Friday, June 29, 2018

Laudato Si and all that ... by gimleteye

Next week, Pope Francis will meet with world environmental leaders in the Vatican, to discuss advancing the agenda of protecting the planet from climate change impacts. The Pope issued his encyclical, "Laudato Si: On Care For Our Common Home", in 2015. A small, powerful constituency -- primarily in the United States and tied to fossil fuel extraction industries -- pushed back, but Pope Francis is determined. The evidence on the ground of climate...

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Please get out and vote for our Senior Sane Senator: Bill Nelson. by Geniusofdespair

Bill Nelson Cares Deeply About the Environme...

Karl Wickstrom, Florida Sportsman ... by gimleteye

Karl Wickstrom lead a purpose-driven life. That is high praise for a publisher who would not shy from s fight in which he believed, even if that fight impacted advertisers in uncomfortable ways. Karl, on behalf of Florida citizens, took on the state's commercial fishing industry and won. Read the memorial in Florida Sportsman Magazine for more.Karl became a friend and colleague in the fight to protect the Everglades. He was plain spoken about the...

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

A County Charter Amendment That Will Not Be On The Ballot. By Geniusodespair

I hate Charter Review time. The County Commissioners always try to put shit in our Citizens Charter. This time they want to change it so County Attorneys (beholden to the Mayor and Commission), not our ELECTED County Clerk, to approve the language in petitions. But that is another story.We voted in 2012, by a whopping margin of 77%, that we wanted term limits on County Commissioners.  Some have been serving for almost 25 years. So what were...

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Thinking of Escaping Dodge? By Geniusofdespair

Canada is looking damn good lately and you might be contemplating leaving Dodge. Justin Trudeau is the antidote to our gravely, mentally ill Narcissist. But before you go any further with your Canadian plans, check out the real estate cost in Vancouver - a civilized place with good bike paths, awesome parks, people who don't litter and a lot of aluminum-decorated facades of buildings.Remember: These are MEDIAN sale prices. Yaletown is a wonderful...

Friday, June 22, 2018

Will Florida Power And Light (FPL) Ever Be Held Accountable For Its Failed Cooling Canal System For Two Aging Nuclear Reactors In South Florida? ... by gimleteye

Southern Biscayne Bay and a national park is a sacrifice zone for toxic water seeping out of FPL's cooling canal system from two aging nuclear reactors.Environmental groups (including Friends of the Everglades, of which I am a volunteer board member) have sued under the Clean Water Act, for FPL's ongoing pollution. Pollution, by the way, that the State of Florida under Gov. Rick Scott and his predecessors essentially ignored despite binding, legal agreements. Scott and his Cabinet, especially Ag. Secretary Adam Putnam, ignored the appeal of citizens...

Thursday, June 21, 2018

America: Filled with Haters. By Geniusofdespair

I really can't understand why people hate people that look different.  I do admit I sort of hate Kim Kardashian. I secretly want her to age badly. I know why I hate her, I always wanted to be pretty and have a great body. I am actually jealous of her because she has it and I don't.

But then there is the Whites hating Blacks, and the Whites hating Hispanics, and the Whites hating Jews and the Whites hating Gays...that I really don't get. Maybe because I personally don't hate any groups.

I don't think Whites hate Hispanics because they are jealous but I theorize it is because they will dilute the White race in the United States by their numbers.  Even though Donald Trump markets the Hispanics coming in as dangerous, talking about Hispanic gangs all the time, no one is really afraid of Hispanics.  He also calls them job thieves. They aren't taking the jobs that White Americans want. It is all a diversion that is more palatable than, we don't want you taking over our Nation with your numbers and inter-marrying with our lily white kids.

Donald Trump knows how to tap into fear and hate (besides knowing how to lie).

I was leaving Monty's with an unknown woman also leaving. About 7 people came towards us on those electric scooters. I said "Oh No" thinking, now the zany scooters will be traveling in packs. I was sort of amused as some of the people didn't seem steady on the scooters. The woman next to me said "Darwin." I thought, how odd. What did she mean by that? Then I realized all the people on the scooters were Black and she was referring to them negatively when they were just having fun. It upset me. I was concerned about the Scooter Craze and she was concerned with who was on the Scooters.

So, where am I going with this? I guess I am thinking that Donald Trump is making hatred towards others more acceptable. Instead of accepting the differences; whether people have a disability, a different color or a non-Norwegian look (i.e. they are Hispanic) Trump is making an issue out of it all. Even Democrats, I am so tired of his blaming Democrats for every crack in the sidewalk.  He governs Democrats as well as Republicans. He is treating North Koreans better than two thirds of United States' citizens. They are not some enemy, Donald, they just disagree with you and resent being lied to. It is okay for his two wives to emigrate into the United States and bring their families, but it is not okay for Jose or Maria to bring in their families. Too much hate. Too many lies.

In 1966 in South Africa, Robert Kennedy said:

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.  and:
Hand in hand with freedom of speech goes the power to be heard, to share in the decisions of government which shape men's lives. Everything that makes man's life worthwhile-family, work, education, a place to rear one's children and a place to rest one's head -all this depends on decisions of government; all can be swept away by a government which does not heed the demands of its people. Therefore, the essential humanity of men can be protected and preserved only where government must answer-not just to the wealthy, not just to those of a particular religion, or a particular race, but to all its people.
 And the last word with John Oliver, regarding the Donald-Kim Summit and Trump's lies about it, and his sucking up:


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Biggest Upset in Miami Dade County History: Eileen Higgins is County Commissioner for DiEileestrict 5. By Geniusofdespair

Eileen Higgins with Her Communications Campaign Manager. Eileen easily beat the favorite and better funded - Zoraida Barreiro.  We have now lost a charter member of the unreformable majority and replaced him with what might be the difference on all the shitty votes in the County. If only Sally Heyman would realize she is a Democrat, we might move things the right way with Higgins, Levine-Cava, Suarez and Monestime.More photos from the victory...

Short-Sighted Manipulation of People of Kendall. Guest Blog by Richard Grosso

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s desire to alleviate traffic congestion in West Kendall is understandable. His attack on those raising concerns is not. The opposition to the extension of the 836 highway outside of the county’s urban boundary is based, not on “misinformation,” but serious concern, based on history and the realities of development practices and economics, that the county would be making a huge mistake.Addressing traffic problems in...

Big week in Miami-Dade County: District 5 county commission and SR 836 Extension at County Commission ... by gimleteye

Many years ago I founded the Hold The Line Coalition in Miami-Dade. It was an effort that grew out of earlier efforts to protect the Urban Development Boundary from the titanic forces of suburban sprawl. Not state laws or even the threat of an economic collapse in housing markets dented sprawl's momentum. Today, traffic is so congested and intractable for many reasons but one in particular worthy of note this week: the un-reformable majority of the county commission permits massive new development to proceed without adequately planning, funding...

Monday, June 18, 2018

Jeff Greene, The 'Money' Wrench in the Florida Governor's Race. By Geniusofdespair

Billionaire Jeff Greene is now a candidate for Florida Governor on the Democratic side. He told the Miami Herald that he turned over a new leaf since he married a former party girl of Malaysian descent and fathered 3 boys.On the plus side he went to John Hopkins and Harvard so ain't as dumb as Trump. He is definitely an improvement over Scott.He said: "I got married 11 years ago. I have three boys, 5, 7, and 9. That changes your perspective...I'm...

Thursday, June 14, 2018

On Transit And The Environment, In Miami-Dade It Is Always A One-Way Conversation ... by gimleteye

Why do we have the same "dialogue" about transit and the environment, every few years in Miami-Dade? Because it is not a dialogue. A dialogue is between parties. What we have in Miami-Dade are dialogues for "show" and to maintain appearances.In fact, this critical policy area affects everyone's life here. Every single day, commuters are confronted with the consequences of poorly planned transit and the constant shifting of goal-posts where it comes to our quality of life. Transit and the environment is a one-way conversation. Between big sprawl...

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Read this paragraph and let it sink in. By Geniusofdespair

...The problem facing America runs much deeper than Trump’s personal awfulness. One of our two major parties appears to be hopelessly, irredeemably corrupt. And unless that party not only loses this year’s election but begins losing on a regular basis, America as we know it is finished. - Paul Krugman (read the entire column)Has that sunk in? Do I have to put a big black box around it? My heart is beating rapidly. What he said has taken me to a place...

Monday, June 11, 2018

FL Congressman Brian Mast Ventures Where Few Have Gone Before ... by gimleteye

Algae laden drainage canal from Big Sugar landsTo hear Florida Congressman (GOP) Brian Mast lead from the front on the rampant pollution once again coating his district with deadly toxics is refreshing.  Congressman Mast has had enough. Last week he wrote to the US Army Corps of Engineers, urging a halt to all discharges "until the water quality is deemed safe ..."Here is a brief background. GOP Gov. Rick Scott and the US Army Corps...

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Mayor Gimenez: Let's Put A Road in The Everglades. By Geniusofdespair

Mercy, Mercy Me...Oh Things Ain't What They Used To Be....Green Paradise And They Put Up A Parking Lot.Why fool around skirting the edges, just develop the whole Everglades,  it is only a swamp.Just look at Weston. You will know what is coming...why are gators eating people, dogs etc.? I can figure that one out very easily. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH BUILDING ROADS, THE DEVELOPMENT VERY QUICKLY  FILLS IN AROUND ...

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Vote For Eileen Higgins, County Commission District 5 ... by gimleteye

Democrat Eileen Higgins is taking on the wife of former county commissioner Bruno Barreiro in a June 19th runoff for District 5. Barreiro is another pair of hands, holding down taxpayers under water. News arrives from the Miami Herald, that her husband's Congressional committee has donated $100,000 to his wife's campaign; making donors to Barreiro's bid the biggest donors to his wife.How fucked up is that?There is only ONE Point to know about Bruno Barreiro's run as a county commissioner: he was a reliable pro-development vote at every single turn...

You Must Watch this Again! Jon Stewart. By Geniusofdespair

Maybe even more relevant than it was in 2016....especially the references to Guilliani.If you are lazy move it to 10 minutes it is excelle...

Friday, June 8, 2018

The NRA Questionaire for Political Office. By Geniusofdespair

Look what just came in the mail...It is scary if you vote for a candidate with the NRA Endorsement. Look at what they are agreeing to:Opps...wrong jpeg but not so wrong...Does anyone want to fill mine out for me? If you really care to read it, hit on each pa...

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Picture of the Day: By Jim Morin

Cartoon in the Miami Herald this morning by Jim Morin...Woof! This one hit a nerve!Senator Jeff Merkley describes seeing recently arrived immigrants held in "cages that looked a lot like dog kennels" at a Customs and Border Protection facility in McAllen, Texas, where children were also being separated from their parents.He also described about 1,000 children being held in an abandoned Walmart, where he was denied access.Speaking of the NRA, I just...

Eileen Higgins Endorsed by the Miami Herald to be County Commissioner in District 5! By Geniusofdespair

Yes, Eileen Higgins really does use public transit.Way to go Eileen! Eye on Miami also strongly supports Eileen Higgins. We need her vote on the County Commission -- as Tuesday's failure to override the Mayor's Veto proves.From the Miami Herald Editorial:Higgins’ strong showing at the polls was telling in this largely Hispanic district. She received 70 percent of that vote. Higgins admits some Latin voters have a difficult time pronouncing her name...

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Living Wage At Airport/Seaport, etc.: Override of The Mayor's Veto Died. By Geniusofdespair

County Commissioner Barbara Jordan wanted all new leases for concessions at the airport, seaport and other County leased properties to require a living wage to their workers. Not existing leases just new ones. Well it passed and the Mayor vetoed it. Yesterday they had a hearing to do an override of the veto. They needed two thirds. They got Sally Heyman, Daniella Levine Cava, Xavier Suarez, Jean Monestime, Audrey Edmonson, Dennis Moss and Barbara...

Monday, June 4, 2018

Transit Hearing Wednesday at County Commission. By Geniusofdespair

Miami-Dade Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover workers have been without a contract for more than three years - thanks to Mayor Gimenez and his staff.The workers, members of Transport Workers Union Local 291, have been calling on elected officials to support public mass transit in Miami-Dade by increasing funding and increasing service that riders need so badly.The traffic situation is getting worse - and public buses and trains are the answer.Wednesday...

Corporations Shift Affection To Democrats Who Could Control The Florida Senate ... by gimleteye

Since 2010 and Citizens United, the role of dark money -- now legal -- in campaign finance has grown gargantuan. Corporations can, and do, give unlimited contributions to candidates and political party depending on who and which party is most likely to control the majority in the legislature.Republicans dominate the money landscape in Florida. Corporations and trade associations have been welded to GOP interests for two decades since Jeb Bush became governor and the Republican legislature filled behind him.Fair Districts Florida and state court...