I am not defending anyone
A local Grove activist is sending emails around libeling me, saying I defended Comm. Marc Sarnoff's votes yesterday regarding the Marlins Stadium. This is a case of shooting the messenger. And to be honest, I have always taken up this activist's causes, but she is wrong to be attacking me. I am sorry she didn't get her way with the Marlins vote, but I had nothing to do what that and I don't like being part of the news.
I am finding out daily, that people actually think that I run things around here. I don't people. I am a peon. I only write the news and discuss it. I don't decide policy. Seriously. Thank you for giving me all that power, but it is only in your heads. I have no power.
The only reason I am not mentioning names here is because she retracted her letter the second she received notification from me that she should. She knows where it says danger. Spreading lies is not going to help her causes in the future.
I have been against the public paying for the Marlins Stadium since day one. I don't write much about it here because I try to stay on Grove issues and I don't cover city-wide issues, but each time I did write about it, I was totally against it and even mocked it with cartoons sent in by Harry Emilio Gottlieb and Old Grover. You can easily do a search in the search box above and find all the stories and posts.
I don't know what the point of her email is. I like the fact that Marc voted "no" on the main stadium issue, that is no secret, and if I seemed to have defended him in the comments section where one guy says that he made arrangements with the other commissioners so that he looked good. I just found that to not make sense at all, no matter who the politician is, no matter what vote there is. Especially in Miami.
If anyone thinks one politician is going to throw him or herself under the bus for the good of another, they really don't live in the real world and have not been in Miami for very long.
I was sent Marc's letter last night, as I am sure every media outlet in town was. I posted it here without comment. But then in the comments section, when the first anonymous comment came in, I just wanted to nip it in the bud before this became a whole day back and forth thing on something that makes no sense.
For someone to pick it up and spread it around as me defending Sarnoff, is really grasping at straws. Attacking the media is really not the right way to go about it. This activist sounds foolish, in fact. Very foolish.
The anonymous blog comment that came in, which I cleaned up said: "I think he [Sarnoff] is full of bs, and I think this was planned that he and someone else voted against it to make it look like he did not want it, but in reality he does."
My reply, for which I am being attacked was: "You believe that? You believe Sarnoff said, 'Hey you guys, how about you three make yourselves look like crooks and scammers and like you are on the take and you make me look like the hero? And Joe, I know you are running for mayor, but would you please jeopardize that for me by voting for the stadium, so that I look good? And let Tomas, who is running against you look like the good guy, too. Oh, and Michelle, they say you are on the take and want bribes, how about you vote for the stadium, too. So that I could look good? Thanks, babe!' "
I would have written that about any politician. Again -- politicians don't throw themselves under the bus for the good of others. Not gonna happen. Wouldn't be prudent.
I don't think that is defending him, I just think that is using common sense. I have not endorsed anyone and I am not on anyone's side or in the habit of defending anyone. I just wanted to stop a day of non-stop comments before it started. But I fear I may just opened the door now.
I am finding out daily, that people actually think that I run things around here. I don't people. I am a peon. I only write the news and discuss it. I don't decide policy. Seriously. Thank you for giving me all that power, but it is only in your heads. I have no power.
The only reason I am not mentioning names here is because she retracted her letter the second she received notification from me that she should. She knows where it says danger. Spreading lies is not going to help her causes in the future.
I have been against the public paying for the Marlins Stadium since day one. I don't write much about it here because I try to stay on Grove issues and I don't cover city-wide issues, but each time I did write about it, I was totally against it and even mocked it with cartoons sent in by Harry Emilio Gottlieb and Old Grover. You can easily do a search in the search box above and find all the stories and posts.
I don't know what the point of her email is. I like the fact that Marc voted "no" on the main stadium issue, that is no secret, and if I seemed to have defended him in the comments section where one guy says that he made arrangements with the other commissioners so that he looked good. I just found that to not make sense at all, no matter who the politician is, no matter what vote there is. Especially in Miami.
If anyone thinks one politician is going to throw him or herself under the bus for the good of another, they really don't live in the real world and have not been in Miami for very long.
I was sent Marc's letter last night, as I am sure every media outlet in town was. I posted it here without comment. But then in the comments section, when the first anonymous comment came in, I just wanted to nip it in the bud before this became a whole day back and forth thing on something that makes no sense.
For someone to pick it up and spread it around as me defending Sarnoff, is really grasping at straws. Attacking the media is really not the right way to go about it. This activist sounds foolish, in fact. Very foolish.
The anonymous blog comment that came in, which I cleaned up said: "I think he [Sarnoff] is full of bs, and I think this was planned that he and someone else voted against it to make it look like he did not want it, but in reality he does."
My reply, for which I am being attacked was: "You believe that? You believe Sarnoff said, 'Hey you guys, how about you three make yourselves look like crooks and scammers and like you are on the take and you make me look like the hero? And Joe, I know you are running for mayor, but would you please jeopardize that for me by voting for the stadium, so that I look good? And let Tomas, who is running against you look like the good guy, too. Oh, and Michelle, they say you are on the take and want bribes, how about you vote for the stadium, too. So that I could look good? Thanks, babe!' "
I would have written that about any politician. Again -- politicians don't throw themselves under the bus for the good of others. Not gonna happen. Wouldn't be prudent.
I don't think that is defending him, I just think that is using common sense. I have not endorsed anyone and I am not on anyone's side or in the habit of defending anyone. I just wanted to stop a day of non-stop comments before it started. But I fear I may just opened the door now.
posted by Tom Falco at 12:05 PM
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5 Comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reporting the "goings-on" I reallly look forward to your posts! Thought I'd take this opportunity to say it!!! You're doing great!
Oh, Grape, don't take it personally. We all love you!
I think its absurd for anyone to think that Tom of the Grapevine was in favor of the Marlins Stadium. He did a good job covering the issue (one thats got little to do with the Grove-focus that is his blog theme) and clearly stated that he was against it many times. In fact, Grapevine was where I first learned the deal had passed. Tom confronted paid protesters and clued us all in to the evidence that these people are hired by the City by pointing out the same faces he has seen on previous cases. His posts also allow people to express their feelings about the deal and exchange ideas. To bad mouth Tom for providing info and sharing Sarnoff's reasoning with the public in a forum that they access daily is completely disrespectful of the time and effort he puts in to keep people informed.
The anon poster who ripped Sarnoff as someone who was never really against the stadium is not entirely out of line though. I would say he/she is focusing on the negative but with the way Miami politics has worked for the past 10 years, its understandable why he/she would. Much like many of us (including Tom of the Grapevine, I believe) predicted, the 3 Amigos voted in favor of the stadium. If common citizens could see that coming, Im sure Sarnoff could too. Therefore, he knew that with the likelihood of his vote being meaningless that he could go the other way and put himself in a positive light. I think based on some past experiences, citizens will never fully trust that his moves are genuine in nature or if there is a hidden agenda. Also understandable.
Thanks for your coverage of the Stadium issue and all things Grove. I appreciate it.
I appreciate that there are activists in our community to take on the issues that others do not have the time or contacts to tackle. However, to be taken seriously as an activist, you need to have your facts straight, especially before making an attack on another person in the community! For an activist to gain respect, reputation is everything... so remember that before you go trashing other people at the drop of a hat. Even a retraction doesn't instantly heal harsh words.
I hope everyone keeps this in mind when you vote for Commissioners to replace Sanchez and Regalado - we need to turn this around to a different 3 to 2 vote in favor of the issues the Grove cares about. Or hey wouldn't 4-1 be a nice change?
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