SpringyLeaks

Miami Springs helps shred residents’ documents to thwart identity theft

 

Published on Friday, May 17, 2013

BY THEO KARANTSALIS

SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

Miami Springs police officers helped hundreds of residents shred personal documents on Thursday, May 16, outside the swim center.

This is the first of a series of monthly shredding events to help the community thwart identity theft.

TOP SECRET:  Robert Garcia, with Florida Shredding, dumps sensitive documents into a trash bin as longtime Miami Springs residents Karen and Bill McQuay watch.  (THEO KARANTSALIS/FOR THE MIAMI HERALD)

Read more here.

Annexation hearing for West Miami-Dade cities is canceled

Published on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

BY THEO KARANTSALIS

SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

Miami-Dade County officials have abruptly canceled a public annexation hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 16.

The county's land-use committee had planned to discuss annexation of land near Miami International Airport by the cities of Doral, Medley, Virginia Gardens and Miami Springs.

"The item has been deferred to a future committee meeting," a county spokesperson said.    She added that deferment happens when either there are changes to the legislation or more research is required on the project.

There is no future meeting date at this time, the official said.

Read more here. 

County to vote on annexation of land near Miami International Airport

Published on Friday, May 10, 2013

BY THEO KARANTSALIS

SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

The public is invited to attend a public hearing at county hall regarding land annexation by the cities of Doral, Medley, Virginia Gardens and Miami Springs.

The hearing, which is expected to end with a vote, will take place on Thursday, May 16, at 9:30 a.m.

“Our owners object to having their local property-tax rate raised by 263 percent, especially when they have no input,” said Tom David, president of the Airport West Business Association. “It’s taxation without representation, and it’s wrong.”

Other than a big tax hike, the business owners’ main objections include being part of a municipal regulatory environment without representation. None of these property owners, David added, are voters in these cities.

David showed up at similar hearing, in 2010, with more than 150 business owners who wore “no annexation” T-shirts and took turns speaking at the public forum. At that time, no one other than city officials spoke in support of annexation, which led the Miami-Dade County Planning Advisory Board to vote unanimously against it — for each city.

This time, the cities have campaigned a bit harder in an attempt to change the tide.

For example, Miami Springs, which has successfully annexed land in the past, mailed residents a flier announcing an annexation “lift-off.”

“The long-term push to annex the light industrial areas along with our western border is again on track, with a county commission vote anticipated for this spring,” the mailer states.

Here is what is at stake:

• Doral seeks to annex property at the south and west sides of the city. Doral had previously been interested in annexing Dolphin Mall, but Sweetwater has since beat Doral to the punch, annexing the shopping center in 2010.

• Medley wants to annex several square miles of property in different pockets in unincorporated Miami-Dade that would also extend its boundaries.

• Virginia Gardens is looking to annex an area across Northwest 36th Street that includes the airport business district west to the Palmetto Expressway, as well as some frontage road near Miami International Airport.

• Miami Springs wants land that is part of the airport business district west to the Palmetto Expressway. The city no longer seeks the Florida East Coast Railway property.

In the case of Virginia Gardens, Mayor Spencer Deno hopes to lower taxes while minimizing any impact on local businesses.

“This goes back 12 years,” Deno said. “We were told by the county commission not to come back until all four cities agreed.”

Deno added that the cities finally agreed about three years ago.

Read more here. 

IF YOU GO

What: Annexation vote.

Where: Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 NW 1st Street, 2nd Floor Commission Chambers.

When: Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

For information: Call Fara C. Diaz at 305-375-1293.

 

Local leaders join forces with Liberty City community to thwart crime

 

PARTNERS: Liberty City youth join forces with police and county leaders at Gwen Cherry Park to help prevent neighborhood crime.  (THEO KARANTSALIS?FOR THE MIAMI HERALD)

Published on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

BY THEO KARANTSALIS

SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

More than 100 neighborhood kids in Liberty City poured into the gym at Gwen Cherry Park on Monday night to mingle with police officers who want them to be their eyes and ears on the street.

“The Youth Crime Watch has put this program together to stop the violence,” Miami-Dade Police Director J.D. Patterson said as dozens of officers watched. “Each and every one of you — the children, parents, teachers and students — are important to our success.”

Patterson summed up the key to fighting local crime with one word: partners.

The police got backup from local officials in hosting the “Stop the Violence” event, which included Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Commissioners Audrey Edmonson and Jean Monestime.

“Mostly, we have to protect our children,” said Gimenez, as nearly a dozen were seated near the podium to hear his message up close. “The young people sitting right in front of me represent our future.”

Gimenez then implored the kids to get to know local police officers.

As part of the event’s program, city, county and school police officers barbecued and served hundreds of hot dogs to the kids. To make sure they were all on the same channel, a DJ was brought in to get people moving. And move they did.

“I did the Harlem shake with the police, and she was my friend,” said Shenika Thomas, 7, who joined in on a flash-mob simulation on the gym floor.

Officers shook toe-to-toe with wide-eyed grade-school kids in a friendly Harlem shake challenge, as their walkie-talkies and heavy belts dangled.

“Now that is cultural competence," said Renita Holmes, a Liberty City activist who applauds local officers for dancing and mixing it up with local kids. "That is how you do it."

Holmes recalled how a similar city-sponsored crime forum at Charles Hadley Park, in 2010, fizzled. The curfews, she added, were punitive.

Though crime has spiked in the area, Holmes said, this is the best move yet by leaders and police to deescalate tension.

“The trend is toward more collaboration,” said a county spokesperson.

City, county and other officials plan to work in harmony toward preventing crime.

Read more here.

Fired Medley cops settle with town

Published on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

BY THEO KARANTSALIS

SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

Two fired Medley police officers have settled their wrongful-termination lawsuit against the town.

“Our names have been cleared,” said former Medley police Lt. Joe Olmedo, who was abruptly fired by the police chief last September along with Sgt. Jorge Perez and Officer Freddy Romero after being accused of a traffic-accident coverup.

Olmedo and Perez reached a settlement with the town on April 22. Romero had an arbitration hearing on April 24, and an opinion is forthcoming.

“The matter was settled amicably,” said Councilman Jack Morrow, referring to the town’s settlement with Olmedo and Perez. “They are leaving on good terms, and I wish them both a lot of luck.”

Michael Pizzi, Medley’s town attorney, did not return repeated calls or emails seeking comment.

Last October, The Miami Herald reported that the three officers filed a lawsuit against Medley because the police chief fired them “without any power to do so under the town charter,” records show.

The officers asserted that only the town council had the authority to fire them and pointed to their collective-bargaining agreement.

“This is a great result after the dog-and-pony show we went through,” said Jose Hererra, who was referring to the 10 hours of testimony he went through over two days at town hall last fall that resulted in a 5-0 vote by council to uphold Olmedo’s firing.

Hererra, who is the town attorney of neighboring Virginia Gardens, filed two lawsuits and mountains of motions on behalf of the officers.

Though he won’t be returning to work in Medley, Olmedo said he is brushing up his résumé to seek a position with another department.

Olmedo said he is “very happy” with the terms of the April 22 settlement, but he would not elaborate, citing a confidentiality clause.

“These fine officers now have great futures ahead of them,” Hererra said.

Read more here.

Police name suspect in Apple robbery, shootout

 

Published on Thursday, April 25, 2013

By THEO KARANTSALIS

The Miami Herald

Miami Springs police have announced the arrest of the Apple iPhone bandit suspected in the attempted murder and armed robbery of an AT&T store last week.

The suspect, John Arthur Lee Jones, 22, of Miami, was arrested in Orlando on Thursday by a federal task force and is awaiting extradition back to Miami, a police spokesperson said.

Police say that on April 20, Jones took part in a brazen armed robbery of an AT&T store at 143 Westward Drive, where he beat store manager Mike Mabjish, then fired two shots at him. Mabjish, who was not hit, said the suspect was after the Apple iPhones.

The entire town has been on edge, and coffee shops are abuzz with neighbors sharing tales about the shootout on Westward Drive.

One resident was getting spruced up at the Jet Set Hair Salon, next door, when she peered out the window after hearing a gun shot. She saw "a black man with a gun shooting at someone," the police report shows.

At the nearby Cozy Corner, a man glanced up from the want ads to see a man holding a gun run out of the AT&T store carrying a "black garbage-type bag, which appeared to be filled." Then he watched the suspect fire two shots at an employee, hop in his SUV and race off.

Another resident cruising along Westward Drive made eye contact with the suspect as he "pointed the gun at her while she was driving by." Feeling she was going to be shot, she drove off "at a high rate of speed."

Meanwhile, the suspect burned rubber until he saw the police station, just a few doors down, then spun around in a cloud of smoke, headed toward the town’s circle, and disappeared.

"We are looking for the suspect and an arrest is on the way," said Miami Springs Police Chief Pete Baan, who delivered an update to leaders at city hall on Monday.

Baan added that his detectives worked fast and were able to identify Jones as a suspect within hours of the crime.

Jones allegedly fled Miami Springs in a black Buick Enclave with a silver roof rack.

As local police searched for Jones, it appeared that he may have had a penchant for Android phones, too.

Miami-Dade police have also identified Jones as a suspect in the armed robbery of a Metro PCS store in Northwest Miami-Dade five months ago.

Police say that on Nov. 26, Jones took part in the robbery of a cellphone store at 4880 NW 183rd St.

Jones has an extensive rap sheet for various crimes, police added, and was considered armed and dangerous while on the run.

Federal authorities arrested Jones for violating his probation.

Miami Springs police said they plan to add robbery and other charges that occurred in town last Saturday to his other pending charges.

Read more here.

Photo: John Arthur Lee Jones, courtesy of Miami-Dade Corrections.

New credit union slated for Virginia Gardens

 

Published on Thursday, April 25, 2013

By THEO KARANTSALIS

The Miami Herald

The Melbourne-based Space Coast Credit Union has started construction of a new branch that is expected to open this summer at 6301 NW 36th St., in Virginia Gardens.

“The new branch is part of a relocation initiative,” said Heather Hickman, vice president of branch operations. “The 36th Street location is a well-traveled thoroughfare and will provide members with greater access to the credit union.”

The credit union will relocate its existing branch in Miami Springs to the new location, which once housed Victoria Station, a railroad car-themed restaurant.

“They purchased the property, and the site will be a hub for the River Cites area,” said Virginia Gardens Mayor Spencer Deno, who attended a ceremonial groundbreaking last week. “It is great for the restaurants, gas stations, auto repair, etc., because of not only the customers, but the employees need to eat and gas up, as well.”

The timing couldn’t be better, Deno added, as Boeing announced plans last month to relocate all full-flight simulators from Seattle to its 134,000-square-foot Virginia Gardens hub, about two blocks away.

Deno added that the 100 new employees at Boeing can walk to the new bank.

The new credit union is expected to be a full-service branch complete with a drive-through, safe-deposit boxes and a coin counter.

Employees from the Miami Springs location will relocate to the Virginia Gardens branch, a spokesperson noted, so members will continue to get the same service.

The Space Coast Credit Union, established in 1951, has 57 branches, assets of $3 billion and serves nearly 300,000 members.

Read more here. 

COMING SOON:  The Melbourne-based Space Coast Credit Union has started construction of a new branch that is expected to open this summer at 6301 NW 36th Street, in Virginia Gardens. 

Police: Miami Springs iPhone bandit in custody

Developing...

Miami Springs to help residents shred documents, avoid ID theft

Published on Sunday, April 21, 2013

By THEO KARANTSALIS

The Miami Herald

The Miami Springs Police Department is hosting a “community shred day” that will allow residents and business owners to make confetti of up to four boxes of paper at no charge.

Uniformed police officers will be stationed outside the swimming pool parking lot to oversee the shredding of sensitive documents.

“You don’t need them, so get rid of them before they end up in the garbage or elsewhere and identity theft occurs,” said Miami Springs Police Sgt. Jimmy Deal.

Deal added that the police department wants to help locals sanitize documents such as old bank statements, pay stubs and paperwork with Social Security numbers.

“Don’t be a victim of fraud and identity theft,” a police flier says.

"Shredding old documents is a good personal security measure to help prevent ID theft," City Manager Ron Gorland said.  

The city plans to hold quarterly shredding events throughout the year.  Police have set a paper limit of four boxes per person.

For information, call 305-888-5286.

Read more here. 

IF YOU GO

What:        Community Shred Day.

Where:     Swimming pool, 1401 Westward Dr.

When:      Thursday, May 2, from 4-7 p.m.

Cost:         Free. 

Miami Springs selects new golf director

Published on Sunday, April 21, 2013

By THEO KARANTSALIS

The Miami Herald

Paul O'Dell is the new director of the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club.

Paul O’Dell has filled the $83,000-a-year director slot to run the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club.

“O’Dell brings with him more than 25 years of golf-industry marketing and administrative experience throughout the South,” shows the city’s official press release.  “O’Dell comes on board during the week of April 15 and is eager to meet the issues and challenges of the golf course.”

One of the biggest challenges O’Dell faces is getting the course out of the red-ink trap. Last year, the golf course showed losses of $225,000, and this year’s estimates may be 50 percent higher.  At a recent council meeting, leaders discussed pumping another $1 million into the course to bring it up to par.

“Paul is bringing a great deal of successful business know-how in golf course and country club management,” said City Manager Ron Gorland.

This management experience includes prior stints at the following clubs: Brookhaven, in Texas; High Vista, in North Carolina; and locally, Turnberry Isle Resort, Golf Club of Miami and Doral Park.

“We have some good marketing at the golf course,” said Mel Johnson, a two-time city council candidate. “If he is as good as they say he is, give him a shot.”

Johnson added that the city could either select a golf professional or a businessman, though it is hard to get both.

The last director, golf professional Mike Aldridge, abruptly resigned last January to “openly pursue other opportunities.”

O’Dell was selected for his business acumen and will be charged by the city with marketing the historic, 90-year-old, 217-acre golf course, which was purchased from the city of Miami in 1997 for $3 million.  The oldest municipal golf course in South Florida, these links were home to the Greater Miami Open from 1925 to 1955.

“We are fortunate to have such a consummate professional of his caliber and reputation in charge of our golf course,” Gorland said.

Read more here.