John El-Masry's open letter to Comm. Sarnoff
Open your mind and consider the best interest of the residents and businesses of Coconut Grove. Your Coconut Grove constituents paid a premium to live within walking distance of the village center to have a meal, enjoy live entertainment, visit art galleries, shop, and pursue leisure activities. This is one of the key selling points of residential and commercial real estate in Coconut Grove. Since June, 2008, your ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 3:00 a.m. ONLY in the Coconut Grove SD-2 Special District (downtown Coconut Grove) is killing that village center.
Commissioner, the Grove is in a crisis:
· There are 21 empty restaurant spaces in Coconut Grove;
· Many retailers serving young adults have gone out of business or chosen to leave the Grove in the last couple of months, including Ritchie Swimwear, XOT, Azul, and Guess;
· Numerous restaurants have opened and closed within the last year;
· All of the dance clubs that existed in Coconut Grove were put out of business by this ordinance.
The perception that has been created by the 3:00 a.m. ordinance is that the Grove is an early, sedate, place where young people are not welcome. Meanwhile, in spite of a difficult economy, businesses in South Miami, Brickell and Downtown Miami, Wynwood and the Design District are thriving. We cannot entirely blame the Grove’s decline on the economy, the Playhouse, the movie theater, or the loss of the Expo Center. The fact is people want to park their car, eat dinner, have some drinks, and go dancing all in the same area. They can do this elsewhere in YOUR District, but not in the Grove.
When you proposed the ordinance, there were complaints emanating from one establishment, Visions, which is no longer in existence. Any of those problems could have been handled by diligent enforcement of existing laws. Limiting drinking in a tiny portion of Coconut Grove does not make sense if your goal is protecting your constituents from drunk drivers. Other places within your District still allow drinking until 5:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., and in some instances 24 hours. You have recently attended PTA meetings at schools in Coconut Grove drumming fear into mothers about drunk drivers harming their children at 5:00 a.m., to gain their support for your 3:00 a.m. ordinance, while you have been supporting 24 hour licenses in residential areas closer to downtown and presumably are not having similar meetings with the mothers there. Is the life of a child in a less affluent neighborhood worth less? If you care about the safety of children in Coconut Grove, don’t you care about the children in Overtown, Midtown, the Design District, Brickell, or the MiMo District?
This was never about drunk driving. You and a few of your supporters chose to purchase homes on Virginia Street, a main artery into the Center Grove commercial district. Now that you are a City Commissioner, you have spent $95,000 on a traffic circle to slow traffic and proposed the 3:00 rule to eliminate late night traffic in front of your house. This may improve your own quality of life, but limits the options available to your constituents, has caused job loss and business failure, and will ultimately lead to a decrease in everyone’s property values, including your own.
We don’t think you meant to decimate the Grove’s business district with this law, but that is what it has done. Please present legislation NOW to place the Grove businesses on an equal footing with the rest of the City, and keep the Grove alive.
With all Due Respect,
John El-Masry
Owner, Mr. Moes, former owner, Christabelle’s Quarter
and Barracuda Raw Bar and Grill
Commissioner, the Grove is in a crisis:
· There are 21 empty restaurant spaces in Coconut Grove;
· Many retailers serving young adults have gone out of business or chosen to leave the Grove in the last couple of months, including Ritchie Swimwear, XOT, Azul, and Guess;
· Numerous restaurants have opened and closed within the last year;
· All of the dance clubs that existed in Coconut Grove were put out of business by this ordinance.
The perception that has been created by the 3:00 a.m. ordinance is that the Grove is an early, sedate, place where young people are not welcome. Meanwhile, in spite of a difficult economy, businesses in South Miami, Brickell and Downtown Miami, Wynwood and the Design District are thriving. We cannot entirely blame the Grove’s decline on the economy, the Playhouse, the movie theater, or the loss of the Expo Center. The fact is people want to park their car, eat dinner, have some drinks, and go dancing all in the same area. They can do this elsewhere in YOUR District, but not in the Grove.
When you proposed the ordinance, there were complaints emanating from one establishment, Visions, which is no longer in existence. Any of those problems could have been handled by diligent enforcement of existing laws. Limiting drinking in a tiny portion of Coconut Grove does not make sense if your goal is protecting your constituents from drunk drivers. Other places within your District still allow drinking until 5:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., and in some instances 24 hours. You have recently attended PTA meetings at schools in Coconut Grove drumming fear into mothers about drunk drivers harming their children at 5:00 a.m., to gain their support for your 3:00 a.m. ordinance, while you have been supporting 24 hour licenses in residential areas closer to downtown and presumably are not having similar meetings with the mothers there. Is the life of a child in a less affluent neighborhood worth less? If you care about the safety of children in Coconut Grove, don’t you care about the children in Overtown, Midtown, the Design District, Brickell, or the MiMo District?
This was never about drunk driving. You and a few of your supporters chose to purchase homes on Virginia Street, a main artery into the Center Grove commercial district. Now that you are a City Commissioner, you have spent $95,000 on a traffic circle to slow traffic and proposed the 3:00 rule to eliminate late night traffic in front of your house. This may improve your own quality of life, but limits the options available to your constituents, has caused job loss and business failure, and will ultimately lead to a decrease in everyone’s property values, including your own.
We don’t think you meant to decimate the Grove’s business district with this law, but that is what it has done. Please present legislation NOW to place the Grove businesses on an equal footing with the rest of the City, and keep the Grove alive.
With all Due Respect,
John El-Masry
Owner, Mr. Moes, former owner, Christabelle’s Quarter
and Barracuda Raw Bar and Grill
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58 Comments:
Excellent.
John is absolutely right. Preppy Papa Sarnoff has got to go.
Wow, great letter John.
It's unbelievable that Commissioner Sarnoff has other places in his district that serve until 5:ooam and beyond.
Sound hypocritical to me. Why don't you people file a law suit against the city, I'm sure you could win.
WOW!
This letter, was in the Weekender and I commend John for taking this step. I had no idea that there were other areas with later closings under Marc Sarnoff. My assumptions were either Big Daddy has deep pockets or he was grandfathered in, as John should have been.
Slam Dunk!
He will have to listen to the people who put him in power. He's just one commissioner. Where's the lawsuit? The city is broke, sue them and they'll fold. This man has people to answer to. He's not the final word on this matter.
2:58:
Well actually he can't do that. It's online.
3:35
Would that be a byte in the Ass?
Great letter John. Quite succinct. The indisputable facts is that he put SD2 at a competitive disadvantage, and that business has suffered.
Commissioner Sarnoff - it is time to admit your mistake and correct it. There is no shame in admitting that you were wrong. What is shameful is the current course you are taking Mr. Sarnoff.
humm... I might print this letter and post it all over City Hall. That's not against the Law, is it, since Papa Sarnoff doesn't pay attention to what's really going on in our Village.
This weekend was the deadest I've ever seen in the Grove for what used to be "the" weekend of the year outside of Art fest. In talking to every single person I know between age 25-40, they see little incentive now to go to the Grove, especially with everything closing. And these are professionals who love to unwind, and pay to do so.
Sarnoff, please study the history of the Grove. The location of your home clearly dictates your perspective. A simple move half a block would change that.
It's a shame that the old folks who can't see what's happening are running the show here. That letter is dead-on and should be heeded by Mr. Sarnoff.
BRING BACK THE GROVE OF OUR YOUTH FOR OUR YOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I the only 45-year-old Grovite who wants to stay out and go dancing once in a while?
OK, Lottie's up for a little night life, too. We need the fun back in the Grove. Bring it and they will come.
Well, we're in our 60's and can appreciate going to bed early, but when we were young.............the Taurus was IT!!!!!!!!!!! So much fun you couldn't move.
Oh, last night we went to the Barnacle Moonlight Movie presentation of Casablanca -- audience still claps at the end -- but I digress -- we parked across from the new Taurus, and there must have been 30 motorcycles of people having a BLAST with the DJ and the loud, raunchy music. Don't know how it went over at Calamari next door, but it was like a movie scene in there when we peeked it..........
man what a sad state of affairs.
great letter btw.
one lawsuit, and this goes bye bye, city won't waste the money defending one commissioner's vendetta.
in the last few weeks i've seen a considerable slow-down in the grove on the weekends.
once john gets his 5am license back, i suggest the city fast track at least a few other venues to get 5am privileges as well. 1 place open til 5 won't make a difference. give Ivy 5am rights, and 2 or 3 other places and it will boost them all. rising tide floats all boats right?
The Taurus is still it, thanks to the new owners, who have made sure to keep the tradition going. The motorcycle enthusiasts have now made it and Sunday mainstay, and it is diverse and fun and fabulous and bridges over many age groups. I was having dinner on the Calamari terrace early last night and it did not bother me one bit that the music from Taurus co-mingled. It's nice to have a little liveliness at the end of town like before. Sorry I missed Casablanca, it's one of my favorites. I bet Rick's stayed open 'til late...
I may not stay out late as often as I once did, but I cannot deny younger people the delightful opportunity to kiss the dawn, as I have done many nights back in the day...
"Am I the only 45-year-old Grovite who wants to stay out and go dancing once in a while?"
Dunno about the dancing, but there's plenty of us Grovites of all ages hitting the pavement where ever there's some late-night LIFE, despite Preppy Papa Sarnoff's futile attempts at turning our Grove Village into the next Coral Gables. Zero respect for the Grove's proud Extensive History of Late Night fun. If Papa Sarnoff doesn't respect us, Grove residents and all-time visitors, arbitrarily intruding in our former FREE society traditions, why should we care much for his Aristocratic, incompetent tenure?
I wonder what his Grandpappy would have done....Grandpappy Sarnoff that is!
The Taurus was never open till 5
Hey 8:23
No one said it was, nor did they ask if it was, but thanks for sharing.
It's a great letter - but the circle was in place and set to happen before Sarnoff became a Commissioner. Was it really $95000? For a wee circle? I wonder how much South Miami and Coral Gables paid for all the circles near Sunset and SchoolHouse Road?
Again great letter.
The SD-2 commercial property owners pay into the BID. They are the ones with money at risk to run their businesses. Those residents that moved into the Central Business Districct knew well that there was commercial activity going on, and willfully bought there. It's not like it was a surprise.
The commercial district obviously wants bars open late. Those in the North and South Grove should not have much of a voice - they are not affected by this.
This should be put out for referendum to the BID commercial taxpayers, except for the fact that the "oposition" will lobby the owners at the Grand Bay office tower and get hundreds of votes against it - the same people that added up the numbers to pass the BID in the first place (during a bum economy) which is why that building was added to the CBD in the first place (not that they are remotely part of the Central/commercial Business District)but they had enough votes to carry the vote once lobbied.
Just ask David Collins (who is between a rock and a hard place since the commissioner controls him and his $$ livelihood).
It's tough to go against the commish. He holds the strings, and there are buck attached to them, which affect other people.
So what next?
I'm saddened by the state of our village. A man's honor is measured by his words. I've looked at both sides; promises were NOT kept To John by Marc Sarnoff. I didn't run for my seat this year on the Village Council because I decided to devote myself to something more important. Stay tuned.
Easy to figure out that John El Masrey wrote a lot of these posts. Funny how most of the bar and restaurant owners don't even live in the Grove...they want to keep the bars open til 5 while they settle in quietly at their homes in Coral Gables and Key Bisc.
Anon 9:22 pm.
Bingo !! you go to the head of the class.
A BID is created to represent the interest of property and business owners in its district. It also provides the tax paying members of the BID a collective voice and consequently added leverage, bargaining power, and so on at City Hall. This commissioner, however has seen it fit to appoint himself as the Chairman of the BID !!! WHY ? Is he really the right person to represent the property and business owners ? and represent them to whom ? himself ? This actually defeats the very purpose of the BID.
Moreover the BIC was and the BID is pretty dysfunctional. All one has to do is to look into the voting records. Most votes on motions were unanimous, which is a tell tale sign of a dysfunctional board.
What I see here in the Grove is the classic strategy used by Politicians “Divide and Conquer”. Based on what is happening, I have to say that the first part of this strategy is working quite well. It is important to understand that this goes much beyond this one issue of 3am / 5am stuff. We cannot let this one issue divide us. United we stand Divided we fall, it is as simple as that.
I see the Village Council playing a crucial role in bringing about this unity between the merchant group and the residents. This is the time for community leaders to come forward to unite, to lead and to provide the vision for the Grove to prosper. I think we have seen a glimpse of Commissioner Sarnoff’s vision and his modus operandi. I think a change is in order. The rest is up to us.
John Masrey I have no sympathy for you and your drunk college crowd. Lincoln Road is a perfect example of a balance betwen resedential and business district. The grove needs to close certain streets and attract higher end retail/restaurants. Nothing good comes to the grove between 3-5AM....NOTHING
Gary Hecht said promises from Sarnoff were NOT kept to John El-Masry. Mr. Hecht, you must know from working with the Commissioner that you can not use the terms 'promises kept' and 'Sarnoff' in the same sentence.
OK... Call me crazy, but the economy still sucks, people are not spending, and the rents are high (for the shops... (give'm a tax break...) ....
If you all could use a calculator (+, -, =), you realize the situation is very clear. People have less income to spend, and many businesses are hurting. The late night crowd is not buying $175 shorts at Azul, let's face it...
And, if rents were reduced, could we get more shops and restaurants?
And, if special events were better planed, and advertised would more people come...?
Another point the Grove was packed for last Halloween, and the time the bars closed did not affect that crowd at all - so why does everyone beat the "bars close too early drum"... Give them a reason to come and people come! Good shops, good food, good times.... 3AM or 5AM does not matter if the product is good!
peace-out!
I don't know any of the politics involved but I've lived and worked in the Grove for a while now and any claim that the Grove is bohemian, progressive, or "alternative" is a bad joke.
Maybe decades ago it was, but not now.
It's a pretty typical center for mindless consumption with a bunch of stores selling overpriced crap along with some franchise eateries and maybe one or two worthy restaurants. The few times i walk around past 10pm i see typical young couples pushing around gigantic strollers and maybe a few middle age couples.
If you go to other major cities, they all have neighborhoods which can make the "alternative" claim and actually stick by it.
The Grove may once have had a personality but it does not anymore, and it sounds like the powers-that-be have had a heavy hand in making it so.
That's an excellent letter but I'm not sure it is the most effective way to accomplish the goal. It can be one method but most likely the due process (not an easy one) will need to be followed.
John has a lot invested in the Grove. We need more businesspersons like him who believe in the area.
Also, the 5:am issue has shown us that a lot of folks say they "care" about the Grove. Hopefully, they will take that energy and address other issues like crime and poverty.
I've taken the City of Miami, pro se, to Florida & Federal Court regarding my art in front of my home in Coconut Grove. By going pro se, I've saved, I guess, about $100-thousand. If an x-lobster fisherman, handyman can do it @ age 67, why can't you folks get together and put some muscle behind all of these blog comments and kick butt----I assure you, it's not that hard, difficult or expensive. In fact, I challenge you people to do it and stop talking and complaining------------respectfully, of course!
P.S. Additionally, on the law suit idea, I say the Grape would be ideal a place to post comments and entreaty support. Names, date, phone number and addresses.
Re: anon 11:36....
For the record this is officially my very first posting on this blog in reference to my open letter.
You will know when I post something because my name will be attached to my statement.
I'm glad you brought up the subject of where I live.
As a matter of fact I did live in the Grove for three years on Day Ave. and I loved being able to walk to work or if I chose to, have a night out on the town.
The irony of your statement is that I now reside at 888 Biscayne Blvd. directly adjacent to AA Arena, right smack in the middle of Commissioner Sarnoff's District.
This past Saturday night myself and a friend actually walked a couple blocks to an amazing new place called Mia on the corner of Biscayne and Flagler.
What I saw was roughly 1200 people congegating in a very civilized manner. I didn't witness any of the patrons vomiting or urinating or unruly "college drunks" or people committing crimes.
I stayed until a little after 4:00am. and the place was still rockin. Incidentally Mia is open til 5:00am.
I love the fact that Commissioner Sarnoff still allows for this type of business to flourish in other parts of his district. It truly makes a difference to the residents in the area. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite sure that Downtown Miami has it's Marcs, Sues, Kathys,etc. but overall I think the vast majority of the people living in the area enjoy it for what it was intended to be, a community in close proximity to the action.
John El-Masry
Is this Grove debate really over a 3 or 5 a.m. bar closing? Is this still all about one or possibly two bars and the extension of time by just two hours?
Commissioner Tomás Regalado (now mayor) voted against changing the 5 a.m. closing to 3 a.m. in the case of those bars that had the license for years. He voiced his opinion that those businesses (Mr. Moe's still open and the other that closed) had the right to be grandfathered in and that the city did not have the right to change the time which would negatively impact its business.
Marc Sarnoff represents all of us Groveites and quite a few of them have asked for his help in making the Grove quieter and safer with the 3 a.m. closing. They have a right to voice their feelings and Marc has a duty to consider their concerns.
Joe Sanchez voted to change the closing to 3 a.m. Regalado did not.
If you really wish to voice your concerns about the 3 or 5 a.m. bar closing issue, then please attend the commission meeting in January.
That is when everyone will be heard by our elected representatives who will help decide policies that will be implemented and affect us all for years to come. You need to convince them, and only them, what is in the best interest of both Groveites and business operators.
Bring more then just your anger or passion for whichever side of the issue you are on. Bring facts, petition signatures, statistics, wisdom, common sense and some attorneys if you have them.
Let's grandfather in Mr. Moe's, move on and work together to solve some of the other more important issues that we all are concerned about.
Gary, please tell us that you are planning a run at city commissioner.
You are a man of integrity that could bring people back together instead of divide.
Harry:
Get over yourself. We all know you are Sarnoff's man and he can do no wrong, but as Commissioner he did PROMISE John El-Masry that he would get him his 5:00am closing. Mr. Hecht is correct. He does not keep his promises. Get ready to not only get over yourself, but he will 'do' you too. You'll see! Get Ready!
Gary Hecht for Commissioner of District Two. YES!
Gary Hecht would be awesome.
I will support him %100.
I really hope he is considering throwing his hat in the arena.
JT
Go Hecht! Go Hecht! We need an honest Commissioner!
Harry is a very reasonable man, please don't attack him for stating his position. With Harry we at least know that he speaks from the heart and with conviction even if you disagree with his point of view.
JE
always thought Sarnoff was a decent dude hadn't kept up on things, didn't know he was the one spearheading the sterilization of the grove, but i have been wondering since moving back to the grove, why he no longer mingles with the neighbors hang out at the dog park, hell he doesn't even walk his own dogs anymore.
speaking of which why is it ok for his wife and whoever that bald dude that walks his dog is to walk them without leashes? i mean i'm walking to the park with my dog on a leash the other day and all the sudden he is surrounded by 3 mammoth dogs two of which are not on leashes, now this didnt bother me as i'm a big fan of dogs and i dont worry about them much but i've seen my dog scare the piss out of people just walking on a leash i can only imagine if someone with a fear of dogs was surrounded by his pack.
ok that was totally off topic but really whats up with that? hehe
Does Sarnoff have dogs?
no i made up that story, wtf? yes he has 3
Why do people call him 'Preppy Papa Sarnoff'?
Harry - you are dead wrong. Regalado, being easily confused voted in favor or the 3am closing, because he allowed himself to be misled by sarnoff into believing that they would take care of the grandfathering in of Moes, and Flavour at a later date.
Get your facts straight. There's no middle ground or gray area, you are just dead wrong.
You are also confused about the role of our elected leaders - they are to represent and implement the will of the people. Marc has failed to do so since day 1. I needn't bring more than my passion or anger. And the only petition I'll be working on anytime soon will be to get a vote on the recall of Commissioner Sarnoff.
I'm ready to put it in the works, and the city charter allows for a recall. It is enough already, he's had his chance, and instead flipped us all the bird.
that guy,
have to call you out. Regalado did not vote in favor. He and Micelle Spence-Jones voted against it. I am assuming I will have to provide a link to the minutes of the vote. But seeing as you are a 100% sure I doubt that even showing you that will sway you.
"Why do people call him 'Preppy Papa Sarnoff'?"
Have you seem him around? Plus he wants to turn our historic, traditional Cocoanut Grove relaxed party Village into a Coral Gables for older people and stiff preppies doing their shopping. And our lamentable Preppy Papa wants to dictate what our new bedtime is. Should we call him gran-pa? If he doesn't respect our freedom and well-being, we should we respect him?
Are we not back to a straight forward class action legal lawsuit complaint from a sufficient number of interested people in the Grove to take control of our community and shape the Grove in our own interest? Or does the Grape provide a place where some people, myself not included, where people get by, by engaging in rhetoric only, myself partially included. I'm fighting the City of Miami in both Federal and State Courts to make a point. So, is it just rhetoric or should we file a class action of concerned business interest and implement our vision or not?
Re. That Guy Said...
http://investigationmiami.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-it-bad-mojo-for-mr-moes.html
I think it’s time to set the record straight. There is something that I agree with Commissioner Regalado on. We both had a problem with Mr. Sarnoff's February ordinance which changed the closing time for bars in Coconut Grove from 5 a.m. to 3 a.m. Don't get me wrong, I think that residents had valid concerns about the impact of late-night CLUBS on their quality of life.
But Mr. Moe's is an institution in the Grove! And from what I understand, John El-Masry, the owner of Moe's, has sunk a ton of dollars into the Grove business district and has run a very clean operation with no outdoor music and few police incidents.
Commissioner Regalado, as well as Spence-Jones, voted against Mr. Sarnoff's ordinance, calling it unfair because it changed the rules in the middle of the game for a number of bars, clubs and restaurants in the Grove. Spence-Jones in particular tried to get Sarnoff to grandfather in Mr. Moe's so that it would not be impacted by the change.
Sarnoff adamantly declined to exempt Mr. Moe’s, including maybe fibbing to get his way.
Didn't Sarnoff lie about who his real grandfather was?
I, unlike some of our elected officials, am man enough to admit when I am wrong. While I may be wrong here, 3:52s link is to a blog post, which claims to have a link to the minutes, but that link doesn't work.
http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/meetings/2008/2/1619_M_City_Commission_08-02-14_Verbatim_Minutes_(Long).pdf
anyone got a good one? I wonder why these highly relevant minutes are down?
I do distinctly remember Regalado trying to gain some understanding of what was happening, then just shutting up and going along. I thought that he voted in favor of changing to 3am, but I may be wrong.
My appolgies to Harry.
Regalado and Spence-Jones voted 'no'.
Recall Sarnoff NOW! Elect Gary Hecht for D2 Commissioner!
GREAT LETTER JOHN!!! We hope they can make this change a reality!!
Not going to lie...I moved to Miami four years ago. I've gone to the grove religiously since then. I moved to Brickell a few months ago and it's pretty nice out here. I really miss the bar scene in the grove from 3 years ago, but I don't see it ever recovering. Brickell is nice, while not as cheap for those people living there it's convenient since we can safely walk everywhere. It is a little hispanic though (my only complain) and there is no "regular" bar scene to speak of.
What happened to the Grandfather Clause --- by this being imposed on an existing business that has been established with the 5AM hours of (bar)operation.
I definitely would seek legal advise or a good expert in Grandfathering to take a look.
Are you being exposed to hardship an decline of business due to this ordinance?
Then take action!!!!
No government should bring about this type of hardship on a business owner and his rights.
Does every property in the City that has received an overlay-zoning use need to stop that zonification and immediately convert to the overlay use?
Or do they continue with that zoning until the use is changed by owner or establishment?
Some many properties that are out there in the Grove with Overlays -BEWARE you can be included in the " control" situation...losing your existing use rights!
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