Today we are diverting SF from its usual coverage of technology, entrepreneurship and world affairs to discuss a troubling story in Miami where I live.
A recall petition has been launched against current Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez related to property tax hikes and their use to pay for a baseball stadium in Miami. The recall effort was organized by Norman Braman, a local auto dealership magnate. Details on where to sign the petition are in this Miami Herald story. So far, all I have done is describe the rough and tumble world of local politics in the U.S.
What bothers me is shown in the photo below. Miami city government cars are blocking the entrance to the location where people need to go to sign the recall petition. These cars are directly under the control of the Mayor subject to recall. This kind of behavior in a national election would bring about an FBI investigation. Perhaps we should recall the Mayor just for for his complete disregard for or interference in democratic processes.
Please re-tweet the story and distribute it through other social media. We need to defend our democracy, starting at the local level.
