First let me say it is very brave to speak in front of this ugly County Commission because the consequences can be infuriating. County Commissioner Souto ridiculed a public speaker at the County Commission Meeting April 28th - the subject was a truck parking lot outside the UDB line near a drinking water wellfield. The speaker had no opportunity to respond to the attack so we thought we would give him one. First here is a video of part of what the Rambling Commissioner said about Andrew followed by the open letter by Georgiadis: (if the video isn't working this is the link)
Commissioner Souto,
I was disappointed by your vote in favor of the impervious parking lot yesterday. The applicants and most of your fellow commissioners seemed to concentrate on the cleanliness of the water exiting the site. When the Director of DERM assured you that the water would be monitored, most of you seemed relieved. However, not one of you, save for Commissioner Sorenson, discussed the other water issue: runoff. Impervious surfaces of this size will reduce acquifer recharge. This is a separate issue to that of water contamination, and one which was not acknowledged yesterday.
You accused me of “living in another galaxy” and not being in touch with reality because I suggested that we emphasize rail over trucking. Then you made statements about reverting to horse drawn buggies, something none of us had ever mentioned during the hearing. I’d like you to realize that many highly civilized modern cities around the world approach the problem of transportation (both freight and passenger) according to the way I described.
Best practices in urban design and transportation planning are not of another galaxy, but are realistic, time-tested, and being accomplished right now. Also: you suggested that the inability to construct this particular parking lot would result in higher priced produce and “shirts.” You even pointed to me and asked how I expected to get tomatoes on the table without trucks. I wish I had the chance to answer the honorable board when you asked the question. The answer is that my wife and I don’t watch TV or surf the internet. Instead, we spend several hours per week cultivating fruits and vegetables in our small Miami backyard. We cultivate tomatoes, salad greens, fruits, a broad array of vegetables, and herbs, all due to our own sweat and without the trucks that you mentioned. Additionally, we do this at low cost in a way that does not pollute the environment, as hyper-dependency on trucking does. Our household is almost entirely self-sufficient for our fruit and vegetable needs.
In regards to the price of my shirt, which you pointed to in the meeting, I would be glad to pay more for certain goods, especially if it encourages our city to be more thrifty, and less of a throw-away society. Especially if the true costs of fossil-fuel dependency were factored into the goods that we consume and dispose, this would help create a rebirth of local manufacturing.
Lastly, I feel it is my duty to remind you, since you accused me of not living in reality, that fossil fuels are a finite resource, and are rapidly depleting. Most geologists admit that we have only a few decades of cheap oil left. Then what? We must plan for Miami Dade County to be survivable and prosperous in a post-oil world. Votes like yesterday's postpone our ability to face reality head-on.
Respectfully yours,
Andrew Georgiadis LEED AP, CNU
15 comments:
Too funny, a city commissioner that thinks he's a global economist.
He should only know that Andrew doesn't just do the talk, he walks the walk.
Sorenson,Moss,Sousa,Heyman - those commissioners might know what is truly meant by this phrase "Best practices in urban design and transportation planning" -to the rest of the sitting royalty on the dais "best practices" means "what's best for the corporate lobbyists,my pockets, my family's pockets,my friends pockets and screw the little people" - oh, I suppose for the manatee hating vile one,you'd also have to throw in a long expensive foreign trip somewhere for her to consider something a "best practice" - the contempt some of the commissioners have for the taxpaying public is jaw-droppping. Worse yet, is that people actually vote for this fool in the video.
Hmmm, I think that Mr. Soto needs to take a break and spend some time playing dominoes.
He is getting worse on the rambling. I like him, I just don't like his presentation of his thoughts, not that he is abrasive, but he isn't following the conversation these days.
It is always amusing to hear from the chief alien visitor on the Commission about others that must be living in another galaxy.
The issue before them was to allow trucks to park by the thousands on what are now wetlands. Soto's response was to suggest that opponents would eliminate trucking or make them park in Coral Gables in a garage. Stupid, and clearly demonstrating that he never reads anything the County provides because he's so clueless.
Thank you Andrew for calling out the Death Star of development - Berkow, Sweetapple, Olmedillo, Dolkart, and Curtis. If that's the crew for the applicant, you know it will be a hell-borne project.
Voters who re-elect Souto time and again, deserve exactly what they are getting. Unfortunately his vote has an impact on the lives of all Miami Dade citizens. Natacha balances the unions and the big developers on her chubby little paw. It's just about time to leave.
You would think by listening to Souto that not providing a truck parking lot in a very idiotic place (Near a wellfield and an Everglades project) was the end of commerce as we know it. IT IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THAT PARKING LOT. Why is that so hard to understand? Commissioner Gimenez, you shouldn't have voted with them. You are my Commissioner.
Doesn't also seem as if the Director of DERM defends all of the worst applications?
The directors of DERM are stuck. Last guy too - Renfrow. The commissioners don't him crack down. His job is his focus.
Mentioning Renfrow and the NW wellfield in the same blog makes me a little nervous. Any one else remember the investigation not too long ago and Renfrow's relocation to Public Works? And, once again the NW wellfield. Hope the neighbors like tainted drinking water!
Prostate cancer rising. Check the water.
Don't kid yourself for a minute. Mr. Soto has buddies with a financial interest in pushing this project thru. It's all about their pockets and how Mr. Soto will benefit from backing them. This county makes me sick. I think it's time to go!
No it is time to finance some candidates to run against them. How about Jean Monestime running against Rolle or the woman challenging Souto? Send a check.
I remember when DERM gave their blessing with promises to "monitor" the composting facility in S. Dade. Not only did it introduce citrus canker in a protected, clean area but it contaminated the ground water with arsenic. DERM is worthless.
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