The Everglades Coalition Conference. By Geniusofdespair

My Painting from My Photo taken in Everglades

The past two days I have been at the Everglades Coalition Conference sponsored by 54 environmental groups. All the environmentists show up for this yearly event (this is the 27th year). Some are legends such as Nat Reed, and then there are fringe environmentalists, like me of course. Even our environmentally challenged Governor Rick Scott paid homage to the groups with an appearance on Thursday. Jeb never bothered to come as far as I can remember. But Jeb's popularity never tanked like Rick's. Scott needs to suck up.

Carl Hiaasen speaks Friday. Saturday Senator Bill Nelson is expected at lunch. I am at lunch now and about 210 people are here.

New Yorker, Ken Auletta on Marco Rubio ... by gimleteye

This series of questions and answers, live by Auletta and posted by The New Yorker is quite entertaining for Miami audiences who missed it ... Huffington Post reports on the controversy between The New Yorker and The Miami Herald, over the Rubio/Univision tempest. If you don't subscribe to The New Yorker, you can read an excerpt here.

Rep. Erik Fresen...Yet Again. By Geniusofdespair

2011 Shill of the Year, Erik Fresen was detailed in a Miami Herald expose on Academica, Fresen's brother-in-law's charter school empire. Erik earns $150,000 a year as a land-use consultant for Civica. They just happen to build schools for Academica. Since when do architectural firms hire land-use consultants?

Anyway, more to the point, State Rep. Fresen has a local legislative office. It is located at 6255 Bird Road, Miami. In 1993 that space was purchased by Excel Bird LTD. Excel Bird LTD has a mailing address of 6340 Sunset Dr. … which happens to be the same address for Academica, his brother-in-law’s charter school company. Excel Bird LTD shows as its officers Bargello Holdings Corp. The officers of Bargello Holdings Corp. are Fernando Zulueta and Ignacio Zulueta. Academica's owners coincidentally are also named Fernando and Ignacio Zulueta. The legislative office is in an Academica owned building. Interesting.

Fresen's Committee membership: PreK-12 Policy Committee (vice chair), Education Policy Council, PreK-12 Approriations Committee.

Erik Fresen is so conflicted I just want to barf.

Newt Gingrich, SuperPAC's and the Effect of Citizens United ... by gimleteye

The New York Times prints an outstanding oped by Timothy Egan on "the exquisite irony of Newt Gingrich being destroyed by the very forces he unleashed — a smack-down that sets up 2012 as the year the moneyed elite learn to use the limitless power granted them by the Supreme Court."

Egan focuses on Gingrich and his affinity with Citizens United. "Gingrich, for the last few years, has been partners in self-promotion with Citizens United, the group that prompted the worst Supreme Court decision of the nascent 21st century (my emphasis), the one that granted “personhood” rights to corporations and green-lighted them to dominate American elections. More to the point, that 2010 case gave birth to shadowy super PACs that can annihilate a candidate, no holds barred, no responsibility to those pulling the strings."

As Gingrich rides into the sunset, ranting against the "negativity" and "corporate insiders" who funded the attacks against him, it is "we, the people" who are left with the dregs and his bitter remains. And what dregs those will turn out to be.

Blame us: a compliant, passive public that elected a president, George W. Bush, who made the image of the US Supreme Court into the one now led by Chief Justice Roberts. You might hate the fact that politicians you once voted for, sent us on military ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan, costing American treasure and trillions at a time in our economic history when we could least afford to fail. If it were possible to be even more saddened at outcomes of elections, it would be through the distortions of democracy through Citizens United. (The future was outlined in the final, distracted voice of then-candidate Al Gore, warning voters in 2000 about the composition of the US Supreme Court should his opponent win.)

In a few weeks, the "Greek tragedy" of the Republican presidential primary will abate. A winner will emerge and then the real contest will begin: the avalanche of corporate money that will be unleashed through SuperPAC's against President Obama.

The inability to track SuperPAC money and donors hiding behind shields in real-time leads to serious misunderstanding by the public. While President Obama may appear to be raking in the cash from Democratic donors, on the SuperPAC front he is losing badly. My guess: Republican money could outweigh Democrat, through SuperPAC's, anywhere from ten to twenty times by November 2012.

The Fat Cats will have their day, but will they have the votes of the rest? (For the full NY Times OPED, click 'read more')

Gambling: Chamber Idiots read the Friggin' Newspaper. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Chamber of Commerce: This is a BAD DEAL!!!

I cannot believe the Miami Chamber of Commerce endorsed the casino idea. Do they not know how to read? Do they not see what a BAD DEAL this is? It was reported as such on 11/19/11 -- the Miami Herald said that Florida's proposed 10% tax was a jackpot for the industry. A 10% casino tax would be the 4th lowest in the country. 18 States charge more. And, we would have to lower the current rates for the racinos if this 10% gets approved.

Pennsylvania charges a 55% gambling tax. In New York the revenue retained by the operator is 33.47% which leaves 66.53% for New York. Casinos in New York have a $1.088 billion dollar gross revenue. The gaming tax revenue is $503.48 million. Even West Virginia keeps 54.14%. The casinos still make plenty of money (Gross revenue $877.65 million - Tax Revenue $378.79 million).

This phony job creation crap: West Virginia's 5 casinos employ 4,528 and Colorado's 37 casinos employ 9,589. New York has 8 casinos and they employ 3,465 people. That is a measly 433 for each venue. In comparison, the county employs 3,000 people that make over $100,000. President of Resorts World Colin Au stated the 3 casinos in Florida would create 100,000 permanent jobs.  That is highly unlikely since Nevada has 256 casinos and only employs 175,000.

Miami Chamber of Commerce: READ THE NUMBERS FOR EACH STATE. And, city of Miami you might look at Maine that lets 3% of gross gaming revenue go directly to the city of Bangor and Kansas sends 3% to its local government.

I keep asking: WHY ARE WE GETTING SUCH A BAD DEAL IN FLORIDA?? We know our politicians are a bunch of idiots but come on, our business community should be smarter when there is a dollar sign involved.

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Sinks To New Low ... by gimleteye

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (that once failed to supervise its own book keepers who ran off with the bank account) simply cannot get it right. By whatever conception the "free market" best provides for the public good, the Chamber defies that logic. Now the Chamber shoots Miami in the foot by "endorsing" casinos despite considerable dissent among business leaders. Those who oppose casinos in Miami have facts on their side. It's a shame, but just another notch in the Chamber's super-wide, fat belt including, most recently, Chamber opposition to Florida Hometown Democracy. Casinos are a scavenger economic activity. There are enough scavengers to make a meal of Florida without introducing a new power base for corruption.

The Rothstein Deposition: why no questions about local political corruption? by gimleteye

2012 is shaping up to be the year of criminal prosecutions of Ponzi schemers from the go-go years: at least the ones who strayed across the grayish line. Alan Mendelhsohn, Scott Rothstein, and on the main stage: R. Allen Stanford. The deposition of Rothstein had an interesting wrinkle: that federal prosecutors are disallowing questions of Florida politicians. Why? This information is critical to the public interest. Maybe one of the lawyers reading our blog can explain.


"Barzee Flores also pressed Rothstein about that politicians he had convinced he was a legitimate businessman. A federal prosecutor allowed Rothstein to admit he fooled some national figures, such as former Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona, but halted him from answering questions about politicians from Florida."

The Rock Mining Law Suit. By Geniusofdespair

Please note correction: JAVIER SOUTO WAS A "NO" VOTE. Rebeca Sosa joined the bad group with a YES.

Yesterday the Miami Herald featured a fine article by Andres Viglucci on a lawsuit brought by neighbors and environmental groups against the county for approving a rock mining application in October for Shoma Homes' owner - bigwig campaign contributor Masoud Shojaee. He bought the land to develop it for sprawl housing. When the market dropped so did his dreams for another Shoma giant development. He decided to rock mine the land to get some money out of it and cut his losses so he apparently made a product purchase and sale agreement and lease for the land to Rinker (Now the Mexican company Cemex) for rock mining.

County Commission Final Vote on the Shojaee application for Santa Fe Haciendas land:
Barreiro, Bell, Bovo, Diaz, Edmonson, Heyman, Jordan, Martinez, Monestime, Sosa were all: YES to approve the stupid plan to give Cemex a special use permit.

Lakebelt Moss is referring to.

Commissioners Moss, Sosa Souto and Suarez voted NO.

Moss said about the application: that approving it could allow the mining industry to get out of control. He was concerned that “we could have another lake belt potentially in southwest Miami-Dade County.” He has a brain at least.

The lakebelt is just a bunch of holes dug to extract limestone rock for enormous profit. The land left in the lakebelt is now good for little else except providing a vehicle for bacteria and dangerous amoebas to enter the shallow aquifer and infect our drinking water.

The Herald said:

The suit, filed by attorney Robert Hartsell, contends that in doing so the commission violated the county’s own comprehensive development plan, which has set aside that land exclusively for agriculture or compatible uses. According to the suit, that means the county has violated state law, which requires localities to abide by their comprehensive plans.

Environmental Groups party to the suit are: Tropical Audubon, 1000 Friends of Florida and Clean Water Action. Charles Pattison, President and CEO of 1000 Friends of Florida, notes that “the comprehensive plan is very specific as to where it does and does not allow new mines. This approval is clearly inconsistent with the provisions of the Miami-Dade Comprehensive Master Development Plan.”

Fanjuls and U.S. Century Bank: connections that rarely surface ... by gimleteye

Pepe Fanjul

Florida's billionaire sugar barons, the Fanjuls, are in the news despite best efforts to stay off any but the social pages of Vanity Fair or Women's Wear Daily. The Palm Beach Post has a couple of blistering stories this week that lay bare the bruising politics that keep policies intact to enrich Big Sugar at the expense of consumers-- not to mention the environment (Everglades) and public health. The Post story is based on information disclosed by Wikileaks.
The Post notes: "Pepe Fanjul, 67, was one of a handful of donors who raised more than $100,000 for Bush's second presidential campaign." The Fanjul connections are legendary on the Democratic side, too: Alfie, Pepe's brother, was famously on the phone with President Clinton when his aide, Monica Lewinsky, was paying attention to the president. 

But the Fanjuls have other close associations that are nearly as frictionless. Another of the $100,000 Bush Rangers in Florida: Sergio Pino in Miami, founder of the cratered empire surrounding housing in platted subdivisions and U.S. Century Bank. Although Pino's fortunes have hit a rough patch, he and fellow directors of US Century represent the hubris of the housing bubble and the mad rush to put more suburban sprawl in farmland and Everglades wetlands. Pino is also one of the long-time inside players in Miami-Dade County politics.

The Fanjuls have a natural affinity for a vertically integrated lobbying machine that preserves, protects, and maintains their rights to build cities or rock mines or whatever they want in the Everglades Agricultural Area, an enormous block of land south of Lake Okeechobee. Joe Klock, the longtime attorney for Fanjul related sugar interests, jumps to the billionaire's defense in the Post series. Klock is a name partner in the law firm founded by Ramon Rasco, who is also chairman of U.S. Century Bank. Both Pino and Rasco were heavily involved in the leadership of the Latin Builders Association. Klock joined the firm three years ago. Rasco is a major background player in such fiascos as the Homestead Air Force Base conversion by HABDI; a project that he guided and cost Miami-Dade taxpayers tens of millions of dollars through the dedication of county staff resources. 

The Post notes that the Fanjuls, "Helped kill former Gov. Charlie Crist’s push to buy nearly 200,000 acres owned by rival U.S. Sugar for Everglades restoration. Proposed a 14,000-acre new town west of Wellington in 2004 to attract The Scripps Research Institute. Co-owners of a proposed reservoir west of Wellington, now part of Palm Beach Aggregates rock pits." A related story in the Palm Beach Post details how the Fanjul's manipulation of US farm policy has made the family vastly wealthy. 

Having Klock, an attorney so closely connected to the Fanjuls and Big Sugar, is a countervailing force to the cratered fortunes of U.S. Century Bank; a bank that in EOM's view ought to have been shuttered by the FDIC long ago. ProPublica recently wrote an extensive investigative story on the bank. ("Florida Bank, Used as ATM by Insiders, Won TARP Loan But Now Teeters, Oct. 19, 2011) 


U.S. Century, the Fanjuls, and the ongoing efforts by Big Sugar to foist the costs of pollution onto the backs of taxpayers: it's quite a story. Use our search button to find more.

Museums: Giving and Naming ... by David A. Doheny

David A. Doheny served as vice-president and general counsel at the National Trust from 1985 to 1996. He was a corporate and real estate lawyer in Chicago and Miami, where he also served as Assistant State and U.S. Attorney. He is the author of "David Finley, Quiet Force for America's Arts" the fascinating story of the founding of Americas National Gallery of Art.

In the current debate over the possibility of renaming our Miami Art Museum after a local donor, another museum gift of seventy years ago should be recalled, especially in this gift giving season.

Andrew W. Mellon

Seventy-five years ago, on December 22, 1936, Andrew W. Mellon, the Pittsburgh banker, statesman and art collector, wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In his letter, which FDR received on Christmas Day, Mellon offered to build and endow a National Gallery of Art on the Mall in Washington, D.C., to which he would donate his entire art collection, consisting of many masterpieces from the Italian renaissance, plus iconic Flemish, Dutch, British and American paintings from the 15th to the 19th centuries and 31 pieces of classical sculpture. The value of the whole gift is estimated at $80 million, or least $10 billion in today's dollars.

It may well be the largest gift ever made to a government from any single individual. The gift came with one major restriction - that the gallery must not bear Mellon's name, but be named simply the National Gallery of Art.

Ron Paul: Is this photo Photoshopped? By Geniusofdespair

It is right before an election and what surfaces -- a picture of Ron Paul with Derek Black (wearing weird hat), the son of a KKK Grand Wizard who describes himself as a: “white person who is concerned about discrimination against white people.”

The other guy with the crazy eyes is Don Black, Derek's dad, who is on a "List of 16 people worldwide that British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith put on a list of undesirables in October. The list was made public this week (May 2009) and is supposed to include individuals who, Smith says, spread hate and violence." He is married to David Duke's X-wife.

I am not sure the photo is authentic so as a responsible journalist, I am posting the photo.  It comes from a website that is not online anymore that is a red flag and getting two racists in one photo....?? If you are from Iowa, pay attention to it. What am I saying... Hard core Republicans voting today from Iowa will like the photo. Go ahead Iowa, pick our next Republican President. The sorry-ass truth is, Paul isn't the worst candidate. And more sorry-ass than that, the two racists pictured with him are from Florida.

P.S. I found the actual REAL photo so my sleuthing paid off:

Genting's Luxury Condo. By Geniusofdespair

Marquis

Genting, the Malaysian Gambling giant, has a luxury condo in the Marquis at 1100 Biscayne Blvd. They paid $2 million for the place. The unit is 3,800 square feet and it has 4 bedrooms with 4 baths. It is on the 61st Floor of the 67 story building. The taxes are $22,532.

Ziad Ghandour just bought a unit on the same floor. Is that the same guy who is Founder of TI Capital? He only paid $1,390,000 for his digs (3,017 square feet).

NYCA China Partners LLC also owns a bunch of condos in this building on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th floors. They are a mystery - Delaware Corporation.  A company called Optibase also owns 18 units in the Marquis.  Looks like a wholesale buy as they are not counting them on the open market. The developer also appears to still own 69 apartments in the Marquis. Another neighbor for Genting is Robert Straubhaar, CEO of River Advice.

Does Michael Jordan really live in Kendall? by gimleteye

It caught my attention over the weekend that Michael Jordan's new spouse, Yvette Prieto, lives in Miami. But do the newly weds really live in Kendall, as Fox News Latino reports?  I think it can't be true. Don't all the rich, former pro stars live in gated communities in Weston or Coconut Grove? Until now, Kendall's most famous former pro athlete was O.J. Simpson. Once-- about fifteen years ago-- I was in my car dropping a child off at school in South Miami and watched O.J. blow through in quick succession, first, a stop sign held by a school crossing guard and then a stop light on Red Road. He was in a hurry to his destination. I haven't seen Michael Jordan on the road, or at Publix, or at the Container Store measuring the size of trays to fit in drawers. But, West Dade? Could it be that the man who soared over the NBA gets stuck in Kendall traffic just like the rest of us?

The Best of Miami. By Geniusofdespair

In 2011 some of the best things I did in Miami were free, or almost free. Good news,  you can catch these events next year.

Miami Book Fair International - You have to go check it out. I go every year. In 2012 it will be held November 11 to the 18th. It is held at Miami Dade College. It is about $5 to attend.

Art Basel - If you have not been to any of the events centering around Art Basel you might as well live in Palatka. Art Miami, a separate show held the same time, is a good (cheaper) start for newbies. It is held in Wynwood. Art Basel is in Miami Beach. You shortchange yourself not going. Art Basel week will be December 6-9.

Miami Beach's Sleepless Night - They don't always have it (it is usually held in November), I hope they do this year, everything -- all night -- is free! You can't do better than that. In 2011 I went to see a free concert at the Colony Theater featuring the choral group, Seraphic Fire.  I also went to a free mini-concert at the New World Symphony's $160 million dollar home. What a treat. It is an intimate concert hall and the sound is terrific. The only thing you pay for during Sleepless Night is food. Even the transportation is free.

Wynwood Walls - They are not just in between Joey's and Wynwood Kitchen and Bar -- the walls are everywhere in Wynwood!

Wall by Portuguese Artist Alexandre Farto - alias "Vhils"

Get out of that seat in front of your  TV or computer and start to do the things Miami has to offer. Have you been to a beach? The Everglades? You can go out on a boat at Bayside for little money. The kids and the snowbirds would like that. In 2012 promise yourself to do more.  Life is short.

Any other suggestions readers?

Another Bad Deal for Miami. By Geniusofdespair

The Marlin's deal was not our first giveaway to a sports team. Miami Today had an article in their December 29th edition about another of Miami's bad deals. Nothing like ripping off scabs is there Miami Today?

The Miami Heat basketball team, in a 1997 agreement with the County, agreed to pay 40% of their profit above $14 million to the County. Well guess what, the Miami Heat since 1997 has NEVER paid the County a penny, claiming they never made over $14 million. That's rich. To compound how bad a deal we made with the Heat owner -- in addition, "the county pays  a $6.4 million annual subsidy to Basketball Properties (Micky Arison)" according to Miami Today.  Even though they made $60.6 million in 2011 they claim they had $47.4 million in expenses. That brings them JUST UNDER the $14 million. The paper says they have a $12.07 million line item for 'depreciation and amortization' but it doesn't specify for what.

Remember people, we own the land and we own the Arena and we get nothing out of it, in fact we pay our hard earned tax dollars to Arison's Corporation every year. We even gave them naming rights. We did all this for billionaire, Micky Arison.

Carlos Gimenez: Give this deal another look for us taxpayers because this sucks big time.  All the County Commissioners at the time should have been recalled over the Heat giveaway deal.

Section 3. This Board hereby approves the conveyance to BPL of certain Arena Naming Rights in consideration for a reduction of the County's annual payment obligations to BPL under the Arena Agreements, in accordance with the provisions of Composite Amendment One and subject to the prior fulfillment of the Conditions Precedent.   (from the legislation)
 

Why do we let sports teams write our contracts and why don't we learn from history? Miami Dade County is run by morons and they hire moron lawyers to protect us, the  taxpayers. The sports teams tell us to bend over and our politicians say in response: How far?