Since he first started campaigning to become the governor of Florida, Rick Scott’s has been all about creating more “jobs, jobs, jobs” for Floridians, and to bring more business opportunities to the state.
I can confidently say that we(Floridians) can all agree that Scott’s job-creation push since he became governor of the state has been a huge success, and that those same ongoing efforts to bring new businesses will continue to aide Florida’s current economic.But while we welcome more of these job creation projects , shouldn’t Floridian’s take a step back and question Governor Scott and other elected officials anytime they try to move too quickly on any government-backed, or private-public partnerships, which include the use of taxpayer dollars?
Take for example this new proposed deal to build one of the biggest mega-malls in the world.
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Scott, along with his Cabinet, as well as with the Miami-Dade County Commission, has put the plan to build the “American Dream Miami” mall on a fast track, perhaps without thoroughly considering many of the possible set-backs that could ensnarl neighborhoods surrounding the proposed mall.
So far, only Miami-Dade officials have weighed in on this mega-mall project. Broward has been left out of the discussion. The Governor and Cabinet is the only official body involved that represents Broward residents in this matter, even though the project site rests just a couple of miles from Miramar.
This is no simple rubber-stamp land deal, and the Governor and Cabinet should proceed carefully.First of all, while I am all for this type of jobs and economic development, I hate being stuck in traffic and having to pay anymore taxes than I have to.
The proposed “mega-mall” is slated to be built in NW Miami-Dade County, where it will bump up against the Broward County city of Miramar.
Let me just tell you that unless they create some ingenious plan to lessen the traffic nightmare that already exists in this part of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, in particularly on the Palmetto Expressway, the building of this new “mega-mall” will all but certainly create hell on earth for local Floridians trying to commute between the two counties.
“It’s going to be war!” exclaims day care center operator Angela Ortega, 52, a mall opponent who was standing in her front yard a few blocks from the mall site one recent afternoon, gesturing in frustration at the long line of vehicles exiting from one of the eight schools in the area.
“Look at the traffic we have now. And every day it’s worse.”Public officials are sympathetic to her complaint. “That’s one of the things we’ve got to hear from the mall developer — how do you plan to get people into your property,” says Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo, who represents the area. “Right now, 183rd Street is the only option. And if that’s the only way in on the final plan, this thing is dead on arrival as far as I’m concerned.”-Miami Herald
How do you think this traffic nightmare will impact nearby neighborhoods, and what hidden burdens will there be on taxpayers, as a result of building this “mega-mall?”
Again, I am all for this type of job creation, let’s just take a deep breathe and thoroughly think it over, and consider all of the pros and cons to the project.
So what are some of these pros and cons to building the new “mega-mall?”
Here are just a few of the legitimate questions that must be answered before this project is allowed to move forward:–Will Miami-Dade government officials, from the mayor to the County Commission, seize private property (much owned by The Graham Companies and AMB I-75, part of the NYSE traded company Prologis) near the property in question to complete the deal if the mega-mall developers aren’t able to buy up all the parcels they need for the project?
-Which properties have been identified as being needed to complete the mega-mall project and have the property owners been notified and approached about selling their parcels? Is there an outside chance that “Eminent Domain” plays a role here?
-Why isn’t it correct to think that the Miami-Dade Commission is playing a leading role in ensuring a massive profit built-in for the developer once they receive the land from Miami-Dade and have it rezoned for the mega-mall construction, which makes the property much more valuable over night?
-Why is the Miami-Dade School Board giving up its lease on the property when it entered into a 50-year-lease on it just a few years ago and spent more than $7 million to lease the property? What was the district’s initial stated purpose for leasing the property and why didn’t the district carry this out while committing to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to continue the lease? What prompted the district to decide that it didn’t need the property?
-Who is going to pay for all the infrastructure needed for this massive project – not the least of which will be road construction to carry shoppers and tourists to and from the mega-mall? (Hint: Look in the mirror for that one.) I mean, really, do we want another Golden Glades interchange on the edge of the Everglades?-The mall developers promise thousands of new jobs – but how to we hold them accountable in the future if their promises turn to dust?
-According to published reports, he mega-mall developer says Legoland will be an attraction at the mega-mall. Has the developer discussed this with Legoland and has Legoland agreed to participate in the project? If not, why is the developer intentionally misleading the public about the project and what other claims about the project’s intentions need to be confirmed?
-There are questions surrounding the mega-mall’s developer’s promotional materials and the possible inappropriate usage of intellectual property of Disney and Hard Rock corporations. Has the developer used copyrighted images of Disney and/or the Hard Rock corporations it its materials and has the developer obtained permission from Disney and Hard Rock to use their company intellectual property in the mega-mall promotional material? If not, why is the developer intentionally misleading the public about the project?
-What will the developer’s incentive be to follow through on all its glorious promises, once it gets what it wants from the public?
-What will happen to countless other local small businesses when this new mall sucks all the oxygen from the room?-Who else stands to reap a bonanza from this deal? Are the current property owners in on a sweetheart deal to clear the way for the mega-mall?
-The mega-mall proposal includes several tall structures. Will this pose a risk to local air traffic at Opa-Locka Airport and Miami International Airport?
-Have the developers actively reached out to area neighborhood residents in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to address their rightful concerns about how this project will impact their daily lives?
-How much consideration has been given to the environmental impact of the project? Is a mega-mall on the edge of the Everglades really the best way to preserve this unique part of Florida’s heritage?
-Like I said, there are questions on top of questions – these, and many others. Here’s one final question for you: Until we have complete answers, do we really want to trust the government to watch out for our interests?
President Reagan once said of the Soviets to, “Trust, but verify.” Providing straight and truthful answers to these questions would be a good start as this project is debated.
Like I said, there are questions on top of questions – these, and many others. Here’s one final question for you: Until we have complete answers, do we really want to trust the government to watch out for our interests?
President Reagan once said of the Soviets to, “Trust, but verify.” Providing straight and truthful answers to these questions would be a good start as this project is debated.
Job creation and economic development is great, let’s just make sure government considers all of their options, before they overreach and invest in projects, like the disastrous taxpayer funded Marlins Park project, that may not benefit Floridians.