The Herald Covers The Strip Club

Lidia Dinkova of the Miami Herald wrote an article about the strip club lawsuit.  It can be seen by clicking here.  The article does an alright job of listing Scott Greenwald's complaints but leaves out critical pieces of information.

• Although former city planner Alex David did recommend approval, the measurements from the strip club to the child care center were wrong.  The measurements were door-to-door when it should have been door to property line. 
• Neither Isle of Dreams nor Alex David noted the existence of a licensed school considerably closer than the childcare, well within the 500 feet required by law.  
• The surveys on traffic impact, noise impact and the public safety studies were never submitted.  

These factors alone were enough to deny the application.   That Isle of Dreams did not submit information detrimental to their application is understandable.  That the city planner was so unfamiliar with the requirements of the ordinance is not.  Something was very wrong and Alex David has since been replaced as city planner.  

The Herald writer knew these problems but did not include them.   I understand the need for brevity but it's important to get the full story.  

What the Herald has chosen not to write about also matters.  That is the unhealthy relationship our city has with Scott Greenwald.  He is the city's landlord and yet has never paid taxes on the property where we rent the city hall.  Over $90,000.   

The property where he proposes to put the strip club, 1415 JFK Causeway, has never paid over $900,000 in taxes and like the city hall property, these taxes were never sold at auction.   

In spite of that, Greenwald sits on the Budget Oversight Board with complete access to the city's financial information and plans.  He remains close with the commissioner who appointed him to that board.   

Finally, the Herald in a side bar refers to a case that is not at all relevant to Greenwald's claims - in Cocoa Beach an existing club was in essence legislated out of business.  That's not the case here.  There are many other cases, easily found in Google, which affirm the right of cities to set distances for use.   Click here for the one closest to our situation, a federal case affirming the right of the city of San Diego to put special use conditions on adult businesses.   

The Herald should have done a better job.   

Kevin Vericker

May 14, 2012