Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Soccer Stadium in Our Downtown, El Nuevo Herald Reader Sounds off on Mayor Gimenez. By Geniusofdespair

The gist of this El Nuevo Herald Opinion piece is that Gimenez is dumb, incompetent and totally oblivious to the desires of the voters.  It mentions that he is enamored of Beckham, promised him a waterfront stadium long before any of it became public news, and only after the port location was voted down and his offer of Museum Park encountered broad opposition did he embrace the need for a referendum.  The latter a testament not of his political skills but of his survival instinct, the type of politician that will change his stripes at a moment's notice.  The author can't believe that either Gimenez or Regalado are offering to place a soccer stadium in Miami's waterfront. It also talks about the poor deal he has cut with Arison and how expensive it will be for the taxpayers.  (Press read more for the google translator.)
Carlos Giménez es el simulacro de un líder. El alcalde de Miami-Dade es como una criatura que flota en las corrientes del cálculo político oportunista. Ante el peligro, el movimiento característico de esta criatura es la retirada mal camuflada. En declaraciones sobre aumentos tributarios, en el deseo de complacer a sus lobistas favoritos, en sus torpes negociaciones con magnates poderosos que a ratos lo deslumbran, Giménez no manifiesta el talante de un alcalde metropolitano sino los instintos de un subalterno con rasgos de mandarín inseguro.

Podemos observar los reflejos condicionados de la criatura en su manejo de las aspiraciones de David Beckham y los socios del ex futbolista. Estos señores deseaban construir un estadio de fútbol en terrenos públicos adyacentes al puerto de Miami. Tras los primeros encuentros con un Giménez rebosante de placer en la presencia del astro inglés, Beckham le anunció a la BBC que el alcalde de Miami-Dade le “había prometido” el espacio codiciado junto a la bahía para la construcción de su estadio. Pero en cuanto se destapó el arreglo que Giménez tramaba con Beckham, comenzaron a escucharse fuertes críticas provenientes de funcionarios electos (sobre todo del alcalde de Miami, Tomás Regalado, cuyo municipio pudiese tomar posesión de todas las tierras del puerto si algunas de sus parcelas se usan para actividades que no son portuarias), directores del propio puerto, empresarios de empresas cruceras y algunos comisionados condales. Entonces, sin consultar con la Ciudad de Miami, y con la esperanza de quedar bien con Beckham, quien insistía que su estadio tenía que estar frente a la bahía, el alcalde lanzó otra alternativa controversial: el soccer stadium podía construirse en los terrenos de una dársena que le pertenece a Miami, una parcela situada entre el nuevo parque de los museos y la Arena de la discordia. Pero sucedió que las objeciones a la dársena fueron tan devastadoras para Beckham como las críticas que despertó la opción del puerto. ¿La respuesta de nuestro invertebrado líder condal? Otro viraje oportunista. Seguir el ejemplo del alcalde Regalado, quien en todo momento ha respaldado un referendo que nos permitiría a los votantes decidir si queremos o no un estadio de fútbol frente a la bahía. Beckham también se ha sumado a la alternativa de la dársena con referendo.

¿Por qué Giménez no abogó por el referendo desde el principio de las negociaciones con el grupo de Beckham? ¿Sería por la misma razón que lo llevó a apoyar tardíamente el referendo sobre la remodelación del Sun Life Stadium? Lo hizo después de permitir que Stephen Ross, el dueño de los Dolphins, le vendiera tras bambalinas un acuerdo que provocó una riada de críticas a Ross y a Giménez.

No se sorprendan si Giménez opta por enarbolar la bandera del referendo oportunista a fin de ratificar el acuerdo en torno a la Arena que acaba de negociar con Micky Arison, el dueño de los Miami Heat. Todo indica que el nuevo contrato sería lesivo para los contribuyentes de Miami-Dade. Giménez hubiese preferido mantenerlo en la oscuridad el mayor tiempo posible con el propósito de presentarnos a última hora un hecho consumado y privar a los críticos de la oportunidad de crear un fuerte estado de opinión adverso al pacto antes de la votación de la comisión, la cual debe aprobar o rechazar el contrato. Pero si a Giménez le sale mal el negocio, siempre le queda la opción de apoyar un referendo (con el beneplácito de Arison, claro) atento a los intereses que guían las conductas de nuestro alcalde.

A propósito de intereses: En un artículo sobre las discusiones suscitadas por el proyecto del estadio de fútbol publicado en estas páginas, Giménez hizo la obtusa afirmación de que todos los argumentos, a favor o en contra del estadio de marras, eran obra de personas con “mucho que ganar o perder” y cuyos “intereses” impulsaban sus posturas. Así Giménez revelaba sus propias motivaciones: las de un alcalde con ínfulas de hombre puro que se ha convertido en el socio interesado de un grupo selecto de lobistas y de consejeros aúlicos. Confundía sus móviles de político oportunista reculador con las ideas y convicciones de quienes ni siquiera recibimos un dólar confederado para exponer nuestras opiniones. A favor o en contra de los temas que abordamos.

El Nuevo Herald 

Read in English (google translation):

Carlos Gimenez is the simulation of a leader. The mayor of Miami-Dade is a creature floating in the currents of opportunistic political calculation. When danger characteristic of this movement is poorly camouflaged creature removal . Commenting on tax increases , the desire to please their favorite lobbyists , in their negotiations with powerful magnates awkward that sometimes the dazzle , Giménez not manifest the spirit of a metropolitan mayor but the instincts of a junior unsafe with traits Mandarin.We can observe the conditioned reflexes of the creature in its handling of the aspirations of David Beckham and former footballer partners. 
 
These guys wanted to build a football stadium on public land adjacent to the Port of Miami. After the first encounter with an overflowing Giménez pleasure in the presence of the English star , Beckham announced to the BBC that the mayor of Miami- Dade County " promised " the coveted bayside space to build their stadium . But as the arrangement Giménez plotted with Beckham was uncovered, they began to hear strong criticism from elected officials (especially the Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, whose municipality could take possession of all lands in the port if some of their plots used for activities that are not port ), the port itself directors , entrepreneurs cruceras companies and some county commissioners. 

 Then, without consulting with the City of Miami, and hoping to get along with Beckham, who insisted that the stadium had to be facing the bay, the mayor launched another controversial alternative: the soccer stadium could be built in the grounds of a dock that belongs to Miami, a parcel located between the new museum and park the arena of contention. But it happened that the objections to the dock were so devastating for Beckham as the criticism aroused port option.  

The answer of our invertebrate county leader? Another opportunist turn. Follow the example of Mayor Regalado, who always supported a referendum that would allow us to decide whether voters want a football stadium bayfront . Beckham has also joined the alternative dock with referendum.Why not Giménez advocated the referendum from the beginning of negotiations with the group Beckham? Was it for the same reason that led him to support the referendum on late remodeling Sun Life Stadium? He did after allowing Stephen Ross, the Dolphins owner, sold him a deal behind the scenes causing a flood of criticism of Ross and Giménez . 

Do not be surprised if Giménez chooses to display the flag of opportunistic referendum to ratify the agreement on the arena just negotiate with Micky Arison, the owner of the Miami Heat. It appears that the new contract would be harmful to the Miami-Dade taxpayers . Giménez would rather keep in the dark as long as possible in order to introduce late a fait accompli and deprive critics the opportunity to create a strong state of opinion adverse to the covenant before the vote of the commission, which must approve or reject the contract. But if Gimenez goes wrong business, you always have the option of supporting a referendum ( with the approval of Arison , of course) tuned to the interests that guide the behavior of our mayor. 

Speaking of interest: In an article on the discussions raised by the football stadium project published in these pages, Giménez made ​​obtuse claim that all arguments for or against the stadium of yore, were the work of people with " much to gain or lose " and whose "interests" driving their positions. So Giménez revealed his own motivations : a mayor with the airs of pure man who has become the partner concerned of a select group of lobbyists courtiers and counselors. Confused their mobile opportunistic political reculador with ideas and convictions of those who did not even receive a Confederate dollar to present our views. For or against the issues we address.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least someone at the Miami Herald understands Carlos Gimenez and Tomas Regalado.

Anonymous said...

The author, Ramon Mestre, is a renowned journalist. He can also be heard on 1080 AM on Monday and Friday nights at 8:00 pm.

Anonymous said...

Tomas Regalado needs to shut down this stupid scheme. Just cut it off at the knees. Otherwise, it smells like another Marlins fiasco.

Anonymous said...

Excellent article, even though the Google translation is not great. My favorite line is that Gimenez has the "airs of a pure man". I know that the election for County Mayor was perceived by many as offering us two poor choices: one "a crook" and the other, a self-described "pure man".
Well, the "crook" has been absolved of all wrongdoing by a jury of his peers. The "pure man" is showing us by his own words and deeds that he is an ignorant, deceptive, arrogant, elitist, CROOK.

Anonymous said...

Instead of the google translation, ask Ramon Mestre to provide you with the translation himself. He is as eloquent in English as he is in Spanish.

Anonymous said...

Tomas Regalado has managed to survive quite a few potential disasters but backing David Beckman and his handlers on this land grab might well be his Waterloo. Regalado's kids are hopefully smart enough to counsel Pops to drop this poop in the closest dumpster.

Anonymous said...

Carlos Gimenez=CORRUPTION!

Anonymous said...

I am so very tired of all the crappy ideas that our elected leaders allow to even get the light of day....This lame idea of stadium on our extremely limited waterfront need to be put to death NOW! Can we not get on with important work in our County and City? Regalado and Gimenez should be embarassed they are allowing this to fester...This turkey does not deserve a vote!!!
KILL IT NOW!!! Steve Hagen StevenMIA@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks has a story that Carlos Gimenez and his green eye shade flunkies, Jennifer Glazer-Moon and Ed Marquez, have been doing "odd" accounting. Herald states they are raiding several "tourist tax" accounts improperly. See story online.

Anonymous said...

Write Carlos Gimenez and Tomas Regalado now. Tell them to go back to work and stop spending time pandering to Beckham et al.

Anonymous said...

The sooner Gimenez is out, the healthier Miami will be.
He has become a bad plague on the County.