Thursday, November 19, 2015

Hold the line....in horse country... attracted crowds. By Geniusofdespair

Hold the Urban Development Boundary attracted few people. I reported on the results yesterday.  There were bused in people who didn't know the issue.

One of the reasons there were so many people there for the Development in Horse Country? I believe Jose Luis Castillo drummed them up. He was lurking around during the Horse Country hearing and left after it was over. At least he gives everyone a nice red T Shirt. There were just as many people speaking against the issue in yellow shirts. Javier Souto voted against the development in his beloved horse country, other commissioners followed because it is zoned agriculture. The development was gone. I guess the worst County Commissioner, without a doubt, is Pepe Diaz. He argued for it. What a flake that guy is. Stay in the Keys and leave us alone Pepe. He always argues FOR the developments. ALWAYS.

I didn't do much of anything downtown except take pictures.

Downtown Brickell Village is a mess of  new development:



Yes, I want an award for this photo of a homeless man.

Economic Guru for all the UDB Applications, Andrew Dolkart. He always gets the numbers to work for the developer.

Traffic Guru for all the UDB Applications, Cathy Sweetapple. She always gets the number to work for the developer. Like Andy, both of these people are used on every application I have seen go down the pike. I have never heard them say anything negative about an application to move the Urban Development Boundary.
More Homeless in Downtown Miami.
Rep Erik Fresen speaking in favor of Ludlam Trail.  Commissioners Rebeca Sosa and Juan Zapata in the background.
Commissioner Juan Zapata cannot get his vision for his district in play. I know he is frustrated because he inherited a built-out stupidly district. He wants a hub with jobs so people do not have to travel so far to work, yet he has to deal with the Urban Development Boundaries restrictions. I don't think he wants more people, I think he wants a central area, he wants jobs. But the Everglades is a tough neighbor. And now with sea level rise, that buffer land is all the more important. The flooding will come not only from the Coast but also from the West.

What I don't understand is hundreds of people show up for an application in horse country for an application to change agriculture to development. Yet a piddly shit number show up for the same issue OUTSIDE the Urban Development Boundary.  Nimby is alive and well in Miami.

Oh, Commission Chair Monestime, I timed myself. It takes me at least 10 seconds to give my name and address (second try). 50 seconds is not enough time for the public to speak (people were given 1 minute at Tuesday's meeting). I drive an hour each way. Give us a break. It makes me think you do not care about my opinion...that you don't care about me. ONE MINUTE IS NEVER ENOUGH.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chair Monestime does NOT care about your opinion, or anyone else's. This includes his commission colleagues. His hat size has quadrupled since becoming chair.

Anonymous said...

two things:

1 minute is definitely not enough. the CDMP speakers were given 2 minutes, but it used to be that they didn't start the clock until after you gave your name and address.

the day of the meeting is often too late to sway minds. when it comes to the development plan, the lobbyists have been working the room for months. thats why its so important to help organizations like audubon, friends of the everglades, sierra, and everglades law center and the other groups working to hold the line and protect the environment. they try to get meetings with commissioners ahead of the vote to counter the developer lobbyists influence since none of us have time to meet with our commissioners on every single issue. Then showing up on the day of the vote to let them know you're watching is key.

finally, today is give miami day so readers who care about this issue should throw some financial support to the groups working to protect our environment

Anonymous said...

Let's give Javier Souto 50 seconds to make a point.

Anonymous said...

Love the homeless photo and the Kathy Sweetapple one. Very creative!

Anonymous said...

Someone should remind Monestine that government is FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.........What an insult to the voters/taxpayers and I hope they remember and remind the rest of the commission who put him in the position to wield dominant aggression over people who are picking up the tab on his party and living with the messes of their bad decisions. That vote should not have been 5-5. It should have been a super majority against moving the UDB. The application next to the Brown property will probably be approved which is why they deferred it. Brown opened up the back door and the horses are already out the barn door........one minute after traveling one hour and the presenters out to destroy our communities and move the UDB got how much time? Shameful and wrong.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for Javier Souto, a proven public servant.

Anonymous said...

The pro-Souto sentiment covers for his addled state. I'd thank him too, if I were on his payroll.

Anonymous said...

Two sets of battling wine and cheese crowds, at least Souto went with the crowd that provides and does not consume.

Anonymous said...

Really, they should give people five minutes. Most won't take all that time but it's about respecting and rewarding people who take the time to go downtown to get involved and to care enough. Yes, Chair Monestine this is what democracy looks like: people speaking their mind to their elected officials, who represent them, who work for them, whose taxes pay your salary and benefits. Show some respect. And that goes for Commissioner Bovo, who sometimes chairs the meetings and treats the public like crap.

Anonymous said...

No wine and cheese in Souto's district.

Anonymous said...

Pepe Diaz voted against it too... I was there. Get your facts right.

Geniusofdespair said...

I guess I was so busy listening to him ARGUE for it, I thought he voted for it too. Silly me. I made the correction.

Anonymous said...

Why would you drive there? Take the Metrorail. Saves time looking for parking

Anonymous said...

Take the metrorail to get to government center. You will save time and money.

Anonymous said...

Genius, why is Monestine the featured speaker for the UEL Orchids & Onion awards? He's well deserving of the Onion right now! Why give someone like him another platform. He owes the people an apology!

Geniusofdespair said...

There is no metro rail where I live. Don't assume. How should I know why the UEL does what they do?