FL- Miami threatens to fine state over Julia Tuttle Causeway sex-offender camp

I find it really stupid of Miami to get in a hissing match w/the state, after all I think it is the state that has control of the legislature and could cause Miami a world of hurt. Well, what does one expect from the place with the dumbest residency laws. Hopefully Miami will get nailed in the courts very soon, after all, who caused the problem? Hummm, just a minute, is this another way cities can USE sex offenders to generate income?

8-7-2009 Florida:

In the latest twist in the fate of sex offenders living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, the city of Miami says state authorities have violated city code.

In the latest push to relocate a camp of sex offenders living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, a Miami code enforcement board this week said it will fine the state if the offenders are not relocated.

At a meeting Wednesday night, the city code enforcement board found the state guilty of violating city code. The city plans to send a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Transportation in the next few days giving the state 24 hours to move the people living under the bridge, City Manager Pete Hernandez said. If the state doesn't comply, the city will fine the state $250 a day.

The latest legal wrangling over the camp of about 70 sex offenders started last month.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Miami-Dade County, arguing that the state's rule that sex offenders must live at least 1,000 feet from where children congregate supersedes the county's stricter 2,500-foot ordinance.

The next day, Miami sued the state, saying the camp is too close to Picnic Island No. 4, an island park in Biscayne Bay accessible only by boat. The sex offenders are monitored by the Florida Department of Corrections.

Ron Book -- who is chairman of Miami-Dade's Homeless Trust and has been working to relocate those living under the causeway -- said he wasn't surprised by the code enforcement board's actions.

He said he hoped the decision doesn't cause any friction with the state in the effort to find a place to move the offenders.

``No one contests there's a nuisance under that causeway,'' he said. ``The city wants to get the state's attention.''

Book said he's working to find suitable housing for the offenders.

Using monies from the county's Homeless Trust, Book on Thursday authorized checks for first and last month rent for three sex offenders to move from the bridge.

The search continues for a location that would be able to house a larger number of offenders. He has found a centrally located building that is ``totally unoccupied that has a lot of promise'' but declined to say where it is.

He recently found a private apartment building in South Miami-Dade to house eight people -- but he said they aren't happy about moving so far south where public transportation is limited. ..Source.. by JENNIFER LEBOVICH