Anti-Social

RUSSIA, UKRAINE, Jan. 6th. The world is in turmoil, but our guest's new book points out that turmoil is a part of U.S. history. Jonathan Katz is a former AP correspondent whose book Gangsters of Capitalism traces the career of a decorated Marine Corps general who realized he'd been sent around the world to secure profits for business. Next we talk about a new legal action in Key Biscayne...

EVERY YEAR , politicians debate making more and more government records secret in Florida. Our guest tries to keep government in the sunshine. Learn about a "dark money" bill that seems to be racing forward from Pamela Marsh , the head of the First Amendment Foundation. In major league Sports, perhaps no annual debate gets more attention than who should be in the Hall of Fame. This year,...

An early morning armed robber y on Key Biscayne has residents rattled. Our guest is the island's new chief of police, Frank Sousa. We get the latest on the arrests and his plans to address policing. Special guest host Frances Reaves joins in the questioning. Also this week -- a plan to privatize the Rickenbacker Causeway was scuttled by Miami-Dade County elected leaders. But what happens next...

The state's largest utility, FPL, ran paid ads critical of Mary Ellen Klas , ostensibly over a story about rooftop solar power . But there's a lot more to it -- including the " ghost candidate " story unfolding in Key Biscayne and other Florida communities.   We interview Klas, the Tallahassee bureau chief of The Miami Herald about the story that expanded to something seemingly...

THE OMICRON VARIANT appears to be everywhere -- Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey got it this week, joining many other members of the Village government who've contracted the virus. It's added another wave of disruption -- is there any good news? Our Guest is Daniel Chang, health care reporter for The Miami Herald, who's been covering COVID-19 and its impact locally.  In Segment 3 -- we...

District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado joins the show to fill us in on the latest with the Rickenbacker RFP. Will the project die? What's the alternative? Why is this process such a mess?  The Commissioner  gives us her thoughts on this project and on Miami-Dade County government in general.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

"MEAT THE PRESS" - - A special edition of our show that emanated live from the smoke tents of the 15th Annual Key Biscayne Rib Off, with literally hot   news about about a major report new report on the financing of the  Rickenbacker Causeway that may decide next steps about the $500 million proposed Causeway renovation.   Our guest is Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey. In Segment Two , we t...

ON THIS EPIODE -- we are joined by special guest host Frances Reaves We talk about rising seas on the biggest high tide of the year -- King Tide -- that is making soggy records all over South Florida. Our guest is Miami-Dade County's chief residence officer -- Jim Murley, who talks about how our community is addressing climate change. Then -- do you hate switching clocks twice a year? We talk...

ON THIS EPISODE we talk about a proposed $115 million renovation of one of Miami's most prominent marinas = the Rickenbacker Marina. City of Miami voters are being asked to  waive competitive bidding - after years of contentious debates. Our guest is Aabad Melwani, whose family has been running the marina for decades.  On segment three -- we talk about Facebook's new name and safety on m...

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY is moving forward with a plan to possibly privatize a road between the city and its popular beaches, despite resident pleas to reverse course. Why? What are the political drivers? We talk to political analyst Fernand Amandi about political dysfunction.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

Mayor Davey is live in the studio to talk about Village Council's unanimous decision to request that the Rickenbacker RFP process be stopped. Find out the driving factors on this rare unanimity and hear whether the Mayor thinks it can last.  Also: The Mayor updates us on the new budget as well as the finalized Library deal.  PLUS: Which team will win the highly competitive Key Biscayne Rib Co...

THE CITY OF MIAMI is considering new laws to remove homeless people from downtown streets, and one commissioner suggested a temporary encampment on the island of Virginia Key. We talk to Miami Herald city hall reporter JOEY FLECHAS . Next we track stories in the Key Biscayne Independent - a contentious meeting about the Rickenbacker Causeway and two people who were arrested as a mask policy was en...

Key Biscayne is down to just two candidates for police chief -- we talk to Thomas "Pat" Hanlon, one of the finalists. He's a former assistant director of Miami-Dade County's police department. What can he bring to the job? A decision is expected soon. And it's Budget Season - Key Biscayne's $35 million budget goes for a final vote on Sept. 21. We talk to Chief Financi...

Key Biscayne is down to two finalists for police chief. Our guest is Frank Sousa (SOO'-sah), Fort Lauderdale's interim chief. We ask him why he's interested in being chief and his philosophy of policing in a time of deep societal change. We also talk about why a routine budget vote went haywire , and President Biden's decision to impose new COVID-19 rules.   Send us Fan Mail Su...

It's one of Miami's biggest public projects -- rebuilding the iconic Rickenbacker Causeway connecting islands with the mainland. Our guest -- before a live studio audience -- is Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava , who is proposing a privatization plan. In Key Biscayne,  some leaders say the plan is too oriented to cyclists and doesn't go far enough to address other needs....

The United Nations climate report said that global warming is " a code red for humanity." Associated Press Science Writer Seth Borenstein joins us to talk about the grave report. It's bad, but is there any good news? Then, Fire Chief Eric Lang fills listeners in about Tropical Depression Fred, and the latest stats about coronavirus in Key Biscayne. Despite a high vaccination rate, t...

THE DELTA VARIANT is raging and some businesses like Wal-Mart, Google, and even some cities are requiring employees to get the shot. Should that happen in Key Biscayne? We ask Mayor Mike Davey. And we welcome H. Frances Reaves , a local condo leader and senior citizen advocate as a guest host. BRIDGE TALKS -- late breaking news on a new round of meetings  between the Village and Miami-Dade County...

ON THIS EPISODE -- We talk to Gene Stearns, a prominent attorney, about plans to rebuild the Rickenbacker Causeway -- a project that's expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. We hear his take on --  the sad shape of the bridges connecting Miami to many of its most popular beaches why privatization is being explored.  what Key Biscayne officials must do to safeguard the only way on a...

On this Episode, Professor Ana M.  Lòpez, director of the Cuban and Caribbean Studies Institute at Tulane University,  joins us to talk about historic demonstrations in Cuba. What lead to this and do the protestors have a chance to succeed without U..S intervention? You'll hear her opinion of what can be done, what should be done, and what most likely will be done. Also joining us  is Jonatha...

Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado's coastal district has thousands of condos.  She is live in the studio sharing insight on how the condo collapse in Surfside may change laws and policies regarding HOA's throughout the county and beyond. Plus, the commissioner shares her thoughts on the latest idea to rebuild the iconic Rickenbacker Causeway connecting Miami across the turquoise wa...

Key Biscayne Council Member Brett Moss, who is also an architect, reacts to the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside and what it means for communities with many condos like Key Biscayne  Condominium lawyer and Sunny Isles Commissioner Dana Goldman walks us through the potential legal fallout from such a high-profile case. In Segment 3, Tony and Thom comment on a tense community budget wo...

Executive Director of the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce Tatyana Chiocchetti , stops by the studio to update us on the state of the Key Biscayne business community as the pandemic grinds to a close. Find out how Key businesses are staying safe, staying open, and handling the labor shortage. We'll also give an update on Chamber Chair Art Yerian's health. If you would like to donate to ...

In this episode, the chairman of of the Protect KB Paradise political action committee, Alan Fein tells us why the lawsuit agains the results of the November election is ridiculous and off base. On the other side of the issue,  Attorney David Winker, who filed the lawsuit and committed to being on this episode,  stood us up 3 minutes before air. Listen to Tony and Thom to try and figure out  the c...

THE COVID threat may thankfully be lessening but another threat  is rising -- the start of hurricane season. We talk to Fire Chief Eric Lang who has been preparing the Village for both problems.  Plus, Key Biscayne Independent reporter Annali Hayward joins us to talk about the health of Biscayne Bay and the new Biscayne Bay Commission.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscay...

What will it take to re-open services to pre-COVID status?  What's going on with an uptick in youth crime? Newly minted Village Manager Steve Williamson comes on to tell us. He also talks about how a new library , possible new skate park and problems with kite surfers on the island paradise. Then in Segment 3.... The Grumpy Old Man makes his Anti-Social debut.  Send us Fan Mail Support the sh...