Letter about Home Depot
Here is an interesting letter about Home Depot from Kathy Harris in "Neighbors". Click here.
posted by Tom Falco at 9:26 AM
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22 Comments:
That letter expresses the views of many of us who have remained in the "radical center" on this issue. In politics, there is such a thing as overplaying your hand. And it is plausible that Sarnoff might ride his opposition to HD to a City Commission seat, only for his constituents to find that he led them over a cliff.
Of course, Marc has been rather vague about his platform. He talks about increasing green space in the City of Miami, but doesn't mention how he would accomplish that. Unfortunately, the only plausible way of doing it would be to exercise a very aggressive eminent domain power, forcing property-owners to sell blocks of developed property to the City, and raising taxes on everyone else.
That's true. Other than Home Depot - which he is AGAINST - it's hard to know what Mark stands FOR. And his cozy relationship with disgraced former city manager Joe "The Bully" Arriola is weird as hell! What did THAT come from? When their courtship began, before Joe was chased out of office by Diaz, Mark claimed he simply wanted Joe to stay in office long enough to wrap up some tree-related projects. As though THAT justified keeping a swaggering foul-mouthed fool on the job as City Manager and embarrassing the City before the entire world! You don't suppose Sarnoff is planning to bring Joe BACK as City Manager do you?????
At the moment I support Mark, but there is one thing that bugs me. When he pushed for his "dog park", it was at the expense of the children's park, which was reduced in size so there would be more space for dogs!!!! Now, I don't think that he has kids, but our leaders should always be putting children ahead of dogs, don't you think? For that matter, how come the dogs get the best view in Kennedy Park, while the children get a view of the parking lot? Things are really screwy around here.
There are only two parks in the grove where dogs are allowed, yet there are many for children. Children, unlike dogs, don't need a special children-only park to run around in.
I like Marc Sarnoff and I'm voting for him, not only because I am in agreement about the Home Depot issue but I believe him to be honest and I think he has the best interest of the Grove at heart.
Regarding the dog park, my kids are grown up and no longer live in the area but I do have a dog. Those of us without kids are sick to death of all our tax money going toward improvements for schools, etc. There are all types of people in the Grove and only some have kids. The previous comment is correct which is there are plenty of parks for the children in the area.
my kids are grown up and no longer live in the area but I do have a dog. Those of us without kids are sick to death of all our tax money going toward improvements for schools, etc.,
Sorry, but this is a moronic statement. Who do you suppose was paying for your kids' education (assuming that your kids were in public school)? And do you suppose that you do not derive any benefit from other kids being in school? Would you prefer that the Grove be a kid-free enclave? They have places like that in Florida, you know? They're called "retirement communities".
And do you think that Marc Sarnoff is going to lower taxes? If you do, I'd like to try whatever it is that you're smoking.
I'm also aware of only one park in the Grove that's dedicated to children -- the run-down, mosquito-infested Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Park on 22nd. Are there others? Where?
The dog park was not really at the expense of the children's park. The children's park was never used by children or parents. I remember it being an abandoned park. And I feel that we grove residents DO have a chance to keep Home Depot out. This story has not been written yet.
I have no kids, and I am happy to have my taxes go toward education and playgrounds for kids, but I don't think every signle park needs to have a fenced in play-space for them. Blanche park has gotten improvements for both children and pet owners and much of that money was raised privately. The grove has a large population of dog owners, and it's two nice dog parks are a great boon for them, keeping dogs well-excercised and well-socialized benefits everyone.
Wonderful, well thought out, and well written letter by Kathy Harris. Its nice to see someone take the emotion out of the situation and explain their concerns in a cool, calm, and collected manner. This is a great example for all parties on both sides of the issue to learn from.
As for Marc Sarnoff, his campaign reminds me of when I was in grade school and it was time to vote for "Class President". The kid that always ended up winning was the one whose campaign consisted of promises like a jukebox in the cafeteria or a soda machine in the library. It was enough to make all the kids think, "Wow! Awesome! Im voting for him!" Sure enough, throughout the rest of the year the only music in the cafeteria would be the lunch ladies banging metal spoons on metal bins as they served up sloppy joes...
Dont believe the hype. If you are going to vote, dont think that there is a candidate that can make the impossible possible (like denying HD residence in teh Grove). Think about the candidate who accepts the current situation but finds the best way to make due with the hand he is dealt.
The high school election is very appropriate. There has always been something very high school-ish about the Grove First efforts. Very self-rightous. Resistant to all compromise. A very unsophisticated understanding of how to properly address complex community issues and resolve conflict.
You must be a newcomer and have no idea what the Grove used to be like. That's exactly the attitude that brought us to where we are today. Thank God for the people in the Grove First. At least they are standing up for what they believe in. BTW, I didn't hear you speak at the last commission meeting regarding this matter. Maybe you should stand up and let your negative attitude be counted.
If I DID speak out against Grove First in public, I wouldn't feel safe walking home. They are nuts!!
Well there sure are a lot of them and there doesn't seem to be many like you. :-)
That's an illusion. Ten very loud people can easliy drown out 1,000....until the larger group decides to speak back. Ask Max Milan about the flood of heart-felt, thoughtful letters he's getting from all over the Grove as well as from across the street in strong support of the Max Strang Plan.....
The silent majority is about to speak.
And they are PISSED at Grove First for trying to hijack their community!
To the Anonymous person that said "If I DID speak out against Grove First in public, I wouldn't feel safe walking home. They are nuts!!"
ALLOW ME TO PUT YOU AT EASE. I'm Liliana Dones, co-chair of the Village Council's Treewatch Committee, a member of the Waterfront Working Committee and Vice president of the Grove Chamber of Commerce. I am also a founding member of The Grove First, and I can assure you that neither I nor any of the good people who have given plenty of their time, money and energy these past two years to protect the quality of life of Coconut Grove are nuts. You can certainly feel safe walking home, and, if home should happen to be within walking distance of the dreaded HD site, it is through the efforts of the Grove First that hopefully, you will not be running into stray orange carts littering your path in the years to come.
Stray carts is the least of it!
Do you people have real lives? Or are you ALWAYS cartoon characters?
Living in the Banana Republic life IS a cartoon on a daily basis. Just go down to City Hall and talk to Concrete Manny.
I am one of the "silent majority" who has decided to speak out, albeit in an anonymous manner because identifying faces and names has no bearing on what will happen in the future. I support Max Milam and his efforts to save his business. I also agree with the Class II permit, which not only will beautify that eye-sore of a corner, but also takes into consideration the residents that live around that area. What we as Grove residents (Grove First included) must realize is that Home Depot is going to be there one way or another. Milam’s or not, they've already started. Grove First continues to beat a dead issue to a pulp and on top of it we have people like Sarnoff who use the "dream-like" idea of not having a Home-Depot as political fire-power to try and get elected. Get real people. Home Depot is coming. Why not just accept that and approve something that will save business, create/preserve jobs and take community needs into consideration.
Home Depot is not necessarily coming. Home Depot has done a great job of preventing its competitor Lowes from getting that site. It appears Home Depot made a mistake by not maintaining the occupational license and certificate of use for the K-Mart space.
Now it appears they must file a application for a Class II permit. It the meantime Grove First has allowed the quality of life around the site to be maintained. It appears IF a Home Depot comes there will be some serious compromises. Time will tell, but we will probably owe great debts of gratitude to Marc Sarnoff and Grove First. We can still thank them for all their volunteer efforts.
If Grove First and Mr. Sarnoff help us get a better deal in the long run, I say, lets suppport them.
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