Spam Folder. By Geniusofdespair

I don't know why but some of you end up in our spam folder. Occasionally I look through the hundreds of spam comments to see if anything REAL is there. Sometimes I delete the whole damn list without looking. I am sorry if this has happened to you but don't give up commenting.

One way to guarantee you get in the spam folder, add a link to your comment. Links are not helpful.

Miami-Dade County Voting By The Numbers in 2016 Presidential and Mayoral Election. By Geniusofdespair

Almost 1 Million people voted for President: 986,823. Now you would think that in the Senate race the numbers would be pretty similar. But, No. In the Senate race 970,909 people voted. What happened to the other 15,000 votes? Did those people only vote in one race and then make an exit? If we go down the ballot to the Mayor's race there are more surprises or just more people fell asleep after one or two votes. Remember the same amount of people -- almost a million -- should have voted in the County Mayor's race. In the Mayoral race 851,775 people voted or 135,048 less than in the Presidential race. Since the two candidates in the Mayoral race were 99,293 apart, those 135,048 people not voting could have been the difference.

In the Mayoral  race, Early Voting was king. Absentee Ballots was second and Election Day came in third.

In the Presidential election results for Miami Dade County, you see the same trend in voting methods.

The same held true for the Senate race, Early Voting was the preferred method of voting with Absentees coming in second and Election Day third, for both Dems and Pubs. By Hillary's double lead in early voting, it is easy to see where Dems prefer to vote. That would mean that in the Mayoral race, Carlos Gimenez got his jump in Early Voting from the Dems.

FPL - The Company is a colossal mess and what a bunch of liars on the Nuke Plant. By Geniusofdespair

Eric Silagy CEO of Florida Power and Light tries to defend the indefensible...

Note how the tritium is moving into Biscayne Bay

FPL tries to defend itself but the proof is in the pudding according to the Miami Herald:

Records show FPL had been warned for years about problems and even conducted its own research in 2010 that concluded its key fix — adding millions of gallons of brackish water to freshen the super salty canals — would likely make the plume worse. After overheated canals forced the plant’s two reactors to partially power down in 2014, the utility pushed state regulators and water managers repeatedly to add more water, solutions that would allow it to continue operating under Nuclear Regulatory Commission limits but potentially increase the extent and speed of saltwater seepage from the unlined canals.

At the time, the company was still publicly insisting its canals were “definitely a closed system” not impacting any other source of water.

The end result, say environmentalists and others who pushed FPL to move faster over the years, are patchwork fixes and shortsighted solutions they say have failed to deal with broader problems caused by the 44-year-old canals.

“They’re band-aids,” said Steve Torcise, whose family has operated a rock mine just west of the canals for 90 years and earlier this year won a legal fight demanding the state overhaul a management plan that allowed FPL to add more water without fully addressing the impact on the plume. An administrative judge in February faulted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for being too weak and not citing FPL.

Turkey Point Nuke Plant - Don't you wonder where all the Nuclear Waste is kept?
Well there is a video on it 1,074 Metric Tons of toxic nuclear waste is stored in pools above ground at sea level.

County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said:

“Their first order of business has to be to do no harm to our community and to our environment,” she said. “They want to be known as being good stewards, so it’s especially incumbent upon them to set the example.”

Video by Engineer Ed Swakon explaining the salt water intrusion:

From the Miami Herald

The Tequesta's Miami Circle: is it only a dog park now? By Geniusofdespair

Blanca Mesa has written a beautiful article reminding us about the Miami Circle in the Biscayne Times. Here is an excerpt, read the whole article it is worth it:

On a recent dry, sunny afternoon, a dog walker and a few tourists were at the Miami Circle. None of them realized they were at the site of a 2000-year-old archaeological site, the very cradle of Miami civilization.

“Is it here?” asked a woman, her eyes darting across the landscape of dried grass and limestone rocks that hid the Miami Circle.

The air smelled faintly of dog excrement and marine life, the Miami River lapping against the seawall. Across the narrow dark river, mega yachts were anchored. On the Brickell Bridge, the iconic statue of a Tequesta warrior stood, his arms outstretched toward the blue sky, now obscured by the concrete and glass of a new downtown real estate boom.

Perhaps we have forgotten about the Miami Circle because we buried it. Perhaps we have forgotten because we are a city that redefines itself every few years, and waves of newcomers roll in with every tide, like seaweed, with no memory of what the Miami Circle meant to the community when it was discovered in the summer of 1998.

We have lost touch with what it means to contemplate a connection to 2000 years past, when the hands of an ancient people carved the very bedrock that would build a city in the 20th Century.

But because we saved this place where the river meets the bay, we can still imagine what it was like to live under an open blue sky, close to the sea, at a time when it seemed the world had no end.

Eye on Miami on Homestead a.k.a.Hudstead: Wayne Rosen Still Working That Golf Course Angle at Keys Gate. By Geniusofdespair

With all this presidential nonsense we have totally ignored our most favorite Municipality in Miami Dade County:  Hudstead.

I have to admit I have never knowingly been to Keys Gate (although I did a tour of foreclosed homes years ago and I think many were in Keys Gate), the Development of Regional Impact that Michael Latterner (now deceased) and Wayne Rosen got permission to build so long ago I just don't remember. However they both made a fortune on this DRI. A fortune!! They built so many homes. A DRI is a windfall for a developer.

They had a golf course as part of the Development and people liking that socked their savings into a house in Homestead. No accounting for taste. The glossy must have been nice.

The golf course after years of neglect became a weed field. The Clubhouse was closed. Amenities be damned. So, what does a developer do? Try to get the Government to pay for it. Rosen tried to get Department of Housing and Urban Development money, to rehab the course. He said it would create jobs. After a firestorm of bad press, he said he was going to abandon the course and let it turn brown. Pretty nasty stuff to hear for the buyers of their dream home in Homestead. I would suppose they would be very, very angry.

Rethinking his harsh proposal, Wayne held a closed meeting and a new scheme surfaced. Lets build more homes and in exchange fix up the course and make it smaller. A meeting was held at Keys Gate and a golf course expert described what every golfer wants, a smaller course with more homes.

The Closed Keys Gate Meeting

The only problem, Wayne Rosen needed zoning changes to build more homes and he needed people he had made very angry to help him.

The people of Hudstead's Keys Gate were caught between a rock and hard place. Tolerate more homes and get the Council to let Rosen change the zoning or they would have brown over-grown grass behind their homes.

So, somewhere out of the blue a petition was developed and the Keys Gate community NIMBY members were signing it in droves:

With hopes of pressuring council members, residents of Keys Gate subdivisions are backing Rosen by way of an online petition.

On the table? Having the council overturn a decision made by Homestead’s planning and zoning board and allow him to go forward on rezonings to build single-family homes near a beer warehouse, speedway and airbase. In exchange, Rosen would pledge to renovate the rundown Keys Gate Golf and Country Club.

The petition has 489 names on it. Rosen want's 1,000.


And the question we are all left with is -- is Wayne Rosen a greedy developer? I don't know.

An altruistic developer might have bitten the bullet and fixed up the Course for the people who trusted him way back when, when they bought their dream home with their savings.

So the moral of this story is:

When you look at that glossy offering brochure when you buy a new home, watch out. Aside: What happened to the "A" school promised? Now a "C." (another blog but here is the KEYS GATE SCHOOL AUDIT)

Keys Gate Schoo Audit

Eye on Miami Picture of the Week: City of Miami District 2 Commissioner Ken Russell. By Geniusofdespair

City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell was on hand to answer audience questions March 3rd at the Urban Environment League event at the Perez (Ick) Art Museum. Audience: Just so you know -- your speeches with a question tacked on the end are such a bore. We didn't go to the forum to hear your speech. Stop with the speeches. Just ask the damn question.

The auditorium was packed to hear the new commissioner, a yo-yo mogul, who replaced Marc Sarnoff (another Ick).  He is a breath of fresh air, let's hope he stays the really good guy he is now.

I was glad to hear a fellow blogger inspired him to run: He said something Al Crespo wrote did it for him.  Thank you Al.

The GOP debates are nothing like debates ... by gimleteye

Credit Donald Trump for mercilessly blowing up every sacred cow he touches, including the televised debate "format".

Over a span of forty plus years, I've never watched a televised presidential or vice-presidential debate that was actually a debate. Last night's "presidential" debate proved televised debates are pointless in their current format/s. (Town Hall meetings? Nope.)

It is time for the television networks to change the talking point nonsense.

Image captures relevancy of GOP presidential debate

To listen last night to Marco Rubio questioning the size of Donald Trump's penis is know the presidential debate "format", including sober-faced news professionals, is done, finished, gone.

What is the use of "moderators" anyways, if candidates will not veer from poll-tested scripts? Not a single GOP candidate, not even John Kasich, can stop repeating themselves. Dear God, deliver us from talking points. As a viewer of these television debates, one wants to pray for an electrical outage, for darkness to descend on audience and stage... anything, dear Lord, but this.

I support the Lincoln Douglas debate format. You remember Lincoln, don't you? This format allows candidates to have questions in advance. Two candidates debate the pro and con position of a single question. No moderator needed except for a time keeper. Debaters are required to keep to a clear time format; opening statements, response and rebuttal. How refreshing it would be to give candidates from one party the opportunity to argue the other party's positions and to defend them as well.

What the Lincoln Douglas debate provides is for the audience to gauge the quality of a debater's mind not the size of his ego.

Marco Rubio losing support ... by gimleteye

Marco Rubio with Benefactor Norman Braman behind his Right Shoulder

Donald Trump should pay attention to the deep undercurrent of voter anger arising out of Big Sugar's domination of state water management -- sending massive pulses of polluted, toxic water from Lake Okeechobee down both Florida coasts. Big Sugar is polluting the backyards of mainly Republican voters, and Marco Rubio fits firmly in Big Sugar's pockets. In golfing, a sport Donald Trump masters, that's called a "gimme". Trump's advisors need to spend some time in our archive section or on Bullsugar.org to read the green.

New York Magazine reports:

"In his role as the donor class's darling, Marco Rubio has enjoyed support from the Republicans' media arm, Fox News. Throughout the primary, Fox provided Rubio with friendly interviews and key bookings, including the first prime-time response to Barack Obama's Oval Office address on ISIS. Many of the network's top pundits, including Stephen Hayes and Charles Krauthammer, have been enthusiastic boosters. Bill Sammon, Fox's Washington managing editor, is the father of Rubio's communications director, Brooke Sammon.

But this alliance now seems to be over. According to three Fox sources, Fox chief Roger Ailes has told people he's lost confidence in Rubio's ability to win. "We're finished with Rubio," Ailes recently told a Fox host. "We can't do the Rubio thing anymore."

So what's the "unfair and unbalanced" news network to do? And, Rubio?

Ailes was already concerned about Rubio's lackluster performance in GOP primaries and caucuses, winning only one contest among the 15 that have been held. But the more proximate cause for the flip was an embarrassing New York Times article revealing that Rubio and Ailes had a secret dinner meeting in 2013 during which the Florida senator successfully lobbied the Fox News chief to throw his support behind the "Gang of 8" comprehensive immigration-reform bill. "Roger hates seeing his name in print," a longtime Ailes associate told me. "He was appalled the dinner was reported," the source said.

Already, there are on-air signs that Fox's attitude toward Rubio has cooled. This morning, anchor Martha MacCallum grilled Rubio about his poor Super Tuesday performance. "Is that a viable excuse at this point?" she asked, when he tried spinning his second-place finish in Virginia.

Fox's corporate support of Rubio has also been a growing source of tension with the network's more conservative talent. Sean Hannity was furious that the Times article reported how he went along with Rubio's immigration proposal. During an interview with Trump on Monday, Hannity barely defended Fox while Trump trashed Rubio backers like Hayes. "He shouldn't be on the air," Trump said. The best Hannity could muster was to change the subject. "Have you ever watched MSNBC?" he said. "They suck."

Ailes is now back to searching for a candidate the channel can rally behind. "He's thinking, What do we do about the whole damn thing?" one of the news executive's friends said. Fox News spokesperson Irena Briganti did not return a call for comment.

No one in the GOP hierarchy or Fox, its media arm, anticipated Donald Trump could scramble the established order more thoroughly than any Democrat could ever aspire to do. For Trump, March 15th could be the 18th hole of the Republican primary competition.

Eye on Miami: I Voted for Donald Trump. By Geniusofdespair

Why Donald Trump?

Local Governments Issue Resolutions Against The Slaughter of the Black Bear. By Geniusofdespair

Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and South Miami have passed resolutions opposing future Bear hunts in Florida. Florida Fish and Wildlife instituted and supported the hunts and plans to repeat the fiasco next year.

This thank you letter to Cindy Lerner, the Mayor of Pinecrest says it best:

I would like to take the time to thank you for being a voice for the voiceless and speaking for Florida’s Black Bears. I was a check station monitor and it was truly the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. During my time at station #21 in the Ocala National Forest, I recorded 11 lactating females and 1 cub brought in; there were bears that the FWC promised would be protected and they did nothing. As a lifelong educator, I work hard to teach my students that Florida’s unique ecosystem is truly our treasure and more valuable than strip malls or condominiums. I work to show them that we can strike a balance between our communities and those of our wild neighbors. I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to show my students that there are caring people in our government who also see the value of wild lands and animals.
Sincerely,
Thomas Allison
Ocala, Fl

In less than 2 days in October 295 bears were killed by hunters. Disgusting.

A big thank you goes out to Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and South Miami for being humane to our wildlife. Now everyone contact Fish and Wildlife.

Miami Dade County Chair Jean Monestime Dismisses his Chief of Staff as of Nov. 20th. By Geniusofdespair

Gone November 20th but don't come in immediately:

 No explanation from Gerard or Jean on what happened -- just this letter. Hmm, anyone have the scoop?

Pictures of the week. Flooding in a Red State: God must be punishing them. By Geniusofdespair

If not for the water, this looks like a photo right out of the Walking Dead

....Like God is punishing us for being a Swing State:

Which are the animals. Bear Hunt in Florida.

Miami Herald photo.  Now how does this work? The stores and restaurants get flooded but the streets don't? I could just see jumping that curb. Lawsuit.

I just got back from the emergency room -- but I still post. Did you watch my opera video yet? Did you read my famous Saturday Editorial? If not, you are all pieces of shit.

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial Page - September 5th. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Herald gave up on having opinions on Saturday...we took up the slack.

HUDSTEAD (HOMESTEAD)

"Homestead Bob" lost his battle with cancer. He was a Veteran of the Vietnam war with a purple heart and he had his share of battle scars. Bob was a loving, sharing guy. I have known him for years and have shared a few dinners and lunches many at The White Lion eating enormous slices of  cake iced in pastel colors. Although I spent time with him, I never remembered his last name. Let's face it, going to Homestead is very far for most of us but we texted a lot. He is "Homestead Bob" on my contact list.

 I just know he is at peace now because he is such a good soul. He loved the cat he was a allergic to and he loved life. He also liked the Sci-Fi Channel. Not a bad bone in his body.

And now we have other Hudstead news. Former Steve Shiver will be making $150,000 at his new job as City Manager in cash poor Opa Locka. Watch out for the triangle Steve. Sorry, I mean go hang out in the triangle (The Triangle is an area known for violence and drug use. It is bounded by State Road 9 on the south, Northwest 17 Avenue to 22 Avenue on the east and west portions and Northwest 151 Street on the north in the City of Opa-locka).

LETS GET PERSONAL

I need to share at least a few pictures from my Italy trip.

Guy Excavating Pompeii

Sign Outside Assisi Bathroom...

Some hilltop town on the West Coast. (Only normal tourist photo here)

Germany Airport - Old World meets IPad. What is that she is drawing? A butterfly?

Our Rock-Mining Disaster - The Lake Belt - Looking North from the plane. These lakes were created by Strip Mining rock in Miami Dade County and putting our aquifer in jeopardy.

CAPITAL ONE VENTURE CREDIT CARD SUCKS

Okay, while in Italy I bought $450 worth of groceries at Winn Dixie. At least I tried to according to Capital One Venture Card (did I say they suck?). I have never charged groceries on the Capital One Venture Card ever. When I got back my credit card was on hold. I found out at Starbucks when the card was rejected.  I called them. The call center in some foreign country asked about whether I tried to charge coffee at Starbucks. I said: "yes." They said okay we will take the hold off.  Wait a minute Capital One Venture Card! When I questioned them about my last charges I found about the attempted Winn Dixie grocery charge. Then I questioned them further and found out my phone number and address were changed. They said they would send a new card and make the address correction.

I checked to see what they were doing in a call yesterday and this time I got someone from Florida fraud. "No, we are not sending you a new card, we reactivated it." "No we did not change your address." What???? Captial One Venture Card left the fraudsters with an active card? I told them about my call to the foreign call center and their promises. They didn't seem to care nothing was done, they said they would take care of it. I even have a password on the card and a chip. Anyone who ever worked in a doctor's office or a department store has access to the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

I was told by the Florida Call Center for the Capital One Venture Card that I called them (while I was in Italy) and made changes to my account including putting my password on (they told me I never had one before which I did). I said "Do you really think I am going to call for a $1 a minute to do stuff for an account while in Italy?" I did make a charge in Italy while all this fraud was going on in Miami. They kept accusing me of doing stuff (I hope someone listens to the recorded call to see how customers are treated by fraud prevention), so I shut down the Capital One Venture Card account. Apparently all you need to change an address is your birth date so keep putting that on your Facebook page fools.

JOBS FOR GRANTS: THE BIG FAT LIE 

According to the Miami Herald, Miami Wilds the stupid water theme park they want to put near the zoo, promised 2,800 jobs for a $13.5 million grant. Now they are promising 400 jobs for the same grant. Sounds like the same empty promises we got from the Wet Dream American Mall. They got public land not grants.


The $75 million of our hard earned money, earmarked to bring businesses with jobs to the county - it was an Economic Development Fund - is being thrown down the drain (SkyRise Miami is getting $9) on insane, phony jobs projects by the Gimenez administration and the County Commission.

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial August 15: Raquel Regalado and Carlos Gimenez. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Herald: Your Fall is Our Spring...

COUNTY MAYORAL CANDIDATE RAQUEL REGALADO'S CAMPAIGN REPORT

For a non-incumbent Raquel Regalado is raising a respectable amount: She is up to $182,190. You have to understand, people doing business with the County WILL NOT give her money. They are afraid of the wrath of the sitting Mayor, Carlos Gimenez even though he is not officially running (he has no campaign account). I love the fact that Raquel has dozens of $5 donations but better yet, she has something I have never seen before: $3 donations.

Here is one for the books,  Raquel Regalado interviewing Carlos Gimenez. Interesting, even though I don't understand a word of it. I heard his Spanish sucks. I don't know, it sounds okay to me.




DOES CARLOS GIMENEZ HAVE A FOURTH PAC RAISING MONEY FOR HIM?? Four are you kidding?

Citizens for Effective Leadership was formed by Ernesto Martinez, Jr. recently. This PAC has raised $78,850 already. Ernesto is transferring funds from PACs he controls to other PACs he controls. That does not seem legal, if he were to get money from a PAC he does not control and put it in one he does that's different. How does he know the intent of the donor unless he is coordinating the efforts of the PACs under his control?

 Here is Citizens For Effective Leadership's report of contributions I guess Ron Book made up with Gimenez, and BFF Jorge Luis Lopez is here donating $10,000:

A lot of the same donors that gave to PAC Miami Dade Citizens for Progress.


Most of this PAC's expenses went to Hiprockstar at 15030 Monroe Street, Miami, for support and consulting. They seem to concentrate on the black population if you look at their website section "Our Work" and their Facebook page. They do marketing communications:

Creative focuses on developing and executing advertisement. This visual display conveys a clear message in layout, words, and imagery directly to the heart of your target audience. This effective tactic will embody the creative strategy, appeal, and execution style needed to strategically design an effective marketing message in an effort to persuade the consumer to take the action intended.

Here is their address in Richmond Heights (Hiprockstar looks like a big company):

DONALD TRUMP:

He made sense in his interview Friday night. He talked about PAC's not coordinating with a candidate. He said he did not believe that for a minute. He was convinced that PAC's always coordinate...as I am. I hate these PAC's. Great way to funnel too much money to a candidate.

HOMESTEAD

Control freak. That is a lot of shit for one visor.

Wayne's World: How could I finish without a Homestead (Hudstead) report. Here is a rare photo of Homestead over-lord Wayne Rosen and his visor or control freak items. He is once again trying to convince the community to refurbish the golf course that they were promised when they bought the property. May I remind him that Donald Soffer paid to refurbish his Turnberry golf course and Donald Trump paid for Doral. Wayne had a management agreement. I don't rightly know what is going on with this golf course but I am sure someone from Homestead can give us a report.

While all this golf course nonsense is going on... the election is being manipulated in a shake-up which appears to be trying to keep Rosen friendly people in office, i.e. getting rid of Patricia Fairclough.

I hope we can get the latest details on the golf course from residents. From the News Leader: "Flanked by a row of conceptual drawings, Gleber tried to sell residents, who poured into the golf course's club house by the dozens, a new vision to the troubled golf course, and why they should be okay paying for a recreational lease." Gleber is the only one on the condo board representing the people. He is a friend of Rosen. Rosen will not let go of control until build-out. How many years has he held on to control without letting an Association form?

Boating Etiquette: Music On A Boat. by Geniusofdespair

Fourth of July is coming and I dread going out on a boat to listen to OTHER PEOPLE'S MUSIC. Party and drink all you want, just stop with the loud music.

You might be playing music I like from the 500 watt mega-speakers you have installed on the front of your boat. I just don't want to hear it. Whether you play hip hop, salsa, country western or rock, it doesn't matter. People in general don't want to hear other people's choice in music, they want to hear their own.

Let me be in peace on my boat or let me listen to my own music. Your sound should end at your boat. Get the friggin' speakers off the front of your boat and be a human being and respect your neighbors on the water. Here is an even better idea. If you want to play loud music, isolate yourself from others and anchor. Better idea, don't play music at all, go out to enjoy the water and give your ears a much needed rest.

Really? Your stupid little boat needs these??

Eye On Miami Saturday Editorial Page June 13th: Rubio, Homestead and TAXES. By Geniusofdespair

We dare to go where the Miami Herald goes no more...Saturday!!

TV REVIEW

I have to recommend my favorite show. You can binge watch it on HBO. You only missed two short seasons: Silicon Valley (a half hour show).

I like the posture of the star of Penny Dreadful but the plot is stupid and you have seen it before.  Enough of TV, I have to get out more. Back to local news...

SEEN ON THE STREET (ACTUALLY IN THE OFFICE)

Mayor Carlos Gimenez and chief county Sycophant Lester Sola in a man hug. Why is the Water and Sewer head going to Paris with Carlos. Reward for good behavior?

Here he is with David Rivera when in the Florida Legislature.

OMG IS RUBIO's CAMPAIGN DONE, AT LEAST  FOR WOMEN?

I need details people so far touched by rumor:  I heard on Chris Matthews that Jeb supported a very stupid law in 2001that made it mandatory for a woman who wanted to put a child up for adoption to put a notice in the newspaper for a week and name her partners etc. to do the adoption. Very embarrassing stuff for a woman to do before she let her child be adopted. On the show they slammed Jeb on it. But I heard Marco Rubio sponsored it. Woof, worse!!! Whatever he said at the time (2001) is gold to end his campaign and display his war against women...Marco Rubio was in the State House at the time and voted for it. Did he sponsor the Scarlet Letter Bill? Details readers, I need details.

HOMESTEAD:

What is a week without news from beloved Homestead? They want to approve a mail in ballot on their stupid idea to skirt term limits.

Will Porter, Burgess, Shelley and Waldman will recuse themselves since they have already served in the capacity of Vice-Mayor and this ballot initiative will allow each of them to serve another four year term with annual benefits of at least $40,000.

In essence it is a council vote worthy of $160,000 for possibly four council members for a grand total of $640,000. Plus another $70,000 in unbudgeted costs for the County to run this election.  It is scheduled for a vote on June 17th (was deferred). Isn't this a 3 subject vote all in one --- in violation of State Law?

Oh well, it's HUDstead they are lawless.    

(Note: scroll below this, a County TAX discussion follows)

Special Election Homestead Florida

YOUR TAXES ARE BEING RAISED BY THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE MAYOR TRIED TO HIDE INCREASED COSTS THAT HE CAN NO LONGER ABSORB IN THE BUDGET:

Thousands of you, maybe tens of thousands (enough to swing the 2016 vote to Raquel Regalado for Mayor) of you are getting your taxes raised. Your special taxing district cost will almost double.

Your community might have had lighting done through the county or you have a guard gate supported by the county.  The costs have held steady artificially (at Mayor Gimenez's bequest - he is the strong mayor) since 2011 now there is going to be a substantial raise to all of you in a special taxing district.  The hearing is on June 30th.  There have been pages of notices in the Newspaper. So, if you think that Mayor Gimenez has held your taxes at bay, he might have been robbing Peter to pay Paul these last few years and now the shit is hitting the fan. Read the 2  blogs about this subject and don't blame Tok. He is only a rejected Words with Friends word  -- not an actual person that should be blamed -- (here are the two articles on it) we have a strong mayor to blame, the man at the top:

Eye On Miami Saturday Editorial Page June 6th. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Herald's loss is our gain when they gave up on a Saturday Editorial Page

The Week In Review by Gimleteye

We've covered some rough subjects this week: Big Sugar, cancer clusters, Parcel B, Art Teele, so let's this Saturday ask the question: why in the world does anyone tolerate our FCC licensed airwaves to be clogged with faces and people who have done absolutely nothing to distinguish themselves. And the news parroting the news about some family with 19 kids ... WTF is wrong with this country?

It's not just the Duggers who I've spent exactly one minute of my life even thinking about. This horrendous urge to distract ourselves with the meaningless is the madness of a culture that has utterly lost its bearings.

The eyeball wearies. The purveyors of entertainments are competing with what? Pornography on the internet? We are all racing to the bottom like crabs scampering off a rock that's suddenly been exposed.

What this trend tells me is that dystopian films like Mad Max, the Divergent Series, or whatever else there is are onto something. That manufactured entertainments have always been part of popular culture in the West is indisputable.

The Week in Review by Geniusofdespair

What about the Housewives of (take your pick)? Aren't they worthy of mention. Vapid is the word...and big tits.

In a game of musical chairs, Alice Bravo, City of Miami Assistant Manager, might replace Ysela Llort for County Transit Chief. Did you see or hear about a job search, I didn't hear about a job search being conducted.

Two Mayors are feuding: Miami Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez with terse exchanges to City of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine (who has been mocking the expensive waterfront nail clipper building the County is partly funding). Note to Carlos, Levine is ten times more clever and can take you in any pissing match. Don't try to bully him. Be polite.  I suppose Carlos Gimenez is also  feuding with City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado who is suing the County over funding the Nail Clipper Building. The city had a referendum and said in it there would be no PUBLIC funding then after the stupid public approved it, the County then came up with $9 Milllion to  fund it. Colossal waste of money.

Skyrise the Nail Clipper.

Ron and Lauren Book and Their Most Annoying Charity. By Geniusofdespair

Love Her Ron - Just Don't Take Our Public Dollars for Your Charity. Don't cash in on tax dollars for  something you thought up to remedy your families' personal adversity. You know you could raise the money from the public sector: like all your clients. How about asking your pal multi billionaire Micky Arison for funds for Lauren's Kids?

I want to choose what charities I give to. I don't want the government doing it for me ESPECIALLY when the charity is headed by one of the most successful lobbyists in Florida. Ron Book has the ability to raise funds privately and not use public dollars but again and again this charity gets public dollars -- from the County as well.

According to Florida Bulldog in May:

Over the last four years, Lauren’s Kids, a nonprofit founded by the daughter of top Tallahassee lobbyist Ron Book, has become one of the Legislature’s favorite charities, raking in nearly $7 million in taxpayer funds. If and when legislators reconvene to pass a budget, that total is slated to rise to $10.8 million.


They did reconvene and they did give the charity more money. Governor Scott said, when he signed the bill to give them more OF OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS:

“We’re going to do everything we can to make this the safest place in the entire world to grow up,” Scott told the group. “Lauren and Ron, thank you for doing this.”

Well, Governor Scott, I personally think there are numerous charities more needy and I think the money you gave this charity could have gone to schools: Something you should be funding! I would give to the NAACP, Earthjustice, and the Everglades Law Center. They don't get our public dollars. Most charities fund raise in the private sector, as they should.  It is funny that you are against social programs Governor Scott and you are giving to Book's charity.

Somehow Lobbyist Ron Book has maneuvered money from every facet of government. Yes we know Lauren has her sad story with her nanny's molestation, didn't I hear Gwen Margolis also vomited on her at her wedding? That girl was born with bad luck, having given political donations when she should have been playing with girlfriends.  Was her dad setting a good example, sticking her name on financial disclosures as a teen? Was she really supporting all those candidates? Do teenagers care about politics? I think we all now know that poor Lauren was up to other things besides politics.

There are plenty of sad stories out there of needy charities. How about we fund orphan diseases like Spasmodic Torticollus. Who is looking for the cure for that crippling  disease? No one because it is not funded. Governor Scott, let's fund that. 90,000 people have that painful incurable disease in the US -- including my brother.

Let's stop funding charities with our tax dollars. Last year Ron is said to have made $5 million. He should duplicate the work of Developer Marty Margulies' funding the Lotus House, not suck from the public tit:

Lotus House women's shelter got a 20 million dollar pledge from Martin Z. Margulies.

Corporate records for Lauren's Kids:

 It is your money: What charity would you want it to go to readers?

From a reader, Book's daughter make a hefty salary at the non profit:

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY TO ENSURE NONE OF THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES HAVE NEW INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICT
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST


Form 990 (2011) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book Vice President, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 67,596.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.

Form 990 (2012) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 82,250.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations $7,346.00.

Form 990 (2013) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 60.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $103,540.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.
Entity Name: LAUREN'S KIDS, INC. DOCUMENT# N07000009940 FILED Jan 15, 2015 Secretary of State CC9561003146 2015 FLORIDA NON PROFIT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT
Officer/Director Detail : Title PRESIDENT Name BOOK, RONALD L Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010 City-State-Zip: AVENTURA FL 33180
Title VICE PRESIDENT Name BOOK, LAUREN F Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010
City-State-Zip: AVENTURA

Angry at Audrey: We didn't elect a Queen! By Geniusofdespair

Audrey Edmonson thinks she is queen of her district. Juan Zapata had a resolution to increase the rent on Parcel B and she balked that he should not be doing things in HER district. It was determined by a consultant that the rent was 1/3 of what it should be.

Wow now I am glad Audrey Edmonson did not get elected Chair of the County Commission. She might go back on our Unreformable list just when I was getting to like her.

AUDREY WE ARE ONE COUNTY NOT 13 DISTRICTS. When it comes to the Miami Heat, Parcel B and MONEY you do not reign supreme. Commissioner Juan Zapata is soooo right. Even if it is not a Countywide issue you are wrong. Last time I checked Parcel B was a county property. It was not purchased by District 3 was it? Look at the Money Audrey. Look at the money.

We didn't elect commissioners as overlords of Fiefdoms. YOU DO NOT OWN YOUR DISTRICT and you don't control all the issues within it. We don't have a Feudal regime in downtown.  Everything you vote on is for the good of the people, all of the people. Isn't the money in one big pot called the general funds? Isn't that where rent on this property would go?

How could you possibly threaten the other commissioners with your vote:

"If this goes through, then I think every single one of us will now have to worry about each others crossings the lines and coming in and just doing what they want to do in everybody's district"

That is what they SHOULD BE DOING Audrey. As long as there is one money pot,  everyone has a stake in everything in your district.

 When we have 13 separate accounts, go for it Audrey.  Your district will be a rich district. You should vote for 13 accounts. I would love to either cut the County cord or for you all to do the job you were voted to do:

Govern us all equally.

I don't mind subsidizing some districts if my Commissioner has an equal say to EVERYTHING in that district.  We should not need an at large commissioner, you all should be at large commissioners. Juan Zapata doesn't own the UDB line because a lot of it is in his district.  Moss doesn't own the Zoo. STOP the nonsense and govern in the best interest of the whole community: Which means you should have gotten more money from the Heat for the VIP Parking lot for all of us.

P.S. All the rest of you that voted with her: You are dickheads. You should have gotten the COUNTY more money.

Readers Beware. By Geniusofdespair

I am about to do away with the Saturday editorial page, not enough readers. How about being a blog ambassador for Eye on Miami? Put your friends emails in the box at right. Tell them you did it and urge them to accept the blog email request they will get. Our advertising revenue is way down. Oh wait, that is a lie, we don't take advertising. If you want us to continue this public service, get us more readers. I am going to monitor the Saturday Editorial page today. Get on it you lazy bastards...I mean valued readers.