Are there too many battles?
As I was writing the CVS story I was thinking, here we go again. Are there too many battles in Coconut Grove going on? Do we need to pick and choose our battles or can we have them all?
From the Stirrup House to Regatta Park and Grove Harbour, to getting trolley service and fighting overdevelopment to kicking City Hall out and now the CVS concern, are we battling everything that comes up? Are Grovites against any sort of change?
I can think of so many other neighborhoods in Dade County that would love a new CVS or a new park or brand new condos, but we seem to battle them all. I'm not sure why, I'm not against the battles, I'm just wondering what it is all about. Is there something in the water in Coconut Grove?
From the Stirrup House to Regatta Park and Grove Harbour, to getting trolley service and fighting overdevelopment to kicking City Hall out and now the CVS concern, are we battling everything that comes up? Are Grovites against any sort of change?
I can think of so many other neighborhoods in Dade County that would love a new CVS or a new park or brand new condos, but we seem to battle them all. I'm not sure why, I'm not against the battles, I'm just wondering what it is all about. Is there something in the water in Coconut Grove?
posted by Tom Falco at 8:00 AM
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10 Comments:
Well, there are toxins in our parks, so why wouldn't there be in our water?
Nothing in the H2o, rather, it's just human nature & it's not necessarily negative. Most, if not all blogs have folks who post what appears to be negative comments welling up from a position of powerlessness, so they sound off on blogs hoping that others will chastise and berate them. These people have, in all probability, been abused in youth & blogs empower them to charge forward with opinions in the blogs safe environment. I say let em fight, argue, express their opinion; that's better than shooting the pope, the president or John Lennon.
Too many Chef's in the Kitchen, spoil the recipe. Or even better, it never gets cooked, cuz they argue how it should be done for so long, that the customer left.
There's a reason we elect officials and we dont ALL sit on committee. If everyone expresses their opinion, and no one compromises, then, nothing gets done.
Someone is elected by the majority to look at the issues and make a decision. Some will be happy with his decision, some will not. That's the way it goes.
Nowadays, the "ones that don't agree with the elected official's decision" argue and argue till they stop progress, and nothing ever gets done.
Look at Congress....Look at the Grove! All talk, no action!
What about the Seaside Mahoes! There are no views.
(definitely not) CI
Yeah to a certain degree it's a matter of what are we (the locals) trying to accomplish - or even better what is the Grapevine trying to accomplish?
If the Grapevine is simply a sounding board, well then the downside is that is that the commentary section will just become a bitk&^ (rimes with rich) fest. If it is really hoping to take an issue, see if it has support, then see that the issue gets addressed - then it is probably best not to have daily posting of things that should improve/change. By doing so it becomes more like "what's today's complaint?"
Nobody likes a complainer. If any you are business owners, we know we like it when an employee comes to us with a suggestion. We hate in when they just complain all day. In fact we fire those types.
DK
It's not that there are too many battles, it's that Sarnoff doesn't fight any of them so we have to raise our voices. Next time let's fight the battle worth fighting (that you tried to fight so hard the last time): let's get rid of that clown Mark Sarnoff.
These battles are not separate. They are part of an ongoing war. Those who value the heritage and environmental qualities of Coconut Grove are in opposition to those who would commercialize and undermine those same special qualities that have made Coconut Grove a unique and highly desirable place to live.
Sarnoff and his cronies are attempting on an almost daily basis to commercialize as much of the Grove as possible in order to capitalize its qualities. They tend to see the Grove as an intensely developed tourist attraction whereby they enrich themselves at the expense of the larger community.The Grove Key Project being a perfect case in point. Many of the people who opposed this project did so because of the desire to enhance the natural experience of the Grove vs exploiting it's resources for commercial use. Sarnoff's development plans will bring more traffic , noise, pollution and crime to an area that became somewhat famous and desirable because of it's bucolic ambiance. If you take away what makes The Grove unique and beautiful you take away it's heart and soul. This battle fought through these many small wars will determine the future of this place. Do you want Coconut Grove to march toward a future of crass commercialization or do you prefer to enhance the unique sense of place that brought people here in the first place. History shows very clearly that those places which retain their special qualities in a world that is increasingly homogenized and commercialized, are those places that become the most desirable to live and work. The value of the Grove lies not in it's development potential but within it's history, character and natural ambiance. Lose it and you've lost everything. Each and every battle that comes represents an opportunity to either enhance or diminish the very nature and soul of this place. When the very politicians we've elected turn their backs on those they represent it is our duty to fight as hard as we can to preserve and protect it. Keep something in mind regarding the Grove Harbor/ Grove Key debacle. Coconut Grove was decidedly against this development. Sarnoff won only because of his underhanded tactics to make sure sure this was a City wide vote. That did not happen by accident. He knew the Grove opposed his project. Yet he fought day and night to subvert the wishes of his constituents. In order to protect our home we must fight as long and has hard as he did. Of course we must also do everything possible to be sure this man NEVER serves in public office again.CRC
Charles, that was devastatingly well said.
Charles, this belongs in the editorial page of the Miami Herald. You can replace Sarnoff for city commissioner and everyone will understand. Grove residents don't want another Brickell or Midtown. Miami residents don't want another bursting real estate bubble. Everyone wants to keep the Grove’s character. It’s a jewel. Read about the History of Miami and the Grove.
Just look at Coral Gables, they are just as proud of their neighborhoods as we are, difference is their city officials seem to be interested in their constituents and are probably not lining their pockets like other city officials do in Miami.
We are told Sarnoff is hitting up real estate developers for money so he can run his wife to replace him as commissioner. He walks away with a $2 mil pension paid by the taxpayers.
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