The cops have been out and about deferring drug deals around S.W. 59 Pl. and S.W. 68 St., at least as far as we can see. However, some elders in the public housing neighborhood think there’s more action than there should be at this popular drug busting area.
The amazing part: literally just down the street is the city pool, a school and two new doctor’s office. This is one of those “ah-hah!” moments. The city needs to keep the pressure on the bad guys so that visitors, moms, dads, kids (and patients at the doctor’s office) feel 100 percent safe.
Really, guys, let’s row, row, row the boat a little more sensibly down the stream. Just when I think it’s ok to call South Miami “safe,” our commissioners float the idea of creating a new U.S. state called “South Florida.” I’m surprised they didn’t christen it “South Stoddard” or the “Republic of Harris.”
‘Tis reported one reason for the action is that locals can address the issue of rising sea levels. Hmmm. Knowing our commanders, there must be other reasons under the surface that are driving this submarine through a blurry periscope.
Vice Mayor Wally Harris, the most vocal proponent of this latest attentiongatherer, got so carried away at the meeting he was heard to say former county Commissioner Katy Sorenson supported his latest project. But, alas! He was wrong, and Katy had to notify him that he muffed that call.
Anyhoo, we’re delighted to hear that the commission is concerned about rising tides that may sink the city into Biscayne Bay – so at least they better hurry up and start the Madison Square project to help deal with the stubborn poverty that already is drowning so many of our citizens. Oh, and while you’re at it, how about paying the folks at City Hall a bit more in their pockets, and raising cop salaries too, so that both can reflect the pride they deserve while working for the City of South Miami?
“City gets spanked by judge.” Yes, our city was dealt a legal and financial blow as a result of firing Chief Orlando Martinez de Castro in 2013. Recently a trial judge ruled in favor of the chief in his wrongful termination lawsuit. At the end of day (so far, anyway), the city must pay the chief. And our City Hall coffers may well be on hook for bigger bucks than otherwise expected, the exact amount to be mediated.
So, come on, elected City Hall pols, get with it. Admit you were wrong (so sayeth the judge); end the constant side trips into unnecessary law suits once and for all. Tell the city attorney to give Orlando the money he deserves. Won’t hurt you one little bit – it isn’t dough out of your pockets – just another bill Joe Taxpayer coughs up for your mistakes, your pride – or both!
Thank goodness road work on Sunset Drive from near S.W. 65 Ave. to the west is over. The median landscaping and irrigation are nice and new asphalt paving looks the way it should, making the ride nice and smooth. Now if my fellow drivers would just keep their minds on their driving instead of trying to text Singapore, or someplace, we’ll all be that much safer. BTW, just cuz’ it’s easy driving there now, best not to speed because the cops are handing out very expensive speeding tickets these days.
Next city election is February 2016 and Commissioner Josh Liebman is already in full campaign mode, out and about to get reelected to his second four-year term. Josh was pretty green when he came out of nowhere to win his seat but has served South Miami citizenry in honest and refreshing ways, garnering lots of supporters throughout the city.
All things told Mayor Phil Stoddard has also done a pretty darn good job this go ‘round, even with a few mistakes that will cost the city some big bucks. His (very green) supporters stay active and enjoy voting. Then, of course, there’s Robert Welsh who goes by your choice of Bicycle Bob, Bobby, Bobble Head (my favorite) and a few others that people have created over the years. At the end of the day, Bobble Head did get elected by the people of South Miami and what they’ve seen is what they’ve gotten. Bob came into office ‘off the charts’ and over the last three years has come closer to the center (or, could we have moved closer to where he is?). In any case, we may have to drop the Bobble Head moniker if only because he just doesn’t seem as odd as he once did when coming aboard ship.
Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669-7355, ext. 249, or send emails to Michael@communitynewspapers.com.
City of South Miami Code of Ordinances Sec. 8A-3. Fair and equal treatment.(a) Impartiality. No official or employee shall request, use or permit the use of, any consideration, treatment, advantage or favor beyond that which it is the general practice to grant or make available to the public at large.
Miami-Dade County Code of OrdinancesSec. 2-11.1 (g) Exploitation of official position prohibited. No person included in the terms defined in Subsections (b)(1) through (6) and (b)(13) shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or herself or others except as may be specifically permitted by other ordinances and resolutions previously ordained or adopted or hereafter to be ordained or adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.
F.S. Ch. 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees of agencies, and local government attorneys. (6) MISUSE OF PUBLIC POSITION. No public officer, employee of an agency, or local government attorney shall corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others. This section shall not be construed to conflict with s. 104.31.
DOMESTIC VIOL STAY AWAY ORDER (PRETRIAL DIVERSION/PROBATION) NO CONTACT ALLOWED WITH JOSH LIEBMAN Defendant Release to: CASH/JOSHUA CHAIM LIEBMAN, http://arrestfiles.org/publicinfo/jennifer-oneil
Quid pro Quo gets you a waiver of all fees in the city of south miami (SoMi) When a waiver is asked for by an event organization/registered florida corporation sponsor should the city manager, commissioners, and the event organization/registered florida corporation sponsor be required to divulge the amount of the salary being paid to the director and or president of the event organization/registered florida corporation sponsor as a requirement in an applicationto be filled out to waive city event fees?
City of South Miami (SOMi) commission meeting April 7, 2015 Commissioner Joshua Liebman from the dais: and lastly I hope there is no conflict of interest I for disclosure purposes I coordinate teamfootworks training programs I have nothing to do with the races or anything else but team footworks one of our local charities and they give a tremendous amount to to other local charities I am sorry to other non for profits and lori husby ask me to say a couple things wrote something down but I'll just say she wanted to express her sincere gratitude toward the commission and the city for everything they did in support of hans memorial service they are not coming before the commission to ask for any concessions as they do and all our events do in terms of waiving some fees what they would like is they like to encourage the city the employees and the general community to participate in the twilight five k which is going to be the twilight five k in memory of hans call it the papa hans five k and maybe as much as forty dollars now it will be a flat fee of twenty dollars can I say this? can I promote… Okay I can give this to the the city manager promoted internally… No? Can i ask the community to participate? Even if all monies benefit branches art south somerset… non for profit im sorry… yeah it for non profit I work for a non profit I dont benefit from the races well they would like the community to participate thats it yep I cant say anything okay thank you.
City of South Miami (SOMi) commission meeting April 7, 2015 City of South Miami Legal Attorney Thomas Pepe No you can't you can't promote it.. pardon me.. Well is it I mean if it is a charitable kind of event… its a non profit charitable event .
City of South Miami (SOMi) commission meeting December 2, 2014 Commissioner Joshua Liebman: from the dais Add on item b there was hans the local business owner who owned a local business for over forty years there was hans the philanthropist who through team footworks our local non for profit which he was the founder and president of contributed over 100 thousand dollars to south miami charities and millions to other charities….as a matter of fact if you read the article in todays paper the benefiting charity is the south miami police explorers…I am going to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the add on item b…
"Vice Mayor Joshua Liebman, a political rookie who ran on a platform to “restore trust and civility at City Hall,” was asked this week how that effort is going.“The definition of insanity,” Liebman said, “is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That is what is happening here. Something has to change.” -South Miami: a city where weird things are always happening The Miami Herald BYLINE: ANDREA TORRES; atorres@MiamiHerald.com 12/10/2012
He has often reminded viewers of the city's cable channel that he is a proud graduate of Katy Sorenson's good government class. The students should not graduate until they've passed a final exam that consists of behaving themselves in office for at least 2 years.
Wherefore it is: ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that respondent is found to be in violation of Section 8A 3 of the City of South Miami Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics and COMLAINT C 13 14 is hereby concluded. DONE AND ORDERED by the Miami Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust in public session on March 13, 2014. Nelson Bellido Chair Superseding C 13 41 Josh Liebman Final Order