Miami-Dade County Approved the funding for the Port of Miami Tunnel…
The 9-3 vote of approval wasn’t without some misdirected and unwarranted criticism due to French construction giant Bouygues Travaux Publics’ ties to Cuba. Of course, some of our elected officials had their priorities out of order, instead voting for what was best for Cuba than Miami:
”This project is morally wrong,” said Miami attorney Nicolas Gutierrez, who represents the descendants of a Cuban family whose property was expropriated by the Castro regime. One of the resorts that the Bouygues affiliate helped construct is on the family property in eastern Cuba.
But in the end, only Commissioner Javier Souto, a Bay of Pigs veteran, specifically mentioned the firm’s ties to Cuba in casting his vote against the deal. Also voting against the deal were Commissioners Natacha Seijas and Rebeca Sosa.
Last time I checked we elected our officials to do what was best for Miami-Dade, not Cuba, the US embargo is only applicable to US corporations, none of which were the low bidders for the port tunnel project to begin with. (Side note: last time I was in Europe, I drank from a Pepsi can which offering chances to win a “voyage for 2 to Cuba…” Where is the sense in that?) Their reservations about Bouygues Travaux are unwarranted when its a foreign company operating under foreign jurisdictions and policies and is further evidence that our commissioners tend to vote without knowing the pertinent facts…
I believe even if they knew the facts which I’m sure were presented to them privately and publicly they would have to vote the way they vote. While they are elected to represent us here in Miami-Dade many who live here would not support them in the future because of any believed support of cuba. It is a absurd situation but some commissioners feel that every vote is the last vote and they have to lay it on the line and show their contempt for a foreign gov’t rather than their support for our community.
City of Miami Commissioners are not so eager to see a $1 Bil tunnel. It appears other solutions should be explored.
Free route thru downtown or a $4 toll on Watson Island? Which do you think truckers will choose?
What about a trench down Bicentennial Park?
The $4 toll would apply to the current bridge leading to the port as well…
How can 18 wheelers manage the very steep slope required to get below Government Cut? The 18 wheelers must drive under the cruise ships. How can they climb back out? What happens if the tunnel floods? Accidents?
Space to collect tolls?
Wouldn’t a trench under the park be better?