Update from Coalition Against Causeway Chaos

Newsletter #2 on Watson Island Project

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Update 3/7/15 - Action in Court: David vs. Goliath

Seven citizen plaintiffs challenging the City of Miami over the Watson Island Flagstone project were in court Thursday on the key issue of “standing” –the legal right to bring an issue before a court.

Eight –count ‘em – 8 lawyers representing the City and Flagstone teamed up against attorney Sam Dubbin representing the citizen plaintiffs. One can only imagine the torrent of taxpayer money the City is spending to squash this citizen challenge to its illegal and secret actions. What are they afraid of?

At issue is a consistent body of Florida law holding that any affected citizen can challenge actions by the City that are void, including the Charter violations the plaintiffs have alleged governing the leasing of public land to private parties.

The City’s army of lawyers are aggressively using the issue of “standing” as their first line of attack aimed at blocking any legal action citizens challenging the Commissioners’ and staff’s decisions.

And so their lawyers argued in essence that only public officials have “standing” in a case like this to challenge the City’s actions over Watson Island.

This absurd argument would leave cities and counties able to violate their charters at will with no citizen or court oversight. In the case of Watson Island this amounts to permission for the City’s outrageous pattern of blocking participation, concealing damning public records until after it takes illegal actions, refusing to account for the impacts of the project, and breaking one law after another to support the developer.

For our side Attorney Dubbin argued that standing should be granted so the facts of the City’s wrong doing and illegal acts could be brought out in a full trial. “The central issue of this case is fundamental corruption of the process,’ said Dubbin, “and if citizens are denied access to the courts in a case as clear as this then open government and accountability are dead.”

Importantly, the day before this hearing Attorney Dubbin had filed a Request for Postponement based on the discovery that the City had withheld vital information despite an earlier court decision requiring disclosure. At the start of the hearing Judge Gordo indicated she didn’t want to postpone the case, but we would be given time to provide that information before she decided the standing issue.

At the end of the hearing Judge Monica Gordo, with an audience of journalists, plaintiffs and citizens from Miami Beach, the Islands and Miami looking on, ruled that the parties had 15 days to submit additional information and arguments on the prejudicial information withheld by the City; and that 45 days after that she would issue her decision in this case.

From the perspective of the plaintiffs and other citizens who watched the arguments: Score: David 1 – Goliath 0

Attorney Sam Dubbin (right) faces off against a team of 8 lawyers representing the City and private developer.

Video of Hearing

You can see Al Crespo's entire story on the hearing here. And you can find the details on the lengths to which the City will go to thwart its citizens by clicking here. Look for the yellow highlighting to get a sense of the City's behavior.

And you can find the details on the lengths to

which the City will go to thwart its citizens by

Your Support Needed Today

The battle to stop the Watson Island Project is everyone's fight. Whether you live on the Islands, Miami Beach, or in Miami, it's your commute, your property values, your lifestyle and security that is threatened. Please help today. Thank you!

fight. Whether you live on the Islands, Miami Beac

h or in

Miami, it’s your commute, your property values, your

lifestyle and security that is threatened. Please h

Click Here to Support Us Today

Neighborhood & Community Support is Snowballing

On February 20th we were thrilled to participate as a sponsor of “The Heroes Breakfast” organized by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and honoring First Responders.

The concern over the likelihood that the Watson Island Flagstone Project will strangle traffic and sever Miami Beach from the mainland was expressed by nearly everyone we talked to. No one made it more clear than Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez who told us that he worries about what will happen to folks who have to be rushed from the Beach to Jackson Memorial in an emergency.

Mayor Philip Levine

MAYOR PHILIP LEVINE continues to lead the charge on the Beach backed by the unanimous support of the Commissioners, in pressing for a comprehensive traffic study on the effects of Watson Island. At the same time the MB Commission and Mayor have also directed the City Attorney to explore all options, including legal remedies available to Miami Beach.

Readers will call that the traffic study conducted by the City of Miami 10 years ago failed to examine the impact of traffic on Hibiscus, Star, Palm, Fisher and the Terminal Islands, not to mention MacArthur and its intersections with 5th Street on the Beach and Biscayne in Miami.

The Mayor has also ramped up his personal efforts in this battle by continuing to speak out on the issue and by encouraging leaders in neighborhood and homeowner associations to become actively involved in support of our citizens movement.

A Moving Tribute to Marian and Frank

As is so often the case Frank and Marian DelVecchio played a key role as spark plugs in mobilizing awareness and action on the Watson Island issue in Miami Beach.

Mayor Levine declared February 24th as Marian DelVecchio Day in honor of Marian’s 80th birthday. A large, enthusiastic crowd gathered early that evening to toast Marian and honor both DelVecchios.

Here's a short video of the festivities to which we add our thanks for all they're doing to mobilize effective action against the Watson Island Project.

How Watson Island Affects YOU and your HOA

A number of HOAs have asked us to brief their Boards and residents on the impacts of Watson Island. If the board or membership of your HOA or neighborhood association would like to schedule a briefing, please contact us at info@causewaychaos.org .

In addition to facts, figures, and legal updates, we’ve created some photo and video presentations that are sure to get your neighbors’ attention. Here’s a sampling: How the Watson Island Strangler will appear to those viewing it from Palm and Hibiscus Islands. (Click on image to enlarge).

Sunshine Is The Best Disinfectant

In the next Causeway Chaos Update we’ll be reporting a series of shocking discoveries of unethical and legal behavior on the part of Miami City officials.

Disturbing revelations were obtained by court order from our public records requests.

We believe there is much more to discover where the Watson Island Strangler is concerned. Consequently we’ve enlarged our Investigative Taskforce to include law students from area universities. Their job is to prepare public records requests on a variety of key issues ranging from evacuation plans, harbor security, sea rise and other issues that affect your personal safety.

If you, or someone you know, might be a volunteer candidate for our Investigative Taskforce – and they need not be attorneys -- please contact us at info@causewaychaos.org

Speak Up! Voice Your Concern on the Traffic Nightmare

Unlike the weather there is something you and I can do about current traffic issues and the massive gridlock that will occur on the MacArthur Causeway if the Watson Island project is not stopped.

Voice your concern in the Miami Herald’s Readers Forum by sending a letter –not more than 150 words—to HeraldEd@MiamiHerald.com. Or fax it to 305-376-8950 or mail it to The Readers’ Forum, Miami Herald, 3511 NW 91st Street, Miami, FL 33172. Be sure to include your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Get Social. Stay Updated. Enlist Your Friends.

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Forward this issue of Update to friends and neighbors and urge them to sign-up for their own free Updates, alerts and other timely information.

Please email us at Info@causewaychaos.org

Forward

Coming Attractions in the Week Ahead

Briefings of Home Owner Associations and Neighborhood Associations continues.
We’ll reveal the series of shocking discoveries of unethical and legal behavior on the part of Miami City officials.
Investigate Taskforce launches new series of public records requests.
Meetings and briefings with candidates for November’s local elections on the Watson Island Flagstone issues.

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