by Lone Shark
I have to give Pembroke Pines City Manager Charlie Dodge credit. He seems generally interested in getting together with US Immigrations and Customs to have an honest, factual conversation about the proposed civil detention center in Southwest Ranches. With all the misinformation being circulated by the opposition, I cannot blame him for wanting to get the facts.According to this article from the Miami Herald, Dodge has sent a letter to the Executive Associate Director of ICE complaining that “absent direct communication from ICE, the city has not been able to separate the inaccuracies from the facts.” But instead of directing his inquiry to ICE, perhaps Dodge should talk to his own City Commissioners who have turned down previous ICE requests for a meeting.
At their February 15 City Commission hearing, Dodge himself informed the Commissioners of an opportunity to meet with ICE and officials from Southwest Ranches. The Commissioners refused, citing a previous resolution they had sent to the White House opposing the facility. Mayor Frank Ortis said bluntly, “I’m not going to meet with them (ICE).” Vice Mayor Iris Siple and Commissioner Angelo Castillo said they’d prefer to wait and meet with the White House:
Do you think the 2nd Amendment will be destroyed by the Biden Administration?(2)
“We sat up here and put an awful lot of time and effort into drafting out a resolution that we then sent to our President. And we expect him to take the time to look at what his constituents send to him.” – Vice Mayor Iris Siple
“We have a resolution we sent to the White House and I actually look forward to a response. And at the point that we get a response, we can survey where we are at at that point. While I appreciate the offer, I think it is premature…I don’t have a particular need to meet with them (ICE) now, I’d rather we meet in the White House and find out what our President is going to do to help the City of Pembroke Pines.” – Commissioner Angelo Castillo
Dodge is right to be frustrated with the misinformation being circulated in the community. But he need only look down the dais to see those responsible. Take a look for yourself, here is the link to the Pine Commission meeting. The discussion of meeting with ICE begins around 1 hour and 58 minutes
