What is the Pointe?
So now Old Joe and Bang Bang, two homeless Grovites, have been banned from hanging out and working at Florentine Plaza. The PointeGroup has demanded that the businesses there not hire them to do the odd jobs that they did around the area for years.
You all must have seen them around for the past 20 years. They are neighbors. Without homes.
Joe is the one with the cane and straw hat, you probably have seen him dancing at all the Grove events. He does odd jobs for bars and restaurants in the Center Village, too.
For some odd reason, I'm not sure why, and neither are the businesses they worked for, he and Bang Bang have now been banned from Florentine Plaza. The business owners don't feel that their landlord has the right to tell them who they can hire and who they cannot hire. That does seem to be stepping over bounds.
I think there is a lawsuit waiting here and it would be nice if a local attorney could do something about this as a favor to the guys so that they can at least make a few bucks a day so they can eat. They are honest, friendly and doing the right thing by working when they can. Business owners have been very generous with them and they are part of the flavor of the Grove, which seems to be leaving in the wake of PointeGroup Advisors. I am not sure why they are so evil. Their track record shows that they seem to pick on those who are weaker than them. They are bullies.
Maybe the PointeGroup should be more concerned with the mold growing right under their noses on the balcony of their offices. That seems to be more important than stopping a couple of guys from earning a few bucks so they can eat. Some "contemporary retail" concept they have going.
You all must have seen them around for the past 20 years. They are neighbors. Without homes.
Joe is the one with the cane and straw hat, you probably have seen him dancing at all the Grove events. He does odd jobs for bars and restaurants in the Center Village, too.
For some odd reason, I'm not sure why, and neither are the businesses they worked for, he and Bang Bang have now been banned from Florentine Plaza. The business owners don't feel that their landlord has the right to tell them who they can hire and who they cannot hire. That does seem to be stepping over bounds.
I think there is a lawsuit waiting here and it would be nice if a local attorney could do something about this as a favor to the guys so that they can at least make a few bucks a day so they can eat. They are honest, friendly and doing the right thing by working when they can. Business owners have been very generous with them and they are part of the flavor of the Grove, which seems to be leaving in the wake of PointeGroup Advisors. I am not sure why they are so evil. Their track record shows that they seem to pick on those who are weaker than them. They are bullies.
Maybe the PointeGroup should be more concerned with the mold growing right under their noses on the balcony of their offices. That seems to be more important than stopping a couple of guys from earning a few bucks so they can eat. Some "contemporary retail" concept they have going.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
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32 Comments:
I hope a local news outlet catches wind of this and shames them!
Sarnoff is an attorney who could chip in Pro Bono to take them on, wait a minute, Marc has his own grotesque track record with the homeless.
Well how cruel is that!!! Shame on the Pointe Group!! It makes me sick to my stomach what they are doing to our Grove!! Do they even know Old Joe or have they spoken to him. He's a good guy!!
Outrageous. Point Group employees participate in local organizations and pretend to care about the Grove and want to help but yet all they really care about is their own agenda. Nothing but phony.
who is bang bang? I know Cool Joe.
why is this conversation about pointe group kicking these two homeless guys to the curb and not about how we can help Joe & Bang improve their situations beyond their pre-existing status quo?
I think you are not aware of the entire picture. Helping out here and there is a valuable benefits and I am sure the businesses started this procedure to for a good cause and it is remarkable. However when the situation get’s out of hand and visitors to the Grove Community are required to step over human feces that is left behind in every corner along with the image of the homeless community lounging in the corners of our businesses something must be done. The Grove is coming back on the map and many high end international visitors are once again exploring the community, there is only one first impression we can leave behind so let’s get it right. I command Point Group for doing the right thing!
I think it's about time Pointe Group realized it's the small business owners that are paying for their greed.Now they are told who they are and not allowed to employ?
What"LAW from POINTE GROUP"comes next?Maybe the law of caring for others not as lucky as themselves! That would be a change!
Reference Axel Gasser message: I am a shop keeper here...in three years I have NEVER seen human excrement here. Where would like them to lounge? Do you have a place to sleep tonight? They do not. Further, I think I can say that most of us actually feel safer with them around. I know of several instances where they have actually intervened in a protective manner for us. When the 'image' of homeless is a PROBLEM and overcomes human empathy you've got a big problem.
I walk through the business district every morning to take my children to school. Not ONCE in the past three years have I encountered human feces!
I routinely encounter large dog feces, often stepped upon by others and spread about the sidewalk.
I have generally found the homeless in the Grove to be cordial.
I thoroughly object to the idea pushing the homeless out because it looks bad.
Show these individuals compassion.
Just an edit, my friend interviewed Joe a few years back for a UM project and he is not homeless. He has a home in South Grove.
It is unbelieveable that anyone feels that they have the right to deny someone the ability to work. These two gentlemen, and I do mean gentlemen, have been here for many years and the fact that they choose to work instead of beg for money shows the content of their character. The Grove has long been known for it's tolerance and openness for the different. What are we allowing to happen here?
P.S. - I have also walked the Grove for over 40 years and never seen human feces.
Interesting connection between human Gassers and human feces, uh?
It's ironic that Pointe Group would complain about these people cleaning the plaza. We are early morning walkers and every morning during the weekend we encounter an obnoxious guy with a leaf blower that doesn't bother to turn it off when we pass buy. He smiles and acts like he almost enjoys the fact that we have to walk through his dirt and dust that invades our lungs and eyes. I try to avoid this corner because I'm afraid my husband is going to get into a fight with him. He cleans all around the storefronts and parking lot that are owned by, you guessed it, POINTE GROUP!!!! (I'm not talking about the guy during the week, just the weekend.)
Reference Axel Gasser message:: Someone here is not "aware" of the REAL picture at All, that's what is "getting out of hand"!! Your so quick to commend but you don't have a clue. The problems? The feces you step over comes from the bar jerktwerps strolling over from Cuda and Sand Bar late night, they are actually a huge problem... urinating in the halls and even in the fountain on tons of occasions, smashing bottles, pulling out plants, scratching up the glass windows, leaving a trail of red cups and bottles in their wake, and all the crap litter in the parking lot, oh yeah- don't forget about the grafitti!?! (yea sure- its BangBang and Joe, they team up every night <--sarcasm) don't say it isn't true because you would be lying. And "coming back on the map" ? What map...! The international bourgeoise map? What about being on the map for our sense of community and lasting small businesses that flourish under the umbrella of advisors who actually give a damn about our well being and the influx of visitors who come to see us for that purpose alone?!
"Capital in the Twenty-First Century" must be read by all of you, Thomas Piketty sees us returning to "patrimonial capitalism" like the age of Czarist Russia and pre-revolutionary France when there was no middle class and everything was controlled by inherited wealth. History is sort of repeating itself, vote, otherwise turn on the TV and continue enjoying the ride.
I've seen feces on Lincoln Road but never anywhere in the Grove.
As for mess and garbage from the bar, what do you expect? They could clean up the streets and halls around the bars of course.
I think we need to group together and try and stop this from happening! Is there any thing we can do! Please help keep our local people that have been here for years helping us out and trying to make a living. What doesn't the Pointe Group get!!! Don't we need to help each other out! Isn't that what's it all about! Don't destroy our village and the people that have made us care for one another! They call it Progress! I call it Greed!! Shame on you!!!
Its a shame they are taking the time to remove two of Coconut Groves actual residents. With or without homes, those two are a part of the Grove. I grew up in the Grove, my children are growing up in the grove...those men help me cross the street, walk me home if it to late and keep an eye on some of those too drunk to know where they are going. They are part of the community. How can you be faulted for wanting to work? This pains my heart. The grove is not what it was. All the little shops are closing, cold hearted individuals will come soon and the warmth and love that made us a community will be gone ��
The Pointe Group says, "You don't see homeless people in Coral Gables." Guess what? Coconut Grove isn't the Gables...and that's a good thing. We are an artist's village with eclectic businesses and unique individuals. For now at least.
First, Pointe Group is removing the people who don't conform to "their vision of a better Coconut Grove." Next, they are pushing out the independent businesses. Pointe Group freely admits they will be raising rent, and will only guarantee the businesses can stay through the end of the year. Well done, Pointe Group. Bring in the chain stores that can pay your rent. Or better yet, do what you do best: nothing. Leave them empty like Johnny Rockets. The international tourists will love it. No stores and no people.
To the last commenter - I have worked in the center of Coral Gables for more than a decade, and I see homeless people in Coral Gables - every single day. Just like everywhere else.
Axel Gasser is a lying troll, and doubtfully a real person.
PointGroupe needs to respond - Tom, did you reach out to them for comment?
Axel Gasser is a real person who actually works in the Grove and is married to someone who works for Pointe Group. Interesting, right?
Google Axel Gasser: General Manager at Mayfair and in Google Images you will find a photo of him with our disgraceful commissioner.
This is ridiculous! Personally, I considered Bang bang a friend and a big part of the culture of coconut grove/cocowalk. If anyone has taken 10 seconds to conversate with bang bang they would understand how compasionate he is. Constantly delivers insight and wisdom. Personally I will walk into every restaurant and bar with Bang Bang and if they refuse my social media will take care of it!
life is fragile, everyone could be seeking employment/$helter. joe & bang² matter.
We did not have the problems we are experiencing in the Grove when Sarnoff and his gangsters took over. Dividing the community, hurting small businesses and intimidating individuals.
I can only hope and pray that the "Pointless Group" has read all of this and end up, like the Grinch, growing a heart for the people and business owners who make our Grove home.
Reply to the last comment, you know I wish Pointe
Group would look at the comments and have a heart , but they don't care about the locals and don't care about the people that live here and have lived here for years .It's all about GREED! ! Karma comes around to the greedy people!! Keep that in mind!!
Joe is a friend of mine and just must say that Point Group are simply scum and whoever made the decision is an obvious racist and no heart, shame on them....
Love you Joe and Bang Bang
Alright, reality check...
Were Old Joe and Bang Bang actually hired (W2 form) or were they given twenty bucks to sweep the walk, put up umbrellas, and wipe down tables? If they were simply being given cash, and happened to be injured "on the job," there are more than a few injury attorneys in Miami who could make their retirement years truly golden at the expense of The Pointe Group.
If these businesses truly cared about these men, why weren't they hired outright either part time or full time? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, let's not throw the word "racist" out there; that's a bit hysterical.
Some very grumpy people here. I have known Joe since his days at 7-11 in south Miami. He could get a bit grumpy but everybody liked Joe. The placed closed and I think he was recruited to the Grove. Some of his old pals like Sunhawk, Nassau and a bunch of others have passed away and kind of left a void in the Grove. Cannot imagine the Grove without seeing Cool Joe limping around like gentleman that he is. Embarrassed I do not know Bam Bam. I am going to buy these guys a pizza, and tell them please stay in the Grove.
Responding to "Alright, reality check.."
I think you bring up an excellent point. Why isn't Pointe Group hiring these extremely popular gentlemen for either full- or part-time work? Joe and Ricky (a.k.a. Bang Bang) know the Grove, and there is obviously enough work to go around. Maybe Pointe Group could garner some good publicity for once.
Also, out of curiosity, Mr. or Ms. Alright — do you have a housekeeper, someone who does odd jobs, someone who washes your car, etc.? Let's see their W2's. Surely you carry spare tax forms in your wallet for any such incidentals.
Axel Gasser is absolute slime. A disgrace to the community. I just googled the guy and he looks like a serial killer in a suit. No wonder comments like that are coming from him.
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