It's Really Official Now: Mark Bell is Running for Mayor of Homestead

Eye on Miami received confirmation from City Hall and has reported on their blog that Mark Bell is running for Mayor and has opened a campaign account.  In this picture Mark and his wife County Commissioner Lynda Bell are shown.












Reference Link:
 For Whom the Bell Tolls: Mark Bell Running for Mayor?

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Election 2013 : Lobbyist Registration List

A Day in the life of a Lobbyist

by The Princeton Review

Whether lobbyists work for a large organization, a private individual, or the general public, their goals and strategies are the same. First and foremost, lobbyists must be adept at the art of persuasion, which is the mainstay of their job. They must figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. This means tailoring appeals to specific individuals as well as to group voting blocs, such as Southerners or pro-choicers. 

Lobbyists also occasionally lobby one another. When normally opposing groups find a common area of interest and can present a united front they are extremely effective. Lobbying can be direct or indirect. Direct lobbying means actually meeting with congressmen and providing them with information pertinent to a bill being voted on. The lobbyist imparts her information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that she has hunted up or created. Needless to say, this is usually information that the politician might not otherwise have access to, that casts the matter in a light favorable to the interest the lobbyist represents. Sometimes, lobbyists will even sit down and help a politician draft legislation that is advantageous for their interest. 

Maintaining good relations with politicians who can be relied on to support the lobbyist’s interest is key. While lobbyists and their employers cannot themselves make large campaign donations to politicians, they can, and do, raise money from other sources for reelection campaigns. To be successful at all of this, the lobbyist must be well-informed, persuasive, and self-confident. Personal charm doesn’t hurt either, and lobbyists will often do social things like host cocktail parties, which allow them to interact with politicians-and opponents-in a less formal atmosphere. 

Indirect lobbying, sometimes referred to as grassroots organizing, is a bit less glamorous. Grassroots lobbyists enlist the help of the community to influence politicians by writing, calling, or demonstrating on the organization’s behalf. This means long hours spent on the phone and writing letters, trying to rouse the community to get involved. These lobbyists also report to politicians about the concerns and reactions they have gotten from community members. Indirect lobbying is also done through the media. Grassroots lobbyists write articles for newspapers and magazines and appear on talk shows to generate interest in and awareness of their issues. 

Lobbyists tend to work long hours-between forty and eighty hours per week is normal, and when a bill is up for vote they will usually work through at least one night. But the least attractive part of being a lobbyist may be the profession’s less-than-spotless reputation. While most are undoubtedly scrupulous, some lobbyists have been known to grease a palm or two where persuasion falls short, and the rest must suffer the public’s mistrust. These honest lobbyists, who represent every segment of society, take refuge in the knowledge that they are working to promote causes they believe in.

Reference Links

http://www.princetonreview.com/careers.aspx?cid=88

http://fl-homestead.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/270

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Mayor's Top Priority 2013-2015: Turnpike Interchange at SE Lucy ST (SW 328th ST)

The Proposed Florida Turnpike Partial Interchange at SE Lucy ST (SW 328th ST) is a proposal on the radar screen of the current Mayor.  A little research has revealed a lot of local lip service and promises but little traction outside of the City of Homestead.

First came a resolution on April 16th 2007 approved by the City Council which supports the relocation of of the intersection of SE 12th Av (SW 167th Ave) and SE Lucy ST (SW 328th ST) to accommodate a partial Florida Turnpike Interchange.  Partial meaning an exit from Southbound and an entrance for Northbound Turnpike.  Second came Florida City supporting the interchange as detailed int their 2008 Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP).  Then came Realtors supporting the plan and advertising as if it's a forgone conclusion.

However, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) nor the Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which Homestead is a member of since it topped 50,000 residents,  fails to mention one word of this effort on their future projects websites.  The Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) created by MPO details the project that will be forthcoming between 2011-2015.  A review of the MPO map below reveals nothing will be completed at this location in this timeframe.

This intersection will allow both Homestead and Florida City to further grow their commercial and light industrial areas while easing traffic at the other exits.  Currently the immediate area around the intersection is mostly agricultural on the west side with the exception of BJs, Walmart, Office Depot and Home Depot.  The land currently owned by the Algers family is undeveloped and it's ripe for a big box store such as a Super Target  plus other related complementary stores.

South Dade has suffered long enough from the financial meltdown brought on by the real estate bubble and the subsequent downturn of the national economy.  Furthermore, Homestead and Florida City have been ground zero for the foreclosure market in Florida. These reasons should motivate the new candidates for City Council, especially the Mayoral Candidates to demand a redress of the MPO Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). South Dade is ready to speed up growth and this Florida Turnpike Interchange is paramount to making it happen  long before 2015.

Reference Links:

http://www.communitynewspapers.com/mayor-steven-bateman/fdot-approves-new-turnpike-interchange/

http://local.cityofhomestead.com/weblink8/0/doc/19428/Page1.aspx#

http://www.floridacityfl.us/CRPlanasmodified2-19-09.pdf

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/majorprojects.shtm

http://www.sfrpc.com/dri/SEOvertownParkWest/Appendices/TransApp21-4ATIP.pdf

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17892250/SW-328-St-172-Ave-Homestead-FL/

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For Whom the Bell Tolls: Mark Bell Running for Mayor?

Mark Bell owner of The Redland Hotel may be running for Mayor of Homestead, FL.  The unofficial word in town is that he's seriously considering it.  The suspense has the city elders flummoxed in that his wife is the venerable Lynda Bell, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 8 and Ex-Mayor of Homestead 2007-2009.  The city would get a bargain by having twice the expertise for the price of one.  Already a power couple in South Dade rubbing elbows with the well connected throughout the county, the Bells would become even more so of a power couple if Mark were to win.  It would also be a vindication for Lynda whose Mayorship was cut short by the current Mayor Steven Bateman.  Political guerrilla warfare may be possible in Homestead depending on the candidates and a coup d'état may not be out of the question if only figuratively speaking.

                   These photo of The Hotel Redland is courtesy

                   of TripAdvisor

This photo of The Hotel Redland is courtesy of TripAdvisor

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Hodge Campaign Gets Off to a Flying Start with a Lien Courtesy of the City of Homestead

Maybe if elected he could follow the Mayor's lead and instruct the manager to lower the fees and then still not pay what he owes. Hmm, sounds like a plan.

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La LEY Owes Homestead Big Bucks.............Again

The Two Council YES! Votes Appear With Ruiz In The Photo Along With La LEY Staff, They Wanted La LEY To Continue Getting Free Benefit Of City Paid Insurance, Anyone Know Why?

The last time the council took the issue up in May, only Mayor Steve Bateman and Councilman Elvis Maldonado voted for it. Councilman Jimmie Williams III was absent.

By Christina Veiga

cveiga@MiamiHerald.com

The operator of Homestead’s baseball stadium is once again behind on more than $162,000 of utility and insurance bills.

The city is locked in a legal battle with the operator, in part, over the bills. The operator, La Ley Sports, filed a class action lawsuit against the city in May, claiming that Homestead overbills its utility customers.

A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge dismissed the case in October and gave La Ley a chance to re-file its complaint because of issues with the way it was originally filed, Homestead’s attorneys said. La Ley has filed an amended complaint which Homestead’s attorneys have again asked a judge to dismiss, in part because the lawyers still believe there are problems with the way the case has been filed.

Meanwhile, La Ley’s bills have stacked up.

The sports organization, owned by Miami Spanish-language TV lawyer John H. Ruiz, owes about $118,000 in utility bills as of Nov. 26, according to city documents. His group owes about $45,000 in insurance bills, according to the city.

Ruiz’s company has been behind on its utility bills essentially since it first took over the stadium in July 2011.
But Ruiz has argued that he was never past-due because he never owed the money in the first place, because Homestead overbilled him.

The city in April admitted that it did, in fact, accidently overbill La Ley by $22,000 for a dumpster that wasn’t even on the property. But taking into account the overbilling, Ruiz’s company still owed $3,000 in past-due utility bills at the time.

Karen Barnet-Backer, who is representing La Ley in the case, did not return an email for comment and did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

In a separate lawsuit, La Ley has sued the city for fraud and breach of contract because of disagreements between the two sides over their rental agreement. The relationship between the company and the city soured quickly after La Ley tried to get out of paying insurance premiums for the stadium. The city refused to waive the $10,000-a-month bill.

“The city’s position is that he now owes upwards of $100,000,” said Michael Popok, one of the attorneys representing Homestead in both cases.

The lawsuit stemming from the lease disagreements is still pending.

The suits have been “relatively dormant,” Popok said.
 
Follow @Cveiga on Twitter.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/13/3141055/homestead-says-ballpark-tenant.html#storylink=cpy

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Should Homestead Consider Selling The Power Plant?

Consider the following: 

The Board is political and have demonstrated an inability to explain why non-city residents are charged with paying into city reserves without benefit of those reserves.

The rates are substantially higher than FPL, as a matter of fact it's not even competitive.

The burden of employee salaries, benefits and pension would be absorbed by the new company, the subsequent relief would reduce the HES customer burden.

The political leaders would then be forced to work with the City Manager in cutting the multitude of wasteful efforts not only in HES but throughout the City, such as all of the celebrations and self aggrandizement lunches, dinners, picnics in the name of Homestead Energy Services.

To get the ball rolling this will require contacting the politicians and asking the City Manager for research, possible ballot initiative/referendum on this idea.

Over the next few days we will publish business and residential rates of comparative utility services throughout Florida. It's time for Homestead residents to stop paying non-competitive rates and wasteful programs and perhaps provide consistent standard uniforms to HES crews, such as the ones in the photo, embarrassing the Director and Mayor.

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Watchcat Report: Scandalous Mid-Year Update

The New Top Ten List

The Homestead Watchcat is reporting that the following has occurred, is likely to be occuring or will potentially occur in the near future.

1. City Attorney changed positions on what is and what isn't a public record several times. There is written proof.


2. City Attorney ordered by council to research the Homestead Is Home blog domain. All part of the Centennial Committee records.


3. "New City Hall" money to be used to pay for turnpike ramps on Lucy Street. Mayor presented a Power Point at Southland Mall to anyone interested. Bateman quote; "jobs will follow."


4. Mayor Bateman asks Gov. Rick Scott to save Dade Medical College students from getting run over by trucks on Krome Avenue. This after the fact plea may prevent the building of a Pre-K on the Homestead-Miami Speedway track, duh!


5. Hackers tried to bring down the Homestead Is Home Blog.  Big mistake.


6. Several new investigations have been launched into the validity and veracity of City of Homestead  projects. Various, details in the future. These are in addition to investigations already under way.


7. More than one council member and some staff are under investigation for their roles in some political activities. All kinds of issues, campaigning mostly.


8. Mass shredding of documents allegedly took place in the City of Homestead in 2010, employees ready to give sworn statements. Never wise to shred public records. Maybe some things were saved from the shredder.


9. Cryptic and Ambiguous: Doors once closed are once again open. No details can be released.

10. Several 2013 City Council candidates stand ready to challenge incumbents. Meetings with donors and those who really manage the council have been happening. 

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