What to Expect from Mr. Rosenblatt: More Capital Spending

November 21, 2010 2 Comments

The visitors are not coming because of the absence of the new street-scape.  It is the absence of relevant businesses, lack of a friendly environment and a missing leadership in shaping the kinds of business that are needed, and, please, not more tall buildings.

Friends, you will get more taxes from Mr. Rosenblatt.

But the biggest challenge of the BID still remains: getting the Streetscape Project off the paper before it is too late and visitors of downtown Coral Gables move to other sites. “We have to make sure we get this project done before downtown starts to underperform, Rosenblatt said. “We will have to partner up with city and residents so this is a priority that happens for everybody.

via Miracle Mile streetscape in limbo – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables, Economy, Taxes and Fees

The Chamber of Commerce as a Political Entity

November 13, 2010 2 Comments

It is not only that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is among the big political players, many local chambers shape local government policies, protecting businesses and commerce from local government measures and, in general, acting as referees in local economic development.  Their programs are focused on business interests and the have shown little interest in  local poverty and social issues, as if these issues were not related to the economic future of the city.

…these contributions…also show how the chamber has increasingly relied on a relatively small collection of big corporate donors to finance much of its legislative and political agenda. The chamber makes no apologies for its policy of not identifying its donors. It has vigorously opposed legislation in Congress that would require groups like it to identify their biggest contributors when they spend money on campaign ads.

via Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign – NYTimes.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables

Coral Gables has a Fictitious Master Plan, or Is it Amendment 4?

November 1, 2010 Leave a comment

There have been several actions taken recently by the Commission of the city of Coral Gables that demonstrate that its members are 1) captured by developers;  2) captured by the “too big to fail” UM; and 3) desperate for money to pay for huge unfunded liabilities and softball contracts with firefighters and police.

Thanks to the soon-to-be-absent commissioners and mayor, who seem to care little about the future pattern of development of the city after they leave the deus, the city is stuck with a 20-year master plan for UM and a potentially hugely distorted pattern of development, traffic and transportation in the commercial district.  All of this is happening because the commissioners are terrified by the possible approval of Amendment #4 that would take city development out of their hands and put it in the hands of citizens.  Yes, their commitment to developers stand ahead of their belief in local democracy and citizens.  At least, for reasons he had, thanks to Bill Kerdyk for voting against these buildings (but sorry, he voted for the UM master plan and commercial-health district).

Vice Mayor William “Bill” Kerdyk sees a dangerous trend in Coral Gables’ central business district: upzoning properties one at a time.

via Gables approves taller buildings in business district – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Community, Coral Gables, Government

Take Note Miami-Dade Gov

October 17, 2010 Leave a comment

This is what ones does when funds are limited and when the economics of stadiums dictate caution.  When the cost comes out of private hands, greater financial caution is applied than when faceless taxpayers put up the money.

Barcelona, the second-biggest soccer club by sales, will cancel a 250 million-euro ($350 million) stadium redesign by British architect Norman Foster as part of a plan to reduce spending, two people with knowledge of the situation said.

via Barcelona Said to Cancel $350 Million Stadium Redesign by Foster – Bloomberg.com.

Filed under Business and Commerce

← Older posts

Newer posts →