USED TO FEEL PROUD

BEING FROM NATION OF FREEDOM, 

DEMOCRACY, COMPASSION & LIBERTY

Now I feel ashamed being from US of Trump.

#TrumpIsAMoron

WHEN I EXPLAINED TO EVERYONE THAT LISTENED TO ME IN MEXICO THAT I HATE TRUMP...

... DID THEY BELIEVE ME OR THINK I WAS PANDERING?

#TrumpResign

TRUMP SUPPORTER FRACTURED LOGIC

STILL SUPPORTING A RUTHLESS DICTATOR

Not all Trump supporters are rednecks living in a burned out old school bus in coal country....still seething that a black man not only dared to be president, but generally accomplished a helluva lot considering the economy was in free fall when he was sworn in and the right wing Senate and House did everything it could to include his human-based agenda.

I happen to know a highly-educated couple who were fairly liberal Democrats when we met them in early 2001.

Both are professionals.

One is a double minority -- Hispanic and Jewish.

One has fought a litany of health issues that would seem to make them want to favor access to affordable health insurance.

They were big Hillary supporters the first time she ran, when Obama eventually won the nomination.

Somehow -- maybe there is poison in the water where they live in Broward County -- they shifted into being Trump supporters.

Even though Trump's power base is white supremacists. Even though his moral guidance was an anti-semite Breitbart alum.

Even though Trump made fun of a disabled reporter.

Even though Trump said Mexicans are filthy murderers and rapists...and while the Hispanic person in the husband wife-team isn't from Mexico, you would think he would take offense at a President denigrating any minority group.

They unapologetically supported the great myth that is Trump....that the Donald would somehow drain the swamp, rather than fill it with greedy one percenters who are taking away health care, tax deductions for medical care, parkland and every essential a middle class or working poor person needs to survive.

Most of their clients are progressive Democrats.  I have been so bitter about the election, I have thought about "outing" the couple to their clients.

I wonder if those folks suffering under an insane, ruthless POTUS would be so quick to pay their public and private sector dollars for the professional services of a couple who like race-baiting maniacs in the White House.

So far, I have not outed them.

I ran into a mutual friend the other day.

She mentioned that the couple is hurt that I have not socialized with them...face-to-face or on social media, for more than a year now.

I said I cannot sit down to pasta and wine and renew a friendship with people who support a bloodthirsty, would be dictator. I live in Little Havana. More than half of my neighbors -- Cuban, Central American, South American -- have fled a dictatorship.

They have had relatives imprisoned, castrated, tortured, ruined -- simply for trying to be free thinkers under extreme right and extreme left regimes.

Sorry, but I cannot force a smile and think of the old days, with people who willfully ignore the evil of #45.

#TRUMPPENCEMUSTGO

USED TO BE PROUD TO SAY I WAS FROM USA

WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD

Now ashamed of my nation and heartless, brainless #45

#TrumpPenceMustGo

(photo is of good, loving family in Mexico...not the kind of picture idiot racist Trump paints)

TOMAS TRUMPS...TRUMP

HOW DO YOU LOOK A MEXICAN FRIEND IN THE EYE WHEN THE LEADER OF YOUR NATION HAS BRANDED HIS PEOPLE AS THE SCUM OF THE EARTH?

I am talking to my friend Tomas.

One of 10 children, he left his Zapotec village for Oaxaca City at age 15.

He worked 7 days per week.

Drove a cab.

Took a year of nightly English classes and became a tri-lingual tour guide.

His oldest son is an architect, his oldest daughter a lawyer.

The next youngest is a school teacher and the baby of the family is finishing a masters and is contemplating doctoral work in human rights.

And I am faced with telling him that though our household didn't vote for him, I have blood family and neighbors that elected a president that has branded Mexicans rapists, thieves, murderers and lazy.

Tomas still works 7 days a week and feels guilty if only works half a day on Sunday.

He is industrious, warm, good humored and positive.

And I have to somehow explain that we have more than 3 years under an idiot despot that rules by fear, anger, ignorance and worse.

45 had everything handed to him by daddy.

And if he really had grown the family fortune, it is through deceit, treachery, litigation, strategic bankruptcy, government subsidy and even other kind of underhanded dealing known to man.

I don't know about you, but I'd choose, in a heartbeat, to have Tomas running our nation.

While the Russian puppet, stole the election, mentally unfit, halfwit, treasonous Trump rots in jail.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, 7 MOLES

ANCIENT RUINS, RICH CULTURE

 So sad to explain to Oaxacans that USA has idiot POTUS.

 #TrumpBaitAndSwitch

SPANIARDS RAN ROUGHSHOD

OVER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR CENTURIES

Must Trump’s vision white western European only U.S. still mistreat Mexico?

#TrumpBaitAndSwitch

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR

DIVERSITY...AND UNDERSTANDING THAT DISABILITY 
IS THE MOST NORMAL THING ON THE PLANET

This little girl was about the only one not in costume at the Escuela Primera Benito Juarez costume and altar contest in Oaxaca, Mexico.

I was walking by and she grabbed my arm to point out her dressed up siblings.

I took their fotos and introduced myself and asked If I could take hers.

She shook me off 3 times and said she's fea.  I said well I'm gordo, so we're a team. 

She relented and I took her foto. She clearly has some kind of syndrome that impacts her eyes and possibly gives her a learning disability.

She wanted to see her foto, so I showed it on the screen along with her family's shots that I took.

I stuck my hand out and said Esteban, mucho gusto.  And she thrust her hand out to shake mine and introduced herself as Yu.

I apologized for my poor Spanish and she said she didn't mind.  Then she hugged me with all her might.

Thank goodness the kids had to que for a parade.

Because I had to run to the corner of the decorated school yard and weep for joy.

Perhaps some see Yu as disabled, as different as not “normal.”

But to me, she is most soulful and beautiful creature on earth.

2 WEEKS IN OAXACA MEXICO

MAYBE WE DO NEED A WALL

To protect its great culture from our western influence, not us from them.

 #TrumpBaitAndSwitch

PLEASE URGE YOUR REGISTERED VOTER FRIENDS

TO VOTE TODAY FOR ALFIE LEON FOR MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

Miami is at a crossroads.

It is a wonderful international city with millions of things to do.

But it also is a place where wages are not keeping up with the cost of living.

It is a place where the concentration on developing high end homes for the super wealthy has meant virtually no workforce housing has been built.

Miami cannot be a place simply for the haves, with the majority being have nots that struggle to keep their family out of bankruptcy while serving the every need of the haves.

District 3 is one of the last places in the City that has a mix of affordable, workforce and medium income housing.

It is located close to most of the major job centers -- the airport, seaport, Brickell, CBD, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Health District/Civic center.

But Little Havana also faces development pressures that could make it more expensive.

It also could see mom and pop, authentic businesses driven out by faceless chains.

The District needs a person of honor, integrity and vision.

Alfie Leon is that man.

His opponent, unfortunately, has a history of loose cannon, vindictive and divisive behavior.

We wholeheartedly endorse Alfie Leon.

URBAN DESIGN STUDIO FOCUSES ON RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN MIAMI

At the University of Miami School of Architecture

Juan Mullerat and Megan McLaughlin are teaching a studio to introduce architecture students to urban design at the University of Miami School of Architecture this semester. 

While it is not their first time teaching at UM, it is a first teaching a studio that centers around resilience and transportation solutions in Miami, more specifically on the re-emerging Little River neighborhood in Northeast Miami. 

Juan and Megan’s team teaching effort in helping to prepare future architects to find solutions to the imminent problems Miami faces matches their commitment to community shown continuously through their firm’s projects.

https://plusurbia.com/urban-design-studio-focuses-on-resiliency-and-sustainability-in-miami/

Let's Not Forget Miami Candidate Joe Carollo's Domestic Violence Arrest

STORY COURTESY OF THE MIAMI NEW TIMES

Joe Carollo was arrested in 2001 for hitting his wife so hard he left a golf-ball-size welt on her head.

One of the then Miami mayor's young daughters called 911 and begged, “Help, my dad is hurting my mom! Please come now, please!” as a woman’s screams were heard in the background.

Now, "Crazy Joe" Carollo — one of Miami's most infamous political characters who has somehow kept his political career alive for decades despite acting like a Trumpian lunatic long before the Orange One ever entered politics — is back. 

He's preparing for a runoff election Tuesday, November 21, against challenger Alfonso "Alfie" Leon for Miami's District 3 city commission seat.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-candidate-joe-carollo-once-arrested-for-domestic-violence-9839236

EARLY VOTING TODAY AND SUNDAY

VOTE ALFIE LEON FOR MIAMI COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3

The Miami Herald enthusiastically endorses Alfie Leon over his troublesome, meddlesome, not fit for office opponent.

Here's an excerpt of the newspaper's endorsement:

“The most impressive District 3 candidate is Leon, 32, and an attorney who has proven to be a hard-working campaigner in the district.

 He worked for departing Commissioner Frank Carollo as a legislative aide and chief policy adviser. But for a few blips, his boss indeed was concerned with constituent service and, more impressive, took on the issue of youth crime. So Leon clearly knows the issues and what the job entails.

“Leon’s earnest, people-centric views are refreshing: ‘I decided to run because we need public servants and not politicians. We need people who are beholden only to their neighbors and will act towards bettering these neighborhoods,’ ” Leon told the Board.

“Leon pointed to a unique problem in the district: unfettered dumping on the streets, which give the district an unkempt and uninviting look. Residents deserve better.

“Leon also considers such issues — trash, traffic, the cost of living, crime — to be the district’s main issues. We think he can do something about cleaning up the district — literally.”

MIAMI-DADE TPO SMART PLAN

East-West Corridor Study Advisory Committee Meeting

Proud PlusUrbia Design is part of the Atkins Team applying Smart Growth, Transit-Oriented Development, premium transit and livability to promote proper density, more affordable housing and multimodal mobility to keep up with growth in Miami-Dade County.

https://plusurbia.com/miami-dade-tpos-smart-plan/

http://mdtpo.org/smartplan-land-use-planning-visioning.asp

CULTURALLY RICH DAYS IN OAXACA, MEXICO

SORRY OUR PIECE OF CRAP #45 AND HIS MINDLESS

SUPPORTERS WANT TO BUILD A WALL

#TrumpResign

NEVER THOUGHT I'D PAUSE

WHILE SHARING IDEAS

To wonder if vindictive, evil POTUS might attack me for freedom of expression.

 #TrumpDossier

SAW THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT COSTUMES DURING HALLOWEEN IN MEXICO

NOT 1 TRUMP MASK

Because he's beyond being mocked.

#TrumpResign

GETTING AHEAD OF THE WRECKING BALL WORKSHOP

PLUS URBIA DESIGN’S MEGAN MCLAUGHLIN 

WORKSHOP AT THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

Hosted by The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables and The Villagers, Inc., the workshop encouraged citizens to be pro-active in protecting historic places in their community.

Megan’s presentation, “How to be Alert for Potentially Endangered Sites,” focused on how to identify the very places that are in danger of being destroyed.

Read full story at PlusUrbia website

AMBASSADORS FOR ALFIE LEON

VOTE EARLY IN THE DISTRICT 3 RUN OFF RACE

Become an Ambassador for Alfie.

Spread the word.

PLEDGE TO RECRUIT your District 3 neighbors to vote. 

VOTE early!

We're so proud of Alfie Leon and supporting him all the way.

Get out the vote!

Vote for Alfie Leon in the Run-Off Election from November 17 - November 19, 2017 for early voting!

Friday, 11/17

7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday, 11/18

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday, 11/19

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hispanic Branch Library

1398 SW 1ST Street, Miami, FL 33135

Shenandoah Branch Library

2111 SW 19TH Street, Miami, FL 33145

Tuesday, 11/21

7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Vote at your District 3 precinct.

DO NOT BUILD THE WALL

MEXICO HAS MORE HISTORY AND CULTURE THAN THE U.S.

2 weeks among impoverished folks in Mexico = never felt safer.

Think of rich Congress members in DC = never felt more fearful.

#ImpeachTrump

HAVE ENJOYED FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA

NOW WONDER IF ANTI TRUMP, ANTI-GOP POSTS

Are in a dossier kept on those of us resisting.

Veterans did not give their lives for a Trump-right wing dictatorship.

They did not make the ultimate sacrifice so a brain dead bully could steal the presidency with help of our

biggest cold ward enemy in history.

Trump should serve for treason.

#jailtrumppence

150,000 readers

As of today, more than 150,000 unique visitors have read my blog.

I try to share great photos, stories, human rights advocacy, urban design ideas and more.

This photo is from Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Because everyone in the state and city of Oaxaca treated me so warmly, I was crushed to tell them that I live in a once-proud nation that used to stand for democracy, humanity, liberty, freedom, fair play, diversity and good character.

I told them, proudly in my ever-growing Spanish vocabulary, that I do not just oppose -- I loathe the SOB that conspired with a foreign threat to illegitimately gain the presidency.

I shared how with that ill-begotten power, Dictator #45 is destroying as much of the real America as possible before he is forced to resign, is impeached, or (hopefully, rightfully) is imprisoned for the rest of his natural life.

I usually save my most severe politics for my Twitter and Facebook accounts.

But the great culture, heritage, history and humanity that I felt during my better part of two weeks in Mexico inspired me to tell each one of my 150,000 readers how much I intend to resist the corrupt Trump-Pence-Ryan-GOP-Right Wing totalitarian government that serves only the richest, whitest of privileged people.

Some thoughts, about just how disgusting and dangerous POTUS 45 and his sycophants (psychopaths?, sociopaths?) are to a nation founded on diversity and freedom of thought and expression.

PLEASE SUPPORT ALFIE LEON

FOR MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

Our family got to spend some quality time chatting with Alfie Leon last night at a Little Havana event.

I've known him more than a year and liked him from Day 1.

But chatting the day after the results of a grueling, seven candidate election, which will result in a runoff with Mr. Leon as one of two finalists, really solidified my unwavering support for him.

He is everything you want in a candidate.

He is super bright and well-educated, but not the least bit arrogant or bookish.

He is in tune with the neighborhood.

He has skills that would allow him to read through complicated legislation, then help a poor constituent to find affordable housing -- all in the first hour of a long working day at City Hall.

He is super personable and very compassionate.

I have worked for and with politicians all of my life, since covering government fresh out of journalism school more than 3 decades ago.

Mr. Leon is one of the very few people who gets a thumb's up on every item on a checklist of attributes you seek in a leader.

Please join me in supporting Alfie Leon.

He is in a 24-7 scramble through Nov. 21, the runoff election date.

He needs our votes and our positive energy.

May he be setting a swearing in date before the year is done.

http://alfieleon.com/

CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANCIS SUAREZ

THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF MIAMI

Francis,

You have been an advocate for all that is fair and just and forward thinking since the day you first took a seat on the City Commission.

You have proudly and ably represented District. 4.

Your leadership preserved much-needed open space that could have become paved over for concrete tennis courts at Historic William Jennings Bryan Park.

You are a friend indeed.

We look forward to being part of your go-go team when it comes to advice for building a better city for people with disabilities (very, very much needs to be done and Miami could be a world-leader in creating a truly barrier-free environment built on universal design and inclusive mobility).

VOTE ALFIE LEON

FOR MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

Little Havana is one of the most important neighborhoods in Miami.
It needs a leader like Alfie Leon representing its Miami District 3.

@LeonforMiami

VOTE RALPH ROSADO

FOR MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 4

Out of town 2 weeks.

Long flights back.

No sleep.

Raining hard.

First act out of airport Saturday:

Early vote for Ralph Rosado

MY BRILLIANT WIFE HAS WON A MAJOR LITERARY CONTEST

I am thrilled to announce that my partner of more than three decades, Heidi Johnson-Wright, is the grand prize winner of the 2017 Pen 2 Paper Writing Contest.

She was honored for her non-fiction story, "Crip Cargo."

It is NOT the typical mindless, "inspirational" pablum that permeates so much writing about people with disabilities.

It is a cold, hard, facts piece of spot-on memoir from a life lived.

Read it and share with everyone you know...(lest I put a Little Havana Santeria curse on you for not expanding my wife's readership base):

link to artistic, realistic, fearless writing here

CENTRAL CITY

NEW ORLEANS

Majestic Life Ins. Co. Inc.

Affiliated with Majestic Mortuary.

Adam R. Haydel Founder.

CENTRAL CITY

NEW ORLEANS

Welcome to the First Evangelist Baptist Church

Rev. Reginald Landry, Pastor

CENTRAL CITY

NEW ORLEANS

Dryades Public Market is a unique, affordable fresh food market and neighborhood gathering space for the Central City corridor and beyond.

CENTRAL CITY

NEW ORLEANS

Central City BBQ -- the best brisket in town. Period.