Posts Tagged: ‘Miami Beach’

$19 million dollar neglect in Miami Beach

September 17, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Jimmy Morales

Jimmy Morales

Miami Beach is out nearly $19 million in parking impact fees because city failed to collect.

The staggering number comes from a report released by the city manager’s office this week which showed a long history of neglectful collection policy. The uncollected money would have gone towards improving the city’s parking facilities.

“Administratively we are fixing the problem,” said City Manager Jimmy Moralez to the city commission on Wednesday. “Currently we are billing, and billing for next year as well.”

Moralez sees the issue as a retroactive one and asked the commission for guidance on how to proceed in recovering past fees due to the city.

For 25 years Miami Beach has had the “fee in lieu of parking” program which allows developers to construct projects without sufficient parking. A one-time fee is accessed per parking space, currently a $35,000 fee, and that money goes into the city coffers to improve parking facilities.

The problem is that for nearly the entire lifetime of the program, the city has been woefully neglectful in properly collecting the fees, or even collecting at all said the report.

The findings also showed:
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Miami Beach scores 100 in Municipal Equality Index

April 3, 2014 Posted by Frank M

By Frank Maradiaga

Miami Beach scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. The city’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enhancement Committee will announce the score at an afternoon reception at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens Thursday.

The index rated the nation’s 50 state capitals, the 150 largest cities, and other regions based on how inclusive city laws and policies were towards the LGBT community. The MEI was not meant to rank how welcoming a particular city felt to LGBT people, but an examination of city services.

In the 2013 HRC report, the average MEI score was 57, decidedly putting Miami Beach above the average.

Of the 15 Florida cities ranked last year, Miami Beach was not originally not included in the 2013 HRC report.

According to the Herald’s Steve Rothaus, the HRC had kept MB off the list because it didn’t meet certain judging criteria.

GLBT Business Enhancement Committee then started the process of submitting a score card themselves on behalf of the city. The results will be officially announced just before the kick off of Pride Week.

Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales boasted about the score in a letter to the commission: “This score establishes that our City is a model of progressive politics and can be held up
as the standard for other cities around the state and country”

Local cities also rated included Miami (67), Hialeah (58), Miami Shores (56), Fort Lauderdale (77), and Wilton Manors (82).

“The City’s score also lets gay, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people from all over the world know that Miami Beach is still the best place for them to live, work, and play,” said Morales.

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Categories: Around FLA, MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI-DADE

MIA Music Summit Summary in tweets

March 25, 2014 Posted by Frank M

So the first MIA Music Summit took place this week in Miami Beach. It brought together the tech and music industry – which are no longer exclusive – and aimed to inspire the hundred of attendees into creating the next great start up.

The following is a quick hit through tweets. A full report to follow.

(Guess which account we go heavy on.)

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Categories: Around FLA, Arts, Entertainment, Media, MIAMI, MIAMI BEACH

Tennis?;Anyone

March 6, 2014 Posted by Frank M

David Custin- helped get the Majority of the new commission elected; helped MB Tennis Management get the contract from the new Commission.

Never does Tennis have so much crossover appeal as when an underdog beats a favorite. In September of last year a number four seed beat a number one; $48,000 beat $120,000; and a chamber full of clapping supporters beat the Jimmy Morales administration, his evaluation committee, and the City’s Tennis Advisory Board.

Weeks before an election, the Miami Beach City Commission voted to toss out the bidding process for its’ tennis court management contract and award it to the last-ranked incumbent; the move delighted scores of supporters who for nearly four hours waxed poetic about the Green Square company.

Then the ball bounced to the other side of the court: the last commission was voted out; the previously top-ranked company hired the political consultant who helped elect the majority of the new commission; and the new commission voted to waive the bidding process and give the contract to the Miami Beach Tennis Management company.

Now the commission has rescinded that move, and will serve up a rematch to the bidding process.
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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

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.
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$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.

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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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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.”
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Categories: Florida Legislature, MIAMI BEACH
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