Hired cops make a political point

Pinecrest touts incorporation

The campaign for the incorporation of Pinecrest began this week with a visible symbol: off-duty state troopers directing traffic at three area schools.

The troopers were hired to illustrate a political point: If Pinecrest were its own city, leaders could make decisions important to the area, like hiring officers to direct traffic and increase children’s safety. The officers were paid by the Pinecrest Committee for Incorporation.

The literature the committee handed out read: “This is an example of the added police services you can expect with the incorporation of the Village of Pinecrest.”

Pinecrest residents will vote on incorporation Sept. 19.

Destiny, the North Dade neighborhood surrounding Joe Robbie Stadium, also will vote on the issue that day. Activists from the two areas have remained in close contact during the incorporation drive.

“Our biggest problem will be getting the people to go out and vote,” said Gary Matzner, who wore a button Monday with the battle cry: Vote for Pinecrest Sept. 19.

Matzner’s group hired two troopers to direct traffic at each of three schools: Pinecrest Elementary, Palmetto Elementary and Palmetto Middle.

At Pinecrest, troopers guided drivers as they tried to turn onto busy Southwest 57th Avenue from 102nd Street. There is no traffic light at the intersection, and traffic slows to a crawl. Parents parked cars as far as three blocks away and walked their children to the classroom. Along the way, they saw green-and-white signs: Vote for Pinecrest Sept. 19.

Pinecrest’s boundaries run from the Snapper Creek Canal and Southwest 88th Street to Southwest 136th Street and from Old Cutler Road and Red Road to U.S. 1. The population is 15,800.

If there is opposition to incorporation within Pinecrest, it isn’t organized. No group has filed with the county elections department in opposition. Some people interviewed Monday, however, said they needed more information before making a decision.

Supporters were claiming success. They plan to take their campaign to shopping centers, door-to-door, and the telephone lines.

Photograph

SAFER STREETS: Off-duty state Trooper M. Otero directs traffic for the first day of classes at Pinecrest Elementary School - a visible sign of the community’s push to govern itself.

Credit: TIM CHAPMAN / Herald Staff.

The officer is M. Otero, not Gary Matzner.

Boundary Map

Pinecrest. Labels: N. Kendall Dr.; SW 112 St.; SW 136 St.; SW 77 Ave.; SW 67 Ave.; Red Rd.; Old Cutler Rd.; 826 route shield; U.S. 1 route shield.

KEY: Boundary. Scales: 0 to 1 mile (upper); 0 to 1/2 mile (lower). Credit: Herald Staff.

On the Move

Here are the areas interested in incorporating and where they stand:

• Aventura: Residents voted to incorporate and will vote Nov. 7 on a city charter. Then the Metro Commission must approve the charter election.
• Destiny and Pinecrest: Both will vote on incorporation Sept. 19. If it is favored, the Metro Commission must approve a charter election.
• Doral: Some residents have expressed an interest in incorporation, but they would have to follow a new ordinance that says 4 percent of electors in the area must sign a petition before any incorporation process begins.
• East and West Kendall: These two have not received the Metro Commission’s approval to vote. Planning studies have been done and discussed.
• Sunny Isles: A feasibility study was never done, and activists have not continued the drive.
• Westchester: Residents halted their drive.
• Palmetto South: Some residents have expressed an interest in incorporation, but they would have to follow a new ordinance that says 4 percent of electors in the area must sign a petition before any process begins. Residents have picked up petition forms from the county, but nothing has been turned in.