Free Miami Shores

The "Other Side" of Miami Shores

The Shores is a wonderful community, but the longer I've lived here I have discovered an oppressive, controlling conformity influencing city government that needs to be confronted. When I first learned of the color control ordinance I was neutral, although concerned about freedome because almost all other upscale communites in Dade County retain their beauty without a heavy handed law dictating the hues of color you can paint your house. I value freedom over intrusive government dictates. But it was when I attempted to paint my house that I learned that the implementation of the ordinance is arbitrary, vague, shockingly over restrictive and arrogant. And while we must change the implementation it is clear that the ordinance itself is the root problem. It must either be repealed or amended.

I dickered for a year with the color control officer, who virtually never returned my phone calls, rejecting color after color, proposing pale bland colors that were unacceptable to me. The reasons were usually Orwellian doublespeak: the color isn't "harmonious" (a meaningless standard defined by the arbitrary individual taste of whoever the official is). Colors that are "harmonious" by any stretch of the definition were rejected (verbally), while colors that seemed on the strong side were approved (verbally). I was often told my colors were "too bright", but when I displayed an approved color that was brighter than what I was proposing I was told that it "worked" on the other house even though the sample looked bright. Yet many of my colors were rejected based on the sample, leaving me without any recourse to argue that it would "work" on the house. I was often told the "hue" didn't match other colors or the neighborhood when the variation of hue was marginal. It was all quibbling over someone's arbitrary personal definition of "taste" with the clear message being the Shores officials have superior "taste" than many of us residents. The ordinance also discriminates against people from Latin and Caribbean cultures who enjoy vivid colors. We have to stop the petty efforts of some Shores residents to impose their fine distinctions of what are appropriate colors on the rest of us.

What You Can Do

Tell us your experiences with Miami Shores code enforcement. If you prefer privacy, please email or call me. I need to hear your story and will keep your indentity confidential.

We are organizing a steering committee to develop consensus and political support for exact amendment language. Please join the committee.

At the very least, email me so I can place you on the email and call list. I will keep you informed of occasional action events such as attending a city council hearing, meetings with council members and our work in the 2009 council election campaign.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Zoning Board Rejects my Appeal 4-0

I appealed the Color Control officer's rejection of dark blue hurricane shutters on my pastel green house. More on this outrage soon. Post your comments on your experiences with Miami Shores village government OR email me at mweaver@stis.net. Let's talk about what we can do about their heavy handed treatment of the citizenry.

Free Miami Shores

The "Other Side" of Miami Shores

What You Can Do

At what level do you support a permit requirment?

Regarding the paint color approval ordinance do you

Do you favor repeal of the ban on architectural metal roofs?

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Friday, September 28, 2007

Zoning Board Rejects my Appeal 4-0