Clean Water Action Booth at Miami River Day. By Geniusofdespair

At the Clean Water Action booth yesterday, Cara Capp made the kids earn their stars big time.  The kids were asked to match the amount of water used to a numbers of questions. I thought I would test you the readers.  We are talking about 1/4 acre lawn, an older toilet and an average sized washing machine. You can check your answers by hitting "read more."

Put the numbers on the right in order, with the questions on the left. Once you are finished hit 'read more' to see the answers.  I got a 'C'.

Miami Riverday is April 6th at Lummus Park. By Geniusofdespair

Yes, I will be there.

Take the family on a free boat tour of the Miami River. Also, a number of environmental groups have educational booths and do a mini demonstration for the kids. The kids get a star at each booth they visit. When they get enough stars they get a Miami River Medal. It is great to see the kids engaged in the star gathering, with environmental education being the real payoff.

The festival begins at 1pm and ends at 6pm. Everything is free: The live music, the boat rides and the environmental education - what could be better. More information...

Investigative Report: This is NOT how you deal with Toxic Material. By Geniusofdespair

Link to video shot Feb. 14, 2012.

This video is crazy I URGE YOU TO WATCH IT. I have never seen anything like this before -- a Miami Dade County truck spewing toxic water all over the city streets of Miami and dumping hazardous waste at the North Dade Landfill (there were 4 trucks in total). You would think your government was taking care of you? Hell no!!! They didn't even protect their own workers performing the dredging as you can clearly see in the video.

One man is dropping water/sediment on the bank with a net and another man is bending  over sifting through it by hand (he does appear to have gloves on, not the guy with the pole).

No location in Wagner Creek is unpolluted. The DEP said "Wagner Creek is the most polluted water body in Florida" August 2001 report. Dioxin was found there said a friend on the Miami River Commission. The spot where they did the dredging in the video is a bit upstream of the worst part that is near Jackson Memorial Hospital. They used to bury incinerator ash in that area years ago. $18 Million is needed to clean this part of the river and about $9 Million has been raised in the last 10 years. Until it is dredged, it is highly polluted. Sediment does not self-clean.

This dredging operation should have had some basic measures in place so that the turbidity in Wagner Creek didn't leave the work area (manatees beware). Additionally they should have taken measures to prevent the toxic liquid from the dredge spoil from leaking onto the surrounding pavement along the way to its destination (as this video clearly shows) to drop off the toxic sediment. I was once told there might be polio virus in the sediment. Who really knows, they never tested for that here. They did test for polio in the Keys and found it. If the County Public Works had a permit it would have had all kinds of caveats on the removal. This is not how it is done. I am told they did have a permit, have not seen it but assume they did.

When the removal was reported by my friend, who shot this video, this was the response from Miami Dade County Public Works:

"The disposal of material from any dredging project is governed by the type of contaminants that are found during the environmental assessment phase. Due to the minor amount of sediment which was scheduled to be removed as part of the County’s work very limited samples were taken. It is possible that other portions of the canal will have a different contamination profiles which may necessitate a different disposal method. The only way to know is to perform sediment testing. However, since Wagner Creek is under the jurisdiction of the City the testing would need to be initiated by them."

Passing the buck are we? This is such a dumb answer. Well, DUH, we know the sediment is contaminated in the entire area of Wagner Creek and we also know with what it is contaminated with because NOAA did an extensive study.

Why are they disposing of the  "may be" toxic sediment  -  suspended in water  that most probably contains bacteria like this? Spilling out of a county truck onto public streets. Why is their staff left unprotected? You can see them touching the dredge in the video with no masks on. Could there be bacteria in the sediment? I think public works doesn't  believe that the sediment or the water is dangerous at all because they based their dredge disposal on, as they said, "limited samples". County Public Works Spokesman provided the videographer with a sediment study that I put under "read more" (most of the 29 pages are missing but you get the gist: no toxins). Anyway, I am not so sure.  They call the sediment collection "Canal Banks" did they test the banks? I Don't know. They took two samples. I just wonder how could the sediment miraculously clean itself? I believe it can't. How could the "most polluted water body in the State of Florida" get pristine lab results? They did not test for fecal matter or waterborne pathogens in the lab test I think even if they got a clean bill of health for their limited testing" they would have taken an ounce of prevention in the collection and disposal since they didn't test the water or sediment for bacteria and this water body has chronically contaminated water.

I found this sediment study I had in my office about this very area. (hit to enlarge this):

Since this report, the rest of the Miami River was dredged but NOT in the area of video. I went to the hearing about the dredging in the Miami River years ago and there were all sorts of problems on what to do with the dredge fill -- as it was so contaminated. There was no money to dredge Wagner Creek/Seybold.

 The guy who made the video got the run-around. Well, this is his report - It finally gets to see the light of day. Thanks for caring fella, sorry you moved.  We need people like you who care.

Also, besides hazardous waste, liquids are prohibited from being dumped at the landfill.

Street view of where the removal  took place.

Miami River Day. By Geniusofdespair

Rivals for County Commission District 5: Bruno Barreiro and State Rep. Luis Garcia. Center, Miami River Commission Chair Horacio Stuart Aguirre

Both candidates for the District 5 County Commission seat were on hand for River Day Saturday April 14th. People weren't thinking "Election" at the event. Most were there for the free boat ride up the river (or is that 'down' the river?).  I was there but because of the rain, the event attendance was light so I left after an hour. 

The kids were all on their mission for the stars. Each environmentally themed booth gives a kid a star if they answer a question or participate in a brief presentation. The River Commission gives out a nice medal in exchange for the sheet of stars. Some kids collect the medals throughout the years and keep them displayed proudly in their room with other awards, according to a mother I spoke to.

I did meet the son of the owner of Garcia's Seafood, Luis Garcia. Good guy. Maybe I can get some free stone crabs.

Estaban & Luis Garcia of Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market

Bigger Mess: Merrill Stevens Boat Yard Closing by End of Day. By geniusodespair

I called on the phone to double check and was informed by a choked-up operator it was indeed true, it is their last day. Merrill-Stevens was the oldest continually operating business in the State of Florida. The company employed about 250 at its height in 2008 (170 at the shipyard) According to the Superintendent, Merrill Stevens has operated this year with around a 60 person staff. Speculation of closure or financial troubles along with competition from new and improved facilities has made it increasingly difficult to compete in today’s market he says. They thought they would beat the recession but couldn't. A Multi-millionaire, Miami husband-and-wife team of business and civic leaders had bought Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co. for an undisclosed amount, according to the South Florida Business Journal in a 2004 report:

Hugh Westbrook may be best known as the Methodist minister who, in 1976, co-founded with nurse Esther Colliflower the local hospice organization that grew to become Vitas Healthcare Corp. A company now known as Chemed Corp. bought that Miami-based company in February in a $406 million deal.

Heated Exchange At City of Miami Commission Meeting. By Geniusofdespair

After the city of Miami commissioners adopted their development rules for the river -- choosing language that encourages residential growth, Miami City Commissioner Angel Gonzalez said:

In previous years,``people didn't even bother to go to the river because all they would find there was cocaine and marijuana.''

Neighborhood activist Horacio Stuart Aguirre (pictured and always impeccably dressed) couldn't contain himself, said the Herald. He shouted: ''No, absolutely not! I live there Angel, and that is a lie...you're a liar!''

Gonzalez responded: ``Don't call me a liar, a--hole!''

East Coast Fishery Building Bites the Dust. By Geniusofdespair

An alert reader (yes, we do have some) reported: "Tuesday the East Coast Fisheries, one of the last architectural remnants of the old Miami River area, came down, in spite of some talk about preserving it. I was driving by when I saw the wrecking ball, around 2 p.m."

With the report, the reader also sent the photo. This is living, why don't you all do that?

2:29 pm I was told that the demolition crew got debris in the Miami River. They did not protect the area from spilling over into the river, which has just been dredged. Who do we blame? Who gave them the permit?

That Old Man: Miami River Rocks. By Geniusofdespair

"Captain Beau Payne, owner of the river’s largest tugboat company, credited the Marine Group for bringing to the public’s attention the dangers the Miami River faces from indiscriminate development, and he lauded the attorney who “killed seven with one blow” – a reference to the team of Greenberg Traurig’s seven attorneys who were stood down by one Andrew Dickman, a modern day Jack the giant killer."

Who cares about the Miami River Marine Group winning 2 lawsuits? Really.

Should you care? Should I? Yes people: You should care. This is boring but it is big news!

These are landmark decisions that have implications all over the State of Florida.

To remind you, the State of Florida makes every City and County in Florida write a Comprehensive Master Plan to guide the growth of that entity. It includes everything, transportation, water dependent uses, public access. It is a very inclusive document and fat. These plans are massive -- at least an inch thick.

Many cities and counties change the plans to suit the needs of that next big developer to catch their fancy. Or, worse, cities trample on the objectives of the Comprehensive Master Plans (Comp Plans) without a care in wanton disregard for the future by granting land use changes. That is what Florida Hometown Democracy is trying to stop but that is not our story today.

Well, here on this working river, the judges said: STOP. In fact, they shouted STOP twice! Here is why. In the Comp Plan for the City of Miami one of the objectives the City included was that the Marine Industry needed to be protected on the River. The City, not paying any attention to its own plan, decided to grant land use changes and put condos on the river. Well, guess what, the State of Florida reviews land use changes.

You can’t have people banging on boats while people in condos try to sleep they don’t mix. The city of Miami just figured Condos were a better use I guess but condos would have killed the Marine Industry and the City didn't really care.

The judges sided with the Marine Industry twice which sued based on the plan. Landmark decisions....because now we know we can sue on other parts of the plan that cities/counties don't follow and maybe win!!!!!

Here is the press release which I am now too lazy to read, I am sure it is more accurate than I have been so take their word for it:

PRESS RELEASE (Thursday, August 30, 2007)

Miami River Marine Group and Neighbors Defeat “Coastal on the River” Development

For a second time in the month of August, the Miami River’s marine industry and Durham Park neighborhood claimed a victory in the struggle with the City of Miami’s condo revolution. In a detailed 40-page opinion, the Third District Court of Appeal yesterday reversed the City in its 2006 decision to allow a land use change in the Port of Miami River from Industrial to Restricted Commercial. The Court’s reversal kills prospects for a 633-dwelling unit called Coastal on the River, a development project at 22nd Avenue and the south bank of the Miami River.

The Miami River Marine Group, the Durham Park Neighborhood Association, and Captain Herbert “Beau” Payne filed their law suit against the City and developer (Riverside Investments, LLC) arguing that the land use amendment and development project is contrary to established plans mandating the protection of the Port of Miami River – Florida’s 4th largest port – from incompatible high density developments.

The District Court agreed and ruled that the administrative law judge from the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings “erred by refusing to apply this court’s definition of the Port of Miami River, failed to consider the Port of Miami River Sub-element and critical areas of the Coastal Management and Future Land Use sections of the Comprehensive Plan, failed to consider sections of the River Master Plan, and made findings that were unsupported by the evidence, we reverse.”

Since 2000, the City has approved numerous high rise developments on Industrial riverfront lands despite protests from the marine industry and neighborhoods on the River because that they are damaging the viability of commerce on the River.

The District Court agreed that “…these “small scale” amendments, when viewed together as a whole, are changing the character of the Miami River waterfront without proper long range planning or input from appropriate agencies, departments, and citizen groups.” Captain Beau Payne, owner of the river’s largest tugboat company, credited the Marine Group for bringing to the public’s attention the dangers the Miami River faces from indiscriminate development, and he lauded the attorney who “killed seven with one blow” – a reference to the team of Greenberg Traurig’s seven attorneys who were stood down by one Andrew Dickman, a modern day Jack the giant killer.

The opinion follows a similar opinion rendered by the court on August 8, 2007, just three weeks ago, reversing the City’s approval of the 1,073-dwelling unit Hurricane Cove development located at 18th Avenue on the Miami River.