Was this a case of censorship?
The candidates were ready, the Village Council was ready, but the tv crew was not. Actually it's one guy, named Luis, who runs the cameras and puts the Village Council on tv. The Village Council candidates (it's down to 16 -- one dropped out -- Sylvia Quinn, for personal reasons) were all ready to speak before the public to give everyone a feel for who they are and why they are running.
Well, last night, City Manager Pete Hernandez pulled the plug on the Village Council show, because apparently a City Hall rule says that political candidates may not speak about elections at City Hall. Say what? What better place than at City Hall?
The main reason may have been that the two mayoral candidates, Tomás Regalado and Joe Sanchez, were thought to be speaking, but they weren't, but if this is any proof that we need a new mayor real fast, I don't know what is.
The Village Council is shown on cable and on the internet whenever they meet at City Hall. Last night the candidates all showed up, the lights were on, the building was open, so they City knew what was going on, so they allowed the meeting to take place, but would not allow it to be broadcast. Is this censorship? I am wondering.
This was quite rude to all concerned. Some of the candidates were nervous (they told me beforehand) and it just goes to prove that the old saying, "90 percent of the things we worry about never come to pass." In other words, they had no reason to be nervous. They never got their time to shine.
The candidates ended up staying and getting to know each other outside the public's prying tv and cable eyes.
Maybe there will be another opportunity to speak at a future date. There is talk of the candidates introducing themselves at a Village of Center Grove meeting next week, but it's not the same as being broadcast on tv and the internet.
Well, last night, City Manager Pete Hernandez pulled the plug on the Village Council show, because apparently a City Hall rule says that political candidates may not speak about elections at City Hall. Say what? What better place than at City Hall?The main reason may have been that the two mayoral candidates, Tomás Regalado and Joe Sanchez, were thought to be speaking, but they weren't, but if this is any proof that we need a new mayor real fast, I don't know what is.
The Village Council is shown on cable and on the internet whenever they meet at City Hall. Last night the candidates all showed up, the lights were on, the building was open, so they City knew what was going on, so they allowed the meeting to take place, but would not allow it to be broadcast. Is this censorship? I am wondering.
This was quite rude to all concerned. Some of the candidates were nervous (they told me beforehand) and it just goes to prove that the old saying, "90 percent of the things we worry about never come to pass." In other words, they had no reason to be nervous. They never got their time to shine.
The candidates ended up staying and getting to know each other outside the public's prying tv and cable eyes.
Maybe there will be another opportunity to speak at a future date. There is talk of the candidates introducing themselves at a Village of Center Grove meeting next week, but it's not the same as being broadcast on tv and the internet.
posted by Tom Falco at 9:00 AM
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22 Comments:
Here is my question: Did Pete Hernandez just find out about the meeting at 7pm last night, or did he know about it weeks in advance like everyone else?
The former makes him a slacker and unfit for his job, and the latter makes him an ass.
These candidates have jobs families and lives, and many of them took time away from other important engagements to be there last night, because it was so important. Then Mr. Hernandez devalued their time by deciding at the last minute to pull the plug.
Shame on you, Pete.
No political election work in a goverment building.
Its the same reason you cannot campaign in the stephen p clark center.
Its the law.
As per Martin Zilber the chair who took a call from the the city managers office after he called to see what happened, someone called the city manager to ask that the meeting not be taped because it involved political candidates up for election, and therefore in violation of some rule about candidates for election not being allowed to speak. so at the last minute they sent the camara man home but did not bother to contact the chair or leave word to the VC of this last minute decision. It is too bad for all of us who showed up to speak, and all of those who tuned in to watch. The opportunity is gone, unless you go to the Center Grove homeowner assoc. Next week which is an entirely different forum.
Technically, the village council wouldn't qualify under that law, since it is not a recognized government committee, rather it's a community based committee.
I'm not positive, but pretty sure, that since they don't get paid, or have the ability to actually do anything but recommend things, this regulation (not a statutory law) does not apply.
The Village Council knew you could not campaign in City Hall. No campaigning period. I guess they thought they could skirt the rules. Seems they now blaming the city mgr for enforcing the rules.
who called the city managers office? That's what we need to know. Who called the city manager's office about this at the last minute and why?
I've got 3 ideas...
Makes perfect sense. Campaigning must be completely separate from the office (literal and figurative) where the work of the people's supposed to be getting done.
The only rude thing is that so many people took so long to realize this. For aspiring politicians, that's pretty unprofessional and does not bode well for our future representative leadership.
I don't know the full reasons as to why last night was shut down, but as usual, myself and many others are suspicious of the ulterior motives at work.
It's really too bad. Last night was a real chance for the candidates, all of which were there along with friends and significant others, to show what they would bring to the table.
-Stephen Murray
A seat on the village council is not actually a political office by my understanding.
But more importantly, I have reviewed chapter 16 of the municipal code, which governs elections and found no such law. I have also reviewed Title IX, Florida Statutes and found no such law. Could someone - particularly those posting here that it's illegal - please provide a citation. I've searched the code up and down with no luck here.
thanks.
While something like this might, could or should exist in a code of ethics for public officials, because it would be an abuse of privilege, the candidates for village council are not officials yet, and technically might not be even if elected.
"our future representative leadership"
Regardless of this political gaffe or technical glitch, what I'd like to know is how effective can the Village Council be in representing the Grove's specific concerns and interests, vis-a-vis the guys with the really decision making powers at City Hall, Sarnoff and the City of Miami. It is abundantly clear that the Grove is Terribly represented, to put it midly, despite the commendable efforts of our Village Councils in the past. Do the the "officials" in the actual City Government really listen to the Grove People through the Village Council? And when they do, do they ever ACT accordingly with actual policies? Or they end up doing whatever they sit fit for the City, forgetting the Grove. CI
That guy:
"The Coconut Grove Village Council is an elected body of representatives who work to bring information to the residents of Coconut Grove about issues happening in the City and County government that could affect them, to provide a forum for discussion of these issues, and to bring the views of Coconut Grove's residents to our government officials."
If I understand correctly, the Village Council is just a community organization comprised of several brave Grovites, who volunteer their time attempting to represent the Grove peculiar interests or concerns. The City of Miami --"represented" ahmmm.. by Mr. Sarnoff for our District-- holds all the real decision-making powers.
CI:
To address that concern, because it has been my main reason for running, I feel like many residents feel extremely disenfranchised here. There are many members of the current council that obviously do care and try their best to make sure our voices are heard, but more can always be done.
The only real power of the Village Council is to make sure there is a voice of independence at all times and one of dissent when needed. As I wrote in my last blog post:
"Now is not the time to shy away from the mission of the Village Council. We must not be afraid [...] and we must not let scare tactics govern Coconut Grove."
I have consistently been that voice in the West Grove and I intend on being that voice Grove-wide when given the chance.
A little history here...
The Village Council was established as an intentionally empty gesture to the Grove on the occasion of a previous futile effort to secede from the City. The idea was that the VC could meet in the commission chambers, the meeting would be carried on TV and the ever-cantakerous Grovites could rant and rave about whatever they wanted under the pretense that the VC was a meaningful public forum, without any of its decisions having any legal import or effect whatsoever on the City Commission, the real seat of power. The big hint that the VC is a no-impact side show is the simple fact that no other neighborhood in Miami has such an entity.
So then it turns out that the city manager just pulled the plug without any reason because Marc Sarnoff called him and made up some BS reason.
please anons - 9:40am, 12:27, 12:31 and cause for concern AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CITY MANAGER PETE HERNANDEZ - please explain how the village council candidates could violate such a policy if it did exist, provide a citation to such a law, and generally respond to the thoughtful, researched and articulate critiques here.
I have to say that I find the whole thing very concerning. If this was really a problem, why didn't we find out about it until the meeting was about to start and there was no camera man? That meeting was planned for weeks. I think that there has to be some kind of "funny business" going on here since this basically gives the candidates no formal time to be heard.
Also, it has been proposed to try and have something formal at next weeks center grove meeting. I wouldn't exactly consider that to be neutral ground...
No, the village council doesn't have any actual legal clout. True. However, they do have the power to organize the locals and fight for what we want. If the village council supports something and our commissioner goes against it I think that looks pretty bad.
I think there were a lot of issues that certain people were happy didn't get discussed at last nights meeting and this was an easy way out. Seems like a legal loophole that someone used to their advantage. Hmmmmmmm
On Tuesday afternoon, after informing the Manager's office of our intention to have a Candidates' Forum including the Mayoral candidates, Martin received the following response:
"Martin – per our conversation earlier – unfortunately the Village Council is not authorized to hold any type of city commission/mayoral campaign related activity on city property. However as we discussed – the Council is more than welcome to have at a venue outside of city property.
Again many thanks.
Lynn Westall
Senior Assistant to the City Manager
Later, he was sent a legal opinion from 2006. During our meeting, while we were trying to figure out why we were shut down, Ron Nelson, Marc's Chief of Staff, gave us a copy of the opinion with a paragraph highlighted that said, "It is clear the referenced express policy would not permit the use of City hall for political activities, including political campaign activities."
Why Martin was given the answer he was given on the 13th and the plug was pulled on the 15th is anyone's guess. The most bizarre thing, in my mind, is that we were told at the meeting that the Downtown Bay Forum Mayoral Debate, which was filmed at the Omni Marriott, is being broadcast on Channel 77. If this is true, the City is OK with political speech, allowing both sides equal time, on its TV station. Why it would not want such a thing (for the mayoral candidates or the Village Council) is beyond me, since one would assume an educated electorate is a good thing.
Michelle:
Why not impeach Marc on grounds that he sucks. But besides that maybe you can answer this since you are a lawyer why haven't any of the restaurant or bar owners sued the City. Everyone I speak to says they have a great case? And would most likely win.
To "That Guy" above - if your name is on a City of Miami election ballot that makes you a candidate -Sounds like the City Attorney and City Manager adhered to the rules. If mayoral candidates were prohibited..why didn't the lawyers on the Village Council realize their candidates would be prohibited also.
The Village council didnt dot their i's or cross their t's
It was illegal to do campaigning in city hall.
Maybe the Downtown Mayoral debate was videotaped and shown on the Miami Herald website - maybe that is what someone saw.
If no one can campaign at city hall then why wasn't it made clear to the VC? Why weren't they told that includes all the candidates for VC not just the mayorl candidates? And when it was obvious that they were there why would someone direct the city manager to shut the cameras down, and why wouldn't the city Manager's office bother to contact the chair and warn of this happening? And who was that someone? The city attny? Under whose dirrection?
What are the Village Council's powers in relation to the City of Miami? Do we have any?
Interesting reading /City of Miami Charter.
http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10933&sid=9
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