Wednesday, April 29, 2015

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Homestead. By Geniusofdespair

For 6 days a gaggle of Homestead officials will go to Las Vegas...the trip is to market their downtown area.  You might be saying to saying to yourself: WHAT??????

Why would anyone in Vegas care about Homestead? Maybe the speedway, but downtown?

The City Manager is going, CRA Director and I think the entire council. What the hell are they marketing? The Redland Hotel? This is stupid even for Homestead...and that is saying something.

Homestead: You have nothing to market in your downtown. I have been there. It is worth about 15 minutes, if you eat some Mexican food maybe add another hour.  If you go to a show at the Seminole theater add 0 minutes. That might be the longest renovation in the history of the county.

I think they should go to Baltimore and try to market Homestead. They could say: "Home  of the Nice Cops." "Good Eats in our Jail." 

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Remember CRA=DOWNTOWN in HUDSTEAD. Maybe, just maybe Homestead will not blow the tens of thousands of dollars from the CRA budget on such a fiasco.

Anonymous said...

The event is three days with the usual registration/reception on the first day.
Why six days?
If this is responsible government Homestead's taxpayers will be funding a safari next.

Anonymous said...

UFB, they are going to the huge convention regarding shopping enters. Why do all need to go ?? Councilman Jon Burgess is not going. The Manager and Mayor would be sufficient but this is Waldmans last hurrah and the rest of them would never get north of Dadeland but for their gig as electeds. Wonder which strip show Pastuh Jimmy will attend or which swingers club another Councilman and his lobbyist girlfriend will visit. Judy and Merv will never be seen leaving their suite but lets all stay on top of the expense reports for this one, no helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon allowed. Gretsas is slipping on this one. The entitlement mentality in full display on this one.

Ill at the waste said...

The purpose is to get retail in downtown. They are obsessed with getting a store like Target. This trip could cost $100,000, sounds high but it is $1,120 to register for non-members alone. That is $10,000. Figure $6,000 a night for hotel costs for nine people times six and we are up to $46,000 right there.

also, Why is the mayor supporting FPL without a good evacuation plan? They should poll the people on FPL.

Anonymous said...

I would betcha the Mayor is still selling cleaning supplies to FPL bu tit will never be disclosed. Jeff the Janitor is the Mayor. No further explanation needed to understand Homestead.

Anonymous said...

Marketing Homestead, that's a good one.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Mainstreet director should be the only one to go?

Years ago the Mainstreet director and the group was active then along came Shiver and his cult buddies... Downtown Homestead started declining at fast pace. He took over the board with his minions and the director quit and the preShiver board quit and nothing good continued to happen.... Dade Medical came in scarfed up all the shops and then there was no reason for antiquers or foodies to visit anymore. Dade Medical killed the Art South Project. TYVM.

Not only is the Theater a stupid long renovation, one could have built a state of the art building with the money poured into it over the past 20 years. Now, we have a faded hulk of a building that took down an amazing mural and took away a large chunk of public park.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised that Vice Mayor Shelley would go. He tries to portray himself as Mr Squeaky Clean and this will splatter some mud but as he does not have to run for two more years,so what the heck,he might as well go. After all, he has not been since he and his wife acted as the two witnesses to the wedding of Steve Shiver and Cire Andino in Vegasseveral years ago. (TRUE STORY!) Actions speak louder than words, Mr Vice Mayor. Save yourself while you can.

Anonymous said...

Another reason to shutter all CRAs. This is a blatant misuse of targeted funding.
Speaking of misuse is Maldonado still signing out city fleet vehicles for personal use?
There ought to be an investigation into this stuff. The Reverend Williams did the same thing and then suddenly smartened up.
The Hudstead crew is always scheming how to benefit themselves by hook or by crook.

Anonymous said...

Surprised Lennar is not funding the trip after receiving council approval for 1,200 new homes at it's Baywinds project a while ago.
Lennar is where Elvis Maldonado's campaign manager and Baywinds lobbyist friend ;) Teri Weinstein went to get donations of liquor for a city function. Elvis Judy and Jeff all voted in favor of the project after the fact that they attended the event. Those three should summon Teri and Lennar to the Capri and demand further favors before they vote on any other Lennar projects. This is where consistency counts.

Anonymous said...

The Homestead CRA funds Mainstreet close to $100,000 annually to order food trucks three times a year. Where do you apply for that job?

Anonymous said...

Money is not a problem in Homestead. As long as you have a favor to fill.

Anonymous said...

The homestead mainstreet director position used to pay about 25k a year until shiver came along. then it jumped to 60k

Anonymous said...

Anon's above Thank You for this juicy information on the corrupt Homestead politics. Just wait until the citizens property taxes go up. Shit will hit the fan.

Anonymous said...

The defacto tax increase is within the electric utility.

Most of Homestead is getting screwed by the Homestead Energy Services. If Homestead bought power from FPL at a 15% mark up, HES ratepayers would still save 25% off of their bills every month.

The plant allows the council to give lip service about future rates, cost cutting improvements but there is never a rate reduction. Ask yourselves why?

They will never sell it because it is a cash cow despite being a dinosaur regarding efficiency. Then there is the IBEW contract. You don't even want to go there.

Anonymous said...

the money is flowing in homestead. the new city hall is like trump plaza, they should name it chump palace......

Anonymous said...

How about the fact that they get a car allowance and mileage for trips but Judy and Porter have the city pay for snazzy rental cars for them to drive to out of town events.

Anonymous said...

Can't blame them.(sarcasm) It's not enough to receive $40,000 a year in benefits for at most 8 hours a week participation in government. $100+ an hour that we know of then there is the side gigs with Wayne, Pinky and the others.

Anonymous said...

Homestead is to squalor what Las Vegas is to glitz.

Anonymous said...

Have you been to Homestead lately?! There are a lot of great things going on including the revitalization of downtown Homestead, the housing market is in an upswing again, the schools are improving, the council are working cohesively, etc.

Check out the 2015 State of the City: Building Homestead

https://vimeo.com/118060198

Cut them some slack. Yes it takes time to get rid of bad reputations (Shyster, oops I mean Shiver, Bateman, etc., etc.) but they are changing for the better.

Anonymous said...

FYI, the council approved Lennar's Baywinds project UNANIMOUSLY so I don't think the holiday event had any bearing on the way the votes went. Lennar gives millions of dollars every year back to the communities in which they live, work and build homes. The fact that they were a sponsor of a Community, holiday event is no big deal. The fact that anyone would mention this is absurd. Just another hater in the Homestead community with nothing better to do...wonder who that could be??? Someone who claims to love Homestead but secretly wants to destroy the members of the council. Pretending to be a "friend" but really a #hater. HE can't stand the progress that is being made in Homestead and he isn't a part of it; it is eating him alive. Oh, and by the way, I know Teri - she is someone with amazing character and values who has been volunteering her time for well over 15 years to many causes - children, migrant workers, homeless. Yes she was Elvis's campaign manager and a damn good one. Yes she was a registered lobbyist for Lennar; isn't is better that she was transparent rather than working secretly as so many others would do? Yes she asked Lennar to be a sponsor of the holiday event. There were several other sponsors...Are those sponsors or the people who asked for them being called into question? Don't judge based on someone's stupid comments. Like I said there are Haters in Homestead.

Anonymous said...

By the way, Judy and Merv are not even going to Las Vegas. Get your facts straight. #haters

Anonymous said...

In other news apparently it's ok to fraudulently take home vehicles out of the fleet. Nobody denied that had happened. Truth be told I would bet Shiver's little mind is behind that joke petition that was at Publix. Misdirection was always one of his methods.

Teri Weinstein said...

This is Teri Weinstein. To the last anonymous above...LIES!! No council member has EVER pressured me into getting anything or doing anything for them. Whoever you are, you are a sick person. I don't know what your motives are (other than trying to ruin someone's reputation or casting a bad light on the City of Homestead) but PLEASE do not drag me into your web of lies. I pride myself on my stellar reputation and those who know me, know my character and my work ethic. I am an advocate, a volunteer, a mother and a supporter of great causes. I also LOVE working with and in the City of Homestead. I have seen great things taking shape and their future is very bright. I am proud to be a part of the great things that are taking place. I feel sorry that you are not.

Anonymous said...

Is Teri the same teri@ertechs.net? That is Maldonado's business.

This started out as questioning what the hell HUDstead is marketing to Las Vegas that requires nine people to spend a week out there for close to $75K. 1,300 manhours to sell retailers on a lousy downtown with no parking and crime galore. They should get show tickets for Copperfield now that is magic. That would be a wise use of CRA funds.

Teri Weinstein said...

Yes, Teri is the same teri@ertechs.net. I have been using that email address since running Elvis's campaign. Is there a problem with using it? I use my ex-husband's email account, I use an email account from when I was volunteering with the county council PTA. Are there rules/regulations on the email accounts one is allowed to use?

For the record, I will not be responding to any other comments (whether filled with lies or not).

Anonymous said...

So liquor provided by Lennar was a psychic phenomenon. The mind meld masters must have been Tracy or Juan or Hugo and this did not influence anyone because it was unanimous. Funny. Even more of an opportunity for recusal. Very interesting. The good news is in Vegas the drinks are free when gambling and dinner and other things can be free if you are being rated. Most likely they will rate the Homestead crew with a low grade because they only know how to play a fixed game. That was evident when Maldonado and Williams walked out in some freaky show of loyalty for Bateman when the manager asked for unanimous support for his letter detailing former Mayor Bateman's bullying style of running the city. That was a clear message those two sent.

Anonymous said...

The Lennar vote confirms the fact that council want to be on the record showing their enablers what good little boys and girls will do for them. So they all voted despite the appearances of one hand washing the other.



The acreage associated with the old contaminated city hall will be the next big piece. The parcel situated at South Dixie and Campbell will be worth tens of millions. Watch the insiders go to work on this one.

Anonymous said...

Homestead is too imbred. You need to reach out to sanem people when reproducing .

Geniusofdespair said...

Stop mentioning your neighbors names you will be deleted.

Unknown said...

NOT GOING TO SAY ALL IS WRONG BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS TAKE ANOTHER LOOK!!!!
HOMESTEAD IS GROWING WHEN I FIRST OPENED UP IN DOWNTOWN THE POPULATION WAS 25,000 NOW ITS 65,000
THERE ARE NOW 4 BARS SIDE BY SIDE DOWNTOWN
A HUGE SPORTS BAR, A KEYS TYPE OUTDOOR KARAOKE BAR, A BEAUTIFUL MARTINI BAR THAT BELONGS ON SOUTH BEACH, AND A COUNTRY BAR WITH A HUGE MAHOGANY BAR
YES THESE ARE MY PLACES AND IM PROUD OF THEM GO TO homestead hotspots.com
THE CITY IS REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN, THATS A GOOD THING. GIVE IT A CHANCE! TIMES CHANGE, HOMESTEAD IS CHANGING.
IF ANYONE IS LOOKING FOR AN INVESTMENT LOOK AT DOWNTOWN HOMESTEAD NOW BEFORE IT OUTPRICES ITSELF.
WILL THE TRADE SHOW WORK?
WHO KNOWS? AT LEAST THEY ARE TRYING!
OTHER COUNCILS TALKED THE TALK AND LEFT US HANGING!
I INVITE ANYONE DOWN PERSONALLY AND I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU AROUND AND SHARE MY PERSONAL (NOT GOVERNMENT) VISION. IF I WILL BUY YOU YOUR FIRST DRINK AND WE CAN TALK.
COME SEE THE BARS, ALL OF THEM! HAVE SOME FOOD, SEE FOR YOURSELVES
I'M STEVE AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THE REVITALIZATION

Anonymous said...

To the insider throwing his colleagues under the bus...remember what they say about Karma..aren't you up for re-election???

Geniusofdespair: why are some people allowed to mention names and others aren't?

Anonymous said...

Which neighbors are you referring to?

Geniusofdespair said...

The comments get posted automatically. I don't look at them that often. When I did I saw a woman was named (then I saw she responded). I would have removed her had she not responded. I got a new message about her which I deleted. I can't keep track of Homestead Vendettas. Leave your neighbors out of the fray. This was about a trip to Vegas -- stay on topic. By the way, I was downtown last month, it sucked. People don't just drink. Bars might be great for you. what is needed is an array of restaurants at different price points, that have fast service. You don't have that. I don't have all day to eat dinner and there is no window shopping. Homestead was better 10 years ago.

Anonymous said...

This place (Homestead) is resembling more and more like another familiar locale:

PAYTON PLACE

They even made a movie about it back in the 60s.

Check it out.

Anonymous said...

The point is nine people are not required to spend six days on a two day event. In addition this trip does not require spouses and significant others at their own expense or commingled if it is in fact a City paid """business""" trip. CRA funding is not an endless draw. Homestead's CRA sunsets in a few years and what is the legacy? Aside from Steve Shiver and Homestead Main Street and the bird poop theater which finally needed a bond to attempt an end to the Frank May charade that went on for more than a decade.
GoD is correct downtown might as well cease to exist. It was better ten years ago.
The council goes with too many quick buck artists, for example Ernesto Perez, read the Herald this week. OMG he responded to serious questions by email and answered only the ones he wanted to.
The money for this trip should be spent on a BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL and not sideshow acts. That would lead to questions about why certain things were done in the past and Homestead can't have that. Homestead's council can also not have any criticism. They can control the local message apparatus but they can't control outside messages and obviously this issue has erupted. Look for the council to use Josh Padgett to put out the spin. Padgett now has a city contract to perform as directed.

Anonymous said...

Homestead would have been better served putting together a coalition of the mayor, manager and a couple of current business leaders.
Instead they chose to be selfish.

Unknown said...

WOW YOU HAVE NO VISION IT TAKES TIME
THINGS ARE HAPPENING
IT TAKES BARS RESTAURANTS ETC. YES
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE MARTINI BAR
NOT SAYING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON VEGAS BUT LETS SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT FIRST!
I'VE SEEN CITIES BLOW MORE ON STUPID THINGS
I'M AN OPTIMIST
LETS HEAR SOME POSITIVE THINGS

Anonymous said...

Most can agree that paying for nearly the entire Council to go to Vegas is a waste of money and smells like a junket. Clearly the comments show frustration about bigger picture issues and the inference of corruption by more than one member of Council. Rather than having ot start our own blog, I would encourage EOM to start another thread through which instances of perceived wrongdoing can be discussed. Make no mistake, the State Attys Office does read blogs. Who knows, they may bite on something they see on here.

Last Word said...

The truth is a lot is being put into revitalizing Downtown Homestead. Theater Renovation, Trolley, City Hall, New Police Station and more parking.

Before we start hurling stones lets see what develops if after the Vegas trip Homestead snags some big retailers or other business then trip was worth it.Remember that the more the value increases in commercial areas the more probability millage gets lowered for us.

If time passes and no one shows up then you can start hurling stones.But you got to try at least.