Saturday, April 11, 2015

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial Page. By Geniusofdespair

We go where the Miami Herald will not...on Saturday
Rock Mining - They clear the dirt and trees to get to the rock.
The rock miners dynamite the rock and make a bundle a ton -- and they make a lake as a byproduct. Remember our aquifer is very close to the surface, and it moves like a river under the lakes.

Miami Dade County wants to cut Rock Miners fees by 83%, that would be millions of dollars, they now pay to protect our wetlands (that they are destroying). Look to two nitwits Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. and Sen. Rene Garcia. If carpet bagger Rock Miners weren't already making a killing, I could understand but their profits are higher than ever and they are endangering our water supply working very close to our Northwest wellfields, just to send our rock to faraway places. One of the biggest rock mining companies is from Mexico.

Against the miners, SEN. Miguel de la Portilla (what??) and REP. Jose Javier Rodriguez.  Where are you SEN. Gwen Margolis?  Do you have any clout on this? Vote against this reduction.  They are already making a windfall strip mining our Western edge. And we all remember the now famous pink water incident...our water could be contaminated in an instant. Read the New Times Article I linked to on pink water. A very good read.

According to the Miami Herald
:
After a toxic plume of benzene appeared in 2006 in the county’s Northwest Wellfield, highlighting the wellfield’s increasing vulnerability from the expanding pits, a 15 cent fee per ton was added to improve water treatment.

Contamination can also move more quickly through water, said University of Miami hydrologist David Chin, so the lakes can act as giant mixing bowls spreading pollution even faster.
The rock miners have asked the Army Corps of engineers to EXPAND their mining area.
Will it never end?

OP ED: CORAL GABLES ELECTION TUESDAY, UPDATE BY FORMER CORAL GABLES COMMISSIONER MARIA ANDERSON:
I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant. – H.L. Mencken
Coral Gables is at a crossroads in 2015. The present course with current Mayor Jim Cason is one that is littered in lies, conflicts of interest and poor judgment. That’s not what I want for my hometown, a place my family has lived in for 55 years, since we arrived from Cuba, and one that I served as Commissioner from 2001-2013.

Jim Cason continued to support Pat Salerno, the former City Manager who lied about just about everything, but most especially with the crime statistics, our safety.
In December 2012, the Manager falsified crime stats to the City Commission.
In April 2014, this same Manager was “retired” for lying again about the reporting of traffic accidents.

Jim Cason also approved an increase to Salerno’s retirement plan in September 2013. Taxpayers footed the bill, when Jim voted to increase the city’s pension contribution from 15% - 39%, and also added an additional 20 weeks of salary should he leave the city. And to add insult to stupidity, it was retroactive to January 2013. Just seven months later, the Manager left with a suitcase full of money, for lying. And still Cason called him a friend!

Jump? How High?
On April 2, Cason voted on first reading to allow a massive 1 million plus development that exceeds the current 16 stories allowed by code. It’s 19 stories and approved with a shortage of 600+ parking spaces. Considering the cutbacks in Fire Department staffing, the issues of public safety go truly unanswered. The developer has padded Cason campaign coffers, with $8000 dollars in the last quarter of 2014.

Wake up Coral Gables!

Cason has not had a single original thought in four years, and his arrogance is only exceeded by a poor command of the truth. Vote on Tuesday, April 14 and send Cason into retirement for good!

RUMOR, TRUTH AND GOSSIP:

The 3rd District Court of Appeal put additional sanctions on Johanna Faddis and her Attorney a few weeks ago. The Court found evidence of vexatious conduct and bad faith on the part of both Faddis and Mr. Patterson her attorney. Johanna Faddis worked for Former Commissioner Lynda Bell for years. She might still work for the county.

Bill "the Banker" Losner, who once pulled a gun on Lloyd Miller, has new digs in the keys.

 A VIDEO BY PHILLIP LEVINE OF MAYORS ON DESTINATION GAMBLING:


18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your Saturday Editorials are the best part of Eye on Miami. Keep them up.

Anonymous said...

This tax reduction for rock miners is another example of the rich, connected corporations hire lobbyists to write and promote legislation that only helps large polluting businesses get tax breaks. Remember, big sugar did the same thing eliminating their responsibility to clean up the sugar pollution to our parks and waterways.

Anonymous said...

Bill Losner did more to destroy South Dade than any other living person. And he made lots of millions doing it.

Anonymous said...

Rock miners have to be liable for ecological and structural damages. Who is blasting? Who has overloaded vehicles wrecking the roads? Who is introducing toxic chemicals into the groundwater? Rock miners, that's who, you wreck it you bought it. Very simple.

Anonymous said...

So I'm wondering the long term plan for these rock pits. I suppose they will end up being huge holes in the ground for eternity. Perhaps we will eventually fill them with who knows what.

Anonymous said...

Miami Beach and Miami have a very high percentage of troubled condominiums. Only 7% of condominiums nationwide are eligible for government insured loans. Using a total property valuation of 24 billion, Miami Beach must know its real property valuations is half of the 24 billion value. Only way to make up this difference is to attract more foreigners to buy botched condominiums or to allow casino gambling. Miami Beach and Miami are one of hundreds of cities who will collect permit fees, but to not enforce codes in condominiums.

Anonymous said...

I can't stand one more day of Jim Cason's "deer caught in the headlights" look. Voting for Cabrera for Mayor and Murado for Commissioner - both intelligent, engaged, and endorsed by SAVE.

B said...

I live in Coral Gables. My only firm vote is for Newell who I really like. I m still undecided on mayor and the other commissioner spot.

B said...

I just looked up SAVE. I will not be voting for any candidates endorsed by those bullies. Thanks for helping me with my decision, Anon. I will be voting for Cason. Still undecided about the other commissioner spot. Who did SAVE endorse in that race?

Anonymous said...

Definitely voting for Cason, no doubt about it. Also will be voting for Lopez and Mitchell

Anonymous said...

FADDIS dose work for the county as a division manager. She is sleeping with her boss too.

Anonymous said...

Faddis is unemployable in the private sector. Too bad our tax dollars are paying her way on this.

Geniusofdespair said...

B----
Putz.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how the Coral Gables people think a rock pit article is an opening to promote their candidate. Since it's out of context, I discount their intelligence.

Anonymous said...

Miami Herald's Sunday Editorial hammers City of Miami and Marc Sarnoff for their goal to harass and silence citizens.

Geniusofdespair said...

Anonymous 2 above. Are you shitting me? It CLEARLY states in two headlines that it is an editorial page and that was my op ed. You are a turkey. Read the page again.Trolls never get it right.

Anonymous said...

Something for Coral Gables voters to chew on before they vote. From an Ad by CG Firefighters Union on page 12 SE Neighbors:

"...Last year your Fire Fee increased 40%! Yet staffing has been reduced, and fire trucks are being taken out of service. When you call 911, will Fire Rescue be able to respond adequately? ...

Candidates they are supporting are Cabrera, Quesada and Slesnick.

Anonymous said...

With that mega multi-storied development at 19---- Hialeah, look out; WE'RE GOING TO OUTDO YOU IN LOOKS AND PEOPLE. PRETTY SHABBY & WAY OUT IN CHARACTER