Early voting begins tomorrow for the city of South Miami. I support Mayor Philip Stoddard (for more, read our archive).
The 600 pound gorilla in the upcoming elections is Florida Power and Light. FPL is fighting a multi-year battle for two new nuclear reactors in South Dade. The intersection of voters' interest in South Miami involves the plan by FPL to put new overhead high voltage power lines through the city's corridor on US 1.
FPL is as politically sophisticated as any leviathan special interest. Based on Mayor Stoddard's past successes, FPL knows that any obvious investment in his opponents' campaigns would be counter productive. In other words, it is not immediately obvious what dark money is being thrown against Mayor Stoddard in this race.
Stoddard's main opponent, Valerie Newman, says that too much focus is being put on FPL. It is a sly way to suggest she would lift the pressure that Mayor Stoddard has kept on the leviathan. "It's time to talk about other issues", she says. In her view, South Miami should let its larger neighbors take the lead.
The fact is that Mayor Stoddard is the brightest, fact-based voice on issues related to FPL. It is rare -- and I cannot think of a single other instance -- where an elected official has challenged FPL as thoroughly and competently as Mayor Stoddard.
South Miami voters ought to send a clear message not just to FPL but also to the state of Florida by expressing confidence in another term for Mayor Stoddard. Let's not forget Mayor Stoddard needs a majority too on the city commission to keep the pressure on the 600 pound gorilla.
23 comments:
Alan we have heard all the talk of FPL BUT can Phil or anyone explain the THOUSANDS Mayor Stoddard has received from REAL ESTATE INTEREST both in his campaign account and other "Peripheral Sources" that support his re-election.
Normally that would lead you to sound the alarm.
Doubting Thomas...I do not know if your real estate donations exist, but assuming they do, it makes sense to me.
Estimates are that FPL transmission lines will destroy $400 million worth of property values along US1. So stopping FPL from destroying your property and the sustainability-walkability of your city for FPL shareholder enrichment is merely being a concerned citizen, VERY different from developers looking for influence.
FPL will do anything it takes to take out Stoddard. Comparing real estate interst to FPL is bullshit. Grow up anon above.
South Miami is full of anarchist!
So much FPL sentimental advertising on TV every night. Are they to hike rates again?
Stoddard has been a leader on urban neighborhood issues. South Miami's new pool, Farmer’ Market (while Newman thwarted the market manager who had obtained SNAP food stamp approval) and Stoddard successfully pushed for a citywide ‘Greenways Plan’ that will create bikeways/walkways throughout the city and in the long run increases property values.
We need solar panels, not ‘boiled water’ plants like FPL. Over 40% of our water goes to generate electricity. SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District) claims South Florida can not meet its future fresh water needs without building expensive desalination plants and fresh water is needed to push out sea level rise. I read Stoddard’s comments in Rolling Stone’s Goodbye, Miami. Still waiting for Newman’s comments on sea level rise…or is this another issue Newman thinks we need to move beyond?
YES I AND THE REST OF HUMANITY IS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE PROCLAMATION ON SEA LEVEL RISE FROM THE MAYOR OF SOUTH MIAMI!
AFTER WHICH I EXPECT TO HEAR THE MAYORS PROCLAMATION ON THE EXISTENCE OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE
Another anonymous and slanderous flyer is circulating in South Miami against Stoddard. The state attorney's office should be going public about late reports required by law from independent committees. Where is law enforcement!?
Mr. 100 Panthers simply looking at the Mayors campaign reports will confirm their (contribution from real estate development interest) existence.
Actually easier to prove than global warming ( My AC Bill proves this is probably true) or climate change ( I agree the climate is changing and so is Madonna) or the existence of Big Foot ( I think I met him at a Grateful Dead concert in the 80s).
So? He got some contributions from developers? This isn't the Everglades.
I would rather have Stoddard get support from real estate folks than FPL who is going into the zoning business. Real Estate folks want to raise property values and encourage quality of life issues to sell property for higher prices.
FPL is going into the zoning business in Palmetto Bay to sell their $40 million dollars worth of property that needs to be re-zoned. Don't you think they will be buying up that election next?
FPL was involved in supporting candidates in the last race in Palmetto Bay as well. South Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest is next.
If you live long enough you see everything....
Tree huggers defending Developer Friendly politicians or is it just because Phil isn't Hispanic? If his name was Jose you hypocrites would be all over it.
If you read this blog, you will know we give credit where credit is due. We don't distinguish between our Hispanic or Anglo friends. Phil Stoddard, btw, built his home to be environmentally sustainable in a way that deserves recognition. Do you have any idea what you are talking about?
Stoddard's farmers market needed a not-for-profit organization like Mario Yanis so that Baptist Health could obtain a federal grant to subsidize the SNAP food stamps. It had to be a not-for-profit, that's why Claire's Market wasn't selected; they weren't a non-profit. Same goes for the "new" Pinecrest Farmers Market; they needed a new operator who was not-for-profit for the SNAP program.
Baptist Health needs to "justify" their not-for-profit status, albeit via federal grants; Baptist Health controls South Dade; they are the 800 lb. gorilla.
The Sierra Club has endorsed Mayor Phil Stoddard and Commissioner Walter Harris in this election.
Yes Alan I know perfectly well what I am talking about. You and the "Genius" go up one side and down another of mostly Hispanics (Bell being the exception) yet Genius defended Pizzi on this blog. Environmentally friendly, if you call pissing directly into the aquifer and running around your house naked in front of guest environmentally sustainable then so be it (I guess its a matter of whose environment is being sustained).
South Miami be unincorporated.
Actually, contributions came mostly from property managers who don't want to see FPL's transmission lines destroy values (and tax base) along US 1.
Stoddard seems like a harmless hippie-type. Wasn't Newman chastised by the ethics commission for bullying city employees? Forget about FPL. I have a bigger concern about her.
Last I checked, there was exactly one Anglo -- Lynda Bell -- out of thirteen county commissioners. Eye On Miami has been writing about her horrible performance from the first she lashed out against environmental protections. I guess that makes Eye On Miami anti-Anglo. Get a life whoever you are.
And Sally Heyman.
the term anglo is offensive.
I HAD THE VERY GOOD FORTUNE OF HAVING PHILIP STODDARD AS A COLLEAGUE DURING MY TENURE AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. I FOUND PROFESSOR STODDARD AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY INTEGRITY, HUMILITY, AND HONESTY, DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH AND A SENSE OF FAIRNESS AND GOODNESS THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL. BASED ON WHAT I KNOW - AND THOUGH I DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI - I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT, ENDORSE, AND CAMPAIGN FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF MAYOR STODDARD.
Ted Baker, FASLA
Landscape Architect
FIU Associate Professor (Retired)
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