Zoning ammendment fails - How the key voted

November 10, 2008 | Posted by: Rafa | Filed In: Elections, Politics, the Key

Well, we won (I guess). The key voted 70 percent in favor of sticking with the current zoning solution, which lets key residents vote on any zoning changes. The current solution may have some problems, but I’d say it’s easier to resolve those problems from this perspective than it would be if the amendment had passed. Preserve our Key Biscayne cofounder Michael Kelly was also voted onto the council, giving the council what I feel is a little more balance.

Of all Key Biscayne registered voters, who totalled 6,403, 68 percent of them came out and voted. This is comparable to the rest of the county. In the presidential race, the Key voted more for the McCain/Palin ticket by 700 votes.

To read the rest of the breakdown, hit the jump.

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Zoning Voting Back on the KB ballot

October 20, 2008 | Posted by: Rafa | Filed In: Elections, Politics, the Key

As much as I’d like to make my case here on Rat Radio about who I want for president, I’ve told myself I’ll refrain. There are some issues which I have no problem endorsing, though, and the zoning laws of the key is one of those issues.

Back in June 2007 Key Biscayne voted to make all major zoning changes require voter approval, and it passed by a landslide majority. The council was notably upset by this; it stripped away one of their most important powers. It basically paralyzed the council to deal with zoning.

When it happened it was largely in response to the new Sonesta plans and what was deemed extreme negligence on behalf of the council towards what Key Biscayners really feel makes an island paradise. I have to argue that it’s a good thing we have the right to vote on zoning changes. While it makes the council ineffective in dealing with these problems, that’s exactly what we want. We don’t want a council that can easily make huge changes to the key without approval. We want a council that has to take a lot of time to make big changes. We want a council that has to present a case that is appealing to Key Biscayne residents, not just to Key Biscayne business interests. I have no doubt that bigger means better for Key Biscayne businesses, but I feel that residents get the short end of the stick in most of these cases. By making sure we have to vote on zoning changes it makes sure the council has to sell the idea to a majority of residents, explaining why it’ll be good not just for business, but for everyone who lives here. It also needs to be said that the more money is made by Key Businesses, and the more residents there are on Key Biscayne, the more power the council has. So, in a sense, the council is biased towards making the key bigger.

If you agree with what I’ve said here, make sure you vote NO on reform referendum #193. If you vote yes to give power back to the council, all you’re doing is taking away one of your rights.

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Vote Lou ‘08

August 5, 2008 | Posted by: Lou Restrepo | Filed In: Politics

I just want to begin by explaining that although this piece is political, relatively partisan and 100% factual; in no way do I intend to shit on a morons right to vote or a bigot’s right to free speech. These are simply accounts of how my own personal political journey made it’s way to this years election.

At about 5:30pm, just about the time the average yahoo like myself gets home from work, a fuck- force barrage of political coverage floods the tube like gay dudes at a Yani concert. MSNBC, FOX News and CNN all have their rock stars Keith Oberman, Anderson Cooper, Bill O’Reilly and Chris Matthews all jockeying for position to either change my mind or lie til their noses knock over the cue cards. Although I love to watch the daily events, just to store inside my basket of bullshit, I must agree that none whatsoever have swayed my political opinion. Watching however did make me wonder as to how I arrived at my current political affiliation. When did I make this independent choice to stay Democrat?

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