The Miami Herald published its primary endorsements on the weekend, including its support for Daniella Levine Cava, District 8 county commissioner.
It is important for voters to know there are TWO upcoming elections: a primary election on August 28th and a general election on Nov. 6th.
County commission races will be decided on August 28th. These are "non-partisan". One in particular attracts our interest: County Commission District 8.
This seat has been held by Daniella Levine Cava, who won a rare victory against an incumbent commissioner four years ago.
Daniella, as she is familiar to her constituents, brought considerable skills to the job of county commissioners as a long-time community leader. She has ably represented her district and showed leadership on countywide areas of concern, including public sector issues, transportation and the environment.
Daniella has been an advocate for expanding transit options within the developed sections of the county and opposed moving the Urban Development Boundary. She takes strong principled positions and is persuasive, even when she is in the minority.
Eileen Higgins with Her Communications Campaign Manager. Eileen easily beat the favorite and better funded - Zoraida Barreiro. We have now lost a charter member of the unreformable majority and replaced him with what might be the difference on all the shitty votes in the County. If only Sally Heyman would realize she is a Democrat, we might move things the right way with Higgins, Levine-Cava, Suarez and Monestime.
Zoraida Barreiro pointed to pleas from homeowners for an alternative to Krome Avenue or Florida's Turnpike as a way to connect with the 836.
"This is something that is needed in that area. The residents of Kendall want it," Zoraida Barreiro said during the debate hosted by Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney. "They've been asking for it. They need it. It's been horrible traffic in that area. That's going to help."
Higgins said building new roads hasn't helped traffic in Miami-Dade yet, and pointed to warnings that low-lying areas in the west have significant risks for flooding from a rising water table.
"I worry very much about putting any sort of development, including roads, outside the Urban Development Boundary," she said. "Anybody that witnessed the horrific flooding in Houston, when they begun to encroach upon their wetlands, knows the danger of taking our protected wetlands around from us, given what's going on with sea-level rise."
Higgins will not be sworn in until Friday but the hearing on 836 is tomorrow. I wonder if she will be speaking from the floor? I wonder if the vote can be postponed.
MEANWHILE...
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava has a motley crew of 3 running against her.
County Commissioner Barbara Jordan wanted all new leases for concessions at the airport, seaport and other County leased properties to require a living wage to their workers. Not existing leases just new ones. Well it passed and the Mayor vetoed it. Yesterday they had a hearing to do an override of the veto. They needed two thirds. They got Sally Heyman, Daniella Levine Cava, Xavier Suarez, Jean Monestime, Audrey Edmonson, Dennis Moss and Barbara Jordan. Not enough? Even with Barreiro gone? They needed one more stinkin' vote. Barreiro would have definitely voted the wrong way.
Barbara Jordan said a lot of lobbying went on by the Mayor with promises of perks to all the Commissioners. She said she even got one.
Barbara Jordan made an impassioned speech trying to convince her fellow Commissioners to join the override vote, but they were steadfast. Barbara wake-up and smell the coffee. It stinks of Mayor Gimenez.
County Commissioner Xavier Suarez made the motion to override the veto.
Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava seconded the motion.
What will happen today? The Transportation Union is having a special meeting to try to get concessions from the Commissioners. Will it be the same block that approves the concessions for Transportation Workers and then the same gaggle that overrides a veto from the Mayor, that veto will happen as sure as I am sitting here.
This is a follow-up to yesterday's post on Monday's Transit March that Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava attended:
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava
We have been starving our public transit system for decades, allowing our buses and trains to deteriorate without adequate maintenance and basically running them into the ground.
The County has recently used a decline in ridership as an excuse for yet even more service cuts. But reduced ridership comes when patrons vote with their feet. They have been abandoning a deteriorating, unreliable, uncomfortable system when other options are more likely to get them to places on time. That is, for those who can make such a choice. We cannot blame the customer for not buying our product.
This chronic disinvestment in our transit system has to stop. And with this last budget debate, it looks like the community made a pretty solid case for transit. Millennials came and spoke passionately about how they want to live in a place where they don’t have to own a car. Urban professionals spoke about how they’re perceived by their colleagues as less reliable because they ride transit, and the transit dependent came out to plead for the resources needed to keep their lifeline going.
I was grateful for the public’s support to restore Transit funding during this last budget debate. I believe this community outpouring was critical to the Commission’s attempt to reverse the service reductions in the original budget. We weren’t entirely successful – the department still faces significant cuts this year unfortunately, but some service was restored and planned privatization of a number of routes was curtailed. So our work has just begun.
We have at least another year to go before we really see the new Metrorail cars make it into service, and about that long before we replace a portion of our overburdened bus fleet with new natural gas and electric buses. So in this next year we will need that public support even more to bridge that gap.
We have three kinds of riders: those who have no choice (“transit dependent”), those who have a choice (“choice riders”), and those future riders who will ride when we have “premium” transit that is more reliable, efficient, comfortable and desirable than sitting in their cars wasting hours in traffic.
The SMART plan will bring premium transit, but to secure the bulk of the funding we must get through the multi-year process laid out by the Federal and State government to justify their investment in our plan. A major factor in that decision-making process is showing that there’s demand, and the potential to grow that demand, for transit service. So I have focused my attention for the past three years on building up that ridership in the communities I represent by seeking immediate improvements to the transit system serving South Dade. I believe that we must demonstrate our ability to effectively respond to our community’s transportation needs in order to earn back some of that lost public trust. After all, how can we be trusted to effectively manage a major expansion without first showing that we can run the system we already have?
Here are some of the things, big and small, that I’ve been working on to make a dent in this enormous challenge:
·I pressed for many months for the purchase of dozens of new hybrid-electric bending buses to replace the old and breakdown-prone fleet of buses that are the real “workhorse” of our Transit system. Those new buses have made great improvements to the reliability of the routes they serve. We need to keep that momentum.
·Working with the Cities in South Dade, we identified an opportunity to create a new express route by splitting an existing route in half. Transit worked with us to set up the “34 Express A & B” which has proved to be a tremendous success. This is the only route to show consistently growing ridership (up by 30% at one point) in a time when nearly all other routes are suffering declines.
·With the support of the Cities in South Dade, we also renamed the Busway to the Transitway to forecast its evolution to something more.
·I’ve worked to make simple changes, like allowing city circulators to operate on the Transitway, and working with School Board Chairman Larry Feldman to study the potential for allowing school buses to operate on the Transitway as a way to reduce traffic on US1 and get kids to school on time.
·The County is installing new adaptive traffic signals on the Transitway that will make it possible for transit patrons to get to their destination faster and help provide some relief for traffic on US1. We should see improvements from this new technology by year’s end.
·I’ve been advocating for circulators to serve unincorporated Miami-Dade since they’ve been so effective in many of our cities. I am working to add this issue into current studies.
·We’ve been working to build on the successful express model developed for I-95 where the tolls pay for Transit. I’ve been advocating for the Turnpike Enterprise to replicate that system for their expressway for years. Recently Chairman Bovo renewed that effort to seek Turnpike toll revenue support for the planned express system connecting Homestead, Kendall, Doral and Northwest Dade that is also part of the SMART Plan.
We must insist that the County invest in the transit system we have today, not just the system we hope to have in the future. We need to focus, stay hopeful, and continue to remain engaged. We were able to blunt some of the damage this time, but we need to keep building upon that to ensure that Transit remains a priority. So keep it coming!
(Daniella: I have been using public transit regularly because the traffic is mind-numbing, gridlock. I fall into your number 2 category. I go shopping at Dadeland or to Kendall restaurants by train from Coconut Grove. At least I don't lose my mind on the train ride and at rush hour it is faster than driving. I also don't have to transfer to a bus [I wouldn't]. I go directly to my destination.
I was just on 95 and the traffic was at a standstill in both directions. It was 12:30 pm. If I could have taken a train that could get me to my location I would have. - Genius)
Traffic Jammed at Noon on 95 From the Broward Line South...
On another note: I found a video I liked...I shortened it so you could see Daniella Levine Cava, this one is about the Everglades and our water supply.
A reader asked: Why don't you write about local politics. One: None of you read the crap. Two: It is a losing battle. You keep electing shit politicians and thus, we are always writing about bad news because we can never get anywhere.
Here is a wrap up of local, lets see how many of you read it:
Francis Suarez - He will be Mayor of the City of Miami. There is no doubt about that. He is a very nice guy. I just hope he can be a leader for the people of the City. I like his mailers so far. I do not support his idea to have a strong mayor as Gimenez has made it obvious how toxic it can be. His friends continue to suck off the tit of County funds. I will vote for Francis.
Daniella Levine Cava - You might think the County Commissioner from District 8 is up for reelection this year by her aggressive campaigning. It won't be till next August. Daniella has already raised $301,309.54. All the even numbered County Commissioners will be up for reelection in August. These are non-partisan so November voting means little in these races.
In the 2018 race to replace Congresswoman Illenan Ros-Lehtinen, only Kristen Rosen Gonzalez is registered. I never heard of the other 3 candidates. I thought I would see Javier Jose Rodriguez and others but none have come out of the woodwork. In Congressman Carlos Curbelo's district 26, there are two democrats running against him: Steven Machat and Steve Smith. Never heard of either of them.
These are all the candidates registered for Governor in 2018 (you can't raise money till you register) but your PAC/ECO can be raising money hand over fist, so it is still early:
Josue Larose is a phantom candidate that registers for a lot of stuff. Out of this group I would vote for Gwen Graham.
In the last election the Republicans put a ringer Democrat into Florida Congressional District 38 to siphon off votes from Jason Pizzo in the primary. Don't be fooled again. Do not, under any circumstances, vote for the DINO Daphne Campbell in the primary. She is the worst Democrat I ever encountered. A totally awful woman, sleazy too. Tell all your friend in the North Beach Cities to vote for Pizzo.
Congressional District 115 has no incumbent. Jeffrey Solomon is there, again.
My Congressional District is 112. I will have to write myself in. I would not vote for the Democrat Nicholas Duran. I hope another Democrat enters the race. I would vote for the Republican Rosa Palomino if we had more Democrats in the House but because we are so over-loaded with Republicans in the State, I have to write myself in here. I would be a good candidate, better than Duran. But, I will not run.
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava: Delivering Policy Solutions
My proposal to empanel a Charter Review Task Force was passed this week by the Government Operations Committee. The County Charter is our local constitution. On May 21st, 2017, we will celebrate the Charter's 60th anniversary.
WHEN IT PASSES AT THE FULL COMMISSION, CALL YOUR COMMISSIONER GET ON THE PANEL!
I wrote about this yesterday asking what is the rush? Why is Mayor Carlos Gimenez jumping the gun to denounce our status as a sanctuary city? There will be a process for the feds to go through. He didn't have to do it now except to earn Brownie Points with the President.
Here are some questions Commissioner Daniella Levine would like answered by the legal department before Friday's 10am meeting (The Commission directs policy NOT THE MAYOR):
On December 23, 2013, this Board adopted Resolution R-1008-13 (R-1008-13). R-1008-13 directed the Mayor to implement a policy granting the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department discretion to honor detainer requests issued by the federal government only if: 1) the federal government agreed in writing to reimburse Miami-Dade County for any and all costs relating to compliance with such detainer requests, and 2) the inmate who is the subject of such a request has a previous felony conviction or has a pending charge of a non-bondable offense.
On January 26, 2017, Mayor Carlos Gimenez directed the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department to honor any detainer requests received by the Department of Homeland Security in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” (EO).
Before we can understand the implications of the Mayor’s January 26th directive (Mayor’s directive), there are a series of unanswered questions that have broader consequences for Miami-Dade County’s financial solvency and our authority as a local, home-rule government. I write now to seek clarity from the County Attorney on the following legal questions:
1. The Mayor’s directive appears to conflict with a duly adopted county policy. Could you please provide me with a legal opinion regarding the effect of the Mayor’s directive? Absent any further action of the Board of County Commissioners, it is my understanding that R-1008-13 is still the policy of Miami-Dade County. Is this correct? Does the Mayor have the authority to disregard a policy of this Board?
2. Does President Trump’s Executive Order apply to Miami-Dade County? Are we, in fact, considered a “Sanctuary County” legally? On what basis?
3. The Mayor’s directive was made absent any known or published agreement with the federal government guaranteeing that the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County will be reimbursed for costs associated with complying with detainer requests pursuant to R-1008-13. Is the County Attorney’s office negotiating any agreement or contract with the federal government to reimburse taxpayers for these detainer requests? (I will ask the Office of Management & Budget to provide the anticipated impact to our budget for covering this unfunded federal mandate.)
4. If Miami-Dade County does comply with this Executive Order, what is our legal exposure? What are our rights and responsibilities vis-à-vis the federal government? Might we face constitutional challenges for detaining inmates without a warrant? Are we opening Miami-Dade County taxpayers up to costly litigation on top of the additional costs of detention?
5. Given the White House’s stated desire to expand the scope of its deportations and expand the definition of “criminal” in the immigration context, do we fully understand the scope of who this policy might include?
6. The Mayor has stated that our police would not act as immigration enforcement agents. However, Section 8 of the EO states that it is the President’s policy to empower local law enforcement agencies to perform the functions of an immigration officer in the interior of the United States. The Mayor’s statement that the Miami-Dade Police Department will not act as immigration officers appears to be in conflict with the EO. If, as the Mayor also stated, we are complying by federal law, will MDPD begin performing the functions of immigration officers? If MDPD does not take on the functions of immigration officers, is the County in compliance with the Executive Order? Would Miami-Dade once again be at risk for losing federal grants? Has there been any communication with federal agencies to understand the full extent of what is being asked of us?
7. I have requested the preparation of a resolution which will allow the County to join the lawsuit on the constitutionality of the EO. As you prepare that item for my review, I would also like an opinion regarding Miami-Dade County’s current legal obligations under this EO.
8. The Mayor has stated that this decision was motivated, in part, to prevent Miami-Dade County from losing federal funding, a difficult position for any leader. Does the President have the authority to cut funding to local government in this manner? If so, what is the scope of the Presidential power to compel Miami-Dade County to overturn our own laws?
9. Finally, Miami-Dade County is not the only local government in this position. Has the Mayor or the County Attorney consulted with other similarly-situated municipalities?
Note to Commissioner Levine Cava: Getting somewhere at 9am on a Saturday -- You need to offer good food. I mean really good food. Did you know Hal Wanless had lox and bagels at his 9am event? Anyway, for the readers that don't need food to lure them to get up and get dressed, the Water Summit should be a good event to go to tomorrow. Levine Cava says:
"Why Water Matters" - will be a discussion about the connection between water and life in South Florida. Join me to hear from experts and community leaders on Everglades Restoration and the impact of Climate Change on our water resources. Come prepared for an interactive conversation on a topic that affects us all but we often take for granted.
Everglades Foundation Eric Eikenberg letter praising FPL, be sure to ask him why he signed on to this letter obviously written by the Audubon suck up extraordinaire Eric Draper:
County Commission Chair Jean Monestime gave a stirring keynote speech.
Grace Solares, Urban Environment League President, Presented the Awards
I Captured only some of the award winners:
Emerge Miami got the Community Organizing award. They gave the best speech that made everyone in the audience chuckle. They said they had to get the younger generation involved to take over as they were almost out of their 20's. We were all thinking, that is what you are here for, you are the younger generation to take over for us!
Gary Hunt got the Environmental Restoration Award
Daniel Ciraldo received the Enid Pinkney Award for Historic Preservation
Liz Plater-Zyberk was on hand to present an award to Nathaniel Connolly. He was not there but Greg Bush of the Urban Environment League accepted the award.
Blanca Mesa received the Dan Paul Award for Public Waterfront Protection
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava got the Katy Sorenson Award for Government Ethics.
Biscayne Times Publisher Jim Mullin got the David Lawrence, Jr. Award for Public Information.
No Awards on this one, I just liked this photo of County Commission Chair Jean Monestime and Former County Commissioner Katy Sorenson
UEL Board Member, Scientist John Van Leer urged everyone to join the Citizens Climate Lobby
As I said I did not include all the award winners go to UEL.Org or their Facebook page to see the rest.
The Onions went to Climate Change Deniers: Rick Scott, our Awful Governor; and Marco Rubio, our absent, awful Senator. County Commissioner Pepe Diaz also got an onion and it wasn't for drunken driving. Jonah Wolfson got an onion for his PAC.
ORDINANCE CREATING SECTION 12-14.2 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO PROVIDE FOR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICERS AND CANDIDATES REGARDING SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATIONS; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO REPORT; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT BY THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE
In plainer language: (By the way a Political Action Committee (PAC) and an Electioneering Communication Organizaiton (ECO) can raise funds without limits)
It passed with enough votes to go to Committee. All agreed, except Xavier Suarez (has a PAC or ECO), Audrey Edmonson and of course -- it goes without saying -- Pepe Diaz. This early discontent at first reading is a sign of the ordinance's shaky ground. Juan Zapata and Steve Bovo were absent for the vote.
In her first-ever run for office last year, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava experienced the shadowy world of campaign finance firsthand — thanks to political action committees that supported her opponent.
“It was very difficult, if not impossible, to trace exactly where that money was coming from,” Levine Cava told the Miami Herald on Tuesday, after introducing a proposed county ordinance that would require greater PAC disclosures.
Commissioner X talked about free-speech when objecting. Come on, you have a PAC and this will effect you. And Pepe babbled about how it would hurt him support veterans. I suppose asking the foxes to patrol the hen house will be a losing proposition. I believe this will go down in committee on January 12th. Members of that Committee: Zapata (chair), Sosa, Levine-Cava, Heyman, Souto and Bovo. I don't recall Souto or Sosa ever having a PAC. Who knows, they might vote in favor of it.
Yes I know it is part of the job to be photographed with people, but this Society Sunday Miami Herald Photo of Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava with Lobbyist Ron Book made me spit out my coffee. Levine Cava celebrates small business Friday. Is this lobbyist Saturday night? (Sally Heyman was also in the shot). Ron Book gave $2,500 to Lynda Bell's campaign against Daniella Levine Cava. Now I bet he is kissing Daniella's ring.
Lobbyists are like the mafia, I am sure his reply to her on skunking her campaign is: "It was just business." Well, No Ron it is more. You should support candidates that are right for the people of this good community not for your pocketbook. Lynda Bell was toxic for us.
So why is Mayor Gimenez's budget devoid of any Climate Change funding for planning on this catastrophe? Forked tongue? I am glad he is going. I think he will learn a lot and that is needed.
Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner for District 8, is also going (paying her own way). Mayor Cindy Lerner of Pinecrest is a Keynote Speaker at the event.
Draft Agenda
I wonder if anyone will ask him how much it is costing Miami Dade County, since we are at ground zero. Miami Beach: You can't just keep pumping out the water, and, by the way is the county helping the city pay for the pumping?
Daniella Levine Cava said:
Our county is ground zero for sea level rise in the United States and rising waters pose a serious threat to our community, economy and way of life. Local governments around the world are working to find solutions and the summit is a key opportunity for local leaders to share best practices on combatting and preparing for sea level rise. I thank Mayor Gimenez for including me in his delegation.
If you believe this Daniella, please vote for a budget on second reading that is not devoid of any money for climate change planning and "best practices":
Was Rebeca Sosa invited to be part of the delegation? When she was Chair she put together the first Climate Change task force with Harvey Ruvin as the Chair. Rebeca said indeed she was invited but she had pressing business at the County. Was County Clerk Harvey Ruvin invited? How did the Mayor decide who would be part of his delegation? Only people that approached him? And, how did he talk Sosa into waiting till midyear for any funds for Climate Change. The time is now Rebeca not midyear. Use your power - your vote for the budget.
I believe this budget cycle there should be a line item for Climate Change in the County Budget -- since one of our biggest cities, Miami Beach, is already experiencing flooding. The fund should have at least $1 Million in it. It can be transferred back to the general fund if it is not needed but we need engineering reports, RFPS, matching funds for grants, this is too critical to wait to see how much money we need. We need to get to work as Rick Scott would say...not mid-year now. And Phillip Levine send the county a bill for the pumps to light a fire under them. Let them get rid of those useless mom and pop grants, most are a scam, that they shouldn't be involved in and let them stop giving money to Ron Book's charities. In fact, let them ask for the money they gave him already back.
I asked Harvard Grad, Lawyer, Author, County Commissioner Xavier Suarez what he thought of the Supreme Court's decision to not reverse a lower court, that strips the Mayor of veto power in Union impasses in negotiations:
"The court's decision saying the mayor can't veto the commission ruling on a impasse in Union Contracts, I fully expected that result. How can Mayor Gimenez be party to an impasse under collective bargaining laws and veto what the Board does? It is clearly a Quasi-judicial decision of the Board of Commissioners."
This is a win for County Employees. Struck down was the Mayor's power to veto stand-offs in union contracts. As I write, I think there are about 4 union contract negotiations in the works.
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava of District 8 said:
"The decision upholds the separation of powers doctrine where executive is separate from judiciary. It upholds rights of employees to due process. "
Siding unanimously with the Police Benevolent Association by refusing to hear the County's appeal, the Supreme Court of Florida stripped Mayor Gimenez' power to veto. Big win for unions. According to Doug Hanks of the Miami Herald:
Decision means unions need 7 votes to approve contracts not 9.
Union lawyers argued Florida law only gives the legislative branch authority to resolve impasses between unions and the administration of a local government. The First District Court of Appeal agreed in a February decision, and this week the state’s highest court declined to review the case.
“The impact of this ruling will be felt statewide as it dictates the procedures for fair resolution of labor disputes and guards against the abuse of power,” said John Rivera, president of the local Police Benevolent Association, which is the county’s police union. “It’s not only a win for Miami-Dade County employees, it’s a win for all employees across the state.”
Did we the taxpayers pay for this lawsuit? Do we have to pay the PBA costs? Why Did the county fight this lawsuit in the first place and then appeal it twice?
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article34548393.html#storylink=cpy
What to do about the Courthouse issue? We don't want blocks of concrete falling on our heads and $30 million has been set aside for that. As far as most Commissioners are concerned we should just do an RFP tailored for one firm (we all know that firm, lets be honest commissioners, I know which one it is). I think Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava has a better idea: We should think it through now that the $30 Million has afforded us time to do it right. This letter to Mayor Gimenez has some positive solutions that County Commissioners might consider. The Mayor, up for reelection, should certainly take note. This letter is chock full of good ideas:
2A RESOLUTION SETTING POLICY FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RELATED TO BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM PROJECT NO. 124 - ''ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND'' (''PROJECT 124''); DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS BY JUNE 16, 2015 WITH PROPOSED GRANT RECIPIENTS OF A BOARD APPROVED ALLOCATION FOR PROJECT 124 FUNDING AND TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT DETAILING RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS TO BOARD; AND DELAYING APPROVAL OF NEW ALLOCATIONS FROM PROJECT 124 UNTIL THE REPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION
Daniella Levine Cava's first resolution. The discussion that ensued caused Daniella to bifocate the two issues as she heard her colleagues complain. Jordan asked her to consider having the items have a 6 month deadline. It got so complicated I lost track but they approved part of the item. Apparently the Grant's Guy complained about the timeline to Jordan (tattletale). He thought it was to go before the Commission (too long a process) and not just the mayor. Anyway, the Committee approved a 6 month window for projects to be negotiated by the party to receive the bond money and the mayor. If not, the allocation for money reverts back to the bond fund ready for another project. So far no money has been given out and won't be until it goes before the County Commission one more time. At least projects won't languish for years if this is approved by the full Commission. There are no time limitations currently.
Here is some good legislation she is considering: According to Miami Today she wants LOCAL products to have preference in the County. One area that would benefit is the local fruit and vegetable growers. Local hospitals, etc. would use the local products instead of imported.
The Publix labeling of Redland products has been a disaster. It was a big campaign a few years ago. They don't promote local produce. Neither does Whole Foods. I would pay more for local. Levine Cava said: "Every time we use our money at home we are having a multiplier effect."
We should also be giving farmers money in exchange for giving up development rights. It would go a long way to keep farming viable.
Also those stupid economic game changers the dopey Commission voted on (Skyrise - 9 million and Miami Wilds - $13.5 million - to be built on sensitive land), Levine-Cava wants a deadline on them for July. Remember Flagstone in the city of Miami on Watson Island - it is going on its 13th year. She wants to avoid that sort of thing happening at the County.
Levine-Cava wants no money given out until negotiations are complete between the Mayor and the Developers on the thresholds the Developers are to meet. I believe this is in committee today at 2pm. I wouldn't give them a damn cent but that's just me.
Daniella Levine Cava being sworn in by Miami Dade County Clerk Harvey Ruvin (photo By Geniusofdespair)
Our top story of 2014 was the election of Daniella Levine Cava. We were early supporters and our blog archive contains many reports on her campaign to defeat an incumbent; inspirational for a younger generation of leaders considering public service. Here is our recent interview.
Daniella, There have been eight voting meetings of the county commission and various committees in just your first month. What has the transition been like?
DLC: I had three months from the election and used that period to a very good purpose. I met with each of the commissioners, I met with the mayor, with department heads, and with agencies that are allied with the county, from the convention and visitors people, to the Beacon Council, and of course with community advocacy groups that supported me and with non-profit groups that couldn't get involved politically in order to deepen my knowledge and preparedness for the job so when I finally got to be sworn in, I hit the ground running.
What is the biggest challenge for you?
DLC: We do not get meeting agendas very far in advance and there is alot of background and then research beyond what is given, that you have to do. I am relying on staff who are knowlegeable for historical background but I also want to get input from department heads and from the community. The part that is new and challenging is to be adequately prepared on a tremendous number of issues.
And your relationship with other commissioners?
DLC: We have had a number of public hearings and I've been very attentive. I have attended from start to finish every one of those eight meetings and only absented myself to go to the bathroom where, by the way, the meeting is broadcast. So I have heard every single word said and listened to every person coming to county hall to give public testimony.
What is the biggest surprise to you?
DLC: I find that the conversation on the dais can go on too long on issues and items where we already know how people are going to vote and, as a result, it doesn't go on long enough on some matters that require deeper attention. I understand that each commissioner is not only trying to get information to inform the decision but also trying to communicate with the public where they stand on certain things. Sometimes that has led to conversations going on longer than I wish, only because it makes us hurry up on other matters that require more attention.
What's the second biggest surprise?
DLC: People who wouldn't give me the time of day during the campaign are very eager to establish relationships now. That's not a surprise. It reminds me not to allow myself to be seduced by the treatment one gets as an elected official. I'm working very hard to stay grounded.
What are key issues facing the Miami-Dade County Commission in new year?
DLC: I am very concerned about the way the county spends money voted by the people. Like the $9 million recently approved for the tourist attraction on the bay, Skyrise. I will propose a moratorium until such time as new criteria are developed that will be more about spending money for community infrastructure like climate resilience and transit, rather than to create "job generators" as the primary focus, because these are very difficult to verify and document. There are also technical and timing problems related to the county requirements with these new projects that have surfaced so we really need to look hard at how to accomplish what we want.
I'll give an example how timing becomes an issue relative to the budget process. The Climate Change task force recommendations are not due for another year, but we need information by spring or summer at the latest to make the deadline for the mayor's next budget proposal. I don't want to wait two years to get started and so I proposed an amendment which was passed, to produce quarterly reports so we can start policy making and funding where necessary.
And on the budget itself?
DLC: The mayor seems very confident of the revenue stream, but I'm not so sure. In the past, there has been moving around of funds. That may not be sustainable for some of our core county functions that might be at risk. I'm very worried about parks ... our parks department is on life support. We are down to some park managers managing several parks and part time employees who are spread so thin and might not have the experience to meet the needs. They likely want full time work and could leave at any time. Our parks are our treasures. I also focused on the implementation of Amendment 1 and how we are going to get the benefit of it. Ludlam Trail, for example. Parks are quality of life issues that make this a place where we want to live. We need to spend more time and money on infrastructure that has to do with residents and not only visitors and investors. We have to have a different set of priorities and I really hope the other commissioners who are concerned with a lack of vision will take that step forward with me.
Speaking of Amendment 1 (that will create billions for land conservation and other public purposes from a percentage of the documentary stamp tax on real estate transactions, approved by 78 percent of Florida voters in the Nov. election), how are you dealing with the Miami-Dade state legislative delegation?
DLC: We need to provide our lobbyists to the legislature with a clear direction on priorities. I do not know yet how we should work to accomplish both purposes through Amendment 1 funds: acquisition of endangered lands and park lands that might be better described as infrastructure.
One of the big issues we have followed for many years at Eye On Miami is the possible expansion of State Road 836, a major beltway, down into farmland and open space in southwest Miami-Dade: where are you on that issue?
The same way that water is the key issue for our sustainability in South Florida, transportation is the driver for the economy. In the south part of the county, no single road is going to solve our transit problems. This policy area is the biggest challenge we face, as anyone knows who commutes to work or from work to home at rush hour. We are recruiting a new leader of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and I recently talked with the county's human resource director about the kind of leadership we need; someone who can bring a lot of different interests together and find a common vision. Transportation is the problem we have to wrestle to the ground, and I intend to invest a lot of energy in this issue.
I'm concerned about the extension of 836 and the dollars that could be used in a way more aligned with better land use and smart growth. I would prefer that we use our dollars for a longer term and more sustainable approach to development. We really haven't had a strong vision to accomplish the land use and development we want. We need stronger policies to change the dynamic.
Anything else?
DLC: Two points I'd like to make: in the midst of all the growth of Miami-Dade, our county continues to grow more unequal. The recession accentuated the economic divide. So I am looking at ways our policies can create more equity including more mixed income housing development and promoting things that would change neighborhoods so we wouldn't have so much concentrated poverty.
Lastly, my fundamental foundational issue is lack of trust in government. I am so delighted with the level of support I get from staff and the County Attorneys Office. There are so many people to help with history and drafting and strategy. You can't do alot of things if you don't have the public's confidence. We need to show the good things that our government does so taxpayers can see the return on their investment and we need to support efficient, productive government in the service of what is most important to people. It sounds trite to say that "people come first", but people really do come first. And thanks for making my election, Eye On Miami's story of the year! And thank Eye On Miami for being my first campaign endorsement!
The top story in Miami-Dade County is an exception to the rule that low voter turnout favors incumbency: Daniella Levine Cava, county commissioner for District 8.
The victory of a first-time candidate for public office is great news for a new generation of engaged citizens considering public office: yes you can!
Daniella Levine Cava won, because she was a credible candidate with significant community accomplishments and a dedicated base of well organized volunteers from within and outside her district.
Miami:
Traffic. Traffic nightmares in Miami reached a tipping point in 2014. Miami cannot be viable, by economic measures, unless there is a massive effort to fix transit.
State of Florida:
Top Republicans fight Fair Districts. The constitutional amendment, passed by more than 60 percent of Florida voters, seems inarguable: that political districts should be drawn fairly and not gerrymandered to achieve predetermined outcomes in favor of one party or another. So why have Republican leaders in Tallahassee spent millions, tens of millions, continuing to fight Fair Districts?
Nationally:
The power of corporations and money in politics has sapped the vitality of our democracy. Along those lines, when Cuban American friends say there should be no rapprochement with Havana until there are free and democratic elections in Cuba: let's fix what is wrong with our own political system -- ie. the domination of money in elections -- before telling others how to run their own.
I asked Daniella Levine Cava some of your questions that you left in comments on my last post, December 2nd. She was kind enough to get back to me. Let me assure you SHE WILL NOT BE DOING SPLAININ' on a regular basis. You have to trust her decisions are thoughtful ones. We can't all be Monday morning quarterbacks. This is an exception and you are lucky to be getting anything because I am sure you didn't watch the grueling 12 hour meeting on the 2nd (at least 12 hours). I only watched 5 or 6 hours and most of that was about actual living people professing that they were afraid to use public bathrooms because they might be trounced on by a transgender person, if the vote didn't go their way. "God deliver us from the dopey people in this county." The Gender Identity Rights ordinance passed 9 to 3 with Souto absent. I could be wrong on that but I am sure I would have remembered Souto jabbering on, if he were there. I didn't hear why Juan Zapata voted against it. That was the only surprise for me, his vote. He seems the type that can handle himself under any circumstances in a public restroom. Pepe Diaz still hasn't had his epiphany and I am getting less sure we will ever see one from him. If a Brain Tumor didn't scare him into sanity what would?
Airport: There are sometimes valid reasons for exceptions on a process, I believe, for extenuating circumstances. I spent a lot of time before and during the meeting getting the background on the no bid contract. I never expected I would be willing to do it but based on unusual circumstances felt it was vital or we would lose major American Airlines business, jobs and revenue.
I made them clarify in the resolution that Odebrecht was getting a smaller amount as the management fee (about $6 m I was told) and to spell out the reasons it was vital, and that almost all of the amount would be competitively bid through the subcontract process.
It was about 7-8 pm on the tape if you wish to watch it.
It is clear that I have no donations from anyone associated with these deals so clearly I made my decision strictly on the merits. And I will always do so, regardless of campaign donations. Just making that point as your readership may assume that is the motivation for BCC votes. As you know, I will be working to try to prevent those doing business with the county to donate to campaigns.
Further clarification: While the bid waiver is not well-timed or perfect language, I raised many questions and received on the record assurances from the Administration that the vast majority of the funding will go through a localized bid process. In the end, I had to balance the needs of our community, the residents and businesses who use our airport services and the desire to achieve greater accountability on this project and more importantly, future ones. I believe my position on Tuesday balanced these three objectives and the outcome will be measured by a decrease in rushed proposals and fewer bid waivers in the future.
Aviation says this is the first part of a larger $200 million overhaul and they assured me there would not be a repeat.
Badia Spices: It is a federal bond program that goes through the county but the eligibility and selection are managed federally (so I understand), with focus on local economic development and job creation. I am going to be briefed further on the program so I can support promoting it to others. But it is apparently a well established national program. Jesse Trice Health Center was also got approved for one yesterday, so nonprofits and for profits are both eligible. They are not competing against each other. There is no cost to the county and thus the taxpayers. I told staff that in future I would expect greater clarity in writing on this and other items in the agenda itself, so that the public understands the rationale. Other commissioners agreed with me and the mayor said he would do it (during discussion on the airport). I was able to improve transparency on a few items yesterday including county transfer of property. I will work on legislation to prevent "no solicitation bids", others agreed with me, and the mayor agreed to have an open competitive process for the courthouse building if sold.
I thought I was able to make some good inroads and garner support for changes.
So there you have it. Satisfied or not, that is all you get. Next time watch the meeting. I have to say I felt sorry for Daniella having to sit through this particular meeting for her first one. It was absolutely painful listening to people say the same thing for 3 or 4 hours..."danger bathroom."
