Conexión Miami / Sea rising agnostic

For believers in science, there is plenty of evidence that global warming and a resulting rising sea level throughout planet earth is fact. Most of Miami is a place that many expect will end up under water if we continue on our current path. It turns out, though, that in the District 26 congressional primary, there is a former Miami-Dade county commissioner, Joe Martinez, who apparently does NOT read. When the five candidates in this race were asked on TV by investigative reporter Jim DeFede if they agreed that the seas are rising, Martinez answered by saying, “I’m not exactly sure … I’m not a scientist, Jim.”

Saying one thing, doing another

As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, Gov. Rick Scott launched Project Sunburst two years ago to give the public easy access to his emails and those of his staff and promised it would become an “unprecedented, transparent window into how state government works.” But Scott has shown he may say one thing and does another. Here’s the latest example from the Bay Times: “The Scott administration has erected barriers to public records, marginalized the use of Sunburst, and interpreted the state’s Sunshine laws in a way that open government advocates say has set the clock back on Florida’s open records tradition.”

Did Bank of America screw you?

Has Bank of American (BoA) screwed you on your mortgage? Or maybe it was Countrywide Financial or even Merrill Lynch? Both are now owned by BoA. Last week the U.S. Dept. of Justice announced a record settlement with BoA that will provide $1 billion in relief for about 17,000 Floridians affected by the mortgage crisis. But don’t jump in joy just yet. The screwees (that’s you!) will not be receiving checks in the mail. Relief will come in forms that include reductions to the principle portion of your mortgage and other loan modifications. You see, BoA is STILL too big to fail, so the government did not want their bottom line affected…

Poor restaurant workers

For most of Miami’s history its economy has been based on tourism. And that industry depends on restaurants – which this city has plenty of. Last week we received bad news from the Economic Policy Institute who announced that restaurant workers are more likely to be in poverty than other workers. Their findings include: Hourly wages are likely to be 17.2% lower than other industries; they are highly gendered and have strong racial and ethnic concentrations; the workers are much more likely than other workers to be poor or near-poor; and restaurant workers rarely receive fringe benefits – such as health care.

A shameless Rick Scott

Here’s another change of heart for Rick Scott. After his election in 2010, Scott slashed $1.3 billion in school spending (plus a $300 million cut in university budgets) to please the Tea Party who helped get him elected. But it turns out that in 2014 polls are telling us that school spending is important to Florida voters. Worry not, says Scott. He has committed to the biggest classroom spending package in Florida history – but next year… Has he no shame?

Dream Defenders arrested in Miami

Last week seven members of the youth-of-color organization Dream Defenders were arrested while waiting at Department of Justice Federal Building in Downtown Miami. They were there to demand a Federal Investigation into the murder of Israel “Reefa” Hernandez. Israel was a Miami Beach teen and artist who was chased down, brutally beaten, then tasered by police for painting on an abandoned McDonald’s last year. His killer, Officer Jorge Mercado, was placed on paid leave for one full year, before returning to the force. Israel Hernandez joins Timothy Russell, Kimani Gray, Kendrec McDade, Ervin Jefferson, Ezell Ford, John Crawford, Eric Graner, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Omar Abrego, Mike Brown and the countless of other unarmed Black and Brown people murdered by cops across the nation.

Out of state $$ in Florida governor’s race

“Because it’s a large swing state with a huge footprint on presidential politics, Florida’s gubernatorial race is always watched nationally,” writes Matt Dixon in the Naples Daily News. Campaigns and committees aligned with both Charlie Crist and Rick Scott so far have brought in $15 million from out-of-state donors, with more to come. Seventeen percent of the money raised by the two 2014 candidates has come from out-of-state donors. For example, Crist picked up $6,000 from legendary director Steven Spielberg. He has snagged more than $100,000 from California.

Miami’s phallic-like buildings and developers with a complex

From the Miami New Times: For years South Florida developers have been pretending their business deals are something greater than they are, and that glistening towers meant for the über-rich will leave some sort of hallowed legacy for all the citizens of Miami. But this “legacy” business has gotten out of control. There’s a strange new trend of rich Miamians trying to make giant additions of phallic-like structures to our skyline in any way possible and calling it a legacy.

Are they worth it?

According to a Tampa Bay Times blog, Florida taxpayers spent nearly $2.4 million last year to provide round-the-clock security protection for Gov. Rick Scott and to protect out-of-state elected officials visiting the Sunshine State. The biggest surprise in the report was a $27,000 expenditure to provide six days of security last May for Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Don’t you ever ask yourself if these guys are worth it? Are we getting an honest return for our buck?

The environment is important to Floridians

Candidates for governor and state Legislature better burnish their environmental records, says a recently released University of Florida survey. The environment is one of the 10 most important issues among Floridians, with the vast majority saying they would support land conservation programs and candidates who say they support conservation efforts.

Paying to play

This should give you an idea of the state of politics in Florida’s capital. Reports show that at least four lobbying firms each collected $1 million or more in fees from April 1 to June 30 — a period that included the second half of the 60-day legislative session. At least seven firms reported earning between $500,000 and $999,999 in fees. Twenty other firms reported earning between $250,000 and $499,999. Later we wonder why the politicians are ignoring the common citizen with no paid lobbyists.

Miami street vendors unite

Street and sidewalk vendors from Miami last week announced the formation of a new organization, the United Vendors of South Florida. Their goal is to fight for the economic rights of vendors by asking lawmakers to change oppressive vending laws, which make it very difficult for them to work. Vendors are not allowed to place anything on the sidewalk – even a bucket of flowers will earn them a misdemeanor.  They must constantly move or get arrested. Street vendors are also not allowed to park on the street. Vendors who violate any part of the code are guilty of a misdemeanor, which carries with it a $500 fine per infraction and potential jail time.

 

Who Jeb really wants as governor of Florida

Jeb Bush has been known to nurture and often support a stable of politicians he can call his mentees. Just recently a blog in the Herald Tribune reported several interesting facts. First, Jeb prefers current Gov. Rick Scott over ex-governor Charlie Crist. “I’m all in for Rick Scott,” Bush has said. But it was hard to miss who he really wants to be governor in the future. For more than two hours, Bush traveled Charlotte County with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, dropping not-so-subtle hints he wants the Bartow Republican to run for governor.

Secondround of gerrymandering OK’d

Remember the gerrymandered maps thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court as unconstitutional? Circuit Judge Terry Lewis approved the Legislature’s new plan for Florida’s congressional districts last week. After two days in Tallahassee, state legislators moved a few black voters here and a few others there and Judge Lewis rewarded them with a job well done. The League of Women Voters and others involved in the case announced they were disappointed with the results of this second round of more gerrymandering. They are hoping for another appeal. Democratic Party voters are a majority in Florida. Surprisingly, republicans hold 17 of the 27 congressional districts in the state.