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 is the Board of Commissioners hearing on the contract dispute. 

Support our Union, support our transit, call your good for nothing County Commissioner and have them help the Transport Workers. They stood with us during a rally in Cutler Bay on February 3rd. Now stand up for them, help them get their contract. Conservatives would love to end our Unions but these organizations help our middle class get a living wage, in other words, Unions are the backbone of the dwindling middle class in America. Since the Republicans in congress recently were kind enough to give tax cuts to the wealthy Corporations, isn't it fitting that the middle class get something in return, like living wages and benefits for middle class members?

I am now without a car and these are the people I must rely on...if I can cross U.S. 1 in one piece to get to Metrorail. I can walk to Metrorail, I just can't get there safely to get to the County Commission Meeting Tuesday. What a bitch. But that is another post. I am doing my part to help traffic, I am one more person off the road, just like Eileen Higgins who is running for Bruno Barreiro's County Commission Seat, District 5. Vote for Eileen Higgins if you are in the district, if not, tell everyone in Miami Beach and Brickell that you know to Vote June 19th.  It is crucial to get the Barreiro dynasty out (his wife is running against Eileen).

Pictures of County Commissioners from the Transportation Summit:

Commissioner Xavier Suarez

County Commission Chair Steve Bovo

County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava

From Clarence Washington, president of Transport Workers Union Local 291:


“We’ve tried to bargain in good faith with the mayor, but he is obsessed with trying to break our union and hurt our working-class members, who are primarily African-American and Latino. He is making demands on TWU Local 291 that are much more onerous that what he demanded from other municipal unions. We’re hoping the Board of Commissioners recognize this irrational imbalance.”

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The City of Miami Proposed Trolley Route for Coconut Grove and Brickell. By Geniusofdespair

You can see where I whited out THEIR ROUTE and added My Bird Road Connector Route

The meeting to discuss Coconut Grove Trolley route realignment was chaotic with a man in a wheelchair dominating, so I left a half hour after I got there. Order had to be restored and people needed to be civil to each other.

Also there was berating of the good people who came there by two other residents (one who is also employed by the county- from Alice Bravo’s office). This was very rude. The people did not deserve a lecture by the people speaking and they should have been stopped from lecturing. One Know-It-All lady told the people they should have gone to all the meetings, what they said today would be meaningless and it was their fault the trolley route (bus?) route they liked was cancelled (I was not there when that was discussed so I don’t know what popular route they were discussing). She said they should be going to the CITT meeting and they should be glad they have the trolley at all.  Well, lady it was a bond they are paying for so don't act like they are getting a gift from God.

Many were at this meeting to be heard about the cancellation and “sorry" doesn’t really cut it.

What more could anyone ask of these residents? I left unhappy with the new route and the treatment of the people.  One lady said she was mugged at the Douglas Station.

I personally wanted a direct route to get to the Coconut Grove Station from Bayshore down 27th Avenue -- Direct and Fast. The Coconut Grove route they proposed was ridiculous with the box to McDonald and back. There is two much doubling back to get to the station at Coconut Grove that the Douglas Park route doesn’t have.

The only reason I want to get on the trolley at all is because I do not want to get run over crossing US 1. I certainly can walk but crossing the street is very dangerous. Did anyone time this route? I would say it it 45 minutes on the trolley and I can walk it in about 12 to 15 minutes.

If you want to get people out of their cars (I will be out of mine May 30th) you have to make these routes sensible and quick.

I do like the Brickell Extension route if this is it??:

I like it if the trolleys don’t linger at city hall and Mercy which I am apt to think they will do. I am just looking for a quick trolley route to metro rail that does not have a dangerous station drop-off.

If you need a grocery store stop -- (they said as much) Milam's is very expensive, anyway if you add my third bird route it will be close enough. They can get to Publix from Coral Gables route?? or the Fresh Market from the other route to City Hall.

I would do the one down Douglas and the one down 27th and Have a THIRD ROUTE connecting the two on bird. 3 routes and the Brickell route.

Brickell route is fine the way it is. At least it takes you to the Brickell Station. But during traffic times this will be a really slow ride. Will have to get off and walk.

Sorry for all the black spots the other map was on the back of this one.

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Transit: Citizens Getting SCREWED by Their Own Trust. By Geniusofdespair

The Citizens Transportation Trust, over-seeing our Transit Bond Money, screws the Citizens of Miami Dade County spending money on trinkets. First of all some members are former County employees. It is supposed to be composed of citizens perhaps USING transit. It is not. I doubt that Linda Zilber or Joe Curbelo has ever been on a bus (the members are below). The Selection Committee puts the same old people they know on the Trust. I hate this waste of money group. Is anyone on there from Cutler Bay or Palmetto Bay or Homestead? All the handwritten applications of people who actually use transit are mentally discarded by the Selection Committee.

But that is another story. One to follow. It is not my beef today.

I am complaining about the waste of money for the two sided heavy metal medallions being minted for the CITT, I was told it was their budget paying for them which translates to: Our Transportation Bond Money. They have done it 3 times so far. They are 3 inches round good for utterly nothing. I am trying to find out how many they made and how much they cost. On line, in bulk, a medallion of this size is at least $2 or $3. And what are they commentating, a few long over-due projects?

What do you do with the medallion once home? Well, you can't flush it down the toilet so you have to send it to the landfill. It has no use at all. Probably with the velvet bags, they paid thousands of dollars for the three sets of coins. I have no idea how many they got. But: WHY ARE THEY THROWING OUR TRANSIT MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN? Shame on you CITT. By the way, don't blame Javier Betancourt, the new Executive Director. He has NOT done anything stupid yet.

Message to Javier: Stay away from the promotional gear. If you want to do something constructive at an unveiling, raffle off a bike. Get some money in - don't spend it on garbage.

I like Javier, and have known him since he worked for the South Florida Regional Planning Council, and I hope we have a new beginning with him at the helm.

Note to Javier: Really look through the applicants and get some regular people on it. Maybe call them, you have enough staff. I will be watching. I want it to get better. See list of Mostly elitist members:

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Something Fishy with the China Trip Gimenez Went On to Inspect Rail Alternatives. By Geniusofdespair

Lobbyist Rafael A. Garcia-Toledo, president of G-T Construction Group Inc. points to a map of county sewer projects his firm is helping manage. While working on this county contract and pursuing others, Garcia-Toledo also serves as finance chairman for Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s reelection campaign. 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article88600672.html#storylink=cpy

Gimenez when to China to see a train that didn't interest him and he brought two lobbyists he didn't mention to the Miami Herald or anyone else.

What was the real reason for this trip?  Then once there the Genting Company was a big part of the trip. Getting wants to put a Casino on the site of the former Miami Dade Headquarters that was on Biscayne Bay -- In the heart of traffic jam central.

Did you read the article today?. They want some rail to dock near Genting from Miami Beach. It is so convoluted but filled with lobbyist intrigue -- who is working for who -- why were there two legs of the trip that some commissioners didn't go on? Figure it out for me please! I know when something is wrong but I can't put my finger on this one.

Garcia-Toledo is lobbying for his own firm which doesn't give us much to go on. What is really going on. Come on readers.  This is supposed to be about transit, but in the article it says there is no money.

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