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The Florida legislature is at it again. Leading the charge to suppress our vote on the Senate side with SB 956 is State Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, the republican Cuban American from the Miami area.

Among other things, this bill together with House Bill 7149 would: restrict third party voter registration efforts (in other words, projects usually aimed at minorities and under-represented communities); make it much harder for grassroots groups to use the citizens’ initiative process; reduce transparency in the funding of political advertisements; eliminate many voters’ ability to vote a regular ballot on Election Day; restrict the list of accepted forms of identification for voter registration and identification at the polls; restrict the ability of the governor to extend early voting.

As for lobbyists, the bill(s) would expand their ability to influence legislators and legislation.

In the end, if they should pass through the Florida House and Senate, and signed by Governor Crist, these provisions needlessly infringe the voting rights of Floridians, particularly those among disenfranchised communities, including elderly and low-income voters, and voters of color.

Again, I mention, leading this charge is another stalwart South Florida republican politician. I wonder what they are afraid of that they don’t want certain people voting in Florida. These are some of the same politicians who later complain that in other countries the vote is suppressed… or simply not allowed, they claim.  I guess they must be referring to themselves now.

Alvaro F. Fernandez

4-21-2009

Court rebukes state’s unconstitutional statute

The information that follows was taken from a press release by attorneys’ for plaintiffs in the case. At Progreso Weekly we ask that appropriate authorities investigate the actions taken by Governor Crist, House Speaker Marco Rubio and the law’s main sponsor, State Rep. David Rivera, and others who brought forward this law which most knew had no chance in any legitimate court in this country. For strictly political reasons, the aforementioned have cost Florida taxpayers more than a million dollars in bills to carry forward this travesty.)

Alvaro F. Fernandez

The Honorable Alan Gold of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida today (April 14) issued a final order striking down the Florida Travel Act Amendments as unconstitutional and a violation of the Supremacy Clause.

In 2008, the Florida legislature amended the Florida Travel Act in an attempt to end travel to Cuba from Florida. The law imposed penalties on Cuban American travel agencies and charter companies doing business with Cuba. Governor Charlie Crist signed the legislation. The law required travel agencies engaged in travel to Cuba to post bonds that were 10 to 25 times higher than those required of other travel agencies. It made any violation of any state or federal law a third degree felony if it involved travel to Cuba, but punished violators engaged in travel to other countries with misdemeanors. It required far higher registration fees and imposed many other onerous and punitive requirements on companies involved in the travel business to Cuba.

In striking down the law, the Court cited the United States government’s public opposition to the Florida statute. The Court found that the Florida Travel Act amendments interfere with federal law and regulations, and the foreign policy of the United States. The Court also noted the recent changes in U.S. policy in lifting travel restrictions to Cuba for Cuban Americans and in blunt terms stated:

“The State of Florida is not entitled to adopt a foreign policy under our Constitution or interfere with the exclusive prerogative of the United States to establish a carefully balanced approach to relations with foreign countries, including Cuba.”

The Court entered a permanent injunction against the amendment and a declaratory judgment declaring the law unconstitutional.

Ira J. Kurzban, lead counsel for Plaintiff charter companies and travel agencies, hailed the judge’s decision as a “clear, unequivocal statement that the Florida legislature has no business conducting its own foreign policy. At a time when the state lacks resources,” he said, “Florida legislators should be focused on the issues that are important to Floridians instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to uphold clearly unconstitutional laws such as the Travel Act amendments.”

Charles Bronson will run for governor of Florida. That’s if Governor Charlie Crist decides to jump into the senate race for the seat being vacated by Mel Martinez next year. A couple of days ago I reported that at this time (about a year and a half before the final race in November 2010) polls show Attorney General Bill McCollum and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in a dead heat for Crist’s seat… if he vacates it. Now Charles Bronson is said to be considering the race himself. And with a name like Bronson’s, which is easily recognized because of the movie star associated to it, this is looking like a first-rate free for all come next year.

By the way, this Charles Bronson is not the movie star. He happens to be Florida’s agricultural commissioner. Again, though, with the recognizable name and since he already holds a statewide office, he might just become a contender for Florida’s top political job.

Alvaro F. Fernandez

4-7-2009

Spring has barely sprung and already we’re we’re prognosticating next year’s governor’s race here in Florida. A new poll conducted by Mason Dixon Polling and Research for the Sayfie Review shows that Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, a democrat, is in a dead heat with Attorney General Bill McCollum — that’s if next year’s governor’s race (Nov. 2010) were held today and current popular governor Charlie Crist were to not run for reelection. I think you’ll agree that it’s way too early to set odds on this one. The poll, by the way, also showed Governor Crist doing well — if he decides to run for the U.S. senate seat being vacated next year by Mel Martinez. This race has already drawn a number of contenders including a couple of high profile South Florida demos — U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and State Sen. Dan Gelber.

The poll numbers reveal that McCollum is currently at 36% and Sink comes in at 35%. The undecideds are at 29%.

As an aside, Crist might just jump into the senate race. He has said he will wait for after the Florida legislative session which is winding down by the end of this month. Actually, the job might fit him better. Charlie is said to be a likable guy who likes the idea of getting lost in the crowd — except when there’s a photo opportunity. But he doesn’t seem to revel in taking on the hard assignments and carrying them through to closure. Sounds like the perfect Florida senator…

Alvaro F. Fernandez

04-03-2009

The unemployment rate in Florida was up to 9.4 percent during the month of February. Ouch! In other words, one out of every 10 of working age persons you run into in Florida is currently without a job. Not a pretty sight when you consider that there are still many economists telling us we have yet to hit rock bottom. What is rock bottom, I would ask. Honestly, the situation is scary. Maybe because I’ve never seen anything like this during my lifetime, anyway.

In the meantime, trillions of OUR dollars are still being handed to failing banks and large corporation — many of them responsible for the situation we’re currently in. Most maddening about this tax dollars free-for-some is how many (think AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup and others) have yet to caught on (or refuse to do so because they ARE the one being bailed out) that regular Americans who used to work on Main Street, USA, are suffering. The ones with jobs — the money they are making is not enough to cover needs; others are simply getting layoff notices.

I don’t know what will end up happening… but may God put a heavy and wise hand on President Obama. Seriously, don’t know what else to ask for…

Alvaro F. Fernandez

03-27-2009

 3-9-2009

The economy being what it is I would love to get the formula from Florida State Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla. The republican majority leader’s last financial statement reports him earning almost $32,000 a year as a state legislator, plus expenses. In today’s world, not a lot of money. Now here’s the catch…

In the same financial report, and as of December of 2007, the good Senator from South Florida reported a net worth of $280,000 and lists $80,000 in household goods. OK, not bad. Here’s the good part. A home in Miami is valued at $450,000 and another home in Tallahassee is worth $745,000. He has $4,800 with Schwab Investments, an IRA has $2,150, a credit union has $2,100 and there is $4,000 in a checking account. He lists liabilities of $386,000 and $632,000 for two mortgages, he owes Sales-Kuehne $9,800 for legal services years ago, and he owes Lexus Financial $38,000.

In other words, more than a million dollars in home mortgages. Interestingly, his Miami home (where he lives most of the year) is worth less than his Tallahassee digs… Hmm. And that’s Tallahassee, a real estate market not even comparable to Miami’s. That 3/4 million dollar crib must really be something. But why’s he hiding it in Tally?  As for the money he owes Sales-Kuehne, doubt they’ll ever see it. Sales-Kuehne, attorneys who do quite a bit of work in the state, surely would benefit from an influential state senator that owes them money. Another hmmm.

Mr. Senator, I’d love to know your secret. Seriously, in these difficult times I’m having a difficult time paying for one home. And I seem to earn more than you do!

Alvaro F. Fernandez

3-9-2009

New Miami Herald columnist Jackie Bueno Sousa writes another “must read” column today on the new Florida Marlins baseball stadium financing issue. There’s an excellent paragraph she writes which states, “…That’s not to say there’s no value in being a Major League city. Teams — when they win — can pull communities together, and often serve as marketing ambassadors displaying their city’s name everywhere they appear. The problem is we can’t really put a number on that value…”

I agree and disagree with Ms. Bueno Sosa. There are numbers and I’ve discussed them. How do you explain financing more than 80% of the stadium deal and receiving peanuts back. Over 35 years we stand to get maybe $100 million of what will turn out to be a billion dollar deal by the end of this. Also, how do you explain the Marlins NOT wanting to display their finances, but still expecting to receive our money. It’s like showing up at the bank and asking for $400,000 to finance a $500,000 home. When they ask for our financials we refuse to divulge them — but still expect the money. Do you really believe any bank would lend you the money under those circumstance? Why should we, then, give it to Jeffrey Loria and his Marlins under the same circumstances.

Bueno Sosa discusses the politicians behind the stadium deal and quotes University of Maryland professor Dennis Coates who theorizes that “When you’re a politician … one of the things you like to do is secure your legacy.” Which could be ONE reason why Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez insists that the stadium be built.

I still insist we dig deeper and find out who the lobbyists are pushing this stadium — and their ties to politicians, including Alvarez. And who has been promised the construction and the bonanza of business this billion dollar deal will generate. In other words, what I am saying is that OUR politicians in Miami are pushing this deal for much more than their legacies…

Alvaro F. Fernandez

The latest trend in politics seems to be one where you leave your political office (for whatever the reason: election loss, termed out or in need of a bigger paycheck) and you jump right into a cushy job in the private sector or in the case of Florida’s last two Speakers of the House — a job with one of the state universities. Interestingly, both Marco Rubio and who followed him Ray Sansom happened to have lavished the universities where they landed jobs with state moneys while in power. In the case of disgraced Speaker Ray Sansom, who hasn’t read what has been happening in the newspapers. Right here in Miami, Marco Rubio, who after being termed out, landed a $69,000 a year part-time job with Florida International University. I am still trying to find out what he really does, but the question might be better framed by asking what he did as Speaker. Apparently Rubio and outgoing FIU president Mitch Maidique got along well…

I write this because I just received an interesting press release from the Florida Democratic Party, who I will admit, is slanted — since both Sansom and Rubio are republicans. But they do have a huge point. They inform that Florida Atlantic University is opening up a Public Ethics Academy. And FAU has chosen Rubio as part of a panel on ‘Public Corruption and the Need for Reform.’ Aside from his job with FIU, Rubio, you might remember, was involved in countless ethics scandals revolving around sweetheart mortgages, legislative favors for big donors, and other shady dealings.

Alvaro F. Fernandez

For information on Rubio’s dubious dealings, here is a list which makes for some interesting readings:

For information on Rubio’s ethics scandals can be found here:

Lawmakers cash in with campus jobs
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau, 12/20/08
http://www.miamiherald.com/295/v-print/story/821328.html

FIU: FIU gives Rubio a job
Miami Herald, 7/25/08
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/617215.html

Rubio: The 69K professor
St. Petersburg Times, 7/24/08
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/07/rubio-the-69k-p.html

Rubio defends added language
Miami Herald, 4/8/08
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/486913.html

Dems: Rubio ‘reeks of corruption’
St. Petersburg Times Blog, 4/7/08
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/04/dems-rubio-reek.html

Rubio’s budget wording benefits ally
Miami Herald, 4/7/08
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/485704.html

Rubio’s Fast $135,000
Palm Beach Post, 4/7/08
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/04/07/m18a_rubio_edit_0407.html

Rubio Amends Disclosure Forms After Newspaper Investigation
Associated Press, 4/1/08
http://www.nbc6.net/news/15766474/detail.html

Rubio Home Equity Loan Questioned
Miami Herald, 3/29/08
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/474645.html

Tax Flip Benefits Richer Families
Palm Beach Post, 3/30/08
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/state/epaper/2008/03/30/m1a_prop_tax_0330.html

Sooner or later we will get it done. I am sure. While we close schools, jobs are being lost and social programs are being cut — for lack of government dollars — the Miami-Dade County Commission, on February 13, will vote to see if they can magically make $489 million, of the $609 million needed, appear to help subsidize a baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. A smile on his face and a promise of “thousands of jobs,” County Mayor Carlos Alvarez is out there touting the project.

When all this started (a few years back — can’t remember the exact date) the price tag was around $250 million. At the time, a quarter billion dollars of mostly taxpayer dollars, in my opinion, was a crazy idea. And for what? To build the Marlins — a team with an owner worth around the billion dollars — a stadium. If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s happening, you’d probably think it was a joke — on us!

But it gets worse. Listen to this. The team gets all the revenue from the stadium, including naming rights (probably worth about $2 million a year). In other words, we put up 80% of the money to build a ballpark. All we get in return is $2.3 million a year in rent (which increases by a whopping 2% a year). And the team must commit to playing at the stadium for 35 years. That’s a return over the life of this thing of a little over $80 million. Are they kidding!

Which brings us back to jobs. “Thousand of jobs” as Mayor Alvarez will tell you. In a column published by The Miami Herald today, written by Fred Grimm, he writes about Brad Humphreys, author of the book The Business of Sports. Humphreys has been busy looking at 30 years worth of independent studies of stadium economics. His conclusion:

“There is absolutely no evidence that stadiums create good long-term jobs,” he says. Grimm adds that Humphreys speaks of “how team owners ramp up low-paying part-time stadium jobs as full time work and then multiply the exaggerated effect to claim an overblown impact on the local economy.”

We’re about to get screwed folks. Because as I said at the beginning, I am convinced that the millionaire’s palace built with taxpayer dollars will come to fruition sooner or later…

Interesting, the commission meeting to vote on this falls on Friday the 13th…

Alvaro F. Fernandez
01-29-2009

Last month we read that the billion-plus dollar Port of Miami tunnel idea concocted by many of our enlightened politicians to “sidetrack” truck traffic from downtown Miami to the Port was dead. Reason for the sudden death was “financial problems encountered by the private consortium that was supposed to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the tunnel over a 35-year period.”

Many of our local politicians whined stating that the tunnel was critical to the port’s long term future. Leading this charge were Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Today The Miami Herald is reporting that “the Crist administration on Wednesday said it was reconsidering the embattled project.”

Fighting to keep the project alive are Alvarez and Diaz, State Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, and State Representatives David Rivera and Juan Carlos Zapata — all South Florida legislators.

“We made it very clear [the tunnel is] important to us,'’ said Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami. “It’s not dead. It’s limping along. But it was not dead. It was dead this morning,” according a report in The Miami Herald, also saying that “State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos told Alvarez and local lawmakers that the state’s share of the tunnel funds — $452 million for construction and $850 million for long-term operations and maintenance — would not be reprogrammed for pet projects in other parts of the state.

“They asked us to take a step back and take another look at it, and we’re going to do that,” Kopelousos told The Herald.

Apparently Kopelousos and Gov. Charlie Crist were facing rising criticism from South Florida leaders — and lobbyists — who believe the tunnel is critical to the port’s long-term future.

Mind you, this is the same tunnel which polls and surveys demonstrate is NOT wanted by a great majority of Miami-Dade residents. At a time of cuts to education, health care, social services and transportation, for example, most Miamians believe the public money that would be used for such a project would be better applied elsewhere.

Apparently some of our local leaders, along with lobbyist friends, don’t care what the people want or don’t want. They keep chasing that billion dollar tunnel along with all the juicy contracts that would go with it.

Alvaro F. Fernandez
1-8-2009