Conexion Miami / Miami losing its heart

MIAMI.- Reports and studies put the homeless population of Miami at about 4,000. That is, believe it or not, good news since the figure was twice that in 1998. Of the 4,000, 616 were counted on Miami’s streets in January, according to theMiami Herald. Now Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff wants to get rid of the 616 by creating what is being called an “anti camping” bill, which if passed – the vote was postponed last week because of the controversy it’s created – “would make it illegal to have ‘camping paraphernalia’ like tents or mobile stoves on public property; violators could be fined $500 or arrested.” Miami is a beautiful city; a growing, vibrant city; a city of beautiful people; but because of people like Marc Sarnoff, Miami is also becoming a heartless city where only the rich will be able to survive.

$1,500 per square foot

The Miami New Times last week reported that “the owners of a building in the Design District have basically won the real estate lottery. Hardor Corp. bought up a building at 1 NE 40th St. for the sweet price of $300,000 just 11 years ago in 2004. It recently sold it for the eye-popping price of $29.25 million. Yes, that’s basically a 10,000 percent increase.” The selling price works out to about $1,505 per square foot.

Cason fumbling and stammering

Coral Gables has elections on April 14, less that a month away. And the incumbent mayor seems to be running for his life. Former city commissioner Ralph Cabrera is challenging Mayor James Cason, and from everything we’ve read Cason looks like the person trying to unseat the incumbent. As Elaine De Valle recently wrote in her blog, Political Cortadito, Cason “seemed to fumble around and stammer” during a recent candidate’s debate. She added that “Cason could hardly put together a coherent sentence – even though it seemed he was reading the whole time.” Cason, for those who’ve forgotten, held the post of principal officer in the U.S. Interests Section in Havana from 2002-2005 – part of the W. Bush years.

Our own Malecon

The Miami Downtown Development Authority and architects Behar-Font & Partners have released a video animation of their plan to completely revamp the Downtown section of Biscayne Boulevard, converting it into a grand pedestrian-focused promenade, like the Malecon in Havana, the Las Ramblas in Barcelona, or the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Called ‘Biscayne Green’, the Boulevard wouldn’t exclusively be given over to pedestrians, but would instead have a large central median activated with greenery, sculptures, fountains, and public amenities. An indoor structure labeled the ‘Biscayne Green Marketplace’ appears to be the centerpiece.

Miami’s rising stars 

Rising Stars Showcase, a professionally staged, energy packed, one-of-a-kind performance presents the extraordinary talent of high school and college students from New World School of the Arts in Miami on Thursday, March 19. The showcase begins at the New World Gallery with a juried visual arts exhibition featuring impressive student artworks. The show, as diverse as the school population, includes painting, drawing, design, sculpture, digital media and installations. For more information, click here or call the New World School of the Arts at 305-237-3541.

Jeb lives in a glass house and still tosses stones

Jeb Bush was critical of Hillary Clinton for her use of a private e-mail account when she served as secretary of state. Now it turns out that Jeb used his private e-mail account as Florida governor to discuss security and military issues such as troop deployments to the Middle East and the protection of nuclear plants, reported The Washington Post. Johannes Ullrich, a cybersecurity expert who is dean of research at the SANS Technology Institute, said private accounts in general are more susceptible to attacks than government e-mail addresses. Jeb by now should have learned that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Marco courting Romney

Marco is courting money, sorry, we meant he is courting the last GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. TheWashington Post reported that “Sen. Marco Rubio has been cultivating a relationship with Mitt Romney and his intimates, landing some of the 2012 Republican nominee’s top advisers and donors and persistently courting others as he readies an expected 2016 presidential campaign.” The Post adds, “Rubio and Romney have built a warm and trusting rapport, in contrast to the frostiness that exists between Romney and the two current GOP front-runners, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.”

Ripple effects in Central Florida

When Disney World agreed last year to pay its workers at least $10 an hour starting in 2016, it fueled predictions that others in the hospitality industry would follow. Most recently, Wal-Mart, which has 11,500 Central Florida employees, announced it will raise its minimum wage to $10 next year amid a tightening job market and national debate about pay. Time-share magnate David Siegel then announced a $10-an-hour starting wage at his Westgate Resorts soon after Disney. We hope the ripples continue…

Bad reviews NOT allowed

And from the hard to believe: In an attempt to stop bad reviews on social media, property managers of a Florida apartment complex have actually banned residents from posting negative reviews about their property online. An anonymous resident of the Windermere Cay complex, near Orlando in Central Florida, sent Ars Technica the contractthey were asked to sign, pointing to the absolutely absurd “Social Media Addendum” and rightfully labeling it “ridiculous.” The addendum bans “negative commentary and reviews on Yelp, Apartment Ratings, Facebook, or any other website or Internet-based publication or blog.”

A battle for water

For decades, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida have been battling over the future allocation of water in two major river basins that cross their borders (the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basins).  Georgia wants to have enough water to allow metro Atlanta to continue growing, while Alabama and Florida—the downstream users—want enough water flowing for their current and future economic well-being. The dispute has involved several local, state and federal agencies, courts and mediators, and its outcome is one of the most important environmental issues facing the region today. You can read more here.

Stetson Law shines

A team from Florida’s Stetson University College of Law was finalist at the Southern Regional of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on March 8 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and earned the right to advance to the international rounds in Washington, D.C., April 5-11. Jessup is the largest moot court competition in the world. Every eligible law school around the world is permitted to send one team to the regionals. This year, more than 550 schools are competing in 55 qualifying rounds January through March in order to advance to the international rounds.