Vol. 4, No.12 17 September 2023
LOSS OF ENVIRONMENT
Below is a message sent by a very concerned South Miami resident.
If you can, please attend the meeting on Tuesday morning. If not, please email the Board of County Commissioners with your opinions.
Oliver Gilbert is now the Chair of the Board: District1@miamidade.gov. All the Commissioners have email addresses of the same style (district__@miamidade.gov): check them out by clicking here
POLLUTION: NOISE AND AIR
On Tuesday evening, the South Miami Commission will be considering Item 9 in its second reading. They have already approved the proposed changes once. These changes negate the previous banning of fossil-fuel-powered leaf blowers. Unless at least three (brave) Commission members vote NO, air pollution by leaf blowers will continue. With deletions deleted and additions added, amended Section 15D would read:
Sec. 15D-2.1. - Regulations on the use of gas-powered and electric-powered leaf blower.
Gas-powered and electric-powered leaf blowers may be used consistent with the regulations set forth in Chapter 15D of the City's Code of Ordinances (Code). Private property owners and businesses are encouraged to operate electric-powered Landscaping Equipment, but may use a gas-powered blower, in a manner that reduces noise and pollution generated by the equipment, including, without limitation, by not continuously running equipment and by using equipment that operates at a low decibel range (i.e., sixty-five (65) dB at fifty (50) feet). A property owner may permit a leaf blower to be used on or in the vicinity of the owner’s property only between the hours of 7 AM through 5 PM Monday through Friday, or the hours of 9 AM through 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
The proposed changes can be found here.
I understand that Mayor Fernandez added the time limitations to this proposal. [He is to be commended.] If the current item fails, perhaps Mayor Fernandez will propose the time limitations in another amendment.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is being used to make ink for magic markers and other printing applications. Most of the carbon that is in the air is from the burning of fossil fuels. [I shudder to think of the potential ink I breath in when I'm near gas-burning cars and leaf-blowers, etc.]
NEW FORD TRUCK
The Commission will probably approve replacing a current City work truck with a new one. The truck that is listed in Item 7 is a Ford F-150 Pickup Truck. What the paper work does not say is that this truck might be a battery-operated vehicle. Indeed, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning model is a battery-powered truck with a Super Crew Cab.
[I would be the first to congratulate the City if it is, indeed, replacing fossil-fuel machines with electric ones.]
MORE ENCROACHMENT AND GOOD REQUIREMENTS
Item 11 on Tuesday's agenda is a mixed bag. It adds very environmental-friendly requirements to the definition of artificial turf.
However, It goes on to increase by 10% the amount of pervious cover a lot is allowed to have. The justification for decreasing the potential amount of pervious land in South Miami is "based upon input of residents, City board members, design professionals, and property owners within the City." As a consequence, this it has been found "that the current limitations on impervious coverage for residential lots are too restrictive for customary residential development that values an indoor and outdoor lifestyle." I suspect that the referenced residents and property owners are those who want to enlarge the homes or outdoor impervious areas they already own. I suspect, also, that this number is a very small one. If South Miami has 12,000 residents, have 10% (120) indicated recently that they want to enlarge the impervious area of their lots? [I wonder if Mr. Calle should recuse himself from voting on this item that he requested, because he is in the construction business.]
PROCRASTINATION
What really good reasons explain the fact that no free electric-vehicle transportation to a full-service grocery store is available for South Miami residents? This service is going to be needed by many South Miami residents long after downtown has a high-end "market" in its midst.
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[This is my editorial opinion: Given the climate changing mess that we are experiencing the early edges of, every small gesture that would help preserve the earth is welcome. And, every small gesture that negates the earth's ability to mitigate the mess humans have made with their chemicals is unacceptable.]
Keep safe, stay healthy.
Dear Sally B. Philips, thank you for continuing to publish this newsletter filled with political items of local concern to the city of South Miami. I read it in detail and try to act and participate on all items which you share which require actions from citizens like me. I love preserving our natural environment and endorse all things electric and frown on expanding the production of all things fossil-based for future generations. Have a lovely day! 😊
I love GAS-POWERED gadgets and cars! I love my GAS stove and BRIBE.N, the SQUATT$R, can keep his dirty hands off of my stove! If he can have 20 offshore accounts, accept over $50 million in BRIBES, and OVERTHROW the USA, I can keep my GAS STOVE! And I ain't gonna wear that muzzle again and ain't gonna get any experimental SHOTS! 0bama can keep funding biolabs and keep unleashing viruses, but I ain't gonna COMPLY! And 2024 won't be ST0LEN because NOTHING CAN STOP WHAT IS COMING (NCSWIC)! Nothing! God WINS!