Any updates on the 87th Avenue Bridge "fight"? Why are village officials not holding any public stakeholder town halls?

 Are there any substantive updates to the Palmetto Bay bridge issue?

Interesting that a member of the pro-bridge community raised an issue on Social Media (on Tuesday, May 18, 2021):

"Has there been any activity by the village to assess desired changes to roads on the north side of the soon-to-be bridge?"

I asked whether the question was rhetorical. The response I received was 

"... no, I had read that the conflict resolution process was to gain time so these considerations could be assessed."

The Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (“TPO”) will be hosting the Conflict Resolution Assessment Meeting with Village of Palmetto Bay representatives regarding the SW 87th Avenue Bridge Project on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM. 

Per the official notice:

... This meeting will be conducted using a teleconferencing platform and broadcast live. Members of the public may attend the meeting physically in-person and/or watch the virtual meeting via the Village’s official Facebook page and/or our Granicus web stream on www.palmettobayfl.gov; however, there is no public comment. (all emphasis added)

Let that sink in - NO PUBLIC COMMENT!

Apparently those affected have no voice, no input and no pre-advisement of what the current village officials intend to present.

FAIR QUESTIONS:

• Have Palmetto Bay officials engaged one of the Village’s traffic engineering services to provide professional guidance? Or will they be shooting from the seat of their pants, inserting their personal opinions as to traffic mitigation to offset the impact of the bridge?
• Will any traffic alternatives to the bridge be presented?
• Who, if any, affected or soon to be impacted residents (stakeholders) have been consulted?
• Will the public be provided with any of the materials in advance?
• Why no public comment? There was public comment allowed at the prior Conflict Resolution held back on December 12, 2019 (relating to the 4 way stop intersection, 87 Ave/174. See prior related post: January 7, 2020, South Dade Updates Guest Blog- view of the 12/12/2019 Palmetto Bay / Miami-Dade County conflict resolution proceeding).
• Where (from what sources) will the representatives of the Village gain their resolution authority from?

Let’s face it. There has been "argument", but no real campaign mounted in opposition to the bridge. In my opinion, this mayor and council appear to simply want it over and blame others for their ineffectiveness.

See another prior related post, January 6, 2020, Palmetto Bay’s current Mayor needs to stop hiding behind proxy attacks and build coalitions, not angry mobs through misinformation. 2020’s first textbook example of poor leadership. 

Meanwhile: a pictures posted on the Miami-Dade Traffic Discussion Facebook page appear to provide some insight as to the County’s plan on moving forward on the bridge:

Photo credits: Miami-Dade Traffic Discussion Facebook page 

This all relates back to Spanish idiom I opened a prior related post with - "to throw the stone and hide the hand" which means "to start some kind of trouble and then not take responsibility for that.” It’s all about ‘don’t blame (Mayor Cunningham – who appears to be doing a great job at avoiding responsibility), who appears to be saying different things to different people and who has, let's face it, done a poor, ineffective, job in "fighting" against the 87th Av bridge. The plan remains blame the County (and prior administrations) for what happens. Leadership? Transparency? speaking straight to Constituents? Hardly. This is a coward’s way out. Palmetto Bay deserves better.

Now let's see how true to their word our elected officials are at the Conflict Resolution Assessment Meeting on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM.