G.O.D.'s pickup the other day, continues to rankle. Miami-Dade County Commissioners want to tweak their slush funds after they were partially eliminated in this year's budget. Each of the thirteen county commissioners have enjoyed access to a personal stash of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money to dole out each year. Many small groups have come to depend on this money, especially in the current economic crisis when private contributions are lagging. During 2009 hearings on the budget, one of the places Mayor Carlos Alvarez sought to trim fat was this perk of public office.
The outcry from small groups that have benefited from the handouts was large. Many of those groups are non-profits. Contributions to IRS qualified non-profits are tax deductible. Whether or not, in future budget years, the personal stash will be maintained in the county budget, county commissioners led by quasi-intellectual Pepe Diaz struck out in a new direction the other day. Diaz' ally Joe Martinez was doing business off the dais when the issue came up. Joe had to do a quick back-pedal when he returned to keep this measure on life support, it would have died otherwise for lack of a second: "WHEREAS, this Board wishes to provide each commissioner the ability to establish a trust fund for the collection of tax-deductible private sector contributions for such public purpose projects in the commissioner’s district". Understand that private sector interests can make tax deductible contributions whenever and to whoever they want. So why put elected officials in the position of being middlemen? Because that is exactly where they want to be. It's just another way to anchor the political patronage that secures a permanent incumbency at County Hall. Also, we know from experience that some of our county commissioners have jobs, no-show as the case may be, with non-profits. Draw your own conclusions.
8 comments:
First, let me congratulate Philip Stoddard. We are happy you won Mr. Mayor.
Second, Joe Martinez had to get a legal opinion to keep the Diaz issue alive. It took County Lawyers about a half hour to decide that the issue could be taken up again next meeting. Martinez's after-the-fact 'second' was accepted. After the Commissioners lost most of their discretionary funds (the mom and pop funds remain) in the budget, they are scrambling to look for more bucks to spread around.
I wonder which commissioner decided that Diaz should be the sacrificial lamb on this?
Does it matter? Isn't this a simple game of prearranged / deranged musicle chairs?
BTW, Coconut Grove could place more dollars on the table if a Mr. Tom Falco of the Coconut Grove Grape Vine didn't take such pleasure in taking non-issues, turning them into a divisive forum of hate, anger, rage and down right misanthropic vulgarity for all to read; which is how he choses to obtain hits to increase advertising revenue(s). Tourist, families, and singles are no longer coming to the Grove, not becasue of the economy, but because Tom makes us all look psyco, folks are fearful of venturing into the Grove, when in fact we have a vibrant fantastic community that is safe, clean and well lit with friendly police officers. So, please don't not believe Tom's blog and come on over and enjoy.
Now that the goood guy ( as you portray him) is in, let's talk abaout the Homestead thing....the mayor accused of sexual battery and the city manager (ex) maybe having an affair with a subordinate... numerous political texts between Bell and the manager... See homesteadishome.blogspot.com and sftimes.com
make that sfltimes.com
I am very afraid of this proposal. There would be too many openings for misuse. I think about things like money laundering, bribery or the suggestion of either. I wonder if the commissioners have considered their own exposure and liability in doing this? Perhaps this won't go through after a bit more thought.
Jobie I think you are the person who is scaring everyone away from the Grove, even the police mentioned you at a recent liaison meeting, you are being watched friend, you are the psycho.
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