November 1st - Lunacy at Coral Reef Library Early Voting

I spent a little time over the last couple of days at Coral Reef Library observing the lunacy at Dade County’s busiest early voting location. My recommendation is that you DO NOT go to Coral Reef Library for early voting - it has the longest wait time of any polling facility in Dade County.  The average wait time has been three hours, which is an hour or two longer than any other early voting location in the county. 

I would recommend that you cast your early ballot at the Kendall Branch Library at 9101 SW 97^th Avenue - it’s an extra 10-minute drive but definitely worth the time.  I suggest that you go to an alternate location so you won’t be accosted by the zealots who are trying to convince you to vote for all of the Palmetto Bay Charter Amendments they are trying to pass. 

In my opinion, and once again it’s my opinion, I would recommend you vote “NO” on every single Palmetto Bay Charter Amendment - especially the Neighborhood Protection Charter Amendment which really should be called the “Property Rights Reduction Act” It has all the elements necessary to bring more land-rights litigation to our Village and restrict freedoms.

Observing the antics of Charter Supporters at Coral Reef Library was reminiscent of cabdrivers in Caribbean cruise ports overwhelming tourists demanding to drive them to the closest t-shirt shop.  It was a little disconcerting to see citizens of our Village acting that way. 

It has been reported that Jerry Templer, Councilwoman Joan Lindsay’s husband, has had the Miami-Dade police called on him twice in four days,  once for physically abusing an opponent’s political sign (kicking and punching it, to be exact,) and once for a verbal confrontation with Councilmember Patrick  Fiore.  Patrick did the appropriate thing and walked away from Jerry three or four times before he had no choice but to summon the police for his own protection.  It’s nice to see that at least one of our Councilmember’s has a little class and decorum.

Speaking of class and decorum, or lack thereof, apparently the Mayor has been seen and photographed wearing the official seal of the Village of Palmetto Bay while canvassing at Coral Reef Library polling location.  Apparently, this is a big “no-no.” Rumor has it that a complaint is in the works to be filed with the ethics board.

While this might seem to be a petty reason to file a complaint, the Mayor has repeatedly claimed the high-ground on ethics.  In the generally accepted definition of ethics, there is no wiggle-room.  Maybe the Mayor has her own definition.  Apparently there are rules against an elected official publicly campaigning for an issue as an official representative of the government. 

Also troubling is that the Mayor has admonished citizens at public hearings for wearing emblems on their shirts.   The people she admonished were wearing shirts that represented groups that she had, at times, been politically at odds.  So certainly, she is aware of the power of institutional association.  Maybe she should brush up on the definition of rules of ethics as Mayor.

So remember, the titles of the Charter Amendments do not reflect their content.  I suggest that you know the issues, use your judgment and find an alternate polling location to save time and avoid the Palmetto Bay circus.  Maybe if we all vote intelligently, the circus will become the fading memory of an insignificant sideshow and we can move towards a productive harmonious future.