Blogging Black Miami

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There's no crying in baseball! The Marlins Stadium deal on life support but will it be approved? [POLL]

Here is video from The Miami Herald website that effectively captures the spirit and tone of the all-day City of Miami commission meeting on the Marlins Stadium deal. I won't go so far as to say the meeting was as much of a circus as a Gov. Rod Blagojevich press conference, but it was pretty bad. This video is 11 minutes long but do take the time to watch it.

Can you say strong-arm?

The Marlins Stadium is basically being forced upon all of the residents in Miami-Dade County and their children and their grandchildren. This deal just has too many open ends and unanswered questions. The unrealistic guarantees and unrealistic projections make this deal so much like snake oil. I'm sure someone was offended by that term but that's how it seems to me.

The conversations that took place during the recesses of the City commission meetings must have been very interesting. The fact that the vote was awkwardly delayed until March leads me to believe that the pressure is now on Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones and stadium proponents feel she will vote in favor of the stadium.

If used effectively, Commissioner Spence-Jones has a powerful bargaining chip to negotiate for assurances in economic participation and jobs at all levels of this stadium's development and operation post-construction.

The saga continues until March 12 for the City of Miami. The County Commissioners have yet to meet. Stay alert. Please.

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Jazz in the Gardens hosted by Tom Joyner March 28 & 29

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – The City of Miami Gardens is pleased to announce the star-studded lineup for the 4th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” hosted by #1 rated, nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, taking place on Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th at Dolphin Stadium, 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056. 

Confirmed artists include the dynamic Maze featuring Frankie Beverly; soul singing sensation, Anthony Hamilton; renowned Grammy award-winning saxophonist, Kenny G; hip-hop emcee and actor, Common; Grammy-winning soul singer and writer, Erykah Badu; R&B singer and songwriter, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds; smooth and sexy, Will Downing; funk, soul and old school jazz composer, Roy Ayers;  West-African-born and critically acclaimed jazz vocalist, Angelique Kidjo; and two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, guitarist and producer, Jonathan Butler. Local artist names will be released soon.

 “Four years ago, we were just another jazz festival, and now it is really amazing to know that nationally and internationally, we are a well-known and respected music festival. ’Jazz in the Gardens’ has become an economic resource; infusing a new stream of revenue into the South Florida area; creating business opportunities for local businesses and sponsors; and driving tourists into South Florida and the local community.  In 2009 we will exceed our past attendance records and continue to make Miami Gardens the winter-break destination for mature adults,” says Mayor Shirley Gibson.

 Tickets are available through the Dolphin Stadium Box office, http://www.jazzinthegardens.com or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Barreiro says he was setup

We now know the story behind the termination of former State Rep. Gus Barreiro from his position with the juvenile justice system. It seems he was accused of viewing pornography on his state issued computer. He says he was setup in retaliation for his exposure of problems within the system.

You can read the story here: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090212/ARTICLES/902120931/1105/NEWS

Marlins Stadium vote delayed until March

Marlins Stadium proponents saw their stadium deal nearly tank today. Proposed revisions to the agreement recommended by Commissioner Sarnoff, opposition by Commissioner Regalado and rebuttals by Commissioners Sanchez and Gonzalez lead the meeting down the tube to utter chaos.

Attempts by Sanchez and Gonzalez to persuade Regalado and Sarnoff to support the plan were awkward and seemed uncomfortably desperate. Sanchez accused Regalado of campaigning from the dais. Both are candidates for Miami Mayor.

Commissioner Spence-Jones, who was absent because she is on maternity leave, will need a different reason to avoid taking a stand publicly on this stadium issue because another vote will be taken in March.

The County Commissioners delayed their meeting pending the vote at the city commission meeting. Since the City's vote took all of the morning and most of the afternoon, the County Commission was spared a similar fate.

As the meeting transpired, statistics, dollar amounts and sentiments were shared. One that I've heard and read so many times is how this stadium will help make Miami a world-class city. I respect everyone's opinion even if I disagree. A baseball stadium will not make Miami world-class.

Anyhoo, let's see what happens next but for sure the plan is unacceptable if there is not equity in the economics for all of Miami-Dade County.

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Votes on Marlins Stadium today

By now you know that important votes will me made today regarding government funding of the Marlins Stadium project by County commissioners and City of Miami commissioners.

The vote appears to be tight with some commissioners clearly in support or against the current funding proposal.

Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones is on maternity leave so the City commissioners may be deadlocked and the proposal may fail with that Board.

The County Commission requires a supermajority of nine for passage and that is up in the air with five commissioners undecided.

If this is more of the same Miami politics, this proposal will pass inspite of it not benefiting most of this community.

There are far too many unanswered questions and too much double-talk and fast-talking.

When this plan passes, the stadium is built and then needs a bailout, the voters in Miami have themselves to blame for electing leaders that do not look out for the best interests of the people.

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HBCUs feeling the economic pain

As news of the ever worsening economy continuesto each day, HBCUs are feeling the pain in increasing numbers. Here's info forwarded to me regarding Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University.

Morehouse cuts staff; Clark Atlanta reorganizes after cuts Clark drops its physical education classes By BEN SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday, February 08, 2009   On the heels of its announcement last week that it was restructuring its curriculum and letting 70 faculty members go, Clark Atlanta University on Sunday said all physical education classes had been canceled for the semester.   The cancellations were announced in a letter to students from the university’s academic affairs office. John Spink / jspink@ajc.com Classes are canceled at Clark Atlanta on Monday as the school reorganizes classes after staff cuts. Higher education Morehouse cuts staff; CAU ends physical education  Clark Atlanta University cuts 100 jobs  Ex-dean sues UGA; former reporter must testify  Opponents want study on merging colleges  Budget writers grill university system chancellor  Interactive database: They charge, we pay The letter also stated that class schedule changes in the School of Arts and Sciences “will be made available to you shortly,” but that class schedules in the schools of Education, Business and Social Work would remain unchanged. Clark Atlanta isn’t the only higher educational insitution feeling the sting of a foundering economy.   On Sunday, Morehouse College officials confirmed that 25 adjunct professors, about one-third of the part-time instructors employed there, did not have their contracts renewed for the spring semester. Full-time Morehouse faculty and staff were not affected by the move, officials said.   On Friday, Clark Atlanta president Carlton E. Brown announced that an “enrollment emergency” exacerbated by current economic conditions required 100 faculty and staff members to be laid off. Monday classes were canceled as the administration prepared to unveil a revised class schedule.   Having the day off didn’t give any joy to some students.

DELANCYHILL P.A. HONORS FORMER COMMISSIONER BETTY T. FERGUSON AT 5TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Miami    -   On Friday  February 27 , 2009, at its 5^th annual celebration for Black History Month, delancyhill P.A., in collaboration with the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (HMSF), the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau,  as part of the HMSF preview of the Black Crossroads: The African Diaspora in Miami exhibition, will honor former county commissioner Betty T. Ferguson for inspiring change, community engagement and building bridges in the African Diaspora of South Florida.  The invitation-only reception and preview will host clients, firm partners, Visitors Bureau members and community leaders at 6:00 PM in the Historical Museum of Southern Florida located at 101 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. For more information or to RSVP call 786-777-0184.
                                                                

This commemorative 5th year celebration of Black History Month inspired the law firm of delancyhill, P.A. to create the award of Firm Partner Star, previously offered to Ruth Shack, Dorothy Jenkins-Fields, David Wilson, and Babacar M’Bow for their contributions to uplifting African-American communities of South Florida.             .

Opa-locka First in Nation to Rename Avenue after President Obama

Commissioner Dorothy "Dottie" Johnson 

   Presents 

A Street Naming Dedication Ceremony and "Hail to the Chief Parade" 

Honoring

President Barack Obama

Other activities include:

Mini Job Fair, Free Health Screening, Free concert 

           Monday, February 16, 2009 - President's Day

 Beginning at 10:00 A.M. in Opa-locka

For more parade and vendor information Call 305.688.4611

Miami Dade College will Honor its Best and Brightest April 16 at the 2009 Alumni Hall of Fame Gala

MIAMI, Feb. 9, 2009 - In what has become a beloved spring tradition in South Florida, Miami Dade College (MDC) will honor some of its most outstanding alumni at its Alumni Hall of Fame Gala on Thursday, April 16, at Jungle Island. This year’s event includes special video tributes for each honoree.

MDC’s 2009 Alumni Hall of Fame honorees are many of the nation’s premier impresarios, public servants, artists and other leaders.  The ceremony will celebrate the career achievements of former students such as Carlos Martinez, public defender, Miami-Dade County; Dr. Elsa Murano, president, Texas A & M University; Tony Segreto, news anchor, WTVJ NBC Channel 6; Beatrice Louissaint, president, Florida Regional Minority Business Council; Juan del Busto, regional executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Lin Arison, author; and several other influential leaders in their respective fields.

MDC President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, himself an MDC alumnus, invites the community to join in celebrating the honorees. “These deserving alumni are proof that a solid education opens doors and creates great career opportunities. The Alumni Hall of Fame is proud to add their names to the group of luminaries we celebrate each year.”

Past MDC Alumni Hall of Fame honorees include actor Andy Garcia, music industry mogul Emilio Estefan, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, and former Dolphins receiver Nat Moore.