites 
Miami-South/Homestead 
Reef Room 
2855 N.E. 9th Street, Homestead, Florida 33033

Turkey Point Nuclear Expansion: Public Comment

By law the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission must take public comments into account. Public comments will be accepted until May 22, 2015.

Email: 

TurkeyPoint.COLEIS@nrc.gov

Mail:

Re: NUREG-2176

Cindy Bladey, 

Office of Administration 
Mail Stop: OWFN 12 H8 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555–000

These meetings and comments are part of the federal licensing process and related to the recently released draft Environmental Impact Statement, available online at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr2176/. This information is also online at the City of Miami’s website at: http://tinyurl.com/MiamiNuclearMeeting

GUEST OP ED - CARLOS GIMENEZ COST CUTTING AND CONSOLIDATION CAUSES DEFICITS IN SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS

A special taxing district is a mechanism used by communities, wherein property owners elect to pay special assessments levied on their properties in order to receive public services and/or improvements, which could not otherwise conveniently or equitably be provided.

In Miami-Dade County some of these services include, but are not limited to:
Street lighting, Security guard services, Guard houses, Lake maintenance."

The Public Works and Waste Management department controls Special Taxing District funds. The section was headed by Don Tok for many years. The rates of each district were reviewed every year according to cost and growth.

In 2011 when Mayor Carlos Gimenez merged the Public Works and Solid Waste Departments he promoted a group of Solid Waste employees that included a Director  (now Miramar City Manager), Assistant Director  and  a Chief. The listed individuals were put in place by Gimenez for political reasons and many think were not qualified to oversee the finances of the newly created department.

Assistant Director Chris Rose chose to maintain low or cut rates on the Special Taxing Districts without permission from the County Attorney's Office to make Gimenez look as a mayor intent on cutting taxes. The result is that after 3 years of low rates there is a multi million dollar deficit of Special Taxing District funds and an ongoing analysis has uncovered the comingling of funds from different Special Taxing districts- something strictly prohibited by county ordinance. As a result, today Don Tok is being forced to resign and Alina Hudak could also be forced to resign. Rose has already left the county to City of Miami and he is not acknowledging responsibility for the deficit of funds.

A meeting was held Friday 4:30 pm with the Mayor, Kathy Jackson Director of Audit, and Alina Hudak also AD's from the Public Works Dept. as they tried to find a solution to the deficit  problem. 

According to department employees, the Section  has been running on "cooked" numbers for the last three years.

Example: A district where citizens paid $5,000.00 in special taxes had their service cut to $1,000.00 and now the taxes must be raised to $9,000.00.

The backlash of this deficit will upset citizens from every area of the county. Do you have a guard booth? It will effect you.  This incident has occurred due to the promotion of what I think are unqualified employees and for political reasons by a mayor intent on "cutting taxes" as a reelection tool.

The Best of Miami Herald's Jim Morin this week.

Gossip or Truth?

The Miami Dade County Aviation Department is about to finalize a $7.5 million deal in Tuesday's committee meeting by the commissioners approving the deal. The system awarded was never tested at the requirements from the airport. The FAA will do its due diligence since it is funding the majority of the project. Once they find that the system has not been tested and the FOD detection system has shown that it can not perform to the standards required FAA will then pull the funding and MDAD will come to the county to bail them out. (comment left on our blog)

FPL, the US military, Barbra Streisand, frightened voters and more … Mayor Philip Stoddard, an elected official with the guts to stand up to a big utility -- interviewed on climate change and sea level rise on National Public Radio … by gimleteye

There are a few news items that are important, and readers ought to take them all in to make their own assessment.

1) Last week I wrote about FPL's naked power grab at Turkey Point Nuclear. FPL is mounting its cooperative effort with the Rick Scott administration to push out scientists and engineers at the South Florida Water Management District from supervision of the extraordinarily dangerous clogging of the Turkey Point "cooling canals". It is proposing that the Rick Scott governing board of the District cancel  a prior legal agreement that held FPL accountable … or should have … for its massive pollution problems in the existing nuclear reactors. (The decision awaits a vote by the water district governing board.)

FPL's cooling canals had already been failing before the recent $3 billion uprate and are now massively failing. To understand the full extent of what FPL is doing, it is necessary to put the most recent developments in context of the environmental impact assessment due in 2016 for the new nuclear reactors, Unit 6 and Unit 7. Sweeping its toxic mess under the proverbial rug only begins to describe what is happening.

2) Here is another part. Florida's utilities yesterday petitioned the Public Service Commission to gut conservation goals for electricity production. What's going on? Try this on for size: FPL top shareholders and executives, and those of the state's other big electric utilities, are determined to keep making money as long as they possibly can -- that is to say, to get extraordinarily wealthy -- through the business model of extracting increased levels of profit through higher unit production of electricity, no matter what.

In other words, Florida refuses to go along with the premise and practice of mandating utility profit through energy conservation and unit reduction of energy production. That profit model could not only save enormous investments in hard infrastructure -- like Turkey Point new nuclear, en route to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- but reasonably point ratepayers to reduction of carbon emissions at the root of climate change. Here is the lead from the Tampa Bay Times report: "Florida's big public utilities spend very little on energy conservation. On Monday, they will ask state regulators for permission to spend even less. The state's energy future depends almost exclusively on construction of expensive new power plants, the utilities argued in preparation for the Public Service Commission hearing and in their previous public statements. The utilities see little merit in any other strategy. Solar energy? Not reliable. Increased efforts to encourage use of energy efficient appliances and building practices? Not "cost effective." Studies that show it is cheaper to conserve power than to generate it? Misleading. Given the pattern of recent decisions, there's a good chance the PSC will approve the requests from Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Co. and Florida Power and Light to gut conservation goals."

3) Will it take a national security crisis of immense proportions before the bunkers harboring the nation's utility executives start to crack? That is a question that climate change is leading towards. What would that crisis look like? How would the federal government respond? This leads to an incredibly dismal report on voter turnout. According to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate yesterday, "If the first 25 statewide primaries (for U.S. Senate and/or state governor) are any guide, the nation is likely to witness the lowest midterm primary turnout in history. It is also likely to witness the greatest number of states setting records for low voter turnout."

4) Recently, on May 22, Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill that, despite the DOD request, no funding could be used to address climate change as a national security issue. All but three Republicans voted for the McKinley Amendment. Save four members, Democrats all voted against it. (For a terrific OPED by Barbra Streisand on the political logjam around climate change, read the recent report here: "The U.S. must lead on climate threat".)

So where, readers, do you think these circumstances lead? For one, to a conclusion: the nation's utilities are more powerful than our government. FPL, in Florida, IS our shadow government. And FPL has decided that IT will take care of the science of toxics, IT will decide -- through elected officials it controls including Governor Rick Scott -- what areas of South Florida can be sacrificed in order to deliver safe, reliable profits to top executives while delivering on-demand electricity to consumers. And Republicans, who are doing the business of the nation's big energy corporation as a matter of virtual remote control, will withhold the only institution -- the US military -- regarded by the public as maintaining integrity independent of politics from speaking out on the planet's biggest national security threat and most real and present danger: climate change. Why is there no debate about this?

For one, because Americans aren't voting. Why aren't Americans voting? Because they are scared to death. Scared by the economy, scared by the climate, scared by a media driven by corporate media that exploits fear and weakness because that's what trains eyeballs on TV screens.

We can do better and we must. It starts by voting and by voting for candidates for public office who have had the guts to speak out against a status quo that is hell-bent on gathering all the acorns as quickly as possible because the shitstorm is coming. We need leaders. Instead, what we have are an elite on their high mountaintops bending down to voters at the shoreline, whispering, "Don't tell us what to do."

One such leader is South Miami leader Philip Stoddard, who was interviewed last week on NPR, "Climate Risk for Real Estate Values in South Florida." Listen.

Go to the link to see the photos of people boating along the submerged Miami streets...you'll wish this was YOUR mayor speaking...and remember this is the area where FPL just spent $3 BILLION to renovate the Turkey Point nuke plant....
____________

Climate Risk for Real Estate Values in South Florida

Air Date: Week of July 18, 2014

Biologist Phil Stoddard is the mayor of South Miami, a South Florida suburb threatened by rising sea levels. Mayor Stoddard tells host Steve Curwood that municipalities in Florida are doing all they can to prepare for climate change, but he does not think the state government is taking the issue seriously, and the risk to real estate values is considerable.

Transcript

Popular South Miami mayor fights off negative campaign with big victory, commission majority remains committed to fighting FPL power lines over US 1 … by gimleteye

Incumbent South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard won reelection to a third term last night, with a galloping 62 percent of the popular vote. 1897 ballots were cast, representing 26 percent of eligible voters. Running for city commission, former mayor Horace Feliu -- a stand-in for Florida Power and Light -- lost to Walter Harris by a 20 point margin; the second time Feliu has been turned away by South Miami voters.

Municipal elections can be tricky for special interests like FPL. They can try to hide, through ECO's and PAC's, but when voters are made aware of the dark money and issues at work -- especially when that money is built around dirty tricks -- there is real jeopardy to their cause.

Stoddard, a biology professor at FIU, is particularly vexing because he has learned to navigate through the dirty tricks and has been able to reach voters even when the negative campaigning slipped beneath the mainstream media radar.

A new generation of elected officials for Miami and Miami-Dade can take hope from yesterday's results.

FPL is deeply involved in south Florida politics because a meaningful profit is derived from its plans to build new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point. Thanks to a sympathetic governor and legislature, FPL customers are paying a king's ransom in "early cost recovery" for the plants.

While top FPL executives might be disinclined to stir hornet's nests in local politics, having secured state capitols and Congress, at the local level middle rank executives and hired hands are judged by successes -- including smoothing the way for local permit and zoning decisions with "early cost recovery" money.

When winning is defined as gaining the slightest advantage in siting new utility infrastructure, no FPL manager wants to be a "loser". FPL would define its goals, predictably: we don't meddle, and our only interest is providing cheap, affordable and reliable electricity for consumers and businesses according to rules and regulations established by voters, through the state legislature and Congress.

Who has the hands on those rules and regulations is what matters. FPL is deeply engaged by the process of controlling its regulatory environment. Through this lens, for top executives living in Juno Beach a municipal election in South Miami is no big deal. But for voters who care and who are engaged by the process of establishing fairness and ethics in government -- and in power supply and its features like overhead high voltage power lines -- last night's victory was a pretty good one.

Here is a brief interview with Mayor Stoddard:

For Mayor Philip Stoddard … by gimleteye

Early voting begins tomorrow for the city of South Miami. I support Mayor Philip Stoddard (for more, read our archive).

The 600 pound gorilla in the upcoming elections is Florida Power and Light. FPL is fighting a multi-year battle for two new nuclear reactors in South Dade. The intersection of voters' interest in South Miami involves the plan by FPL to put new overhead high voltage power lines through the city's corridor on US 1.

FPL is as politically sophisticated as any leviathan special interest. Based on Mayor Stoddard's past successes, FPL knows that any obvious investment in his opponents' campaigns would be counter productive. In other words, it is not immediately obvious what dark money is being thrown against Mayor Stoddard in this race.

Stoddard's main opponent, Valerie Newman, says that too much focus is being put on FPL. It is a sly way to suggest she would lift the pressure that Mayor Stoddard has kept on the leviathan. "It's time to talk about other issues", she says. In her view, South Miami should let its larger neighbors take the lead.

The fact is that Mayor Stoddard is the brightest, fact-based voice on issues related to FPL. It is rare -- and I cannot think of a single other instance -- where an elected official has challenged FPL as thoroughly and competently as Mayor Stoddard. 

South Miami voters ought to send a clear message not just to FPL but also to the state of Florida by expressing confidence in another term for Mayor Stoddard. Let's not forget Mayor Stoddard needs a majority too on the city commission to keep the pressure on the 600 pound gorilla.