The difference in price between land outside the Urban Development Boundary and land inside-- where taxpayers were obligated to provide infrastructure and services-- was anywhere from two to ten times. Obtaining favorable zoning decisions from local government required a certain skill set.
Things change. Although the economy is functioning, the construction and housing sectors are in a deep depression compared to the boom times. This is the new normal that the Latin Builders Association and South Florida Builders Association won't factor into the holiday party menu.
The growth machine is running on fumes. In the absence of demand, the only purpose to change the UDB is to rescue investors who may or may not be paying their mortgages. The play, obtaining UDB changes, is to attract vultures investors. It is like laying down carrion to attract predators.
Things change. Although the economy is functioning, the construction and housing sectors are in a deep depression compared to the boom times. This is the new normal that the Latin Builders Association and South Florida Builders Association won't factor into the holiday party menu.
The growth machine is running on fumes. In the absence of demand, the only purpose to change the UDB is to rescue investors who may or may not be paying their mortgages. The play, obtaining UDB changes, is to attract vultures investors. It is like laying down carrion to attract predators.
As the blog Transit Miami pointed out the other day, there is more undeveloped land INSIDE the UDB than the entire island of Manhattan. "... when it comes to the UDB amnesia sets in about the 16,140 acres of empty land within the UDB waiting for development. Let’s put this in perspective– 16,140 acres is approximately 25 square miles. The island of Manhattan – from Battery City Park to 218 street – is only 22.96 square miles. I would say that we have more than enough development capacity to last the next 100 years and beyond without having to touch the UDB – and that’s just with our undeveloped land. Take into account underdeveloped land and we should never expand the UDB again."
Local media have missed the human cost of this dismal drama. The Miami Herald has scarcely reported the forlorn ghost suburbs of Miami or the homeowners who are trapped there. Television news or programs like PBS "Issues"? Fuggedaboudit.
Fortunately, Huffpost writer Peter S. Goodman is reporting on the subject from Florida for the nation. "In Foreclosure Capital, Meltdown and Poverty Feel Permanent", Goodman focuses on Cape Coral, Florida. But he easily could have visited West Dade, where Commissioners Pepe Diaz and Joe Martinez hold court, or South Dade, where Commissioner Lynda Bell does the bidding of the speculator class. Read the story: it is a very good one.
Fortunately, Huffpost writer Peter S. Goodman is reporting on the subject from Florida for the nation. "In Foreclosure Capital, Meltdown and Poverty Feel Permanent", Goodman focuses on Cape Coral, Florida. But he easily could have visited West Dade, where Commissioners Pepe Diaz and Joe Martinez hold court, or South Dade, where Commissioner Lynda Bell does the bidding of the speculator class. Read the story: it is a very good one.
Why do voters return these officials to public office when it is so clear that their decisions have contributed to so much distress?
8 comments:
it's spelled "unemployment", Lynda.
You ask: "Why do voters return these officials to public office when it is so clear that their decisions have contributed to so much distress?" The answer is simple: We don't bother to check their records or credentials so instead of an educated vote, we vote for those who scream loudest last.
It's because bountiful campaign cash is on the LBA menu. Jumbo stone crabs and porterhouse steaks, baaaby!
Why blame the LBA? They are doing what is best for them!
It is the elected officials who are at faualt when they take money from special interests and in turn give them their vote willingly. What they actually do is sell our vote for a few bucks or sometimes just a meal at a fancy restaurant!
Everybody needs to understand that the politicians work for us. That is why they are called public servants. We hire them when we vote them into office, but somewhere we seem to forget that we can also fire them if
they do not represent us as promised by going to the polls and voting them out.
But what happens when the elections come around? We do not go to the polls and get rid of them and so, the corruption continues.
What we should do initially, is elect people into office that we can respect and trust, credible people who are qualified and articulate, people who understand the real issues, people who are innovative and can think on their feet, instead of incompetents who must depend on the writing and thoughts of staff and special inerests instead of depending on their knowledge and sense of decency and fairness.
Where are the municipal leaders on this one. We usually can count on Mayors like Michael Pizzi, the cities like Miami Lakes, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay. All the Hold the Line cities. Has the pendulum swung so far to the radical scorch the earth for any claim of a job right?
The anon above should abandon all hope for the future in south Miami-Dade. There will be no more support to Hold the Line from Palmetto or Cutler Bay. The green sense of Mayors Vrooman and Flinn are gone. The new green is that green that lines pockets.
The new council of both cities are marching in lockstep, goosestepping actually, with Fraulein Bell. They are all too scared to voice an independent thought.
Voters beware, you reap what you sow and the future has dimmed quite drastically for all of south Dade.
The residents in Commissioner District 8 are a bunch of losers. You deserve Bell.
If you want to rise up...send me an email, otherwise you bumpkins deserve who you voted in. Mark my words, you will live to regret Lynda Bell.
You are so right Genius. Palmetto Bay Mayor Stacheck and Cutler Bay Mayor MacDougal are in a fierce competition to see who can get their nose furthest up Madam Bell's butt. All for what? a new stop sign or traffic signal? Is it worth the entire future of our county?
You will find no one among these groups to rise up. It is a pig kissing contest down there.
I have three words for these so called leaders: losers, losers, losers. Represent your communities and fight for what is right and the future of the County.
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