Is Miami a lot like new york? (Gonzalez, Key Biscayne: live, shops)

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by JulianM09

Not true, the face of Miami politics might be Cuban but behind the scenes its a bunch of white guys like you and me. Judges and Lawyers are also largely white, sure there are plenty of Carribean and South American too. You are making large assumptions, you are generalizing and just being real ignorant on the whole thing.


Do you live in Miami? Do you work in the courts in Miami? You are incorrect in your "assumptions"..........additionally, Cuban Americans are a bunch of "white guys." Btw, I'm a woman. There are indeed many people living in Miami from the Carribean and South America. What I'm saying is that the Cuban Americans who came over in the 60s an 70s made it their business to become the politicians and business leaders in Miami. They have been very successful. Have you ever heard of Lincoln Diaz Balart? How about Senator Martinez? Illeana Ros-Leithen? Have you ever heard of Jorge Mas Canosa? I work in the courts in Miami and I am very aware of the demographic. In the Circuit Criminal court almost all the judges are Cuban American. There are certified translators in the court house for most hearings...even though the majority of circuit court judges do speak Spanish.


So? Why does that bother you? Good for them ???

Again, you're making another ASSUMPTION. I believe I stated in my post that I love the diversity here and I very much like the Hispanic culture. THAT includes Cuban Americans. Doesn't bother me at all that the Cuban Americans have become very powerful in Miami, not only professionally but also socially. However, that is something that clearly most people, such as yourself, are unaware of......I would suggest a good book for you. "Cuba Confidential" by Anne Bardach. Miami is a very interesting place, and I would suggest different from NY because of it is more like living in the Carribean, Central America, or South America. It's an International city, and the gateway to South America. One more thing. How do you know that I'm not Cuban American?

Probably the real recent immigrants but Cubans are known for assimilating very well. It also seems you are bunching up all of Miami's hispanic community as just all "Cuban" which is a mistake on your part.

Actually, the exact opposite of your assumption about assimilation by Cubans is true. The more recent immigrants from Cuba do assimilate as quickly as possible.

You should read up on your history of the Cuban revolution and the escape of the Cubans to Miami. It was the early immigrants who achieved such enormous success in Miami, through lots of hard work, and intelligence. They knew that in order to regain the type of lifestyle which they had enjoyed in Cuba prior to the revolution that they must establish themselves politically and in the business world in Miami. Which they did very well. Can you tell me the name of the mayor of Miami? How about the major politicians from the Miami area? As I said, the Cuban Americans are also the socially elite in Miami. Have you ever been to a "15s" party??? How many people, average citizens across American, do you think would even know what a "15" party is?

And Portugese, and British, and Italian, and Spanish, and German, and Canadian, and Dutch, and Norwegian, and Fench....ect
Brickell is the single largest assemblage of inernational banks in America, it in effect is the single largest center of international financing in America.

I'm very familiar with the Brickell area, the financial district. It is my neighborhood. That is where I live. International banks......largely South American. I don't believe I said there were any "Cuban" banking interests on Brickell. LOL I said South American.

I guess my question to you now would be what do you have against Cuban Americans in Miami? Why do you seem offended that I "suggested" that the politican and professional world of Miami has been dominated by Cuban Americans? Do you have a problem with Cuban Americans?

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by Austin13

I'm very familiar with the Brickell area, the financial district. It is my neighborhood. That is where I live. International banks......largely South American. I don't believe I said there were any "Cuban" banking interests on Brickell. LOL I said South American.

I guess my question to you now would be what do you have against Cuban Americans in Miami? Why do you seem offended that I "suggested" that the politican and professional world of Miami has been dominated by Cuban Americans? Do you have a problem with Cuban Americans?

wait, hold on. There are circuit court judges in Miami that don't speak English? That is bananas (crazy)

As for who is running what in Miami, who cares? It was the whites, then the Jews, then the Lebanese Christians and now the Cubans. Its a nice places, has a LONG way to go though, but still nice. However is in power, they need to do more, thats the bottome line. If Miamians had the political sophistication of New Yorkers (regardless of race), that places could really be top notch.

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

wait, hold on. There are circuit court judges in Miami that don't speak English? That is bananas (crazy)

As for who is running what in Miami, who cares? It was the whites, then the Jews, then the Lebanese Christians and now the Cubans. Its a nice places, has a LONG way to go though, but still nice. However is in power, they need to do more, thats the bottome line. If Miamians had the political sophistication of New Yorkers (regardless of race), that places could really be top notch.

My apologies. My sentence was not clear. No, there are not circuit court judges in Miami who DON'T speak English. Almost ALL of the judges speak BOTH English and Spanish. However, there is a very large portion of defendants, witnesses, and parties in court cases who DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH and therefore the need for translators. In Florida, translators who work in the courts are REQUIRED to be certified by the state because there is such a large need for people who can ACCURATELY translate from English to Spanish and then back from Spanish to English in court proceedings. You know, "fair" trial, due process and all that.

Yes, indeed, Miami is a very nice place! It's a really BEAUTIFUL place as well. Why would "movie stars," the ultra wealthy, and other "jetsetters" spend so much time here if it were not? Wonderful restaurants, great food, diverse Hispanic population.........have you been to Miami lately?

You said Miami has a "long way to go though"..........a long way to go for WHAT?

Miami is unique. That's my point.

The traffic on the highways (like I-95 is challenging for sure) but "adaption" is certainly do-able.

[PBCboy]

Originally Posted by Austin13

It's a really BEAUTIFUL place as well. Why would "movie stars," the ultra wealthy, and other "jetsetters" spend so much time here if it were not?

To be fair, they typically don't spend any time in the actual of city of Miami. Instead, they are in Miami Beach, an entirely different city (or the other wealthy sections).

[Pooring Footers]

And usually live in Miami for portions of the year too

[hatteras60]

Originally Posted by Pooring Footers

And usually live in Miami for portions of the year too

And you almost never hear about them anywhere but Miami Beach...

[Pooring Footers]

Yes, the emphasis on my post was "portions"... i.e. they dont live here all yr round

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by Austin13

My apologies. My sentence was not clear. No, there are not circuit court judges in Miami who DON'T speak English. Almost ALL of the judges speak BOTH English and Spanish. However, there is a very large portion of defendants, witnesses, and parties in court cases who DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH and therefore the need for translators. In Florida, translators who work in the courts are REQUIRED to be certified by the state because there is such a large need for people who can ACCURATELY translate from English to Spanish and then back from Spanish to English in court proceedings. You know, "fair" trial, due process and all that.

Yes, indeed, Miami is a very nice place! It's a really BEAUTIFUL place as well. Why would "movie stars," the ultra wealthy, and other "jetsetters" spend so much time here if it were not? Wonderful restaurants, great food, diverse Hispanic population.........have you been to Miami lately?

You said Miami has a "long way to go though"..........a long way to go for WHAT?

Miami is unique. That's my point.

The traffic on the highways (like I-95 is challenging for sure) but "adaption" is certainly do-able.

Long way to go for what? Seriously? I was in Miami yesterday, will be down there again this evening. With that said, they still do not have a large diverse economy. They were dependent mostly on Real Estate and tourism and banking, all of which are taking huge hits. Just look at the downtown, while it looks nice, its darn empty when the lights go out and those towers are ghost towns. If you think that is healthy then you and I have two totally different definitions of healthy. They need to improve mass transit. The citizenry are unsophisticated politically and it shows. I can go on and on and on about how they have a LONG way to go. That is not to say Miami (in my opinion) has more going for it then almost any other city in Florida, it still needs to get better. Sorry if that upsets you but I am not one with rose colored glasses on. i should say it again though, I would move to Miami in a heart beat if I couldn't move back to NYC (which is looking to be the case). However, I do not have unrealistic or fantastical ideas of what Miami is or isn't. Its a nice place, has far more to do than broward (where I am now) BUT it still has a LOT of work to do. Oh and the corruption, its a problem, a big problem.

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by PBCboy

To be fair, they typically don't spend any time in the actual of city of Miami. Instead, they are in Miami Beach, an entirely different city (or the other wealthy sections).

I believe Madonna and Stallone lived in Coconut Grove at one time. What about Golden Beach, Bal Harbor, Star Island, the Brickell area, etc? Lots of extremely wealthy South Americans live in the Brickell area......you know....all those lovely tall condos on Biscayne Bay, the mulit-million dollar condos?? How about Coral Gables? Presidents (Bush sr. and Clinton) visited powerful politicians in Coral Gables. Biltmore?? Those are all part of Miami-Dade County. The city of Miami has some very up-and-coming areas........great restaurants, clubs and bars. Miami beach is only a short drive across the bridge (next to the port where all the cruise ships dock) into downtown Miami. Are you familiar with the new cultural center recently completed on Biscayne Blvd. How about the American Airlines Arena? Concerts with famous people there? Lots of famous people and entertainers live in Miami. Gloria Estafan??

This city is absolutely beautiful. The emerald green waters and the exotic flowers and tress........orchid trees, etc......are absolutly amazing.

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

Long way to go for what? Seriously? I was in Miami yesterday, will be down there again this evening. With that said, they still do not have a large diverse economy. They were dependent mostly on Real Estate and tourism and banking, all of which are taking huge hits. Just look at the downtown, while it looks nice, its darn empty when the lights go out and those towers are ghost towns. If you think that is healthy then you and I have two totally different definitions of healthy. They need to improve mass transit. The citizenry are unsophisticated politically and it shows. I can go on and on and on about how they have a LONG way to go. That is not to say Miami (in my opinion) has more going for it then almost any other city in Florida, it still needs to get better. Sorry if that upsets you but I am not one with rose colored glasses on. i should say it again though, I would move to Miami in a heart beat if I couldn't move back to NYC (which is looking to be the case). However, I do not have unrealistic or fantastical ideas of what Miami is or isn't. Its a nice place, has far more to do than broward (where I am now) BUT it still has a LOT of work to do. Oh and the corruption, its a problem, a big problem.

I agree with you regarding the real estate problem here! That's big!

However, I live downtown, and it is not a "ghost town" after dark. The business district, up and down Flagler Street, is deserted after dark, but that is not NEW. It has been that way for years and years. Many of the homeless "live" in that area of Miami after dark. However, cross the Miami River bridge, go south into the Brickell area, and you will find something very different. You may enjoy Morton's for dinner next time you're here. And then there is the Mary Brickell Village area. You've also got Key Biscayne, etc., etc.

Miami has been hit very hard in re the real estate market for sure. There was a lot of over-building and people "investing" in properties to "flip" when the bottom fell out! Yet not all those new buildings are "empty" as you say.

I would add one thing. If looking for a job in Miami, it really is necessary to speak Spanish.......and in a lot of cases one must be able to speak both English and Spanish. There are many small businesses in Miami where Spanish is the only language spoken.