David Sutta's Blog

As I hinted at earlier this week embattled Miami commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones is headed back to City Hall.  It was just a week ago the Governor yanked her out of office after she was accused of stealing grant money to pay personal expenses.  I’m sure most of you reading this are aware by now that Michelle can run for her seat in the special election.  She hasn’t been convicted therefore legally she can run. 

No one at city hall is going to stand in her way because it would be political suicide.  As one insider told me, the debate would NOT be about right or wrong… it would be about race.  The sole black commissioner vs. the white/hispanic commissioner(s).  The fear mongers are whispering that the debate could  motivate civil disobedience and no one wants to return there.  And so they all are towing the line saying let the people decide. Even the Governor, who could have avoided this mess by appointing someone, has chosen to stay out of this debate and not make waves.  Then again Governors do not get elected to the Senate by making waves (typically).

In a weeks time we have seen how Mayor Tomas Regalado plans to lead.  By popular vote.  I think that’s a great thing when you are talking about building a new stadium funded with taxpayer dollars.  It’s also a great thing when there are accusations of corruption within your commission.

I believe the popular position in Miami would be to let Michelle Spence-Jones settle her case in a court of law and not with voter ballots.  The reality is the popular view of the city of Miami and the popular view of district 5 are two different things.  The past election (Nov. 3) drew 5,000 voters in district 5.  I believe you will see considerably less this next go around in January.  When the majority of the community doesn't vote it doesn't take much to win.  All you need is money.  Michelle raised hundreds of thousand of dollars this last go around whooping her competition (they brought in measly twenty grand).  I assume the same financial machine will be behind putting Spence-Jones back in office in January.

The only way Michelle doesn’t win is if something massive happens between now and then.  Her only competitor thus far is Jeff Torain, a retired police chief.  He’s very qualified and has some great ideas.   I can clearly see why he got endorsements from the Miami Herald and the New Times.  He doesn’t stand a chance though unless Michelle Spence-Jones financiers suddenly change their mind about Michelle or Torain becomes really good friends with someone like Norman Braman.

Insert commissioner here.  The walls are looking a little bare in Miami City Hall right now.

Guilty or not… what’s happening in district five isn’t good.  Michelle Spence-Jones will be fighting for her seat long after she wins this election… again.

I was in a bad mood yesterday.  I wasn’t quite sure why.  This morning I had a realization of part of the reason.  I am disgusted. 

Former Miami Commissioner Angel Gonzalez exits the Justice Center not saying a word to a media circus.

As everyone already knows two Miami Commissioners have stepped out or been pulled out of City Hall this week.  Both were accused of being corrupt.  One admitted it; the other is fighting the charges.  Regardless of guilt I am just disgusted. 

If you haven’t realized it yet… when you look at what’s left of the Miami Commission you will see that the three people who voted for the Marlins new stadium are no longer there.  It’s pretty amazing.  Yesterday the prosecutor told us it was just a coincidence that both of their investigations (into Spence-Jones and Gonzalez) wrapped up this month, after the election.  I find it hard to believe that multi-year investigations into two of the yes votes just happened to conclude after the Marlins votes and after the election.

We cannot be naive enough to think politics isn’t dirty and corrupt.  With that said I am losing faith that Miami can ever really be the city it strives to be.  In the face of a budget crisis instead of this city trying to move forward its hands are tied.  Moreover fresh faces are showing up at city hall.  This is good and bad.  Bad in the sense they are new to the game.  Good in the sense they are full of hope to change the way things are done.

I am comforted to know that the commission is being led by someone with more than a week’s time on the board.  I believe Marc Sarnoff will lead in the best interest of the City of Miami residents.  It is clear he and the new Mayor see eye to eye on a multitude of issues. 

The other day someone told me they didn’t understand why this great community gets a banana republic wrap.  I turned to her and said “Have you seen what’s happening right now down at the City Hall?” (Michelle Spence-Jones was posing for a mug shot).  The fact is as long as these shenanigans are going on Miami will never be able to turn the corner.

Walking away from your upside down mortgage is really not that new of a concept.  I knew it was happening a year and half ago.  What is new though is the rapid rates people are jumping in these days.  Roy Oppenheim estimates a third of his caseload are now homeowners who can afford to pay their mortgage but are choosing not to.

Attorney Roy Oppenheim, once working for the banks doing title work, now defending the homeowners he helped place in homes.

This is quite unusual… some would even say un-American.  Since birth most of us have been taught to always repay our debt.  Sure, things happen in life (medical issues, mistakes, bad luck, etc) that prevents us from paying back those loans sometimes.  When those things happen we have bankruptcy.  When we can’t afford our homes suddenly we have foreclosure.

Today there is a major shift on how people view the bankruptcy and foreclosure options.  Homeowners now looking at foreclosure as the escape exit from their poor investment of a house.  It doesn’t matter that they can afford the mortgage and the bills.  They just want out of sinking investment.   Unlike the stock market you can’t just pull your money out and accept the loss because you still owe the bank the mortgage money.  So what option does a homeowner really have?  Short sale?  Deed in lieu?  If you are going to go that route, people are now realizing they can do it and make money off it by living rent free for a couple of years.

A pile of foreclosures in Oppenheim's office.  To date he tells us just a handfull actually get kicked out of their home.  Almost all either modify their loan or sell their home in a short sale.

Is what is happening a change in our moral compass or are people finally questioning an American staple (spend, spend, and spend some more)?  When we couldn’t afford this lifestyle we borrowed.  When we could borrow anymore we leveraged.  When we couldn’t leverage anymore we lied to be approved.

I believe the American was somehow, someway led wayward.  Does having more really make us happy?  Does homeownership really a dream?  How many of you would rather have more money in your savings account then a mansion over your head?

I can’t blame the strategic defaulters.  We have certainly seen quite a few bank bailouts.  Here comes main street's version.

   At least that’s what I think about this crappy housing market.  After watching the price of my home decline for four years I can say with pretty good confidence that the price is not going to drop much more.  That’s the good news.

Now the bad news:  My home won’t be appreciating 40% in the next four years!  Shucks.

Tonight’s report on the bottom is yet another example how statistics can be interpreted many different ways.  On one side we have Michael Cannon telling us we hit our sales volume bottom in 2008 and the price bottom is happening right now.   His evidence of compiled worksheets, flow charts, and maps (about an inch thick) is pretty compelling.

Then there is the other side, the doom and gloom of Jack McCabe.  McCabe is an analyst who made a name for himself by predicting this housing crash when everyone was drinking the housing Kool-Aid.  He’s calling for 5% drops in single family homes and 20% drops in condos.  He attributes the future loses to growing unemployment, a cache of foreclosures, and all those people leaving the sunshine state.

These two men have opinions about as far apart as their height.  (McCabe’s got a good foot and half at least)   God bless them for their countless hours of number crunching and research.  This is not easy work predicting the future.  Historically we don’t know we have hit a bottom until about 12 months after it has passed. 

Cannon has the newspaper articles to prove that too.  He showed me articles from the 1980's that very well could have been written this decade.  His archives dating back to the 1950 really gives us a slice of our past... from families testing fallout shelters to three bedroom homes selling for $16,500. 

To say the times have changed would be an understatement.   A lesson can be learned from these articles.   All of this doom and gloom shall come to pass.  South Florida is no longer bracing for nuclear attack to wipe us off the face of the earth.  And South Florida will one day emerge from this foreclosure fallout.

The fact of the matter is on a November afternoon, people can walk out their front door, get in their car, and/or ride their bike to see this.

I think we take it for granted, perhaps even forget about this incredible playground we call home.   All those people leaving will soon realize this… and they’ll be back. 
Mark my words.

Ok, don't take that literally. Joe isn't a loser.  Wednesday night he was though when he came out on the losing end of the Miami Mayoral race.  His yearlong campaign ended with a dismal 28% of the votes. 

Was Sanchez's opponent, city hall lifer Tomas Regalado, really that great?  I'm not so sure.  I wonder how many voters were scanning the page looking for a third option.  I have nothing against either candidate.  They have always been fine politicians.  But neither has impressed me with their ability to lead. 

It's clear Sanchez was hoping to get elected by following Mayor Manny Diaz leadership.  He voted with the mayor on practically everything from the boom to the Marlins stadium fiasco.  Historically this was the safe thing to do.  A well liked mayor's endorsement would guarantee you the election.  The Mayor delivered, even taking Regalado to task at a recent council meeting accusing him of spending wildly.  It was quite comical to see Regalado tossing papers in rage as he responded to the allegations. 

In the end Manny Diaz may have been the reason Sanchez lost.  Diaz vision for a bigger and better city is currently in a state of depression. 

The residents are now angry that the city is teetering on the edge of being bankrupt.  I'm sure many couldn't imagine hiring another mayor intent on keeping the same breakneck pace up.  So in the end the guy who gets elected is the one who said no to all the spending and big projects. 

You can always tell when you are at the losers party.

I know both Sanchez and Regalado camps could provide me a list of accomplishments they are proud of.  Still I could not list a single item from either candidate that stands out as amazing leadership.  As commissioners it seems both of these men were more reactionary then innovators of government policy.

I wish our new mayor the best of luck as he takes over at perhaps "the worst time to be mayor" (as Joe Sanchez said it election day).  Moreover I hope he has the courage to lead this great city through a very trying time.

Wednesday night at 11 you will hear Cannon's thoughts on our market as well as Jack McCabe... one of the few people who blew the whistle on a market that was about to collapse. 

I have been up in Rhode Island for the past few days, hence the lack of posts.  It was nice to experience fall weather and scenery for a change.  Is it ever going to cool down in this town?!

First I'd like to congratulate my colleagues over at NBC6 for a great run last week at the Miami Heat Media Challenge.  The annual event allows us wannabe basketball players to run against each other on the American Airlines Arena floor, vying for station supremacy.  NBC6 repeated in championship glory this year.  CBS4 won two games and lost one game.  It was a respectable record but we didn't score enough points and were knocked out of the playoffs.  There were a lot of what ifs.  We probably should have practiced.  We probably should have paid attention to the point rules as well!  Regardless we had a great time.

I had the distinct honor last week to be principal for the day at Merrick Educational Center.  This school was in the headlines earlier this year as the state was threatening to shut them down for failing FCAT scores.  Merrick is not a traditional school.  The students here are often physically, mentally and/or developmentally challenged.  There was something wrong with counting test scores of terminally ill students on chemo.  After our story aired about Merrick's situation along with a letter to the state from the Superintendant, the state changed positions on the school.  Today, they still administer the FCAT but the schools doors are not to open and close based on the scores.

During my day as principal I experienced the highs and lows of dealing with such a unique school.  I started my day watching Principal Deborah Wehking tell her staff about a student passing away the night before.  While some were able to pause for a moment and move on with their day it was clear some teachers were terribly upset by the news... understandably.  I couldn't imagine losing a dozen students or more a year this way.  I couldn't imagine getting that close to a child only to see them lose their fight for life.

The day did get better.  I was impressed by teleclass.  Imagine learning algebra over the phone from your bed.  Ok, the not getting out of bed stuff may sound good but working through math problems with no one to show you, that is challenging.  The teachers talk you through each question and they do this with nine students on the line. 

As principal I also had the opportunity to get out of the school and see the homebound program.  This is perhaps the most rewarding teaching program in the county.  It also may be the most frustrating (for the teachers). Homebound students are either too sick or so disabled they can't leave home or the hospital to go to school. The team of teachers drive all over the county visiting students for an hour or two, a few times a week.  During their visits they cover all the core subjects with one on one instruction.  As you can imagine the handful of hours these teachers spend with their students is nowhere near the amount of classroom time these students would get in school.  It was clear to me they do they best they can with what they have.  I suspect this kind of one of one interaction and progress is the reason most people get into teaching.

Wehking is working on the next generation of technology to help these students learn.  It involves putting laptops with aircards in homebound student’s homes.  From their homes or hospital rooms these kids could learn in a virtual classroom.  Math problems could be seen on the screen.  The virtual chalkboard could be broadcast from the teacher’s desk to beds countywide and students could write on it as well.  Years ago this kind of technology was out of reach for school districts but costs have come down significantly.  The laptops and software is now relatively inexpensive or in some cases free.  The biggest challenge the virtual classroom has now is the cost of putting the internet in these children’s homes.  In these times it's hard to find the money for monthly aircard fees.  ($40 x 500 laptops = $20,000 a month)

I will be interested to see if/how this new venture happens for Merrick.  It will clearly give the students a better learning environment.  Can it be done while balancing a budget?

I would like to thank all the great folks I met as principal for the day (including catching up with my prom date's mom!)  It was a real honor and enlightening experience.

_{I just wanted to make a quick post about the good news going around the newsroom today.  Emmy Nominations are out and CBS4 has 23 of them!  (I believe that may be the most in South Florida) The entries include a variety of topics including Jim Defede’s “Giving Away American Jobs”, Stephen Stock’s "Air Travel’s Dirty Little Secret", "Kite Surfer" by Peter D’Oench, and Michelle Gillen’s "Who’s Living in the Nursing Home Near You?"}

_{There were also quite a few people behind the scenes recognized including amazing photographer Doug Johnson and our talented special projects editor Nicolas Gordillo.}

_{I am extremely honored to be included in this year’s nominations as well.  I have three of them.  One for “The Modern Day Ghost Town” which was a series about what happened when a developer went belly up midway through a development.  Residents were left to fend for themselves and we stepped in to help.  The other two nominations are for “The Foreclosure Ferry.” The report was on the exclusive Fisher Island community being hit by foreclosures and homeowners trapped in their mansions.  Oprah is not one of them.}

_{This is my third, fourth, and fifth nominations over my career.  Last year I took home my first Emmy for a series on the Middle Class Exodus.  Winning an Emmy was always a dream of mine and that night was incredible.  I honestly did not know if I would be back this year, especially with the quality of reports from my colleagues.  I know we do great work here at CBS4.  It’s an honor to be among such a distinguished group of journalists.}

    I’m preparing myself for more Swine Fluke hysteria.  The CDC, Health Department, and every media outlet under the Florida sun are gearing up for a dog and pony show this Friday.  A joint press conference has been called with Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties health departments. I believe when called together they form mega-health-tron.  (Diseasticons watch out!)  The mega conference is regarding the first H1N1 vaccines that are rolling out next Monday.  I have decided to call it a dog and pony show because last I checked we were talking about the flu.  I’ve never seen a health department press conference of this scale.  You would think we were talking about a new version of polio.  Is this not same flu that we were told could wipe out thousands with a single sneeze?  Is this not the same flu that shut down our schools, emptied store shelves of surgical masks, and caused thousands to flee Mexico?  Is this not the same hog wash that in the end wasn’t the end of days as predicted in Atlanta or seen in Hollywood?  The flu. 

Today, despite all the workup and let down by the CDC and the media, it APPEARS the majority* of the public could care less.  Monday night at a health department town hall meeting on the vaccine I counted 16 people in the room.  Ten from the health department and six people dazed and confused. 

In between raffles for health department squeeze bottles this guy appeared more interested in catching up with his book club. 

Now before you all give it to me I should say I know the flu isn’t a joke.  I recognize that the flu can kill.  It’s been doing it for decades… well probably longer than that.  H1N1 is responsible for 25 deaths in Miami-Dade County this year.  However I did read a recent report suggesting these people may have had underlying illnesses in addition to the H1N1.  Regardless the elderly, parents, and those with weak immune systems should be concerned.  Concerned enough to go get informed and possibly get a shot.

 I get the health department has to make themselves available to every corner of our community to inform them of the risk.  They might even save a life doing these forums.   I wonder though where you draw the line of overkill. This is nothing new.  The flu happens every year.  Does it really require a dozen town hall meetings for approximately two dozen attendees?  There has to be a better way to reach people.

As for the media’s role:  I am all for accurate timely coverage of this epidemic.   I think it is our job to inform the public so they can make the choices they need to.  However I will be curious to see how the local media handles this vaccine rollout.  Will it be good accurate measure or mirror mega-health-tron? We shall see.

Bill Schwartz was known in media circles as the spokesperson of the Miami Police Department.  He was always quick with a great sound bite.  In fact he was one of the few public information officers who reporters and producers seeked out just to hear what he was going to say next.  He didn’t talk like a cop and that’s what we liked about him.  He spoke like a human being… with a vast number of adjectives in his vocabulary!  A year and half ago he retired from the cop shop to take on his dream of acting.  While I was happy to see him moving on it was also a sign of the times.  Take a listen to most cop sound bites these days and you’ll hear something in common.  Political correctness.  Words chosen very carefully.  Even some people imitating a reporter in their delivery.  I understand their reasons but whatever happen to people being themselves?  That’s what we loved about Bill.

In his “retirement” Schwartz has been living his dream starring in a handful of plays.  I have to say it is impressive considering he’s thriving as an actor in a recession.  This week Bill has landed the main character in In Development.   The character is far from his shiny cop image.  He plays a crass, extremely sexual, drunk playwright.  And at times he’s nude.  Yes completely.

To be frank I don’t know whether to admire Bill Schwartz or be concerned for him.  I had a hard time initially understanding why he would be tempted to do such a thing.  He told me “Because it is dangerous David.”  As an actor he believes this will make him better.   I guess he is right.  I could not imagine standing in the nude before an audience and delivering my lines as if it’s no big deal.  (Sorry for the mental image)  Bill seems thrilled by the challenge and I wish him the best of luck…  I just hope they keep the AC above 80 degrees for Bill’s sake! 

To see the hilarious story we did on Bill go here.  (In case you are wondering he had his pants on)

If you care to check out In Development go here.