Its quite possible that yet another sweet, no-bid real estate project gets approval in a fast track process for what seems like the worst transit plan ever by the end of the day Friday — before anyone can notice.
Virgin Trains may get, in a series of back-to-back emergency meetings, $76 million in half penny sales tax funds meant to expand public transportation and a 99-year agreement to operate a Northeast “coastal 
corridor” rail of some kind. Nevermind that there are loads and loads of questions and concerns. Nevermind that a one way ticket could cost $15.
The Citizens Independent Transit Trust, and Ladra uses the words independent and trust loosely here, unanimously approved at the first emergency meeting Thursday evening a recommendation that the county commission approve, at the second emergency meeting less than 24 hours later, this “land acquisition and development deal,” as described in the resolution.
What’s the rush? The question was asked of the CITT members and nobody had an answer.
Instead, they talked about doing something rather than nothing and mentioned that they had spent more money on trains and on the green line. As if throwing good money after bad was okay.
Several board members had very good questions and/or objections, and then voted in favor of the project anyway. A project that is really not about public transit access at all. Not with fares between $9 and $15. One way! Who is going to pay to ride that? Nobody. The county’s own report projects low ridership.
This alone should make it a non-starter.
Because how is that providing better access to public transportation? It’s not. How this “independent” board tasked with oversight of our half penny sales tax found this to be a good deal to be is ludicrous. Only one member was ready to vote no — but, unfortunately, he wasn’t there. CITT Executive Director Javier Betancourt read Glenn Downing‘s letter into the record:
“Greetings from Kansas City. I’m sorry I can’t be with you tonight. I truly regret that I’m not there to vote against the item in tonight’s agenda.
Please let me take the opportunity to remind us all that we are trustees – meaning fiduciaries. Our obligation is to ensure that Trust funds are spent according to the Trust terms, and for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the Trust – that is, the riding public. The Trust’s mandate since 2002 is to fund transit expansion.
Virgin Trains does not operate transit. They are a private railroad and property development company. They are using a good business principal here: use someone else’s money rather than tie up your own. Consequently, they want the County to purchase the land in question and lease it back. The County wants to use Trust funds.”
He went on to ask a bunch of legitimate questions that are unanswered — seeing as how the board got review the documents for less than 24 hours on a secret project that was first disclosed nine days earlier. When the county commission acts on this at the second “emergency” meeting Friday, they will have had about 48 hours to mull the deal over.
How will this affect the other corridors? Will these ridiculous fares set a standard for other public private partnerships? Why are there so few stops between Aventura and downtown? How will people get into and out of the station? How much will Aventura kick in? Looks like the rich city is just acting as a pass through for two developers who want to contribute $4 million to the project — another red flag. Why are they chomping at the bit? Who stands to benefit from, this?
There are a ton of questions about the deal, not to bring up, again, the ridiculous proposed fares that put this out of reach for most of the people the half-penny tax was supposed to benefit. Among the most pressing is who owns the property. It seems to be a point of contention.
Especially seeing how this is a land acquisition and development deal being railroaded over us disguised as public transit.
CITT Vice Chair Oscar J. Braynon, father of the state senator, said that the land
for the Aventura station last sold seven years ago for $14.50 a square foot. The same land the county is supposed to buy for $145 a square foot?
Downing made reference in his letter to a possible straw man who has purchased or has rights to purchase the land from the current owner and who would then sell it to the county. Or something like that. “Who are these sellers? How long have they held the property in question,” he asks.
“Is this an up-and-up deal?”
Uh, the general feeling is no, it is not. It does not pass the stink test.
Perhaps that’s why it’s being done in a hurry. Because nobody wants some questions answered before the deal is in the works. Remember, this is the same county commission that asks for 17 studies before making a move on something. And they’re going to approve this after less than two weeks of full and public discussion at an emergency meeting that nobody knows about on a Friday, the worst possible day for government meetings (but the best day for public officials because they get a weekend buffer).
Remember when we learned that the mayor’s fundraiser’s dad owned the land in Overtown that David Beckham and Jorge Mas and company first purchased for their stadium? It is a legitimate question to ask who owns this land? Especially since this seems like another real estate deal is being railroaded through for the “public good” — this time, it’s disguised as public transit.
Commissioner Xavier Suarez says its funny — weird funny, not haha funny — that the “documents we 
are asked to approve say it is is owned or controlled by the FEC and they want to sell it to us for $18 million.” He says that while the FEC says it owns or controls the property, some other family is on the record as owning those folios. It could be a recent purchase that hasn’t been entered into the record yet.
“But then why should we pay title insurance for a transaction that just happened,” Suarez asked. Oh, because this sweetheart deal also has the county paying all kinds of fees, including the $1.3 million in closing costs for the land sale. The second land sale, we assume.
He also questions the very necessity to purchase land when there are sites close by that can be had for less or for nothing at all.
“This makes no sense whatsoever and its just emblematic of an administration that has no clue. I have to call it a scam,” Suarez said of the deal, and obviously he will vote against it. But so should the other three commissioners running for mayor or this is going to be wrapped around their neck (Ladra will see to it). And so should every other commissioner, even the dinosaurs being forced out by term limits. But watch them on Friday as they bring up the same excuses — something is better than nothing, and “we’ve spent more before” and “we’ll negotiate better terms after” — as the CITT members.
Because the bottom line is this: This may very well be a good public private partnership deal for development in the area. But, with those fares, it is not a mass transit project to be funded with $76 million from the half penny sales tax. Let them find the funds elsewhere.
The county should not approve this land acquisition and development deal until there are far more answers than questions. They want to negotiate better terms after they approve the deal. Whoever heard of that? At the very least, as one critic said at the CITT meeting last night, this puts the county in a position of negotiating from a weak position. Why not negotiate these things first?
Please commissioners, don’t do this now. It is not the right deal.
Why is Virgin Trains Aventura station being railroaded? Who is this deal for? added by Ladra on
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