PLEASE READ RESPONSE TO THIS POST PROVIDED BY LYNDA BELL'S OFFICE
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| Photo from the South Dade News Leader |
Underlined and in bold are the Mayor's office responses to my questions, they were quick with these answers:
The Corporation CUTLER BAY CENTRE ASSOCIATES LLC bought the land from another Corporation CUTLER BAY CENTER LLC in 2012 (same officer) for $1 Million (Cutler Bay Center LLC had paid $2 Million for this land in 2006, including another tract, and subdivided it). The land is at 11000
We are putting $10 1/2 million of bond money to build a building on a piece of land owned by a developer? Yes. The building will be owned by the county (according to lynda's aide) see Miami Herald article quote.
What is this guy getting for his land? See County Resolution 58-12, (hit on clerk's official copy on right side of page). Is the county leasing it? No. Did anything go out to bid on the contractor building it (Siltek) or on the land where it is going? This is a question for Cutler Bay Centre Associates, LLC, Andy Atrio, Jr. I see there is a name in the resolution of a contractor. Did he bid on this? What is going on with this deal. Was there ever a resolution about the land and/or the contractors? See County Resolution 58-12. And the naming? See County Resolution 582-12 (hit on clerk's official copy on right side of page). I don't think the mayor would let go of $10 1/2 million without some vetting. Were all the necessary agreements referred to in the resolution agreed to? If so may I obtain a copy? Resolutions R-58-12 & 582-12.
The parcel of land is owned by Bell's landlord, Atrio, of her district office.
Also how did the naming of the building, paid for with public funds, come about, to be named after Bell's mom? The owner, Cutler Bay Centre Associates, LLC, named the building. Was there a resolution? No, because the building is not owned by the County.
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| From Resolution R-582-12 Sponsored by Lynda Bell |
So even though Lynda Bell's spokesperson Maurice Hernandez told the Miami Herald that the County would OWN the building, they will not. We gave $10.5 million dollars of bond money to a developer for a building we don't own, on land we don't own.
Following is the first 3 pages of the 70 pages + agreement with Cutler Bay Center Associates. Is the Developer of this building even an affordable housing developer? The guy is, of course, Lynda Bell's landlord on her Palmetto Bay office but what else? Apparently someone wanted them to get this contract, and they did get it. I still can't determine if any bidding went on, Here is the response from the Mayor's office:
"As you may recall, there are 13 departments/divisions not under the Mayor’s purview. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is one them. While staff does execute legislation and projects, if the legislation or project(s) is sponsored by a Commissioner, the Commissioner is the lead.Here are the 3 damn pages or you can read the whole thing at the two links given above:
The below contract was sponsored by a Commissioner, therefore my colleague in the BCC will assist you. I’ve copied Mr. Eddie Borrego, (305) 375-5218, in Vice Chairwoman Lynda Bell’s office on this correspondence. He will assist you with your follow up questions."
14 comments:
The Mayor is obviously trying to wash his hands of a very dirty deal. I don't think $10 million of our Bond money is chump change. I'll do more digging others should too. Money is always easy to follow, the building naming is clear, her landlord wanted the development, somehow the county approved it, somehow 10 Million just went out the door of OUR money, which the Commission tends to pull an amnesia on everytime anyone asks for an accoutning and/or procurement problems/issues. This makes the $20k Bell recieved look like lunch money. She's very optimistic with her financial future, along with her publicly funded landlord who has NO history of this type of development.
By the way, where's the chief perjer on this Faddis? At least she'd have a legitimate reason to lie. I think her aide who will be publicly blamed was told what he said because Bell always likes to blame others. Bell need to have her name removed immediately and this developer/contractor needs a criminal investigation. I'd like to know what the Pol's in Cutler Bay think? McDougal is running for congress, he may want to get involved and stop this disgrace for a whole bunch of political brownie points in addition to it's just wrong, he can correct it so can the Council!
Gimenez - pull the plug on this. Find a way. Washing your hands isn't going to clean all the dirt off of this pig!
Chinese proverb: "The longer the explanation, the bigger the lie." The Mayor's office can't seem to use enough words to weasel on this one. There are two undeniable facts: 1. This is our money they are playing with. Lynda Bell did not raise it and she certainly could never donate any money of her own. She should not be taking credit for spending our public dollars. 2. A Lynda Bell supporter appears to be reaping significant public money.
Just like when Gimenez ran for cover over the early voting stuff. Same story, different day. He's not going to run from the Dolphins, nor should the commission. Even though Bell wasn't at the final vote, she did vote to approve on the initial vote prior to last week. Gimenez is giving away more tax dollars to special interest than any Mayor yet. It may not be in one chunk like Alvarez did, but running the numbers on all these give a ways will add up. Gimenez didn't discuss the special tax fund with the Dolphins have pending in the legislature which is most certainly OUR money which could be used for education and other local issues, not the tourist taxes, which is a smoke screen. There are two play with the Dolphins here. Gimenez and his very bad PR machine are trying to hide behind the 8 ball of the tourist taxes the other 90 million I guess is just monopoly money! I say a recall is in order soon for him. Bell has a better chance to be voted out without the time and expense.
I do not believe there is anything criminal going on. I think this is business as usual. A lot of public dollars go to developers, I speculated on that in my post last week. If Lynda Bell didn't name the building after herself, who would have looked at this buildings at all? I don't know how this deal came to be. If they bid it out, I am okay with it.
If it was bid, I'd like to see who else bid on it. If affordable housing groups didn't win because this group with no experience bid lower, then there will be numerous change orders we never see which will end up costing more than what was originally proposed in their bid. I have a HUGE problem with this whole thing.
I asked the Mayor's office whether there was a bid on this project and here is the disturbing answer:
"As you may recall, there are 13 departments/divisions not under the Mayor’s purview. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is one them. While staff does execute legislation and projects, if the legislation or project(s) is sponsored by a Commissioner, the Commissioner is the lead.
The below contract was sponsored by a Commissioner, therefore my colleague in the BCC will assist you. I’ve copied Mr. Eddie Borrego, (305) 375-5218, in Vice Chairwoman Lynda Bell’s office on this correspondence. He will assist you with your follow up questions."
Genius: This is very disturbing. Which means to me that any of the commissioners can propose similar legislation, contracts and projects and name them after their love ones/family members.
One thing can be said Lynda Bell is exposing all of her BCC members to the corruptness that is going on now, past and future. If Lynda and the developer gets away with this then we have a free for all for elected officials. Its quite sad what is happening to our democracy due to GREED.
What about the Rebeca Sosa Multipurpose Facility in West Miami or the Rebeca Sosa Theater in Miami Springs? No problem with that egocentric arrogance at taxpayer expense?
But we keep voting for them. Not that the opposition, if any, makes the choice easy.
I have a problem with it anon above. It should not be allowed. As someone wrote if nothing else Bell's very transparent antics are putting the real light on why these politicians spend 100's of thousands to received a 6k per year job. The end of the tunnel is extraordinaire if not downright extravagant at taxpayer expense either directly or through vendors/grant recipients, etc.
Get me a huge barf bag! Our Mayor was on the commission and as Strong Mayor I find it a bit unbelievable he's in charge of the budget but not how those funds are allocated. Turning a blind eye or passing the buck on blame is more like it.
Moss's wife is an employee for life inside MIA and he's the Chair of the funding. That's a lot worse the the Homestead CRA with a lot more millions at stake.
If the county explanations are correct, any commissioner can propose spending county money for friends, developers, campaign contributors, and the BCC will approve with no oversight from the Mayor, County Attorney, or the other departments?
This makes no sense, there is no oversight. No wonder most public funds appear to be wasted.
Please read Eddie Borrego's response. link is at top of post now.
As I said OVER AND OVER, DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF ANY BONDS...THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
To Cee: You will NEVER see Rebeca Sosa criticized on this blog no matter what she does.
I already commented on Sosa, I said they should wait till she retires but they didn't. I would have thought it more appropriate that Lynda Bell name the Hope project after herself because at least she has done public service. I said that. As far as Sosa is concerned, I would bet OTHERS named those after her. I don't think she would be tacky enough to name anything after herself.
I need some friends, Sosa does get a pass because she does some good stuff. Same with some of the others.
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