The Herald is so wrong on their endorsement of the changes to our charter's Article 7.
Wow. So disappointed in these positions that support privatization of public lands, development in protected natural areas and cannibalizing our meager public parkland for library buildings. Neither library or park advocates support that referendum.
We need more libraries fully funded, more parks and full protection of our natural areas, like the Pinelands in Camp Matecumbe and Richmond Pinelands ( where the same County Parks department wants to give forested parkland to a theme park operator which wants taxpayers to pay nearly $150 million in upfront development costs. )
Commercialization and development of public parklands just further erodes our quality of life and deprives future generations of green space and natural areas in an increasingly dense and urbanized city.
(I totally agree with Blanca Mesa)
10 comments:
Completely agree with this -- I am especially annoyed with FIU on their referendum. Education and apple pie -- they are taking PARK land!!
FIU wants to change the zoning on the 60+ acre park from "parkland" to some sort of commercial use that allows concrete and the expansion of FIU onto the park. Vote No.
I voted early and voted NO on all the Article 7 issues. I am tired of these requests that only serve to shield the County Commission from making their decisions. If anything goes wrong, it is our fault because we voted for it. It is just playing with the numbers. In any case, maybe if they fired all the "assistant mayors" we would have a budget oriented to serving the residents instead of the pockets of political cronies.
Behind most Miami-Dade amendments are insider development schemes (that you aren't privy to). Don't be fooled. The park protection laws preserve open space and natural areas. Don't pry them open!
These changes to Article 7 are damaging and against the intent of the county charter as it stands today. Tell all your friends to vote no!
Shame on the Herald for not doing their homework and scratching below the surface. They got it all wrong.
Grillo - don't complain that you have a direct say in your government.
Article 7 was put in place specifically so commissioner couldn't put stupid stuff in parks without your permission.
Jorge Luis Lopez and his pals have some scheme in mind for the $393 Mil in bonds he is trying to get voters to approve. New courthouse facilities? You betcha! Vote No. #169.
Ironic Dan Paul spearheaded this Amendment exactly for this reason. To keep the greedy, short sighted and fast buck types' paws off public land.
Vote no for any attempt to put more concrete in our parks. Vote against any new bond schemes. Remember the County lied about the 1/2 cent Transportation tax? All the money went to salaries and benefits to connected staffers and none went to new infrastructure. Vote No on #169.
NO money has been identified to put libraries in parks. They could shut down branches and put something of inferior quality in parks instead and call it a library. Without a clear and detailed plan for voters to approve, the County could do whatever it wants if the public votes to grant that authority. Do you trust County government to do right by libraries when it nearly destroyed them?
BTW the sponsor of this amendment actually voted TWICE against funding the Miami-Dade County library system. And the MIAMI HERALD wrote many editorials supporting cutting the funding to the Miami-Dade Public Library system, calling it a necessary "sacrifice" because of tough budget times - yet is always eager to support whatever boondoggle is proposed - like the Miami Marlins Stadium and even the Skyrise referendum - which we now find out wants and says it needs $9 million in county tax dollars and millions more in state funding. Get real Miami. Vote No on all the Miami-Dade County referendums. And Vote NO on the FIU referendum, too. Leave our parks and natural areas alone. Strengthen don't weaken Amendment 7 with exemptions, waivers and misinterpretations. Protect our quality of life!
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