Louis Vuitton on Miracle Mile?

March 26, 2011 Leave a comment

Executives of the French brand known for its trademark handbags and accessories said this week they will leave the Bal Harbour Shops at the end of June and move to Aventura Mall where they will eventually more than double the size of their store. Also on the agenda: opening a second store in the burgeoning Miami Design District by 2014.

via Louis Vuitton moving to Aventura Mall, Design District – Business – MiamiHerald.com.

This counters the many unrealistic expectations about the future of Miracle Mile, except from the property owners who would like to have taxpayer subsidies.  Miracle Mile will never be much more than it is now, even with new shrubs, sidewalks and thoroughfares, even with a pile of subsidies from the taxpayers.  Miracle Mile will never be a Dadeland Mall, a Merrick Park, the Design District and surely not Aventura Mall.  The adjacent Museum has apparently failed from the start.

Then what is the justification for spending a risky $16 million of city debt on this street, eliminating parking, cutting down the existing trees…

A task for the new commission of the city of Coral Gables is to bring this project into a realistic perspective.

Filed under Business and Commerce, Coral Gables, Property Values

Pitbull Politics in Coral Gables

March 25, 2011 Leave a comment

Local politics now fully replicates the methods of national political compaigns with its smears, innuendo and behind-the-back attacks.  Some candidates prefer to confront their opponents through sleazy smear campaigns rather than facing and accusing their opponents openly, perhaps out of fear of the outcome or of an inability to prove the accusations.

This Pitbull Politics is being led by the candidates’ backers (good name, backers) spreading baseless and partial truths or lies about other candidates.  I would like to hear the candidates make their accusations in public, rather in those deplorable mailers.

Pitbull Politics does nothing to improve the quality of life in the city of Coral Gables. Rather it distracts from the deep issues of city budgeting and spending, the need to renegotiate pensions and salaries, taxes and fees, capital spending, the Biltmore lease, Miracle Mile rehabilitation, the Country Club, and the intention of some candidates to continue a model of taxing and spending, ad infinitum.

I guess that is its purpose.

Filed under Coral Gables, Election, Politics

Absentee Ballot Voting Started in Coral Gables

March 25, 2011 2 Comments

Take note that it is time to send in your ballot.

Filed under Coral Gables, Election

Richard Martin Only Candidate For Openness and Transparency

March 24, 2011 Leave a comment

Mr. Martin has been the only candidate that I have discovered that has even mentioned the matter of greater community participation, more openness and transparency as key objectives.  This has considerable merit.

Indeed, it is surprising that there is so little talk or candidate commitment to these fundamental democratic principles.

Filed under Coral Gables

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