Coral Gables Environment, Politics and Government
October 13, 2010 Leave a comment
This should be an extraordinary place to enjoy. It is next door to the new Coral Gables Museum.
The Coral Gables Art Cinema Opens with Freakonomics
The Coral Gables Art Cinema will at long-last open to the public on Friday, October 15 for year-round operations with the Florida theatrical premiere of Freakonomics, the funny and insightful feature film based on the bestselling book that explores “the hidden side of everything.”
October 12, 2010 Leave a comment
Consider a list of issues and proposals for a New Agenda for a newly elected mayor, commissioners (old and new) and the city manager that could be discussed in the coming election campaign.
Help by sending your suggestions and I will include them all in a running list on a separate page on this blog.
Here are some example of what I imagine might be relevant or, at least, good ideas to challenge to candidates.
October 11, 2010 Leave a comment
It is not self-evident that the quality of teaching and teachers are mainly responsible for our education slipping backward? I think that experience in running complex enterprises is that in some cities and schools it is the teaching that is to blame, in others, it is school management, teaching methods and materials, community culture of education and bad (or good) school boards.
I would place enormous weight on school boards and the community that sets the priorities for education. Teachers will gravitate to places where teachers are trusted and respected.
I am very suspicious of single approaches to solving big problems.
It’s time for all of the adults — superintendents, educators, elected officials, labor unions and parents alike — to start acting like we are responsible for the future of our children. Because right now, across the country, kids are stuck in failing schools, just waiting for us to do something.
So, where do we start? With the basics. As President Obama has emphasized, the single most important factor determining whether students succeed in school is not the color of their skin or their ZIP code or even their parents’ income — it is the quality of their teacher.
via How to fix our schools: A manifesto by Joel Klein, Michelle Rhee and other education leaders.
October 6, 2010 Leave a comment
Mr. Cabrera introduced an ordinance to prohibit gasoline leaf blowers in Coral Gables. But the city and its contractors and event organizers are exempted. Electric-powered leaf blowers are allowed.
Mr. Kerdyk was skeptical that the citizens would think it fair that the city and its contractors should be exempt.
One citizen pointed out that an electrical leaf blower is just as noisy as gasoline blower. I am inclined to believe that that is right. (Have you ever used one of those high speed hand dryers in the mall restroom?) Alternatively, I am also inclined to think that lawn contractors might use small lawnmowers to move around the trash and leaves–almost as noisy.
Certainly, in the face of budget deficits, unfunded pension liabilities, union negotiations and impasse hearings, taxpayers paying higher property taxes and fees, failure of the Biltmore lease, unemployment, declining property values and a new economic development district at the University of Miami, leaf blowers is one of the great pending issues of our time.
Coral Gables Watch 