"If you wish to continue being kicked in the teeth then vote for Joe Sanchez for Mayor of Miami" -- Grace Solares
The following letter came from activist Grace Solares.
Apparently Cocoanut Grove Village Council head Michelle Niemeyer is pushing for Comm. Joe Sanchez as the next Mayor of Miami over Comm. Tomas Regalado.
While I like Michelle Niemeyer a lot, I honestly disagree with almost everything she has ever done on the Village Council and other Grove-related committees. She never seems to side with Grove residents and now she is pushing for someone who has never been on our side. Should Michelle even be publicly pushing for anyone since she heads the Village Council?
In my view, Tomas Regalado has voted pro-Grove on almost every issue. I don't think I have ever seen Joe Sanchez ever take a pro-Grove stance on anything. Whenever I have seen Joe Sanchez at Grove events, I am usually puzzled as to why he is there since he has done so much with Mayor Manny Diaz and various other City Commissioners to destroy quality of life for Grove residents.
I am publishing Ms. Solares' letter here and I ask that Michelle please send me a letter in response and I will publish that.
Here is the letter Ms. Solares sent to "Friends of Michelle Niemeyer (referring to the way Michelle addressed her letter to voters):
I am in receipt of a copy of an email Ms. Niemeyer sent, addressed as her "Friends," in which she advises she has agreed to coordinate "Joe Sanchez" campaign efforts in Coconut Grove for his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Miami.
Ms. Niemeyer then goes on to tell you the things about "Joe" (as she rather intimately calls him) she believes are reasons why you should vote for "Joe."
I will tell you why you should not. First and foremost, you Grovites have never had a "friend" nor a commissioner that "listens," in Joe Sanchez.
Do you remember the Grovenor? I remember the Grove fighting against the Grovenor. Did Sanchez hear you in your opposition? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for that incredibly huge project.
Do you remember Home Depot? I remember the Grove fighting against Home Depot. Did Sanchez hear you in your opposition? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for Home Depot.
Do you remember Mercy Hospital/Related Project? I remember the Grove joining many in the fight against it. Did Sanchez hear you? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for the Mercy Project.
And, I could go on and on about all the many "Yes" votes that Joe Sanchez has cast against the residents of the City and in favor of the big developers. Ms. Niemeyer knows nothing, nothing, about the residents' battles against bad projects that have killed the quality of life of the residents of the City, and that Joe Sanchez has been an integral and indispensable part of those "yes" votes that have caused havoc in the single family residential areas.
And, oh yes, how she tells you about the wonderful things he has done in Little Havana. I bet you she does not even know how to find Little Havana. Little Havana has suffered a significant gentrification in the past 8 years. Old structures, that even though not designated as historical were indeed that (because of the constructions years being in the late 20s, 30s early 40s) were demolished.
These historical buildings, that housed families with low and limited income, were razed to give rise to new and bigger building projects, totally unaffordable by the ones displaced. Yes, this was Joe Sanchez with his "Yes" votes. I have dozens and dozens of horror stories to combat each and every of Ms. Niemeyer's reasons why you should vote for Joe Sanchez, however, I have extended myself too much and do not wish take any more of your time.
I leave you with one thought: if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue kicking the residents in the teeth, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue siding with the big developers, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to only give you two minutes to speak on your issues after having waited an entire day to address the Commission, then you vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue to scheduling planning and zoning items during working ours so as to prevent you from attending, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue to be ran by Manny Diaz after he is gone, then you vote for Joe Sanchez.
If you do not want any one of the foregoing, then you must vote for the People's Mayor, Tomas Regalado.
Respectfully,
Grace Solares
Activist
Apparently Cocoanut Grove Village Council head Michelle Niemeyer is pushing for Comm. Joe Sanchez as the next Mayor of Miami over Comm. Tomas Regalado.
While I like Michelle Niemeyer a lot, I honestly disagree with almost everything she has ever done on the Village Council and other Grove-related committees. She never seems to side with Grove residents and now she is pushing for someone who has never been on our side. Should Michelle even be publicly pushing for anyone since she heads the Village Council?
In my view, Tomas Regalado has voted pro-Grove on almost every issue. I don't think I have ever seen Joe Sanchez ever take a pro-Grove stance on anything. Whenever I have seen Joe Sanchez at Grove events, I am usually puzzled as to why he is there since he has done so much with Mayor Manny Diaz and various other City Commissioners to destroy quality of life for Grove residents.
I am publishing Ms. Solares' letter here and I ask that Michelle please send me a letter in response and I will publish that.
Here is the letter Ms. Solares sent to "Friends of Michelle Niemeyer (referring to the way Michelle addressed her letter to voters):
I am in receipt of a copy of an email Ms. Niemeyer sent, addressed as her "Friends," in which she advises she has agreed to coordinate "Joe Sanchez" campaign efforts in Coconut Grove for his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Miami.
Ms. Niemeyer then goes on to tell you the things about "Joe" (as she rather intimately calls him) she believes are reasons why you should vote for "Joe."
I will tell you why you should not. First and foremost, you Grovites have never had a "friend" nor a commissioner that "listens," in Joe Sanchez.
Do you remember the Grovenor? I remember the Grove fighting against the Grovenor. Did Sanchez hear you in your opposition? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for that incredibly huge project.
Do you remember Home Depot? I remember the Grove fighting against Home Depot. Did Sanchez hear you in your opposition? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for Home Depot.
Do you remember Mercy Hospital/Related Project? I remember the Grove joining many in the fight against it. Did Sanchez hear you? No, he did not. He voted "Yes" for the Mercy Project.
And, I could go on and on about all the many "Yes" votes that Joe Sanchez has cast against the residents of the City and in favor of the big developers. Ms. Niemeyer knows nothing, nothing, about the residents' battles against bad projects that have killed the quality of life of the residents of the City, and that Joe Sanchez has been an integral and indispensable part of those "yes" votes that have caused havoc in the single family residential areas.
And, oh yes, how she tells you about the wonderful things he has done in Little Havana. I bet you she does not even know how to find Little Havana. Little Havana has suffered a significant gentrification in the past 8 years. Old structures, that even though not designated as historical were indeed that (because of the constructions years being in the late 20s, 30s early 40s) were demolished.
These historical buildings, that housed families with low and limited income, were razed to give rise to new and bigger building projects, totally unaffordable by the ones displaced. Yes, this was Joe Sanchez with his "Yes" votes. I have dozens and dozens of horror stories to combat each and every of Ms. Niemeyer's reasons why you should vote for Joe Sanchez, however, I have extended myself too much and do not wish take any more of your time.
I leave you with one thought: if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue kicking the residents in the teeth, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue siding with the big developers, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to only give you two minutes to speak on your issues after having waited an entire day to address the Commission, then you vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue to scheduling planning and zoning items during working ours so as to prevent you from attending, then you should vote for Joe Sanchez; if you wish the City of Miami Administration to continue to be ran by Manny Diaz after he is gone, then you vote for Joe Sanchez.
If you do not want any one of the foregoing, then you must vote for the People's Mayor, Tomas Regalado.
Respectfully,
Grace Solares
Activist
posted by Tom Falco at 11:12 AM
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14 Comments:
I must say I find the hostility in these communications disturbing. Not everyone agrees about a lot of issues in the Grove. In the end we all have our opinions and have a right to express them. Those of us who are involved in things in the Grove are involved because we care about our community and want the best for it.
Tom, I have a lot of work right now but you will get your response to Ms. Solares. In fairness if you are going to publish Ms. Solares' diatribe perhaps you will also publish what she was responding to?
Talking about our sick local government! For your info, the City of Miami has been sending its agents or should I call them inspectors around the neighborhoods handing out violations like candy. The target is everyone, from restaurants with outside seating being scrutinized to building and sign violations. The reason? Because the city is short of revenues therefor has assigned 50% of its idle work force at the offices related to building to the violations department, since they do not have any permitting going on anymore they need to go out and generate revenue this way by righting tickets and pushing the people around. You go to the city office and see how many people are standing in line right now, and they have never seen a violation in their lives and do not know how to deal with it. There are words that the city will lay off 25% of the department if business is going to continue to be this slow. Is this tactic legal, of putting pressure on the citizens this way to generate revenue? I say it is very shady.
Joe Sanchez has been in favor of developers, regardless of how many residents have gone to City Hall begging not to let their neighborhoods be destroyed. He has continuously ignored them. The voting record speaks for itself. Oh, yes, he has done some positive things - only because it was a photo op and he knew it.
I would like to see Ms. Solares credentials; she may be activing without a License.
Anon 4:48,
Is there a license requirement to be well-informed?
Where do you read she represents herself as a lawyer? It is signed Activist.
4:48 just went right over your head, 5:07. Never accused her of being a lawyer. Comment says 'activing.' I think that's what an activist does?? Or is it activating?
Its pretty funny how sensitive commenters on this blog are.
Oh, and Ms Solares is wrong. The Home Depot and Grovenor House are great additions to the neighborhood.
More knee-jerk NIMBYism. What, pray tell, do you have against Grovenor House? I lived there for a time. It's beautiful, one of the nicest buildings not just in Miami but in the world. I've also lived in New York and Europe; I've rarely seen a building of such quality. This isn't Starbucks or Home Depot - this is a unique structure and the Grove should be proud to call this magnificent building home. How has it harmed us?
They broke every zoning law in the book to build Grovenor House. Then they put new laws on the books to never let it happen again, only to lie and break the laws for the 300 Bay Residences project, which is now dead thanks to law abiding judges.
Woohoo!
Remember not to let the grove get boxed in! I grew up in the grove and still work there. Commissioner Regalado has been there for the Grovites even others have not.
It was the right thing to do, and thats why he did it.
Sad that everyone gets upset though...seems like this election might have similarities to the past election. If you guys want Manny Diaz....go with Sanchez (seriously)
Remember guys we could have ended up with a Home Depot that looks like SW 8th St. If it were up to the Commission we could be living in Home Depot Hell. But the activists fought long and hard and we ended up with an obscure non-contractor store hidden by trees with low impact on traffic and minimal customers.
There never should have been such a long fought battle to protect your neighborhood. That is what we voted to pay the City of Miami Commissioners a salary. Note that the County still won't get it. It was to keep them honest and protect the citizens. Instead, we got our Chairman, Joe Sanchez, to change the hours for PZ items to be heard from after 5 p.m. to anytime after 10:00 a.m. He is really look out for us! He did so to be with his family, which is no longer the case. Yet he refuses to change it back to how it was. I don't want four more years of Joe Sanchez!
You go Grace!! Well said.
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