Is there something wrong with this picture? By Geniusofdespair

One of our readers pointed out this 'odd' placement of an ad in yesterday's Miami Herald.

Hmmm. The Herald made a faux pas here: a food festival with "Good Food" and "Good Wine" under a photo of a starving baby and a story about the 'hungriest place on earth'. Good catch reader.

What is Lennar up to? By Geniusofdespair

Printing big, glossy fliers seems to be the current strategy. I know where I am NOT going this weekend although the free refreshments did entice me for a couple of seconds. Will someone call over there and let me know what the refreshments are?

My Love Affair with Music. By Geniusofdespair

I just looked at all of my 29 concert/music review entries and it was quite a trip. Music is very important in my life. It has gives me solace to listen to music during some very tough times, it soothes my soul like nothing else.

I know a lot of you have little patience with my quirky meandering on the music road, but it is what I am about, so I hope you can appreciate I am sharing an intimate and eclectic part of my life with you. These blogs are meaningful to me. I like sharing my love and respect for musicians such as:
Pearl Jam, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Leon Russell, Lang Lang and Van Morrison. I spend a lot of time picking out just that right video to convey to you what inspires me. I even like this goofy guy wearing a baseball cat, singing in his living room whom I found surfing YouTube. I can spend hours at a clip on YouTube. If I am quiet for a while, I am probably home traveling through musical history on the internet ...

The Teacher's Bill Passes. By Geniusofdespair

Cartoon By Jim Morin
According to the Miami Herald, the discussion in the Florida House went until 2:30 a.m.:

The vote was 64 for and 55 against the measure, which would overhaul the way teachers are evaluated, compensated and fired in Florida. Eleven Republicans joined Democrats in voting no.

Good for those 11, among them were: Representatives Marcelo Llorente, J.C Planas, Julio Robaina, and Juan Zapata. I think the bill sucks, like its sponsor the asshole, Sen. John Thrasher, also head of the Florida Republican Party. I believe that if Crist doesn't sign it, he will have to become an Independent because the Radical Pubs will be mad as hell.

Politics, King Coal and the Tragedy of West Virginia ... by gimleteye

The mainstream media pushes West Virginia into the national spotlight either every four years, during a presidential election, or when coal miners are trapped, rescued or killed in their line of work. Network TV has a particular order when reporting coal mining disasters: it is about ordinary Americans scraping a living underground, hopeful then grieving families, the technologies used to rescue miners, the uncertainty and drama of time running out, and lastly, how environmental and public health and worker rules have failed to protect the workers. Somewhere, political corruption by King Coal fits in; nearly unseemly-- apologetically, so-- in times of such personal tragedy.

There is another way to tell the story of course: political corruption first puts coal workers at risk, trapped by circumstances: either work underground for King Coal and risk your life, go fight our wars in the US military and risk your life, or work for the government. For working class West Virginians, that's the economy in a nutshell, accompanied by plaintive Civil War violins.

Rich West Virginia coal miners popped up in Florida a decade ago, hoping to install a golf course called Mirasol in Everglades wetlands and panther habitat, west of Naples in Collier County. In 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fired an 18-year employee, biologist Andy Eller, one week after he had written a biological opinion against Mirasol. In 2002 in the Washington Post, Eller's comments critical of rubber stamp approval of development in Southwest Florida were placed alongside top Bush campaign fundraiser and founder of WCI Communities, Al Hoffman, who boasted that growth was "an unstoppable force". In August 2008, WCI filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11.

These points seem disconnected from and trivial compared to the loss of dozens of lives in West Virginia. In fact, the whiff of political corruption is nearly as strong as the methane gas seeping through vents near this week's tragedy. Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship looks like any ordinary guy on television, but the money he has spent on politics has rumbled all the way to the US Supreme Court.

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2006, "One of the state's few big employers is Massey, which had revenue of $2.2 billion last year and employs about 4,300 West Virginians. Relations between Massey and the state have long been uneasy. The company recently reached a $1.4 million settlement over alleged environmental violations. More than 13 people, including some contract employees, have died while working at Massey-owned mines in the past five years. In 2001, a report commissioned by then-Gov. Bob Wise said the company's accident record "would be among the highest" if contract workers were included. The report said Massey's official safety record was improved because some accidents involving contractors weren't reported under Massey's name. Mr. Blankenship says the company's safety record is among the best in what is known as a dangerous industry and calls the number of fatalities "better than average when you consider we have 5,700 people" companywide... Today, just 3 percent of Massey's employees are unionized." (Wall Street Journal, "A coal CEO's pastime: Firing up W. Va. politics", February 14, 2006)

West Virginia was solid Democratic territory for decades, and under Democrats the rights of King Coal to pollute and threaten the safety of workers were secure. But in the case of Blankenship, it is all Republican.

"Don L. Blankenship is not the governor of West Virginia. But here in coal country some say he may as well be, considering the power he wields. Mr. Blankenship, the chief executive of the state’s largest coal producer, Massey Energy, has promised to spend “whatever it takes” to help win a majority in the State Legislature for the long-beleaguered Republican Party in a state that is a Democratic and labor stronghold. In a state where candidates who win typically spend less than $20,000, Mr. Blankenship has poured more than $6 million into political initiatives and local races over the past three years. Mr. Blankenship has spent at least $700,000 in his current effort to oust Democrats, and the state is awash with lawn signs, highway billboards, radio advertisements and field organizers paid for by him... Union leaders say Mr. Blankenship, 56, is the main reason that less than a quarter of the state’s coal miners are now organized, down from about 95 percent just three decades ago. And environmentalists describe him as the biggest force behind a highly destructive form of mining called mountaintop removal that involves using explosives to blow off the tops of mountains to reach coal seams. Local Republicans admiringly say that Mr. Blankenship combines the strategic savvy of Karl Rove, the White House adviser, and the fund-raising skill of Richard Mellon Scaife, the conservative financier. Mr. Blankenship personally oversees his media campaigns; he writes advertisements and designs polls, and speaks on talk radio more than the chairman of the state Republican Party... George W. Bush won West Virginia in 2000, the first time since 1928 that voters backed a nonincumbent Republican for president. Mr. Bush won the state again in 2004, and in the past several years, a large number of Republicans have moved into the state’s eastern panhandle, mostly from Virginia." (October 22, 2006, NY Times)

Like Big Sugar or Big Tobacco, King Coal gets its way. In the Wall Street Journal, a board member said, "The chief executive often briefs Massey's board on his political activities and has won its understanding... What's best for the state of West Virginia are (Blankenship's) positions, usually, and that will maximize shareholder value." Cue, the Civil War violins.

No one can go off on a tangent like Commissioner Javier Souto. By Geniusofdespair

The discussion was about posting an opt-out notice on the Yellow Pages phone book cover so that people could easily choose NOT to get yellow page books that they weren't using (see my post yesterday). Remember, it would not effect anyone else...ONLY the people who chose to discontinue getting the book.

Well, this issue prompted this insane response from County Commissioner Souto...the ramblin' man. You must watch if you never saw him in action before.

On the Chopping Block in the City of Miami. By Geniusofdespair

City Manager Carlos Migoya just announced to the City of Miami Commission that several upper level department heads have been let go:

Director of GSA - Kelly Barket, Director of Capital Improvement Projects - Ola O. Aluko, Director of Public Works - David J. Mendez, and an Assistant City Manager - Bill Anido. I had to look up all the names in the directory, but I believe this is accurate.

Tiger Woods: The Augusta Masters clears its throat ... by gimleteye

I cared about Tiger Woods' family problems for about five minutes, mostly as evidence how marital relationships can be more fragile than the tempered glass of a car window. (please click, 'read more')

Along this line I had the same reaction as NY Times sports columnist George Vescey's "Thanks for the Tasteless Sermon" when I watched NBC Nightly News excerpts from someone named Billy Payne, who apparently represents the board of directors of the Masters golf tournament. Payne is one of the good old white boys who populate the board of America's big public corporations; exactly the sort who are privileged to play as members or invited guests to Augusta. Payne's little sermon about our disappointment in Tiger Woods, how he let down our children and grandchildren, as a role model, etc. etc. is just plain offensive.

Whether Brazilian soccer players consort with transvestites, baseball stars with each other, or --yes-- politicians straying from wives: I'm just plain tired out by the American penchant to imagine athletes and politicians should be any different, fundamentally, just because they reside in the public eye. It is distracting and a misdirection of energy and effort, better directed toward hope, empathy and grace.

Most great professional athletes do one thing exceedingly well: hit a golf ball with unerring accuracy under immense pressure, or a baseball at 100 mph, or float in the air longer than humanly possible on the way to a basket. These skills share a common thread: great physical skill and a mental focus to the exclusion of all else. The brilliance when this happens is a wonder to behold. But well-balanced? Or even, to be admired? Professional athletes and successful politicians can be people to marvel at and admire if one is so inclined, but when push comes to shove, their behavior off the court, in the bedroom, has little if anything to do with our real lives.

New York Times: The Gimlet Eye ... By gimleteye

The NY Times has appropriated my nom de plume? Et tu, Brutus?

Political Hot Potato: AT&T's Yellow Pages. By Geniusofdespair

You don't need them anymore with the internet, but those annoying thick, yellow covered phone books arrive at your doorstep anyway. I take them from my doorstep and put them directly in the dumpster. What a colossal waste of paper. County Commissioner Sorenson decided it was a waste of paper too and thought it worth a reform but the AT&T Lobbyists came out like pit bulls against her ordinance because The Yelllow Pages are a cash cow, filled with money paying advertisers' ads.

Sorenson's ordinance allowed for people like me to "opt-out" from getting the yellow pages. The method to opt-out would have been on the front page of the book. Yippee!

Well, the lobbyist killed it April 6th (watch the video - 7A).

Pretty much everyone voted against it - some County Commissioners saved face because AT&T lobbyists gave them cover by raising First Amendment concerns. What?
(Hit read more...)
They said that the yellow pages is protected free speech and that the County Commission telling people how to "opt-out" of getting the book was a violation of the Constitution. However, even AT&T's attorneys admitted that was a long shot.

AT&T is doing a volunteer "opt out" program that no one knows about. Problem is, who will enforce it when you continue to get the books? The Sorenson ordinance would have mirrored their voluntary program, but added the teeth of an enforcement fine after a warning. That would have given AT&T and any other Yellow Page publisher more than a year to remedy mistakes in their database before the first fine was issued.

The debate on this was one for the books. Besides the obvious stuff with Vile Natacha slamming it (expected and boring) we had Souto accusing Katy of "living in lala land" and he meandered on to say her ordinance would lead to outlawing libraries. Mayor hopeful, Little Joe Martinez argued that the penalties were still too high and even said that voting for the opt-out was promoting global warming because you'd have to use a computer to search for information. Others were "concerned" about taking away phone books from the elderly and people without computers (ignoring the fact that it was an opt-out, so they'd have to ask to not get the book). Nobody changed their minds when they learned that AT&T has already gotten the OK from the PSC to stop delivering the White Pages last year. Sorenson, seeing the irony, suggested in jest that we pass an ordinance requiring the delivery of the White Pages since there was so much concern amongst the Commission for the "elderly and people without computers". Note: There are no advertisements in the white pages, AT&T doesn't make money on it so why deliver it? This issue is all about money!

Gimenez, Sosa, and Heyman were co-sponsors however, all of them fled (under Lobbyist pressure?) and voted against the ordinance. So you will continue getting those books piled up on your doorstep and you will also get that annoying follow up phone call to make sure you got the books you threw away. Thanks for nothin' County Commission, but I could use those white pages...the internet sites are starting to charge for numbers.

Why is Nuke Bad News in Miami Herald Business Section? by Geniusofdespair

Turkey Point has been cited for the safety of its spent fuel storage by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Miami Herald puts it in the Business Section in the newspaper. Miami Herald: This belongs on the front page. According to the Herald:

Used nuclear fuel has been building up at Turkey Point for the 35 years of its operation.

The degradation involves systems intended to cram more spent fuel into the pools, according to Lawrence King, a former NRC inspector.

More than two million pounds of waste now sit at the South Miami-Dade site in pools of water -- although Florida Power & Light spokesman Michael Waldron says it's more accurate to think of the spent rods as occupying a 16-foot cube if bunched together.
Yes, Mr. Waldron, we aren't stupid. We know in nuclear, when we are talking spatially, a little is a lot.

Guest Blog: Support for Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy

After a lot of thought and soul searching, I have decided to publicly support “Amendment 4” sponsored by the grassroots organization called “Florida Hometown Democracy.” I normally don’t use this type of mass emailing, but I feel so strongly about this issue - one I have spent the last 20 years of my life working on – that I want you to understand Amendment 4. If you want off this list, just send me an email.

Amendment 4 is a ballot question that will be presented to Florida voters on Election Day this November 2010. This is a ballot question asking voters if they want to amend the State’s constitution so that local governments can change their long-range future land use plan only after a vote of the electors affected by that change. Currently those decisions are left up to your city and county elected officials. (please click, 'read more')

In 1985, the Florida Legislature adopted what became know as the “Growth Management Act.” The general purpose of this Act was 1) to make all cities and counties prepare and obey comprehensive plans to control how and where future development would occur, and 2) to ensure that the public “participate to the fullest extent possible.” The idea was that planned growth would stop or slow suburban sprawl, protect important environmental resources, and help make our communities more livable and sustainable. The other idea was that citizens would get a significant role in how these decisions are made.

Twenty-five years later the State is a mess and citizens have no meaningful role other than a few minutes to speak to their local elected officials at the public hearing when future land use changes are made. Developers and their team of lawyers, lobbyists and experts almost always get their way, and, meanwhile, trust in the government approving these developments is at an all-time low. Simply put: the system is broken.

My family has lived in Florida for generations; I’m a certified planner, an attorney, and I have watched hundreds of amendments to the future land use plan get approved which collectively are ruining what I love about this state. It literally sickens me. In my view, the only solution is to balance the decision-making power between the developers, the local government, and the people. Amendment 4 will do this.

The opposition is mounting an elaborate campaign against Amendment 4 which is based exclusively on fear and speculation, not facts. As Election Day approaches, more and more of these kinds of fear-based messages will get targeted at you.

Developers and the indirect industries that rely on unfettered sprawl into rural and agriculture lands will stop at nothing to continue the status quo, even though every study since 1985 has documents that we have allocated so much land for future growth that it will take decades to build out. Yet local future land use plans continue to be amended all the time for more houses and strip malls, the cost of which to extend roads and schools to those locations are borne by the entire community. This is NOT growth management. In my view, the only way to instill fairness into this process is through Amendment 4 – give voters the opportunity to decide if their future land use plan should be changed.

I realize Amendment 4 is a significant change to the current system. But the current system has done NOTHING to protect natural resources, NOTHING to stop private condos from replacing recreational and working waterfronts, NOTHING to stop new incompatible developments from encroaching on existing neighborhoods, or NOTHING to build a broader economic base that isn’t vulnerable to the boom-bust real estate cycles. Florida, I have concluded, simply cannot wait for developers and elected officials to recognize the harm they are causing.

Once again, please visit the Florida Hometown Democracy website and get involved. But most importantly, vote for Amendment 4!

Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further and share this email with others as you see fit.


Cordially,
Andrew Dickman, AICP, Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF
ANDREW DICKMAN, P.A.
Miami - T: (305) 758-3621 F: (305) 758-0508
Naples - T: (239) 434-0840 F: (239) 434-0940
P.O. Box 771390, Naples, FL 34107-1390

Children's Trust and House Bill 1227. Guest Blog by Child Advocate

House Bill 1227 requires that all of the Children's Services Councils (Children’s Trust included) to seek reauthorization from voters every six years. That would give the voters an opportunity to sunset the fund if the Trust doesn’t get back to the community basics.

As funding gets tighter for the community agencies, the Trust continues to develop their statistical research department. They are eliminating much needed services that do not fit into their bean-counting scheme. As a result, the Trust research department continues to focus on competing with research universities in the field of social science research, instead of being a funding source for true community based programming. This direction has taken on new life after the last election.

The Children’s Trust is urging their fans and funded agencies to call Tallahassee this week to speak AGAINST House Bill 1227. I agree, we should call but I think we should SUPPORT the bill. Children's Trust Advocacy Alert states the following examples of just a few reasons why this “unnecessary bill” (their words) attempts to fix a problem that does not exist:


* Local voters already approved the creation and reauthorization of our CSC, The Children's Trust, twice by large margins - in 2002 and again in 2008.

* Why single out only those special districts devoted to children for a referendum out of the more than 1,000 special districts in the state?

* We already have laws in place that allow for a referendum any time the county commission decides one is needed.

I believe the Children's Trust is methodically eliminating grass roots services agency by agency, moving towards the unannounced goal of bigger and fancier programs. If the community had wanted to have another United Way, it would have been much simpler to fund the existing United Way with the tax dollars instead of creating an entirely new empire. The Trust has lost the community-based services vision.

Unless this state legislative item passes, Miami-Dade County may never have another opportunity to retract the funding “in perpetuity” which The Children’s Trust now enjoys. The Trust is State funded and employees get State benefits.

I urge you to call Tallahassee this week, because the Children’s Trust, indeed any government agency, should not be funded without end, without accountability, with our tax dollars.

If you care to call Tallahassee to voice your opinion on the bill:

Please contact the bill sponsor, Committee Chair and the House Military and Local Affairs committee members.

Bill Sponsor: Debbie Mayfield, 850-488-0952, debbie.mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov

Committee Chair: Dorothy Hukill, 850-488-6653, dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov

House Military & Local Affairs Committee Members Contact Information

Dorothy Hukill, Chair

850-488-6653

dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov

Chris Dorworth, Vice Chair

850-488-5843

chris.dorworth@myfloridahouse.gov

Ron Schultz 850-488-0805

ron.schultz@myfloridahouse.gov

Esteban L. Bovo, Jr. 850-487-2197

esteban.bovo@myfloridahouse.gov

Juan C. Zapata 850-488-9550

juan.zapata@myfloridahouse.gov

John Wood 850-488-2721

john.wood@myfloridahouse.gov

Janet C. Long 850-488-6197

janet.long@myfloridahouse.gov

Janet Adkins 850-488-6920

janet.adkins@myfloridahouse.gov

Mack Bernard 850-488-8632

mack.bernard@myfloridahouse.gov

Keith Fitzgerald 850-488-7754

keith.fitzgerald@myfloridahouse.gov

Evan Jenne 850-488-0245

evan.jenne@myfloridahouse.gov

Mark S. Pafford 850-488-0175

mark.pafford@myfloridahouse.gov

Ronald Renuart 850-488-0001

ronald.renuart@myfloridahouse.gov

Charles E. Van Zant 850-488-0665

charles.vanzant@myfloridahouse.gov

The New Economy: Everything must go! ... by gimleteye

Condo Vultures offers on a massacre of South Florida condo values: "Here is a list of some of the biggest discounts in the Vultures Database™ on short sales, foreclosures, and bank-owned condos in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. For more information on these properties, please contact Condo Vultures® Realty LLC at 305-865-5629."

Miami-Dade County:
Aventura: Condo on the bay discounted 72 percent.
Bal Harbour: Bank-owned, oceanfront condo discounted 43 percent.
Bay Harbor Islands: Bayfront condo reduced 83 percent.
Coconut Grove: Condo reduced 72 percent.
Coral Gables: Bank-owned condo discounted 48 percent.
Eastern Shores: Condo on a canal discounted 31 percent.
Fisher Island: Oceanfront condo reduced 59 percent.
Key Biscayne: Condo reduced 45 percent.
Miami: Condo on the bay discounted 86 percent.
Miami Beach: Condo discounted 67 percent.
Miami Gardens: Condo reduced 50 percent.
Miami Shores: Condo on a canal reduced 33 percent.
N. Bay Village: Condo on the bay discounted 75 percent.
N. Miami: Condo discounted 77 percent.
N. Miami Beach: Bank-owned condo reduced 78 percent.
Sunny Isles: Oceanfront, luxury condo reduced 69 percent.
Surfside: Oceanfront condo discounted 60 percent.

Broward County:
Dania Beach: Condo reduced 37 percent.
Ft. Lauderdale: Oceanfront condo discounted 76 percent.
Hallandale: Condo reduced 62 percent.
Hollywood: Oceanfront condo discounted 69 percent.
Pompano Beach: Condo on the intracoastal reduced 71 percent.
Wilton Manors: Condo discounted 48 percent.

Palm Beach County:
Boca Raton: Condo reduced 49 percent.
Boynton Beach: Condo reduced 66 percent.
Delray Beach: Condo discounted 58 percent.
Hypoluxo: Condo discounted 46 percent.
Palm Beach: Condo on the intracoastal reduced 40 percent.
Riviera: Bank-owned condo reduced 50 percent.
West Palm Beach: Condo discounted 85 percent.

The cratered values show part of the economy in a deep traumatic shock and comes on the heels of a statement by the Latin Builders Association in their magazine, Proyecto, against Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy. When Florida Hometown Democracy, Amendment 4, passes, local voters will be able to vote on changes to their communities' comprehensive development plans. The Latin Builders Association claims "a loss of 267,247 high wage jobs" according to a study by the Washington Economics Group. But the lobbyist for the builders manage to neatly avoid the role of their association in pushing behind closed doors for changes to zoning and permitting that resulted in so much overdevelopment in South Florida, substantially contributing to the great recession. The LBA's tag line, "If you liked the recession, you'll love Amendment 4" is silly. Count on voters, whose taxes are going up, whose property values are plunging, to sort out that the interests crying wolf about Amendment 4-- giving voters a chance at direct democracy-- are exactly the ones who opened the barn door to let in the wolves in the first place.

One-Trick Pony Endorses Another One-Trick Pony. By Geniusofdespair

Rudi Giuliani endorsed Marco Rubio, probably payback for Crist endorsing McCain in the Presidential primary.

What does that mean to me? It means I have an excuse to post another bad photo of the Tea Party Candidate, Marco Rubio. It also gives me an opportunity to remind you to go Republican. I am asking you to switch parties, that's right, do it for Florida! Get the form here. Republicans do this all the time to mess with Democrats. If you are an independent: You shouldn't be an independent, you are part of the reason why we get stuck with bad candidates. The primary is important in setting the election and you don't even get to participate. Why would you let an avid Fox News watcher pick your next U.S. Senator?

(This message is not paid for by the Stop-O-Marco Campaign.)

Dennis Moss Ailing? By Geniusofdespair

Not so interested in what they are discussing (their watch of Jackson Memorial Health Care System and advancing them $80 million) more interested in the health of the Commission Chair Dennis Moss. Take a look - I video-taped my TV Screen. All I can say as that I wish him well. Moss is one of the better County Commissioners.

Journalists in transition...depressing topic. By Geniusofdespair

The Society of Professional Journalists mistakenly believes there are some REAL paid journalists at this blog. Luckily, we don't get paid and are NOT facing a lay-off otherwise we might be forced to attend this depressing workshop that they are sponsoring on April 10th: "Life After Journalism, repackaging your skills for a career change."

Who would have thought, in my lifetime, that 'Journalism' would not have been a smart career choice.

Off Road Vehicle Plan in Everglades: State says to Collier and Miami-Dade county commissions; you have to be kidding. by gimleteye

Now the the State of Florida has strongly recommended against the plan to put an off-road vehicle park at the site of the Everglades Jetport in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve, it would be interesting to know how much time, energy and money was wasted by county commissioners on this hair-brained scheme to amend the county master plan for Collier; lead by Pepe Diaz with compliance of the Collier County commission. (For the earlier post on this topic, that received wide national distribution, read here.)

Now that the state has weighed in, this whole mess seems to be exactly the kind of diversionary tactic that the late Wade Hopping excelled at, in Tallahassee: sending conservationists in a tizzy in one direction, so that in another direction some really bad legislation could get done. What a complete, utter waste of effort. It really is time for the public and taxpayers to demand that costs, including staff time, be included in documentation offered to the state, so that we can put numbers to the madness that even freezes up state agencies in meaningless fishing expeditions. Interestingly, the only state agency to peep up in qualified support for the plan-- and even it couldn't do so with a straight face-- was the agency chaired by Miami lobbyist Rodney Barreto, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Barreto is scarcely a neutral player or contributor to Florida's efforts to protect the Everglades: he has been part of a group of land speculators who made millions during the housing boom pushing suburbs west toward the Everglades. Draining wetlands and putting more people in line to be the next constituency for more drained wetlands is all part of the plan. That is what Pepe Diaz' plan to insert a new Lowe's Home Improvement store in far West Dade, outside the UDB, is all about. The state rejected that, too, after years of court costs and wrangling.

Diaz (see our archive for more on this county commissioner, under 'Pepe Diaz') needs to be returned to the private sector, along with the unreformable majority that make sport of the land use planning processes and political gamesmanship on behalf of lobbyists and land speculators. Another reason why Florida voters must stand up and support Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy. Barreto, Diaz et al. know perfectly well if the plan to put off-road vehicles in the middle of the Everglades was put up to a vote, it would never have passed in a million years.

JESCA: Better Known as Rolle's Non-Profit. By Geniusofdespair

County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle stepped down from the non-profit, JESCA, in 2008 leaving it in financial shambles, all the while collecting a salary of almost $200,000 per year. JESCA filed for bankruptcy in August of 2009. In May 2008, JESCA was advertising for a new CEO:

"JESCA is seeking a leader of unquestioned operational excellence and strong financial acumen as President and CEO. The ideal candidate will have experience working closely with a board, staff, associates and other constituents to achieve ambitious goals in a fiscally responsible manner."
Don't know if the job is still open. We must not forget the 2009 Inspector General Audit of JESCA (results summary are in the two graphics) covering a time when Rolle was still the CEO. We need Rolle booted off the Public Health Trust Board and the Board of County Commissioners. This guy should be banned from all Boards except ironing boards.

Expect him to get a slap on the wrist from the Ethics Commission on his latest shenanigans.

Let's rename the Marlins, Dolphins, the Panthers and the Heat? by gimleteye

A post a week ago on the "missing" great Miami Macaws generated many responses, confirming that there are a lot of Miamians who have carved an enigmatic place for these large wild birds, non-native as they may be like the rest of us, that fly in pairs above Miami unhindered by traffic jams. When I asked, Where are the parrots, today? Readers quickly responded with the same concern.

I like dolphin and marlins and panthers-- creatures lending their names to our professional sports teams--, but most of us land-based bipeds have a more direct connection to the big birds. Other cities have named their sports teams after ravens or eagles, why not the Miami parrots or the macaws?

Now I understand how chattering green parrots can be viewed as comical representations of our own species. Those green parrots do remind me of our county commissioners behind the dais. (Some of them remind me more of manatees.) But one can't dismiss the parrot out of hand. I mean, how many eagles are in Philadelphia? Or panthers in Weston? The Miami macaws are beautiful and intelligent and colorful. They are long-lived, form long-term pairs, and they bicker and chatter in mid-flight, such a higher level of achievement than us stuck in traffic listening to talk radio.

So, I propose to rename one of our sports teams after the parrots or the macaws. We need a steering committee: do we have any volunteers or ideas how to put wings to this idea?

The County Commission District 8 Election. By Geniusofdespair

There are 6 people officially running for Commissioner Katy Sorenson's seat and an additional 2 who are rumored to be running, and I never shy away from a rumor: They are Annette Taddeo and Leslie Bowe.

Here is a quick fact about each of the candidates. Bell - right-to-life advocate and former Homestead Mayor; Culler - teacher and a coach; Gray - Chair of the County Planning Advisory Board also a Hold-the-Line organizer; Harum-Alvarez on Urban Environment League Board and Kendall Activist; Flinn - current Mayor of Palmetto Bay; Perreira is the President of 1st Rate Merchant Services & Direct Connect; Bowe - Worked for School Board and won a shitload of money in the lottery; last but not least, Taddeo ran for Congress.

A Few Miami Beach Properties are Selling for More than their Market Value. By Geniusofdespair

I looked up 6 properties in Miami Beach that sold for over the property appraiser's market value (some by as much as $100,000 over) and they all had two things in common. 1) The people buying had no other public record in Miami Dade County and 2) All had no record of a mortgage on the property bought, which means they were bought for cash.

From this I can deduce that the people paying OVER market value are first time buyers, probably new to Miami. They have a lot of cash and maybe they are not getting very good deals, since the vast majority of the people buying are paying under market value -- some by almost half. I looked at 51 properties total in Miami Beach for this report.

You realtors out there, what is going on? Where are people getting all this cash, I am talking about properties that sold for $743,000, $690,000, $600,000, $570,000, $460,000 and $425,000. That is a lot of money to have on hand. Where are you realtors digging these people up? There were a few foreign sounding names, perhaps they are here from abroad to take advantage of our falling market but, in reality, they might not be getting the 'deals' they were seeking.

Also see: The need for financial reform, a case study in Miami: Lennar and LNR

Don't Try to Draw on a Wet Egg. By Geniusofdespair

I decorated an egg for all of you. For me, Bah! Humbug!