Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Miami Herald Editorial Staff on the County Etiquette Standoff/War by Geniusofdespair

Those spoil sports at the Miami Herald Editorial Board decided to weigh in what I have dubbed the Etiquette Standoff and Etiquette War (depending on the wind direction, what is it North East today?). The Editorial Board said: Enough with the insults and snubs - OUR OPINION: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR MUST TACKLE BUDGET ISSUE.

Well that’s no fun. They say:

"The mayor and the commission must come to terms on a county budget that has to be cut by $240 million. Mayor Alvarez has submitted his proposed 2008 budget with the recommended cuts to the commission. Not surprisingly, some commissioners have been carping about the mayor's recommendations."

The Herald claims it is the Mayor’s fault because he did away with the customary visit to each commissioner to see what they wanted. They say:

"The mayor brought this on himself. In past years, the budget was a negotiated document. The county manager consulted with each commissioner prior to its release. Mayor Alvarez skipped that step, and the commission, which has final say on the budget, felt shortchanged."

I say: Too bad.

The Herald also took the Commissioners to task:

"Now it is the commission's turn -- quit the browbeating. That may play well in the district, but it is destructive and demoralizing to the county work force."

Finally, the Editorial Staff sticks up for us, this part I like:

"There are times when some commissioners seem confused about their job description. They work for and represent the public, first of all. It is doubtful that residents will condone rude, insulting, intimidating behavior from commissioners, especially when so much is at stake. Second, commissioners should realize: they are policy makers, not administrators. They don't do the work; they decide how it should be done -- and the mayor takes it from there."

No comments: