Category: ‘MIAMI BEACH’

Alton Road construction to speed up

February 24, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Over the weekend, the Levine Administration announced the Alton Road construction project would be finished by the end of the year, nearly seven months ahead of schedule.

Few details have emerged on how this will actually be accomplished, but the new alcalde spent some of last week tweeting about his meetings with FDOT officials.

The construction on Alton Road has detoured traffic, and made business increasingly difficult to come by for shops along road.

In the hopes of increasing foot traffic, the city recently tossed those businesses an expensive gift with the introduction of the Alton Road Trolley system. Per year, that system would cost Miami Beach residents $750,000.

According to a press release, the expedited project will include three new pump stations to help alleviate flooding in the area. In addition, the city said that more than 30 new pumps will be installed within the bodies of future projects.

No more detail than that.

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH

Six months after the death of Israel “Reefa” Hernandez

February 7, 2014 Posted by Frank M

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Categories: Around FLA, MIAMI BEACH

Gongora questions the new Miami Beach Trolley

February 1, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Via Gongora on Facebook

As NewsHole[DOT]Info reported in early December, a new Trolley system is coming to Alton Road in Miami Beach.

The new commission explained the $750,000 a year expense as helping Alton businesses who are experiencing a dramatic loss in traffic as their store-front streets are being torn up, as part of a lengthy improvement project.

Well one former commissioner has come out criticizing the new plan. Former Commissioner Michael Gongora has questioned on social media why anyone would praise this plan as progress in mass transit when it really doesn’t address the island’s real issues.

“It would have been better to focus on connecting us to the mainland or simply increasing frequency of the South Beach local bus, which already does this route,” he wrote in an open post.

The South Beach Local runs on West Avenue, perpendicular to Alton Road. The walk between the two streets is negligible, but the idea is to deliver foot traffic to the business’s front door.

“We hope to mitigate the financial loss that some of these businesses have felt since the construction started by getting customers back on Alton Road and West Avenue,” said Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine in a statement.

Gongora lost to Levine in the last mayor’s race.

It was the only race on the beach NOT to go to a run off, although it featured the nastiest campaign.

(more…)

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI-DADE

SunPost: Strippers and Court Rooms

January 30, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Editor’s note: This story was originally submitted to the Miami SunPost. Link provided when posted.

Jimmy Morales rescinds his revocation of Club Madonna’s business license; Attorney’s for the club claim the city dragged their feet before hearing their side.

On Monday night, Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales lifted his original order to revoke the business license of the city’s only strip club, provided that it followed some stipulations.

For over two weeks Club Madonna remained closed because Morales determined the business presented an “immediate threat” to the public following the shocking allegations that a 13-year-old girl had performed in the establishment.

“To address these matters, Club Madonna has proffered to develop and institute a compliance program that will prevent the aforementioned threat to minors and their families,” said Morales in his order.

Chiefly the strip club will now have to hire a compliance officer whose main function would be to assure all regulations are being followed, as well as keeping track that each performer is diligently identified and work schedule tracked in a log. An affidavit that these logs are being kept are to be delivered weekly by 5 o’clock on Tuesdays.

In addition, the club must agree to in writing that they will turn away any performer who appears to be escorted into the premise. Dancers will also have to attest that they are not being intimidated into performing.

The 13-year-old girl in question told police that she was forced into prostitution, and when she refused, her alleged captors forced her into dancing at the club.
(more…)

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH

$37 million dollars worth of cocaine seized by U.S. Coast Guard

January 29, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Somewhere a drug lord is pounding his fist on a golden table top.

On Tuesday the U.S. Coast Guard offloaded $37 million dollars worth of seized cocaine, 2500 pounds, at their Miami Beach base.

The stash was confiscated last week south of the Dominican Republic. The USCG spotted a speedy 25-foot boat carrying a suspicious cargo. A helicopter was sent to intercept, and sparked an oceanic high speed chase.

According to a release, the helicopter crew fired warning shots to compel the vessel to stop. The individuals on the boat were then observed tossing their wears into the ocean before being detained. Four suspects were taken into custody, and 45 bales of cocaine were retrieved.

The bales made an impressive photo opp, as they were waked off the Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak and stacked up for the media.

The USCG was assisted in the arrest by their international partners in an anti-narcotic initiative.

“This historic operation is a result of a dedication to improved interoperability and highlights the great success and commitment of our inter-agency partnerships to stop the illegal flow of narcotics into the United States,” said Rear Admiral Jake Korn in a statement.

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Categories: Around FLA, MIAMI BEACH

Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board seeks to honor the late Leon A. Manne

January 10, 2014 Posted by Frank M

From wikimedia commons

This past December, the Miami Beach hospitality industry and the community at-large lost a longtime supporter in Leon A. Manne.

In suit, the Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board voted unanimously this week to honor their fellow member by renaming the center’s Executive Board room after him.

“We the members of the Miami Beach Convention Center Advisory Board ask that the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission, at its first official Commission meeting in January 2014, rename the Executive Board room in the Convention Center, ” THE LEON A. MANNE EXECUTIVE BOARD ROOM,” honoring his contribution to both the Center and the community,” wrote the board’s Chairman Stuart Blumberg to the City Commission.

The letter asked that any of the usual process, which would be time consuming, be waived so that an announcement could be made at a special service in early February that coincides with what would have been Manne’s 96 birthday.

(more…)

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH

Philip Levine to speak at Miami Beach Breakfast Club this Tuesday

January 6, 2014 Posted by Frank M

image

Newly elected Mayor Philip Levine will speak at this week’s Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.

Guest usually spout off their agenda, then take questions from the crowd.

It can get quite contentious. Get there early if you plan to go- It’s hard to hear from the back.

Program starts at 8:30am at David’s Cafe One. 11 and Washington. 

For more info www.MBTMBC.com.

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH

State Rep. David Richardson Opines on the Miami Beach Convention Center

December 23, 2013 Posted by Frank M

Photo via State of Florida


Editor’s Note: This article was also submitted to the Miami SunPost. They incorrectly credited the byline to their Film Critic and not author FRANK MARADIAGA. A link will be posted when the problem is corrected.

State Representative David Richardson opines on the Convention Center; warns of a Miami coup. By Frank Maradiaga

In his first public commentary on the future of the Miami Beach Convention Center, State Representative David Richardson made it clear to the new City Commission that he was “very very supportive” of a “world class” facility in the city.

The legislator broke his silence at the first real meeting presided by the vastly different dais, who rode into power by promising the opposite of their predecessors but have yet to address what they will do with the ancient center.

“I want to say publicly that I am very very supportive of Miami Beach having a convention center that is world class, and that will be state of the art,” Richardson said.

He says he has kept quiet and resisted endorsing or supporting any project out of respect to the city’s officials, and the work they were elected to do. Additionally he is not “wedded” to any contractor or contract and has faith in the city’s leadership to hammer that out.

However, there was a sense of urgency in his statement, a warning against stalling in a project famous for false starts and no gos.

“I do think that , we have been for 11 years in this community talking about getting it done, and 11 years is too long,” said Richardson. “And I think if we are not able to get something done, the conversation is going to shift to Downtown Miami.”
(more…)

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Categories: Florida Legislature, MIAMI BEACH

Fake bombs over Miami Beach

December 20, 2013 Posted by Frank M

Miami Beach Police responded to two false bomb threats today.

The first one involved a homeowner who thought he found a live grenade in box in his garage. The area of 44th Street and Royal Palm Avenue was blocked off for hours as police worked the scene.

According to a report by WSVN, a police dog offered a faulty positive read on the package.

“We immediately cordoned off the area to vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” said PIO Bobby Hernandez to the television station.

Ultimately it turned out to be a novelty toy.

At the Astor Hotel, someone called in a bomb threat. Nothing was found.

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH, Uncategorized

State Rep. David Richardson’s remarks on the MBCC

December 18, 2013 Posted by Frank M

State Rep. David Richardson addressed the City Commission on Dec. 11, the following are his remarks on the Miami Beach Convention Center:

The convention center, over the last year I’ve been very quiet about that because I am very very respectful that I am a state representative and I was not elected to be a commissioner or a mayor. I’ve sent my staff to keep me informed. I was not endorsing or supporting either project that was before this project that was before this body.
(more…)

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Categories: MIAMI BEACH
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