Miami Neighborhoods United &
The Urban Environment League
Invite You To A Debate
For County Commission District 7
Candidates Julio Robaina and Xavier Suarez
Moderator: Stephen Stock Investigative Reporter CBS 4
The Coconut Grove Sailing Club
2990 South Bayshore Drive
Coconut Grove
Wednesday, May 18
6:30 pm
(There is Food and Drink Available at the club.)
Doors open at 6pm
Julio Robaina, Mayor of Hialeah, has refused to go before the Miami Herald for their interview of Mayoral Candidates. He stated in part, in a letter to the Editorial Board:
Despite all efforts to make certain that your journalists and editors have accurate information regarding the false allegations that have been launched against me or key facts about me or my candidacy, The Miami Herald disregards the truth to cast stories with misinformation or erroneous contexts. Most concerning is the propagandist coverage of the race that has developed into a pattern directed at mischaracterizing me with the intent of influencing the outcome of the Special Election.
The aim is to make Miami more bicycle friendly. According to the Miami Herald:
...their arrival signals that Miami is getting more serious about making room for cyclists.
The Royal Netherlands embassy in Washington has dispatched three of the famously bike-friendly country’s top experts on “cycling as transportation’’ to Miami, where they will spend three days figuring out how to turn the city’s car-clogged downtown into a virtual Amsterdam of safe, connected bikeways. Or as close to that as we can get.
Biking workshop:
What: ThinkBike Workshop, sponsored by the Dutch, brings experts from Holland’s Fietsberaad International cycling think-tank here to brainstorm ways to improve downtown Miami’s bikeability.
Where and when: Public introductory session 9-10:30 a.m. Monday,18th floor of Miami-Dade’s government center, 111 NW First St. Presentation of the plan 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday at same place.
For more info: Follow ThinkBike Workshops on Facebook and Twitter, hashtag #thinkbikemiami.
Call your Representative TODAY to vote NO on
HB 991 Environmental Permitting by Rep. Patronis scheduled for a floor vote tomorrow (Friday, April 29)
This bill is a developer’s grab bag of bad ideas that will:
Deprive citizens of due process when they try to challenge permits that will hurt the environment
Shift the burden of proof to citizens in challenges rather than leaving it with the applicant who currently has the burden of showing they are in compliance with all permit requirements
Preempt localities from regulating the environmental impact of mining activity (one of the most disruptive land uses imaginable).
Exempt phosphate mines from the development of regional impact process. There is no question that phosphate mines have regional effects from their sheer size to the downstream consequences, and small counties do not have the ability or incentive to consider impacts on their neighbors.
Reduce the information agencies are allowed to request when processing permit applications
Expedite wetlands permits for an inland port.
Put into statute that groundwater can be contaminated down to the base of the aquifer all the way out to the property line.
HB 991 was supposed to go through two more committees (Appropriations and State Affairs) but House leaders avoided this requirement and put this bad bill on the fast track to passage. Tell your Representative that trashing the environment won’t create jobs but cost them. Our state relies on our landscape and our natural resources to support communities and attract business. Urge them (politely) to vote ‘NO’ on this bad bill.
Chairman Martinez and Commissioner Bell
to host town hall meeting on the proposed Charter reform
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Chairman Joe A. Martinez and Commissioner Lynda Bell are inviting Miami-Dade residents to attend a town hall meeting on the proposed Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter amendments. Attendees will be able to share their input on changes they would like to see in the Charter and the proposed amendments that will be on the May 24, 2011 ballot. Representatives from other County departments will also be on hand to assist residents with answering any inquiries.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at the Palmetto Golf Course Recreation Room, 9300 Coral Reef Drive, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The special election is quickly approaching and it is imperative that voters know how the proposed amendments to the charter can affect the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter,” said Chairman Martinez. “As their representatives, it is our duty to make sure the residents have as much information available to so they can make an informed decision.”
“I’m pleased to be able to bring this important meeting to my district and encourage residents to take an active role in their County government,” said Commissioner Bell. “This is an opportunity for residents to take part in a public forum and learn more about the way their vote affects how their government will run.”
For more information, please contact the office of Chairman Martinez at 305-375-5511 or Commissioner Bell at 305-378-6677.
WHO: Miami-Dade County Chairman Joe A. Martinez
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting on Charter Reform
WHEN: Tuesday, April 26, 2011
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Palmetto Golf Course Recreation Room
9300 Coral Reef Drive, Miami
The UEL has scheduled our annual meeting on Wednesday, June 15th. We are planning on having it at the Coconut Grove Sailing club. The UEL gives out its annual Orchids and Onions awards on that date.
We hope you will save the date!
And:
“We are taking a step back,” acknowledged Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary. “We are saying that we trust the local governments to make those decisions.”
House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West said that trust is misplaced. He cited bribery charges recently filed against local officials in South Florida in connection with development decisions.
“This is not a job creation bill except for one group and that’s criminal defense attorneys,” Saunders said.
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