Marinas: Part of the Grand Plan of Aventura 

Dear Lisa,  

I read your November 20th article entitled “Totally Zoned Out” with great interest. [RE: Aventura Confidential, published in the Aventura edition.] As the new owner of Hi-Lift Marina, I am very concerned about Commissioner Cohen's brazen comments that he “wishes Hi Lift would get out.”

Bear with me while I bite my lip and try to look past his overt threat and focus instead on the fact that his statements reflect a naivety about the powerful influence “those boats sticking out on the corner” will have on the success of the youthful, internationally diverse community taking root in the City of Excellence. It would be foolhardy for our town “founders” to turn a blind eye to the potential that a residential apartment glut is looming. So I’ll ask rhetorically -- Could it be that by providing convenient access to the pleasure of boating on our beautiful waterways, Hi-Lift Marina will be one of the significant contributing factors to the successful marketing of the thousands of residential apartments that will line the heart of Aventura within a few years?  As Mr. Herhold rightly points out, “... city planners of waterfront communities should recognized the need to retain waterfront access for residents.” I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment and maintain that it is consistent with the town founders’ vision to establish a marina as an integral part of our Town Center. Given the opportunity, I’m certain we can enhance what’s left of Aventura’s “Marina District” and create a waterfront destination that would make even Mr. Cohen proud!

Until then, we look forward to continuing to provide red carpet service with a smile to the diverse boating community of South Florida.  

Regards, 

Andy Sturner and the rest of the Hi-Lift Marina team!

 Marinas: An Endangered Species in Aventura—Though Few See To Care 

Dear Lisa:

Thank you for your November 20^th column about Thunder Alley in Aventura.  [RE: Aventura Confidential, “Totally Zoned Out,” published in Aventura edition.] You are right on target.

 For the first three years of the city’s existence, I fought for the continuation of maritime uses on 188^th Street.  Unfortunately, not one other member of the Aventura City Commission supported my position.

 Within one year, 188^th Street will be ribboned by long 11-story condominium buildings, and the rich and unique ties of our city to the boating industry will be at an end. 

Jay Beskin

Vice Mayor

City of Aventura 

 Trainspotting: Dirty Election Gets in the Way of the Uselessness of The Bay Link 

Dear Editor and Staff: 

It is a shame that the literature mailed to voters for the November 18 runoff contained damaging information about one of the candidates that had nothing to do with the issues affecting the community, such as Bay Link. Equally offensive was a similar response in the last campaign mail. If that were omitted, that candidate would be more honorable in my opinion. Of course, he had to defend himself. So, the main issue being Bay Link, I am glad the majority on the Miami Beach Commission is opposed to Bay Link. Thank you Mayor Dermer, you know what is best for our community.  

Leslie Anne Casden

Trainspotting: Ha-Ha! Sopher Lost!  Bay Link Rules!

With the recent runoff sending Hank Sopher’s gophers scurrying back down their “boroughs,” Miami Beach can exhale a huge sigh of relief. This individual threatened to instill a cronyism down at City Hall outrageous even by Beach standards. Once again, the politics of “No!” have been dealt a setback with “Hank” being spanked so soundly at the polls. In essence, this is another vote for the forces of progress whose plans for a pedestrian-friendly, post-auto environment move inexorably forward. Seems like the scrunchface crowd couldn’t get themselves heard with a subpoena.

Now with the latest reaction faction foray sent down in flames Bay Link appears even more certain. We progressives extend, again, an invitation to all interested parties the opportunity of working together to use the best of this fantastic plan to improve our community. Why let the devil have all the best tunes? Join us in moving the process forward instead of carping and using ridiculous, shopworn methods of subversion. It takes the same amount of effort to produce something positive as negative.

The commission vote looms more and more as a mandate. So, why does Mayor David Dermer repeatedly attempt to torpedo Bay Link when the majority favors it? And what of those who wished Sopher’s influence peddlers upon us—are they really ready to destroy the Beach to prove how “bad” things are for them? This isn’t politics—it’s obstructionism. How many ways are they going to repackage the same nutty myths before giving them up? There is fighting for a cause, and then there is looking foolish.

So, let us put our elected officials on notice that from now on leadership will be required. Not bombast, not confusion disguised as good intentions, not Sopernik doubletalk. Plain old leadership is what we want—specifically, how are you as our elected representatives going to knit our neighborhood associations together in finding the best ways of utilizing the Bay Link plan for the good of Miami Beach? 

Jeffrey Bradley