Protests, electioneering at Liberty Square

     With a mayoral election looming, a pastors' protest at Liberty Square on Monday took on strong political overtones, with harsh criticism of Mayor Carlos Gimenez, an appearance by his top rival and -- perhaps a first for the county's oldest housing project -- an appearance by fervent animal rights activist Rita Schwartz. For photos and a report on the show, click HERE. I'll have a serious analysis of Related Group's final final proposal later.

The Legend Continues

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November 1978, Jonestown, Guyana: Jim Jones is at bottom right, face up, belly exposed, while a San Francisco Examiner photographer walks among the dead. Photo: Tim Chapman, Courtesy of HistoryMiami

es, it’s true: He once paid for a voodoo curse on a photo editor. (“It worked!”) True: He was able to rush off to the Jonestown massacre because he had $2000 in cash in his work locker. Yes, he slashed a TV camera operator’s cable because the crew was blocking his shot. Trying to stuff a snake down a driver’s throat? Well, that’s an exaggeration.
     Now, HistoryMiami is preparing an exhibit of his work. My story in Biscayne Times is available HERE. 

Transit App: Good and Bad

   A new, unpublicized GPS app for Miami-Dade Transit is working: (A) Pretty Darn Good, (B) Not So Good and (C) Spot on. That's three reactions -- two from regular bus commuters and one from my own observations. Full story is HERE.

Transit Tracker Up and Running

    Real-time GPS tracking is now available for virtually all buses in the county, Transit Director Alice Bravo said Thursday. The question for riders: Is it really working? Full story, including more CITT developments, available HERE.

Three Commissioners Commit for Housing

    Three county commissioners promised Monday night before a crowd of 1,500 to push for $10 million for affordable housing in the next county budget, but a deputy mayor said the county couldn't afford it.
    The statements came during the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly,  hosted by PACT, a group representing 38 religious organizations in Miami-Dade. Full story HERE.

Big Grassroots Gathering for Housing

          As more than 1,000 persons prepare to gather next Monday to demand solutions for affordable housing, the county commission has yet to consider any major measure to deal with the growing problem.
    The meeting -- described as the county's "largest grassroots residents gathering" -- is sponsored by PACT, a Miami group that brings together the social efforts of 40 churches, synagogues, mosques and universities. Full story HERE.

Denver's Nirvana for Transit, Housing

    Denver's housing director told a standing-room audience of policy geeks on Thursday how the city has successfully attacked the two main problems that bedevil Miami-Dade: nightmare traffic and severe lack of affordable housing. The solutions fit together. Full story HERE.