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News & Notes

• SFDB takes a look at a Herald article, in which the author of Miami: City of the Future describes the changes that have taken place in the Magic City, since the book was published in 1987. Miami: City of the Future was one of the first books I read when I made the move here. Great Book.


• Eye on Miami points us in the direction of an interesting little video on Stuff.


• SFFB takes a look at the Dolphins 32nd pick. I like the pick!


• How the Cocaine Cowboys were run out of town. Via Miami Monthly Magazine


• Miami-Dade County is going all out to retain jobs through tax incentives and other perks.


• Burn Notice will be back: Season 2 starts July 10. The popular TV show which is filmed locally in the Grove and around Miami will also be adding Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer to its cast. She will appear in an unknown number of episodes as Michael's handler.


• A Treasury Auction for general property will be held in Miami on July 30, 2008 at the VSE Warehouse, 1173 NW 159 Drive, Miami, FL, 33169.

Roisin Murphy - Live - Dear Miami!

The 2008 SunPost 50 - For Better or Worse!

The most influential South Floridians, for better or worse.
Here are a few of my favorite photos and clippings from the Miami SunPost article. I especially love the piece on our Police Chief.

We’re not sure how a police chief — whose force has determined they have no confidence in him, and who’s recently been under investigation by the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics, the state ethics commission, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Miami Civilian Investigative Panel, and the FBI for cooking crime statistics and accepting bribes — manages to remain in the city of Miami’s top law enforcement position, but Miami Police Chief John Timoney has done it.

Timoney’s questionable behavior — including improper use of a pricey SUV from Lexus of Kendall for more than a year, spending taxpayer money on fancy, unnecessary vacations, general absenteeism and allegations that he or other members of his department told his officers to fudge crime statistics — became the center of public scrutiny last year, yet neither City Manager Pete Hernandez nor the Miami Commission has purged the city of Timoney.

So far, the guy hasn’t been held accountable for anything he’s done — unacceptable for elected officials, who must avoid even the appearance of impropriety — and, last month, he again skirted the CIP’s investigation by avoiding a subpoena to testify before the panel’s complaint subcommittee.

Anyone who can dodge allegations and complaints this severe without even a slight burn must be made of Teflon.


She is the founder and president of the imaginatively named Andi Greenwald Development Group.

Greenwald has developed and restored many well-known Miami Beach buildings — including Tribeca, Santa Monica, Metropolis, Coconut and Cabana — often setting record-high prices in the process. The Miami Design Preservation League twice honored her for her work, in 2000 and 2002, and she received the key to the city of Miami Beach in 2004 for her commitment to the community. Furthermore, Greenwald has a fondness for animals, saving every stray that comes her way and always paying the veterinarian bills. She is a supporter of the Humane Society and its no-kill facility, to which she often brings stray animals for adoption.

Miami Fraternal Order of Police President Armando Aguilar has, often single-handedly, waged the white-knight crusade against embattled Miami Police Chief John Timoney. Aguilar, a detective, most recently challenged Timoney on the floor of the Miami City Commission chambers, as elected officials discussed an item related to the Miami Police Department’s paltry recruitment numbers and pitiful staffing levels. He again ripped into Timoney and City Manager Pete Hernandez for inaction, low department morale, general ineptness in the city’s Civilian Investigative Panel investigation into allegations that the chief accepted bribes (including a free SUV from Lexus of Kendall) and fudged crime statistics. Timoney, just a few seats away, squirmed in his seat.

In comic book-worthy exchanges, Aguilar has challenged the chief at every turn in his fight against insider corruption — and he isn’t likely to quit anytime soon.

Read more entries at Miami-Forum »