Pinecrest, South Miami and Coral Gables, backed by some area businesses, have campaigned for three years against the utility’s plan to run a 230-kilovolt line that would run up U.S. 1 from the edge of Cutler Bay to Coconut Grove, urging FPL to put it underground or use an existing corridor farther west. Earlier this month, Coral Gables filed a suit contending the proposal violated long-standing agreements, and Miami also waded in with legal objections. Kudos to Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner and South Miami Mayor Dr. Phillip Stoddard who have shown true leadership and dogged determination in this tough effort.
Who is missing? Why Palmetto Bay is missing (a recent consistent course of conduct). Somehow the thought of rows of 500-kilovolt lines on 100-foot-tall concrete and steel towers running down US1 from 136 street north does not offend Mayor Shelley Stanczyk or the Palmetto Bay Council. The issue has united many other communities and their elected officials who do care about neighborhood protection, namely the Cities of Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami and Pinecrest. Even Miami-Dade County questions whether both corridors run afoul of county codes. Environmental groups such as Friends of the Everglades and the Tropical Audubon Society are engaged. Williamson Cadillac and other businesses fear the impact and have taken up the fight all agreeing on the profound detrimental impact that the proposed FPL transmission lines will have on area quality of life.Palmetto Bay was once part of the fight under my leadership, but Mayor Stanczyk has firmly placed her head in the sand, reversed course and avoided this fight (much like how she has left Pinecrest to continue the fight alone for the USDA area fire station). Palmetto Bay recently withdrew from the area wide effort. See my July 8, 2013, post: FPL Transmission Line Administrative Hearing begin today (After 4 years of preparation) - and without Palmetto Bay
I guarantee you that Mayor Stanczyk will be trying to lead the parade if the hard work of these other communities pay off and lead to a big win for our communities, but in reality, Mayor Stanczyk, it will be in spite of you, not because of you as once again, you have run and failed to support your allies.
Mayor Stanczyk only fights schools. Typical bully. FPL can fight back.
ReplyDeleteShe does not have enough support on the council to get anything passed to take on FPL.
DeleteIt is not whether you win or lose, it is whether you step up to the plate for your community. Madam Stanczyk wont even suit up, let alone come out from the dug out. She loses by hiding from the issues important to Palmetto Bay and its neighbors.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is misleading. That is not a correct picture of what FP&L is planning. If you need to know what a 100 foot concrete pole looks like you should look it up on your google machine. Its not much higher than a street lamp and they are much farther apart. And its certainly not a 'tower.' Either you are deliberately misleading or, and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, you dont know what you are talking about. Either way you should correct this entry to your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe height of the pole is only part of the problem. There is more than aesthetics. We need to be clear on the health concerns: http://www.eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-truth-about-fpl-transmission-lines.html
ReplyDelete