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Rationalizing Without Mercy: It’s All About the Benjamins, Baby!
Rationalization is to ascribe one’s opinions or acts to causes that
superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are
unrelated to the truth.
George
W. Bush tried to rationalize the war in Iraq by attempting to sell
us on the idea that the war was about WMD’s, then he pitched the
idea of democracy for the Iraqis and recently he has touted security
for the U.S.A. and all of Western Civilization. But now we know the
real truth. The passage of time and additional research always helps
to uncover what is real and what is not.
Mercy
Hospital rationalized the selling of six acres of their land to the
Related Group so they could use the $100 million to improve their
hospital facilities so as to better serve the healthcare needs of
our community [Wakefield, “Have Mercy on Coconut Grove,” published
Feb. 1]. But wasn’t this land gifted to them and are they not a
not-for-profit that pays
no taxes?
If they are not good managers now, what makes them think they will
get better with more money? Will they eventually be selling
off more assets in 10 years when all this money is gone?
Natoma Manors and
Bay Heights Homeowners Associations has rationalized the rezoning of
the Mercy property and then building three totally out of scale
luxury condo towers by the Related Group as a lesser of two evils,
since this project will create less traffic in their neighborhood. I
suppose that it would be cynical to think that they are being paid
off this secret amount of money estimated to be a small fortune just
for the inconvenience they will be going through during
construction. They also feel that this is mitigation for traffic
through their neighborhoods and will probably install speed bumps,
possibly gates, extra police patrol.
The city of Miami
rationalized their willingness to break their own zoning codes, go
against the better judgment of the Planning and Zoning Boards,
remove the protection of all GI-zoned properties, eliminate more
unique bayfront property, infringe on the nearby homeowners and the
historic Vizcaya estate. All of this just so they can raise more
property taxes and accept more money for affordable housing in
poorer districts, just because they can’t properly manage their own
government and budget. This gives new meaning to “fundraising.”
Those who approve
of the Mercy Hospital/Related Group rezoning issue and three tower
luxury condo proposal feel they have something to gain. They are
rationalizing the approval of this project because they will gain
financially or they feel that less traffic will be generated.
Those who
disapprove of this feel they have something to lose. They are
rationalizing the denial of this project because they fear even more
loss of their cherished Coconut Gove quality of life that attracts
so many residents and visitors to our community. Needless to say
they have no financial incentive to do so.
Like “Deep Throat”
said during the infamous Watergate era, “Just Follow the Money!”
You just have to
wonder how many fewer attorneys, Mercy Hospital doctors, and
residents of Natoma Manors and Bay Heights Homeowners Association
would be supporting this rezoning and project if they were not being
financially compensated for their efforts!
Coconut Grove does
not require more time or more research to help determine that this
Mercy Hospital/Related Group Luxury Condo project is bad for our
community’s quality of life and future. We have been witness many
times before to the callousness of some of our city commissioners
and their willingness to sell us out to the highest bidders or to
their closest pals.
George W. Bush was
shamefully wrong to deceive us with his rationalization of the
reasons we invested our country in the Iraq War.
Those who support
the Mercy Hospital/Related Group Luxury Condo project are also
shamefully wrong for trying to justify their rationalization to
themselves and to the rest of us.
Enough is enough!
Just say, “Mercy No!” And tell your Miami City Commissioners they
have the responsibility and duty to also say, “Mercy No!”
Harry Emilio
Gottlieb
Coconut Grove
***
Trying to Help
Gidget: We’re Still There for Ya, If You Agree to Parameters
Erik Bojnansky:
Miami Beach
Community Development Corporation sends this letter in response to
the article “Ripped Apart” published in the Jan. 25, 2007 issue of
the SunPost about Galit Bitton and her relationship with the
organization.
MBCDC is a
nonprofit community development organization that serves to enhance
the quality of life for residents in Miami Beach and the greater
Miami area through a comprehensive housing and community development
program.
One capacity of
MBCDC is to develop programs and act as intermediary for low-income
residents and government programs that provide grants and
low-interest forgivable loans to help purchase and/or rehabilitate
homes to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to qualified
applicants. The organization has successfully provided such
assistance to more than 338 low-income residents to date.
Two of these
programs include the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Funds
which max out at $15,000 and SHIP (State Housing Initiatives
Partnership) Funds which max out at $40,000 per applicant. While
money from SHIP was originally intended to help with the purchase
and repair of homes for very low-income residents a policy change
allowed the funds to be used solely for required rehabilitation.
After assuring that Ms. Bitton would qualify for SHIP Funds, MBCDC
offered to qualify her for the increased loan amount to which she
agreed.
The use of these
funds requires the owner to covenant that the housing will remain in
the hands of a low income resident for at least ten years. The
covenant was presented to Ms. Bitton in tact and was fully explained
prior to her execution of the document.
MBCDC serves to
qualify participants, provide inspections, guide and help administer
the contracts and transactions required to access these
government-funded loans. As with every such loan administered by
MBCDC, it is ultimately the participant’s responsibility to hire and
enter into a contract with a contractor. It was clearly explained to
Ms. Bitton that the choice of contractor was up to her.
With the funding
approved, the inspection completed and the work write-up developed,
MBCDC submitted the scope of work to six contractors, five of whom
rejected the project after meeting with Ms. Bitton. Ms. Bitton tried
to hire her own contractor unsuccessfully and decided to go with one
of the contractors recommended. Integral Business and Investments
Inc., who was licensed, insured and able to pull the permit on the
job, agreed to take on the project.
After work began on
the unit Ms. Bitton had several disputes with the contractor and
came to MBCDC to help resolve these issues. MBCDC attempted to
mediate the dispute between Ms. Bitton and the contractor, but she
eventually fired the contractor.
MBCDC continues to
stand ready to support and help Ms. Bitton complete the work as long
as she agrees on a scope of work and a total cost within the
parameters of the program and the amount of funds left from the loan
allocation.
Roberto Datorre,
President/CEO
Miami Beach Community Redevelopment Corporation
***
Empathizing With
Gidget: Yep, I’m Going Through the Same Thing
Dear Ryan:
I read this article
with more than great interest [“Ripped Apart,” published Jan. 25].
You see, I live at Shelbourne House, a building for people with
HIV/AIDS that is run by MBCDC.
I have been having
problems for years with MBCDC. For instance, my air conditioner
failed on Nov. 29, 2006, after months of me complaining that it was
not cooling properly. It was only replaced the other day (I think
it’s the third or fourth new one since I’ve lived here, and they
always go due to lack of maintenance), and, then, only after I
hand-delivered a copy of a letter I wrote to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
requesting assistance. Now I am afraid Roberto Datorre will find
some way to kick me out and I will be homeless.
There are some very
good people there, but they are thwarted by the top people.
I read Roberto
Datorre’s comment [in the article] about Ms. Bitton’s situation and
found it very familiar.
Jose A. Lopez de
Zaldo
Miami Beach
***
Monkey Statues!
I Need Monkey Statues!
Hi Robin:
My name is Heather
Mann and I’m trying everything I can to locate the artist (or
manufacturer) of monkey statues. They were created by the Galindo
Family under the name “house of beads, inc.” and had a home on
Lincoln Road in Miami. From what I can gather, they were forced out
of Lincoln Road sometime in the past five years, but their monkey
statues were carried by another store called “The 24 Collection.”
The Miami
SunPost did a story that looks like it was updated on 7/21/06
and The 24 Collection is mentioned [Best of the Beach, Best of
Shopping, published July 4, 2002] but calling the number displayed
doesn’t lead me to the company. Incidentally, neither does a Web
search.
Being in NY, I’m
having some considerable difficulty getting in touch with someone,
anyone, who can help me find a retailer of these statues. So
basically, my question is, do you know of a good resource to help me
find any of the following:
Any and all help is
greatly appreciated. Thank you, in advance.
Heather Mann
New York
[Editor’s Note: The
24 Collection closed down a few years ago. In its place stands a
BCBGMaxAzria.] |
