Demonstrating 101: The sign should match the purpose of the rally. By Geniusofdespair

Sign that was targeted, prepared for the event.

If you are demonstrating to ask Norman Braman to influence  MARCO RUBIO to meet with you, your sign should say something close to that.  YOU NEED TO MAKE NEW SIGNS FOR EVERY DEMONSTRATION.  It is not one sign fits all. People wanted to know why you were in front of Braman's Bentley Dealership. After all, people on the street and inside the dealership might not know that Braman gave Rubio Millions and Millions of dollars to fund his failed Presidential campaign and certainly has the ability to influence him.  This was a very good strategy to put pressure on Braman but competing signs didn't help. If you arrange a demonstration, makes signs the night before.

Get a few pieces of oak tag and one large magic marker and keep it on hand. You will need it.

At Noon Norman Braman got a Rowdy Bunch of Us, and not to Buy a Bentley. By Geniusofdespair

Protesters outside Norman Braman's Bentley dealership.

Activist Marvin Dunn organized a rally at Norman Braman's dealership today at noon. About 40 people were there. Here is Dunn's original letter to the Miami Herald:

Glenn Terry at Rally

Where’s Marco?

Several weeks ago, representing a group of about 50 people, I sent a letter to the senator’s office requesting a meeting. The letter was ignored. I sent another letter that also was ignored. This is unacceptable from an elected official.

Consequently, our group, Team Preserve America, is sponsoring a “Where Is Marco?” rally just after noon Friday, March 24 at the Braman car dealership at 2020 Biscayne Blvd., in downtown Miami. Norman Braman gave millions to Rubio in his failed bid for the presidency and remains one of his chief financial supporters. That makes Braman a player. We hope that Braman can convince Rubio to come out of hiding and meet with his constituents.

It is regrettable that citizens have to do this in order to be heard by their representatives in Washington.

Photo By Kathy Hersh, Marvin Dunn is on the right pointing to Braman's sign.

Braman gave tens of millions to Rubio's presidential campaign -- now as Senator he is Mr. Missing in Action. It makes sense that Billionaire Norman can pressure him since we sure can't get a meeting. He even has Rubio's wife doing part time work (for probably $1,000 an hour).  Isn't your wife Irma a Democrat Norman? Maybe we should be talking to her Mr. Braman. OMG, I just looked at her donations, gave me the shivers,  she is so far from a Democrat although she did donate to Patrick Murphy when he was running against Alan West.

Marco Rubio is too Stupid on Climate Change and Sea Level Rise to be President. By Geniusofdespair

As you go about your daily business, one day sea level rise will hit you like a club. That day has obviously not hit any of the developers with cranes in the air with an expected 80 residential units in Brickell alone (where are you going to get their drinking water developers). But when you get it, finally get it, and project down the road  -- your chest will feel hollow and you might cry. My tipping point finally happened. I am hollow inside.

I spoke to a climate change scientist yesterday from Rosenstiel and he said that the gulf stream is keeping our sea level 2 feet lower than that in the Bahamas. Any movement of the gulf stream (there could be shifting ocean currents) and we could be in deep shit immediately. Meanwhile the ice sheets are pooling water and breaking off and that also could cause an extreme rise if the water starts to flow. What I am saying is, this is serious stuff and that there is anyone who could consider Marco Rubio - a climate change denier - for the presidency is an insult to every family in Florida trying to keep their grand children's heads above water. Norman Braman, you are a dick head for supporting Marco Rubio with 7 Million dollars. The world's weather and water is in crisis and all you care about is him supporting your religion. I might remind you that your house might be underwater soon.

This is on NASA's website (you should really go to this link):
Now there is another potential impact that is grabbing scientists’ attention. Scientists are exploring the small but real possibility that even small shifts in ocean currents, possibly set in motion by global warming, may trigger the catastrophic melting of the world’s two great ice sheets.

By 2048 they expect 2 feet or more of sea level rise. Scientists say that means:

72% of Florida land surfaces will remain.  Sandy barrier islands will be challenging to live on. Fill areas will be eroding, beach front rapidly eroding; storm channeling. (Good thing: I think that American Wet Dream Mall will be underwater.)

Existing mangrove swamps collapse; inundation and collapse of lower freshwater marshes.

Much of upper and lower Keys inundated.

Coastal levees under wave attack.

Access to barrier islands and public works becomes difficult such as Turkey Point, South Dade landfill. (according to Peter Harlan FIU 2008)

Projections have been updated recently because of this Virginia Key Study:

In the last five years we had a 1.27 inch rise (triple that of the 10 years before). If we continue with that 1.27 trend, it will be 12 inches of sea level in 10 years. One foot!

What they are saying at Rosenstiel: sea level is not just rising here, the rate of the rise is accelerating. What can we expect:

In the next 20 years, what should we reasonably expect in southeast Florida? The median value of sea level from various observed trends in 2034 is around 6″, with a realistic range of 3-12″.

Year by year, flooding due to heavy rain, storm surge, and high tides will become more frequent and more severe. Water tables will continue to rise, and saltwater intrusion will continue to contaminate fresh water supplies.

They expect a range of 3 to 12 inches of sea level rise by 2034, less than 15 years away. How old will your children be? Marco Rubio's children will not be that old, just having grandchildren for Marco.

The coastal ridge is the yellow and green areas.

Sorry Norman Braman: No Cars From You! By Geniusofdespair

We got two cars over the weekend. Because of all the money promised to Marco Rubio, we could not in good conscience buy them from auto tycoon Norman Braman even though they are both a make and model his dealership sells. Thank you Skylar at Lehman Autoworld.

If I were a Rich Man.... Dickhead Rich People: Sandy Batchelor and Norman Braman. By Geniusofdespair

Sandy Batchelor, very rich herself as Chairman of the Batchelor Foundation, said the Sugar Land is too expensive, nixing the deal Environmentalists wanted so badly. When she was reappointed  by Rick Scott to the South Florida Water Management Board, stupid Audubon celebrated (she is on their board too).

The Miami Herald reported:

“There are really and truly constraints out there. For me, the biggest one is financial,” said board member Sandy Batchelor.

 So Audubon, your Rich Board Member took a very bold move for the Environment,  a Dickhead move.

Norman Braman, of course he is a dickhead extraordinaire for his mega support of Marco Rubio, that is a given, but he is also a dickhead for meddling in the historic neighborhood of Buena Vista. He wants to build his Institute of Contemporary Art (to house works from MOCA dispute) in the  Buena Vista hood (he bought a few houses bordering the design district). The neighbors are up in arms and do not want the zoning changed.  How can he demolish historic homes anyway? His wife Irma needs the museum I suppose but the Design District was perfect. Braman has property there for his museum, why encroach on a neighborhood? Make it compact, lean and mean Norman, instead of being a Dickhead to your neighbors.

Buena Vista Historic Home

I spoke to  Buena Vista resident Basil Binns, He has no beef with Norman Braman, he said he respects the man. He just wants his historic neighborhood to remain intact. He loves where he lives with his family. Norman, talk to Basil and his neighbors. North Miami is already perplexed about the art from MOCA, now you want Buena Vista to be angry? You don't want to be a local Dickhead, isn't being a National Dickhead enough? By the way, all that money you are wasting on Rubio...find another site. Why should Jorge Perez have a better museum than you?

Buena Vista Homeowner Basil Binns with Baby Binns

Come on Norman Braman, I am pulling on your heart-strings. Do you have any? Look at this fine dad to baby Binns.

On Norman Braman and Marco Rubio: oligarchs and the state of American politics ... by gimleteye

The front page story in the Sunday New York Times, "Billionaire Lifts Marco Rubio Politically and Personally" is a reflection on an unbalanced friendship and the state of American politics although the deeper questions relate to the latter.

MIAMI — One day in the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Marco Rubio, the young speaker of the House, strayed from the legislative proceedings to single out a lanky, silver-haired man seated in the balcony: a billionaire auto dealer named Norman Braman.

This man, Mr. Rubio said in effusive remarks in 2008, was no ordinary billionaire, hoarding his cash or using it to pursue selfish passions.

“He’s used it,” Mr. Rubio said, “to enrich the lives of so many people whose names you will never know.” As it turned out, one of the people enriched was Mr. Rubio himself.

Eye On Miami has very strong views on both Mr. Braman and Senator Rubio. Marco, both bloggers here believe, is a kid who made good from West Dade but whose career is distinguished by his ability to deliver a telegenic face and poll-tested opinions, stretching the truth when it serves his political interests, and mainly rising thanks to Jeb Bush, who needed a strong consigliere in the state legislature when he (Jeb) was governor. Marco Rubio is the GOP analogue to Alex Penelas, if Penelas had kept his reputation clean with Democrats and not succumbed to the great chase of wealth accumulation (i.e. Homestead Air Force Base fiasco).

Braman is a different story. We have rued that more Miami billionaires haven't stuck up for civic causes like Norman Braman, even as we expressed our confusion how Braman targets some issues -- the ouster of Mayor Carlos Alvarez, for example -- so effectively, and yet is completely out of tune with other issues of civic concern where the wealth of a billionaire could be a decisive factor (taking on the unreformable majority of the county commission, for example).

The New York Times reporting comes closest to a point of view that reflects our experience: Mr. Braman has earned the 30,000 foot view from the private jet and sees the world from there as a set of sharply defined interests: local taxation, Israel, and state legislation that directly impacts his automobile empire. This is not to say that Braman is a simple person at all.

In Miami, I've watched his star power at the noon lunch crowd at Joe's Stone Crab and silently wondered if any of the lawyers, movers and shakers had even the slightest interest in diving into local and state politics, or, whether they just celebrate Mr. Braman for his wealth and servicing their cars (or the cars of their clients). Why doesn't Mr. Braman involve himself in the other powerful civic causes of Miami: the absence of parks, the inequities of a miserable public transportation system, or the area of public policy that Senator Rubio is most vulnerable on: climate change.

It's a mystery, although no more of a mystery than the way American voters have allowed a GOP-controlled Congress and GOP-selected judiciary to put oligarchs on a pedestal. Billionaires like Mr. Braman are wielding such outsized influence on American politics and campaigns today that recently the chairman of the Federal Elections Commission despaired publicly -- to the New York Times -- that she had "no confidence" federal laws could be enforced on campaign finance.

What comes through the report by the New York Times on the relationship between Mr. Braman and Senator Rubio is the portrait of a political patron and his hireling. Sheldon Adelson, the Koch Brothers, and Iowa pig farmers and Big Sugar billionaires have their own candidates and we will never know how much money is finally funneled into any of the campaigns. Some days it seems our political life most resembles Florence Italy in the 15th century.

It is not what the Founding Fathers wanted: that elections should turn into variety shows based on a Kentucky Derby format. We are in the stands, the women wearing splendid hats to mark a most fashionable annual event, while the barons and sultans and emirs sit in the gilded boxes below. Great entertainment. Lousy democracy. In fact, it is not democracy at all.

Norman Braman and Marco Rubio. By Geniusofdespair

Marco Rubio must have done some serious ass kissing when he was in Israel with  Norman Braman a few years back. Although on local issues Braman usually is on the right side, on National issues he doesn't have a clue especially if he is going to fund Marco. Give Me the money Norman, I will spend it right.

RUBIO LYING:

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Norman Braman, back in the game, and the EB-5 Visa Program … by gimleteye

News arrives: Norman Braman and Raquel Regalado, (Regalado, a school board member, is emerging as a possible challenger to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez) have filed suit against the county for the SkyRise or, as we have dubbed it -- The Nail Clipper Building. "The ballot item (approved by voters in the last election cycle) described SkyRise as a “privately funded” venture, and the lawsuit claims the $9 million subsidy package Berkowitz secured from the county after the election violated a condition of the city referendum."

A couple of points, beyond our opposition to this ridiculous addition to the public realm that in downtown Miami shows all the predictable symptoms of bad planning and poor municipal leadership: first, it is a shame that our civic life has fallen so low it takes a deep-pocketed billionaire to mount a credible threat to the deal-making that passes for governance by the city and county commissions.

In the last election cycle, there were many common sense reasons for voters to vote against the Nail Clipper approval, but there was no money to deliver the message. Time after time, decade after decade, Miami civic activists have struggled to compete with well-funded schemes -- Bayside, by the way, being one of the original indignities to Miami's quality of life.

In our democracy, if you don't have money to mount campaigns, you are screwed. There are exceptions to the rule, but they are rare as hen's teeth.

The second point is about sources of money. In Mr. Berkowitz's case, he is using a popular tool of developers and speculators to raise cash, the EB-5 visa program. Under the EB-5 Visa Program, a $500,000 investment in a "Regional Center" enables foreign investors to qualify for the Green Card without the constraints of having to set-up and manage a U.S. business. This immigration option allows investors to live in any U.S. state and engage in a business, employment, or any activity of the investor's choice, or just retire.

There is nothing illegal about either investors or speculators using the flood of foreign cash to lock down their own financial objectives in Miami. George Lindemann, the investor suing Maggie Hurchalla, for example, in Martin County as a SLAPP suit claiming her interference in his plan to radically transform water storage/deal making in Florida, is advertising his rock mining adventure as an EB-5 project. Berkowitz claims to be using EB-5 investors as his source capital.

I find it morally objectionable to use the US Visa system for these purposes. That's a longer debate for another day. For now, thanks to Mr. Braman for, again, putting his wealth to civic purposes as opposed to business ones. Miami would be a much better place if more of the economic elite followed his example.

"

The MIAMI HEAT and NORMAN BRAMAN Should Save the Libraries. By Geniusofdespair

Because of a sweetheart deal with the Billionaire Micky Arison, the county pays $6.4 million a year of the American Airlines operating costs. REALLY. Why? Because Heat profits never hit the threshold of profit sharing.  Now, who in their right mind believes that one?  The County squanders our money on the one hand and is frugal to a fault on the other.

Big Tech Corporation AT&T is making contributions to 11 of our parks to make Tech Centers. How about them making donations, retrofitting our libraries with Tech components?  We aren't at the point where everyone has a computer, we need libraries and we need to reinvent them as well. People still read books.  Libraries are a good place for meetings.  Let's be creative and get that money from people like Norman Braman who care about our community.

Micky give back the $6.4 this year and next and libraries will be in the pink. Norman,  just help to be nice! AT&T are you listening? Tech Centers don't belong in Parks. Help the libraries instead.

Miami Today:

The county owns the arena but the Heat Group controls it. While the county by contract is to get a share of profits, it never has because profits never hit the payment threshold. The county pays $6.4 million of the arena's operating costs.

WTF? A Two Page Attack Ad Against Norman Braman. By Geniusofdespair

Let the war against public money to stadiums begin!

Those rascal lobbyists paired with team owners will stoop to any expensive level to sway you.  They have put two full pages in the Miami Herald to smear Norman Braman's effort to stop corporate welfare for sports teams. One who is quoted in the ad: Donald Trump. Well that will sway me...not.  The Miami Herald reported yesterday that a public relations firm said one of the ways to get the public funding for the Marlins Dolphins Stadium was to discredit Norman Braman:

Take on Braman directly: “They need to anticipate and defeat the opposition,” said Schwartz. “the Braman factor is really key to this because no one knows how to whip up the target audiences into a frenzy over the use of public money more than Norman....Their campaign needs to drive the dialogue, or Braman will win going away.”

And no sooner did they write that, here we have this ad against Norman Braman.

Nancy Powers of Bradenton started the CCE "Florida First" that paid for this ad. Actually the Marlins might have paid for it, strange that only Florida First was mentioned in the ad.

Okay they say they used over $7 thousand dollars to manage the PAC and do accounting? Look at the date. This was around election time. Where do you think the money went from this PAC. 

Here was one expense this Committee claimed.  They are also working FOR gambling.

PAC Management Office. Looks professional.

The problem with tracking money in Committees/PACS is one give to another, that gives to another and so on. They are sneaky. Norman Braman: Nancy Powers is a Republican fundraiser. You might rethink your party affiliation.

Remember the mantra: The DOLPHINS are just like the MARLINS. Only difference is, this time we have a multi-billionaire owner instead of a multi-millionaire.

The Miami Herald reported on Braman's response to the attack ad:

“This is part of a very orchestrated effort by the Dolphins to get what they want,’’ Braman said of the advertisement. “They can say whatever they want. [The Dolphins plan] is still welfare for a billionaire.” He urged a referendum on the proposed deal. “All they have to do is let the people vote,’’ he said.

I agree.

Miami Dolphins: We Will Not Pay for Your Stadium Revamp. By Geniusofdespair

Yes, I agree with team Owner Ross that the sun beating down on you at Sun Life Stadium does make it "like a torture chamber." I like the way he blamed global warming. Business people invoke GW when it suits them and then they deny it for everything else.

Anyway, Norman Braman is right on this issue. Yes, he is spot on when it comes to some issues and being against public funding of stadiums is something we are both in agreement on.  According to the Miami Herald Braman said:

“I will do everything I possibly can to fight this.”

I support all the changes for the stadium that they are proposing...JUST DON'T USE ANY PUBLIC DOLLARS to do them. The Marlins Stadium will cost over $2 billion when all is said and done, according to the Miami Herald. Team owners have had a good run, but let's finally put an end to public financing of stadiums.

Norman Braman's Folly. By Geniusofdespair

Rather than doing a recall of  County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and other County Commissioners, Norman Braman opted to run candidates against the sitting County Commissioners. He supported Former State Rep. Luis Garcia against Bruno. Bad move to run hand-picked candidates, it cost his PAC Change Miami-Dade Now!. Inc. $559,457.16. He also spent on the individual campaigns probably about $30,000 in each district -- he had 4 candidates.  All his candidates lost.  He underestimated the well-oiled machine of the sitting Commissioners.

With all the money Braman spent, he could have given all the sitting commissioners a scarlet letter: A recall. With funds it is not hard to do a recall. Even if the Commissioners won in the end, overcoming a recall in a reelection, their careers would have been forever tarnished.  Natacha Seijas had 2 recalls and the second time was the charm -- she was thrown out by a wide margin. Norman: It is still not too late to recall Pepe Diaz.

Norman Braman's Pac: Vote for a New Miami-Dade, Inc. By Geniusofdespair

Braman is helping his selected candidates with phone calls. The only problem is, with people switching from home phones to cell phones you don't reach everyone.  I am a 5 voter but elections doesn't have my new number.  Thank God for that. No robocalls.

The bulk of the $107,500 Braman raised ($73,268) was used for calling voters. I hope he has a better strategy for the future. With absentee ballots going out JULY 17th, everyone had better step up their game.

The second PAC Braman put together is is called "Change Miami-Dade Now!". In this one Braman and a few of his friends (Martin Margulies) plunked down $362,000. This is a media PAC, running  adds on radio and TV. There are even ads in The Miami Herald and the Miami Times. By the payments, looks like Dario Moreno and Vanessa Brito are working hard for Change Miami-Dade Now! Inc.

Between the two PAC's he can spend a half a million. That is more than $100,000 for the good of each candidate's campaign.

Norman Braman: If you Back Pena, you're an idiot. By Geniusofdespair

Just a little love-note based on the Miami Herald story that he would back Bell's new BFF, 8 1/2 square mile, Alice Pena against Dennis Moss. Do due diligence on your wacky pick Norman.

If you are a Hispanic and live in the district please pay the $360 and run. That way you will split the Hispanic vote and we can keep the best commissioner on land-use that the County has: Dennis Moss.

(My previous post on Alice Pena.) and, Here is a better post I did on her...

Norman Braman: setting an example for Miami business leaders ... by gimleteye

What puts a first-rate city on the map? The commitment and investment of business leaders to ensure that local government doesn't become a mechanism for public policies and the dismal race to the bottom. That's why I call Miami, the Detroit of the South, notwithstanding our good fortune at being the geographic crossroads of the Americas. Norman Braman isn't Miami's only billionaire businessman. But he is the only Miami businessman who has had the courage, guts, and determination to tackle corrupt county politics by lending the weight of his voice and financial capacity to changing a dysfunctional status quo.

"Believe me, I'd like nothing more than to be out of all this," Braman tells the Herald. I feel his pain. "I feel there is a responsibility to the community." And that is exactly right.

Where are the Miami business leaders? Where are the wealthy business leaders who once upon a time comprised the Mesa Rotonda to deal with corruption and elected officials and our "government designed to fail"? (Here is a 2009 review of Mesa Rotonda from our blog.) Where are the tort attorneys, insurance executives and bankers who measure a hundred million dollars of equity as a unit of wealth? Why don't these business leaders spend some fraction of those units organizing better candidates for local office?

Disappeared. It is not enough to shake Mr. Braman's hand at Joe's and give him a slap on the back, hail fellow, well met. Open your wallets, big spenders, for Miami (and not just its monuments to vanity); that's the only way to give due credit and do what is right. 

Norman Braman's Gamble. By Geniusofdespair

I don't agree with Norman Braman's current strategy to seek qualified candidates for the County Commission although I hope it works for Barbara Jordan and Bruno Barreiro and I applaud him for his efforts. I would not want to remove Dennis Moss who is a pillar in Holding the Line. With that disaster, Lynda Bell, we need Moss more than ever to show some leadership on growth management issues. I wish Mr. Braman would look at Lynda as a whole, not in one category.

The retroactive term limits would have passed. That would have rid us of almost all commissioners in 4 years. We could wait 4 years. And, Braman could have looked for good candidates at the same time to run against the current crop. Braman is facing an uphill battle getting his candidates in. It is next to impossible to unseat those in office. The petition drive for retroactive term limits would have been costly but it would have had guaranteed results. If I were a billionaire I would have invested in a petition drive for a retroactive term-limit amendment to our charter. He will have to invest at least $100,000 per candidate on his slate. Zapata is already in the race for Martinez's seat and there is no incumbent. He has the best chance for his candidate to prevail in District 11.

The big question is, that no one will talk about, will the Black churches speak kindly of Braman's slate or will they take to the pulpit and torpedo his efforts to improve the county?

Norman Braman: What are you thinking? By Geniusofdespair

The head of the host committee is Norman Braman.  What the hell is he thinking supporting Renier Diaz de la Portilla? I suppose he is not thinking.  He did support Marco Rubio so he doesn't make much sense.  Everyone, please stop treating Braman as a God. He is pretty flawed...like a lot of us.

Norman Braman talks about gambling on Dylan Rattigan Show. by Geniusofdespair

January 27th - Auto Dealer, Billionaire Norman Braman talks about the effect gambling will have on Miami.



Really good point comes at 1:00 on the counter....and another at 2:50 on the counter.

If you are on a phone use this link.

Catch Norman Braman (and Others) Saturday for a Gambling Discussion. By Geniusofdespair

Gambling with Miami's Future? A Community Dialog

The Urban Environment League is hosting a dialog on gambling featuring Norman Braman. Other panelists include: Dan Gelber, Katy Sorenson, Chuck Bohl and Jorge Hernandez.

WHAT: A two-hour discussion - conversation with questions from the audience.

WHERE: The Light Box Theater at Goldman Warehouse, 404 NW 26 Street (2 blocks west of Wynwood Walls on 26th Street)

WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

I will be going most of all, because  it is free. All of the other discussions are put on by the chamber and you have to pay.  So be sure to catch this one, it is not Chamber of Commerce crap. Another reason I am going is because I can have lunch at Joey's and go look at the Wynwood Walls. 

More Commissioner Recalls in Miami Dade County? By Geniusofdespair

Yesterday in the Miami Herald, it was reported that Norman Braman is considering two more recalls of Commissioner Pepe Diaz and Commission Chair Joe Martinez.

Specifically Braman said: they were part of a group "That just do not want to change."

Hello? We call that group the Unreformable Majority of the County Commission. We have at least 17 posts on them. Pepe Diaz and Joe Martinez have been longtime members of the group along with Bruno Barreiro, Javier Souto and Barbara Jordan. I am removing Audrey Edmonson from the Unreformable Majority, without Gimeleteye's knowledge but I hope he agrees. I saw her last week and thanked her for her lone vote against moving the UDB line for the Homestead Auto Racetrack. She looked me squarely in the eye and said: "It was the right thing to do." Yes, Audrey, it was. Thank you again.

I think Norman Braman would recall Barbara Jordan because she won't ever change, but I suspect he must have done some polling there. I think she is too popular within her district although toxic to the rest of us.