Coral Gables Environment, Politics and Government
April 1, 2021 Leave a comment
will win with a majority of registered votes. Coral Gables elections involve no more than about 25% of the registered voters and in close elections, therefore, a winning candidate gets a very tiny percentage of registered voters. Hence, significant political financing may gain impact over very few voters.
April 1, 2021 Leave a comment
is likely to win without significant financing from developer, builders, associated architects, lawyers and public relations.
April 1, 2021 Leave a comment
has been willing to take on the issue of whether police kneeling at the BLM protest in Coral Gables was right or not. Not a single candidate was able to take on racism in the City of Coral Gables. Most seemed to treat kneeling as a temporary publicity act than a meaningful and permanent respect for the BLM movement.
No candidate has said “BLM,” as discrimination against Blacks or has referred to the deeper issue of police targeting and mistreating Blacks, especial Black males. Indeed we have heard the use of the term “community” to politely, awkwardly and indirectly refer to Black residents and greater community.
April 1, 2021 Leave a comment
Group Three Race:
Javier Baños, attorney and CPA
Alex Bucelo, attorney who has served on city boards
Kirk Menendez, community activist and public affairs expert
Phillip “PJ” Mitchell, attorney and business
The candidates for Group 3 draw contrasts in
ages (one especially young);
experience (all with some experience in boards and activities in the city, some more than others),
business orientation (no university professors or retirees here),
for zoning mostly favoring keeping a traditional Miracle Mile (no real specifics about overdevelopment except it is bad),
except for parks, no or little concern for the full environmental impact of overdevelopment and climate change;
some concern for unfunded pension liabilities (although would be fixed at the cost of good city employees and staffing);
some confusion or overpromising about the real power and influence of a commission on development and financing (legislators are not managers);
very little recognition of the environment and climate change in the future of Coral Gables (one of the most costly challenging issues for the residents of Coral Gables and South Florida);
confused notions about the responsibility and influence of a single commissioner on the operating, administration, budget, scale and density of development of the city;
afraid to respond clear either for or against “kneeling” issue of the police chiefs during the BLM protests (an issue about systemic racism and police mistreatment and abuse of blacks)
An overview of the candidates in terms of depth of experience and willing make change are
Messrs. Banos and/or Mitchell are clearly the best options
Coral Gables Watch 