Sunday, July 28, 2013

Miami Herald Discusses Backlash Against Mayor Carlos Gimenez. By Geniusofdespair

The backlash the Herald discusses is Mayor Gimenez's flip flop on raising taxes and his plan to cut fire service, libraries and funding the straw vote on pets.  But the Herald missed an important misstep of the Mayor:
Supporting and  fundraising for candidates.
 In the Home Rule Charter is says "the Mayor shall be responsible for the management of all administrative departments of the County Government" and "the Mayor shall have the power to appoint all department directors of the administrative department of the County"

If Gimenez's job is supervising the Elections Department I would like to see him remain neutral on ALL elections, especially municipal elections.  I wouldn't want Penny Townsley, head of elections, running around supporting candidates and -- worse -- fundraising for them, so why would I want her boss doing it? Why is it okay for him and not for her? Gimenez is supporting Frances Suarez (not the incumbent) for the City of Miami, Mark Bell (not the incumbent) for Homestead and Lynda Bell for County Commissioner  (he held a fundraiser for her in May - over a year out from the election).

 Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi was spot on in the article on what is troubling Gimenez (I saw the same thing happen with Alex Penelas):
Pizzi suggested mayors quickly become County Hall insiders. “When you go to the 29th floor, you become surrounded by bureaucrats,” he said. “You start to lose touch with your principles.”

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't appreciate or understand Pizzi's support of Gimenez decision to close half our community's libraries. Maybe Pizzi should clarify that. As a city mayor, he should support essential services like fire rescue services and libraries and distinguish spending taxpayer money in these services vs wasting money propping up sports moguls enterprises like Gimenez did recently for the Dolphins.

Anonymous said...

Herald should stop with the bs political spin and do the numbers. What percentage of county budget is the library? How does it compare to subsidies Countu gives other entities or pay deficits of other departments that are SUPPOSED to make money like airport and port but in fact lose MILLIONS annually. How about the annual $6.5 million taxpayers pay the Miami Heat?
If the county budget was cut 30 percent last year and cut at least 50 percent this year - that's an 80 percent cut in 2 years - has any other essential service dept been cut this much?

Anonymous said...

The Mayor has lost his way...the story leaves out a third incumbent City Mayor that Carlos tried to defeat... (the Mayor of Coral Gables). To make matters worse Carlos backed the loser in Coral Gables probably backed the loser in Miami and Mark Bell is a toss up. So in November the County Mayor will have backed maybe three losers and then he will have to have a relationship with three Mayors who he attempted to oust. He is so full of himself that he now thinks he can pick and chose other elected officers throughout our county. To make matters worse he is giving donor's favors in the county to support his candidate's in the cities! This must stop.

Anonymous said...

A few years ago the library reserves of $6 million were diverted ... I mean raided...to pay for a short fall in arts funding. Can we get that money back?

Last year the library budget was cut 30 percent. This year - and with no reserves left - the library budget was decimated.

Does the Mayor and friends in the Commission have a thing against libraries? Why? It is the only Dept that hasn't come under federal investigation.

Anonymous said...

“When you go to the 29th floor, you become surrounded by bureaucrats..." All those Pizzi refers to are the Mayors' appointments as Deputy Mayors! They are his own people....his administrators. He always makes it appoint to say he is in charge. You don't give him enough credit...he makes his own bad decisions. It's his fault.

Tracey said...

They need to cut those ridiculous salaries before cutting services. Miami-Dade salaries are among the highest in the nation.

Anonymous said...

Geemenez is embarrisn' himself playin' Mr. Mama June's Lord and Savior Jeezuz.

Ironic, ain't it?

Anonymous said...

libraries are obsolete in their present form. almost no one is checking out books (which are mostly more than 10 years old). our libraries have become computer centers for people who cannot afford a computer.

Anonymous said...

Last anon. Your point is untrue. I and my kids have a surfeit of computers and e-readers but still check out over a dozen books a month, not to mention DVDs and music CDs. We even have different favorite branches for different purposes. One might have a better selection of movies and another more comfortable furniture for sitting and reading on a rainy afternoon. I also really enjoy the art exhibits they put on in the Main Library. Of all the services the County provides, I probably most appreciate libraries and clean drinking water. There is plenty of waste by the County, but libraries aren't part of it. By the way, what is wrong with providing computer access to those who can't afford it?

L said...

Every Miami-Dade Transit Department employee receives free metrorail and bus rides. Bus drivers and their spouses get free rides for life after retirement. Shouldn't wasteful practices like that be targeted before library cuts?

Paulie Walnuts said...

Libraries are not obsolete. Book stores will come back into fashion and they will build one near you. Drive-in theaters, music cd's, landline phones, and video stores are also not obsolete. By the way, can someone help me find a local radio station that plays doo wop songs?

Manny said...

I cannot believe one of your readers claims she checks out over a dozen books a month from multiple libraries (not to mention numerous DVDs and music CDs), thinks the main library is a great art gallery, and also drinks our tap water. Does anyone else smell a union stooge?

Anonymous said...

I am so sick of whining overpaid firefighters. It's time we put them on 5-day, 40-hour work weeks like other public safety employees. No more being paid for sleeping on the job!

Anonymous said...

Pro-Genting, Pro-Dolphins Subsidy, Anti-Library ... not many issues on which the Mayor and I agree ... hard to believe that I voted twice for him ... but there won't be a third.

Lovett said...

Thank God that Gimenez came to his senses and won't raise taxes. I am a new condo owner and my property taxes are already through the roof. I am paying double the amount of my neighbor who has an identical unit but has lived here forever. The tax laws here are crazy and force new purchasers to subsidize everyone else. Do a story on that.

Anonymous said...

Some communities are actually increasing their budgets. Great cities have great library systems. With so much talk of world class city hood, world class architecture, world class convention centers and museums, what's up with cutting our library budget down to third world status?
If the people Gimenez polled said they didn't want their taxes raised its because they didn't want to continue funding sports moguls empires and lobbyist development projects. Not because they don't want libraries or fire rescue services, or have pets euthanized.

Anonymous said...

Many fire union members work 3-4 day weeks. Many of the highest paid firemen sit at desks. The average pay is 300% to 400% more than the median County average of $30,000. Not too shabby.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this article. In addition to focusing on his conflict of interest in his role with elections vs. fund raising, I am still wanting an in-depth state of the European Trip report form the Mayor. I think he should televise it and put detailed information on a website. I think we should also do this for the Asian trip that Commissioners took. I want extensive details, follow ups, action items. You know, management by objective kind of stuff.

Anonymous said...

Since the great recession, most businesses cut expenses and became more efficient. I seem to remember the mayor stating after being elected he would do the same by reviewing all departments and making the county government more efficient. If this really happened, taxes could remain flat and no services should be lost, just a more efficient bureaucracy.
The other issue of the mayor getting involved in other political races seems wrong. He should be neutral and able to work with anyone who is elected. Supporting candidates during elections, when the mayor is in charge of the elections department gives the appearance of possible tainted elections.

Madeline said...

The whole notion of an appointed elections supervisor is a conflict of interest. We are the only county in the state that does not elect an independent elections supervisor. What about when the mayor runs for reelection? Don't you think there would be biased decisions then? Plus the appointed elections supervisor we have now is an well known incompetent who embarrassed us in the presidential election.

Geniusofdespair said...

I don't think she is incompetent -- she defers to her boss who makes the final decisions.

Anonymous said...

Re Miami Dade elections and Gimenez. Four the libraries of the the 22 libraries Gimenez wants to close are early voting precincts. Is this another way to suppress the vote?

Madeline said...

Genius, it was my understanding that it was Elections Supervisor Penny Townsley who decided:

• The 20 polling places used for early voting in 2008 (with huge lines) was enough and no effort should be made to add more in 2012 even though the state had imposed no limit.
• The special machines used in early voting would not be used on election day even though they were quicker and more machines were needed
• The giant precincts in Brickell and Kendall should remain giant and oversized precincts should not be re-adjusted as they were in previous years.

Are you saying that Townsley was trying to fix those problems and Alina Hudak and/or Carlos Gimenez overturned her? If so, do you have any evidence to support your position?

Geniusofdespair said...

I am saying she runs just about everything by her bosses. My evidence is I said so.

Madeline said...

There is nothing to run across your bosses if you don't recommend anything different. Townsley is to blame because she maintained the status quo when there was an obvious need for adjustment. There is no memo or email or meeting agenda in existence that says she tried to fix anything to prepare for 2012 election.

I find it amazing that you pardon Townsley from any culpability in the 2012 voting debacle. I assume you also have no problem with her noncompetitive appointment or that she is the highest paid elections supervisor in the state.

P.S. I am no defender of two-faced Gimenez. He is a skunk.

Anonymous said...

Gimenez made many campaign promises he failed to keep. Gimenez promised to make Miami-Dade County lean and efficient. He promised to reduce head count significantly. He failed. Anyone been to the County Hall building lately? Public sector employees still go to work between 9:00 am and 10:30 am. Many still leave between 4:00 pm and 4:45 pm. Visit any floor. You will find employees sleep walking through their days. Gimenez did not honor his campaign promises.

Anonymous said...

The bottom line is he is legally and ultimately responsible, she is not. She is just someone he appointed. That is why he must stay out of all these municipal elections.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere right now, George Burgess is laughing and saying "you see, it wasn't me".

Lala said...

More likely, George Burgess is laughing and saying "You see, Gimenez is just like me."

Anonymous said...

Wherever George Burgess is lurking you can bet he is praying the SEC is not preparing to indict him for his participation in the Marlins scam. We all know George is guilty.

Anonymous said...

Libraries are relevant. The internet is not a place for kids to go after school, 9-5ers to go on Saturdays, seniors to go throughout the week. Hundreds of thousands of books are still checked regularly. Small children still learn to love reading in story-times. Tutors still teach literacy. But if people can't go to libraries in their own neighborhoods, don't have transportation, feel there is no place to connect with others outside of a shopping trip, their lives in the big county will be that much poorer. I guess when the simple pleasures in life go away our fearful leaders promises for improvements get that much easier.

Anonymous said...

If Mayor Gimenez supported candidates in other elections and they did not win.. That is great! The City of Homestead has nothing to worry about because Mark Bell will not be elected as mayor. Further, District 8 has nothing to worry about because Lynda Bell will not be reelected.

Anonymous said...

Anyone see the photo of library protesters on the front page of the local section of the Herald a few days ago? Recognize the two protesters in the front of the picture? None other than Terry Murphy, former chief of aide to Commissioner Seijas, and Margareta Fernandez, former chief aide to Suzy Torriente. Pretty sure neither one has used a library except maybe to vote. Guess is they were protesting just because they hate Gimenez and would protest anything he does. Meanwhile Murphy's wife, the infamous surgar-coated poisonous Maribelle Balbin, continues to work for County government. Mayor Giminez allowed a high-paying position to be created for her (requiring little or no work) at the environmental department when other positions are being cut. Further proof that Gimenez is pretty stupid when it comes to politics and common sense.

Anonymous said...

You guys just don't get how government works. Of course Penny Townsley has to run important and controversial issues through her supervisors. She might recommend one thing and be told to come back with something else. She is "culpable" only because she probably wants to keep her job and if her boss tells her to do something, she does it -- otherwise she will get fired. She can try her hardest to convince her boss, but ultimately, on big issues, it is Deputy Mayor and Mayor's decision or sometimes one or more Commissioners decisions depending on whether Mayor and Deputy Mayor want to let them get their way on particular issues. So maybe she is also "culpable" of being unable to play politics. But that's about all she is guilty of.

Anonymous said...

Carlos Gimenez is far worse a MAyor than any previous one, including Alvarez who at least had a backbone.

Anonymous said...

Carlos Alvarez was a dope. He was a salesman for the Marlins scam. Probably corrupt too. Alvarez spent far too much time at the gym when he should have been studying government. Carlos Gimenez thinks he knows everything. He is corrupt.