Wow.
Paint my face dumbfounded.
A Miami-Dade judge dismissed the ACLU suit against Miami-Dade County.
Like we didn't know that wasn't going to happen.
Judge Pedro P. Echarte Jr. (no relation to Ron Book that I'm aware of) bought Miami-Dade Attorney Tom Logue's argument that if the state wanted municipalities to fall in line with the 1,000-feet state statute defining residency restrictions for sex offenders that the Legislature would've put it in writing.
The ACLU argued that said Legislature `implied preemption'', figuring said municipalities would kowtow to the state law.
Well, guess what the Legislature gets for thinking?
Folks living under a bridge.
No worries, Froggers. That's why the Good Lord invented higher courts. And my guess it, the appeal won't be heard in Miami, Miami-Dade or for that matter, South Florida.
Oh, of course, head landlord of the Julia Tuttle Causeway had a few words of wisdom to share after the ruling.
(...)
Ron Book, a state lobbyist who fought for the stringent local ordinances, applauded the judge's decision. ``There is no provision in the law that prohibits local municipalities from enacting their own ordinances,'' he said.
With public opinion threatening to tip Humpty Dumpty off his Miami-Dade Homeless Trust Chair for housing dreaded sex offenders with economic stimulus cash, whadaya think the chances of that changing might be?
Just for kicks and giggles, let's all collectively cross fingers in hopes the Legislative wrap up of that bit of legal loose end is RETROACTIVE.
If this isn't funny enough, the state of Florida wants the other Miami sex offender slugfest moved to Tallahassee. Miami officials feel Miami citizens want the case heard in Miami due to their "...vested interest in the outcome." (Is it just me, or is an echo bouncing off the frame of this blog?)
Pssstttt. By the way, if you believe all that home field crap, I've got a piece of swampland in Miami to sell.....
ROTFL. :)
Read more over at the Miami Herald. (9/18/09)
Chin up, kids. We've lived through far worse.
