Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Eye On Miami's 2012 Election Endorsements

Dear Readers, the bloggers at EOM mostly agree on our endorsements. We have strong views about a number of candidates and issues. For example, neither blogger here believes in pandering to fear of terrorism manifest through local county code or in candidates seeking support of the Christian Family Coalition in Miami-Dade who are haters. Incumbents -- especially the unreformable majority of the county commission-- need to be held accountable by voters. Finally, it is a sad assessment of Florida politics that we can only endorse so few in State Government races. 

President:
 
Barack Obama
Senator:
Bill Nelson
Representative in Congress:
District 23 Debbie Wasserman Schultz
District 26 Joe Garcia
State Senator:
District 35 Gwen Margolis (G.O.D. Only*)
District 39 Dwight Bullard (G.O.D. Only)
State Representatives:
District 112 Jose Javier Rodriguez
District 114 Ross Hancock
District 115 Jeffrey Doc Solomon
Justices of the Supreme Court:
Justice R. Fred Lewis YES
Barbara J. Pariente YES
Justice Peggy A. Quince YES
All the other State Judges: NO
County Commissioners:
District 5 Luis Garcia
District 11 Juan Zapata
Constitutional Amendments:
NO on all 12 of them
School Board Bond:
NO
Home Rule Charter "County Questions":
Term Limits YES
Technical Changes YES
Urban Development Boundary YES
Creation of New Municipalities NONE
Enforcement of Citizens Bill of Rights: Gimleteye, Yes ... G.O.D., No
Extend Time to Fill Vacancies of Mayor and Commission NO
Mayor Conflict in County Procurement NO
Tennis Center NO
Non-Binding on Animal Services NO
Non -Binding on Contracting with Companies Terrorism NO (Would you support, to the extent permitted by law, prohibiting further the use of taxpayers’ dollars to procure services or capital improvement projects from companies actively doing business in countries that are on the U.S. Department of State’s list of state sponsors of terrorism?)

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you meant State Representative, but I agree with your picks anyway! I also agree with the with you on the Florida Supreme Court, State Judges, most of the County Charter stuff and the School Bond issue.

I do differ in opinion on the Crandon Park Tennis Center. I don't understand why you said NO. It's not going to be taxpayer funded. It will also be a good economic engine, unless I'm missing something. Which is quite possible. I also will be voting against the term limits because they're not retroactive. I cannot take Souto for his term plus 8 more years, along with a few others who really need to find something else to do! Again, the BCC did a power grab here because they just cannot let go.

I do support the peoples right to vote on incorporation. This is a very badly worded Charter amendment on purpose. Bell had her hand in the language along with Terry Murphy who originally voted against the Incorporation issue to begin with during the Committee process. I think he was appointed by Bovo to the Charter Committee.

Anonymous said...

I concur with the prior comment regarding the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. NO PUBLIC FUNDS are involved. This is the exact opposite of the Marlins stadium and other sports-palace giveaways. This is a model for allowing the private sector to invest its own money to improve a public space and a public facility.

In fact, despite the fact that the Sony Open tennis tournament is enormously important to the community, the very nature of the tournament today prevents the Tennis Center component of Crandon Park from being, well, park-like. The tournament infrastructure is largely tents and temporary courtside seating. The tents and seating require large areas of flat, plain dirt with no landscaping. And there is "extra" plain dirt nearby for the cranes necessary to erect and then take down the tents and bleachers. Thus, in order to host the fifth-most-important tennis tournament in the entire world, the Tennis Center does not -- today -- have nearly the amount of trees, shrubbery and public amenities that a true public park deserves.

One easy example: If the tournament is allowed to build permanent structures, eliminating the temporary tents and bleachers, then there can actually be public restrooms and shaded shelters throughout the Tennis Center. What a concept!

I'm generally leery of "economic impact" studies of sporting events, but a credible analysis has put the Sony Open's impact at about $380 million. That's an ANNUAL impact ... compared with the very occasional Super Bowl or World Series or NBA Championship.

This is all upside to Miami-Dade County taxpayers. All private funds. A beautiful park. More public amenities (such as access to the nearby lake, which most people don't even know exists and cannot get to).

Vote YES on 238!

Geniusofdespair said...

I said no because I don't want permanent buildings in parks. I agree with the intent of the park when the Matheson family gave the property to the County -- to preserve it without permanent structures. Read the Home Rule Charter on parks -- no buildings larger than 1500 square feet.

Anonymous said...

Buildings in parks is a BAD Precedent. Who cares who funds it? If Norman Braman wanted a car race track in the park and was willing to fund it, does that mean we should do it. Some people don't play tennis. The park was for all to use.

Geniusofdespair said...

This is why you are voting on it
NOT BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING...THIS IS IN THE HOME RULE CHARTER AND WE HAVE TO VOTE TO CHANGE THE CHARTER:

SECTION 7.01. POLICY .
Parks, aquatic preserves, and lands acquired by the County for preservation shall be held in trust for the edu- cation, pleasure, and recreation of the public and they shall be used and maintained in a manner which will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations as a part of the public’s irreplaceable heritage. They shall be protected from commercial development and exploita- tion and their natural landscape, flora and fauna, and sce- nic beauties shall be preserved. In lands acquired by the County for preservation and in parks along the Ocean or the Bay the public’s access to and view of the water shall not be obstructed or impaired by buildings or other struc- tures or concessions which are in excess of 1500 square feet each. Adequate maintenance shall be provided.

Geniusofdespair said...

AND:

No park facilities, golf courses, or County lands ac- quired for preservation shall be converted to or used for non-park offices, purposes, or uses. The County, the mu- nicipalities, and agencies or groups receiving any public funding shall not expend any public money or provide any publicly funded services in kind to any project which does not comply with this Article. No building permit or certifi- cate of occupancy shall be issued for any structure in vio- lation of this Article. The restrictions applying to parks in this Article shall not apply to the Dade County Youth Fair site, Metro Zoo, Tamiami Stadium, Haulover Fishing Pier, the Dade County Auditorium, the Museum of Science, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Vizcaya Museum and Gar- dens, Trail Glade Range, the Orange Bowl, the Commodore
35
Ralph Munroe Marine Stadium, the Seaquarium, Cur- tis Park track and stadium, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, and mini and neighborhood parks except that no mini or neighborhood park may be leased or disposed of unless a majority of the residents residing in voting precincts any part of which is within 1 mile of the park authorize such sale or lease by majority vote in an election.

Anonymous said...

Hey Geniusofdespair, whats your pick for county commissioner district 3?

Anonymous said...

We can reasonably disagree whether adding two modest additions to the large permanent stadium that already exists -- thus eliminating the need for tents and cranes and allowing for intense landscaping to be planted -- is a good "structure" or not. I believe the vast amount of new foliage that will be planted more than outweighs the slight "growth" in a very large building that already is there in the park.

However, Article 7 of the Home Rule Charter -- which provides for a public referendum to allow for new construction, and that's what is happening on #238 -- also requires a public referendum to EXTEND any lease, even one that already exists. Thus, for the Sony Open tennis tournament to remain in Miami, the public needs to vote affirmatively to allow that to happen.

I give the Tournament a lot of credit. Beyond offering to spend their own money to make the Tennis Center vastly more park-like, and agreeing to remain in Miami for many years to come, the Tournament is NOT, repeat NOT, attempting to change the Home Rule Charter to make the referendum requirement "go away." That would have been a sneaky approach. Bruce Matheson and Dan Paul wrote Article 7 and got it put in the Charter, and those two gentlemen dreamed up this referendum requirement for new buildings and lease extensions. Give the Tournament credit for playing by Mssrs. Matheson's and Paul's rules . . . not trying to change them.

Geniusofdespair said...

I DID NOT SAY THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.

Gimleteye said...

I disagree on Margolis, who was a disaster during the long years I fought the HABDI debacle involving powerful campaign contributors and the Homestead Air Force Base. When she was chair, she prohibited the use of County Hall for a press conference organized by Sierra Club ... at the request of a powerful lobbyist from Big Sugar. For that alone, she will never have my support.

Geniusofdespair said...

We agree to disagree on this one. I am in her district. I do not like Candidates being targeted by special interest PAC's, Margolis is getting the same treatment as Moderate Ray Judah and others -- the unknown challengers are suspiciously over-flowing with special interest bucks:



Alan Diaz / AP
By Mary Ellen Klas
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

In what may be the sleeper legislative campaign of the season, Sen. Gwen Margolis, the veteran Democrat from Miami, is getting a run for her money — literally — from Miami Beach lawyer John Couriel in the newly drawn coastal district.

Margolis has loaned herself $160,000 to win reelection to Senate District 35, which stretches from Golden Beach to Homestead. But she is being outraised and, so far, outspent by Republican newcomer John Couriel, a Miami Beach lawyer.

Couriel, 34, has collected $213,830 in campaign contributions to Margolis’ $174,093 and has won the endorsements of former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. A Harvard-educated lawyer, Couriel quit his job as an assistant U.S. attorney in Miami to run for the seat and vows to out-campaign Margolis, 78, a former state Senate president who was first elected to the state House in 1974.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/09/3040954/margolis-is-outraised-by-surprise.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Anonymous said...

Goodbye, Joe Martinez!!!

Ross Hancock said...

Can I request that you consider an endorsement of Ian Whitney in State House District 120?

Anonymous said...

Rodney Barreto had been very quiet. Wonder why?

Anonymous said...

Definitely NO to the tennis stadium expansion. There is a massive disinformation campaign going on by the for profit promoters who are asking taxpayers to float the $50 million bonds, promising to pay back over 30 years. What happens if they don't, go bankrupt? Taxpayers pay. This is public park land. Give it back.

Anonymous said...

In less then 10 years the barrier islands of key Biscayne and Virginia key will be experiencing significant flooding from climate change sea level rise, and inaccessible. Check the lidar maps. The developers should be well aware of this. No more publicly funded structures on barrier islands, they will be first to go under.

Anonymous said...

Find an underserved urban area and build the tennis stadium party Palace there. Pay for it yourself. Or get the CRA funds to float funds instead of paying for the port tunnel. Restore the key Biscayne facility and replant with natives to restore habitat lost. Return it to true public access park. What a concept! This is what tourist tax money should be used for.

Anonymous said...

Shame on the Miami Herald for endorsing Alex Diaz de la portions and Erik fresen . They have really lost their moral compass.

Japolina said...

Why are you against the school bond? The schools are in a terrible state of disrepair and really need the upgrades in technology.

Anonymous said...

The Herald's moral compass was lost a long, long time ago. It's readers interest would be much better served by not endorsing in races where the choices are so dismal. Then again, look who made money selling the HerAld and its real estate. The Herald serves its masters.

Anonymous said...

I can only speak for myself but I will not support the school bonds. In the past, they've been grossly mis spent. There's never a guarantee, no matter what is "proposed" because it boils down to politics and insider construction contracts. These "insiders" who will have a huge financial gain if passed are of course making all these appearances and ads for the School Bonds. When the State complies with class size limitations AND my current school tax dollars stop funding private, for profit (or Erik Fresens family) Charter Schools, and I guess when H*** freezes over, will I vote to tax myself and make so many so rich on my public dollars, leaving behind the kids, as always because these bonds do nothing to help the children. It's the old smoke & mirrors!

Anonymous said...

I agree with all of your recommendations except 1. The pets trust. No? Why? Thanks for your recommendations.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the NO vote on school board bond issue. The school board for years has taken money out of the capital improvements fund and transferred to operating fund, now they want us to fund capital improvements. Even though language is in bond that prevents transfers, when push come to shove, the money shovel will be shoveling away.

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of your selections, but completely disagree on #238. No buildings on park land? Whoa, that horse left the barn long ago. THEY ( the so called "profiteers") are rightfully footing the bill. We get the use of the facility 48 weeks of the year, and it's up to us to make sure they are put to good use, vis a vie youth tennis programs etc.

Anonymous said...

Great Pic regarding District 11! Zapata all the way. No more Cops as politicians. Alvarez and Martinez have filled my cup!

Anonymous said...

I like all your endorsements except Solomon, the candidate who insists he be called "doc" even though he is only a chiropractor.

Anonymous said...

Why are you against the animal services issue? I would pay an extra few dollars per month in property taxes to have animals spayed and neutered, so there aren't so many dogs and cats running around and dying under my building.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Rebeca Sosa!

Cindy Lerner said...

I am surprised that so many have indicated opposition to the school bond issue. Yes, certainly the last bond financing was mismanaged and mis spent. But the Florida legislature has slaughtered the budgets for the past decade. They were opposed to the Class size amendment passed by the voters , and to inhibit it's implementation they starved the schools by cutting and then diverting the capital complnent of PECO funds and now it all goes to Charter schools. in addition the Miami Dade school district budget has been cut by$2 billion over the past two years and the ONLY way to continue to operate our schools was to ask the legislature to allow the districts to use capital for operating. This bought right in to the legislatures continuing effort to starve public schools and allow public dollars to go to profit making charter companies. IF EVER THERE WAS A SUPERINTENDENT WE CAN BELIEVE IN, IT IS NOW! Superintendent Carvalho is the only Superintendent I have had any trust in over the past decade, so for me, now is the time to finance the capital and technological infrastructure this district so desperately needs. The children who attend our public schools rely on the voters of 2012 to assure they have the high quality public education our constitution promises . VOTE YES ON 222.

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of your recommendations but I'm finding it hard to understand why you would vote No to improve Miami's animal services. I would definitely encourage anyone considering voting No on this issue to take an afternoon ride to the Miami Dade Animal Shelter and see just how awful our animal overpopulation issue is. Voting Yes on #240 will save the lives of many animals so I urge you to reconsider. Some initiatives aren't worth tax payer money but this one certainly does.

Anonymous said...

I agree with most but feel strongly about casting a YES VOTE ON #240 it is morally the right choice to help spare abandoned pets cruel conditions -- small amount to pay for humane conditions and no kill shelters.

Anonymous said...

Definitely vote NO on the Tennis stadium - just based on the promoters willingness to lead a campaign that doesn't tell the whole truth. Taxpayers are being asked to float the $50 million bond - that does involve taxpayer's money because we are giving our credit as a pledge. The so-called improvements involve building party palaces for the tennis folks - not real public park amenities. In any case, this is a "recommendation" vote because the Matheson family has a reverter clause on that land and they gave it to the public to be used for public park purposes - not for-profit commercial development. If the County persists on aiding the tennis promoters, we may all lose Crandon Park altogether for public uses. PErhaps the Matheson's should give the park to the Nature Conservancy or National Park System.

Geniusofdespair said...

I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES ENDORSED BY THE HATE GROUP, CHRISTIAN FAMILY COALITION (THEY ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN GROUP)

Florida State Senator:
Scott Hopes (District 39)

Florida State Representatives:
Jose Oliva (District 110)
Eduardo "Eddy" Gonzalez (District 111)
Alex Diaz de la Portilla (District 112)
Erik Fresen (District 114)
Michael Bileca (District 115)
Jose Felix Diaz (District 116)
Frank Artiles (District 118)
Jeanette Nunez (District 119)

Miami-Dade Candidates:
Andrea R. Wolfson (County Court Judge, Group 24)
Manny Machado (Board of County Commissioners, District 11)
Gary L. Pyott (Aventura City Commission, Seat 5)
Luigi Boria (Mayor, City of Doral)
Elena Ortega-Tauler (City of Doral Council, Seat 1)
Clemente Vera (City of Doral Council, Seat 2)
Robert Van Name (City of Doral Council, Seat 3)
Anthony "Tony" Lama (Miami Lakes Town Council, Seat 3)
Mary Collins (Miami Lakes Town Council, Seat 5)
Rose Tydus (Opa-Locka City Commission)
Jim Araiza (Village of Palmetto Bay, Seat 2)
John Edwards Dubois (Village of Palmetto Bay, Vice Mayor)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your suggestions this election. Now I will make sure I vote opposite everything you suggested.

Anonymous said...

Why not vote yes on poll regarding tax dollars and companies that do business with sponsors of terror?

Anonymous said...

Bovo appoint Senator Rene Garcia. Murphy was Jordan's selection, who consult with Natasha.

Bradley Stack said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Thanks for making voting easier for me -- will take your advice on all but the Crandon Tennis, School Bonds and Pet Trust issues. All the others are spot on for me.

Grillo said...

Last time I saw, chiropractors are called "doctors" and their trainin includes many courses that are similar or identical to the ones physicians have to study. Jeff Solomon is a properly licensed "Doctor" who earned his title through a lot of study and practice before he even got his license.

The venom spewing from people is incredible.

CATO said...

I'm writing in Bernie Maddoff for President maybe he can fool us into believing the US is financially sound (at least for the next 6 to 8 years)

Anonymous said...

Please reconsider about the pet trust. It is only a few extra dollars and you will be saving a lot of innocent lives.

Biscayne Bystander said...

Barbara J. Pariente was the justice that ruled against Jeb in the Terri Schaivo case. She absolutely got that one right.

Anonymous said...

Vote for the Pet trust
Vote for the UDB issue
Vote against School Bond
Zapata is a good recommendation

Your other recommendations starting at the top are really bad.

If Obama wins, he will be impeached

If he loses, he will be brought to trial

Leaving Americans to die with no help from their government after desperately pleading nd begging for help is the worst thing I have ever seen a president do in my life.

There will be consequences.

Anonymous said...

Remember ABC

Anyone But a Chiropractor

Geniusofdespair said...

What is your obsession with trashing chiropractors? Give it a rest.