How Will the Rest of Miami Beach Feel About Spending $95 Million for A Single Mid-Beach Park? We’ll Find Out Come November

To the Editor,

Re: News, “$95 Million for a Park?” published Sept. 6.

I spent six years seated next to commissioner, then mayor, David Dermer, on the General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee, which was committed to monitoring prudent use of the $92 million bond obligation entrusted to the City Commission by the voters in November 1999, to build two fire stations and improve parks and streetscapes in every city neighborhood.

Each neighborhood had needs for its streets, street-lighting and street trees that exceeded the budgets available. Every park improvement required funding that exceeded the original estimates. This required a discipline to set priorities. We did so with each of the neighborhoods involved. Recognizing that there would be more work to do, the city administration systematically compiled estimates of improvements originally hoped for, but that would require a subsequent bond issue. The estimate for this work is about $25 million.

As I watched a slim majority of the City Commission at its Sept. 5 meeting argue for a $95 million bond authorization to buy the Miami Heart site from its owner, Mount Sinai Medical Center, raze the hospital building and grass it over as a park, I could not help but think of the years we spent discussing with neighborhoods what had to be cut from their parks and streetscapes bond programs. If all these neighborhoods had been in commission chambers and been part of the discussion, I think another type of “greening” of the city would have taken priority over $95 million for a small, seven-acre park site, that would add only about 3 percent to the city’s current parks inventory (1 percent if the two city-owned golf courses are included in the total).

I started to make a list of how a new $95 million general obligation bond could be put to work “greening” nearly every city neighborhood:

*Complete the General Obligation Bond streetscape program that requires about $25 million for unfunded work in most neighborhoods of the city.

*Improve parks citywide.

*Build the long-planned Indian Creek Greenway.

*Develop an interconnected bike path system.

*Improve Flamingo Park.

*Build a public Biscayne Baywalk from Lincoln Road to Fifth Street and connect it to the Baywalk south of Fifth Street that extends to South Pointe Park.

*Construct toilet facilities at accessible locations along the beach.

*Increase the contingency reserves for parks and streetscape projects underway.

But there is more to this. We learned early in the G.O. Bond program that if you don’t pay as you go, and borrow instead, over the course of a 30-year repayment period interest pyramids, and a $95 million bond requires repayment with interest of twice that amount or more. I am sure the city administration will now provide estimates of the total financial impact of a bond of that size. There will be other twists, I am sure. For example, because most of the bond proceeds will be used to buy the site from its owner, Mount Sinai Medical Center, borrowing cannot be spread out over time.

I have listed only “green” projects for comparison with the Miami Heart site hospital-to-park metamorphosis. One could list many capital projects as worthy for consideration for a city bond issue of this magnitude.

Between now and the Nov. 6 election date, when this question will appear on the ballot, I expect these issues will be the subject of public scrutiny and political debate. Even though a slender majority of the City Commission rushed to judgment in putting this question on the ballot without any prior analysis, voters will now be able to take the measure of the candidates’ abilities in city budgeting and prudent management of taxpayer dollars.

Frank Del Vecchio

Miami Beach

 

I May or May Not Brake for Bicyclists

While I'm sorry Mr. Nielsen got hit by a car, I must object to his one-sided article [“Hell of a Ride,” published Aug. 30]. I've seen plenty of bikers not driving on the right next to the sidewalk, but right in the middle of the lane as if they were cars. I've also seen them driving against traffic which is illegal but apparently the laws don't apply to them.

Bikers slow down traffic; this is not fun during rush hour or at any other time. It's bad enough we have to put up with slow-moving buses that take their time stopping and going — now we're being asked to spend our precious tax dollars building more bike lines? No wonder we have budget deficits.

Why can't bikers take their hobby to a park, the Everglades or just go to a gym like normal people? Seriously, you'd have to be crazy to bike in Miami. And don't think I'm completely against bikers. I've done bicycle tours in rural Maine and La Provence, France. Those places are ideal to do that kind of thing. Miami, on the other hand, isn't even safe for pedestrians. So bikers, stay on the right, out of my way.

Hershel Goldberg

Miami

 

Bicycling While Oblivious on Miami Roads Equals Tour de Dead

While I fully agree with the sentiment of the article, many bicyclists need to be a LOT more aware than they are and, like cars, remember that they SHARE the road [“Hell of a Ride,” published Aug. 30]. The description of the recent accident in Kendall Lakes epitomizes the problem: “The driver of an SUV pulled out of an apartment complex without yielding to a group of about 40 swiftly moving cyclists on road bikes, causing several to slam into the vehicle.” The news reports were more fair, including the point that the driver’s view of the road was blocked by cars parked improperly and the driver was backing out, as he has the right to do (presuming he is careful). You cannot “yield” to things you cannot see. Those facts mean that the bicyclists were going too fast for the road conditions and were too bunched together — it was a residential street, not a leg of the Tour de France with the roads closed to vehicle traffic. Unless you are on a closed road course, riding wheel-to-wheel with the guy in front of you on a residential street is a recipe for disaster. Having seen packs of bicyclists riding around the streets of Miami-Dade County on multiple occasions over the years, the Kendall Lakes event should not come as a surprise to anyone. These packs are usually bunched too closely and riding two or three abreast, neither of which is permissible for cars; in addition, they frequently have scant concern for the rights of others on the road, including other bicyclists, cars and even pedestrians.

On a related issue, given the number of times I have seen bicyclists wearing headphones while riding, it is a wonder that more are not injured as a result of the sheer insanity of closing off one of your primary safety systems on a bike: hearing. If you cannot hear cars around you, you cannot react appropriately, even if they are following the road rules. Frankly, riding a bicycle — or rollerblading — with headphones is stupid.

 

For several years, I biked almost daily around Miami Beach, and rode from the Beach to the Grove (or farther south, including down to the Falls) on average once a weekend. As a result, I have spent a fair amount of time on the roads in Miami-Dade County, although much less now than in the past. I have had several brushes with cars, including being cut off once by an idiot turning right in front of me after she passed me one night; luckily, I just flew over the handle bars and skinned my hands (half an inch more, I would have road-rashed my face). However, the worst accident I had was not caused by a car; it was another bicyclist cutting me off as he raced by on the path under the Metrorail. I still have a scar on my shoulder from that one.

 

Clearly, drivers need to be more aware of bicycles. However, the fault is far from only that of the “psychotic drivers” as depicted in your article. Bicyclists also need to be aware of cars and need to recognize that they cannot stop on a dime — well, the bike can, but the rider just keeps going. Moreover, bicyclists need to realize that they are on roads that are NOT properly designed for bikes and cars to share together, and act accordingly. Which, of course, is exactly why Miami needs many, many, many more bike lanes, similar to Copenhagen.

 

Christopher S. Carver

Miami Shores

 

Time to Find Another Career Path, Johnny

Mr. Winton,

It seems you do not understand that we, the taxpayers of Miami, have, by an overwhelming majority, made it perfectly clear — we do not believe you deserve a pension paid for by us for the rest of your life [“Bring It,” published Sept. 6]. You forfeited that privilege by acting so disgracefully in public. Furthermore, even without your drunken abusiveness to law enforcement officers, you had betrayed the trust of the residents of your district.

By voting so many times for developers’ wishes over those of your voters, you made it unlikely you could be re-elected. Perhaps our mayor would be good enough to find you a job for life in one of his new business ventures.

Paul Mann

Miami

 

The Promise of Obama: He Reminds Me of Bruce

I only just read John Hood’s piece on Obama’s visit to Little Havana — forgive me, I live in Los Angeles now, although I was for eight years a Miami Beach resident [“The Audacity of Obama,” published Aug. 30]. I had heard about the O visit and accompanying controversy (how rare for Miami) on NPR, but Hood’s article captured more of the flavor — and energy — of an Obama rally than even NPR could.

As a Democrat still torn between Obama (whom I like enormously) and Clinton (whose husband I liked enormously, but to whom I can't really warm; I’m an ex-Brit and, terrifyingly, she reminds me of Margaret Thatcher, the most loathsome British politician until Tony Blair arrived and became Bush's appendage), to read of the hope that Obama brings definitely sways me. Hillary, as one friend put it, might be a good president because she looks as though she would kill and/or eat anyone who opposed her. But I think I'm tending toward a rather more compassionate presidency after the horrors of the past almost-eight years, so Obama is probably The One. And he kinda has that Springsteen touch that Hood alluded to.

Yours,

Alexander Chow-Stuart

Los Angeles

 

McCarthyism Is Alive and Well in Surfside

The same old lies about former Mayor Paul Novack’s house are being circulated again for obvious and blatant political purposes [News, “Witch Hunt?,” published Aug. 16]. Sad how soiled are the motivations and tactics involved. Simply, a “Witch Hunt” indeed!

Are they examining under a microscope every home renovation project in Surfside over the last decade, or are they focused on Mayor Novack because of his persistent and effective service in the public interest, while his detractors serve only special interests and their own personal and political interests? 

As most Surfsiders know, and Miami Beach residents in particular should know and recognize, the fact is that the new high school being built would NOT have happened without former Mayor Novack’s hard work and diligent efforts in exposing the dangers of the existing one and leading the charge for a new state-of-the-art school for everyone's benefit.

The man has been retired from office for almost four years now, but for some odd and clearly unjustified reason the jealousy against him and his outstanding reputation keeps the sorry attacks alive. He did nothing wrong and they know it. The fact that his home renovations ended up costing more than initially anticipated puts his house in the exact same situation as countless others, none of whom were in any kind of violation at all.

Despite all their merit-less complaints, there was indeed no wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Novack. That cannot be said for those who continue with their McCarthy-like smear campaign. 

The so-called 50 percent rule is designed to have homeowners demolish the home or raise the elevation of the entire home if they know they are going to spend over 50 percent of its value during upcoming renovations. During my four years on the planning and zoning board, and having reviewed about 200 home renovations both simple and extensive ... NOT ONE fell under this rule. The current town administration’s own planning and zoning board has not required anyone to raise the elevation of their homes. Current town officials know that building officials and experts have found no violation, not on the part of Mr. Novack or anyone else.

It is, however, clear to many of us why they try to use this tired old lie about him — it’s nothing more than dirty politics, as observed by those in attendance at town meetings. With the market value of homes, it is almost impossible to reach this 50 percent threshold. Homes have dramatically increased in value, and costs of renovation have increased even during projects, bringing final costs higher than anyone, especially the homeowner, would have ever wanted them to be. Logically, if one knows that he or she is going to go over 50 percent, they would be doing themselves a BIG favor by demolishing and building new. 

Why should I, or anyone, care that this dark period of American history known as McCarthyism has raised its ugly head here in Surfside? Why, “WHEN THEY CAME FOR ME THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK OUT.” That’s why! We were supposed to have learned from the past by reading our history, so as not to repeat it. Sadly, some have not.

I therefore hope that the perpetrators of this absurd allegation focus on their own record in office and their failures, rather than continually using diversionary tactics in their hopes to distract us residents from all that they have NOT done since in office, and all that so many of us disdain that they have done while in office.

Respectfully,

Joseph Graubart

Surfside

 

The Difference Between Swinging and Adventuring: Essential Information for SKiN Correspondents

Hello Kris,

This is to express my discontentment of the blurb you wrote about the SKiN party [411, “Swingers and Sex Swings,” published May 10]. I understand quite well the format of your column and your need to spice things up a bit. However, misrepresentation or misreporting does not constitute great journalism, but instead falls in the line of gossiping and bashing; sorta “enquirers wanna know” like.

The essence of the SKiN party has never been a swinging environment. We have never associated the word with our events, not because we think that there is anything wrong with swinging or its practitioners. But instead, we do not use the term because most of the people we cater to do not fall in that category or identify themselves as such. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that our organization is represented justly and correctly. Though a few people (just a few) in the swinging community attend our events, the bulk of our guests do not swing. And, though you have referred to our party as an almost-orgy affair, that is an inaccurate statement which does not describe the true essence of our events. 

There is a difference between swingers, people who classify themselves in “The Lifestyle,” and simply the sexually adventurous individuals. Now, unless you really know the difference yourself and also what we do, should you be qualified to write about our events?

We really try hard to do what we do and cater to an upscale and sophisticated crowd that loves to have fun and think freely when they attend our parties. Again, if you want to write a gossip column, then by all means; but if you want to practice great (and yet attention-catching) journalism, know what you are writing about first before having your fingers stroke the keyboard. You are a good and humorous writer. There is no reason that you cannot keep a piece interesting while having all your facts straight.

Regards,

Fritz “e” Romeus

SKiN Miami

 

Coming Soon to a Newspaper Near You: Blood on 41st Street

To The Editor:

“Child killed trying to cross Arthur Godfrey Road (41st) while on the way to school at North Beach Elementary!”

Is this the headline we have to read before a major problem in traffic control is corrected? The traffic lights on Arthur Godfrey Road are not synchronized properly.

Vehicular traffic going east and west is given an inordinate amount of time to progress because most cars in that area are going in those directions. If you push one of those buttons to change the light, when it does change, you are given approximately 23 seconds to cross the street!

I have witnessed over the years many close calls with pedestrians young and old, being caught in the middle of traffic. With thousand of cars coming off the Julia Tuttle Causeway at the speed of NASCAR sporting events and entering 41st Street, this is not a safe situation.

How about someone within our city administration contacting metro government to have this highly dangerous situation corrected! I’m sure many parents and others would appreciate a resolution to this problem.

Sincerely,

Ronald C. Rickey

Miami Beach

 

Seeing Red and Yellow About Traffic Codes and Library Slows

Dear Editor:

I hope the city of Aventura does not pass an ordinance that makes running a red light a city code violation, rather than a state moving violation, because there are times a ticket should be disputed.

Right now, if you refute a ticket and lose, you only pay your own attorney if you have one; however, if it is made a code violation, you would then have to pay for the special master’s expense. A person’s right to refute would become too expensive.

Yellow lights sometimes turns red while the car is crossing, and the photo would make it appear as though the driver is guilty of passing a red light.

Drivers are licensed by the state; therefore I hope the city does not take this on. Handing authority over to a private vendor that may be aggressive in making profits is not a win-win for the people.

It was my understanding after Hurricane Wilma that it would take two years to have our library back. Now I learn that it will take two more years. Is this because the city is adding a performing arts center? I don’t remember any poll of the people to build a performing arts center. I would rather have a bigger and better library and leave the performing arts to the private sector.

Mildred Husak

Aventura