Get to Know Raquel Regalado: Raquel Regalado – Skyrise Miami Lawsuit & Mayoral Run on Helen Ferre's Issues Show. By Geniusofdespair

Can't really see but this I can touch type. Raquel Regalado is weighing a run for COUNTY MAYOR against Carlos Gimenez but still hasn't committed.



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If you are considering an opponent for Carlos Gimenez, listen to this Gal, Raquel Regalado, who is on the School Board (district 6).  I repeat, I cannot see well. But I wanted this posted.

Helen Ferre and Frank Nero: Interview about jobs and game changing projects for Miami. By Geniusofdespair

Helen Ferre and Frank Nero: Interview about jobs and game changing projects for Miami. I hope the Mayor is listening...Nero believes education is a big factor in choice of relocating companies.



Watch on YouTube

I always say "Watch the damn video (this is a short one for a TV show - 9 minutes).

I got an email a few days ago, and the person said: "By the way, I watch the damn videos."

Frank Nero is a good guy, smart, too smart maybe for our County Government. Maybe that is why many think he had a superiority issue. He had contempt for the dumb such as Lynda Bell and the Mayor and he didn't try to hide it. That is why Nero was forced out.

Picture of the Day. By Geniusofdespair

Sonia Succar Ferre (granddaughter of Maurice) Married State Rep. José Javier Rodríguez in July. He is also celebrating his recent House Victory with 17,012 votes to his opponent who got 16,369 votes. There was a one percent margin.

Debate in District 8: Eugene Flinn and Lynda Bell. By Geniusofdespair

Here is a link to a debate between a subdued Mayor Eugene Flinn and Palin-perky-fast-talking Lynda Bell, moderated by Helen Ferre.

Bell flat out rejects Amendment 4 - spewing the same old talking points of the developers and the Chamber folks. Ick to that. She of all people, at the epicenter of "developers gone wild" for 6 years as both a councilwoman and mayor in Homestead, SHE should know better. Even if she wants to take credit for an ineffective, short-lived moratorium - notwithstanding that she was in Homestead government for 6 years during the boom that busted Homestead -- You would think that at least watching the Batemen regime, helplessly as a regular citizen, should have taught her something about the value of Amendment 4. No. She is still clueless on a long term strategy on growth management. Homestead government is incapable of good planning or good government, it has been operating like a giant, festering, pus-filled boil for the past 17 years. Lynda Bell still thinks you can swab at it. Amendment 4 would lance it once and for all.

Flinn, in contrast, says he will probably vote for Amendment 4, but he says it is not important whether he supports it or not. He says there is nothing wrong with citizen involvement and he supports that and always has in Palmetto Bay...remember also that Palmetto Bay government isn't a glob of festering pus, it is functional. Let's face facts, no government official is particularly thrilled with Amendment 4, the amendment is proof that we lack faith in them. That must hurt the feelings of some of the ethical, growth management conscious public servants.

On budget Flinn says he would start at the top with his cuts and he suggests that they have to see what they can afford, saying there are a lot of things that are nice to have that you can't afford, but there are a lot of things you must have that should be budgeted. He is right on suggesting we need charter initiatives for the county. Flinn supports some at large Commission seats and he supports term limits for Commissioners. Bell totally avoided answering this question. At the end Lynda chided Flinn because Palmetto Bay was spending about ten million dollars to build a city hall to house city staff and it was there the broadcast ended. No rebuttal, so here is mine. Actually, the city hall is the anchor of a Palmetto Bay revitalization project. It is slated to be a Village Center with amenities for all citizens -- not just city staff. On the one hand Lynda Bell talks about jobs and supporting smart growth, yet she denounces a project that is on the US 1 transportation corridor, slated to be an innovative transportation hub for South Dade workers. Incidentally, the project doesn't sprawl the Village of Palmetto Bay, it draws people to the center. (See Flinn's Village Center explanation below.)

Finally, a reminder, don't vote for the anti gay rights, anti stem cell research use, anti assisted suicide, anti choice candidate please..hint, that is the one who looks more like Anita Bryant.

Death of Cuban Activist Orlando Zapata Tamayo. By Geniusofdespair

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. - Elie Wiesel

After reading about the death of Cuban activist, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, from a hunger strike, I looked on line for a video about Cuba's lack of human rights and found this one by my favorite U.S. Senate candidate. I hope that Orland Zapata Tamayo's death was not in vain. I honor his protest immeasurably.

5 Questions Answered by Senate Hopeful Maurice Ferre. By Geniusofdespair

Everything you wanted to know about Maurice Ferre but were afraid to ask. By Geniusofdespair

This is an oral history of the life of Florida U.S. Senate hopeful Maurice Ferre. I did cut some of it, but this is his recollection during an unrehearsed interview. I would say the guy is brilliant and we pretty much know more about him then any other candidate now:

Maurice Ferre Oral History - Conducted by Professor Gregory Bush - 30 November 1999

Maurice Ferre: I don’t believe in secrets. I first came to Florida during the war in 1943. My father and his family had owned a sugar property between Palm Beach and Vero Beach. I used to come here. During the war, my family was living in Puerto Rico, and every time the machinery would be put on a ship to be shipped to Puerto Rice some German U-boat would sink it. My dad decided that the only way we could ever finish this task was for him to move up to New York and work out of New York, which is what he did. Therefore, I used to come to see this sugar property that my family owned in 1943. I used to also come in 1948 and visit my cousins who lived here. One of my uncles, Al Roig, married to my father’s sister, had purchased a substantial amount of land in the Everglades--sugar land. He had also purchased some very significant properties in Miami. He bought a house in the 1940’s, and now it’s owned by Madonna [on] Brickell Avenue. -- Plenty more:

I used to come to Florida during the 40’s on a regular basis because of my family here.

My wife finished high school in ’53 or ’54, and in those days, in the early fifties, Brickell Avenue was like a status symbol. All these wealthy Puerto Rican families, bought these mansions on Brickell Avenue. I guess the first one was P. J. Serralles, who owned a big sugar [ranch] in Puerto Rico. In 1940, he came up and bought a house on Brickell Avenue.

It's Official: Maurice Ferre is running for U.S. Senate. By Geniusofdespair

I don't for a minute think he is a spoiler. If the Republicans have two candidates to choose from why shouldn't the Democrats? The Republicans, of course, don't have two credible choices like the Democrats do now. Wait, let me read my Meek files again.

Maurice Ferre vs. Kendrick Meek

Why does Maurice Ferre say he is considering a run for the Senate:

"When you look at statistics whether it is about the cost of living, the average wage, unemployment, everything that impacts the quality of life, you see that Florida is ranked low in all of that, in education, in health, in federal benefits." "We are a donor state and we only receive 75 to 80 percent of what we contribute to the federal government... That is unacceptable."

I am glad that I might finally have a choice. I hate to cast a vote on the premise, "well at least he is not... (fill in the blank)." If not for SB360, I might have voted for Crist. He did the right thing yesterday, replacing the 2 Jeb appointed Public Service Commission members that were under a cloud for chummy relations with FPL.