Does Evil Lurk in South Beach Flamingo Park?

January 18, 2012

Subject: Neighborhood Associations

Robert ParcherCity Clerk
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

Aloha!

I may be mistaken, but it seems that a page that once appeared on the city’s website has been removed. I am speaking of the web page setting forth the formal process of obtaining the city’s “recognition” and “registration” of a new neighborhood association, a function performed by the City Manager—I recall the page referenced his assistance, Lynn Bernstein.

The linking process is: “Neighborhood Info/Associations/Register an Association.” The means of registration no longer seems to appear as it once did.

1. Please direct me to the page on registration that we were once familiar with, or provide me with a copy or image of the text of that page.

2. Please provide me with a copy or an image of the registration form then in use by the City Manager’s office, along with copies or images of any instructions or policy statements regarding the approval and registration of new neighborhood associations.

Links to pages, or PDF or Word.doc will do nicely. In the alternative, I can pick up photocopies at City Hall. I expect that personnel should easily lay their hands on the records needed. I ask that any charges or fees be waived, keeping in mind that I am not compensated for my pro bono research and live well below the poverty level to keep myself honest in my avocation.

Yours truly as always,

David Arthur Walters

Independent Journalist

January 18, 2012

Subject: Neighborhood Associations

Jose Smith
City Attorney
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

Mr. Jose Smith:

Regarding my January 18 request to Mr. Parcher for public information (above), I pray that you will provide me with your opinion on the legal standing of neighborhood associations by addressing an opinion circulating in the community, that the so-called Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association, which is not registered as an entity with the State of Florida or with the United States, but is registered with and is recognized by the City of Miami Beach, as is stated on the city’s web site, is in effect, given the behavior of its officers and directors, as is evidenced by such acts as formal resolutions that closely resemble those made by city agencies for consideration by the city commission, a political creature of the city and a city agency. Now if someone were to bring a lawsuit against the association, would they then name the city as well as the individual directors and officers?

Said association resolutions purport to be the result of hearings conducted by the association upon which a consensus is somehow achieved. I understand that the hearings are attended by city officials—I am unaware of any formal charter or by-laws etc setting forth the process and mandating the keeping of records by which a consensus is reached. This virtual city agency purports to serve all residents and merchants within the “historic” Flamingo Park Neighborhood District, which I assume is a formal political designation, laying between Lincoln Road and 5th Street, and Alton Road and Washington Avenue, including the members of Flamingo Park West Neighborhood Association, Inc., a non-profit, state-registered corporation—on January 16, its president, Sam Carson, disclosed to me in writing, that the ‘West’ association is actually “administered by the city.”

Now my attention was brought to this particular neighborhood association by way of a rumor circulating, which I hope you will address and persuasively dismiss, that its directors and/or officers and certain city officials have an interlocking arrangement with the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation and a political action committee that allegedly used MBCDC funds, provided in part or whole by the city, to campaign for the long-ruling political faction now headed by Mayor Matti Herrera Bower. The boss of the faction appears to be an affable gentleman I once met, by the name of Denis Russ, and his agent in the city manager’s office appears to be one Lynn Bernstein, an assistant city manager, who seemed to defer to Mr. Russ during a city meeting she led and which I attended.

I certainly hope that the interlocking-conspiracy aspect is an “urban myth,” and that any impropriety is in appearance only, hence I am making this inquiry to get to the bottom of it.

Your cooperation and advice will be sincerely appreciated.

Sincerely,

David Arthur Walters

Independent Journalist