Don’t miss the discussion Wednesday, November 17th. We have a panel on both sides of the issue. Frank Rollason, UEL Board member, thinks the towers have merit to help the financially strapped city and he wrote a blog post here in favor of the towers on August 12th. Others are not so kind saying the light will be too bright from the towers and that they will be a garish addition to the Performing Arts Center area. Our panel will present both sides and let you decide. We have Dusty Melton, a consultant involved with billboards issues for years who will be arguing the legality issues of signage. The Developer Mark Siffin will make his case for the towers. County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez will round out our panel.
Hit on the invite below to enlarge it and reserve for the dinner today!
Miami on the Move is holding this event:
Latin Cafe 2000, 2501 Biscayne Blvd (25th Street), Miami, on Friday, November 12th, 8AM-9:30AM
Bill Brinton, Prominent Jacksonville Lawyer, Expert on Zoning and Billboards, and Board Member of Scenic America will discuss the recently approved 40+ story electronic “Media Towers” by developer Mark Siffin.
Bill Brinton, a tireless fighter for sane billboard policy in Florida and around the country, has kindly agreed to talk to us about the two uber giant mega electronic billboards that are slated to be built atop the Adrienne Arsht Center’s new garage complex. He will discuss the fine points of billboard law, the appropriate approval process and/or the lack thereof, and his organization Scenic America, founded to limit billboard pollution in our cities and along our highways. For those interested, Bill will stay afterward to discuss how to start a local Scenic America chapter.
Please join us for this important meeting that will take place Friday, November 12th, 8AM-9:30AM.
The Urban Environment League
Invites You to a Panel Discussion
November 17th
6 pm – Cocktail Meet-Up With Cash Bar
6:30 pm – 3 Course Dinner
Economics vs Visual Pollution: Mega Ad Towers and Public Media in Miami-Dade’s Future
The recent proposal for mega media towers raise questions about
the public process, economic benefits and limits of signage in our area.
Speakers:
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez
Eston “Dusty” Melton, Consultant
Mark Siffin City Square/Mega Tower Developer
Moderator: Gregory Bush
The Rusty Pelican on Virginia Key
$25 – Dinner 6:30 pm (tax & tip included)
Program only at 7:00 pm FREE!
Use Paypal at: www.urbanenvironmentleague.blogspot.com or
bring a check or cash
RSVP A MUST: uelinfo@bellsouth.net – Phone: 786-472-0011
Editor of Miami Today, Michael Lewis says:
We’d be far better off if governments grappled with vital problems and didn’t create new ones by sticking fingers where they’ve no business meddling.
Cases in point are Miami’s call to retool a well-oiled Miami Parking Authority, Miami-Dade’s bid to be entrepreneur in an untested boxing arena and county officials’ push to stage a new Coconut Grove Playhouse.
The parking authority feeds millions each year into city coffers. But the city has put on the Nov. 2 ballot a vote to hand authority jobs, real estate and revenues to elected officials to toy with.
Boxing is dying, but the county sports commission seeks to run a franchise in an untried global league. Prior to any vote or signed contract, a press release made it a done deal.
Outside suitors woo the playhouse, closed four years, but the county wants to grab its home, build a much smaller theater under county control and then hand the whole thing to a small independent theater producer.
Each misbegotten issue could enmesh taxpayers in tangles that don’t imperil us now. In business argot, they have very strong downsides and weak upsides.
And while, unlike the others, a strong independent playhouse could help the community, governments have no business stepping into any of these bogs hiding pits of quicksand.
The issues are complex, perhaps befuddling for elected officials, but principles are clear:
Principle One: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Principle Two: If it’s too badly broken, don’t get bogged down in it.
Principle Three: Leave projects requiring expertise to experts.
The parking authority falls under Principle One. It chugs along smoothly, planning and developing parking under a board and budget approved by the city commission.”
Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez will appear on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 10 p.m. to discuss about his stance against the Florida Marlins Stadium deal and the controversy about the Marlins’ finances in documents released by Deadspin.com this past August.
A clip of the show can be seen at this link and the show will rebroadcast throughout November.
Check with your cable service provider to find the appropriate channel broadcasting HBO. For more information, please contact Commissioner Gimenez’s office at 305-669-4003.
We are planning our next UEL dinner and we have a draft title of:
Public Information vs Visual Pollution: The Value of Signage and Public Media in Miami Dade
The invite will be coming soon but hold the date: November 17th.
The Urban Environment League asks you to vote and bring friends and neighbors to the polls. Call your friends and relatives in Florida and urge them to vote. We must get a good turnout because electing a State Senator and Governor with only 20% of those registered would be a crime. Let the majority put the best candidates in office. Maybe we will be happier with the way our government runs if we actually participate.
The UEL dinner on October 20th tackled the question: Is Florida Hometown Democracy (Amendment #4) The Best Answer for Growth Management? Here is the evening in pictures:
Former City of Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre makes a point in favor of Amendment 4.
Co-Presidents of UEL, Sonia Succar Ferre and Fran Bohnsack take a moment for a photo op.
County Commission Katy Sorenson spoke against Amendment 4 and Former City of Miami City Manager spoke for it.
Above: Helen Ferre moderated the Panel. Below: Former Miami Beach Mayor, Neisen Kasdin at the podium speaking against Amendment 4.
UEL Board Member Enid Pinkney and Charlayne Thompkins listen to an audience member asking a question. UEL Board Member Erika Brigman center.
UEL member Beatrix Baldan questions the speakers about the Amendment.
The audience listening to the discussion.
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