Will the 2008 Charter Reform proposals squashed by the county commission be resurrected? (Will the state legislature -- fueled by special interest money-- find a way to block Home Rule, from which the charter flows?) Natacha Seijas, the recalled county commissioner from Hialeah, blocked charter reform through her agent on the charter reform review committee, Miguel De Grandy. De Grandy represented the land speculators and bankers, like the directors of zero-rated US Century Bank, who counted on iron-clad control of zoning and permitting and environmental regulations: all of which inhibit the arbitrage of values inside and outside the Urban Development Boundary.
The lack of candor and open-ness on what drives the county commission has made it difficult to educate voters especially in Hialeah, Seijas' former stronghold, where local politics managed to avoid exposure of the big money interests at the periphery (including the Graham fortunes in Miami Lakes). But with 9 out of 10 voters sending Seijas home, there is a new element of uncertainty in Florida's most populous county.
The commissioners who remain in office were uniformly opposed to Charter Reform, too. They took their marching orders from Seijas because she had proven so successful doing the bidding of developers and bankers in exchange for the kind of outsized campaign contributions that routinely give incumbents a 10-1 money advantage over challengers. Seijas' displays of arrogance from the dais to environmentalists and citizens in public hearings? They were directed to the campaign contributors and lobbyists in the audience as if to say, "This is how it is done, putting them in their places." No one else on the dais, missed the point.
The Seijas recall was astounding on several counts. Related to Charter Reform, a narrower result would have given the unreformable majority room to bitch and moan. IE. blame the result on a few malcontents. But you can't argue with nine out of ten voters! Maybe you (Seijas' supporters) could have persuaded another one or two, but that still would leave any sitting commissioner facing a recall, at a significant loss.
No one sitting on the dais, wants to be on the losing end of the next recall. Norman Braman has said that he wants charter reform to be his next project, including term limits and a reconfigured commission to include at-large seats instead of the deadly single-member district system that allows quid pro quo's to dominate the local landscape. With housing and construction in the toilet for years to come-- in no small part because of the rampant overdevelopment that made Seijas' supporters wealthy-- and municipal budgets, a nightmare, there is a little daylight for the 2008 charter reform measures to come back to the county commission. That is, so long as the special interests who are wreaking havoc now in Tallahassee don't cut off the possibility of change. Judging from Governor Scott's refusal to move the Fair District amendment, passed by over 60 percent of state-wide voters, forward: there are more questions than answers.
But one thing is for sure: based on Tuesday's results in Hialeah, the impossible did happen. The most powerful sitting commissioner was booted out unceremoniously. I was at the celebration party in a strip mall off Miami Lakes Boulevard. Only a handful of celebrants stood under the awning outside a billiard parlor, but they all understood the historic importance of what they had achieved. Somewhere, dozens of lobbyists watched the results and experienced an unaccustomed moment of concern. After a pause, they will continue on their well-worn path. They will seek out a replacement for Seijas who will also prove amenable to being a member of the unreformable majority. That's why, I believe it would be a good idea for Braman et al. to immediately seek out another commissioner for recall.
We sent a message, once; with Alvarez and Seijas' recall. But I believe we are going to have to do it, one more time for the point to get through. I would suggest, Joe Martinez or Pepe Diaz. It is time for these two, to go. For our comments and archive on this issue, stretching back to 2008, click on "charter review" in the issues cloud/archive to the right. Charter Reform: gone but not forgotten.
11 comments:
Forget any "reform" that includes a pay raise for Commissioners. Every attempt to change that has failed. But with the salary still set at $6,000, the 1957 level, except to get what you pay for.
I believe commissioners have to be paid a living wage. Running a 6.5 billion budget requires a higher caliber than we have today, and how is that possible unless the sitting commissioner is either independently wealthy, or, like Dorrin Rolle and others-- has their hand in the till wherever possible? One suggestion: take their slush funds away. Put half back to the county budget and half into living wages so that there is no negative impact on taxpayers.
Every time Gimenez has proposed charter changes (in fact, he brought all the Charter Review recommendations to the Commission, and has done so since then for things like term limits) the Commission rejected his proposals. Now that the recall happened, he should have more sway with the Commission. It would be great if we could get the charter change initiatives on the same election as the Special Election of Mayor!!! Get it all done, while the forces for good have all the momentum.
Gimleteye, I think you should separate Gimenez from the other Commissioners who "uniformly" rejected Charter Reform.
As someone who. Would never have had an opportunity to be elected without term limits in the legislature kicking in, I am a strong supporter of term limits.I had the wonderful opportunity, and experience of being elected to the Fl. Legislature in the year 2000 when term limits took effect. ( unfortunately redistricting eliminated my district after just one term). However I must add, I do not believe that eight is enough, it should be a 12 year term limit, in my opinion, for the County commission and for the legislature. I have been surprised at how few people in office and in power agree that term limits are critical to reform. Even my friend Katy Sorenson is opposed to term limits, despite the fact that she imposed one on herself. it is important for this community to begin the dialogue now on the various reforms we should include in the charter reform. There are best practices we should consider, and study those local governments that seem to be functioning well. Now it the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of their county.
I'm of the opinion, 8 yrs may not be enough, 12 yrs most certainly is in regard to the County Commission.
At this time, one of the issues I've heard "on the street" is that whenever some type of term limit comes up, it's not retroactive.
What may work, is either 2 or 3 terms, retroactive, with a salary at par and no outside employment.
The discretionary funds must be abolished, with each commission office receiving a decent annual budget to pay their staff and run their office.
Another issue is lobbying and ethics. To the layman (and the voters) the appearance of some type of impropriety would be deemed "unethical" if not by the legal means, but in the public view.
Pepe Diaz & Joe Martinez (read this blogs archives) are some examples. We need stricter ethics with higher standards, not lower, as we have now.
Travel on county time/dime is another problem. We should not be paying for vacations as a guise to some type of County business. It just doesn't fly with the voters. Seijas and Edmunson come to mind, as well as a few others.
Just some random thoughts.......
Naw! You can't be serious! Do you really believe that Natacha has helped her supporters for their campaign contributions? C'mon. Gimlet, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!
Without money how can a community minded newcomer seeking Commission level compete with an incumbent say with a 10 to 1 ratio of funding in contributions? It would appear to me campaign contribut-
ions needs a big overhaul in who gives what?---businesses,--family members,who are associated with those businesses, banks and who gives from those banks like bank funded employees. There is no end to who gives what......
I have an issue with the no other employment clause. I don't think it is right to ban/limit folks to 85k a year if they currently are with a salary of 250k - They would go into bankruptcy with that size of pay cut.
You need to have some other standards for conflict of employment and public service. Use your noggin to figure it out.
There are no commission discretionary funds. They were clipped two years ago. The remaining funds are for commissioners that horded them over years and still have balances. Ask either of the two new commissioners for "discretionary" funds if you doubt.
Have you'll seen this bill? It looks like it would take away the commission refusal to put an item up to a vote by the people! It is an amendment to the Miami-dade home rule charter at the state level. ( I know, the home rule charts is in the state constitution) how come nothing is being discussed locally on this, or have I missed it?
HJR 1321 - Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter
JOINT RESOLUTION by Lopez-Cantera
HJR 1321 - Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter
Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter: Proposes amendment to s. 6, Art. VIII of State Constitution to authorize amendments of revisions to Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter by special law approved by vote of electors of county; requires that such special law be proposed & approved at meeting of local legislative delegation & filed by member of that delegation; conforms references to reflect county's current name.
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