Fresen's Financials. By Geniusofdespair

 

Here is a page from Fresen's financial disclosure report.

His campaign report was audited. He got a letter August 2, 2011 for some of the same expenses I noted when I looked at his report in my blog Erik Fresen's Loosey Goosey Campaign Report.

The only problem is he had 7 days to reply and his reply is missing. I have a public requests in for his response.

From Our Man In Havana: the Bienal ... by gimleteye

First Place for the Havana Bienal by Eyeonmiami goes to the artist, Kcho.

The viewer imagines sharks swimming under the Florida Straits, wearing the clothes of their victims. Molds of sharks in a school are suspended from the ceiling of the exhibition space, that not long ago served as a Cuban jail. As though watching the surface of the water from below, the sharks appear to glide below a baseball bat frozen in space, luggage and detritus of a disaster at sea. It might be our disaster.

The perspective is upside down. Whose clothes are the sharks wearing? The metaphors resonate, including that we are either sharks or we are eaten. But the clothing is too fine to be worn by Cubans fleeing their homeland. You can tell the difference today on the streets of Havana. The bright clothes are worn by Cubans -- more likely than not -- with relatives abroad. Maybe these sharks are the ones who wear clothing sent from Miami. Kcho offers a dystopian vision that is resonant with Eyeonmiami, irrespective of nationality or political position. What survives is not ideology but fashion obscuring our base behaviors, including the capacity for unblinking brutality.

Art Basel Miami provides a forum for the expression of angst flowing through a fire hose from a post-industrial, globalized economy; an economy in which Cuba scarcely participates. The Bienal in Havana offers an even wider breadth of expression than Art Basel Miami. This will come as a surprise to Cuba hardliners in Miami who persist in their own suppression of dialogue.

Taking all into account, the bandwidth for political discussion is wider in Havana than it is in Miami. More to come ...

Florida Legislative Races. By Geniusofdespair

I think these are the 2 most interesting races to watch. Why did Alex Diaz de la Portilla switch to a Representative race from a Senator race? I suppose he just thought it would be neat to serve with and mentor his little brother Renier whom is also running for State Rep. Also I think he polled badly against Gwen Margolis. Miguel already won his State Senate seat unopposed. Ick.  My pick in that race with would be Jose Javier Rodriguez. Jose work on those absentee ballots or Alex will win.

These are the other races for State Rep, everyone is qualified now (If you live in Aventura North Miami Beach, Bal Harbor or Surfside you are basically in a different County for your Representative in District 101 - sucks - the only one running is Joseph Gibbons from Hallendale Beach.  Looks like Bruno Barreiro's wife Zoraida bowed out.

Map of the Rep Districts:

More, from our man in Havana ... by gimleteye

More, from the 1st Havana Bienal.

A Democrat Trying to Think like a Republican is Not Easy. By Geniusofdespair

As a Republican, I had to vote in the primary for Governor. I thought a lot about it. Looking back, my worst fear came to pass: Rick Scott won the primary and got elected. I didn't vote for him but that didn't save us all from his reign of terror...Here is my post and my thoughts at the time:


And guess what kids, I ended up not voting in the primary. It was a Sophie's choice.

From Havana: images ... by gimleteye

Artistic expression is blooming in Havana. The first image is grabbed from a wall in the city. It's an old image. The ants on the building are an installation project, of the First Havana Bienal. It's a wonderful exhibition. More later ...

NYC Freedom Tower...still soaring. By Geniusofdespair

My brother sent me this photo of 1 WTC (World Trade Center) seen from Fulton Street: Height will be 1,776 feet when done with 104 floors. It has been in construction since April 2006. In comparison, the Empire State Building is 1,454 feet high and 102 floors.

You couldn't get me to work there, too much history.

Our Man in Havana ... by gimleteye

MIAMI has lived in Havana's shadow for decades. Every local politician, one way or another, has been forced to positions and pledges in a way that reinforces a rigid orthodoxy. The embargo and its discontents are more about enforcing orthodoxies in MIAMI. Even while Cuba is changing -- albeit slowly -- MIAMI remains the same in key political respects.

MIAMI is all about business. While there are many different forms that business takes -- creating a modern city, suburbs and skyline -- the most important business tied to politics is land speculation and development. In this respect, Havana could not be more different.

Take into account all Cuba's suffering, the material poverty, the mistakes of a command and control economy, the expropriation of wealth, the despair of the black market, of the dual currency nightmare, the weight of a police state; taking these all into account, the resilience, spirit and creativity of Havana's citizens is as remarkable as the city itself. Havana, itself, is as gorgeous as it is faded, as remarkable as it is decrepit, as unique as any city in the Americas.

Havana is a time capsule that has preserved a human scale street grid and neighborhoods where building and construction and architectural form stopped still in the 1930's and 1940's. Inside the time capsule is a city plan and structures in various stages of disrepair, dilapidated or falling to pieces, but in their totality: fantastic. Only a few places were bulldozed to make way for Soviet architectural triumphalism. 95 percent of urban landscape is untouched since the 19th and early 20th centuries when Cuba, with all its rampant inequities, could rightly claim title to one of the great cities. It still can. The bones of Havana are gorgeous, even if the government is uncertain how to bring the city into the 21st century.

While change comes slowly, one senses the explosive potential of the place.

As the Castro generation fades and soon disappears, it is harder and harder to separate the hatreds from the political orthodoxies in MIAMI, that served mainly to protect land speculators and zoning and permitting in SOUTH FLORIDA, from the business potential of Cuba. For MIAMI, the likelihood increases that powerful Cuban American political interests will miss out on the evolution, because geographical proximity counts for less and less.

Of course, this is particularly grating since the land speculators and sprawl developers have fallen on such hard times. They have used the hatreds of Castro to burn up and consume the South Florida landscape, but because of those hatreds are least equipped to influence change in Cuba. In the meantime, businesses based in other countries with modernized economies are much better placed to participate in Cuba's inevitable change. (to be continued...)

Ocean Bank FINALLY on the mend? By Geniusofdespair

Since September 30th 2009 I have been tracking the Bauer Financial star rating of Ocean Bank. The Bank has always had ZERO stars. I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday when they had one star. Bauer says about their ratings: "Zero-Stars is our lowest star rating. These institutions are included on our Troubled & Problematic Report and are facing considerable challenges at this time." One star means "Troubled." 5 Stars is their highest rating. U.S. Century Bank is still zero.

EOM Investigative Report: Lynda Bell's Husband's Mortgage ties to John DuBois's Business Partner. By Geniusofdespair

The question in my mind after writing this:  Why would a guy form a mortgage corporation a few days before a closing, write just one mortgage, that mortgage to Lynda Bell's husband...What would be a reasonable explanation?

Miami Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell's husband Mark, bought a historical hotel in Homestead at 5 South Flagler Avenue. Wendy Lobos (a former Homestead Commissioner) registered a corporation for him on February 16th to buy it. A minister told me he thought the deal was his. He had plans drawn up and was checking with government entities when he heard Mark Bell got the Hotel. The Minister gave Bell the plans he had drawn up. He was disappointed.  Bell quickly got a balloon mortgage from Redinn Mortgage, LLC February 23rd. The mortgage was for $225,000, Bell put 10% down on the $250,000 hotel. The details of the financing ARE NOT in the mortgage papers. The interest rate is in a note that is not included in filed papers. In theory, the Bells could be paying 3%, 9% or even 0% interest. The Bells could have a very favorable deal with Redinn, even a sweetheart deal. This does involve the husband of County Commissioner Lynda Bell. Some Realtors I spoke with said that giving a mortgage for 10% down on a commercial property was a very good deal in itself.

Clause I found in the mortgage written by Reddin. Is this common in today's market?

I looked at the Mortgage Company. It was formed Feb. 15, 2012 the day before Mark Bell formed his corporation. That was only 8 days BEFORE the mortgage was written! WHAT?? The thought crossed my mind: Was this mortgage company formed only to write Lynda Bell's husband's mortgage? I looked for other mortgages written by this mortgage company and found none.  I looked up the mortgage company.

The only name associated with the mortgage company, Redinn, was Suhail Nanji. I looked up other corporations associated with Suhail Nanji and found the name John DuBois with Nanji on a couple of corporations, including a second mortgage company. That mortgage company, J&S 8360 Mortgage LLC, had DuBois's name (unlike Redinn that didn't). More on that later.*

This second mortgage company also appeared to write only one mortgage.

Eyecast executive team: John DuBois and Suhail Nanji (who is on Bell's Mortgage documents).

DuBois's Letter

I looked up John DuBois's Corporation, Eyecast. I was surprised to find this photo of he and Suhail Nanji on Eyecast's website.

John DuBois, running for Vice Mayor in Palmetto Bay, held Lynda Bell's victory party at his palatial Bayfront home and is a big supporter of Bell. He, and coincidentally, Lynda too, are in a battle with the County environmental department (formerly known as DERM). Lynda Bell held a town hall meeting about DERM March 3, 2011 and John DuBois was the main speaker at the hearing bashing DERM (see letter for his beef).

Lynda Bell also appointed John DuBois to the county International Trade Advisory Board October 2011. Bell's campaign manager Jose Luis-Castillo (Seijas supporter) is running John DuBois' campaign for Vice Mayor in Palmetto Bay. Castillo also is Vice Chair of the International Trade Advisory Board, the same board Lynda put DuBois on.

Bell's Chief of Staff approached Assistant County Mayor Osterholt the end of January 2012 to discuss John DuBois' problems. A meeting was set up and held March 1st with DERM. This is all going on around the time of the Bell mortgage.

Below is photo of John DuBois and Lynda Bell at a Christian Family Coalition (anti-gay group) event that he hosted at his home.  Did I mention that John DuBois is extremely wealthy? Most of his beef with DERM started about rules he faced building his waterfront home in Palmetto Bay.  He then got involved in his neighbor's problems. There was illegal wetland filling suspected on the property of the 90 year old neighbor (who is/was represented pro-bono by John Shubin).  Why would a man 90 years old be doing filling?

John DuBois and Commissioner Lynda Bell in his Palmetto Bay home.

*Remember that second mortgage company,  J&S 8360 Mortgage LLC, linked to Dubois (Mgr.) and Nanji (Registering Agent) that also curiously wrote only one mortgage that I mentioned? The one mortgage written by this other mortgage company was for an office building in Broward. It appears that both DuBois and Nanji are officers in a Corporation that also owns this office building.

DuBois' Mortgage Company wrote the mortgage for a building in Broward

.

Corporation that owns building in Broward.

Going in a giant loop, the address of Lynda Bell's Husband's mortgage company - Reddin (that might/might not have given Bell a sweetheart deal on his financing) - is the building in Broward owned by John DuBois and Suhail Nanji. You remember the name Suhail Nanji by now I hope. 

  Hit read more for Lynda Bell's Most Recent Financial Disclosure Report.

From our man in Havana ... by gimleteye

Our man in Havana can log onto The Miami Herald and Miami New Times but Eye On Miami is blocked.

From our man in Havana ... by gimleteye

Jorge Perez walked in for lunch in Havana yesterday. At a nearby table, Perez and his wife were entertained by a beefy gentleman in a tight shirt. Was Mr. Perez in Havana for the art show or some other business. Perhaps, for Genting's casino ambitions? (cf. our blog on Jorge Perez) Or perhaps to investigate condo development in downtown Havana. How many billions vanished in the kleig lights and fumes of the housing boom? ... I was tempted to ask but was caught in reverie, wondering if this would soon become a place where you are as likely to run into Miami businessmen as at Green Street in Coconut Grove. Is Havana the new Aspen? Alfie Fanjul was here a few weeks ago. Now, Mr. Fanjul is a billionaire Cuban American for real. (Perez, on the kindness of bankerz.) If our man in Havana knew Florida's Big Sugar was in Havana, what would he have asked about the Fanjul's non-stop use of Florida's Everglades as a cesspool for phosphorous and mercury. Sugar poisons people, the Everglades, and Florida politics. There is no end to things to wonder about, from Havana.

Read an EYE ON MIAMI Investigative Report Tomorrow. By Geniusofdespair

Don't forget to visit our blog tomorrow.  HERE IS THE LINK TO IT!

Concept of Trump Studio City

Breaking news at County Meeting right now: Commission Chair Joe Martinez has a good idea for once...hmm unless it is environmental land he is targeting. When they get through with it, I suspect it won't be a good idea: Martinez wants to put a movie studio on land around Homestead Air Force Base. Can you have an airport near a movie studio? Pepe is saying  you have to have both: pretty stupid.  Martinez is calling it Trump Studio City. He is talking about Michael Bay. Turn on your TV and watch the meeting. No wonder Lynda Bell was cut off at the knees by Martinez and Pepe Diaz a few week back when she tried to bring up the Airport.

En route to Havana ... by gimleteye

The flights to Havana are jammed. The Cuba travel controversy is a little abstract until you see the volume of Cuban Americans and the volume of goods checked as personal luggage. It's an eye opener. This is where the baggage wrappers are killing it. No wonder the lobbyists are fighting so hard. My purpose is not to visit family or scout business opportunities. I am hoping to report views of Miami politics from Havana. Good, bad, or as indifferent as voters in Miami-Dade? Stay tuned.

New Everglades Plan ... by gimleteye

Statement of Friends of the Everglades

Successful litigation initiated by Friends of the Everglades and co-plaintiff the Miccosukee Tribe appears to be yielding a new plan to restore the fabled River of Grass.

The Friends litigation, brought against the US EPA in 2004, played a vital role in bringing the State of Florida together with federal agencies charged with protecting America’s Everglades. A 2008 decision by federal judge Alan S. Gold resulted in an order for enforceable remedies.

Although Friends was briefed on the broad outline of a plan to reduce pollution by phosphorous in the Everglades to acceptable levels, including promises of money from the State of Florida, Friends of the Everglades has yet to see details.

We have been encouraged by signs, but signs are not enough to allay our fears.

The state has proven an unreliable partner over many, many years. We want to believe the best is at hand for the Everglades, but we have not seen detail sufficient to allow us to move from a position of well-earned skepticism. Our fear is that the state once again is declining to impose enforceable remedies, adequate financing and best farming practices to sharply curtail phosphorous pollution of the Everglades as required by law.

Friends of the Everglades takes credit for at least budging the state of Florida and EPA to hold the line on federal law.

We plan on behalf of our supporters to hold fast to standards set by federal courts irrespective of charm offensives that fall short of detail to assuage our concerns. According to Alan Farago, president of Friends of the Everglades, “Marjory Stoneman Douglas who founded Friends in 1969 never accepted her name being attached to plans and legislation that failed the final test: stop Big Sugar and other polluters from wrecking the Everglades. Her will still guides us.”

How to Write a Blog. By Geniusofdespair

My favorite video... You might have to be a blogger to appreciate it.

Here is where you can report internet scams/crimes. By Geniusofdespair

As usual, Florida is a leader in something bad going on....

Contact the The Internet Crime Complaint Center if you feel like you are the victim of internet crimes. In their 2012 Crime Report released in May, they said:

2011 marked the third year in a row that the IC3 received more than 300,000 complaints. The 314,246 complaints represent a 3.4 percent increase over 2010. The reported dollar loss was $485.3 million. As more Internet crimes are reported, IC3 can better assist law enforcement in the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for perpetrating Internet crime. And:

The most common complaints received in 2011 included FBI-related scams—schemes in which a criminal poses as the FBI to defraud victims—identity theft, and advance-fee fraud.

Who IS GOP Senator Michael Bennett? ... by gimleteye

Michael Bennett, the GOP senator from Bradenton, led the legislative effort to kill the Florida Department of Community Affairs. He is in the news now, as one of the leaders who tried to suppress voter registration until the federal judiciary intervened last week.

Senator Bennett is against people and he is against Florida. The citizen movement and civic activists who tried to move a constitutional ballot referendum called Florida Hometown Democracy in 2010 know Bennett also fiercely opposed their attempt to return local control of land use decisions to voters.

Apparently, this subtext of the GOP strategy in Florida doesn't make it to the editorial pages or commentary where people might understand that the GOP, through its leaders like Bennett, want local control so long as it is their local control. Voter registrations? Suppress them. Voter control of land use? Throttle them. Environmental regulations to prevent Floridians from swimming in a toxic sea of pollutants? Let them eat cake.

The net result of his leadership: disarray in state authority -- assisted by an incurious, insensitive governor, Rick Scott -- that empowers the worst of local county leadership. The effect is like a neutron bomb: everything in government appears to be functioning, but nothing works.

If you wanted to put in place a bloodless coup, you couldn't find anyone better than Florida Senator Michael Bennett to do it.

Now it turns out, that he was neck-deep in voter suppression efforts in Florida; efforts just struck down by a federal court.

A St. Pete Times editorial recently observed that it took "... federal courts and the U.S. Justice Department to defend democracy and protect Floridians from their governor and Legislature who are determined to suppress the vote. Now it should be clear even to Gov. Rick Scott that barriers to voter registration drives and the state's heavy-handed purge of the voter rolls are unconstitutional.

“I want the people in the state of Florida to want to vote as badly as that person in Africa who is willing to walk 200 miles for that opportunity he’s never had before in his life. This should not be easy,” Sen. Michael Bennett, a Republican from Bradenton, had said during the 2011 legislative session." Thanks to Herald editorial writer Fred Grimm for pointing it out. "Not be easy" is a euphemism for turning government into a fortress against the people. Count Michael Bennett as one of the Great Destroyers. Damning, but do voters in Florida know or care?

On The Move With Lynda Bell. By Geniusofdespair

County Commissioner Lynda Bell (Lybel for short), Former Homestead City Manager Mike Shehadeh (white shirt), Current Homestead City Manager George Gretsas and Wendy Lobos  had a lunch meeting together on Friday, June 1st at Olive Garden in Homestead. Why?

News out of Lynda's office is that Wendy will be running for office with Lynda's full support. I forgot what office it was...reader said it was Mayor of Homestead.

Don't you wish you were that fly on the wall to hear what they talked about?

 Must have been a busy day as Lynda Bell met with the Governor the same day (or she always wears the same outfit).  I wonder who picked up the check.

Featured Photo: Florida Governor Rick Scott. By Geniusofdespair

Pretty Scary, and no Photoshop! Besides those alien eyes, Rick Scott's head freakishly swivels.

If You are Vacationing in August, Here is How to Vote. By Geniusofdespair

Many Floridians vacation in August. Here are dates so you can plan voting BEFORE going on your trip.

If you are going to be away mid August the easiest way to vote is by requesting an absentee ballot on line.  Early voting starts on August 4th. The election is August 14th.  You can have your absentee ballot sent to where you are vacationing if you will be away for the whole month. ABSENTEE BALLOTS BEGIN GOING OUT JULY 17TH.

Need a job? Become a poll worker. You can make between $105 and $168 for the days you work. Be warned election day is brutally long.

Looks Like Commission District 3 Will Have a Runoff. By Geniusofdespair

Audrey Edmonson.

It is questionable whether County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson can avoid a runoff (she would have to garner 50% of the vote in the primary).  Last week Nadia Pierre joined the other 4 candidates in that race to challenge Audrey - there are 6 now in the District 3 race. Bruno Barreiro's race has 4 candidates. I expect a few candidates to jump ship before June 5th.  Here is a video of Nadia Pierre.  She seems like a serious candidate, well-spoken.

If you want to run for County Commission it is $360 and the date to qualify is by noon on June 5th. Commissioners Steve Bovo and Xavier Suarez don't have any challengers.

The primary election is 8/14/2012.

Renier Diaz de la Portilla's PAC. By Geniusofdespair

expenses on CCE of Renier Diaz de la Portilla

Nothing earth shattering yet on this PAC/Committee, Citizens United for Reform, but it deserves a watch. It raised $8,100 and spent $5,699 - mostly on Renier's expenses.  Renier Diaz de la Portilla, running for State Rep, is the Chairman of the (committe of continuous existence) CCE.  He got a $3,000 donation from Floridians for Long Distance Access. They in turn got contributions from The Lucky Pelican, Cash N In, and the Bonus Club. Sounds like internet gambling to me. Whatever.

On his regular campaign report he had money from Stanley Tate, Carlos Curbelo, Ron Book, Herman Echevarria, Jose Fuentes, Prestige Gaming. He raised $39,585 on his campaign account through 3/31/2012.

Expenses on Renier Diaz de la Portilla's Campaign Account

Why is he flying all over the place?

He has hotel expenses on his campaign report for the same day in two different places. Doing a lot of traveling.