Pack mentality: Miami-Dade County Commissioners today voted almost unanimously to override Mayor Carlos Alvarez’ veto of their vote of a week ago to send proposals for nine development projects near the Everglades to Tallahassee for further study. The proposals, if passed would move the Urban Development Boundary and affect 1,000 acres of wetlands on the edge of the Everglades.
The commission voted 12-1 without comment, because ”I think everyone has said what they really have to say,” said Commission Chairman Joe Martinez, the guy who wanted to limit public comment on the initial vote.
This is my favorite line from the Miami Herald story: “Last week, some commissioners complained that the mayor’s veto was politicially motivated.” This from a bunch of dipsticks who were lobbied hard by more than 40 of the developers’ henchmen.
The final commission vote on the projects will be held in April — after the state has finished its review.
Following the commission’s vote, Alvarez, who did not attend the meeting, issued a press release: ”The decision about whether to move the UDB is a local one. By choosing not to sustain my veto, county commissioners have failed to explore all options available to them and abdicated their responsibility to the state.”
“Failed” and “abdicated” are apt verbs to apply to the actions of this handful of hardheads.
Until this came up, the heavily politicized Florida City annexation hearing of a few months ago had to be the most egregious abuse of power this Commission has exercised in years. Well, as bad as that one was, this one takes the icing on the cake.
Kudos to Commissioner Katy Sorenson and Mayor Carlos Alvarez for sticking up for this county. What’s disappointing is that even the commissioners who tend to be more level-headed and recognize urban sprawl and environmental concerns, such as Heyman, Carey-Shuler, and Sosa, jumped on the same bandwagon this time. Furthermore, commissioners such as Jordan, Rolle, and Carey-Shuler should have stood up for their constituents and championed infill development for the neediest areas of their districts. Commissioner Souto must have forgotten the day he arrived late and frustrated for the UDB movement hearing in 2000, after having been stuck in traffic for more than two hours.
Let us not forget when Commissioner Diaz proclaimed at the Florida City annexation hearing a few months prior that he would uphold the UDB. Now we all know what the value of that statement was.
Transmitting these projects to the state for review is nothing more than seeking a rubber stamp of approval that will deflect blame if and when they proceed with moving the UDB in April 2006.
Unless something dramatic happens in county government soon, this county will continue to be hostage to 12 people, all elected from very safe, well-gerrymandered districts they themselves helped draw up.