It is not a secret that municipalities in Miami-Dade County want to have as little to do as possible with the county commission, notwithstanding the services provided by the county budget. It is a principal reason for the wave of incorporation initiatives.
But when Miami Beach David Dermer said so publicly the other day (as reported by the Herald) he was immediately slapped on the wrist by representatives of the dysfunctional, incumbent majority: county commissioners Pepe Diaz and chairman Bruno Barreiro from the county district that includes the municipality that Dermer represents: Miami Beach.
What Dermer said gave vent to feelings widely shared by municipal officials in Miami-Dade County. The county commission, as a whole, looks into the mirror and sees the paragon of responsibile governance. Looking over their shoulders, municipal officials would rather not publicly say what they see.
Something strange happens to the majority of county commissioners when they attain office: it is like an ivory tower (or concrete one) where individual agendas can be maintained indefinitely (no term limits) so long as commissioners obey the first law of politics--don't antagonize the people who raise campaign funds; lobbyists, builders, and land speculators.
It really is no wonder at all, that under such well-rehearsed roles county government has become weighed down with inertia. Everything moves slow as molasses, unless it is a zoning change sought by a powerful interest. As long as property values and the housing markets were soaring, each of the commissioner's roles was well-defined by expediency, so long as no one was indicted or forced to resign.
In the face of a budget crisis brought about by a crash in housing markets that was entirely predictable, it is amazing to watch the county commission set out on a course that is the same rutted track to the barn, day after day and night afer night.
Why should a regional focus prevail, when narrow parochialism is the strait-jacket that county commissioners routinely allow themselves to be tied into, helped by the building trades and speculators? Under what other circumstances could a public official like Javier Souto have a brilliant career defined mostly by lengthy verbal tirades from the dais, detached from the issue at hand except for an imagination caught in the thickets of Cuban reveries and dark anti-democratic conspiracies?
It is tempting to find humor in the contretemps the Mayor Dermer caused when he spoke the truth and how Bruno Barreiro dismissed Dermer's remark as the off-track rambling of a term-limited public official from Miami Beach.
You have to be a connoisseur of county politics to even understand what is happening at the county commission: much defies reality, much looks like proceedings Kafka might have written about.
Many of the citizens who attended last week's Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting were shocked and dismayed by the behavior of the county commission who comprised part of the group: especially county commissioner Joe A. Martinez who descended from the dais to address fellow commissioners from the podium--rambling for twenty minutes himself while the opposing point of view--that is to say, what citizens' want--was denied any airing at all.
This is just one example why the work of the County Charter Review Commission, now underway, holds forth an iota of hope for change. The public should take careful note of who on the commission is resisting substantive change. It doesn't take much to know what their agendas are.
11 comments:
Gimleteye;
I always get a kick out of County Commission meetings when new people show up from the community. They are aghast at what they see. Whether it be the rambling of Souto, the cockiness of Martinez, the venom of Seijas, and the threats from all to virtually anyone who disagrees with them: "You will get paid back for disrespecting us." Small, little minds. Watch how they treat Marleine Bastien in the future. And the citizens get to see all the lobbyists being treated like royalty by Commissioners in sidebars.
Yes, Commission meetings with the arrogant behavior of Commissioners are a breeding ground for the activists that will be our future.
AT the morning session of the BCC on Oct 4 those wacky commissioners launched venom on the Charter Review committee (and Seijas was not even there; being busy in India). Sosa complained they (the charter review committee) were delving into legislation which only the BCC can do. Diaz railed against Mayor Dermers's accurate assessment of how cities feel about the BCC. Dim Bruno tried to marginalize Dermer; "he's only one voice on the beach and he's on his way out." Souto ranted, as only he can do, about how the review committee was different from previous years and he had to drop off before he had a heart attack. Martinez spewed that they were delving into everything even incorporations and annexations, how dare they?
Souto summed it up with a second rant that the "things" he heard from the committee were mindboggling; very distrubing. He was in awe that one member wanted people to vote on everything (heaven forbid!) So Mr. "This is a democracy" does not want you to vote.
Already the commission is circling the wagons around the charter review committee. Want to bet the BCC won't take any of their recommendations, except of course the raise?
Where is the Herald editorial page on this?
Some County Commissioners have come to believe they own this County and the people living here. That's why they get so irate when someone challenges them. Let's hope Mayor Dermer will continue the fight and will run for a seat in the BCC -Bruno "the Burro" will run for reelection next year and Dermer is more than qualified to challenge him. Are you listining Mayor Dermer?
Dermer would be a great addition to the county commission. He has shown the business community that he is a reasonable and reliable partner. And he "gets" what happens in local government.
reality check folks
That seat has so much "little Havana" now that a non-cuban from Miami Beach would have a very difficult time winning.
Although the beach has a dense population, it also has alot of renters, twenty-somethings, part-time residents, etc...(i.e. - non-voters)
However, should Bruno throw his hat in the ring for the City of Miami Mayoral race after Manny leaves, that would make for an interesting race to fill his Commission seat.
No way Bruno jumps to the City. He knows Gimenez has his eye on that seat, and he knows he could not beat Gimenez in a race, one on one. The only way he can keep Gimenez down is with the majority of the Commission, that keeps obstructing the good things that Gimenez wants to do, like create budget safeguards in the County that were imposed on the City of Miami by the State Oversight Board (which helped bring the City out of the red). Bruno will remain in that seat until he retires or is voted out.
to the last anonymous
Let me first state that I agree Gimenez is by far a better elected official than Barreiro.
However, you do not understand the voting patterns within the City of Miami. As a matter of fact, recent polls show Gimenez getting beat by Regalado. And here is why:
Gimenez is not yet a very good retail politician (i.e. - door-to-door, shake your hand, make you feel good, leave the abuelitas talking about how good you are type of politician)
Gimenez' main flaw is that he is smart and he's going to let you know he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room (think Carlos Lacasa).
In a breakdown of that race, let's say Gimenez takes the Grove, the roads, Brickell, and the Upper East Side, he would get blown out in Little Havana, Allapatta, Flagami, and the rest of the largely cuban areas.
Highly educated, non-hispanic, wealthy voters, would vote for Gimenez, but let's face it, Miami isn't one of the poorest cities in the nation because it is loaded with the above forementioned types.
well, are you sure Gimenez isn't going to take on Mayor Alvarez?
He is handsome, aggressive,and can go back and forth between the hispanics and non-hispanics with ease. When he hired Roger, he hired the special person of the environmentalists. Environmental people was a strong point on the current Mayor's campaign.
well, are you sure Gimenez isn't going to take on Mayor Alvarez?
He is handsome, aggressive,and can go back and forth between the hispanics and non-hispanics with ease. When he hired Roger, he hired the special person of the environmentalists. Environmental people was a strong point on the current Mayor's campaign.
I don't think Gimenez could take on either Alvarez or Regalado he is best staying put.
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