Miami Lakes voters received their Special Election Mail Ballots on Thursday, April 28, and within hours, their phones were alive with automated phone calls, in English and Spanish, urging a “No” vote across the ballot for all 10 recommended Charter Amendments.
On Saturday, April 30, town residents opened their mail boxes to find the cover of a cleverly-worded flyer with “scare” headlines warning of “Tax increases,” “Wasting Tax Money, “Politics As Usual,” and “Residents Losing Their Rights” if they don’t vote “No” against the Amendments.
And on the inside, completely misinformed reasons why there should be a “No” vote on each item.
What about the source of the automated phone calls and the “scare tactics” mailer?
The effort was credited to “Concerned Voters of Miami Lakes.” Some residents took to social media to label it “Concerned Liars of Miami Lakes.”
According to a Statement of Organization of Political Committee filed with the Miami-Dade Elections Department on April 13, “Concerned Voters of Miami Lakes” has a chairman and treasurer - both the same person - Charles A. Safdie, a known political consultant who lives in Miami Gardens.
And, there will be no treasurer’s report required until 30-days after the filing which means no one will know who is financing and/or contributing to this Political Committee until after the Special Election close of May 17.
The truth about the misinformation:
• In the English version of the automated calls, one of the reasons to vote “No” was members of the Charter Revision Commission were not elected by Miami Lakes residents.
Truth: As required by the Charter, members of the Commission are appointed by members of the Town Council, including the Mayor, who are duly elected representatives of the residents.
• In the Spanish version of the automated calls, one of the reasons to vote “No” was that the mayoral powers are being transferred to “others not elected.”
Truth: In the several proposed Amendments that replace the word “Mayor” with “Council,” this means the entire Council, which includes the Mayor, all elected by the people, would act on various appointments including Town Manager, Acting Town Manager, and Town Attorney.
• On the same Amendments, the flyer purports this to be a “political coup that takes away the power of the people to democratically elect their Mayor and give him the authority to nominate candidates for these positions and be held accountable to the people.”
Truth: This takes nothing away from the power of the people nor from the Mayor, who, as a member of the Council, will still recommend administration candidates, along with other members of the Council.
• In the “scare tactic” flyer, there are several references to “unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Truth: In the event of a runoff election to elect mayoral and council candidates, yes, there would be additional cost. Runoff elections are an integral part of the democratic process and the only fair way for candidates to be elected by a majority of the voters. Historically, no taxes have ever been raised due to a runoff election.
• The flyer claims deleting an obsolete provision regarding Charter Revision Commission membership is “an unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Truth: This Amendment does not waste taxayer’s dollars. It merely eliminates the requirement for Commission representation from the Town Council’s residential districts which were eliminated ini the last Charter Review. Our Council members are now elected at-large.
• The flyer claims “our cherished form of government that gives us our rights should not be changed by a committee of politically motivated people.”
Truth: None of the members of the Charter Revision Commission had any political motivations, save for Councilmember Ceasar Mestre, a candidate for Mayor, who was a non-voting member appointed by the Mayor.
In summary, many residents are wondering what has happened to their peaceful, tranquil town. Voting YES on the Charter Amendments, as proposed by the Charter Revision Commission, comprised solely of Miami Lakes residents, and after much deliberation, will steer our beautiful Town back to the prestigious community we are proud to live in.