The Village Council is a mess
The Cocoanut Grove Village Council has decided to postpone this week's meeting and hopefully meet at another date this month. They have gone back and forth on the issue these past few days. The Village Council is a mess and most of those going out of office in January just don't care anymore. They really should just give up until the new Council is sitting in January and not even pretend to want to help the community.
This current Village Council is a disgrace and they should go out with a whimper. They have no reason to be proud of themselves and they have jerked the public around enough this week and are basically scared little puppets afraid to make any decisions. I don't know what the higher ups have on them, but there must some mighty big skeletons in their closets for them to back out like little wimps. I have no respect for most of them at this point.
They voted among themselves as to whether to meet and this is how it went: David Collins, Felice Dubin, Gary Hecht, Alyn Pruett and Martin Zilber voted not to meet tonight. Liliana Dones, Michelle Niemeyer, Adam Weirich and Lottie Person voted to have the meeting.
Make out of it what you will. I must say that I do regret that they had to be bullied and scared into not meeting at all. And it all boils down to the 5 am bar closing issue, which ironically is not even the decision of the Village Council, but may be settled in the courts -- spot zoning, petitions and other items may be involved at this point. I alone have been contacted by a few attorneys to help fight the cause, and it isn't even my cause. I can only imagine what the bar owners are planning.
This bullying of the Village Council, having them thrown out of City Hall, having them knocked off tv and every other devious tactic (like threatening phone calls and such) is just fueling the fire and people are getting more upset by the day. The new Mayor Regalado has even been thrown in the mix and blamed. I will have his side of the story shortly.
I am confused as to how in this day and age that people are scared to meet, talk and basically live their lives. Are we living in the United States or in Cuba or Venezuela?
This current Village Council is a disgrace and they should go out with a whimper. They have no reason to be proud of themselves and they have jerked the public around enough this week and are basically scared little puppets afraid to make any decisions. I don't know what the higher ups have on them, but there must some mighty big skeletons in their closets for them to back out like little wimps. I have no respect for most of them at this point.
They voted among themselves as to whether to meet and this is how it went: David Collins, Felice Dubin, Gary Hecht, Alyn Pruett and Martin Zilber voted not to meet tonight. Liliana Dones, Michelle Niemeyer, Adam Weirich and Lottie Person voted to have the meeting.
Make out of it what you will. I must say that I do regret that they had to be bullied and scared into not meeting at all. And it all boils down to the 5 am bar closing issue, which ironically is not even the decision of the Village Council, but may be settled in the courts -- spot zoning, petitions and other items may be involved at this point. I alone have been contacted by a few attorneys to help fight the cause, and it isn't even my cause. I can only imagine what the bar owners are planning.
This bullying of the Village Council, having them thrown out of City Hall, having them knocked off tv and every other devious tactic (like threatening phone calls and such) is just fueling the fire and people are getting more upset by the day. The new Mayor Regalado has even been thrown in the mix and blamed. I will have his side of the story shortly.
I am confused as to how in this day and age that people are scared to meet, talk and basically live their lives. Are we living in the United States or in Cuba or Venezuela?
posted by Tom Falco at 9:35 AM
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19 Comments:
am confused as to how in this day and age that people are scared to meet, talk and basically live their lives.
From a few days ago:
Please note the people who fight it. Restaurant owners, this is your chance to see who your enemies are. They are the ones who come to your place of business and smile at you while back stabbing you from the shadows. They will not be in the shadows on Thursday. They will be in front for all to see. We will be taking photos and naming all of them.
Irony is dead.
Thanks for staying on the case Grape, I'm curious to see what our new Mayor has to say.
It would seem to be a good time for the outgoing and incoming chairs of the council to sit down with the necessary people at city hall and work something out. To say this has gotten past the ridiculous is a bit of an understatement.
Did those who voted against the meeting give any specific reasons for not having it tonight at the Sailors' Club? That's the least they could do, if they hope to get any respect from the people they are supposed to represent.
To call them a mess when they haven't even gotten a chance to meet. The Mayor just got into office, everyone is busy and your talking MESS already. Give peace a chance. I cannot see those that choose to serve would just walk away from their civic duty. That, goes for the new and for the ones going out in Dec.
I am utterly disgusted, but will continue to move forward in a positive way on behalf of the Grove. I don't think it's fair to attack the outgoing Council members the way you have, Grape. Let's just move on. The Grove has elected a great group of people who will be sworn in at our December meeting, and hopefully we will be able to forge a solid working relationship with Mayor Regalado and his administration.
BTW, I agree with "that guy." The word you are looking for is facism, not communism. To date, none of us have ended up in jail for exercising our rights, or been executed. It's a bit extreme to liken us to Cuba. My personal belief is that when people bow to threats and pressure, instead of having a backbone and standing up to it, they deserve what they get. Every one of you who reads this blog and in incensed by this situation needs to email msarnoff@miamigov.com, tregalado@miamigov.com, and pgh@miamigov.com. Tell them how you feel about the Village Council's meeting being kicked out of City Hall on two days' notice, and when we have our meeting next week (probably at another location and maybe with cameras there regardless of the City's involvement in that) every one of you should show up and make your feelings known.
It is a mess. A group of grown people, who were elected to serve us is scared to meet.
The Sailing Club was offered as a venue and the Grand Avenue News offered to film it. What else is needed? Just the people.
A majority of the Village Council are afraid to meet because of threats received. I would call that a mess and more.
Grape, I can only speak for myself, but I did not receive any threats.
This all proves what a joke the VC really is.
Tom, Deliberate men and women are not wimps. Cooler heads always prevail, as this Council has in the past. We cannot operate with a "gang" mentality and go running from meeting site to meeting site without ample public notice, especially on an issue like the 5:00AM closing. We WILL have a meeting this month. We have the capacity to sit with our Mayor and Commissioners and negotiate the best deal for all of us. We've done it repeatedly the last four years of service.Uncontrolled anger,foot stomping and impetuous acts offer no benefits to getting what we must have.
Regards,
Gary Hecht
Point taken Gary, but it is highly interesting to note that the Lame Ducks or those in a Certain Commissioner's Pocket and those against 5 am are against holding the meeting and those in favor of 5 am and the independent thinkers who are not beholden to anyone except the voters, are in favor of holding the meeting.
It's split right down that line.
As for the public coming out, you can be sure the anti-5am people will be there no matter where or when the meeting is, while those in favor of 5 am may or may not show up. So it would behoove the anti-5 am Village Council members to hold the meeting. They are actually hurting their cause by NOT holding the meeting.
Tom,
I'm not running for anything and have no interest to run in the future. I did not run in the last election and will not be a Councilman going forward. My membership in the Council and Chairmanship has been centered solely on a fairness doctrine. The split on votes for the meeting has nothing to do with politics or any fears. We all want a meeting and will have one this month. But Tom, if the 5:00 AM meeting is not noticed in the Herald,the Council will have hell to pay. Waiting a week for the meeting and having a chance to sort out the City's actions with the Mayor and Commissioner Sarnoff will serve all of us well.
Dubin and Collins need to STEP UP or STEP DOWN!
Dave Collins is in Marc's pocket and has been from the beginning. He was appointed to his position on BID by Marc and will remain there, doing Marc's bidding until Sarnoff is removed.
I think we could all work this out in a civilized manner, and reach a successful accord if only we could all sit down with a delicious pint of Magic Hat's #9, a one of kind hand crafted beverage, which will always brighten your mood.
Is there anywhere around that we can get that stuff?
Good stuff Gary.
Grape; threats...what threats?
You bring up Cuba, Communism, fascism...what the hell do you know about Cuba?
Ever lose a family member to a firing squad?
Ever have to leave all your possessions?
Split your family?
You have no idea what a threat is...get over it.
Jav
While business and productivity is grinding to a halt, is it not time for the mighty elected ones to put cumbersome procedures and politics to rest for a while and pull their sleeves up and get to work like other hard working men and women? I think the point is that Grove's circumstances are getting dire and the petty waiting game wants to continue, as a matter of procedure.
The Village Council has done some good things but the 5 am closing ban did not work, they tried it and it didn't work! The Grove is dying. Now that they are ready to vote 5 am closings back in & the Council is not necessarily in agreement with Marc Sarnoff they are banned from City Hall ..gee what a coincidence. Hope the new council will fight this!
Where is the new Mayor? Hello???
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