Unpacking

Gaslighting Another Black Community For Fun & Profit

Scratch beneath any story in Coconut Grove and you’ll discover the issue of race lurking. We’ll get to that eventually, but this true fable — with a twist on the race issue — starts with the approval of a Wawa gas station in the City of Coral Gables. So what? Cities approve gas stations all the time. However, this approval didn’t have any public consultation with the community, nor public hearings, both of which would normally have taken place. And, that’s ...

Unpacking The Writer ► The Bearded Edition

Every month, or so, I do another one of these blog posts about the inner-workings of being a writer, but all my regular readers know the unvarnished truth: It’s merely ...

Is Gino Falsetto Breaking The Law Again? ► A Charles Avenue Update

The Charles Avenue historical marker with the E.W.F. Stirrup House across the street. It’s always been about the E.W.F. Stirrup House. My research into Ebeneezer Woodbury Franklin Stirrup has led to ...

West Grove Residents Lose ► Polluting Bus Garage Will Go Ahead

Indefatigable Coconut Grove community activist Laurie Cook leading the protest The residents of west Coconut Grove had their hopes dashed yesterday when Miami-Dade County Judge Ronald G. Dresnick ruled that a ...

No Skin In The Game ► Part Four

The One Grove mural in Coconut Grove On the same day I was posting about the upcoming court hearing for Trolleygate, a news article came across my transom that dovetails with ...

Trolleygate Update ► The End Of The Line?

Artist rendering of the Coral Gables’ diesel bus garage designed in a Bahamian style Circle the court date: August 16th. At times it seems the wheels of justice turn ever so slowly. ...

Cops Try To Scare Me As I Cover A Non-Protest

No protesters at Dirty Blondes The Dirty Blonde protest didn’t come off as planned. I don’t know how many people they expected, but I’m the only one here, except for 2 ...

A live update from the E.W.F. Stirrup House

Nothing has changed. Nothing has been done. The E.W.F Stirrup House continues to undergo Demolition by Neglect.

Where Did July Go? ► Unpacking The Writer

As July almost comes to a close, it’s time to look back on what has been an especially exciting month for me. A website I read and respect has seen ...

Relaxing on the Patio

While sitting on the patio, most people are huddled inside to beat the 100 degree heat. That allows me to read my book and ignore everyone. Listening to Taj ...

Another Dispatch From Detroit, ‘Merka’s First Throwaway City

Once upon a time Detroit was called “The Arsenal of Democracy.” However, the consequences of 60 years of White Flight — systemic racism, to be blunt — finally came home ...

50 Years Ago ► St. Augustine Beaches Integrated ► History Is Complicated

Florida Memory reminds us that it took blood and guts to integrate Florida beaches. On this day — June 25, 1964 — White segregationists attacked the participants of a “Wade-In” ...

Final Note From The Road

After a good night’s sleep following my whirlwind trip, here are some final observations from the road — all 2,991 miles of it. Because, if there’s one thing one can ...

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