How to sound off
To submit your letter, email sandron@MiamiHerald.com or write Soapbox, c/o Neighbors, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132. Fax: 305-376-5287. Letters must address a specific LOCAL issue and must be signed with a name, city or neighborhood, as well as a telephone number for verification purposes. Letters more than 350 words will not be accepted, and writers are limited to one letter every four weeks. Letters will run as space allows and may be edited for length, style and clarity. The deadline for letters is noon Wednesday.
Ten years ago, residents voted to incorporate the village of Palmetto Bay. Many positive changes have occurred, including improved quality of life, the sixth-lowest tax rate in Miami-Dade County, a AA bond rating and a $9 million reserve fund. However, it is election time and a new, politically motivated committee is creating an ugly atmosphere.
The Recall Palmetto Bay 2012 effort is not only counterproductive, but could cost residents approximately $60,000 or more. Ironically, the alleged motivation for the recall is the village spending money to defend itself, yet this group thinks it reasonable to burden residents with $60,000 in recall procedure expenditures. While seeking to place blame squarely on current council members, legal cost relative to Palmer Trinity’s expansion began in 2006 with a different Village Council. The current council voted only once to appeal a court’s decision on Palmer Trinity’s expansion.
How do the three recall committee members justify burdening residents with an expensive recall? We have a mechanism in place to replace council members. If we don’t approve of their performance, we can replace them with our vote. Isn’t the real reason for the recall to help get their candidates elected so that they will have three votes on the council in order to support their development-oriented agenda and try to defeat the neighborhood protection ordinances?
Mayor Shelley Stanczyk, Vice Mayor Brian Pariser and council member Joan Lindsay have consistently provided support to their constituents’ concerns and opinions as expected, not serving the demands of special interests as evidenced by the Palmer Trinity issue. Residents deserve and expect that kind of dedication from their elected officials.
According to the campaign signs displayed in their yards and their close personal associations, the Recall Committee is supporting John Edward Dubois and Jim Araiza. Residents should take a look at candidates’ contributors. This will indicate what is in store for Palmetto Bay should candidates supported by special interest groups win the election. Check the financial reports for Dubois and Araiza on the village’s website (village clerk’s page – 2012 Election, Q1 and Q2). They have significant contributions from Palmer Trinity’s attorneys and charter school developers.
Anthony Gorman, Palmetto Bay
New development must follow rules
Residents have had the opportunity to view plans for a new shopping center on Old Cutler Road at Marlin Drive. The developers have presented their plans at a Concerned Citizens meeting in March and at a zoning hearing just this month. The plans all highlight that the anchor tenant will be a Publix Supermarket.
Yet, in two separate inquiries to Publix, they have denied that they have committed to move into this new location. A separate denial was also made in a letter to Community Newspapers several months ago.
The property that this shopping center is on is only zoned for a 25,000-square-foot building, but the applicants are requesting to build a 54,000-square-foot. “big box” retail building. Without a confirmed commitment from Publix to occupy this store, could we end up with an unwanted tenant occupying that space, or worse, an unoccupied building?
While many in the community welcome a new Publix, the developer’s plans are less then ideal and in no way reflect the vision outlined in the charrette, nor are they reflective of the town’s progressive environmental stance. Instead the applicant wants variances including fewer trees, more lot coverage, and less reflective paving materials in the parking lot. These environmentally unfriendly requests concern me and should concern Publix — the presumed anchor.
If Publix is truly planning to occupy this site, then we ask them to make their commitment clear to the community and our Town Council. We ask them to commit to ensure that this project is more then just another “big box” development and that they insist it is LEED certified or adheres to Florida Green Building Coalition standards.
Our council members should not be persuaded to veer from the community vision for Old Cutler Road, as outlined in the town’s charrette. All parties involved should strive to create a development that is in keeping with the values of the community that they will serve.
Barbara Condon, Cutler Bay
Park manager retires, says thanks
After 36 years of service with Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation, I will be stepping down and retiring at sunset on Sept. 30. I would like to thank the community for allowing me to be a part of your lives and having a positive impact in both at Cutler Ridge Park for 28 years, and now at Southridge Park for 8 years. It has been my pleasure to have taken care of your children. My staff and I have always tried to provide high quality programs. I hope you will continue to use Miami-Dade parks.
It is a very sad time for me, as this job has been my whole life. But now, it is time to step down. I will be remaining in Dade-County, and I hope to run into you all and continue to watch your kids grow into mature adults.
Barbara “Miss Pen” Penrod, Park Manager, Cutler Ridge Park and Southridge Park
Palmetto Bay residents face one of the most contentious local elections in Miami-Dade County this year. 1351273014
Some observers in Palmetto Bay have questioned whether it is legal for a candidate to accept campaign contributions from attorneys who are suing the village. The answer is yes. 1351272050
Palmetto Bay’s new Village Hall Complex achieved the highest rating in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program from the U.S. Green Building Council. 1351281772
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