Saturday, September 12, 2015

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial September 12th: The Deadly Fruit Fly and Nazi's in Jacksonville. By Geniusofdespair

The Miami Herald Would Charge You to Read a Saturday Editorial... If They Even Had One!


FRUIT FLY INVASION IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY

Generic Fruit Fly - Might Not Be The Invader
Fruit farmers in South Miami Dade County respond candidly about the crisis:

First fruit farmer:

Those of us in the quarantine area cannot harvest/sell/move our fruit without executing a compliance agreement with DPI of FDACS. No problem in general as we all want to eradicate this potentially devastating pest.

BUT the dysfunctionality of DPI/FDACS makes compliance very difficult:
a) Promised updates to their website have not been there and the information posted is mostly outdated, inaccurate, and irrelevant.
b) One specific bait/lure/insecticide item that is required for virtually everybody will not be available in the quantities needed for all of us to comply. They have no "Plan B" to take account of this situation.
c) There are other agencies that could be of great assistance in checking/inspecting transportation of produce and nursery plants for compliance but they have not interfaced with them to help doing so (e.g., Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade Police Department's Agricultural Patrol unit).
I could go on and on but these 3 give you a hint of the situation. I liken their response to that of a Haz Mat unit that is responding to a massive release of a toxic substance and they begin to say things like "We really need to order our Personal Protective Equipment" and "It would be a good idea to have hoses to wash the stuff" etc., etc.

A second fruit farmer said:
The growers who still have fruit on the trees (avocado, guava, pitaya, longan and more) are truly agonizing over this along with the shippers and packers who must be in compliance yet try to stay in business. The hope is that no more infected fruit gets smuggled in and the USDA treatment program will nip this in the bud. 

 A third fruit farmer said:
At this moment  we can appreciate the FDA and its staff down here to eradicate this fruit fly before it becomes a large infestation. Thanks to Brian Benson and staff  and to our local team at IFAS and TREC Ag Center.

This is a giant problem for our fruit farmers folks. Pray for them or whatever it is you do to help others. Most important: Don't bring foreign produce into the U.S.

HATEFUL PEOPLE IN JACKSONVILLE  (worse than Hudstead)

Yes that is a Nazi symbol in the inset that is on the back of this Ford Truck and there is a photo of Hitler on this Jacksonville truck. The American flag is upside down and they have a Confederate flag. And then they display "In God We Trust." Hey Jacksonville person, I trust God will know what to do with you. I wouldn't trust him in your case with anything less than a visit to the ninth circle of Dante's Inferno.  I guess people can look up your license plate and avoid you like the plague. I wonder what happens when a Black cop stops you?

His mother lets him go to school like this? Where is the administration? Jacksonville you are slated for damnation for your hate. I predict that the soon-to-be discovered zombie virus will settle first in Jacksonville and all these haters will contract it. I think that new show "Fear of the Walking Dead" is filmed in Jacksonville and it is actually a documentary. You heard it here first! Stay out of Jacksonville normal people.
Free speech is not supposed to be HATEFUL. I don't understand racial hatred at all. It doesn't make sense. I blame all of Jacksonville because they look the other way. I would beat up that kid with the confederate pants. And I would be loading up that Ford Truck owner with traffic tickets. He is disabled (See space)? Probably mentally.

CAMPAIGN FINANCING 

Will Gimenez's gobs of money over-power Raquel Regalado's Mayoral campaign?
School Board Member Raquel Regalado has passed the $200,000 mark. That is no small feat considering everyone is afraid to give to her as they are afraid of Gimenez's temper. The reason you register to run is so it is LEGAL to collect funds for your campaign account. The current Mayor of Miami Dade County, Carlos Gimenez has not even registered to run. He is working through a PAC where there are no limits on donations. I asked Raquel what was up with her campaign. She said August is a very busy time for the School Board and at the moment her complete focus is on that. I guess when you have a job to do, you have to do it. She said look for more action on her campaign in the Fall.

Commissioner Xavier Suarez is watching from the sidelines to see if Raquel Regalado can gain traction in the Mayoral race. I think he could possibly jump in if his commercials are any indication. He is certainly a more likable and smarter candidate than Carlos Gimenez. So is Raquel. I like Xavier but I would like to see a woman Mayor for once. We are dominated by men in higher office.

The Brick or Brass?
Carlos Gimenez doesn't have to worry, Brian Brickmeier or Brassmeier (much more accurate name than 'Gold'meier) is raking in the cash for him (PAC) with subtle and not so subtle persuasion of donors. I have heard stories about Mr. Brick's strong arm tactics with those that do business with the county. Political Committees are such a fucked up way to collect money.  Speaking of PAC's, Miami Dade Residents First (to benefit the Mayor) has Collected $159,700 last month for a total of almost $1,500,000 Remember, PACs have no money donation limits like campaigns do. Many have dropped lumps of $25,000 And $30,000 on Gimenez's PAC. Lefrak City (UGH, ugly, ugly development in Queens) Developer in New York gave $25,000. A lot of New York money is in this PAC. It appears Gimenez's PAC exhausted Miami donors and is at the bottom of the barrel scraping by with 3rd tier contributors.

Here are ALL the donors for August to Miami Dade Resident's First:



18/18/2015Royal American
1400 NW 107th Avenue
Ste 405
Miami, FL 33172
BusinessrealestateCheck
$500.00
28/18/2015Bayardo Aleman
1206 Columbus Blvd
Miami, FL 33134
IndividualattorneyCheck
$100.00
38/18/2015Javier E. Fernandez
6090 SW 85 Street
South Miami, FL 33143
IndividualattorneyCheck
$500.00
48/18/2015Richard E. Schatz
5921 SW 105th Street
Pinecrest, FL 33156
IndividualattorneyCheck
$1,000.00
58/18/2015Tate Enterprises
1175 NE 125th Street
Suite 102
North Miami, FL 33161
BusinessrealestateCheck
$250.00
68/18/2015Fronton Holdings, LLC
3500 NW 37th Avenue
Miami, FL 33142
BusinessrealestateCheck
$500.00
78/18/2015Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler
150 West Flagler Street
Suite 2200
Miami, FL 33130
Businesslaw firmCheck
$7,500.00
88/18/2015Miami Marriott
9090 South Dadeland Blvd
Miami, FL 33156
BusinesshotelCheck
$4,000.00
98/18/2015Eugene Stearns
250 Cape Florida Drive
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
IndividualattorneyCheck
$1,000.00
108/18/2015Oak Plaza Associates
3841 NE 2nd Avenue
Suite 400
Miami, FL 33137
BusinessrealestateCheck
$5,000.00
118/18/2015MDDA Holdings, LLC
3841 NE 2nd Avenue
Suite 400
Miami, FL 33137
BusinessrealestateCheck
$5,000.00
128/18/2015Sweet Bird Associates
3841 NE 2nd Avenue
Suite 400
Miami, FL 33137
BusinessrealestateCheck
$5,000.00
138/18/2015Michael A. Belfonti
2319 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
IndividualrealestateCheck
$10,000.00
148/18/2015112 Development Manager LLC
200 S Biscayne Blvd
Suite 3600
Miami, FL 33131
BusinessrealestateCheck
$5,000.00
158/18/2015700 Miami Development Managers
200 S. Biscayne Blvd.
Suite 3600
Miami, FL 33131
BusinessrealestateCheck
$5,000.00
168/18/2015Frances Anillo Toledo LLC
3191 Coral Way
Ste 400
Coral Gables, FL 33145
BusinessarchitectCheck
$2,500.00
178/18/2015Andelson Construction Co.
7380 NW 77 Ct.
Miami, FL 33166
BusinessconstructionCheck
$5,000.00
188/20/2015Harrison Tucker Lefrak
40 W. 57th Street
23rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
IndividualrealestateCheck
$6,250.00
198/20/2015James Lefrak
40 W. 57th Street
23rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
IndividualrealestateCheck
$6,250.00
208/20/2015Richard S. Lefrak
40 W. 57th Street
23rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
IndividualRealEstateCheck
$12,500.00
218/24/2015Annie Hernandez
701 Brickell Avenue
Ste 3300
Miami, FL 33131
IndividualattorneyCheck
$100.00
228/26/2015Steven Sonberg
4022 NW 24th Terrace
Boca Raton, FL 33431
IndividualattorneyCheck
$1,000.00
238/26/2015Agustin R. Arellano
9045 SW 68th Avenue
Miami, f 33156
IndividualconstructionCheck
$5,000.00
248/26/2015Windsor Investment Holdings
28 Tahiti Beach Island Rd
Coral Gables, FL 33134
BusinessrealestateCheck
$500.00
258/31/2015Skyport Development
8231 East Prentice Avenue
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
BusinessrealestateCheck
$6,000.00
268/31/2015Dfass Group
555 NE 185 Street
Miami, FL 33179
BusinessRetailCheck
$25,000.00
278/31/2015Robert Diener
8877 Collins Ave, PH2
Surfside, FL 33154
IndividualhotelierCheck
$5,000.00
288/31/2015Karen Pope Consulting, LLC
3179 East Wood Valley Rd
Atlanta, GA 30327
BusinessconslutingCheck
$2,000.00
298/31/2015Tran Nguyen
3648 Princeton Avenue
College Park, GA 30337
IndividualconcessionsCheck
$1,000.00
308/31/2015Bernie Tokarz
P.O. Box 12121
Atlanta, GA 30355
IndividualconsultantCheck
$500.00
318/31/2015ATL Concession Partners
100 Peachtree Street NW
Ste 1900
Atlanta, GA 30303
BusinessretailCheck
$250.00
328/31/2015Atlanta Restaurant Partners
1760 Peachtree Street NW
Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30309
BusinessretailCheck
$2,500.00
338/31/2015Beloff Law, P.A.
1691 Michigan Avenue
Suite 360
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Businesslaw firmCheck
$1,000.00
348/31/2015A National Limousine Service
1990 Metropolitan Pkwy SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
BusinesstransportationCheck
$1,000.00
358/31/2015Benchmark Management, LLC
100 Peachtree Street
Suite 1900
Atlanta, GA 30303
BusinessConstructionmgmtCheck
$1,000.00
368/31/2015Sunshine Gasoline Distributors
1650 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33172
BusinessgasdistributorsCheck
$25,000.00

MDDA is Craig Robbins. DFASS group is Jonathan Potash and Bernard Klepach. I suppose they are Airport Concessionaires.



12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another good editorial. Thanks...
Most upset over the fruit fly.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see THE BEST candidate run against and beat Carlos Gimenez. It should not matter if it is a man or a woman.

Anonymous said...

How about manure in the bed of his truck?

Anonymous said...

The best candidate is not always able to raise money.

Anonymous said...

I want to get me some of those truck stickers

Anonymous said...

I think farmers need to organize much more vigorous for they're interests. I'm not thinking about sucking the gov tit in subsidies. Organizing like big agriculture does in preplanning and merchandising.

On the other hand, fruit flies have been around a long time, for Gov agencies to employ the stick your head under the desk of the sixty's is inexcusable.
South Florida deserves better.

Anonymous said...

It is a shame that a vehicle has to put up with all of the owner's choice of decorations. If it had free will, it would
drive itself into a wall.

I LOVE the fact that the owner can haul his or her ass up, to sit inside a tall pickup truck. yet
claims disability and uses the spot closest to the front door. Saving on those steps doesn't burn calories - guess
they need to stay slim with all of that burning hate.

Anonymous said...

Brassmeir is better than brick. He would probably treat brick as a compliment.

Anonymous said...

One of the bumper stickers on the Ford truck parked in the handicap space says: "Trump the Bitch" with both Trump and Hilary on it.

Cory said...

Brian "LEAD" Meir. He is lethal.

Anonymous said...

Gimenez will lose this race. He only became mayor because his first opponent (Robaina) was under investigation. He won re-election because his next opponent (Martinez) agreed with him on every issue. Regalado and Suarez do not agree with Gimenez on anything. They both more intelligent politicians, capable of appealing to the seasoned voters and pundits in this town.

Little Shitmeir will threaten every county vendor for dollars, and there will be lots of money to promote Gimenez. But what is the message? "Elect Gimenez: because he is smarter than you and everyone else he has ever met."

Granted, it will be a tough campaign. The entire Gimenez family has their financial future riding on Dad getting elected. If Gimenez loses, the loser sons and their wives will have to look for real work. Expect a bruising battle, but ultimately arrogance and ingnorance will lose.

Impeachment Diane said...

Gimenez is a heartless mayor. He won't raise property tax a penny to keep from killing homeless animals even though the voters approved it in a straw vote. Xavier Suarez is my man. He is knowledgeable on what can be done about some of our frustrating and horrendous traffic gridlock. This gridlock is caused by uncontrollable building of condos and no planning for mass transportation. These monstrosities have parking garages, but their inhabitants have to get in those cars and create huge traffic jams and endless accidents. Suarez has voted against moving the UDB when the other commissioners at the time voted for it. Look at what was approved by the County behind Dadeland -- high rises with a lovely view of the 878 flyover. Miami-Dade has no class at all.