Manny Diaz Ain't Green

The US Conference of Mayors conference kicks off tomorrow in Miami, and Manny Diaz is stepping out. The Miami mayor -- the conference's leader this year -- will talk about green initiatives. Barack Obama and the Billmeister will follow him. But Manny, whom Vanity Fair mag named one of the...

By Chuck Strouse

June 19, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The US Conference of Mayors conference kicks off tomorrow in Miami, and Manny Diaz is stepping out. The Miami mayor -- the conference's leader this year -- will talk about green initiatives. Barack Obama and the Billmeister will follow him.

But Manny, whom Vanity Fair mag named one of the nation's most environmentally conscious mayors a couple years ago, presides over a city with the least park space of any big city in the nation -- 3.1 acres per 1000 residents. And, oh yeah, the Magic City has thousands of condos coming on line -- but the most screwed up mass transit system in the nation -- as the Miami Herald's Larry Lebowitz recently proved.

So somebody needs to call Manny out. C'mon protestors, speak up. You'll be heard.

Chuck Strouse

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Chuck Strouse is the former editor in chief of Miami New Times. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes and won dozens of other awards. He is an honors graduate of Brown University and has worked at newspapers including the Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times.

Contact: Chuck Strouse

Follow:

Twitter: @chuckstrouse