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would have given the commission the same power to waive fees they have now. Ladra is astounded at the many times commissioners speak on an item before they actually read it.
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So, then, Edmonson turned to the only last straw she had left: It was her territory, dammit, and a lack of respect on Zapata’s part to even suggest anything outside his district.
Say what? Now? A year after this conversation starts, a year after she seconds the item on getting the appraisals, she raises this ugly parochial argument? Really? This argument makes Ladra think the JLL thing is not so far-fetched.
Commissioner Barbara Jordan sure seemed to buy it, however, saying that there 
are regional properties for collective decisions and district properties where district commissioners have their own ideas.
“It is true that initially the property was a part of the original American Arenas property for developing the whole thing. When the property was turned back over to the county, it then became a part of the District 3 and 5 scenario looking at how we would entertain development,” she said, citing past and also divisive discussions about a Cuban museum or a black heritage museum.
Really? Really? It went to the district? When did I get a chance to vote on that?
“Regardless to whether we agree with it or not there has been an unspoken or a spoken process that when it comes to properties within our district, the leadership in those districts pretty much takes the lead. Maybe that needs to be this discussion that needs to come back to the commission. Do we want to start cutting across and doing things that, um… I just tend to be straight up about stuff. To me that is the bottom line issue.
“If someone comes and makes a plan for a property that is in District 1 that is not a regional asset like the Dolphin Stadium is a regional asset, then my hairs are going to rise 
on my head. I’m going to be concerned about it,” Jordan said, recommending an open Government in the Sunshine meeting between commissioners when these out-of-district issues arise. “I think there needs to be a certain amount of camaraderie where we respect the other person’s ability to make sound decisions based on what they think is the best interest of the area the person represents.”
I guess camaraderie trumps common sense and the good public policy? For Jordan, the answer is yes.
“Even if there is merit to what is being placed on the table, that a sunshine meeting should be called with the respective commissioner to kind of make sure they are on board with it,” Jordan said, jokingly (or maybe not) adding “Hopefully, we won’t have any intrusions in District 1.”
Really? Really? So she knows there is merit to the idea, that it’s a good thing for us in the whole county, but she voted against it because it didn’t come from Audrey Edmonson’s office? How does that make any sense?
How can a proposal with clear and admitted merit be killed based on the parochial and fact-void tirade by one commissioner? Because instead of debating the proposal on the actual substance of it, Edmonson characteristically turned the item into an opportunity to divide the dais.
“If this goes through,” she warned, ominously — you could almost see the waving finger — “then I think every singe one of us will now have to worry about each other crossing the lines and coming in and doing whatever we want to do in each other’s district. We may as well say let’s do that. This is disrespectful. And when you talk about a Sunshine meeting. A message was sent to me to call one. This is not my item. I am not going into someone else’s district.
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“This is why it was mandated that the voters choose us by single member districts. And until the voters or a judge decide that we are not going to be elected by a single member district, then we should honor that,” Edmonson said, sounding a little ignorant.
Talk about disrespectful.
Um, ah, no, commissioner. You are mistaken. Single member districts were mandated for diversity, to ensure that the ethnic and racial mixes in our population were proportionately represented in our local government. They were not created so you could carve out your little district as a fiefdom and make the wrong decision on behalf of all county residents and taxpayers.
“I know we are all here to represent the whole county,” Edmonson said at the meeting. 
“But, sometimes, we have to show respect on this counter. Otherwise, we are not going to get along. You have to show respect… I think it’s time we start respecting each other on this dais.”
Ladra could say that Edmonson needs to keep her ego in check and show some respect to the taxpayers who are getting bilked with the current deal.
And how on Earth are these five acres of rare public waterfront property, that voters mandated become a public park when they passed the 1996 referendum to build the tax-subsidized AmericanAirlines Arena, suddenly a District 3 asset instead of a countywide asset? It is, in fact, like the Dolphin stadium in District 1. It is also like the Youth Fair vs FIU expansion in District 11. It is like the Crandon Golf Course Trump deal that, thankfully, died in District 7.
These are county assets that belong to all of us and should be protected by all commissioners.
“This is a taxpayer investment. This land belongs to the residents of Miami-Dade County and someone else is benefiting from this,” said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who wanted the additional funding set aside “to
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Face facts people…it will never change.
As long as people like Ralph Garcia-Toledo and Jorge Lopez are pulling at Mayor Toolboy’s knickers, nothing will change in this town. They will have the money to outspend and quash any viable competition. Garcia-Toledo, or “Pizza the Hut” as he is referred to on the 29th floor of County Hall, is as corrupt and unethical as he is overweight. Jorge Lopez is a self-promoting scumbag whose days can’t end soon enough.
Face it people, long lost are the days of decent people running this town.
The Mayor has surrounded himself with absolute garbage…from the previous two clowns to Heckler (while he’s out yanking on the DGA’s checkbook to make a living, all his clients are moving over to more effective firms) to Llorente (another lowlife, just ask the coeds in Tallahassee)…the list goes on and on. And now this ignorant, barely-coherent Commissioners are just falling in line.
Thank you to Juan Zapata and Xavier Suarez for continuing to put up the good fight. The rest are garbage.
But again, when special interests are paying for their festivals and message and ground game, it is unrealistic to think anyone has a shot.
So strap in people, cause it’s about to be strapped-on and given to you.
If there was any law enforcement agency worth its salt in this state López and that crew of lobbyist gangsters would have been convicted and imprisoned long ago but that is impossible based on the fact we are saddled with the most corrupt county mayor and State Attorney in all of Florida. So, for the time being, we will continue to give up our green spaces, paying through nose in tolls for public roads and public parks our taxes have previously paid for and electing connected hoodlums who care little about civic life and more about how to enrich themselves while in public office.
Parcel B should be a park, just like Commissioner Zapata said. The Miami Heat promised to build a park, including a mini-soccer field on that site. Instead the Heat parks trucks and toilets there. Audrey Edmonson being lobbied by Jorge Luis Lopez? Can’t Edmonson think for herself?
Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are the people elected in 13 districts to represent citizens of Miami-Dade County.
Governance
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of unincorporated Miami-Dade County and has broad, regional powers to establish policies for Miami-Dade County services. The government provides major metropolitan services countywide and city-type services for residents of unincorporated areas.
Miami-Dade has a MAYOR with the POWER TO VETO COMMISSION ACTION ITEMS. In January 2007, the Mayor was given additional powers providing for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of Miami-Dade. The Mayor can only serve two terms of four years.
Through ordinances and resolutions, the 13-member Commission sets policies and establishes laws for the community. Miami-Dade County is structured into 13 districts. Residents choose only from among candidates running in the district in which they live. Commissioners are chosen in non-partisan, single-district elections and can serve two four-year staggered terms, with elections scheduled every two years.
In November 2012, the Miami-Dade County Term Limit Amendment was approved, modifying the County charter to establish term limits of two consecutive four-year terms.
Adopted Resolution R-688-14 Mover: Juan C. Zapata
Seconder: Audrey M. Edmonson
Vote: 9 – 0 Absent: Monestime , Heyman , Suarez , Bell
File Number: 141158 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted Version: 0 Reference: R-688-14 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: RECOMMENDED FEE SCHEDULE FOR USE OF PARCEL B
Introduced: 5/19/2014 Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 7/17/2014 Agenda Date: 7/15/2014
Agenda Item Number: 11A7 Notes:
Title: RESOLUTION DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO EMPLOY APPRAISER TO APPRAISE PARCEL B OF THE FEC PROPERTY, WHICH PARCEL IS LOCATED BEHIND THE AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA, TO ASSESS ITS FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE AND TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO THE BOARD FOR ITS APPROVAL A RECOMMENDED FEE SCHEDULE FOR USE OF PARCEL B BASED ON THE RESULTS OF SUCH APPRAISAL; AND ESTABLISHING BOARD POLICY TO FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT COUNTY PARKS WITH FEE REVENUES REMAINING AFTER PAYMENT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PARCEL B Indexes: NONE Sponsors:
Juan C. Zapata, Prime Sponsor
Month-to-Month Extensions of Permits
Administrative Order 8-5 currently provides an administrative process for issuance by the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee of a one-year permit, plus a one-year renewal term for private businesses to conduct private business on any County property. Such permits are issued for short-term concessions, use of parking lots, and similar County revenue-generating contracts with private businesses, usually for special events or when there is a need to provide certain goods and services to the public that are not currently provided by the County. Such permits are intended to be used while a competitive process is underway for the use of County property. There is currently no authorization provided in the existing Administrative Order 8-5 to allow the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to extend such permit until a competitive contract is awarded. As such, the proposed Implementing Order 8-5 includes new language, authorizing the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to extend revenue-generating permits on a month-to-month basis when such a situation exists. This change is not intended to diminish the County’s long-established competitive bidding process, and the County will follow all applicable competitive procedures in awarding concessions, leases, or related contractual agreements.