Commitment to Community Matters: Closing Argument

In 2020, I knocked on 5,000 doors. I have been working my way through Pinecrest again this year.  Walking and knocking.  Speaking with Residents has been my North Star and has guided my decisions on Council.  

I believe that government should focus on serving you.  It is about getting things done.   With your input and support, in just four years, as a Village we have achieved so much.

‍COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS and COMMUNITY SUPPORT

We enhanced our quality of life and adopted common sense solutions, including:

• Fighting to maintain the 4-story building height on US-1; and preventing the County from taking over zoning along US-1.
• Water Project Done! Potable water to over 700 Pinecrest homes; 150 new fire hydrants on Pinecrest streets that had none before.
• Peacock Mitigation Program.
• Composting Program – come check out the super-rich composted soil, available at the Farmers Market! Over 65,000 pounds composted so far.
• Traffic Mitigation – New speed radars; and recently we received a new grant to study further traffic mitigation solutions.
• Sidewalk maintenance, improvement and replacement.  
• Acquiring two new parks.  Ground already broken at Gary Matzner Park.
• Fully staffing and funding our police force – making officer compensation and pensions  competitive with peer municipalities.  
• Falling Crime Rate:  Down 60% since incorporation and 26% from one year ago.
• Community-Building Events. In October, we had the Track or Treat Festival and our  Zombie Run.  Our Senior games, Pioneer luncheon, Nights of Lights and Jazz Series are on the horizon.  Our community building continues to grow each year.
• Ongoing attention to infrastructure - Storm Water, FPL undergrounding, and more.  
• Expanded  Pickleball opportunities.
• New playground at Evelyn Greer Park.
• Attention to Constituent concerns – call or email me.  I will respond and help.

My Opponent’s Misleading Campaign‍

My opponent’s campaign is designed to mislead and scare you with Tales about Tall Buildings and crime.  

Ralph’s Tall Tales About Safety

Pinecrest's Crime rate is 60% lower than incorporation and down another 26% this year compared to last. There is absolutely no justification to hire 175 new police officers as my opponent pledged.  This is a tax-hiking, budget-busting solution in search of a problem.  My opponent finally walked back the number from 175 down to 10 officers. No rhyme or reason.  No crime stats.  No support for the idea from anyone in Village Government, Chief Cohen, the PBA or any public watchdog. No idea what it would cost.  Just shooting from the hip.  This is probably because he moved here just 3 years ago.  He has never attended a Council meeting.  

I’m proud to have the support of our police, who noted my record of commitment to law enforcement and supporting public safety on Council.  Let’s keep Pinecrest safe - both from crime and from candidates who will make things up to get your vote.  

Ralph’s Tall Tales About Tall Buildings

And, of course - Tall Tales about Tall Buildings. My opponent wants so badly for me be in support of greater density that he just made up that I am!  Here’s the Truth: Pinecrest building height on US-1 is limited to 4-stories.  Always has been.   And in 2022, Council voted unanimously to maintain it, successfully fending off County efforts to permit more.  Council even appointed a Pinecrest Citizens Committee (watch here) consisting of volunteer Resident Architects and Planners to help comply with what was, ultimately, a watered-down version of the County ordinance.  And with the Committee’s technical help, we maintained the 4-story limitation, and satisfied County minimums.

All of this was done in the Sunshine, over multiple meetings, with the Citizens Committee, and with input from many, many Residents.  My opponent apparently does not know any of this.  My opponent chose  not to attend the meetings. He offered zero input whatsoever. Never chimed in in any manner whatsoever.  When my opponent misled you, I shared the truth in full here.  Elected officials should tell the truth, not traffic in deceit and fear.

IN CLOSING

If I have the privilege of being re-elected, I will continue to work hard to meet our current challenges and those that are yet to come.  I will do so in the same spirit of cooperation and community that has guided my commitment to our community.

My time on Council follows two decades of serving our community on local boards, in the PTA, and through the broader legal community as a lawyer.

I have earned the endorsement of our Community leaders, from our Police,  from our founding Mayor,  and from our local paper.  With your input and support, we have achieved so much as a Village in just four years.  We are a bigger community than Tall Tales told to win an election.

Pinecrest was rated the #1 community in Miami-Dade to raise a family. Pinecrest Gardens was rated the “Best Places to Take Kids” in 2023 by the Miami New Times.  And our Farmer’s Market was rated the Best in South Florida.

Pinecrest is a gem that we must continue to preserve, protect and defend.  

I thank you for your consideration.  

‍
Committed to our Community,