The Herald has a new affordable housing scandal to report, this time in the City of Miami: City's affordable housing program in crisis. This one is a follow up, not to be confused with the County affordable housing scandal, detailed in the "House of Lies" series that won the Herald a Pulitzer, other journalism awards and much needed praise.
I can sum up the affordable housing problems in the City of Miami in a nutshell with 4 examples from the article that should have raised a red flag long before it made it to the paper:"City housing director Barbara Gomez -- who until recently was married to Rene Rodriguez, the longtime director of the county's scandal-ridden Housing Agency...." (well if that isn't a red flag!).
"The construction company's project manager, Carlos Martell, took in at least $50,000 in consulting fees -- again before construction started. Martell is a former business associate of City Commissioner Angel Gonzalez." (red flag!).
"Between 1988 and 1990, the city loaned (Al) Lorenzo (The Mayor's campaign Manager) $956,000 to fix up 61 low-income apartments in Overtown and Wynwood. Yuken was a corporate officer and investor in Lorenzo's companies and managed the
properties. But most of the buildings fell into disrepair and were eventually torn down at the city's expense. Lorenzo, who personally guaranteed the loans, failed to make a payment in more than a decade." (This is a club over the head, the red flag would be too subtle). And, last but not least:"The following year, the city tore the houses down and gave the land to a partnership that includes the Gatehouse Group, which promises to put up 163 units but so far has not secured state funding. The partnership would repay BAME's debt if the project gets built. The city ''reached out to us,'' said Gatehouse Vice President Nick Inamdar, one of Mayor Diaz's chief fundraisers in 2001."
Pardon me, you can read the article while I barf...
6 comments:
Wow. The Herald article nailed all the players. That Barbara Gomez has to go. It appears she has had her fingers in nearly every sleazy Community Development deal in the past 10 years. And when is her husband getting arrested? He ran the County Housing Agency into the dirt. Guess they were teaching each other?
Manny Diaz's campaign manager, Al Lorenzo, sure must be some snake. Taking at least $1 Mil? From people who need housing? Why would Manny Diaz want to hire someone like that?
Just as this expose is hitting the press Manny Diaz and the City of Miami are trying to float more bonds and they want to give away waterfront park land and give away $4 Mil to the no membership museums. Please. They should get their "house" in order before they start giving away more taxpayer dollars.
Barbara gomez' divorce papers are not in the public records...maybe she is just trying to distance herself from her dirtbag husband till the scandal blows over. Manny was trying to support on TV. Give her up Manny...
Wonder where this is going to lead, see below_________________
Miami Plans for Streetcars
MAYOR WANTS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE
Miami city administrators hope to develop a $200 million streetcar to connect downtown activity centers, businesses, and residential communities. The project would be funded as a public-private partnership, which is a funding model used in many European countries. This structure provides a way for governments to control and share the risks with developers. City officials met recently in Paris and Madrid with government representatives, international streetcar experts, and potential partners to plan what they hope will become a jointly funded transit system designed to relieve congestion in Miami's quickly developing urban core. Miami is experiencing a population and development boom and most of the medium and high rise condos and apartments are being built within a few blocks of Metro or the streetcar line.
In addition to the financial support administrators hope to garner if the commission approves a public-private partnership model, officials plan to fund the city's share through revenues and interest generated by the streetcar system and with transportation sales tax revenue and federal grants.
The streetcar is an urban transit circulator that will operate in existing roadways, and provide connectivity among major activity centers, commercial and retail establishments, as well as residential communities throughout the project corridor. Its proposed route runs east of the Miami River, serving Government Center through the Entertainment District, Wynwood, Midtown Miami, the Design District, Overtown, and the Civic Center area. Should the city commission pass enabling legislation in the fall, Miami would issue a request for proposals to construct, operate, and maintain the project. The city recently published a schedule that forecasts a contract award in December 2008 and the streetcar opening in December 2011.
During the State of the City Address in April, 2007, the Mayor said, "We need to invest in a street car system, like the one we used to have. And, we must do it while we can still afford it. Rather than wait years and Miamians (wonder) why we failed to act, a streetcar system is an inevitable solution - Miami can either pay for it now, or pay for it later - leaving future generations to pay a much, much higher bill to ensure sustainability".
For more transportation news visit www.cfte.org
I'm all for the streetcar system-just as long as we take a wrecking ball to the downtown area and recreate the low density that was there when the first streetcar operated!
And we can send the population packing too.
The City is almost broke. Taxes are about to go down. How will Manny pay for everything he wants?
How about Don Slesnick's asinine comment re the tax cut in the 6/16 Herald? Crying, "They want to take our money!" Your money, Don? It is the people's money, commie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Freeeeddooom!!!!!!!!!!
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