It's Saturday: Eye on Miami Editorial Day. By Geniusofdespair

MOVIE REVIEW - The Mummy:

The Mummy really wasn't that bad. Tom Cruise was not  as annoying as critics claimed. Russell Crowe, now he played a really stupid part but the rest of the cast were fine. If the critics can like Transformers, then I am surprised they panned this movie so badly. I would give it 2 stars. I didn't feel like getting up and leaving the theater. Yes the plot was totally implausible but the name of the movie was the Mummy so what else would you have been expecting?

WHO LIED:

Donald Trump or James Comey? I put my money on Trump. This reminds me of Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas. Anita Hill was more than plausible. Can we do anything about all this lying?

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. - Mark Twain

I saw this clip yesterday, a reporter asked Trump if he discussed ??? that was important to her country. Trump said no we didn't discuss it. Then off camera you hear President Klaus Iohannis of Romania say, yes we discussed it.  So Trump lied a few minutes after accusing Comey of lying.

I can't find the clip, just found it! The woman publishing the press conference curiously left out of the clip the part where Trump lied to the reporter. Good video nonetheless, watch it damn it.



Lying comes much too easy for Trump. 35% of Americans thought he was honest in March. I believe Comey a thousand times over Trump. Sad. Bigly Sad. Very, very, very bigly sad.

WEATHER:

A lot of rain. Day after day. Miami had 10.94 inches of rain in the first 10 days of this month. Average would have been 2.64 inches. Our year to date total is 24.42 inches. So in 5 months we had 14 inches and almost as much in the last 10  days.

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial Page. By Geniusofdespair

State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez

I look at State Senator Frank Artiles with disgust and I am so glad he is gone. What a piece of shit. I am so very proud of my State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez. There is some sanity left in this world. However, my State Representative is a big disappointment. Don't even remember his name. I guess that makes him lucky. He is like fellow Democrat DINO Daphne Campbell 2. Duran, that is it.

Nick Duran a big fat NO

Listen up Democrats: I know it is important to increase the number of Democrats in the State House BUT I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS GUY AGAIN. I might write my own name in.

PALMETTO BAY:

I dub Palmetto Bay worse than Hudstead and that is saying a lot. The voters there are clueless since they continue voting for the toxic John Dubois.  I think the Village Council's recent 3 to 2 vote to repeal a former vote allowing a development might end up getting the Village sued. John Dubois appears to love lawsuits. The Ethics Commissioner had advised John Dubois not to vote and that opinion still stands according to Joe Centorino the Ethics Commissioner. John Dubois voted anyway.  John Dubois' suit against the Ethics Commission was dropped.

ME:

I really hate writing for this blog now. I think because government: County, State and Federal is just so very bad, embarrassingly bad.  I feel like I am always looking away -- as if there is a dead rat on the sidewalk and I don't want to barf. How much can you look away? But when I don't, it just makes me crazy. We have a Bizarro world filled with hater, xenophobic, racist people. I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime...except when I was young and I would read superman comic books.

Poor Superboy

Lastly, I read Facebook and I know most of you are lost in some really unrealistic optimism: I call it the cute puppy, cute kitten syndrome. Get real.

This is our life, don't look away, face it:

This is how we all eat breakfast isn't it? What is with the mannequin on the right?

Don't look away this what Americans elected. Doomed.

Eye on Miami's Saturday Editorial Page Oct. 24th: Hurricanes in other places.

Miami Herald: What is a Newspaper...Think About It.

PATRICIA: CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE HITS MEXICO

Compilation Video of Patricia

All I can say is, we lucked out on hurricanes this year.



Hurricane Patricia Flooding reaches Guadalajara



HILLARY CLINTON

It took 11 hours of grueling testimony to get Hillary Clinton's campaign back on track. The Republicans did her a favor to let her show her commanding presence, her stamina and her memory. Most people her age are trying desperately to find their keys. She pronounced words I never could even if I was briefed for years. She isn't as likable as Bill was, but she certainly is as smart.

BRIBES IN OPA LOCKA

Hudstead's Steve Shiver is accused of soliciting a $150,000 bribe for one of Opa Locka's officials. I can't help think, knowing Opa Locka's history, that he, as City Manager, did it wrong -- if he did it -- perhaps pissing off the guy who was the target of the bribe causing him to spill his guts. Just a theory, we don't even know if the bribe story is true.

FLORIDA FLOOD INSURANCE IN LIGHT OF SEA LEVEL RISE

 Read more....

CONSERVANCY FOR MUSEUM PARK

The idea to add more stuff in Bicentennial  Park is off the table for now. The vote was put off until January.

Speaking of the City of Miami: There is a 50 page glossy magazine of all Marc Sarnoff's accomplishments while in office. I looked to see who paid for it. I guess the city. It didn't say. I hope we don't see more of these expensive publications by other politicians. Apparently Al Crespo wrote about this book three times: one, two, three.

OBIT 

Aaron Higer said: Now for the secret - how to be a successful scientist. Follow your dream of the kind of scientist you want to be and find someone that will share this dream with you.

Aaron Higer has passed away. He was a "member of the Working Group and Science Coordination Team of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.  Aaron has worked for the benefit of the Everglades ecosystem for over 40 years in capacities ranging from field researcher collecting fish samples for pesticide analysis, to his current position as Working Group and Science Coordination Team member, and U.S. Geological Survey South Florida Ecosystem Coordinator."

"Perhaps Mr. Higer's most enduring concept is the Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN). The main focus of Everglades restoration is to restore more natural hydrology, and EDEN is a primary tool used by scientists to examine the relationships between hydrology and other natural processes. The EDEN is an integrated network of real-time water-level monitoring, ground elevation modeling, and water-surface modeling that provides scientists and managers with current (1991-present), on-line, water-depth information for the entire freshwater portion of the Greater Everglades. EDEN is available to anyone free of charge, and offers a consistent and documented dataset that can be used by scientists and managers to examine ecosystem-level responses to hydrodynamic changes in the Everglades."


MY READERS DISAPPOINT ME

Opera day came and went yesterday. Few readers responded. I only make you listen to Opera every couple of years. If you can't play 30 seconds of an opera video so you can vote, you are pretty useless. It is not as if I am asking you to listen to Country Western music. These women are the LeBron James of opera. Go back and listen to 30 seconds of the damn videos. You might be at a cocktail party someday with intelligent people (how did you get invited?) talking about opera. You can then chime in: "I think Joan Sutherland is the greatest Soprano of all time." They will look at you in awe, a heated discussion will ensue and you will be the star on the conversation because of me. And the people will go home and say, "Funny, I thought he/she was uncouth."

MAYORS REGALADO AND GIMENEZ FEUD OVER THE SOCCER STADIUM

County Mayor Gimenez doesn't want Raquel Regalado to get any credit for the soccer stadium deal. Gimenez went on Spanish language radio accusing City of Miami Mayor Regalado of playing politics to help his daughter. Carlos Gimenez, don't you help your son the lobbyist? He seems to coincidentally lobby on things you are working on. I guess that is an aside. Anyway, Mayor Regalado did the same on Spanish radio -- ragged on Gimenez. I love feuds, but Gimenez said he will be the bigger man and step away from this issue. Why is he so afraid of Raquel? He has enough money to crush any opponent. It is in the Miami Herald. Reporter Doug Hanks said (BTW very amusing Doug):

In a series of interviews, the reliable drama that is stadium politics in South Florida played out in Miami’s signature theater: Spanish-language talk radio. There were allegations of pataleta (tantrum) calumnia (slander) and politiquería (politicking), ratcheting up the stakes surrounding David Beckham’s sudden shift from the county to the school board as the chosen landlord for his soccer stadium.

Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade’s mayor, went on WURN-AM (1020)’s Actualidad Radio shortly after 7 a.m.. Friday and accused his Miami counterpart, Tomás Regalado, of “petty” politicking. He said the Miami mayor orchestrated the Beckham switch in order to boost the fortunes of daughter Raquel Regalado. She is using her seat on the school board as a springboard to run against Gimenez in 2016 for county mayor.

“It wasn't surprising to me because I know the mayor, Regalado. I know that for him everything is political, instead of what is to the benefit of the people or the city,” Gimenez said. “For him, it’s political, and he and his daughter are politicians. That’s what they do.”

About an hour later, Tomás Regalado was on Actualidad to accuse Gimenez of being bitter over a Regalado getting credit for bringing soccer back to Miami. One solution, Regalado said, was to take a photo where “Mayor Gimenez stands next to Beckham and I stand in the back. Then he’ll get over the tantrum.”

Eye On Miami Saturday Editorial Page Oct. 17th: Highway Robbery... By Geniusofdespair

The Miami Herald has Lost Its Saturday Editorial Mojo

HIGHWAY ROBBERY

The Lexus lane on 95, going North at 7pm on Wednesday, was charging $10.50. As we drove it went down to $7.25.

Did anyone ever imagine that these lanes would be robbing the people blind? I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw $10.50. They treat the citizens well don't you think? Traffic is so bad that people are willing to pay  about $50 a week to get home from work? What do they pay to get to work? Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come to this.

CAMPAIGNS

In Raquel Regalado's campaign for Mayor, contributions have dropped off. She raised $4,455 in September for a total take of $208,565. Meanwhile, Carlos Gimenez's Pac has amassed $103,055 in September in his PAC (called Stupid People for Gimenez) for a total of $1,599,632. Lobbyist Al Maloof gave $2,000. Manny Medina gave $10,000. Those horrible lobbyists in Tallahassee (Ballard Partners gave $5,000).

The Miami Beach and City of Miami elections are quickly approaching. I would not vote for Philip Levine based on that PAC he and Wolfson concocted to pervert the campaign laws of the city.

COUNTY's FAULTY CALCULATIONS ARE WASTING OUR MONEY
According to a report by NBC 6 this week:

"For the second time this year, Miami-Dade County was forced to adjust payments to a vendor after NBC 6 Investigators revealed county employees failed to properly calculate cost-of-living adjustments under public contracts.

While the companies are different, they are both headed by the same man: Ray Gonzalez, the head of several transportation companies that, with their associates, donate more money to county commissioners' campaigns and political committees than almost any other entity in the county."

PALMETTO BAY VICE MAYOR....hmmm

Mayor Eugene Flinn said:
"I was served this notice at Village Hall by Vice Mayor John Dubois' personal attorney just prior to the start of the State of the Village Address. I certainly will maintain anything in my possession, but I am at a loss to understand what information I could possibly offer John DuBois or his attorney. Can anyone assist me with understanding why the Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor wants to involve me in his personal litigation against Miami-Dade County? This appears to be his ongoing fight, not mine."

See letter about Jack Osterholt and Lee Hefty on Mayor Flinn's blog

DIVERSE GROUPS GATHERED AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER OCTOBER 14TH TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION BY OFFICIALS

About 800 to 1,000 people gathered at Government Center with one goal, bring to the forefront Climate Change. It was a multi-city march. Here is my photo Gallery of the event:

Lowland Mayor Talks to Highland Mayor. Surfside Mayor Daniel Dietch speaks to South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard. 

Candidate for Florida Senate Andrew Korge takes Climate Change very seriously and believes the Legislature in Tallahassee should too.

The people in this taxi were handicapped but they still marched in the parade. No one left behind.

Don't know them, but they were there.

Former County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, Mayor of Pinecrest Cindy Lerner, Jim Murley - the Mayor's pick for Chief of Resiliency (stupid title) and Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioner for District 8.

Fanm Haitian Women of Miami Stands up for Climate Change

County Commission Chair Jean Monestime posed with Suzanne Ferreira a concerned citizen from Southwest Miami.

I walked a bit with the parade.

State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez was tardy and so was Sonia his new bride.

Watch out! There are two competing solar petitions going around. Make sure you sign the right one. That means you have to read it.

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial Oct. 10: UDB, Suarez, Jordan, Lobbyist Spawns and Hudstead Investigations. By Geniusofdespair

Miami Herald: Your Saturday Editorial Page is a Faux Editorial Page. More than one person in your household? You're out of luck sharing the paper edition. Only one section of news!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Marco Rubio conferring with his BFF David Rivera when they were in the Fl. House of Representatives.

COMMISSIONER XAVIER SUAREZ (the X man)

The gala is tonight. I haven't figured out what it is REALLY for but I am going. I heard he was not going to announce his bid for Mayor of Miami Dade County, but then I heard he would. Anyway, the $1,000 table costs will go towards his District 7 account. It now has $106,000 in it. It wouldn't be hard to switch it over to a Mayoral run account, he just has to send letters to the contributors.  If he does run for Mayor, Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner and City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff have threatened to run for the District 7 seat.

COMMISSIONER BARBARA JORDAN'S RICHES OVER THE YEARS:

She dumped the house in St. Pete and the house co owned with her her daughter. It appears she got new cars. She has lost value on the Key West retreat/rental.

THE GWEN MARGOLIS STATE SENATE SEAT

Kris Korge's son Andrew is running for Gwen Margolis' State Senate seat. He has no political experience, except being related to his politically connected father. This is just like Lauren Book running with no political experience. All she has is a politically connected father - Ron Book. Does she even have a college degree?

In a campaign letter Andrew said:

If you support transparency and stronger oversight of lobbyists...

Ahem. Have you ever met your father Andrew? Do you know he has been a lobbyist his whole working life, just like Lauren's father?  What is this, a new trend: Lobbyists spawning politicians?

HUDSTEAD INVESTIGATION
 

Steve Shiver with one of his X or current wife.

The investigation into the petition began in June. Assistant State Attorney Luis Perez-Medina and Tim Vander Giesen are conducting it with Karl Ross from ethics.

Shiver Family standing at the MCM table.

There are other investigations going on....who can keep up with Hudstead.

MCM constructions was given three city contracts totaling $50 million in the past 18 months. Steve Shiver was their lobbyist. MCM had a table at the sock hop at the race track. The Sock hop was hosted by the track and run by Sandra Nanni of Cutler Bay who is also a grant writer for the City of Homestead.

The racetrack charged Mayor Porter $435 for a gala there. Mario Diaz-Balart paid $2,000 for the same venue. Also under investigation is Jorge Luis Lopez (he is the track attorney).

THE TOXIC UDB MOVING APPLICATIONS 7 and 8 COMING UP

I don't see them going anywhere. I don't think the unreformable majority is a super majority, what is needed now. And, it would be suicide for the Mayor not to veto them. He needs the voters that find this issue important.

Zapata said he was not a sure vote on these. So who do they have for sure, Jordan, Pepe Diaz, Souto, Bovo? Maybe Monestime but he would be a fool to vote for them, it takes money for infrastructure from his district. The tides are turning. The two applications will be heard before the Planning and Zoning Board October 19th. The key is, the County Commission cannot send these up to Tallahassee for review they have to deny them outright. They have never paid attention to Tallahassee's Department (of whatever it is called now) anyway so what is the point of getting their opinion?

Just what we need, a city on the edge of the Everglades. They call it "green" because they think we are fools.

SHOOTINGS

Movie goers, grade school children, high school children, church members, and now college kids (over and over) -- innocent people are killed and the dopey gun lobby thrives in the Repugnant party. They all support lunatics with guns. Yawn. This story is getting old. Soon they will stop reporting mass shootings.

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial October 3rd: Rumors, Flooding, Hillary and Opa Locka... By Geniusofdespair

Start Getting Accustomed to the Miami Herald Saturday Editorial Page Lite. Mine is on its way out.

RUMORS AND TRUTH

WHAT?? Jorge Luis Lopez has City BFF's Too? That is Marc and Teresa Sarnoff

Jorge Luis Lopez was BFF of the two former Miami Dade County Mayors Alex Penelas and Carlos Alvarez, not just Carlos Gimenez. He is a latcher oner. Some call him a parasite who feeds at the public trough and is the BFF of anyone he can leach onto. Some call him a lobbyist (insulting to lobbyists). He will do anything to insure his current BFF stays in power. Lopez cloaks his political activity in ”charitable work” paid for by his work for his BFFS. He is the puppet master. As they said in the movie about the Watergate scandal, “All the presidents Men”, ”follow the money”.  Speaking of money, I didn't see him registered lobbying for Wayne Rosen for that Palmetto Bay thing in January. But then I didn't look in Palmetto Bay records...duh.

From Jorge Luis Lopez's website. What better way to butter up a Mayor: have a ball in his honor.

No way can Carlos Gimenez compete with this.

Former Steve Shiver came in as Opa Locka City Manager and Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi quit as Opa Locka  City Attorney.  Was it forced out, bad blood, not enough bucks? I guess I should have asked Pizzi. But those two surely are oil and water. Meanwhile Pizzi has more troubles, this time with the insurance company. According to Ben Kuehne:

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi learned today that the Town’s insurance carrier is refusing to pay the legally required claim for litigation costs arising from Mayor Pizzi’s federal court exoneration and his successful fight to resume the Office of Mayor to which he was elected to serve until November 2016. “For many years, the insurance company charged the Town’s taxpayers premiums to cover claims just like this one, and the Town duly paid every premium for what it believed was the insurer’s contractual coverage,” remarked Mayor Pizzi. The insurer’s denial is absolutely unjustified under the terms of the policy and Florida law.

This is an all-too typical ploy by insurance companies. They charge high rates to be paid by the Taxpayers, and when obligated to pay claims, they defer, delay, and deny. Often, insurance companies will only pay claims – legitimate claims exactly like this one -- when courts order them to pay.

MIAMI BEACH FLOODING AT A GLANCE 

The City got in trouble this week with DERM (the County) for pumping into Biscayne Bay without permits. You can pretty much see the water in the Bay.

OTHER FLOODING AROUND TOWN DURING KING TIDE

Matheson Hammock

Matheson Hammock

Rickenbacker Causeway

QUOTE OF THE WEEK (MAYBE THE YEAR):

"I don't want to operate anything." Mayor Carlos Gimenez

FIU STUDENTS GET CLIMATE CHANGE

(Didn't Marco Rubio teach here?)

DON'T MISS

Trailblazers: The Perilous Story of the Tamiami Trail at the Coral Gables History Museum -October 2, 2015 - May 22, 2016

I went to the opening and I was very impressed with the exhibit. It was very cool to read a letter with an address of the Kampong on it signed by David Fairchild (his winter home). You will learn a lot about Florida's History in connection with the trail:

The Tamiami Trail's history, culture, its devastating impact on the Everglades and plans to mitigate that damage are all featured in this multi-media interactive exhibit featuring images, artifacts, historic documents and film. Curated by Jon Ullman.

LUNAR ECLIPSE SEPTEMBER 27TH

I don't know what happened in my best photo, but I like it.

BREWERIES, BREW PUBS, DISTILLERIES AND WINERIES ORDINANCE
This ordinance's prime sponsor is Miami Dade County Commissioner Pepe Diaz, accused of a DUI late last month. Hmmm.


THE REAL HILLARY CLINTON vs. THE OVER-REHEARSED HILLARY CLINTON

Yes the question in the first video is painfully long (I skipped a lot of it) but the answer by Hillary was actually given by a genuine Hillary for once. You can see how smart and likable this woman is if she would just be herself and not that rehearsed Hillary.


Part 1

Part 2

Eye on Miami Saturday Editorial Page September 26th: The Rube Rubio; Mayor Privatize it or Sell It Gimenez, PBA Foils County Again. By Geniusofdespair

The Miami Herald Almost Has An Editorial Page...But They Don't

Marco Rubio looks lovingly at his longtime pal David Rivera

PISSY LITTLE RUBIO

He is doing better in the polls, why not? No one is writing the truth about him and his scummy friend David Rivera.  They are life long friends, roommates, they even bought a house together. Do you think the sleaze didn't rub off on Norman's Braman's boy? Norman, according to a letter in the Miami Herald (and Fox News) Rubio attended a fundraiser on Yom Kippur at the Texas home of Harlan Crow alleged to display paintings done by Hitler. Did you know that? Cut off funding him.

I want to see the video of his speeches in the Florida House. I bet they are chock full of crap. He didn't get to be speaker just by kissing ass. Gimleteye, Jeb is done, concentrate on this twit.

 " SELL IT OFF" CARLOS GIMENEZ: MAYOR PRIVATIZER 

Career Ending Quote.

Clark Kent has returned to voice his displeasure with our Strong Mayor who seems to want to sell off the County to private entities.

On Friday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said what he really felt, but hadn't told the public until now: "I don’t want to operate anything." he said. Did the mayor of a major US county really say that he wants to outsource the entire government? That's insane, but that's exactly what he's doing. He wants to turn all the functions of Miami-Dade County over to private companies. That includes water, parks, public safety, sewage, transit, libraries, garbage, everything that American cities have traditionally operated to assure accountability and public trust. Last week he announced he wanted to turn the main public library and the Historical Museum into a condo. What's going on here? I don't think people understand exactly how dangerous and extreme Carlos Gimenez is. People need to wake up fast before this county's government is essentially dissolved.

Here is a news flash for you Carlos: WE DON'T WANT YOU TO OPERATE ANYTHING.  Rebeca Sosa we really have to get rid of this loopy Strong Mayor. Gimenez is getting drunk with power. He doesn't want to operate anything? So lets not let him operate anything, or for that matter, do anything. Take it over County Commissioners, do your duty, do away with the strong mayor. Put it on the ballot for 2016. And, he can't do much of anything without your votes. Don't give him your votes!

HUDSTEAD ABSENTEE BALLOT SCANDAL - MARK BELL'S MAYORAL BID

The latest is fingerprints of absentee ballot gatherers, 2 hired by Jose Luis Castillo. Tim Milton's fingerprints (hired by the Porter campaign) were found on the absentee ballots picked up by James Hendry Brady and his accomplice. The theory is Brady knew where Milton was working his magic and decided to go to the head of the line and pick up the ballots knowing they were delivered and supposed to be picked up and mailed by Milton. Anyway, who's fingerprints came first. James Brady is being charged and the trial was originally set for September 21st but that has since changed. There was a motion to take Brady's fingerprints 6/29 and it was granted. Luis Robainas is a subpoena witness. So, in other words the trial is progressing in Judge Victoria Brennan's State Court. And neither side should have their grimey hands on absentee ballots.

Jimmie Williams - he also had a restaurant financed by Wayne Rosen

In other Hudstead news, one of the Councilmen Jimmie Williams actually lives in Miami Gardens not Homestead. He commutes to Homestead to vote and pick up his paycheck. Neighbors in Miami Gardens confirm he lives there. How could a pastor be so sneaky and under-handed, and LIE? He is also in trouble over a car dealership sweetheart deal (on the grounds of the bowling alley that the city of Homestead owns).

JUMBO'S

Former owner of Jumbo's  - Bobby Flam Eating Dessert at Panera's

 The iconic 24 hour dinner in Liberty City is now closed and the land sold. I sat next to the former owner, Bobby Flam and we struck up a conversation.  He said he just couldn't make any money there anymore. Apparently Bobby's daughter is married to Author Brad Meltzer.  Brad, according to Bobby, struck up a friendship with George Bush, Sr. after he got a note from him praising his books. Brad admits to hanging out with the Bush clan but Bobby Flam wouldn't fork over any of the photos. Brad says his new novel is based on that Bush clan friendship.

We talked about all the County Commissioners. This is the way I get info...gossiping. He said he never got a penny from the County or the City but he got a lot of promises especially from Michelle Spence Jones.


PBA HAS A SECOND WIN - THIS TIME FROM THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATION COMMISSION - AGAINST MIAMI DADE COUNTY

 

So not only did the PBA get the Mayor's power to veto out of the picture on stand-offs with bargaining (by the Florida Supreme Court), the PBA won back some perks taken away by the County for County Employees.  These are heavy wins for the County Unions. I guess the expenses to make this right are not in the budget. Where will Jenny Moon find the funds?