Despite a freeze on hiring, Miami hires 200 employees. Despite a policy requiring commission approval of severance packages, severance packages get paid without approvals. Suddenly, a $54 million shortfall in the 2012 budget appears. So who should save us from Wall Street lowering the boom on Miami, because that is certainly what should happen and should have happened long ago, what with a CFO who, testifying before commissioners on the Marlins' stadium deal, sounded like a child explaining why a conch shell, held to the ear, makes the noise of waves. Investors Beware! should be posted on billboards on the interstate and leaving airports (and the side of the Miami Herald?)
There is a solution. The members of the Latin Builders Association can dip into their net worth to make up the difference. "Make Florida, whole" could be the motto of the wrecking crew that subdivided the state into platted subdivisions in wetlands and farmlands from Florida City to the state line. The Latin Builders Association that put its shoulder to the wheel of "what the market wants", to knock down environmental rules and regulations and kill off growth management because "construction and development has been flattened by too much regulation".
Then there is the LBA's political hit job on mayoral candidate Carlos Gimenez. Despite years of careful cultivation of a warm relationship with the builders, Gimenez was blind-sided when the group pulled a classic bait-and-switch by quickly endorsing Hialeah mayor Julio Robaina. All those hours on the county commission dais, with Gimenez never straying too far from the LBA reservation, came to naught. When Gimenez recently cancelled a number of remaining debates-- including one supported by the LBA-- the builders squealed like Nochebuena lechon at Cabrera's.
The Latin Builders Association oinking might remind voters that just as the recall of former county mayor Alvarez turned out to be a referendum on the stinky Marlins' stadium deal, the election of the next county mayor could be a public referendum on the Latin Builders Association itself. It is certainly way-past time for the public to know the names and faces of the political insiders and campaign contributors who helped push the local economy off the cliff. That's why the Latin Builders Association could redeem itself by dipping into its pockets and paying off Miami and the county's debt. It will help bond ratings and it will also prove that growth pays its own way.
12 comments:
I love the idea! I think we should pull some funding together to put one huge full page ad in the Herald - dear LBA: Please pool money from you members cover the Millions of dollars of operating shorts from Miami to Homestead!
Today, Lennar is crying the blues because their sales are down - duh!
After watching a nearly five hour BCC zoning meeting, with the team of Martinez, Diaz, Bovo and of course - VBL (sorry to steal the Vile One's moniker, but it fits Lynda Bell) was such an eye opener as to where this county is heading - as you said before, the Race to the Bottom.
Thanks LBA, their lobbyist and to all the builders & bankers who assisted in the train wreck!
...and Monestime voted for approval of lake excavation - a real eye opener since EOM supported him.
I supported Monestine and one of Katy Sorenson's former Aide's is now an Aid to Monestine.
To say I was less than happy about his total lack of knowledge of the issue (last anon) and his vote to approve another train wreck, would be an understatement.
Of course, Bell/Martinez/Diaz were the main cheerleaders for this 400 Acre rock mining application - of highly productive Ag land - 700 ft from the Edge of the Everglades, outside the UDB, West of Krome Avenue and south of Kendall Drive.
To me, the three of them are the most egregious and obvious - seemingly bought and paid for puppets of the rock mining/LBA interest destroying our natural resources so Cemex can ship fill to China! (this is on the public record from the hearing, not making it up)
Let's add Shoma Homes to the municipal bail out funding list, they own the parcel for this application. Well, actually the owners of Shoma homes owns this parcel through another company called Santa Fe Holdings or something like that(to be a bit more accurate). In other words, same people, different shell game.
I think we should have all the anglo wasp blogsters pull the money out of their trust funds or foundations left to them by family. Let's not get on the backs of the people that actually worked for their money. Aleen, pony up, its your turn big guy.
I guess this wont be published but of course I have fun writting it.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Xavier Suarez vote for denial of the application. Maybe EOM needs to reconsider their objections to Suarez.
On the other hand, Barreiro even went so far as to not only vote for approval but to suggest that Phase II of the project be approved by administrative waiver only - without coming before the BCC again for Phase II approval.
"...the builders squealed like Nochebuena lechon at Cabrera's."
Absolutely classic. Made me laugh out loud.
Let me correct the record for the antagonists: my father was an immigrant and refugee. He came to America with nothing. I worked and grew up in the family manufacturing business. The business created hundreds of jobs. I was successful and have spent many years on non-profit issues and advocacy and feel grateful and fortunate to do so in this country.
Many of us are grateful for your service to the community. Thank you.
To the 5th anon regarding Suarez, I am personally taking another look at him, though I really liked Robaina - TGO) because of issues and policy's he dealt with on a State level that helped us here locally.
Suarez was pretty solid on all the zoning applications. He seemed to really grasp what was going on with the BCC shenanigans and rose above the BS. I'll watch him a few more times, but if he continues his path, he is going to serve Dist. 7 well.
No, this isn't a paid endorsement!
However, back to the issues in the blog, who wants to the "Make Florida Whole" fund e list of people we should send the plea to, in addition to the LBA & their members.
It will be interesting to see if EOM actually discusses what Reckless Endangerment argues: that the Clinton administration and its cronies created the housing debacle.
Barreiro, oh, the dim wit one! He'll approve anything and everything that destroys our natural resources like productive Ag lands and the Everglades!
He's a huge yawner now because his surrogate mommy, VNS, is not there to tell him how or what to vote for, so he's a huge yes man to whatever Martinez and le Pew (Pepe Diaz) vote for or against!
Maybe him & his family can contribute to the "Make Florida Whole" fund, actually every Miami Dade Commissioner whoever voted to over ride the Planning Department recommendations of denial (well, except the period when Diane O'Quinn was in charge of Planning and the build it no matter what crowd).
Ah, so Allen, you working at the family business and being successful is different than an LBA member who worked building houses an their business up from scratch? Really? What hypocrisy. Your rhetoric and extremly biased criticism that you call reporting is really a joke. Come on, please put up $1million and I'm sure the LBA would match you. Put your trust fund where your mouth is. Heyaybe Defede can pitch in to help you.
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