As promised in the last couple of weeks, Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson moved Wednesday to block development of a Cuban Museum of History or anything else on the last few remaining slivers of vacant waterfront land downtown behind the AA Arena.
“The residents want this because this is one of the last pieces of waterfront property left undeveloped,” said Edmonson, who also promised to find a site for the Cuban museum organizers had hoped to build there.
But is she protecting public land or the arena operators’ spill-off parking and event-staging area?
According to the resolution that passed unanimously and is now headed to the full county commission, Parcel B, as the 2.76 acres plot of land between the arena and Biscayne Bay is called, would be preserved as an open space park for an increasing number of downtown residents to enjoy Frisbee, family picnics and pick-up soccer games. It would be renamed Don Paul Plaza after the late longtime advocate of open, green, public spaces.
Wait a minute. Plaza? A plaza is not a park. A plaza is, well, a public square or marketplace in most U.S. cities and also could mean a shopping center here. So what gives?
Read related: Mayor, Miami Heat bait and switch to ‘better deal’ for who?
It seems part of the deal includes allowing Basketball Properties Ltd, which operates and manages the American Airlines Arena, to continue to use at least part of Parcel B for overflow parking and those big trucks that need to come in for concert equipment and catering on an “agreed-upon” number of days. The resolution only prohibits any “permanent vertical structure,” which means that temporary trailers are a-okay. In one version of the park renderings, according to an inside county source, there is a designated space for up to 70 cars and staging vehicles.
Ladra guesses that loose soccer balls and wayward Frisbees could be a liability on agreed-upon days.
The American Airlines Arena was built by the Miami Heat organization on the former Florida East Coast property that was purchased by the county in 1998 after voters approved a referendum in 1996. A key point of the Heat campaign back then was a promise that part the property would be turned into a waterfront open space park. This condition– as well as a youth academy that has also not materialized but which Edmonson seems to forgive — was a crucial deal breaker to many county voters. Campaign insiders from that former Mayor Alex Penelas period have been quoted as saying that it was a key strategy message to get the Anglo votes.
After failing to produce a park — or, rather, realizing that it would cost $6 million to repair the seawall — the Heat gave the land back to the county in 2003, but continued to lease it for extra parking and staging at special events. That way, we taxpayers were responsible for the wall, but the arena operators — who continued to rip us off by inflating expenses to reduce participation rent — could keep using the land as needed.
Parcel B sprung back into the news in 2014 when became embroiled in Plan B for international soccer star David Beckham‘s desired Miami MLS franchise stadium, which, if you remember, just had to be waterfront and just had to be in the downtown — two requirements since abandoned. After the first location scouted at the Port of Miami was scrapped, the Beckham group proposed filling in the boat slip between Museum Park  and the arena to create space for a waterfront stadium. That idea was nipped in the bud by then Mayor Tomas Regalado of Miami, which owns the boat slip.
Months later, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez was instructed by the commission to negotiate with the Cuban Exile History Museum board to lease the land, and county staffers began drafting a 55-year lease was that would provide public land only at a ridiculous price and no other subsidies.
Read related: Picnic in Parcel B ‘park’ defies county stance, Heat padlock
In 2015, activists with the Urban League, Emerge Miami and other groups basically took over the property and staged a picnic protest — complete with a sign naming it Dan Paul Park (not plaza). There were areas that had been paved over for a street race and the lot was padlocked when the activists first arrived.
Fast forward three years when, as recently as last February,  the commission instructed Gimenez to enter into a license agreement with Basketball Properties Ltd. as the manager and operator of the American Airlines Arena, “for its use during agreed-upon days of the property commonly known as Parcel B for parking and staging for arena events.” They didn’t want to keep asking for permits every time so they got a license.
The county started installing grass and trees in the lot.
Then in June of last year, the 55-year lease for the Cuban museum was briefly on the draft agenda, but — even though renderings for the museum include park space — it was pulled because there was not enough support and because the museum board failed to raise enough funds for construction.
And maybe because their renderings did not include overflow parking and event staging space for the arena? (Editor’s note: Commissioner Esteban Bovo has reported that the Cuban Exile History Museum design did accommodate the arena’s need for overflow parking and a staging area.)
Read related: Heat’s sweet Parcel B parking deal causes commission clash 
Who is Edmonson really representing? In 2015, when another commissioner suggested that the Heat and anyone else who wanted to lease the land pay market rates with a fee schedule for different events, Edmonson balked, intimating that because the waterfront property is in her district, it’s her say.
On Wednesday, she also proposed and passed an ordinance — which is much stronger as an actual law as opposed to just an expression of the desire, which is what a resolution is — that requires a two-thirds commission vote for any future private development of waterfront land.
Doesn’t that mean the plaza isn’t permanent? It can be undone with a two thirds vote? Are we right back where we started?

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With less than two weeks before qualifying ends, Coral Gables Commissioner Mike Mena still has no opposition in his group in April’s upcoming election. And chances are it will stay that way because of his war chest.
Mena has amassed $111,650 in contributions since last April, according to the last campaign reports filed this week. That includes $31,950 just in January, his second best month and the best since July.
This is someone who, again, has no challenge at all.
Having spent only about $10,000, Mena is holding onto a fat 100K to unleash on anybody who dares run against him (qualifying ends Feb. 22). It’s smart. He’ll have to return or donate the money to charity if he is elected unopposed, but not before he sends everyone a big thank you and spends some of it gratuitously on furthering his next political aspiration.
In the only real race for the group 4 seat vacated by Commissioner Frank Quesada, former Commissioner Ralph Cabrera also had his best month, with $21,650 collected in January for a $31,620 total. This includes $1,000 from former City Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez, $250 from former Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick and $250 from David Bolton, the late great Roxcy Bolton‘s son.
Cabrera, who has spent a little more than $6,000, is running against former Interim City Manager Carmen Olazabal, who has raised a total of $22,871, including nearly $9,000 last month, and attorney Jorge L. Fors, who has proven himself quite the rainmaker with $11K more in January for a grand total of $81,775 so far.
Read related: Merrett Stierheim: Coral Gables extra city manager for $50K
At least half of Olazabal’s money is from outside Coral Gables, and a lot of it comes from family and friends in Puerto Rico. She also has a $250 from former city manager to anyone Merrett Stierheim, who made $50,000 as a city manager’s consultant when Olazabal was in charge.
Meanwhile, she has spent the most of the three candidates in the open race, with $11,500 or about half her total — already out in expenses that include fees for “consultant” Dario Moreno, who is really a pollster and data guy who gets paid publicly while Carmen Cason, the former mayor’s wife, does much of the ground work.
Fors has only spent $2,360.
It is also notable that Fors, a newby — whose contributions include a $1,000 gift from former Commissioner Wayne Withers (ouch Ralph!) — has raised more than Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli, who has raised $80,800, including $13,350 last month.
Read related: Newby leads cash race in Coral Gables 3-way contest in open seat
Valdes-Fauli — who only won by less than 190 votes last time — has also blown more than half of his wad, spending more than anybody else by far. Last month he spent more than $17,000 on holiday cards, media and campaign literature, through the company of his campaign manager Jorge de Cardenas.
This means he has less than $40,000 in hand, which means there’s still time ladies and gentlemen. This would not be a hard race to win. Valdes-Fauli is a crybaby who is hugely unpopular, even the people who pretend to like him. He disappeared for 13 years after leaving office in 2001 and suddenly wants to be relevant again. Yawn.
But, so far, it’s not like he has much to worry about. His only challenge is from perennial candidate Jackson “Rip” Holmes, who sounds like a crazy person when he talks about aliens behind the Boston bombing and “sacred Jeb Bush” — who he has apparently forgiven for sending him to prison for 3 years after he made a threat — has only been able to get money from himself.
He has loaned his campaign $615 and spent nearly $500 on a voter’s list and a logo. Holmes does not list any expenses for his website so Ladra wants to know who his server is. He apparently is going to run the campaign on a shoestring budget of iphone videos.

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Add Miami-Dade to the growing list of governments and politicians that recognize Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.
The county commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to join the United States in recognizing the president of Venezuela’s congress as the new leader.  The commission also approved a separate Diaz resolution urging Congress to pass the proposed Venzuelan Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction and Rule of Law Act to provide humanitarian aid to those fleeing Maduro’s government.
“It’s time to say enough is enough to Nicolas Maduro’s socialist dictatorship and to stand with the people of Venezuela to restore freedom and democracy to their country, which has suffered so much under the Chavez and Maduro regimes,” said Diaz, whose district includes Doral — also known as Doralzuela — home to the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S.
This is not the first time local pols condemn Maduro or stand with the Venezuelan opposition. But it’s the first time they have so much company.
Read related: SOS Venezuela: A trendy 2014 Florida campaign theme
The U.S., Canada and most of the nations in South America and Europe have recognized Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president after he led nationwide protests on two weeks ago on Jan 23 in which he declared himself interim president. He and millions of Venezuelans have demanded the resignation of Nicolás Maduro, a dictator who was “re-elected” last May in what everybody knows was a sham election and celebrated a lavish inauguration on Jan. 10.
“Miami-Dade County is proud to stand with the people of Venezuela and their demands for a restoration of freedom and democracy after decades of dictatorship and misrule by Maduro and Chavez,” Diaz said.
Part of the Venezuelan community is also in Congressional District 26, where newly-elected U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell — possibly the first local pol to make a statement supporting Guaidó — has been proactive.
“I have always joined the millions of Venezuelans in recognizing the National Assembly as the only legitimate governing institution in Venezuela and calling for new elections,” Mucarsel-Powell said on the 23rd, the same day as the protests, in front of the Equestrian Simon Bolivar memorial in D.C. (photo, right).
“I am hopeful that this step of invoking the country’s constitution to declare Maduro an illegitimate president and have interim President Juan Guaidó legitimately fill the vacancy will bring Venezuela closer to restoring stability and democracy to their country,” she said. “The Venezuelan people – those who have remained in the country as well as those who have fled – have suffered tremendously, and Maduro can no longer lead the country. Estamos con ustedes.”’
One day earlier, Mucarsel-Powell had held a roundtable discussion with community leaders and immigration rights advocates to address the Venezuelan political and humanitarian crisis, as well as her efforts to extend TPS to Venezuelans and Nicaraguans currently residing in the United States. The participants were urged to share their experiences navigating our broken immigration system, so Mucarsel-Powell can share their stories in Washington.
Read related: Blue wave wipes out in Florida and 305, with two bright silver linings
Other electeds also released statements on on the 23rd:
“Today, 61 years after the overthrow of the dictatorship in Venezuela, Venezuelans take the streets to demand freedom and an end to the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro,” said State Sen. José Javier Rodríguez. “I stand in support of the Venezuelan community in their efforts to defend democracy and denouncing Maduro’s dictatorship, and to ensure that we will continue looking for solutions to address the socio-economic crisis that continues to affect the lives of millions in Venezuelans.”
Said State Senator Annette Taddeo: “Today I stand in support with people in Venezuela marching for freedom from Maduro’s tyranny, denouncing the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime and recognizing Juan Guaidó as provisional president.”
Mucarsel-Powell and Congresswoman Donna Shalala — who probably represents the second largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S. — joined six other members of Congress to introduce the Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019. The legislation calls on the Trump Administration to form a long-term humanitarian aid strategy, provide up to $150 million in humanitarian aid directly to the Venezuelan people, and direct the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to make humanitarian assistance a global priority.
“Maduro’s illegitimate regime plunged Venezuela into a deep political and humanitarian crisis that has spilled over into the rest of the region and the hemisphere,” said Mucarsel-Powell, the first South American born member of Congress to be elected. She led a round table discussion last week with Venezuelan community leaders at her district office.
“I support a quick restoration of Venezuela’s democracy, which means supporting interim President Juan Guaidó, and I strongly urge him to quickly hold free and fair elections,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “Providing increased humanitarian assistance – more than the $20 million that was announced by the Administration – directly to the Venezuelan people is imperative to their survival and will be a stabilizing force in the region and the hemisphere.”
“Under Maduro’s  gross mismanagement,” Shalala said, “Venezuela’s once thriving economy has collapsed and its people are sicker, poorer, and less free. This bill works to help reverse those heartbreaking trends. By providing humanitarian assistance, we stand united as a country in our commitment to the leadership of interim President Juan Guaidó and freedom for the Venezuelan people.”
The other Congress members are Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel and Darren Soto of Florida, Sylvia García of Texas, of New York and Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
“The despotic rot and corruption of the Maduro regime has inflicted unimaginable suffering on the Venezuelan people,” said Wasserman Shultz. “It threatens to infect the entire hemisphere.
“Supporting interim President Juan Guaidó, along with open and fair elections, will restore democracy there in the long term, but only swift and substantial increases in humanitarian aid can help ease the tragic suffering its people face right now,” she said.
Said Soto:  “Maduro’s dictatorship has caused famine in what once was the wealthiest country in South America. We continue to see images out of Venezuela of kids scavenging for food out of trash, hospitals with medicinal shortages overflowing with patients, and refugees surviving the immigration journey in precarious conditions.
“As Venezuela resolves its political unrest within the country, it is our duty and moral responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance for those in need,” Soto said.
From their mouth to God’s ears.

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A longtime advocate of clean water and Everglades restoration, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava — who boasts the nickname “Water Warrior” — will work with other electeds across Florida to address the algae blooms and other water quality issues that plague the state.
Levine Cava was selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties’ (FAC) Water Policy Committee alongside 36 other county commissioners from across the state’s other 66 counties.
Read related: Daniella Levine Cava defends Everglades — and democracy
“I am honored and excited to represent Miami-Dade County on the Water Policy Committee as water is our most critical natural resource,” Levine Cava said in a statement. “Water is the foundation of our communities and our economy; it must be protected and conserved.”
As a member of the Water Policy Committee, Levine Cava will take her conservation agenda and get to address the widespread water crisis affecting Florida coastlines, lakes, springs, estuaries and rivers.
“A number of local leaders from across the state stepped forward to participate,” said FAC President and Hendry County Commissioner, Karson Turner. “This committee represents the diverse water needs from every water basin in the state and their commitment to their communities and willingness to address these recurring issues head on.”
The committee was created with a mission for counties to set policy priorities on the local, state and federal level and will work with the state and Governor Ron DeSantis who signed Executive Order 19-12, in response to the algae blooms that last year threatened our ecosystems — and our tourism — shortly after being elected. In addition to securing $2.5 billion for Everglades restoration over the next four years, and placing a priority on water quality and supply, the order emphasizes the need to engage local government officials in the protection of Florida’s vulnerable coastline and natural resources.
The Water Policy Committee will meet for the first time during the FAC’s Legislative Day in Leon County on March 27. More information and a full list of the Water Policy Committee members — Lee, Martin, Marion and Volusia counties got two commissioners on there instead of just one — can be viewed on the FAC website: www.fl-counties.com.

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A Miami Beach community activist and PTA mom has filed to run against Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola in this year’s November election.
Monica Matteo-Salinas, chair of the board of the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation, filed paperwork on Friday to run for the Group V seat, which is currently occupied by Arriola, who is only in his first term. So let’s not mince words: This is a challenge.
Bold move for a political newcomer.
“Am I excited? Yes. Am I scared? Gulp, yes,” Matteo-Salinas wrote on her Facebook wall. “But it has always been my DREAM to run for office. Win or lose, this is who I am. From PTA mom to community activist, I have a big mouth – and an even bigger brain. And I’m not afraid to use them!

“My journey starts today. Stay tuned!”

But Matteo-Salinas is not entirely new to the political scene. She has served as Florida Director of the Campus Election Engagement Project, a non partisan effort to increase the student vote in federal, state and local elections, for the last two years. Simultaneously, she was campus coordinator at Miami-Dade College for the Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy and Vice President of Advocacy for the PTA at her sons’ school.
She also spent three years as a development manager at Catalyst Miami, a non profit that helps other non profits on the ground with community building initiatives and that was founded by Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine-Cava. She is an advocate for human rights, quality education & affordable housing.
Expect her to get a lot of Democratic Party support.
Also expect years of mismanagement at the Miami Beach Community Development Corp. — which received millions in city grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develoment to become a campaign issue. There have been maintenance issues at public housing units, a six-figure deficit in the budget and friction with Miami-Dade County, which has taken over at least two properties. An audit of finances in 2013 found evidence that funds were misspent on ineligible expenses. The executive director resigned, two city officials quit and a third was fired.
But Matteo-Salinas, who inherited many of those problems when she joined the board in 2015, has taken steps to rectify the issues. But she may come under fire for efforts to turn the Capri Apartments into market-rate housing, which happened after she came on board.
Read related: Miami Beach mayor invites Castros to open Cuban consulate
She has to be better, though, than the hand-picked lackey that former Mayor Philip Levine put up there to vote for his items. Arriola — who went to Cuba as a tourist and wanted to bring a Cuban consulate back to Miami Beach — has since aligned himself with Mayor Dan Gelber.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he voted to make another lackey, former Commissioner Joy Malakoff, a commissioner again, to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez.
Ladra would not be surprised if he simply backs down and doesn’t run for re-election.

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