Lots of bus benches in West Kendall with "Happy Holidays from Juan Zapata." Doesn't say who paid for these; hoping it's not county funded. Were you aware of this?
I was not aware of this. I asked County Commissioner Juan Zapata. He said that the 50 bus benches were paid for out of his office budget funds. So Eye on Miami reader, County funds did pay for the ads as these office budgets are our tax dollars at work. See the Miami Herald for some news on office budgets under Rebeca Sosa's leadership of the County Commission:
Some commissioners appear nervous that Sosa plans to trim staff in the commission auditor office and perhaps move oversight of the commission’s intergovernmental affairs office, which deals with state and federal lawmakers, to the mayor’s office. Her goal: to repurpose the captured dollars so commissioners can travel, or spend money at will on district services, including grass-cutting and small-business grants.
While Sosa says her goal is “to save some money,” how the move would generate savings is still unclear. Under her plan, personnel in those commission-support offices would be moved to other county departments that would presumably have to pay their salaries.
Moreover, bolstering commissioner’s individual spending accounts could raise eyebrows. Facing public backlash and a slow economy, individual commissioner office budgets have been slashed to $814,000 a year, from a peak of $1.2 million. Commissioners use that money to run their offices, fund events and hand out grants to community-based organizations that often helped propel the officials to election victories.
Rebeca don't try to snow us with creative financing. We are all watching, we expect more from you.
15 comments:
I'm watching too as are many unemployed, non county government worker's. This is a bad idea. Commissioners like her vice chair Bell are notorious for buying votes with tax payer dollars through those district funds. That's when the AB's aren't enough! I'll be watching who votes yes on this too!
Didn't Sosa vote yes to bring the Church back in to the State so to speak? And, didn't Sosa vote yes on that stupid anti occupy wall street protestor ordinance? Wolf in Sheep's clothing? Or, perhaps the Martinez plague?
Really Rebecca? I thought you were the true reformer on this abysmal commission. And Mr. Zapata, you could have paid for those bus benches from the hundreds of thousands of dollars you raised for your campaign from big sugar, insurance companies et al..
Happy Holidays, Suckers!
The Commission Auditor position has been in existence for at least 10 years. Name one thing the Commission Auditor's Office has accomplished. Or name one instance of waste they have uncovered. Just one.
The fact is, the Commission Auditor hasn't audited a thing in its decade of existence and has only soaked up money. Money would be better spent on the Inspector General's Office (which also answers to the County Commission) or resurrecting the Independent Review Panel.
As if the Office of the Commission Auditor would ever investigative be critical of a Commissioner. You are sooooo naive!
Similarly, I and others in my SB district received a Holiday post card from School board member Raquel Regalado paid for out of tax payer funds. This is just stealth political campaigning faid for on the public dime.
I was hopeful that Zapata would have shifted the paradigm but we got more of the typical Miami-Dade political behavior. I am offended my tax dollars are used to promote his photo on bus benches wishing "Happy Holidays." Pretty poor judgement right out of the box. I would have preferred to see that money used to feed poor families, buy park picnic benches or cut grass in a median.
I don't object to the reduced funding at the auditors office because it's just ineffective and probably over staffed, same with the inspector general. I do object to that cost savings going to to the commission slush funds, which is exactly what they are, slush funds!
Bad move Chair Sosa, really bad move, and same on Zapata, who I voted for. Let's hope this was a one off really stupid thing to do with the benches. Campaign funds should have been used, not public funds for this kind of nonsense.
Want to know how mean, nasty and aggressive Sosa can be just ask highly esteemed Subrata Basu, former Director. Miami-Dade County Department of Planning and Zoning and others. Basu is now in the Peace Corps doing good around the world. Sosa will be terrorizing county staff for a long time with a new more powerful position. This is the second coming of Natasha, mark my word.
I don't know much about the offices Sosa wants to reduce/eliminate but I'm sure they are useless. However, I do know about the job expected from local commissioners and traveling is not part of their duties. I find it offensive for Sosa to offer traveling funds for the 13 commissioners on my taxpayer's dime. I haven't taken a vacation in four years because I have to pay my high property taxes on time every year, and traveling is how my money is going to be spent? Think about it Sosa!
Zapata is just another seasoned politician. The difference is that he has always been in Tallahassee which is the best kept secret in town where nobody notices anything. In Miami he will not be able to get away with much thanks to EOM!
Anyone that would nominate Lynda Bell as their vice chair should send a red flag. I think she is going to really surprise her supporters. From what I hear she is one of the absentee teachers for Miami Dade County Schools at the adult education center. Ms. Sosa did nominate Lynda and Lynda won. This is going to be an exciting year full of drama.
I think it is going to be a depressing year if we can't catch and get rid of some of this awful people.
FUEL gave free bus shelter ads to Miami commish Willy Gort? Dozens of free ads? Gort never reported the free campaign contributions?
Better yet ask Zapata why are all those benches also out of his District, way south of 152 Street and east of 137 ave. County tax dollars to blast his picture, why not use that money to do what you promised Mr. Zapata, create jobs, stop foreclosures, etc. Zapata doesn't even know his District or who his constituents are, shows who payed or votes. The word is he wanted Detective Manny Machado who on his return to the police force was greated by an enthusiastic demotion "as Gimenez likes to quote". Detective Machado demoted to road patrol his first day back by non other than Mayor Gimenez croney Major Hernan Organvidez who seems to be gearing up for another promotion soon word has it. Gimenez looking to promote his long time friend and political hatchet man to Assit Director or Director of the police force. Let's remember it's the same guy who Gimenez tried to put in charge of public corruption during the boleteras scandal. People, we need an elected sheriff and an elected elections director, no more appointed heads of departments that control our community. By the way $25 million awarded to MCM construction the same day commissioners took office, this to build the test trin track that we need so bad? Maybe they should build the track at Mayor Gimenez home so he can play "Thomas". MCM not only the Barreiro issue but they ave mucho money to all these commissioners during the election especially Zapata. Remember Zap we watching your every move, don't forget you going to keep red light cameras out of Miami Dade so you promised! Haha you say no to Jr. Gimenez right you owe them to much and it shows. By the way how's that $100.00 "wow" home you acquired in District 11, you living in it yet or still staying at your apartment out of the District.
Well now it gets interesting no more bus bench pictures of our new narcissist MDCC Zapata. Each one of these have been taken down, guess your article scared him silly they flew off the benches like a tornado had hit. Guess It's time the Herald got to work on this story like every other dirty politician they target. I want answers how much money did he waste on this, how manny benches were put out, what company did he use and with what authority. Is this how Sosa going to let the tax dollars get used. He hasn't even been on the chair a month and already doing the wrong things. I looked at his election contribution list online "Wow", he owes every freaking buddy in the world and their mother's. Is this how he going to pay back favors, 50 benches right. I hope the person who notified you took pictures of them, can't wait to bring this up at the next commission meeting. Children and adults going hungry needing assistance and this guy blasting his picture and holiday message like if he was Santa Clause or something. That shows us voters what we have coming with this clown in office.
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