On November 10,  Council approved the future use as a park for the only Village-owned empty lot at 530 Crandon Blvd., ignoring the need for a location to build the much needed high school.

Once again, Council has ignored the public process conducted by the IBI Group, the the 530 Crandon Focus Groups and public charrettes, which overwhelmingly supported an educational multi-use facility for this lot (see page 16 of their report here) and, as has become a norm, wasting our tax money and ignoring the community involvement.
 
Why would Council assigned 530 Crandon Blvd. as a park? The IBI report clearly concludes: "Key Biscayne residents feel the majority of their parks and recreation needs are currently being met" (see conclusion on page 12 here). Very simply, Council continues the practice of wasting our tax money by hiring external consultants to make it appear as a public process and then doing whatever they had in mind by either manipulating the outcome of the studies or just plainly ignoring the results - and the will of the majority of residents.
 
High school advocates have clearly demonstrated we can create a great high school and intergenerational center in our community, without any subsidies for its operation. However, Council continues ignoring the high school deficiency, brushing-off public school advocates, and declining to engage the community in a transparent and public process - which would clarify allegations and diminish divisions among community members on the proposed school. And now Council wants to make sure the only place available to build the schools gets used for a "politically correct" cause.
 
Council has already used all imaginable excuses to avoid a public and honest debate within the community on the high school subject. They have also used all the tricks in the book to derail the initiative- such as not implementing their approved ordinance on a High School Advisory Board, changing minutes of their meetings, reversing decisions, trying to discredit renowned consultants and instilling fear, uncertainty and doubt in the community. They just disapprove it as the high school initiative would go against the status quo and the establishment.
 
Furthermore, Council has not allowed the high school project to be openly discussed and evaluated by the community. Why? Very simply, all of the Council members either send or have sent their kids to private schools and the majority belittles public school education. In addition, most Council members believe public schools are not worthy of our community, and its advocates do not dominate the polls.
 
We can sit back and allow Council to continue mismanaging our scarce resources and brushing-off advocates of public education, or you can make a difference by standing up against the status quo, calling and emailing Council members, writing letters to the Islander News and Miami Herald, reaching out to your neighbors and community organizations, and actively participating in Council meetings.
 
The future of your community depends on you. Do something about it! Even if you don't support a self-funded high school.

 

Regards,
Angel Martin

 

 

Reference documents: 

Nov. 10, 2009 Council meeting agenda: http://www.keybiscayne.fl.gov/clientuploads/PDF/Clerk/agendas/cm_09-11-10-tab3.pdf

Complete IBI Group report and recommendations:
http://www.keybiscayne.fl.gov/clientuploads/PDF/Clerk/agendas/ws_09-10-22-tab1.pdf