One of my readers has been very annoyed with me for (1) writing about North Miami; and (2) not writing about the area referred to as the “Northeast MAC.” (See map to the left, click to enlarge.) The acronym, MAC, stands for Municipal Advisory Committee, which was created by Article CXVI of Part III, Chapter 2 of the the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances.
One of the tasks of this advisory committee (or possibly, the only task – I’m not really sure) is to assess the area and decide whether or not it’s ripe for incorporating. Part of that assessment includes holding community meetings so that residents can discuss whether or not they want to become a city unto its own.
Okay, now that we’re all clear on the concept, the obvious reason that my reader wants me to tackle this issue is that he lives in this area and he has advised me that he is against incorporation. In his emails to me, he has suggested that the members of the Northeast MAC are not very “fair and balanced,” and he has insinuated that the Miami-Dade Commission is urging incorporation.
My reader has also insisted that if I start writing about this issue there would be “18,000 potential readers” of this blog.
That was the nicest thing he said to me.
He followed with, “I am sure other blogs would be interested.” He then berated me by saying that if I haven’t read any of the articles and letters to the Herald about the Northeast MAC, “I am left to wonder if you fell off a turnip truck out of Pahokee!”
He softened that blow by suggesting that I am “too focused on one area.”
Thank you, dear reader, for your comments. Allow me to respond.
I have good news and bad news. I assume you want the bad news first, so here it is: I’m not interested. I couldn’t even force myself to be interested if I hopped right back on that turnip truck and hijacked it to, um, where the hell is Pahokee anyway?
No, seriously. I get that this issue is HUGE. I also get that lots of people care about whether or not the Northeast MAC will remain part of Miami-Dade County or if it becomes a city. I get it, I really do. My problem is that I’m not one of them.
I care about North Miami Beach. I live here. For now, anyway.
I care about North Miami because I used to live there and I still have family who call it home.
I also care about North Miami because our boundaries are so freaking intertwined that what happens in North Miami doesn’t stay in North Miami. It affects North Miami Beach.
Besides, North Miami is chock full of fun!
Are we clear on THIS concept?
I’m not saying that dear reader’s issue isn’t important. It’s just not important to me. Not enough for me to spend what little time I have to write about the issues that ARE important to me. I still have a day job, which I desperately need because I like having a roof over my head.
Just saying.
I also write an occasional column for The Daily Pamphlet. Shameless Self-Plug Here: My editor just published a column this morning. (Warning: It’s neither non-partisan nor PC. Read at your own risk.)
As much as I love blogging, I don’t get paid for either gig. It’s my labor of love.
But, fear not! There IS good news! There IS a blogger who gives a rat’s ass, and his name is Prem Lee Barbosa. He cares. He attends Northeast MAC meetings. He even writes about them! Follow him on Google+! He even TWEETS!
Prem, baby, sorry for outing you. But since your blog is “shared publicly,” I figured you’d have no problem with my publicly sharing it. In fact, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t mind getting more readers and followers. But if I’m wrong about that, Oops! My bad.
In fact, Prem. I got a proposition for you if you’re so inclined. I’ll be more than happy to make you a regular guest columnist on VotersOpinion.com. I’ll call you my “Northeast MAC Reporter,” and you can blog your little ol’ heart about it here any time you want. That will make my reader happy, and maybe help increase your readership on your Google+ blog at the same time. In fact, to sweeten the deal, I’ll even give you half my VotersOpinion.com salary. Whaddaya say? Are you game? Shoot me an email and let me know.
In the meantime, I’ll stick with what I’ve been doing for the last three plus years. I can only write when I’m inspired. “My Cities” inspire me. County crap usually does not.
Besides, I have absolutely no control over when a sudden burst of inspiration will hit me. If I’m not feelin’ it, it’s just not gonna happen.
I do know that when people bug me to write stuff I don’t give a crap about, the only sudden burst I get is one of annoyance.
Are you feelin’ me?
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
Dear reader sounds like a douche. Tell him if he doesn’t like it he can do it on his own blog. Oh right, he doesn’t have one.
Keep up the great work Steph! There are a whole lot of us who love your blog regardless of the topic or geography.
Awwww! Thanks!
Many residents of this area couldn’t contain their excitement when they thought they were going to become Aventura (West.) They were so certain of this that they even starting snubbing NMB and the County as they counted their new property value increase and tax savings pennies, not to mention their new-found exclusivity. But after a quick study the obvious results came to light: They were not good enough for Aventura; the amount of money that needed to be invested in this area’s infrastructure could never be recovered. And now nobody wants them, and so “incorporation is being urged.” Well, I say let these greedy wannabes become their exclusive little cash-strapped city, or maybe come back to the table and consider NMB; or maybe they aren’t good enough for NMB either. They should at least get their own blogger…
what a great call to arms!
Anyone reading this who wants to get involved, or help me find out as much as possible, please E-mail me, respond to this message, or drop me a line by some other means.
I am in the midst of collecting as many resources as possible, but I also need people! People who knows or want to know. This is an issue affecting about 18,000 people!
Judging by the lack of response so far to this blog post I won’t hold my breath, but anyone with any information is appreciated, even if you would prefer your identity and efforts remain under the radar.
erm, my E-mail address is premitive1@gmail.com and my google plus profile, though linked to in the blog post, is plus.google.com/+premleebarbosa
Thanks, Prem. I hope people contact you. Let me know if you want me to publish any of your blogs and I will be happy to oblige!