Miami 21 goes down with a thud
I am beginning to like the changes I see in City Commissioner Joe Sanchez. His "no" vote yesterday on Miami 21 shows he is not going to follow Manny Diaz's questionable record as mayor. Concrete Manny, as he is known. "Green Mayor" in his dreams.
Fellow commissioner, Tomás Regalado, also voted "no." Both Sanchez and Regalado are running for Miami Mayor. Election day is November 3, 2009.
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who never saw an opportunity to build and develop of course voted yes, and surprisingly, our own district Commissioner Marc Sarnoff voted in favor of the ordinance.
One nice thing to see is that people all voted the way they felt they should vote. Sanchez who usually is on the mayor's side, did his own thing and voted against the mayor's plan. Sarnoff, who is pushing for Regalado as mayor, voted the opposite way than Regalado. There is something good about all of this.
I think this needs to be revisited once Mayor Diaz is out of office. I honestly believe many critics, including myself, are so prejudiced by the Mayor being involved (even if it is his baby), that we are blind to the possibilities.
Many of us do not trust anything the mayor has his hands on. That may be the problem.
I have had problems with local developers and builders in the past, some have come after me in a very vicious manner because of things written in the Grapevine. They don't believe in the First Amendment. They would choose to do anything in the fight for the almighty buck. One almost took me to court in order to have all "anonymous" comments revealed, they didn't like what YOU, the commenters were saying and they personally wanted to go after YOU.
I had to fight that -- almost in court, luckily it did not come to that and all comments remained published, as-is, even though they wanted most of them removed that were not favorable to their side.
These developers have Manny Diaz in their pocket, or so it seems. As far as I am concerned, this may have soured everything in my mind as far as Mayor Manny Diaz is concerned including Miami 21.
BTW -- I have had local bloggers send me nasty emails and messages, too, because of my stance on Miami 21. They too, need to read the First Amendment. I have a good mind to post their nasty letters here. I won't.
Perhaps after the fall elections, with a new mayor in place (one of the people who voted against this current plan), things will be different.
Graphic by Harry Emilio Gottlieb
Fellow commissioner, Tomás Regalado, also voted "no." Both Sanchez and Regalado are running for Miami Mayor. Election day is November 3, 2009.
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who never saw an opportunity to build and develop of course voted yes, and surprisingly, our own district Commissioner Marc Sarnoff voted in favor of the ordinance.One nice thing to see is that people all voted the way they felt they should vote. Sanchez who usually is on the mayor's side, did his own thing and voted against the mayor's plan. Sarnoff, who is pushing for Regalado as mayor, voted the opposite way than Regalado. There is something good about all of this.
I think this needs to be revisited once Mayor Diaz is out of office. I honestly believe many critics, including myself, are so prejudiced by the Mayor being involved (even if it is his baby), that we are blind to the possibilities.
Many of us do not trust anything the mayor has his hands on. That may be the problem.
I have had problems with local developers and builders in the past, some have come after me in a very vicious manner because of things written in the Grapevine. They don't believe in the First Amendment. They would choose to do anything in the fight for the almighty buck. One almost took me to court in order to have all "anonymous" comments revealed, they didn't like what YOU, the commenters were saying and they personally wanted to go after YOU.
I had to fight that -- almost in court, luckily it did not come to that and all comments remained published, as-is, even though they wanted most of them removed that were not favorable to their side.
These developers have Manny Diaz in their pocket, or so it seems. As far as I am concerned, this may have soured everything in my mind as far as Mayor Manny Diaz is concerned including Miami 21.
BTW -- I have had local bloggers send me nasty emails and messages, too, because of my stance on Miami 21. They too, need to read the First Amendment. I have a good mind to post their nasty letters here. I won't.
Perhaps after the fall elections, with a new mayor in place (one of the people who voted against this current plan), things will be different.
Graphic by Harry Emilio Gottlieb
posted by Tom Falco at 9:30 AM
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18 Comments:
I don't particularly like Manny Cement, but from the little I've read this proposal was about making Miami a more Pedestrian Friendly City, zoning Laws to avoid certain big buildings in certain areas. What's wrong with that?
Anyone care to comment on the basic items at hand, and why it was a good or bad idea? CI
If only Sanchez would vote like this all the time.....
Joe has gone against Manny on many other issues. Burn notice is one of them. Unfortunately, there are those who would prefer to ignore this fact and continue mislabeling Joe. Joe time and again as his track record shows, tries to make the best decision that will benefit the community as a whole, and not the special interest groups.
I too hope that at the appropriate time, Miami 21 can be revisited and as one lady so eloquently put, we can strive to make it more "complete" as it will never be perfect. Miami 21 has merit and should not die, just tabled for the time being.
Right....Burn Notice.
Remember how many times Joe would tote that he can work with others and make concessions.
You only see this side of Joe when election time comes around.
It was amazing how many architecture students and graduate students Eliz Plater Zybert brought in - equivalent of bussing in yellow shirts for Mercy Hospital. Maybe jobs were promised.
10:58 - Maybe since they are people aspiring to work in this city who will be professionally affected by this everyday and have to know it in and out, they care. Please complain about something other than people who give a crap going to public meetings.
Glad to hear this got tabled - there are good things and bad things in it.
Grape - really wish you'd post those letters.
Also - are these developers so dumb as to believe you can ID the individuals providing anon- comments and be forced to give that information? To even track it would be illegal, and to specifically identify would be impossible with any certainty.
WHy can't the good stuff from Miami 21 - like wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes and the overhaul of historic preservation be brought back and implemented without Miami 21. If Manny is committed to these concepts, he should start a nonprofit after leaving office to get these things done.
Last nights 7 hour City of Miami Commission Meeting concerning Miami 21 is once again proof positive that Manny Diaz is extremely unpopular to most citizens and business operators for what Miami has become under is 8 year administration. Many folks feel that anyone and any project identified with him is tainted and most likely guilty by association. Even if he had the secret to unlimited cheep and environmentally safe energy by harnessing lighting or creating cold fusion, many folks would still be hesitant to accept it, just because he was endorsing it. 3 months and counting down till his departure. Harry Emilio Gottlieb
"WHy can't the good stuff from Miami 21 - like wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes and the overhaul of historic preservation be brought back and implemented without Miami 21"
Indeed..
Chicago had Burnham
Manhattan had Olmstead
Washington D.C. had L'Enfant
Paris had Haussman
London had Wren
Coral Gables had Merrick
Miami Beach had Fisher, Collins & Capitman
Miami has Diaz
Sanchez not voting on Miami 21 has nothing to do with his caring for Miami. Wake up. This is pandering to the builders that have all donated to Joe. The builders did NOT want this to pass. The BASF was there to plead for a NO vote. Check Sanchez's contributions. Joe is trying to win votes. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Miami 21 was a good idea with or without Manny Diaz. This was a good plan for the city. This is exactly what people in coconut grove are always fighting for: more green space, more bicycles, less cars, more public transportation, bigger sidewalks, more pedestrian friendly streets, less density, not big boxes, no big buildings. Our commissioner (Sarnoff) did the right thing.
Sanchez and Regalado are too concerned with their election.
The city of miami residents lost last night. We lost.
Look, I think we all have to admit that Manny Diaz, as bad and pro concrete as he is isn't at least throwing teapots (or whatever) at his wife or dodging jail for what reason or another as our former mayors have. Of course, that may mean only that he hasn't gotten caught, and we all would admit that he is smart!
Miami 21, I believe, was appropriately deferred.
I don't know where Sarnoff comes out on all of this. I eagerly voted for him, but have lost all my enthusiasm and most likely will support somebody who runs against him. His votes are certainly not predictable, except for those of you who know the ins and outs of politics.
Tom, why don't you run for commissioner? I'd even give a contribution.
You never know what you have until it's gone. In a few years from now, we will know that Manny Diaz has done more good than harm. History will tell, you will see. People only tend to look at the negative, particularly on this site, but think about the parks master plan, coconut grove, Museum Park...when all these things are realized a few years down the road (and hopefully they will whoever the next mayor is and carries it forward) we will really know Mayor Diaz's legacy. Just give it time.
There are a lot of good things about Miami 21, which Joe supports: a more pedestrian friendly environment, mixed use districts on transportation corridors. There were a number of amendments that were added by our District 2 Commissioner that either violated the intent of the ordinance or made it highly likely the City would be sued for millions because of downzoning. Hopefully the administration will come back with a Miami 21 that is more consistent with the principles the plan is supposed to give shape to.
Huh, Michelle. Like many of your posts that was not helpful or specific. What did our District Commissioner do that would have gotten us sued to high heaven? What violated the intent of the ordinance?
I know you need recognition, and I will probably support you some day, but please be specific.
I actually agreed with Sarnoff's amendment of keeping a cap of height on the MiMo district. A historical district.
Notice I say height and not stories.
As well as Tomas adding to a height restriction on all of Coral Way which is next to single family residences.
How we would have gotten sued for that I do not know. All those things are protected under 11000 unless you get special permits and variances.
Miami 21 is based on a previously written "smart code" that is available for free on the internet. Manny Diaz made Miami taxpayers pay $4 mil for it. This so called "smart code" has never been sold to a city larger than 4,000 people, maybe 22,000. It is not ready for primetime. Another waste of taxpayers money.
This is really sad that people can not get pass the point that Manny Diaz actually had a good idea with Miami 21. Unfortunately it was left til the end in favor of focusing on stadiums, tunnels and other items for years.
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