See Senator Graham Dec. 1st Talk About Making Government Work for You

Our former Senator and Governor, Bob Graham will be at the UEL Dinner Dec. 1st to discuss his book and answer your questions. His goal for his book - America, The Owner's Manual: Making Government Work for You - is to have students identify a problem, and then walk them through each step from researching the issue, to getting others involved, to engaging the media. Each chapter starts with a real case, showing citizens tackling a step in the process, and ends with a summary checklist and a series of questions that help students put Graham’s game plan in action. By offering students concrete guidance, an array of resources, and advice for troubleshooting and overcoming barriers, this compact user’s guide gets students way beyond textbook learning.

Come hear him/speak with him this Tuesday, December 1st at the UEL Dinner!

The State Attorney, What could she have done? By Fran Bohnsack

State Attorney Katherine Rundle's staff had a hard decision to make: whether to arrest Commissioner Spence-Jones BEFORE or AFTER the election and if after, how long after? And could they also have held off on charging and making a deal with Commissioner Angel Gonzalez?

A critical error was that the City of Miami Commission was left without a quorum the way the State Attorney's office did it. If Rundle had waited on the Gonzalez case, the Commission could have made an appointment for the Spence-Jones seat, putting off the pending special election till after her trial. The way it was forced on the City, by Rundle's office, because of the City's charter it will be costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars they don't have, and Spence-Jones, who is running again, will probably be reelected. She might have to be taken out for a second time if she is convicted and a third special election held. If there had been an appointment, with Angel Gonzalez voting, and Spence-Jones was cleared, she would just go back to the seat and the appointment would vacate. Or, if Spence-Jones had been charged 2 weeks later, the new Commissioners would have made a quorum.

Join Us For An Evening with Former Senator/Governor Bob Graham!

The NEW Self-Proclaimed Urban Cowboy

Passing the Buck is not helping the City of Miami.

With 4 historic openings on the City of Miami Commission (one filled with a swearing in of Carollo), the City is scrambling to fill the remaining 3 seats (one will be decided today with a run-off election).
The Miami Herald said today:
Unable to have a quorum with only two of five commissioners in place, Regalado has asked Crist to intercede and appoint a third commissioner -- which would save Miami hundreds of thousands of dollars for an off-year election.

Crist, however, isn't budging from the stance he took last week, saying there is nothing in Miami's charter that says he should step in.

Crist removed Spence -Jones, accused of stealing funds from a County Grant and Angel Gonzalez was required to resign because of a no-show job with a developer for his daughter.

Last Day to RSVP for UEL Wednesday, 11/18 Dinner

Be sure to RSVP for our dinner today at uelinfo@bellsouth.net. It is our fundraiser to help us do our projects this coming year and it is a painless way to give: You get a delicious dinner and a film with your contribution! Please join us.

Runoff in the City of Miami Tomorrow

Manolo Reyes is at top and Frances Suarez below him. Suarez was endorsed by the Miami Herald. May the best man win! The seat needs to be filled to have a quorum in the City of Miami due to the arrest and removal of Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones. Commissioner Angel Gonzalez also agreed to resign today, facing charges. The only Commissioners left on the dais are Marc Sarnoff and the recently sworn in Frank Carollo. 3 makes a quorum in the City.

Just What we Don't Need: More Billboards!! by Hal Birchfield

RE: A NEW COMPANION TO AN ILLEGAL BILLBOARD ON I-95

AN OPEN LETTER TO COMMISSIONER SARNOFF:

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US.

IN THE MAY ISSUE OF THE URBAN FORUM NEWSLETTER FROM THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT LEAGUE, DUSTY MELTON DID A FINE REVIEW ON OUR OUT OF CONTROL BILLBOARD CULTURE, WITH THE NEW EAST OF I-95 BILLBOARD (@ S.W. 1ST STREET & S.W. 2ND AVENUE) AS AN ILLUSTRATION.

ON SUNDAY THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER, I SAW THE NEW COMPANION FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED BILLBOARD (PHOTO IS ABOVE). HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO HAVE THE COMPLETE DOWNTOWN OF OUR CITY COVERED IN THIS TRASH? CAN ALL OF THESE THINGS BE LEGAL?

HERE IS AN IDEA THAT MIGHT HELP- - - WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS INSUFFICIENT FUNDS! WHAT IF, WE ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS AND ISSUE FINES TO THESE BLATANT, IN YOUR FACE ILLEGAL BILLBOARD OWNERS? A NOVEL IDEA – COLLECT MONEY FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NO REGARD FOR BREAKING OUR LAWS!

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THEY WILL PLASTER ANYTHING WITH A BILLBOARD. IN ADDITION, IF THERE IS NOTHING TO PLASTER, THEY WILL ERECT SOMETHING TO PLASTER!

WHY CAN’T WE START CLEANING UP THIS MESS?

I KNOW YOU ARE ADDRESSING MANY, MANY ISSUES THAT BETTERS OUR COMMUNITY. TO BRING UP THIS MATTER DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM NOT APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR EXCELLENT WORK. HOWEVER, THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

THANKING YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

SINCERELY,
HAL BIRCHFIELD

STORY IN THE URBAN FORUM BY DUSTY MELTON:

City of Miami Neighborhood Activists Attended the Swearing in of City of Miami Mayor Regalado.

Activists in the City of Miami were on hand to offer congratulations to Mayor Regalado yesterday. After the swearing in there was plenty of paella to go around. Neighborhoods' United Activists: Nina West, Grace Solares, Beba Mann, Judith Sandoval and UEL President Fran Bohnsack.

Elvis Cruz and Steve Hagen. Upper East Side Activists.

Fran Bohnsack with longtime Brickell Activist Tory Jacobs.

Brett Bibeau, Executive Director of the Miami River Commission.

Former UEL Board Member, Gabrielle Redfern, Makes the Miami Beach Runoff.

We are proud to announce that one of our former Board Members is in a run-off for the Group 3 race in Miami Beach against Michael Gongora. We wish them both luck in the election that will be held on November 17th. Redfern did receive the Miami Herald endorsement.

Three Events You Shouldn't Miss!

The Living Green Fair takes place Nov. 14-15 at the John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach. The fair will offer green product demonstrations, discussions by leading experts and activities for children. See their website.

Second, don't miss the UEL Fundraiser Nov. 18th. We try to stay on top of issues and advocate for good policy. This is an opportunity for you to support our cause while getting a great 3 course dinner at the Rusty Pelican and the opportunity to see a provocative film about Carl Fisher, and then hear a critical analysis from your friends and neighbors in the community. RSVP today at uelinfo@bellsouth.net (hit on image below to enlarge it)

Third, we will be hosting former Governor/Senator Bob Graham on December 1st at the Rusty Pelican. Hold the date.

Swearing in of City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

Former City of Miami District 4 Commissioner Tomas Regalado will be sworn in as Mayor of Miami during a ceremony on Wednesday, November 11th, at 12 noon, at Miami City Hall.

Enjoy some culture with "Sleepless Night" in Miami Beach

From 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009, until 7:00 a.m. the next morning, Miami Beach will stay up all night with more than 150 free arts and entertainment events presented at 80 different locations throughout the city. It is called Sleepless Night. You can find all the activities at this link.

Over 100,000 people of all ages will enjoy free museum admissions, indoor and outdoor art installations and performances, architectural tours, dance (and dancing,) theater, music, slam poetry, film, video, fashion, acrobatics, comedy and more, including several unique collaborations and South Florida and world premieres. The City of Miami Beach collaborates with every cultural institution in the city, and with numerous other organizations, businesses and individuals to ensure that Audi Sleepless Night includes all aspects and points of view of what we collectively call “the arts.” Free shuttle buses with onboard arts programming connect the four zones of activity and remote parking for the full 13-hour night.

VOTE TODAY!

To all our neighbors in Homestead, The City of Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah -- Please vote today!