Beware if they tie museums to a tax increase for libraries. For example, the two museums should never have moved into Bicentennial Park to begin with. As long as we have a budget shortfall, the museum benefactors should pony up as THEY PROMISED at numerous meetings. I will not vote for museums getting more tax/bond money when they had perfectly good spaces before AND THEY ALREADY GOT BOND MONEY. We gave them free space (stupid idea), now they want us to support them too? Libraries will go down if the tax increase is tied to museums and other cultural venues. A straw vote is good for nothing unless it is written right.
The port debt is past the $1 Billion mark if the $225 Million Bond offering is approved. Water and Sewer needs $2.6 Billion or thereabouts of fixing. What are we doing in Miami-Dade County? We let everything go to pot and the county gives to special interests, like the Miami Heat and Ron Book's charity, that is perfectly able to raise its own money with Ron Book at the helm.
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Today's miami herald opinion poll
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is floating the idea of a property-tax hike to benefit libraries, parks and cultural institutions. Would you be in favor of such a tax?
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/#storylink=cpy
The Miami Art Museum got $500 Mil already when you include the debt service the taxpayers are forced to pay. Miami Science Museum got $650+ Mil when you add in the debt service. Neither have endowments. Their respective boards promised to raise money privately. Both failed miserably. Both "museums" have huge expenses for pay and benefits and expenses to maintain their buildings. Let them raise money from private donors. That is what they promised to do. They do not deserve more public money. Too much already.
At yesterdays commission meeting, Juan Kuryla was sworn in as the new Port Director. Bill Johnson was a no-show for his appointment as new WASD Director. Could this reassignment have anything to do with Johnson's opposition to Port stadium site the Mayor is promoting.
Duh!
At yesterday's Commission meeting the County gave a blank check to the Port to use our general obligation tax money to back up Port Bonds if they can't pay back their debt - which totals $1 billion now. No wonder there is no money for anything else.
In the aftermath of the Carlos Gimenez administration, he will most likely be remembered as the mono-vision mayor of lost opportunities. During his tenure to date, he has not valued that we had a solid county infrastructure. He has not chosen to analyze, audit and then revamp each department. Instead, slashing budgets came first and then the expectations for a slight semblance of government services to appease residents. The reality is a near paralysis from unrelenting cuts to budgets and staff. As a sound bite guy who misuses words like efficiency, our Mayor is causing inefficiency. He is devastating county government without consensus building or a framework of a plan. He cannibalizes depts., ones that are national award-winners such as the library, while admitting he doesn't foresee their future outcome. This leader will lose the trust of thousands of voters.
It took two port directors to get us a billion dollars in debt. I'm impressed.
Five Times Carlos Gimenez Screwed The Taxpayers
By Francisco Alvarado Tue., Jun. 28, 2011
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/06/five_times_carlos_gimenez_scre.php
See how his past reflects his current decision making abilities.
Why is the County throwing good money after bad with more investment in a Port that fails to make any money but loses more and more money each year? The Miami Today reports that when asked if in fact any post-Panamax ships have committed to dock in Miami, the Port Director said No - NO SHIPS HAVE SIGNED ANY CONTRACTS. Wow. And yet the Commission voted to give even more money to the port to buy more post-panamax gantry cranes. And pledge the full faith and credit of the county to back up the new debt. When will the red ink stop flowing?
Looks like the Port of Miami needs an audit.
Juan Kuryla is the new Carmen Lunetta
Vote No on the bailout of the money losing museums.
The salesmen for the two museums promised their respective boards would raise money to build the museums AND they would raise money privately for endowments to cover their respective operating costs. They lied.
Both museums are broke. MiaSci has burned through $150 Mil from the taxpayers so far and it is years from opening. Miami Art Museum "PAMM", as expected, has turned into a catering hall. Starbucks and then Taco Bell will open on site soon. Don't support a tax increase because those two deadbeats will devour the money.
In the aftermath of the Carlos Gimenez administration, he will most likely be remembered as the mono-vision mayor of lost opportunities. During his tenure to date, he has not valued that we had a solid county infrastructure. He has not chosen to analyze, audit and then revamp each department. Instead, slashing budgets came first and then the expectations for a slight semblance of government services to appease residents. The reality is a near paralysis from unrelenting cuts to budgets and staff. As a sound bite guy who misuses words like efficiency, our Mayor is causing inefficiency. He is devastating county government without consensus building or a framework of a plan. He cannibalizes depts., ones that are national award-winners such as the library, while admitting he doesn't foresee their future outcome. This leader will lose the trust of thousands of voters.
THIS IS EXCELLENT VERY TRUE
Don't forget that Carlos Gimenez has allowed the proliferation of illegal billboards, illegal billboards on buildings and illegal LED billboards despite the fact that during the election campaign he promised to enforce the laws of Miami-Dade County. Think of Carlos Gimenez whenever you see an ugly billboard.
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