Fight over West Dade development heats up
Two South Miami-Dade County residents and a pair of environmental groups joined state regulators Friday in an attempt to halt expansion outside the county's Urban Development Boundary line.
Last month the Florida Department of Community Affairs found county commissioners violated state land-use regulations in April by voting against the recommendation of its own staff and allowing a Lowe's home improvement center and a commercial complex to be built in deep west Dade.
The commission then overrode a veto by County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
State regulators and county attorneys will try to reach a settlement. If not, the community affairs agency can fight county lawmakers in court, contending that plenty of land inside the UDB remains for development.
Friday, Michael Hatcher, Barry White, Friends of the Everglades and the Urban Environmental League jumped into the fray, intervening in the legal process and guaranteeing the group a say at the table.
The two planned projects are the Lowe's center at Southwest Eighth Street and 137th Avenue, and a shopping center at Southwest 167th Avenue and Kendall Drive.
-- CHARLES RABIN
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Take King Abdullah At His Word
As posted to the Jerusalem Post:
Bless him. Praise him. Encourage him. Provide every
opportunity for his words to be followed by deeds. Nurture
them like as a small ember of hope. Don't over analyze or
criticize; just go with it and hope others join in. The recent
rejection of the Syrian summit by Arab leaders is another
good sign. All we are saying, is give peace a chance. This
is a chance.
Bless him. Praise him. Encourage him. Provide every
opportunity for his words to be followed by deeds. Nurture
them like as a small ember of hope. Don't over analyze or
criticize; just go with it and hope others join in. The recent
rejection of the Syrian summit by Arab leaders is another
good sign. All we are saying, is give peace a chance. This
is a chance.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Proposed Falls area annexation by Palmetto Bay
This statement, posted on Stop The Falls website
was read by political journalist Michael Putney
on his Sunday morning program on ABC Channel 10
in Miami on March 16, 2008 and attributed to me:
It ain't broke and it don't need fixing. Incorporation only adds
a needless level of government and more chance for corruption.
Overtime, your taxes will increase. Some in our area who
would favor being annexed or incorporated think it is chic
and sexy; it aint. Its only a pain in the butt.
Can anyone tell us what is not working in the Falls area that
requires more government? Your trash and garbage are picked
up on time; the streets are well maintained: our crime rate is
the lowest in the County; our Kendall Police are proactive and responsive.
Palmetto Bay picked up one additional policeman after incorporation and
the Kendall police emergency response time is about three minutes.
We do not need this aggravation. Our area is quiet and peaceful.
The way to make things better in government is to make the existing
system work. You don't introduce a new government or system as a
first measure. What is not working in the Falls area now? Please tell us.
Is Palmetto Bay without its problems? How often has its citizens had
to go to court against that government for redress of grievances.
They have enough to handle now. This land, power and additional tax
base grab by some ambitious politician or businessman must be
fought and resisted fully. Economics underlies everything
and we will not be pawns in a financially motived scheme.
Lying and obfuscation were evident when the Mayor of P.B. was
present at the meeting at a possible new park on 136 St. west
of the Falls along the canal saying he was just interested in a new
park. Right. Now we see why he was there which was no secret to
us. They need more park area to justify more building as required
by law. Lies and double dealing; you will never know the real story
behind any government action. And his pro-incorporation buddies
in the Falls area are only interested in getting the 87th Ave industrial
area rezoned so they can build a new Empire State Building or some
other monstrousity.
Just ask some people in Pinecrest what kind of problems they are
having; we don't need them. And have you seen the disgusting
color of the street signs in Palmetto Bay? What would-be designer
picked that? Would you want them all over the Falls area? Feh!
To the barricades!
was read by political journalist Michael Putney
on his Sunday morning program on ABC Channel 10
in Miami on March 16, 2008 and attributed to me:
It ain't broke and it don't need fixing. Incorporation only adds
a needless level of government and more chance for corruption.
Overtime, your taxes will increase. Some in our area who
would favor being annexed or incorporated think it is chic
and sexy; it aint. Its only a pain in the butt.
Can anyone tell us what is not working in the Falls area that
requires more government? Your trash and garbage are picked
up on time; the streets are well maintained: our crime rate is
the lowest in the County; our Kendall Police are proactive and responsive.
Palmetto Bay picked up one additional policeman after incorporation and
the Kendall police emergency response time is about three minutes.
We do not need this aggravation. Our area is quiet and peaceful.
The way to make things better in government is to make the existing
system work. You don't introduce a new government or system as a
first measure. What is not working in the Falls area now? Please tell us.
Is Palmetto Bay without its problems? How often has its citizens had
to go to court against that government for redress of grievances.
They have enough to handle now. This land, power and additional tax
base grab by some ambitious politician or businessman must be
fought and resisted fully. Economics underlies everything
and we will not be pawns in a financially motived scheme.
Lying and obfuscation were evident when the Mayor of P.B. was
present at the meeting at a possible new park on 136 St. west
of the Falls along the canal saying he was just interested in a new
park. Right. Now we see why he was there which was no secret to
us. They need more park area to justify more building as required
by law. Lies and double dealing; you will never know the real story
behind any government action. And his pro-incorporation buddies
in the Falls area are only interested in getting the 87th Ave industrial
area rezoned so they can build a new Empire State Building or some
other monstrousity.
Just ask some people in Pinecrest what kind of problems they are
having; we don't need them. And have you seen the disgusting
color of the street signs in Palmetto Bay? What would-be designer
picked that? Would you want them all over the Falls area? Feh!
To the barricades!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Parkland 2012?
Never, Neverland Redland 2012! Does greed have
no boundary? Miami Dade, Carpetbagger Heaven.
Graveyard of The Golden Goose. Atlantis above water.
Will Nero be playing at the BCC meetings? How many
people can the BCC cram into one point of land?
Paradise paved over. Come to Miami; byob (water).
Miami, the eighth disappeared wonder of the
ancient world. The world's biggest parking lot.
Will the spoonbill join the dodo as a memory?
Moon Over Miami or is that a UDB developer's better side?
Is that all there is?; just keep on dancin'.
no boundary? Miami Dade, Carpetbagger Heaven.
Graveyard of The Golden Goose. Atlantis above water.
Will Nero be playing at the BCC meetings? How many
people can the BCC cram into one point of land?
Paradise paved over. Come to Miami; byob (water).
Miami, the eighth disappeared wonder of the
ancient world. The world's biggest parking lot.
Will the spoonbill join the dodo as a memory?
Moon Over Miami or is that a UDB developer's better side?
Is that all there is?; just keep on dancin'.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Told ya so
Read my last blog. McCain is the Democrat's worst opponent.
He will defeat any of the three front runners; he will not defeat
Richardson in Nov 08. Last time I checked there are 48 more
states and a Democratic Convention in August, 08. Stay tuned.
He will defeat any of the three front runners; he will not defeat
Richardson in Nov 08. Last time I checked there are 48 more
states and a Democratic Convention in August, 08. Stay tuned.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Only Richardson Can Win In Nov 08
Touting change is a red herring. Any Democrat will bring change. The
next economic and political battles will be waged on the world stage;
globalization is a reality and the next president must be ready to hit
the ground running on it. Only Governor Bill Richardson has this
kind of world and hands- on executive experience and the required
credentials; there is no time for OJT. Do we really need another Eva Peron?
Do we need a legislative short term ingenue? Do we need a light weight,
well groomed president? And any one of these three will lose in
November, 08 against a moderate Republican such as McCain.
Richardson received 40% of the New Mexico Republican vote; only he
will attract enough Republican and independent votes to win the
presidency. Hopefully early primary voters will put on their thinking
caps and realize they are not electing a Prom Queen or King.
next economic and political battles will be waged on the world stage;
globalization is a reality and the next president must be ready to hit
the ground running on it. Only Governor Bill Richardson has this
kind of world and hands- on executive experience and the required
credentials; there is no time for OJT. Do we really need another Eva Peron?
Do we need a legislative short term ingenue? Do we need a light weight,
well groomed president? And any one of these three will lose in
November, 08 against a moderate Republican such as McCain.
Richardson received 40% of the New Mexico Republican vote; only he
will attract enough Republican and independent votes to win the
presidency. Hopefully early primary voters will put on their thinking
caps and realize they are not electing a Prom Queen or King.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Miami Herald Letter to the Editor Sep 20, 2007
Letters to the Editor (As edited and published)
Stars continue to shine
Re the Sept. 18 letter Too much Estefan: With legendary performers like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal style or period of our life and preserve it, verbalize it and even shape it that makes them stars.
Even as a gringo who came here from St. Louis in 1969, in Estefan's work, I see and feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so much. And her message reverberates among many displaced peoples.
Estefan was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there because of what she has come to represent. The letter writer's view must be a product of a throwaway society with little history or grace.
Here is the whole letter:
Ms. Rose Mendoza, Miami, wrote: "She had her day".
Poor Ms. Mendoza, have you so little grace? With legendary performers
like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even
Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular
and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal
style or period of our life or history and preserve it, verbalize it and
even shape it that makes them stars. Even as a gringo who came
here from St. Louis in 1969, in Gloria's work, I can see and
feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so
peoples.
Gloria was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there
because of what she has come to represent. If you cannot see this, pity.
This must be product of a throw away, disposable society with little history,
or grace.
Stars continue to shine
Re the Sept. 18 letter Too much Estefan: With legendary performers like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal style or period of our life and preserve it, verbalize it and even shape it that makes them stars.
Even as a gringo who came here from St. Louis in 1969, in Estefan's work, I see and feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so much. And her message reverberates among many displaced peoples.
Estefan was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there because of what she has come to represent. The letter writer's view must be a product of a throwaway society with little history or grace.
Here is the whole letter:
Ms. Rose Mendoza, Miami, wrote: "She had her day".
Poor Ms. Mendoza, have you so little grace? With legendary performers
like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even
Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular
and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal
style or period of our life or history and preserve it, verbalize it and
even shape it that makes them stars. Even as a gringo who came
here from St. Louis in 1969, in Gloria's work, I can see and
feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so
peoples.
Gloria was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there
because of what she has come to represent. If you cannot see this, pity.
This must be product of a throw away, disposable society with little history,
or grace.
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