April 10, 2016

Irela Bague

The Bague Group

15 Madeira Way #6

Coral Gables, FL  33134

MS. Bague,

The anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic is fast upon us. I mention that because the first sentence of your mini Op-Ed in today’s Sun Sentinel forces me to reach out, in a metaphorical way, to this gallant lady to describe what you said. In its entirety…

“A recent study from the University of Miami reports that

flooding in Miami Beach has increased exponentially.

The study shows that flooding has increased 400%

from high tides and 33% from rainfall. Additionally, the 

speed at which the seas are rising in South Florida 

may surpass global projections.”

The Sun Sentinel

Today 

You

If, as you say, “flooding has increased exponentially”, you will need a bathyscaphe like the one that went down 12,500 feet  to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to see the Titanic, to find the 50 yard line at Dolphins Stadium.

Your website says you are in the communications business. I guess that nothing succeeds like excess in that business.

Further, your “rising seas” scenario should demand a degree of skepticism sadly missing in all discussions concerning drowning polar bears and suicide by fossil fuels.

If the sea is rising why are prices for water front properties increasing at a staggering, if not exponential rate?

Did not an acre and a quarter of waterfront property in Biscayne Bay just change hands recently at $125,000,000? 

I do not know the financing terms but why would a bank give a mortgage on property that soon will have haddock, hake, and hopefully, halibut as the only tenants? It’s tough to foreclose on owners who have gills and don’t take phone calls.

We were promised 8 years ago that the “earth will cool and the seas will calm”. If, as you say, the water is rising why have not insurance premiums risen faster than the oceans?

Do you think it would be common sense for the United States government to get out of the business of providing property flood insurance for littoral properties?

You mention “solutions” to the crisis du jour. I have a question that no one in Miami Beach wants to answer.

Miami Beach has mitigated their flooding problem by installing highly effective pumps. Where does the water go? It can’t go East because it would be back as quickly as it was pumped. It must be pumped West. Was an environmental impact statement concerning the effects that this would have on the flora and fauna in Biscayne Bay and the Everglades? If not, why not?

You end by saying…

“At a recent conference the Miami Chamber of

Commerce, business leaders discussed solutions

rather than the cause. The business community 

agreed that the focus should be on collaboration

and consensus with local communities, building

resiliency by modifying codes and improving 

flood protection measures. The time to act is now.”

loc cit

That can mean something, anything, everything, or nothing. Better yet, all of the above.

You have raised obfuscatory persiflage to an exponential level of ohmadahnish balderdash heretofore not seen.

I suggest that while you wait for the oceans to rise you read some Orwell and Chicken Little.

Kevin Smith

PS – Acting locally while thinking globally is a mantra much favored by people who are pissed off by the Industrial Revolution. May I suggest that you turn off all your A/Cs and used only public transportation?  Then you can think about boycotting plastic.