The Lynda Bell vs. David Rivera Race in Rep District 118. By Geniusofdespair

Rivera has raised $71,124 not including May or loans to himself running in District 118.

More of the Big Boy Corporate shitheads are there on Rivera's report, not so with his opponent Lynda Bell who entered the race later.

Lynda Bell raised $14,790 excluding loans to herself.  She does have Wayne Rosen on her report and her old friend Atlantic Civil -- Steve Torcise.

Anthony Rodriguez, also a Republican has raised $17,996, excluding loans to himself. Another Republican in race has raised $2,950, Steven Anthony Rojas Tallon.

Robert Asencio the Democrat in the race has raised $19,905.00, mostly from smaller donors, through April 29th.

I still believe that Lynda Bell is not running a serious campaign. David Rivera always puts extra people in his races, and they were good friends. He is using her campaign manager/good friend, Jose Luis Castillo. She launched her campaign from Rivera's office for the County Commission.  I think she is there for some reason, maybe to bleed off the white voters. Who knows, Rivera is so dishonest, it is anyone's guess on what is going on. 

My Friends You are Missing a Lot By Rejecting the Miami Herald -- Like your own money. By Geniusofdespair

“The administration is calling a timeout,” said Mike Hernández," 

Me: GREAT IDEA!!

Lynda Bell at Yesterday's Meeting - It is clear she blames the Mayor for Her Loss.

Lynda Bell looking tired and defeated, calls the mayor's action Schizophrenic, but she didn't hesitate to get a grant for her biggest contributor for a crummy garage complex (Jobs?). I think not. Xavier Suarez why are you voting for this crap to insiders? If you were smart you would be on the same page as Juan Zapata, who is the lone person with any sense on this committee. Carrie Meek is dragged into county hall to get money for her defunct company in OpaLocka (reporter Hanks said it doesn't have a phone number).

Yes, if you read Douglas Hank's reports over the past few months you would know what is going on WITH YOUR MONEY - $75 Million of your tax dollars. Why do I have to write over again what a reporter already wrote extremely well? Do you know about Miami Dade County? Do you know that they get most of your tax money? This $75 Million is being given as perks. The intent of jobs jobs jobs is not part of these projects. You all have to stop this. Pepe Diaz and Barbara Jordan are complete idiots. Xavier Suarez: You have to start getting independent of these bad bad votes and start helping Juan defend his position with your gift of high intelligence. You can't sit by and remain on the fence and let things happen around you. I want you to lead if you want to run for Mayor. You have to shape policy. This was bad policy. Juan Zapata was right this should be delayed and looked at again now that Josh Gelfman is gone. This appears to be all his doing.

I have to give Mayor Gimenez credit for trying to change lanes, even though it was last minute. He was right. The commissioners are up to their old tricks of taking a pot of money and giving it to their pals, getting no jobs from the money or just a few.

 I am going to print 3 Doug Hanks articles in "read more" and I hope the Miami Herald doesn't get mad at me. My advice is order the damn newspaper or don't EVER complain about your tax money. I don't know why you complain anyway, you vote for bonds don't you?  NOW READ SO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE. AND AFTER YOU READ LEAVE COMMENTS.

District 8 Commissioner Lynda Bell Submitted Petitions Like Her Opponent Daniella Levine Cava. By Geniusofdespair

Daniella Levine is qualified by petition. Lynda Bell Awaits the results, she has also submitted petitions said Doug Hanks of the Miami Herald.

When Lynda Bell comes to your door with that smiling face, don't let her off easy (and don't let her in). Question her.  Or, better yet, say you are going to vote for her and she will leave in 5 minutes. If you don't, you will have to endure at least 20 minutes of convincing: I am a mother of 3 daughters I have 8 grandchildren with Hispanic last names even though I don't, I was the first woman mayor of Homestead and was hated, only serving one term, I am a fiscal conservative (tea party), my husband and I teach Sunday school, we are business owners; I am the National Delegate of Florida Right to Life.

What Lynda Bell won't tell you at your door -- that I believe is all true: In redistricting I took out all the people that would not vote for me like parts of Homestead and all of Pinecrest; My daughter is living in a trailer in my backyard for over a year; While Homestead Mayor, I changed a towing law in Homestead so the Former Mayor of Sweetwater (in jail) could get the contract;  I was the only commissioner to vote to put Pink Slime in meat served by the County to people; I got help from David Rivera in my last campaign and shared his office for awhile; To the dismay of the whole environmental community, I voted to lift a 30 year deed restriction after only 5 years; I single handily dismantled DERM with no help from other County Commissioners and tried to water down wetland protection with a task force and town hall meeting; It is rumored that I am strong-arming big companies for campaign donations with the veiled threat of retribution by county investigations and withholding county services;  I misrepresented Audubon of Florida at a May 6th County Commission meeting and I claimed I did outreach before I rushed through a resolution the Everglades Foundation told me was bad for Everglades restoration, in other words, I lied; I got thousands of dollars from rock miners for my campaign and over a hundred thousand from Wayne Rosen in both ECO's and my campaign account; I didn't vote for the help libraries needed; I voted not to give unions back their  temporary 5% cut; A rich guy I am tight with (He held my victory party at his home) formed a mortgage company and gave my husband a mortgage to become a business owner, the Redland Hotel, before that he was on disability and he was a plumbers helper; I stole Frank Nero's geo-spatial website idea and called it my own after I helped get him fired from the Beacon Council;  I think arsenic is no big deal and said it at a commission meeting; I proposed a chain link fence ordinance not telling the rest of the County Commission there was a chain link fence company registered to my address and owned by my daughter; I claimed I protected the Environment on my website when it was untrue; I was endorsed by the Christian Family Coalition - a gay hate group;  I voted to move the Urban Development Boundary for the racetrack; My husband's failed campaign for Mayor is being investigated by the State's Attorney's offfice for Absentee Ballot Fraud; I named an affordable housing building with $10,000,000 of your tax dollars in it, after my mom who never did anything of note in Miami Dade County but raise me; I went to Tallahassee trying to make an end-run around the local government on the CRA; I sue people a lot and they sue me in feuds my former staffer Lois Jones and my neighbor Elaine Navarre as examples; I moved my office from the Government Center where the rent was free to Palmetto Bay during the down-turn when money was scarce - with the rent, the renovation and furnishings you the taxpayers are paying about $63,137 a year to keep me close to the coffee shops or  $252,550 over four years; etc. LYNDA BELL won't tell you things like that. But don't ask. Just give her a thumbs up and let her go on her way or she will talk your ear off.

If you see Daniella Levine Cava at your door, ask her if her husband is truly cranky, why she moved into the district, why she does not have 8 grandchildren, what she did at Catalyst Miami and does she really speak Spanish or is she just faking it for the campaign. After all, Lynda's grandchildren ALL have Hispanic last names, that is what she tells everyone.
Lynda Bell is very good at door to door, don't kid yourself, she knows how to mask her devious side and her vindictive behavior to get your vote. You will see her sign on your neighbor's lawn. Go over there and educate your friends.

The County Commission District 8 Race Between Cava/Bell: Election Date is August 26th. By Geniusofdespair

THE ELECTION IS NOT IN NOVEMBER. If you wait till November you will have missed the election for the Daniella Levine Cava-Lynda Bell race by a few months.

As stupid as it might seem, the election will be held when you are probably on vacation: August 26. So if you are going to vote for Daniella Levine Cava make sure you get an absentee ballot.  If you are voting for Lynda Bell, go on vacation and hope someone will send in an absentee ballot for you. It happens.

Anyway, this is a non-partisan election. The candidates are not running on any party but I think everyone that is following this race knows the party of the candidates. We aren't supposed to consider that Lynda Bell is a "Fiscal Conservative" (code she uses when she goes door to door).   Because it is non-partisan the PRIMARY DATE of AUGUST 26th is really the election date unless one candidate gets less than 51% of the vote. That can only happen with 3 candidates or more and that would mean there could be a run-off on November 4th. I doubt we will see a run-off on this one.  At this point consider the August 26th date set in stone.

Anyway, tell all your friends the election is August 26th for County Commissioners. Make sure they vote August 26th or are prepared with an Absentee Ballot if they are away on vacation. If they are on an extended vacation tell them to call elections: 305-499-8444 and make arrangements to have the ballot send to their vacation spot.  Did I repeat the date enough times?

Daniella Levine Cava Posts Mega-Bucks on Her Campaign Report for County Commissioner District 8. By Geniusofdespair

District 8 Challenger, to Lynda Bell, Daniella Levine Cava posted $138,957 in one month on her campaign report. That is unheard of.  She collected from 590 donors. If you include the in-kind contributions it is $144,339.

That is more than Pepe Diaz, and Rebeca Sosa have raised, both incumbents.  Lynda Bell with the help of Mayor Carlos Gimenez and a host of lobbyists has raised $183,325 in eleven months from 424 donors. I guess she will have to hit them up again. Maybe they won't be so sure she will win now, not with Daniella's fundraising power.  When a grassroots candidate is this strong with fundraising skills, they are hard to beat.

This is a real challenge, Daniella is a serious contender. If you didn't think so before, you had better change your thinking.

Remember Jean Monestime had $106,775 to Dorrin Rolle's $388,408 and Monestime won. Mark Bell, Lynda Bell's husband, had  more than $100,000 when he ran for Mayor and Porter had less than half the money and he won with 55.51%.

Levine Cava Family

To add to it, Vice Lynda Bell filed a notice on 1/29 that she would not be expecting any funds in January. Oops, apparently that is incorrect, Lynda Bell raised $21,050 in January and spent $21,953.75.  I guess that is no funds. She collected less than she paid out. She is paying most of it to that campaign manager of hers Jose Luis Castillo. Most of the money On Lynda Bell's report was from businesses (9 $500 donations from Juan Munilla Companies) as opposed to Daniella Levine Cava's from individuals. It is very hard to raise money against an incumbent because they retaliate against the givers if they win and everyone figures they will win. That is why the fundraising success is such a major accomplishment for Daniella.  People think she is going to win.

Lynda Bell And Other Commissioners at the LBA Presidential Installation Gala. By Geniusofdespair

All are up for reelection except Commissioner Steve Bovo so it is no surprise they were at the Latin Builders Association Presidential Installation Gala. Lynda Bell must have made the rounds for campaign funds. These are her people for funding.

Lynda Bell's New Chief of Staff: Ruben Arias "Mayor Gimenez's Guy" Replaces Eddie Borrego. By Geniusofdespair

Hard to find a picture of this Ruben guy

From Lynda Bell's Website: “It is always an exciting opportunity to work for such an esteemed public servant as Vice Chair Lynda Bell, said Mr. Arias. “She has done a superb job for the residents of her district in such a short amount of time (GENUIS: Barf), and I look forward to furthering her priorities at County Hall and for all the residents of District 8.”

Most recently, Mr. Arias was Director of Public Affairs at the Mayor’s Office and the Board of County Commissioners for Commission District 7. Previously, Mr. Arias served as a Certified Mediator with the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Mr. Arias earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the School of Urban Affairs and Public Administration from Florida International University (FIU). 

He worked for Gimenez when Gimenez was Commissioner in District 7.

In 2010 he was assistant to County Commissioner making $79,235 gross. In 2011 he was the Mayor's Aide make $81,454 gross. In 2012 he was was still a Mayor's Aide and he made $80,254. In 2013 he made $79,986 gross as a Mayor's Aide. Salary stepping down. Just a placeholder while her campaign manager runs her campaign. Yes Ruben does live on LeJeune Road, maybe near the mayor. But the Mayor sure didn't pay him as if her were a good friend.

Lynda Bell Said Her Daughter Made 7 Offers for a House So She was Lifting a Deed Restriction. By Geniusofdespair

Watch the video. Okay, I hope this is not your daughter Jenna we are talking about County Commissioner Lynda Bell. You said your daughter couldn't find a house. I wrote about this subject October 16th.

You said your daughter made 7 offers and could not get a house. When you said this Oct. 3, 2012, Jenna had $6,000 in her savings account and $200 in her checking account. Her Husband had a job for 4 months and Jenna had her job for a year.  He was making $1,600 a month and she was making $1,554.80 bi-monthly. Jenna had two jobs listed on the form that she worked one month at. This  is according to a Fannie Mae HUD form she filled out February 17, 2012. Jenna also filled out the same form October 21, 2011 and was rejected November 21, 2012.

No one is going to sell you a house with those numbers and those salaries Lynda. She could have made 1,000 offers, she wasn't getting a house. You need 20% down now. Adding inventory is not going to make it easier for her. Saving her money would. Where is this $80,000 subordinate financing coming from? It wasn't on the form.

So you voted to lift a 30 year deed restriction because your daughter could not get a house because her credit just wasn't good enough? Or as they say in the trade, it was trash. You didn't even give a hoot about the thousands of us out here who considered this 30 year Covenant a solemn oath between us and our County Commission. Not one word.

Both Commissioners Sally Heyman and Dennis Moss said the 30 year Covenant that promised NO RESIDENTIAL was important to them. At the time of the vote less than 5 years ago, many said they were voting to move the UDB line for the office complex BECAUSE of the 30 year Covenant. But here you are lifting it because your daughter did not do any planning to purchase a house including saving and keeping a job. This covenant was important to all of us. The urban development boundary was MOVED because of it. But heck, maybe it will help your daughter, and that is all that matters to you isn't it?

Second you said on the video that you went to a school for urban design planning. You didn't say you took a course (which is probably more accurate). Exactly what school was that? Did you go for a weekend retreat or something? You just can't say anything you want on the dais. You have to be honest with us folks. We don't like to be mislead and we check what you say.

Eddie Borrego Didn't Jump Lynda Bell's Ship for $10,000. By Geniusofdespair

County Commissioner Lynda Bell's Chief of Staff didn't jump ship during her campaign for the $10,000 a year increase in salary. And as the Herald pointed out, there are more perks at the County than at Jackson. Eddie could have easily got that $10,000 out of Lynda. Something else was brewing -- maybe a poll.  Maybe he refused to put a fence around the front of his property. Maybe he got sick of the mandatory praying during lunch. Maybe he wants to be in Tallahassee to suck up to Governor Scott.

I think it was a power struggle with Eddie and Lynda's Campaign Manager Jose Luis Castillo, two very bossy guys intent on telling Lynda what to do...wrong. One of them had to go.

Lynda Bell's Financial Disclosure 11/1 through 11/30. By Geniusofdespair

I said Lynda Bell protested too much at a November 19th meeting, when she said she was "concerned" 14 times in less than 3 minutes during a meeting about 2 engineering firms in a bid war, one CH2M Hill. I looked at her most current financial disclosure. Who is there but CH2M Hill lobbyist Mitchell Bierman, a lawyer for CH2M Hill who gave $500 on November 1st. In fact he is on her report twice for $1,000 total. Bierman was an assistant Dade County attorney. Also there is Llorente another lobbyist for CH2M. On the new report is Nina Boniske another lawyer in the same firm as Bierman. Bell's new report was lean with only $3,200 in donations. The Wendy Lobos ECO shows no money raised during the same period.

It was always Javier D. Souto on County Commissioner's Souto's campaign reports. Not anymore, this time around he is Javier De Jesus Souto.

The Mayor is right: Lynda Bell Wrong - I don't trust your motives on this one. By Geniusofdespair

District 8 County Commissioner Lynda Bell November 19th (she says concerned 14 times in less than 3 minutes):



WATCH THE DAMN VIDEO!

The Mayor of Miami Dade County's Statement November 15th:

Following a careful and detailed review of the response to my request for an opinion from the Executive Director of the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, and the written observations submitted by the Interim Inspector General, a course of action has been developed with their participation to cure the irregularities identified in the selection process of the Program and Construction Management Services related to the wastewater system priority projects. To ensure the selection process continues to move forward, I will appoint a Mayoral Advisory Committee (Committee) composed of three external and two County staff members with knowledge and expertise in these types of services. This Committee will be charged with providing to me a final ranking and consensus statement of the proposals submitted by AECOM and CH2MHill.

It is important that this selection be completed via a fair and equitable process. Given their importance to the residents of our community, my administration is committed to expediting all Water and Sewer infrastructure projects in the County. In doing so, I want to ensure that the process we use to select firms and contractors is one that is fair, competitive and transparent.

Our post on the issue. The public is satisfied that the Mayor is trying to do the right thing, left with a difficult situation, on this $1.6 billion dollar contract Lynda. You didn't mention the controversy, the conflicting ethics opinions,etc. It is amazing what you leave out, like that Mike Shehadeh was hired right around the time of the bid submittals, in September, by CH2M...for you? On your behalf? You have been trying to get him a job, many will acknowledge that. CH2M got the bid but there was some hanky panky going on (the mayor's statement acknowledges that).

 Lynda Bell having lunch with Mike Shehadeh 2012:

Fred Grimm on Chain Link Fencing. By Geniusofdespair

Not often do I take a WHOLE Article from the Miami Herald. But I know how lazy some of you are with taking the leap to press a link. This column by Fred Grimm is JUST TOO GOOD and FUNNY for you to miss. Forgive me Miami Herald, I know not what I do.

Thank you Fred Grimm for making me LMAO with "The Subtle Beauty of Chain-link Fencing":

Before Lynda Bell, few elected officials were willing to stand up for my kind of aesthetic. You know the look. Lowdown Americana, set off with an old sofa on the porch and a rusted-out ‘75 T-Bird in the front yard, windows busted out, hood missing, shreds of vinyl roof flapping in the wind. The whole tableau framed behind a sagging chain-link fence.

Oh, a few politicians understand some constituents harbor a deep-seeded need to surround themselves with pit bulls named after their ex-wives, neon Budweiser signs, the kind of big-haired women who frequent Indian casinos. But their appreciation of anti-urbane culture hasn’t extended to zoning matters. Not before Lynda.

The vice chairman of the Miami-Dade Commission has championed the very beauty of chain-link fencing.

Sure, other pols argue that chain-link fences ought to be tolerated in struggling, crime-infested residential neighborhoods because they’re cheap, effective and keep crackheads out of the yard. But they worry that chain-link lends an area a ghetto look. “Like a jail,” Commissioner Javier Souto said.

But Commissioner Bell fought to rescind the decade-old ban on front-yard chain-link fences in unincorporated Miami-Dade neighborhoods because they’re just plain pretty. “A lot of people don’t want a wooden fence in their front yard,” Commissioner Bell argued last February, as she pushed through an ordinance designed to nurture a chain-link renaissance. “It’s clear. It looks nicer. You can’t graffiti it. . . . It actually looks nice to me because the wood gets warn and weathered and the planks warp. I mean I’ve seen fences when I’m driving down the turnpike, one’s brown and one’s red and one’s blue. This is why I think a chain link presents a much cleaner look.”

Exactly. If we banned wood fences instead of chain-link fences, there’d be none of those rainbow spectrums mucking up the panorama. Instead we have these clean, uniform views framed by gray metal barriers made of oh so lovely wire grids. All we’d need is for Lynda to tweak the county ordinance and allow her chain link to be topped off with shiny curlicues of concertina to reflect the evening sun.

I feel like Lynda did this for me. Me and Jenna. But mostly Jenna. “I’ve been hearing from a lot of different contractors,” Bell told her fellow commissioners. By “a lot,” she meant daughter Jenna Mendez and her hubby. We’ve now learned that the couple were so enraptured by the charms of chain link that in March 2012, they started their own fence company. Bell forgot to mention this back during the February meeting, an odd oversight, given that the address of the fence company is also Commissioner Bell’s home address.

Some critics claim that Bell only pushed the ordinance to benefit her daughter’s business. But those are the very people who could never understand that a chain-link fence can set off a neighborhood as exquisitely as a barbed wire tattoo can adorn a woman’s bicep.

If you want to see a before and after fenced house go to this blog and scroll to the end.

Lynda Bell's Daughter Jenna's troubles continue. By Geniusofdespair

Fencing Tycoons, Damian in the Metal Mulitsha Shirt with Wife Jenna.

Sweetwater and Lynda Bell's Daughter Jenna Police Sergeant status:

Instead of using a test written by an educational institution, the police department wrote its own test to promote the officers to the ranks of sergeant, according to John Rivera, president of the PBA, Miami-Dade County’s police union.

“The evidence we found is clear: The test was written by the Sweetwater police and sent to an educational institution instead of the other way around, as is established by the rules,” Rivera said. “The integrity of the test was compromised, no doubt about it.”

Rivera asked Fulgueira on Oct. 10 to reverse the promotions after learning of the irregularities in the process from another Sweetwater police officer.

After Rivera presented his grievance, two of the four officers, Víctor Carril and Carlos Manuel Sordo, voluntarily resigned from the rank of sergeant. The other two, Jaime Richter and Jenna Méndez, have kept the rank and salary of sergeants. The four officers were the only ones to pass the test offered between March and April.

You can blame it all on Homestead. Homestead police made an exception and put her in the academy against strong objections. Seems Lynda Bell was pissed not long ago that Jenna was pulled over in Homestead for driving around in a truck with Texas plates and has it in for some Homestead officers.

And what ever happened to Gunner the police dog that Jenna and Mayor Marono picked up together in Talahassee? He comes to town in Oct. 24 2011, going through training in November in Palm Beach and by Dec. 31 Gunner is missing out of Jenna's backyard (was recovered later).

Both Maroño and Mendez traveled to Tallahassee to pick up the dog. Why would the mayor go with her?

The Story of Elaine Navarre and Lynda Bell. By Geniusofdespair

Elaine Navarre was a bit daffy but she was a driven woman. I spoke to her a few times. She claimed she financed her boyfriend, Harlin J. Collins, Action Plumbing to the tune of about $60,000. Action Plumbing employed Lynda Bell's husband. Apparently while she was with Collins, Navarre and Bell were friends. Elaine claimed the Action Plumbing truck was financed by herself.  They got a mortgage in 2008 on their home. (it was her house before she quit claimed deeded it to include Collins). It irked her to see the truck she claimed she paid for, always at the Bell owned, Redland hotel.  She claimed Bell was on disability at the time.

Elaine is dead now, the death certificate has wet ink, she died last month.  I wish I had her file, it was overflowing.  She told me Lynda Bell, who lived around the block, would pass in front of her house all the time.  I went to a trial where Lynda Bell was seeking a restraining order from Navarre.  Navarre, representing herself, made a mess of the case.  She didn't know what she was doing and she soon raised the ire of the judge.  After talking to Navarre, I think Lynda did harass her.  I think they both participated in the feud.  Read my August 31st 2012 post about her. Lynda Bell was seeking a protective order from Navarre.

From Court records against Harlin Collins. Apparently she was being fleeced by someone.  She made a quit claim deed to Harlin Collins of her home in 2006, during better times.

Elaine, 1/5/2010 was involved in a domestic violence suit with Mark Bell and a separate one with Harlan Collins. She was the petitioner. 1/8/2010 she was involved in a domestic violence suit with Lynda Bell, again she was the petitioner. Bell also filed one against Elaine. Elaine told me Lynda was evil and harassing her all the time. I don't know if that is true. 

Elaine died fighting lawsuits. So sad. Anyone got the scoop? Maybe she wasn't so crazy after all, maybe she was a woman scorned.  Harlin Collins is still an owner of the house and it looks like he will inherit it.  There is more to this story but I don't know it. Navarre does have a criminal record and Collins was granted a protective order from her that was later vacated.  Any friends of Elaine out there?

What is this P3 plan that Miami Dade County adopted July 2nd while you were busy with July 4th Holiday? By Geniusofdespair

ORDINANCE CREATING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING POLICY; REQUIRING THE PREPARATION AND PERIODIC UPDATE OF A PLAN; PROVIDING FOR A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TASK FORCE; CREATING SECTION 2-8.1.7 OF THE CODE; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE			Amended
	REPORT: It was moved by Commissioner Zapata to amend the foregoing proposed ordinance. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Bell and upon being put to a vote, passed by a vote of 10-0 (Commissioners Bovo, Barreiro and Jordan were absent).

Bilzin Sumberg Law Firm This is how they analyze P3:

"Yesterday, the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution establishing a Public Private Partnership Program for the County.
Purpose and Policy of the P3 Resolution

The stated purpose and policy of the resolution very effectively summarizes the case for public-private partnerships. The resolution explains that infrastructure “is a vital and foundational element in the future of Miami-Dade County,” but that the County’s infrastructure requires “significant and on-going improvements and upgrades” and “funding from traditional sources” for these important projects is “inconsistent and unpredictable, with demand for funding clearly exceeding the resources available.” Accordingly, “it is in the best interest of the County to work collaboratively” with private investors and organizations to establish and implement alternative financing methods for appropriate projects.

The resolution was sponsored by recently elected Commissioner Juan Zapata, who explained at the June 13 meeting of the Economic Development and Port Miami Committee that the resolution is intended to align County P3 regulations with the newly adopted state statute and to create a roadmap to establish productive P3s in the County that are based upon the best practices implemented in other communities. The Economic Development and Port Miami Committee agreed with these goals and unanimously recommended the resolution for adoption, with Commissioner Lynda Bell, the chair of the committee, offering to co-sponsor the resolution.
Facilitating P3s in Miami-Dade County

Pursuant to the new resolution, the Mayor is charged with creating a written P3 plan within 90 days of the effective date of the resolution. The P3 plan will identify model PPPs throughout the County, best practices, County infrastructure projects that could benefit from PPPs, and proposed legislative changes to streamline the P3 process. The plan will be submitted to the Infrastructure Committee for review and approval and, after the initial plan is approved, the plan will be updated and resubmitted to the Committee every six months.

The new County resolution, combined with the new state legislation, which was signed by Governor Rick Scott last Thursday, improves the legal climate for public-private partnerships in South Florida and throughout the state."

Sosa was worried about:

(3) Specifications and Contracting. To promote the use of public private partnerships, the Mayor shall, consistent with applicable law, develop simplified specifications to identify and solicit public private partnership contracting opportunities.

Look at HOW RUDE LYNDA BELL IS to Commission Sosa discussing this:



Here is the Body of the resolution note: The foregoing proposed ordinance was adopted as amended on handwritten page 5, under Section 1, to remove subsections 3 and 4; and to add the following language to subsection 2 to state: “…that the plan shall also contain the Mayor’s recommendation for simplification of specifications” with an instruction to Assistant County Attorney Hugo Benitez to draft the language contained in sections 1 and 2 in the form of a resolution.

The amended version of the foregoing ordinance was assigned Ordinance
No. 13-72.

Mark Bell For Mayor of Homestead? Think Not. By Geniusofdespair

Power Corrupts: Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Why is Lynda Bell calling all over Miami Dade County raising an obscene amount of money for her husband's Mayoral campaign in Homestead?  Between the ECO's and his account he has probably raised about $200,000 which is unheard of in a Homestead race.  What is this obsession with power?   Mark Bell has been a plumber's assistant a great part of his life.  He wouldn't have the hotel if Vice Mayor of Palmetto Bay John Dubois' partner didn't write the mortgage. Bell was on/or was just getting off of disability. He would have had a hard time getting a mortgage. Lynda needed him not to be a plumber's assistant anymore, that is why the Hotel was bought. He had to do something.

I don't understand the Lynda power thing and why she is extending it to her husband who seemed to have little ambition before this race. I don't understand why her behavior isn't turning off more people. Maybe it is the combination of Eddie Borrego and her - bad mix.

Lynda doesn't lose friends. She makes enemies. When people break with Lynda they do it with extremely hard feelings. I know because dozens of them have found me and call me to bitch about her. Remember when Lynda tried to take over the Homestead CRA by going to Tallahassee? It died in the Senate. Who does that?  Read my blog from February 10, 2012 to give you some idea why this race is so personal to her, it isn't just about her husband, it is about her powerlessness in Homestead, she just can't let it lie, she needs revenge:

2/10/2012:  I don't like Homestead's government much, but why did District 8 County Commissioner Lynda Bell go to Tallahassee trying to make an end-run around the local government on the CRA? She wants to change the playing field and give the County power over the CRA instead of the City. That doesn't sound like a good Republican move does it, sending power to a bigger government instead of keeping it local? The League of Cities is against it.

 First she tried with her pal Erik Fresen in the State House. That failed. Now she is working with her former foe, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla trying to get the Senate to do her bidding.

Yes I know about the corrupt CRA. I had a copy of the audit by Kathy Jackson that was done years ago and reported on it in 2010.

The reason why this deserves a report, Lynda Bell is not doing this unholy alliance with these two State Legislators for good, it is out of vindictiveness against a City Government that doesn't acknowledge her at all. This isn't her first vindictive end-run. She also did it to the Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM). When she couldn't get her way with them, she created a Wetlands' Task Force to punish DERM and help Rock Mining -- her biggest contributor. Dennis Moss saw through her charade telling her not to throw DERM under the bus.

Here is the Bill she was pushing with Fresen that died:

General Bill   by Fresen

Community Redevelopment Agencies: Provides reporting requirements for certain community redevelopment agencies; provides for termination of community redevelopment agencies by board of county commissioners of certain counties; provides public hearing & notice & termination plan requirements; provides that consent from certain entities is not required for such termination; provides additional redevelopment plan requirements for certain counties; provides requirements for expenditure of moneys from redevelopment trust funds in certain counties; exempts payment of debt service in such counties from certain approval; provides requirements for appropriation of certain trust fund moneys in such counties; requires forensic audit of agencies in such counties at least every 5 years for certain purposes.

Effective Date: July 1, 2012

Last Event: Unfavorable by Finance & Tax Committee on Tuesday, February 07, 2012 6:00 PM

 Funny, her husband just got a CRA grant for $25,000 on the hotel.

State Rep Jose Felix Diaz's Committee Gives to ECO helping Mark Bell. By Geniusofdespair

Jose Felix Diaz

The ECO run by J.C. Planas "People for Truth & Integrity", putting out mailers against Jeff Porter, has a $1,000 donation from this Jose Felix Diaz Committee.

People for Truth & Integrity also has a $1,500 donation from law firm Weiss Serota. I guess they won't be doing any business in Homestead if Porter wins.

What is the signature of a lawyer worth? By Geniusofdespair

The form to register the ECO says  that by signing it, you certify the "organization is complete, true and correct." Here is what certify means: to say officially that something is true, correct, or genuine

My post yesterday got some annoying responses probably from the Bell Campaign, here is part of one:

As much as we all might dislike the Bells, I am not sure they have not done anything wrong with their ECO.

In my book, when I sign something it is true. If you state something in a legal form submitted to a government entity it had better be true. When they stated on the form that the ECO would be used for COUNTY races and then used it for the HOMESTEAD race it  became a lie, they are diverting the money. The contributors have a right to know where the money is going. Wendy Lobos knows when she signs her name it should be true, she is an attorney.  Why is lying on LEGAL forms okay to some of you? Wendy knows the money is being diverted. She allowed it to happen.

Opps, I have to offer a retraction. This is hereby retracted with caveats and so is my other post, I need the additional records dated prior to September 2nd:

Juan-Carlos “J.C.” Planas

I represent the ECO, “Good Government Now”, which was the subject of your post earlier today.

I was quite concerned because I specifically remember filing the paperwork with the City of Homestead notifying them that this ECO would be conducting electioneering in that City. 

When I called the City Clerk today, I was informed that yes, they did receive our paperwork but because the forms were in a different format, they could not post them on the web.  They had checked with the Miami-Dade Elections Department when they received it and Miami-Dade verified that all that was needed was for the ECO to file courtesy copies with Homestead to be in compliance.  Whether or not the section of the Organizational Papers are physically amended to reflect each City is irrelevant as long as the papers are sent to the Homestead City Clerk.  Accordingly, this ECO is in compliance with the law.

I strongly suggest you issue an immediate retraction to your blog post as it is grossly incorrect in both the facts and the law.

Me: Overkill to be sure.

I don't think IT IS GROSSLY INCORRECT and I never said it wasn't in compliance with the law. I said money was diverted, which it was. The forms are what they are. If we are given incorrect information on a form because it is a "Courtesy" or can't be posted,  it is a mistake on both parts not just mine. I just repeat public records if the records are incorrect I need to know. I didn't make them up.  If there are OTHER public records you submitted prior to September 2nd in Homestead please supply them to me.  Also, when did Wendy Lobos give up her role as head of this ECO?  By the way the Homestead Clerk said she was never informed you would be conducting electioneering in that city. You just filed campaign reports with them on October 10th which she says she guesses is enough. - Also JC don't the donors have to be notified?  They gave to an ECO for one candidate and then the candidate/scope was changed. Educate me. When did the change in purpose of the ECO occur? Why wasn't it amended?  Write a blog, I will print it.

Thanks JC

J.C: Don't you also have a ECO operating in Homestead with a different Scope and Jurisdiction too? I guess this is done all the time? I see the Wayne Rosen (Mark Bell supporter) contributions and have heard about 7 fliers ANTI- Porter coming from this ECO. 

Mark Bell and Lynda Bell allowing MISUSE of an ECO. By Geniusofdespair

 Opps, I have to offer a retraction. This is hereby retracted with caveats and so is my other post, see  the retraction with caveats and questions. DON'T MISS IT!! See the retraction request


Many candidates have PAC's and ECO's that are committees that can collect any amount to supplement a campaign. The candidates are not suppose to have control or input in how PAC and ECO money is spent, but they do. Even though they deny they do.

The purpose of this ECO - Good Government Now - is for COUNTY races promoting County candidates (i.e. Lynda Bell) - as it says in its filing papers. I assume it is for Lynda Bell's campaign next year since Wendy Lobos heads it. She is Lynda's BFF.

Filing papers of Good Government Now

The only trouble is, the ECO is sending out mailers NOW. No mailers have gone out for County races, it is too early. I think this ECO is being used for Mark Bell's campaign, against its stated purpose.

Good Government Now's financial disclosure says it  is sending out direct mailers when there are no county races at this time.  Mark Bell is, however, sending out gobs of mailers for his Mayoral race.

Maybe this is why the Weiss Serota law firm took back their $2,500 donation.

Lynda Bell is a driven woman on her husband's election, it is almost scary to see such a lust for power. She is using her position to push people to donate to her husband. I talked to someone who gave and he had no idea who or what Mark Bell represented. He only knew Lynda Bell wanted money.

Absentee Ballot Fraud and Mark Bell's Freudian Slip. By Geniusofdespair

It was on the front page of the Miami Herald that Bell's team is accused of absentee ballot fraud. I have a name of ANOTHER woman who is alleging similar charges and have supplied her name to Penny Townsley who in turn said she turned it over to the State's Attorney's Office to follow up. Anyway back to Mark Bell's Slip:

“What I think is happening is Mr. Milton is upset because our team is gathering ABs,” Bell said. He quickly corrected himself. “Not gathering them, you know what I mean, but talking to voters.”

It is illegal to GATHER absentee ballots. Mark Bell is dumb enough to say that. Remember: Lynda Bell won her seat by Absentee Ballots. Are you scratching your head now to imagine how she did it?