Aerial views of Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
http://youtu.be/vXRFoLZ7oN8These are the 'Mean Streets' I cover.
"I cover the waterfront..."
And I cover and observe with alarm the sham community meetings fronted by lobbyists and developers, the ungodly long City Commission meetings where logic, reason and common sense are, more times than not, no-shows to proceedings whose results are known before they ever start.
And I cover the graffiti-filled streets and drug-dealing back-alleys, dirty and unattractive public city beaches and pitch-dark public city parks where the first impressions drawn by residents and visitors are decidedly negative -and stay negative because of the apathy and neglect of those in charge at City Hall, who are oblivious and defensive about what is entirely self-evident.
Hallandale Beach has enormous potential, and, literally, an ocean of possibilities because of its great location and weather.
It's a city that ought to be a LOT BETTER place to live in and work in than it is now.
And everyone knows it.
But Hallandale Beach is also an ocean-side community that for years has been held hostage by the myopic, condescending and completely under-performing Rubber Stamp Crew of Mayor Joy Cooper, with the result that Hallandale Beach City Hall is genuinely afraid of open public debate and the public they purport to represent, as well as the voices of change that seek to hold THEM accountable.
In 48 weeks, the future of this city will be in the hands of Hallandale Beach voters to decide what kind of community this is going to be: more of the tyranny of the status quo, or, transparent, accountable and hard-working representatives who don't sleep-walk and shirk their responsibilities
In short, what kind of Quality-of-Life they and their families and neighbors will enjoy.
You all know what side I'm fighting for.
A classic scene from 1953's "On the Waterfront": Edie and Terry reminisce, verbally spar and connect; Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint make movie magic!
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