We’ve always said that Miami-Dade Commission Vice Chair Lynda Bell has some big ones.
In July, Bell had to drop the proposal that monies be transferred from the Building Better Communities general obligation bond to a series of economic development projects — including $5 million for a mixed use parking lot project in Palmetto Bay, somehow connected to a charter school,
planned by developer Wayne Rosen, her longtime political sugar daddy with multiple contributions to her campaigns.
Now, because she knows she can’t possibly get anything like that passed since she was defeated at the polls and is pretty much a lame duck — and will draw attention to herself if she tries to give millions away again — she’s shopped around for a colleague to put this forward.
And she found herself a patsy in Commissioner Xavier “Mayor Sir” Suarez.
Ladra told him it was probably a bad idea when he mentioned last week that he was considering it.
Read related story: Levine Cava gets to work while Lynda Bell finishes term
Suarez said he would only do it temporarily because he believes the people of Palmetto Bay may want it. “My 
sponsorship is provisional in nature, as a way to fill in the gap between an outgoing commissioner and an incoming one,” Suarez said. He does want to have an announced Sunshine meeting with Commissioner-elect Daniella Levine Cava next week to see what she thinks of the proposal and his office has sought input from Palmetto Bay Mayor Shelley Stanczyk before he commits to keeping the item on the Sept. 19 workshop.
“Failing agreement from the city leaders, I will withdraw my sponsorship before the commission takes action,” Suarez instructed his staff to put in the memo to Stanczyk.
The usually guarded Stanczyk told Ladra she didn’t want to say too much about the project, likely because it is going through a city process as well, but she did say that she has not advocated the use of public funds for a private development. “That is a private developer building that and he would have to seek funds on his own. The village would not ask on his behalf,” she said.
Back in July, Bell was visibly flustered as she tried to separate herself from her sugar daddy Rosen’s application.
“These dollars that are funded are under the direction, the purview of the mayor. There are certain amount of economic 
development dollars and re-allocations by the mayor. The mayor selects them and the reason that we commissioners sponsor them is because they are in our district,” Bell said.
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Still, she was peeved that people were only opposing one of the 14 proposed grants: Hers. The item to benefit Rosen came up time and time again in public comments.
Ladra suspects they will again even under X’s hand. And he may also try to separate himself from the developer but, truth is, he’s already been talking to Rosen about it.
In a text message X sent Ladra, he said “Have made clear to Wayne that it will ultimately have to be modified to be 1 acceptable to mayor Stanczyk and 2 consistent with economic development criteia for EDFs or I withdraw my sponsorship.”
Who wants to bet he withdraws?
Lynda Bell resurrects $5 mil for builder pal via Xavier Suarez added by Ladra on
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Palmetto Bay does not need the garage unless it is to be used accomandate the busway as a park and ride. Using the garage for Rosens charter school is a misuse of funds — he wants our money, our community parks and our sanity to accomandate his business dealings. It is a BAD deal for the residents.
Por favor, Xavier… Who made you the gate keeper? It should be the responsibility of the commission chair to ensure that the transition is smooth and any pending isdues are carried over and addressed by the new. This leaves the impression that you are looking out for special interests. Oh, and your request for a Sunshine meeting is almost comical. Was your meeting with the lobbyists for the parking lot contractor under the sunshine?
I am sure that Commisioner-Elect Daniella Levine Cava will understand the project and the benefits for Palmetto Bay. Mr. Wayne Rosen is a job creator that has the vision to see the unmet needs of the community and is willing to make an investment in creating a vibrant commercial business district in Palmett Bay. An investment by the county on this project will benefit the community at large. Commisioner Suarez needs to embrace the project for its merits not just play as a transfer agent.
Everytime I see that Commissioner Suarez responds to blogs and to news articles I respect him more. Just as a bad comment on a reveiw site needs to be addressed, so does the valid questions that are focused on issues.
Diane, just to clarify – the Commissioner is not too keen on oversized charter schools. In fact, he was one of two votes against the recent application for a K-12 charter school at 8th St. and 152 Ave.
Aide to Commissioner Xavier L. Suarez, District 7
Diane please, your organization endorsed Pedro Garcia for Property Appraiser. Nuff said. They must have legalized marijuana early in Kendall this year.
X, whether you intend to or not, you are looking like a patsy. Image is everything. Commissioners will surely be held more accountable these days, that is obvious. We could start alphabetically and begin with the next B in the group. But nothing says we can’t begin at the end with X and Z. Your decision.
I agree with above. You have no dog in this hunt and no good deed goes unpunished. What we learned from the Bell campaign is shit sticks, no matter how wild the distortion of reality You’ve left yourself open to “he sponsored a $5 million giveaway to a connected insider”. You cannot unring that bell pardon the pun. Yes I understand the nuances of what you’re trying to do but its a lose-lose. And if we ever do convince you to run for mayor it will be a millstone around your neck.
Commissioner Suarez, you are my commissioner, and I am very happy about that. I think it would be a good idea if you stayed away from anything tainted by Lynda Bell and particularly if it has any connection with charter schools which are inundating our neighborhoods west of U.S. #1.
Diane Lawrence
Kendale Homeowners Assn.
Ladra well knows that I am no one’s patsy – except maybe my wife’s…
Now, as to serving the public interest versus a particular developer or special interest, my first three priorities are: (1)the public, (2) the public and (3) the public.
Every developer or other special interest comes in somewhere between fourth and last.
I have spoken to the Mayor Stanczyk about Rosen’s application for the EDF and she has indicated that it is not her intention to abandon the application entirely, but rather to recast it in a way that is conducive to the economic development objectives of the city.
As I understand it, all EDF applications over $3 million will be directed to a workshop to take place on September 19, 2014. Therefore, I am inviting Commissioner Elect Levine-Cava to a Sunshine meeting around the 15th of the month, as her schedule might allow.
At that point, it pretty much depends on her whether the item will move forward; my sponsorship is only to cover the hiatus between commissioners.
As to my vote if the initiative makes it through to the full commission, that will depend on whether it (1) has the recommendation of the district commissioner, (2) has the recommendation of the municipality in question and (3) meets the criteria established by law for EDF’s.
I would guess that (3) will entail a visual inspection of the site and also possibly a meeting with city officials of Palmetto Bay (which may itself has to be in the Sunshine, much as we did recently with Pinecrest).
Xavier
An announced Sunshine meeting? LMFAO!!!!!
When was the last time we had one of these? Oh yeah, I forgot Levine Cava is the “new kid on the block,” and she hasn’t been primed yet as to the inner workings of bypassing the Sunshine Law through lobbyists and the such. Mr. Suarez, I think you just tanked any future hopes or aspirations of running for Dade County Mayor.