Norman Braman's lawsuit filed against the Miami Megaplan has been hotly contested over the past few weeks, with journalists and bloggers aiming to uncover his 'true' intentions. The auto sales kingpin has been accused of desperately trying to push the suit as a publicity stunt to promote sales, seeing as how an automobile dealership bearing his last name makes for spoon-fed free association amongst the general populace. This would be a more logical move if Braman was younger and maybe new to the city, but both he and his business are Miami staples. Furthermore, his bank account is slated to live far beyond his years (and probably mine), so it's not cash he is hounding after. This latter statement and the fact that all but one of his dealerships (2020 Biscayne Blvd.) are far from the urban centers of the city would eliminate the claim that he is opposed to, say, the Midtown car for fear of huge monetary losses. Logically speaking, how much business could he possibly lose from having Midtowners opt for public transportation?
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There are several absurd reasons as to why he is campaigning against the plan that one can toss onto the table, spewing random combinations like dice. For example, Braman may be an anti-environmentalist fanatic who believes that Global Warming is a hoax and is pro automobile emissions, just as it is not unfeasible to think he may be an ultra-conservative nut who is convinced that everything needs to be privatized - including police and emergency agencies - and so is against the use of public funding. Senility shouldn't be ruled out, either. What I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned enough is his history with battles against the local government relating to projects where the city has considered using public funding, i.e., his victorious battle over the 'one-cent' tax proposed by former County mayor Alex Penelas that would've invested millions towards improving the city's infrastructure.
Maybe Braman is suffering from a severe existential crisis that has worsened along with the wear and tear of old age, and it is publicly translating itself into a faux-populist ethical concern for the blue collar worker.
At any rate, the Miami Megaplan is like a travel kit that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, a cheap razor and maybe mouthwash - everyone has a problem with at least one of the projects contained therein. Some are concerned that a Midtown car is pointless because pricey real estate has already gentrified much of the working population (this is, of course, based on the assumption that the wealthy prefer their glitzy vehicles over muddied public transportation) while others cannot see the point in building the Marlin's stadium when the money can 1. be invested in low income housing projects, which is a far more pressing issue; and 2. Miami is notorious for its flaky sports fans. Sure, we understand that the $500 million given to the city by FDOT for the port tunnel would be used elsewhere in the state if we didn't jump on it, but enclosing a huge number of large scale plans with the green and red gift wrap one uses every December seems like a recycled Christmas present - it is comparable to receiving your friend's neighbor's present and realizing that your friend could not have chosen it because it is in no way suitable to your needs and/or wants. Therefore, it seems as if Braman mirrors the holiday precept in that his lawsuit, although possibly noble, isn't suitable to our needs and only attempted to prolong the inevitable.