Conexion Miami / Lousy listeners 

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and others are fuming. President Obama and President Castro shook hands. Oh dear, what a travesty! The fact is [the Bushes, Rubios et al] refuse to listen. A majority of Americans support reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and ending the decades-long blockade; and a poll of Cuban citizens [living on the island] released last week found that 97 percent believe that a better relationship with the United States would benefit Cuba. Still our “democratic” leaders turn their back on the will of the people. Bush went as far as to say, “Instead of lifting the embargo, I would argue that we should strengthen it to put pressure on the Cuban regime.”

Scary African lizards on the loose

Strange and scary-looking African lizards are on the loose in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says Nile monitor lizards have established a breeding population in Palm Beach County. Officials are now on a mission to hunt and kill them. They’re also asking the public to report any sightings of the lizards that can grow up to 5 feet long.

No love-in here

Speaking of Jeb and Marco: the presidential run seems to be coming between them. Once good friends – in fact Jeb was once considered Marco’s political mentor – the chase for big money has created a wedge… Media reports that much of the money and establishment support is favoring Bush. Some fans of both have said Rubio should run for re-election to the Senate next year and leave the White House campaign to Bush. Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida real estate developer and former Republican National Committee finance chairman, said, “I think Marco is a truly outstanding person. I love him. A fine man. (But) I love Jeb Bush more.”

‘Fresh from Florida’

International exports of “Fresh From Florida” products increased last year to a record $4.2 billion, reported the Associated Press. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says those exports generated a total economic impact of more than $13 billion and supported more than 109,000 jobs.

Hot and sultry

On Wednesday, April 22, starting at 8 p.m., artist Karelle Levy and others will take over Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road ArtCenter with art installations inspired by KRELwear’s latest Spring Petals Collection 2015 KRELwear. Levy blurs the lines of fashion and art through her signature knit dresses, hotshorts and rompers. She uses cottons, lightweight materials and bright colors. All hand loomed one-of-a-kind knitwear made just for Miami’s hot and sultry climate. The ArtCenter is located at 800 Lincoln Road. For more info, click here.

Everglades land buy canned

And from the Refusing to Listen to the Voters Department: The South Florida Water Management District board last week canned a 2010 deal to buy 46,800 acres of U.S. Sugar land that it once considered critical to restoring the Everglades and coastal estuaries. In November of last year, more than 70% of Florida voters favored Amendment 1, a land preservation amendment environmentalists hoped would produce money to buy cane fields which sugar growers tried to rezone late last year for residential and commercial development. The Amendment is expected to generate about $650 million just in its first year. But Tallahassee is not listening…

‘Tiny’ but expensive

The Wall Street Journal officially bestowed Miami Beach as the city with the most expensive tiny home in America. The ‘tiny home’ being an 800 square foot pied a’ terre on Collins Avenue that’s on the market for $2.5 million. Unit 2503 is in the luxurious Setai, a condo hotel where that two and half million comes with lots of creature comforts like concierge staff, room service, housekeeping, and other hotel-style amenities.

Prison population

According to the Sentencing Project, while the total U.S. prison population declined by 2.4% since 2009, incarceration trends among the states have varied significantly. Two-thirds (34) of the states have experienced at least a modest decline, while one-third (16) have had continuing rises in imprisonment. Florida’s prison population declined 1 percent.

It’s ‘All About You’

Bénédicte Blanc-Fontenille, a French artist who lives in Miami, and a 1985 graduate of L’Ecole des Beaux Arts, will exhibit her fun and playful art with the “All About You” exhibition that runs through April 30. Bénédicte will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to Act4Me, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization established in Miami-Dade County to help local children with neurological disorders and developmental delay, get the therapy they need. The exhibit can be seen at the Hangar Gallery, 2235 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33127. Opening reception is set for Thursday, April 16, 2015, from 6 – 9 p.m.

Rick Scott’s quandary

Florida governor Rick Scott is in a quandary. He can’t seem to decide which priority is more important: Turning away federal money to expand health care for hundreds thousands of his own constituents; or cutting taxes for the people he seems to really care about – big business and the well-heeled. Florida has been negotiating with the Obama administration over expanding Medicaid in the state to some 800,000 people under the Affordable Care Act. In 2012, Scott said he was against expansion. In 2013 (in the midst of reelection) he said he was for it. Now, he says he’s against it. Knock, knock… governor.

Florida taxpayers

The website Wallethub says that Florida is the 10th best state to be a taxpayer. We’re first in income tax (we have none); 29th best in real estate taxes; number one in vehicle property tax; and 44th in sales and excise taxes. Note who the winners and losers are; or ask yourself: who has the most income and the most expensive vehicles?

Brazilians gobbling up Miami real estate

Brazil again led all foreign countries searching for South Florida real estate, according to the Miami Association of Realtors website in February 2015. The South American country, which topped all global consumers searchingMiamire.com in the same period last year, has regularly ranked among Miami’s top foreign buyers. Second on the list was Colombia, followed by Venezuela.

Shabbat – The Seventh Day

In Jewish tradition, one of the pillars of Jewish practice, Sabbath, or Shabbat, is observed in many ways, including going to synagogue, cooking a special meal, resting from work or physical activity and reflecting on life outside of our daily routines. The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU presents an exhibition, The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat featuring contemporary and often provocative depictions of Shabbat through the works of leading international artists. The Seventh Day exhibit runs through October 25. Location of the Museum is 301 Washington Avenue in South Beach. For more info visit their website by clicking here.

Miami a healthy city

There are two parts to every great healthy city, says the Livability.com website. The first is access to quality and affordable health care. The second is promoting and enabling a healthy lifestyle for its residents through infrastructure and amenities. With this in mind, Livability.com has named Miami a Top 10 Healthiest City 2015. Miami provides residents with exercise opportunities, good food choices and strong support networks to help live healthy lives, according to the website.