Charter Review Board - send them your comments by Geniusofdespair

Public comment can be sent to the Task Force by email at: charter@miamidade.gov

These are the subjects they will be covering:

Study of the Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections being elected
Study of Compensation - Mayor and Board of County Commissioners
Study of Term Limits – Board of County Commissioners or other elected officials
Study of the Board of County Commissioners Composition (some at large instead of all district)
Study of Initiative, Referendum, Petition & Recalls
Study of Balance of Power - Mayor & Board of County Commissioners
Review Functions of Mayor vs. County Manager
Review Powers of Commission Auditor
Study of Procurement Reform
Study of Lobbying Reform
Study of Ethics Regulations
Study of Municipalities and Unincorporated Municipal Services Area (UMSA)
Creating/Abolishing Municipalities
Separation of Powers or Responsibilities between the County and municipalities
Annexation/Incorporation in effort to eliminate UMSA
Study of Public Records
Study of Zoning and Urban Development Boundary (UDB) reform

Here is a quick rundown of what I think is important.

We definitely need term limits -8 is enough. They should ease the public burden to do initiatives, referendums, petitions and recalls. It is impossible the way it exists now.
We need lobbying reform and to tighten our ethics regulations. Public Records requests are getting too expensive. They charge for people compiling the records. They should not. The voters should vote on UDB changes. I think we need at large Commissioners: at least two.

My mind is open, anyone have any better ideas?

Who is giving to the Miami-Dade Republican Party in 2007 by Geniusofdespair

These are the big donors to the local Republican Party.

An entity named “Post Office Box 2007” gave them $1,250. They list their occupation as “Casino.”

Bob Levy gave them $250 and another check for $1,500. Stanley Tate (builder) gave them $5,000. Cliff Walters Construction gave them $1,500. Law firm Akerman Senterfitt (Orlando) gave them $1,250 and a second contribution for $500. Attorney Gray Robinson of Orlando gave them $2,500. Ilena Ros Lehtinen gave them $2,500. All American Container gave them $2,500. The State of Florida Republican Party gave them $1,000.

Wayne Rosen, Inc. (I have been writing about him since I started this blog because he always turns up) gave $1,250. FRF Political Action Committee gave them $1,250. Corzo Castella, Engineers, $1,250. Dosal Tobacco Corp gave $2,500. Albert Maury, medical center, gave $5,000. PM Strategies (development) gave $2,500. Tew Cardenas gave $1,250. Louis Wolfson III gave $1,500. Florida Crystals gave $1,500 and law firm Becker & Poliakoff gave $1,250. The Association of Public Safety Comm. Officials, Inc. of Gainesville gave $1,500. They say they are communication officers??

Since the first of the year the local Pubs collected $84,213 dollars.

Bruno Barreiro strikes back to boycott for politeness. By Geniusofdespar

(Hit on letter to read it).

Not bad, he said that Alvarez's staff members should ask to be respected when treated with disrespect. What about us Bruno? Can the public do that too! Letter looks like an olive branch with thorns....

Thirteen take a trip to India. By Geniusofdespair

Don't you just love these trade missions? See Miami-Dade International Trade Consortium Chairman Tony Ojeda interviewed in this video clip by Newscaster Brian Andrews: Questions Raised After India Trip Costs Revealed.

The $1,600 airfare, another travel agent said he could have gotten it for $700 less. The agent said they should have used Air India instead of British Airways. The $495 a night room -- could have been slashed to $295 -- according to this independent travel agent. The mission travel cost for each $4,235 or about $55,000 for the group.

The ITC has a $1,400,000 budget. Let's slash it or see the results! They sure live well on our dime! Look at the bright side, Commissioner Natacha Seijas will be gone the first week of October.

Do County Commissioners need etiquette rules for their behavior? By Geniusofdespair

We are in the middle of a stand-off! According to the Miami Herald article: COUNTY HALL: Snub order may stall Miami-Dade County budget, the Mayor has withdrawn his staff from Commission Budget Meetings until the Commissioners can be polite. Yes, etiquette rules!

Demanding civility of the Commissioners? The public never gets treated civilly. This is going to be good. The spiteful Commissioners will not stand down even though a dose of respect might be in order. As Commissioner Barbara Jordan said:

“They're trying to pull a coup, we can make it backfire.''

Threats are unbecoming Barbara. We should all be polite, even as we deliver harangues to staff and belittle the public.

Do you want to see how people are treated by the Commission? Just go to this video clip: DeFede: Natacha Seijas Is Downright Mean. See our government in action. Maybe you will side with the Mayor on this one.

By the way, everyone in Miami should watch this video. Everyone!
(Pictured: Natacha Seijas)

Claudia how the hell did you get so much credit? by Geniusofdespair

It astounds me when I see the credit some of these people got that are now facing foreclosure. How did they do it? These mortgage brokers and bankers should be shot. Look at this woman Claudia here in Miami.

In February 2006 she bought a Unit in Brickell Vista for $301,900. She got a first mortgage for $241,500. Her second mortgage was for $60,380. The second mortgage was a Home Equity Loan. So “0” went down. She got her loans from J.P. Morgan Chase Custody Services.

In March 2006 — one month later -- she bought a one bedroom unit 307 for $166,400. She got an interest only loan for $133,120 at 8% interest that can go up to 13%. She got a second balloon for $33,280 with a prepayment rider. Again "0" down. These 2 mortgages were from Flick Mortgage Investors and Hemisphere was the Title Company.

In 2007 both first mortgages were foreclosed. The $241,499.99 mortgage grand total was $256,867.73. She owed almost $9,000 in interest. This unit is due to be sold on August 30th.

Her $133,120 interest only loan foreclosed at $144,457.20. She owed $8,000 in interest. It was due to be sold August 15th. A unit might sell for $144,457 in the area but what about the $33,280 balloon? If you add that to the price, the unit will never sell. Who can make money on these condos?

I checked both units and other sales in the building complex. She bought them at market value — but why did she buy them? The market was already crashing down in 2006 at the time she purchased these. What did she gain? And, will someone please tell me what happens to the 2nd mortgages?

The fact that these purchases were a month apart, leads me to believe that perhaps the second set of lenders didn't know about the first deal. Was there a lag time to file the papers with the clerk? This deal also makes me question the safety for the first lenders. Maybe the Morgan/Chase group did their due diligence researching this woman. However, with a 100% loan, I doubt it, however, who or what protects a lender from what the buyers do after their closing? Apparently, there is no protection. Morgan/Chase, in fact, have to stand in line, they are the second foreclosure even though they were the first sale. Actually they don't have to stand in line, somehow Deutsche Bank and Federal National Mortgage are the Plaintiffs in each of these foreclosures now.

Look at the foreclosure index on the right for more examples of individual foreclosures.

Looks Like The Conway Firing in the City of Miami is back. By Geniusofdespair

According to Reporter Michael Vasquez, Mary Conway, the Fired Miami operations chief files grievance .

I didn't pay close attention to the story until I saw who her lawyer was: Andres Rivero (wasn't he the Maestre slap suit lawyer?). He is a shark. We now have a different ball game. What's the City going to do now? Andres should shake some money out of this.

Deutsche Bank is the top Foreclosure Sale Plaintiff in Miami By Geniusofdespair

Without a doubt, Deutsche Bank is the record holder for foreclosure Plaintiff in Miami. How is their stock doing by the way?

They are mostly "Foreclosure Plaintiffs: as Trustee" or sometimes as "Indentured Trustee." Don't exactly know what "As Trustee" means. I am just putting out the information. You can analyze it yourself.

August 9th: Out of 99 20 were Deutsche Bank National
August 15th: Out of 101 20 were Deutsche Bank National
August 16th: Out of: 97 20 were Deutsche Bank National
August 22th: Out of 104 26 were Deutsche Bank National
August 23rd: Out of 96 12 were Deutsche Bank National
August 29th: Out of 103 22 were Deutsche Bank National
August 30th: Out of 102 22 were Deutsche Bank National

On August 9th Attorney David Stern represented 22 out of the 99 foreclosures. He has 23 scheduled on August 22nd, and on August 29th Attorney David Stern is representing 24 of the 96 sales. I didn't check any other dates. It is nice to see someone is making money on these foreclosures. Who is this guy? He makes about $1,200 on each.

Also see: Claudia How the hell did you get so much credit?

Staff Musical Chairs. By Geiusofdespair

Former Chief of Staff of Carlos Gimenez, Genaro "Chip" Iglesia, is now the Key Biscayne City Manager. Former (recently fired) Assistant County Manager, Roger Carlton, is now Chief of Staff for Carlos Gimenez. (Carlton is pictured).

Rebecca Wakefield's Column on Charter Review: Don't try this at home. by Geniusofdespair

This column in the SunPost illustrates why I keep reminding all of you: I am not a professional reporter. I was there but Rebecca "got it." I was trying in my column but she captured the discontent at the Charter Review Hearing (and she got the names which I always don't remember) and she is witty to boot:

"Brad Brown, former president of the local NAACP chapter (and a white guy, which speaks volumes about the state of black activism in Miami)"

We need to support our reporters. Read her column. Use The Force

I, like her, was struck also by Mack Samuels testimony:

Mack Samuel, a leader in the effort to incorporate a region in North-Central Miami-Dade County, made the most relevant point of the night. “Just having someone there [who looks like you] doesn’t solve the problem [of fair representation],” he said. “What solves the problem is someone who is concerned with quality of life. It’s not what someone looks like, it’s what’s inside."

Isn't that what Martin Luther King said in the "I Have a Dream Speech," - his dream was that we should get to a point where people are judged by their character not by the color of their skin.

Victor Diaz told Mack not to lose his sense of hope. Victor, that is all we have left when it comes to County Politics.

Thank you Rebecca for choosing to be a reporter and for writing very fast to get quotes. How do you do that?

WHERE IS THE MIAMI HERALD?
The schedule:

Public meetings:

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 6 p.m.
South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211th Street
Cutler Bay, FL , 33189
Conference Room 203

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 6 p.m.
Joseph Caleb Center Auditorium
5400 NW 22 Avenue
Miami, FL 33142

Thursday, August 30, 2007, 6 p.m.
Miami Beach Commission Chambers
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
City Hall Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor

De Grandy really has my dander up! By Geniusofdespair

I just can’t believe what Miguel De Grandy wrote in that Herald op ed piece:

“Today, as a result of the single-member district plan implemented by the federal court, the commission is truly representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of this community. Of the 13 commissioners, four or 31 percent are African American; seven or 54 percent are Hispanic. This proportional representation mirrors the ethnic and racial percentages of the people in our community.”

Well, you jackass, you left out 25 percent of the voters -- Anglos — and they only have 15 percent representation!

In fact, there are more white voters than black. The Hispanic majority hovers at 50% of the voters. And, while we are at it, we have 7 Cuban American Commissioners when only about half the Hispanic population is Cuban. And, after that meeting, you might be able to tell, the Haitians don’t feel represented at all. And, I agree with them. They aren't.

Your column sucked: CHARTER REVIEW: County Commission should remain bastion of diversity. No one is happy with the situation except you.

I applaud the Diaz guy for trying to think out of the box. We do need some sort of change so people actually feel represented. Last night, I heard black, African Americans say that they don't feel represented. I heard a man complain he just doesn't feel anyone is listening to him and I heard an African American woman say nothing has changed in Liberty City since she was a little girl. What a pity that they are both on target. These Commissioners dole out crumbs to their community. And maybe, just maybe people are finally tired of lapping up crumbs.

Mortgagee Review Board Administrative Actions Termination of Lender Approval for Renewal Noncompliance. By Geniusofdespair

SUMMARY: In compliance with section 202(c) of the National Housing Act, and 24 CFR 25.10, this notice advises of the cause and description of certain administrative actions taken by HUD's Mortgagee Review Board (MRB) against HUD-approved mortgagees. The MRB terminated 123 Title I and Title II lender approvals during the six month period ending March 31, 2007, for failure to submit an acceptable annual audited financial statement and/or payment of the annual fee required to renew their FHA lender approval.

August 14th:
Title II: MONEY TREE MORTGAGE BANKERS, MIAMI
Title II: IMPERIAL LENDERS CORPORATION, MIAMI

Charter Review Board head: Victor M. Diaz by Geniusofdespair

This guy Victor M. Diaz, an attorney, is the head of the Charter Review Board. What do we know about him readers? I already looked on google. Anyone have any personal experiences with him? It just surprised me that the County Commission Chair, Dim Bruno Barreiro, would find someone so articulate, so unlike himself. Anyone have something to share? I want to learn more about him.

And speaking of Lobbyist/Board Member Miguel De Grandy ---
His op ed piece which coincidentally came out the same day, was brought up by at least one speaker, saying it was inapporiate since the group had not made any formal decisions. I know that when these boards and committees are formed they usually agree to how they are going to conduct themselves with the press, etc.

De Grandy said, I did not give up my constitutional rights of free speech when I joined this committee. Victor M. Diaz said in response that I am the only one who speaks for this board – it was decided by the group.

So in effect -- De Grandy pissed on their agreed upon protocol.

From the Board's minutes: of 7/9/07:
"It was moved by Mr. Smith that Chairman Diaz serve as the spokesperson for this Task Force. This motion was seconded by Ms. Soler-McKinley, and upon being put to a vote, passed by a unanimous vote of those members present."

Why I find Mr. DeGrandy's behavior problematic. They are operating under sunshine rules. They are not to discuss the items with each other outside the group. That is giving up your free speech Miguel, isn't it? Well what does a newspaper article mean to this rule? What does it mean that a member advertises his views to the public and only those board members that read the paper? I think it violates sunshine. Maybe I am too narrow in my view...but piss on him anyway.

Yes, a friend sent me this email on Bill O'Reilly. by Geniusofdespair

I am not making this up this was really an email sent to me by a friend from my childhood:
I was surprised to hear how much you dislike Bill O'Reilly. I'm not aware of him telling any lies. I have been really impressed with his series on child molesters and rapists and the pressure he has put on judges who are giving these goons 4 months and sometimes less time for molesting children - especially in VT where the MSM has attacked O'Reilly for going after the judges. He has done a great job on this but MSM ignores his success here.

Anyway in spite of what the left has said about him I find him very balanced and middle of the road. I'm watching his show now.
He's lost his mind, I'm hoping he doesn't go blind too! "Middle of the road," "Balanced?" Wow, that is pretty scary. Actually that is the part that really scares me, that he doesn't know he is watching biased "entertainment" news. I sent him the link to "Sweet Jesus I hate Bill O'Reilly". Any other suggestions?

Here is a heap of bad news for you on the Miami Dade County charter review. By Geniusofdespair.

The Charter Review Board can decide on where the charter needs tweaking. Good or bad. We can make suggestions to the Board at public hearings. We then vote on each of these changes separately. Well you would be WRONG if you thought this is the way it goes. There is a missing step.

Here is the very bad news: The County Commission, the evil empire, will get to decide what we vote on. They will pick and choose what they like from the Charter Review Board’s recommendations and they can tweak the changes once again. We never get the chance to have the Commission hear our public testimony (for all the good that would do). Bah, Humbug! We never win do we? It is our Charter but what we get to vote on will be bullshit.

P.S. By the way, this is when we can make changes to boundaries of districts. That will never happen! To see the Charter. (on the right are 4 of the 13 Commissioners - I don't suppose anyone cares who is who, although the top one is the evil witch Natacha.) First public meeting is tonight: Tuesday, 6 p.m. Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor

Yuck! Miguel De Grandy writes a column for the Miami Herald on The Charter Review. By Geniusofdespair

Miguel De Grandy writes CHARTER REVIEW: County Commission should remain bastion of diversity. Please! Does anyone really believe that Miguel De Grandy gives a hoot about the Black community’s voice? If you are so interested in diversity Miguel, How about another seat for whites? You said:

“Today, as a result of the single-member district plan implemented by the federal court, the commission is truly representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of this community. Of the 13 commissioners, four or 31 percent are African American; seven or 54 percent are Hispanic. This proportional representation mirrors the ethnic and racial percentages of the people in our community.”

The proportion does not mirror the percentage of the people in our community. You forgot 260,939 voters (1/4 of the population). As I said in another column, there are 260,939 white voters, 212,010 black voters and 518,641 Hispanic voters. Whites are under-represented. I would assume if I brought it to court today, that would change the districts yet again. I was told that Moss’s seat actually was suppose to be another white seat.

What is the motive for this column by DeGrandy? I wonder. I heard the vile Natacha Seijas is not happy with De Grandy - she put him on this board. Would love to be a fly on the wall of her office.

By the way, Miguel considers himself the redistricting maven...take a look at these two districts and barf appropriately.These are actual districts (district 3 Florida and 29 in Texas) and they are an abomination, well except the last one, that looks right.

Update on Bee Colony Collapse Disorder by Geniusofdespair

There is a good article in the August 6th New Yorker Magazine Stung: Where have all the bees gone?.

The article states:
In Britain, where better records have been kept, more than half the native bumblebee species either have become extinct or are facing extinction in the next few decades. Among the many possible contributing factors that the report cited are habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and introduced pathogens. May Berenbaum, a professor of entomology at the University of Illinois, chaired the National Research Council panel; she recently characterized C.C.D. as “a crisis on top of a crisis.”

“We can’t count on wild pollinators, because we’ve so altered the landscape that many are no longer viable,” she said.

As the National Research Council report noted, invertebrate extinctions don’t tend to have much “marquee appeal.” Yet if it’s a bad sign when an ecosystem loses its large mammals, it is probably an even worse sign when it can no longer support its insects. The report put it this way:

“Pollinator decline is one form of global change that actually does have credible potential to alter the shape and structure of the terrestrial world.”

Type the rest of the post here

Slash that Damn Budget but Leave our County Parks alone! By Geniusofdespair

Parks have always been a part of my life. I love going to them, I think they nourish the soul. You cannot put a price tag on that.

The new county budget is going to slash park funding by $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 dollars. That will hinder park programs and it will affect park maintenance. If you don’t maintain the parks they are not used and then they become derelict. And when anything is left to become derelict in Miami: It gets developed.

Parks are largely "General Fund" funded like police and and fire. No one will cut police and fire so guess what happens? The Park Dept. takes the brunt of the cuts. Water and Sewer and Planning and Zoning are Departments that generate much of their own funds.

Curiously even with these tremendous cuts, we will still get that boondoggle: The water theme park at the zoo because that has bond money. And the tennis center generates money. But the parks that the common folks use most, they just don’t generate enough funds for operation.

So, as useless as it may seem — let Mayor Alvarez know that our County Parks are important to you: mayor@miamidade.gov

Just when Governor Crist was looking good he loaded the Fish and Wildlife Commission with Pro-Developers by Geniusofdespair

In Sunday’s Miami Herald Carl Hiaasen rightly wrote that Crist blows it on his FWC appointments. Reappointing Rodney Barreto? Come on that was bad enough. But these 3 are really no better. I recognized the name Ron Bergeron and then I remembered where. He is a rock miner in West Miami Dade. He owns Krome Mining partners. In September of 2000 the company bought two parcels totaling 311 acres. I also found some blasting agreement he signed with the County, so the land is being mined. He owns a dragline company. Draglines are used in mining. There is also a company called Bergeron Sand, Rock and Aggregate, Inc.

People: Is this the person you want guarding the welfare of our wildlife? I don’t think so. He is strip mining our rock so he is not exactly going to care about Panther habitat. One natural resource is as important as another. Charlie Crist, why didn't you put Michael Vick on the Board while you were at it?

I don’t know, I could have come up with a better appointment — like me.
A note to Charlie Crist: This is not a very good sign. I was liking you. But you have botched up Fish and Wildlife but good.

Ford Focus: What is with American Cars? by Geniusofdespair

Okay, I've been away. I rented a cheap car. Not so cheap, over $400 for three days. But it was Avis' compact car. You might think that car companies would make rental cars good enough so they might induce us to buy the brand. Never will happen.

Ford People: Let me tell you something. If your turn signal sounds like a cricket no one is going to buy your car. We need a more manly sound. If we are going to use the signal at all, it has to have the right decisive sound. The sound must say: "Here I go, I am making a turn, world watch out." And then you get that cricket. American Engineering?

And, a 4 cylinder should get better gas mileage. I rate this car a 2. It did run.

P.S. I originally thought it was a Chevy Cobalt (because that is what was on my rental papers but it was indeed a Ford). Sorry Chevy! Does your turn signal sound like a cricket too?