The Miami Beach leg could still be the “backdoor” to a larger, more lucrative county contract

Mayor Philip Levine seems to have backpedalled some on his Loopy Loop.

Earlier this year, Levine defended his beloved train to nowhere, a stand-alone , two-mile, $245-million streetcar that would loop from 5th Street to the convention center and eventually — maybe someday — connect to BayLink or whatever connector was finally moved on by Miami-Dade County. He was hell bent on moving independently of the county and city of Miami with an accelerated bidding process that favored the most expensive firm. He led the commission in a vote to accept the “unsolicited proposal” last December. The move was criticized by many — including Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado — because it could result in the loss of state and federal funds.

Last week, however, after growing public discontent, Levine sent an email blast saying that any Beach train would only be part of a county-connecting project — one of the six corridors approved in the SMART plan is the Beach connector — and said he would hold off on final negotiations.

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“We will not sign any agreement that commits financial resources to the plan until we have full commitments from Miami-Dade County that they are willing partners in this endeavor and that they are fully committed to a real connection,” he wrote. “This is instrumental, as our taxpayers alone should not bear the full responsibility of building a rail corridor that connects Miami Beach to the City of Miami. But, we know that for it to be a successful system, connectivity throughout Miami Beach and key points in Miami are essential.

“We cannot allow ‘grandstanding’ for political ‘points’ to slow down the progress that we’ve made. This is why my commitment to you remains unchanged. I will ensure that a transparent process through open dialogue continues and that ZERO tax dollars are committed until we have the full support from our local, state and federal partners and then and ONLY then will this vision be brought back to the commission for their consideration.”

Instead of a vote on any agreement, Levine is now presenting a resolution to the commission Wednesday that puts the brakes on the Loopy Loop and also calls for a voter referendum to approve any final contract. 

But this about face doesn’t come out of the blue. Levine can read poll results.

Some voters in Miami Beach received a phone call for a poll earlier this month. They were asked between 10 and 15 questions about the train before they were asked the favorability of several Beach politcos (more on that later). It was an obvious push poll, two residents said, with each question placing the train “in the best possible light.” But we know it didn’t work. Because the result is that Levine is now backing off.

But not really.

The resolution Levine is putting before the commission on Wednesday will only put negotiations on hold. It doesn’t scrap the project to start the process again. It doesn’t throw the train out altogether. It simply “parks” the negotiations until the county moves forward with its part of the formula — or until after the elections next year, whichever comes first.

Because Levine doesn’t want the train to be a campaign issue. If what we’ve seen at public meetings is true, Ladra imagines it polled very badly. Candidates attached to the train — such as Levine or Commissioner Ricky Arriola, who is widely believed would stand in for the mayor should Levine seek higher office — could be more easily challenged with that albatross around their necks. Especially by someone like Comissioner Michael Grieco, pictured left, who is widely rumored to be eyeing the mayor’s seat (more on that later) and whose profile has been growing as he distances himself from his onetime ally. Grieco blasted the mayor for inviting the Cuban government to open a consular office in Miami Beach. And last week, Grieco blasted the train to nowhere in an op-ed piece in The Miami Herald. In fact, he’s not even sure that a train is needed at all, even as part of a BayLink.

So, Levine slowing down on the train track is not him coming to his senses, folks. It’s strategic. And the mayor has every intention of bringing the wireless light rail streetcar back.

He owes it to Alex Heckler, pictured right, a lobbyist who has raised money for him and who represents the Greater Miami Tramlink Partners led by Alstom, the troubled vendor chosen after a trip to France. Heckler also raised money for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez with Levine in the last election cycle. Why is Gimenez important in this story? For the same reason the streetcar is coming back: Because this Miami Beach deal is a back door to the county part of this project, which will cost millions more. If the Beach branch of the BayLink connector is already in the works when the county awards its own contract, points can be awarded to the contractor who has “shovels in the ground” and/or the county can piggy back on the existing contract, advocating for the same system to be used throughout because this vendor — who might otherwise be the least qualified and most expensive — has a unique criteria that the others don’t: They are already here.

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Plus, guess what? The Alstom systems are not interoperable with others. They have some kind of proprietary secret GPS mechanism that they don’t share with other operators either. So, doesn’t that mean that if they get the Beach contract, they would have to get the county contract if we want them to work together? Sure sounds like it.

In fact, there are all kinds of red flags on the selection or recommendation of Tramlink/Alstom that perhaps should be investigated. In a bid protest letter sent to City Manager Jimmy Morales in July, Mark Stempler, an attorney representing a competing proposal from Connect Miami Beach, says that the Tramlink Partners plan should not have been given top ranking because it deviates from the Beach’s own procurement requirements in several ways: 

• It fails to satisfy a “critical requirement that the proposed “Vehicle/Systems Technology” will be interoperable with the Direct Connect Project (read: no guarantee it can connect to the mainland branch).
• It fails to demonstrate that it could even deliver, based on the fact that the proposed streetcars and ground power supply systems that Alstom has used in Europe have NOT been certified to operate in the U.S.
• It fails to meet the city’s stated standards for “character, integrity, reputation or judgment,” based on the City’s finding of “prior admissions of misconduct” by one of the GMTP team members stemming from bribery and corruption charges, including the payment of a then-record $772 million dollar fine to the U.S. Government.

The gist is that these irregularities in applying the same standards to all gave Tramlink Partners and Alstom a greater advantage. Especially with the character flaw one. Because unproven corruption allegations were noted in the case of partners with Connect Miami Beach — but the proven charges against Alstom seemed to be okay. 

In fact, the city may be wiser to go with Connect Miami Beach, the second ranked firm. Particularly after they pointed out last week, in a Dec. 7 letter to Morales, that the $245-million pricetag is much higher than the price on its comparable projects — at $107 million per mile rather than the $45-$55 million per mile quoted for projects in Cincinnatti, Kansas and Milwaukee.

That’s twice as expensive. Is it because of Mr. Heckler’s fee? Or are there other people getting paid off along the route?

Week two of our new feature, The Cortadito Calendar: A weekly calendar of political powwows, government meetings and events with electeds.

Stay informed. Get engaged.

If you know any political happening that should be included in the Cortadito Calendar, please email the information to edevalle@gmail.com. And thank you.

TUESDAY — Dec. 13

2 p.m. — The Unincorporated Municipal Services Area Committee meets. This board oversees the municipal services provided to residents who live in the unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade — addressing areas of slum and blight, policies governing incorporation and annexation procedures, zoning issues, code enforcement issues, areas of slum and blight, the Urban Development Boundary and the public library system, among other things.

WEDNESDAY — Dec. 14

9 a.m. — Miami Beach Commission meets. Look for Mayor Philip Levine to formally backpedal from his very unpopular train to nowhere proposal with a resolution urging the county to step it up on their end (more on that later). The agenda is packed with all kinds of important items — historic preservation, economic development, lease renewals. There will also be a discussion about the creation of a dedicated fund for homeless services and for affordable/workforce housing to come from short term rental violation fines. Is that a slush fund we didn’t know about? In another item: Commissioner Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez will present former Sen. Gwen Margolis with a proclamation honoring her lifetime of public service.

5:30 p.m. — After months of hard work — and I am talking about having to explain themselves to everyone they know — the Trump campaign volunteers will be treated to a Christmas party at Las Vegas Restaurant on Coral Way, 11995 SW 26th St. Have some nog for Ladra.    And a proclamation of achievement will be given to Sen. Gwen Margolis for a lifetime of service.

THURSDAY — Dec. 15

9:30 a.m. — Miami-Dade Commissioners meet to discuss the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP). This document expresses Miami-Dade County’s general objectives and policies addressing where and how it intends development or conservation of land and natural resources will occur during the next 10-20 years, as well as the delivery of county services to accomplish the CDMP’s objectives. This CDMP establishes the broad parameters for government to do detailed land use planning and zoning activities, functional planning and programming of infrastructure and services.

6 p.m. — Want an update on the SMART plan to improve transit? The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust will get one from Miami-Dade MPO Executive Director Aileen Bouclé at its next meeting Thursday. Also on the agenda: A resolution urging the county to issue $200 million in transit surtax bonds.

FRIDAY — Dec. 16

9 a.m. — The City of Miami’s Bayfront Park Trust Management will meet to finalize preparations for their New Year’s Eve event. The meeting is open to the public in the conference room at the Bayfront Park Trust building, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd.

Proponents and opponents of an imagined light rail train that loops around South Beach will discuss the pros and cons of the project at a community forum Thursday night organized by Miami Beach United.

Last we heard, there are three possible deals on the table, all from qualified bidders. Proposals are due Nov. 3. But everybody seems to believe that Alstom is the favored vendor after Mayor Philip Levine and City Manager Jimmy Morales traveled to France to meet with them. Morales was instructed by the commission to begin negotiations with Alstom in July. 

The rail, which the community is calling a streetcar, will loop around South Beach from the convention center to 5th Street and from Dade Boulevard and Alton Road to Washington Avenue. It is expected to cost about $387 to build and $16 million a year to operate (at first because that grows). And it is projected to take five years to build.

This comes after Levine, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez apparently lost their marbles and agreed last year to seek their rail systems separately. They abandoned plans for Bay Link that would cross the MacArthur Causeway and connect the Beach with downtown Miami until later. And they basically rejected more than $8 million already secured in state funding for a new study. All each city had to provide was $417,000. And they might still be able to get federal funding. 

Supporters say the loop is a good first step to the eventual Bay Link and that it will take cars off the street.

Opponents it will make traffic worse because it will cause chaos on Beach streets as they are torn up once again and because it’s made for tourists. Most locals would rather walk five blocks than go around what they call “Levine’s loop” or “the train to nowhere” and many say it is a waste of taxpayer funds. It could also be called the Alex Heckler express since the lobbyist (who just hosted a fundraiser with Levine for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez) is the one promoting this idea.

“Nobody wants this taxpayer paid train to cater to tourists,” said Commissioner Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez. “Levine has not listened to all the residents who do not want that train. And there are a lot of them.”

That’s why the forum tonight might turn into a train-trashing session. MBU’s stated goals are to:

• Educate residents on the Miami Beach Light Rail Project with some background on Miami-Dade County SMART plans
• Provide residents with “pros and cons” regarding the plan
• Identify ways residents can be engaged throughout the planning process
• Generate ideas and feedback for the Miami Beach Light Rail Plan

Nowhere does it say stop the train. But there will be people who want to do that. Robert Lansburgh, who leads the Stop the Train movement (more than 700 likes on Facebook) is participating. So is Michael Barrineau, president of the South of Fifth Neighborhood Association. There are also light rail advocates like Mark Needle, an active resident of the Flamingo Park neighborhood.

Activist Frank Del Vecchio will attend. He said the city has not answered 11 questions that the West Avenue Neighborhood Association has about the train’s impact to residents. He is concerned that the city has already entered into consulting contracts worth more than $6 million and hired staff dedicated to advance the project.

The questions are: 

1. What are the consultant reports and when are they due?
2. Are the reports public record and how can they be accessed?
3. Will the reports address the particulars of elevating tracks along the route addressing Sea Level Rise? 
4. Separated out, what is cost of streetcar? Of  street raising? Of pump stations? Of intermodal transit facilities?
5. Will the reports provide a construction budget and timetable?
6. Will the street raisings be separately budgeted?
7. What Streetcar and related items are in the recently approved 2016/2017 (both operating and capital)
8. What is the current timetable for city commission consideration of and action on the Streetcar project: (Please identify the action item and the scheduled or expected date of consideration, and type of action required (Resolution, Ordinance, Budget amendment, Contract approval, etc.)
9. Will the studies identify the required number of intermodal transit facilities, the minimum required capacity of each for number of trains to be serviced and stored, and the minimum number of vehicle parking spaces to be provided?  Will the locations, either specific or approximate, of such facilities be provided?
10. What agencies other than the City of Miami Beach are required to approve any aspect of the project, including configuration of State Roads located in Miami Beach that are included in the route?  If State Roads are included in the route whose responsibility will be the raising of those roads for sea level rise purposes?
11. What is the nature of the approval or approvals required?  Please cite the relevant requirement(s).

Del Vecchio also has loads of other questions about connectivity and how committed the county and Metropolitan Planning Organization are to connecting light rail since they’ve been talking more and more about rapid bus transit. Furthermore, he points to some study that indicates traffic could actually increase because of left turn limitations caused by Levine’s loop.

Hopefully, these questions will be answered Thursday night at the forum, titled “Are We On The Right Track?” It will begin at 6 p.m. at the Miami Beach Woman’s Club, 2401 Pine Tree Dr. (Free parking at the Hebrew Academy).

But Ladra doubts the conversation will end there.

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is having a fundraiser for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez Tuesday. Also hosting: Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola and lobbyist Alex Heckler, who is partners with former State Rep. and original G-man Marcelo Llorente.

The event is at Levine’s company offices, Royal Media Partners at 960 Alton Rd.

Gimenez and Levine have been buddy-buddy almost since the latter was elected in 2014. They did an ice bucket challenge together (photo left). And even though the two disagreed on funding for the BayLink leg of new rail, they joined forces on battling Zika and flew to Washington together (even though Gimenez repeatedly says we have to solve our problems here) to lobby Congress for more funding.

The Beach mayor even has a cameo in a Gimenez campaign ad (so does Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, the admitted loanshark).

Levine’s support means a lot to Gimenez, who needs Anglos (read: non Hispanic white) voters and Democrats to gain the edge over Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado, who forced him (surprise!) into a runoff in the August primary.

But what does Levine want from Gimenez? The torch, maybe?

It is no secret that Levine originally planned to run for Miami-Dade mayor. Consultants convinced him that that would be impossible because his last name doesn’t end with a vowel or a Z. But Ladra hears he is a stubborn man. While we also believe that he has eyed the governor’s mansion, maybe he holds out hope that he can compete in a crowded Miami-Dade field come 2020 when Gimenez is termed out. He may think he’d have a helluva leg up with the predecessor’s blessing.

Or maybe he just wants Gimenez and his monied pals — Heckler et al — to help him raise funds for the governor’s race?

Nah. Levine is a proud millionaire who likes to self-fund his campaigns and buy little old Cuban ladies with chachkies and salsa parties.

In fact, why is he hosting a fundraiser at all? Can’t he just write a check for whatever it is he’d raise?

Ladra can’t wait to see how many Beach city vendors are on Gimenez’s next campaign report.

After returning from his vacation with fellow totalitarians Fidel and Raul Castro, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine wants to invite his new friends back home for a barbarian barbecue. So he’s floating the idea of opening a Cuban consulate office in his city.

Some people are not so eager to welcome that.

There was a small protest last week in front of City Hall. Commissioner Michael Grieco has proposed a resolution to oppose the consulate (more on that later). Even former Commissioner Jonah Wolfson, a onetime Levine ally, has gone on the airwaves and local TV to blast the idea. And there will likely be a lively discussion tonight at the meeting of the city’s Hispanic Affairs Committee.

“The Cuban-exile community has been an important part of Miami Beach’s success and identity. As such, the opinions of the Cuban community should be considered and respected when forming an official position on such a sensitive matter,” said committee chairman Alex Fernandez.

“As a son and a grandson to Cubans who lost everything while fleeing their country, I have a very strong personal opinion on whether a Cuban consulate should be welcomed in Miami Beach. However, as an appointed member to this committee, it is my duty to ensure that my vote properly represents the opinion of you – the community – not myself,” Fernandez said in a statement.

“This is a decision we need to make together as a community,” Fernandez told Ladra, adding that he knows full well how difficult it will be to represent everybody.

“I empathize and join in solidarity and demand the respect of the Cuban exile community that lost everything to the Cuban Castro regime and that suffered a significant loss of loved ones,” Fernandez said. “I also think we need to listen to those who are separated from their family and would like to visit their family on the island.

“We are grateful that we can have a diversity of opinion here, whereas in Cuba you cannot,” he said. “We need to give those poeple in Cuba the example that as Cuban Americans we are able under the rights guaranteed to us to be at the table and come to an agreement on how we can move forward on such a delicate issue.”

Former Mayor Matti Herrera Bower went on Radio Mambi Monday morning to urge people to go to the meeting and voice their opinion. “If it’s going to be done, it should not be done without the public’s input,” she said.

“I would have never done that and it looks like a slap in the face to the Cuban community that has suffered so much. But if people do not express themselves then it looks like it was well done. What we need is for people who are against it to speak,” Bower said.

“There are people who have suffered who have lost so much. Some of them have been jailed,” Bower said. “The president expects changes in Cuba. We should wait until those changes come, until there are human rights in Cuba, and then open the consulate.”

But then Miami Beach might have more competition. Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado has already soundly rejected any kind of Cuban consulate in his city, and we assume it is until there are real democratic changes in the island country he fled as a Pedro Pan child.

The Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs committee meeting is at 6:30 p.m. today at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive.

What they should also take up is how Levine and Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola — both of whom were elected with a lot of Cuban American senior support — went to Cuba without the approval or even prior knowledge of the rest of the commission, becoming the first elected officials from the 305 to do so in more than 50 years.

They didn’t go as private citizens. They went as Miami Beach electeds riding Obama’s tyranny train. Although they were not part of the official POTUS trip, they timed it so it would look that way and Levine — who obviously has political aspirations beyond the Beach and is rumored to be eyeing the Governor’s mansion — gave multiple TV and radio and print interviews.

The two — who were followed around by their political consultant, Christian Ulvert — were ferried about by government officials and treated like dignitaries. They got government-run tours and practiced tai-chi in Revolutionary Square. They got official gifts and returned the favor with a commemorative Miami Beach coin of their own.

They had a sit-down, face-to-face interview with senior KGB-trained Cuban spy Gustavo Machin.

It’s as if Levine was really at home in the oppressive regime that is Havana.  No wonder he wants to bring a bit of Havana home with him.