tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372482442009-07-12T15:16:27.589-04:00Revealing analysis of national trends and local news you won't find in Miami's mainstream media. Dedicated to ethical government, saving tax dollars and a healthy environment. We aim to break the chokehold of Miami's developers and lobbyists on local government and the public commons. We offer our forum to that end.Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.comBlogger2768125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-59310587108369398932009-07-12T08:25:00.003-04:002009-07-12T08:51:12.263-04:00

Back in January 2001, before the housing market bubble, before the housing market collapse, and as the Supreme Court was deciding a disastrous presidential election that turned on shutting down the recount in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the then mayor of Miami-Dade County Alex Penelas picked a small town mayor, Steve Shiver, to be the professional manager of one of the largest county governments

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-37814926984172198842009-07-12T08:05:00.000-04:002009-07-12T08:05:00.267-04:00

You all know I am angry at Lowe's recent decision to appeal to the Florida Cabinet the Administrative Hearing Decision that denied them the move of the Urban Development Boundary. I think they suck for trying to move the UDB when we all know they own enough land within the boundary to build the friggin' store. Anyway, it appears someone else on the internet thinks Lowe's sucks:

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-66048515667925824292009-07-12T06:28:00.007-04:002009-07-12T15:16:27.603-04:00

See more of Jim Morin... Also see in Today's Herald Jaw-dropping Marlins stadium deal (or as I like to call it, the mea culpa editorial -- the best the Editoral Board could muster in way of an apology to us) and the Guest Op Ed By Norman Braman on the Stadium Deal.

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-11313063289906072422009-07-11T19:33:00.006-04:002009-07-11T19:56:18.656-04:00

This guy isn't accurate AT ALL. For example, I checked with Miami Beach and Coral Gables on how many comp plan changes were approved. The Gables said they didn't know but it had to be less than 5 a year at most. Miami Beach knew, they said they had one comp plan change in the past 3 years: a text change Aug. 28, 2007 that would have required a vote under Amendment 4 -- ONE in 3 years! So this

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-56515475903974458172009-07-11T07:02:00.005-04:002009-07-11T10:25:15.005-04:00

"We are being punished for exercising our rights and for having the guts to be uppity spics and stand up and fight for the Hispanic community." - Miguel DeGrandy It is almost 17 years since Karen Branch wrote the following article on Lobbyist Miguel DeGrandy for the Miami Herald. "I like to take on very controversial things -- things that not the whole world may agree on," says De Grandy, who

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-26161972118494076402009-07-11T05:50:00.003-04:002009-07-11T06:26:08.784-04:00

At a time when many of the American people are being asked to take pay cuts to keep their companies afloat and people working, the insurance giant AIG is again planning to use our money to give out retention bonuses. Way back in March, the public felt so strongly about multi-millionaires getting multi-million dollar bonuses after taking billions in taxpayer dollars, the company asked back (a

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-72945884964346500702009-07-10T10:20:00.006-04:002009-07-10T10:33:25.212-04:00

As sex scandals involving Republican elected officials pile up, I am feeling battle fatigue. I know, the other side does it too. But isn't it clear by now: if you can't beat them, join them? You just can't take sex out of politics or anything else. Take the example of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlesconi, host of the G8 Summit, who appointed a former topless model to be his Minister of Equal

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-59569022902574344872009-07-10T10:00:00.007-04:002009-07-10T11:17:00.134-04:00

The Ferro application (South of SW 104 St. & West of SW 162 Ave.) to move the UDB line is in the County pipeline. The County Commissioners will vote on it in the Fall because moving the line requires a Comprehensive Master Plan map change. We, the County Voters, won't be able to ratify the vote if it passes. If Florida Hometown Democracy, Amendment 4, was the law, we would. I would like having

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-24552229163742802792009-07-09T16:42:00.003-04:002009-07-09T16:53:29.652-04:00

The Miami Herald reported that The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit today challenging a Miami-Dade County ordinance that attempts to remove homeless sex offenders who live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway.The county's 2,500-foot residency restriction conflicts with state law, which makes it unlawful for convicted sex offenders to live within 1,000 feet of a school, day-care center, park or

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-14760463037728331472009-07-09T07:18:00.000-04:002009-07-09T16:54:07.957-04:00

Killer snakes. Cat killers. What a perfect moment to divert attention from the worst economic crisis in a century and those elected officials who voted to use a professional sports stadium as a "stimulus". Along those lines, thanks to Miami Today and its publisher Michael Lewis, also a journalist who has analyzed and reported the sordid details of the Marlins stadium deal. The devil is always in

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-30482897771561507272009-07-09T07:00:00.021-04:002009-07-09T17:25:47.763-04:00

Statute 360, that was passed by the State, eliminated Key Biscayne's ability to participate in any meaningful way in the regional DRI process, essentially limiting our ability to be a part of any regional review of large scale projects that may have a negative effect on our community. - Mayor Robert Vernon - Key Biscayne (his email reply when asked why he voted to join the lawsuit)I reported on

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-18418539765970117742009-07-09T06:27:00.003-04:002009-07-09T08:27:22.167-04:00

As I predicted, July 6th, taxes are on the rise. It was reported today, in the Miami Herald, that Coral Gables voted to raise their tax rate to "offset an approximate $10-million shortfall in the city's budget." The average Coral Gables home (valued at $571,388) could see an increase of anywhere from $200 to a bit over $500. Remember, this average homeowner also has to pay county taxes which,

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-59451412360507241122009-07-08T06:38:00.009-04:002009-07-08T08:37:36.683-04:00

I can just imagine Nero, the Roman emperor, and the upper class of Roman nobility, the sycophants and hangers-on cheering the construction of a new colosseum for the people, while watching the city state's wealth drain away. It doesn't take much imagination. Only a passing interest in history. We have our own example: the newly planned and approved Marlin's baseball stadium in Miami.Back then,

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-54944728995941796052009-07-08T01:21:00.001-04:002009-07-08T01:21:00.312-04:00

According to the Miami Herald:Long-time political mover and shaker Joe Garcia -- who has been the voice a powerful Cuban exile group, chairman of the agency that regulates the state's utilities and an unsuccessful congressional candidate -- has been nominated for a post in the Obama administration.Garcia, 45, a Democrat from Miami Beach, was named on Tuesday Director of the Office of Minority

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-44695749592333604322009-07-07T06:31:00.003-04:002009-07-07T07:32:46.156-04:00

In the end, Robert McNamara said his mea culpas for the Vietnam War. He had been Secretary of Defense; his demeanor and bearing not unlike Donald Rumsfeld's -- utterly convinced he was right even when overwhelming evidence had proven him wrong. I almost met McNamara, once. I had just finished my first year as an undergraduate at Yale, a university like other Ivy League schools where the surefire,

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-85359935700097150362009-07-07T06:05:00.002-04:002009-07-07T08:28:12.102-04:00

Representative Erik Fresen (R-Miami) will be hosting a forum (Wednesday, July 8th at 6:00 pm in the City of Coral Gables Youth Center, 402 University Drive, Coral Gables) regarding Florida’s new growth management laws. Representatives from the development industry - including the Builders Association of South Florida (BASF) and the Latin Builders Association (LBA) - as well as those from local

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-38646372781221297852009-07-07T06:00:00.008-04:002009-07-07T08:22:34.772-04:00

We ran a Guest Blog about hundreds of children denied education in Homestead. It pitted Homestead Director of Housing, Ed Carrera, against Cipriano Garza, Director of Migrant Education for Miami-Dade Public Schools -- a power struggle of sorts, the blogger laid most of the blame on Carrera. Carrera controls the school's location and Gaza controls the school. In three years they could not

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-4651593811404748572009-07-06T19:45:00.011-04:002009-07-10T10:56:45.973-04:00

IT'S BACK!Adam Rivera of Environment Florida said Lowe’s announced today that it would appeal a recent Miami-Dade County administrative ruling that upheld the integrity of the Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary (UDB). For over seven years, Lowe's has pushed to build a Superstore that would straddle the UDB and include more than 10 acres of wetlands bordering the Everglades that are officially

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-70573194594362872092009-07-06T10:19:00.008-04:002009-07-06T10:43:56.895-04:00

I read it: Stake-outs rule. That is how they got him. See the video of the arraignment and read the arrest affidavit, released today. According to the Miami Herald:In interviews with police, accused cat killer Tyler Weinman eagerly described how to dissect cats, even describing the ''tearing sound'' made when cutting open a feline's body...

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-12879500342506018062009-07-06T07:15:00.003-04:002009-07-06T07:59:59.776-04:00

In a sign of how perilous the national economy is, The New York Times favors broadly reducing principal on underwater residential mortgages ("Not much relief", July 5, 2009). "Everybody wins" according to the Times by resolving the collateral damage of a speculator-driven economy. Taxpayers win because they will not be required to dole out additional billions when the economy is dragged down

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-41025059401594756292009-07-06T07:00:00.003-04:002009-07-06T09:05:40.809-04:00

I suspect tax increases are in all our futures, especially in Homestead: Wow! almost a 25% downward spiral. You can't make that up with budget cuts. And then the City of Homestead residents also have to deal with the fall of Miami-Dade County revenues and the drop in school revenues (all separate taxing entities). Homestead residents are going to get murdered. Even the tony towns, like Coral

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1776267236391281672009-07-06T06:50:00.000-04:002009-07-06T10:35:20.093-04:00

These Beth Reinhard introductions, in the Miami Herald, to the two main contenders for the City of Miami Mayor post did not seem neutral at all. Calling Diaz’s plans “grand” and “controversial” and pointing out Sanchez supported them, seemed to tilt the scales to Regalado in my reading:“Sanchez, a 44-year-old photogenic ex-cop who sometimes croons Spanish-language ballads at campaign events, is

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-52108943481556818172009-07-05T09:55:00.015-04:002009-07-05T15:21:22.232-04:00

The Herald editorial says that "Commissioners' cozy relationship with lobbyists, consultants breaks public trust" and it has to stop. Agree. They also give a remedy: "A real clean-up of how business is done at City and County halls will require citizens to vote out the business-as-usual bunch." Disagree. Will never happen as citizens don't get/believe ethical-lapse news on their politicians. The

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-50905618678378647622009-07-05T07:45:00.006-04:002009-07-05T15:04:59.556-04:00

House Bill 360, which is now called the Community Renewal Act, was distilled by the Orlando Business Journal:Community Renewal Act• Defines dense urban land areas as municipalities with populations of more than 5,000 and densities of at least 1,000 people per square mile.• Removes the 37-year-old regional planning process for major projects known as developments of regional impact (DRI) for areas

Geniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945geniusofdespair@yahoo.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-28736523083685087292009-07-05T06:35:00.004-04:002009-07-05T07:54:12.717-04:00

In the 1990's, Greenberg Traurig's behind-the-scences influence as a lobbyist in Miami zoning and permitting decisions began to attract my interest. The firm, for instance, was the key organizing force for the Homestead Air Force Base fiasco. Whenever a zoning decision involving South Dade was on the county commission agenda, founding partner Bob Traurig was in the audience and frequently on

Gimleteyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05730237496093952571noreply@blogger.com8