Paid For By "Citizens Against Triple Taxation" Hmmm...

A group calling itself "Citizens Against Triple Taxation" was kind enough to send me a colorful, if poorly-designed 6" x 9" mailer today exhorting me (as a Miami Springs voter) to "Vote NO on Annexation."  

Now, annexation is not a new issue in Miami Springs. But, it's kind of a settled issue. Nearly a decade ago, Miami Springs voters went to the polls on April 7, 2009 and over 76% voted in favor of annexation.

There is a fact sheet online at the City's website, here.

The fact that I'd seen ads over the Spring and Summer in the River Cities Gazette published by this group, "Citizens Against Triple Taxation" (hereinafter, "CATT") got me curious, since their ads used a lot of words like "WE" AND "US" and "OUR" -- I reasonably inferred it was a group of politically engaged Miami Springs residents voicing concerns.

That doesn't appear to be the case.

According to sunbiz.org, CATT is an active, Florida Not For Profit Corporation, led -- not by a Miami Springs resident -- but by a sole individual, Mr. Derick Ferrao. The mailing address for CATT is Mr. Ferrao's homestead-exempted property; a waterfront home just off Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove.

According to Mr. Ferrao's LinkedIn profile he presently serves as President of Doral East LLC, which holds property within the proposed annexation area, at 5149 NW 74th Avenue. According to the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's website, the building held by Doral East has an assessed value of $2,950,000.
​

There's lots more to get into here.

For now, I just wanted to speak up in favor of full disclosure and transparency on this matter that affects the lives of all Miami Springs residents.

At the moment "Citizens" appears to be just the citizen pictured at right.

Thanks for reading! Feedback is welcomed at [email protected].

s/o

Mr. Derick Ferrao --- Photo courtesy of Mr. Ferrao's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derick-ferrao-595700b1 Accessed 10/16/2018.