Saturday, July 12, 2014
County Commissioner Lynda Bell Sucks up to Farmers At the Expense of the Everglades and the Environment and Outright Lies to Voters about it. No Public testimony was allowed.
Petting the monkey, feeding the shark: Lynda Bell -- beleaguered county commissioner facing a tough re-election -- was caught in the commission chamber pandering to the constituency that most cares about her reign of petty jealousies at the Miami-Dade county commission: wealthy farmers and developers whose main goal is and has always been their own bank accounts.
It was a sly little move that Bell pulled, a resolution asking for an increase in flood protection in an area where flood protection has already been locked down by special interests, as a state and federal matter. Likely, she was given the task in return for "support" during this last phase of her campaign against challenger Daniella Levine Cava.
EOM guest blogger, Ann Hinga, details the action in Part 2, but here is a quick interpretation.
Miami-Dade's industrial farmers (row crop farmers) and developers pay lip service to the environment. Lynda Bell pays lip service to the environment. The big industrial farmers and Lynda Bell see eye-to-eye.
What they really want is to control regulations: in particular, they want to control whatever flood control measures are implemented by regulatory agencies in state and federal government. When they can't get what they want, their fall back position is to delay, delay, delay.
Big industrial farmers who have taken taxpayers to the cleaners get whatever they want. What Lynda Bell did the other day is the best example how they do it; the best example taxpayers and voters have had in a long time. In putting a resolution outside the four day rule, Lynda Bell straight out lied.
She lied when she claimed to have gotten support from the environmentalists. That's utter, complete bullshit. (In fact, it serves the Everglades Foundation right -- that's the one group Bell called out -- they were taken advantage of. But Bell had reason to believe they would be her patsies because she used the photo op they created for her on a recent Everglades "tour". When she used the photo op to claim her environmental credentials, the Everglades Foundation did not complain. Her thinking: why would they raise a fuss, now?) But they did, they said publicly they did NOT support Lynda's resolution.
The intent of the Bell resolution to INCREASE flood control for farmers shows that the incumbent county commissioner is willing to go to bat for them -- despite the fact they already dominate water supply in South Florida. The flood control for farmers was settled many years ago with the Army Corps and Lynda knows that.
So, yes. This is about politics. It is also as Ann Hinga -- our guest blogger -- points out, about Jim Humble, the South Dade multi-millionaire from the Frog Pond hijacking (another story) -"ringing the Bell" just like reviving the engines at a drag race.
It is also about Bell's colleagues on the county commission. Any one of them could have pulled this item from the county commission agenda because it hadn't been properly noticed within the required time frame. The public could have been given the chance to speak.
Who knows why the county commissioners turned a blind eye: was it ignorance, cowardice, or simply the privilege of incumbency being offered to one of their own, so that when it is time for their own re-election, they can pull similar tricks? (Remember then county commissioner Joe Martinez -- now running for Congress -- and the egg lady from the 8.5 Square Mile Area performance? Check our archive.)
In any case, Lynda Bell was asked to perform, but to perform in a way for her backers in a way that shows a sly disregard for fact, a willingness to toe the line for special interests, and talent for pushing around fellow county commissioners on the dais. Jim Humble is tickled pink and so are the Miami industrial farmers and developers, too, who are being called upon to support Bell's political campaign.
As for voters in District 8, we expect they will know what to do when their elected representative is caught petting the monkey and when there is a good challenger to do the right thing by them and not for special interests.
See Part 2 or hit link
Friday, July 11, 2014
Charlie Haden: an American original passes … by gimleteye
There are a handful of contemporary musicians who have tracked through my life … Charlie Haden was one.
He was prolific, would not be defined by style or shape; a gentle soul who played a remarkable range of music despite a debilitating illness; attracted talent, a man whose family surrounded him with love and children remarkable musicians in their own right. Pat Metheny -- a longtime collaborator -- gets credit for David Bowie's, "This is not America" (the song was featured in the 1985 Sean Penn film, "The Falcon and the Snowman"), but to me it is all Charlie. I wonder if Charlie would have considered the song one of his lasting ones, but how wonderful that a musician of such diverse range could have this one particular iconic pop hit in his pocket. Here is both Bowie's and Charlie's jazz instrumental version:
And Charlie's instrumental:
Closer to his heart, Charlie recorded a wonderful rendition of American classic Shenandoah, on his album "Rambling Boy". Not long ago, I drove through Shenandoah National Park and in the morning mist, felt such gratitude listening to Charlie along the way.
He was prolific, would not be defined by style or shape; a gentle soul who played a remarkable range of music despite a debilitating illness; attracted talent, a man whose family surrounded him with love and children remarkable musicians in their own right. Pat Metheny -- a longtime collaborator -- gets credit for David Bowie's, "This is not America" (the song was featured in the 1985 Sean Penn film, "The Falcon and the Snowman"), but to me it is all Charlie. I wonder if Charlie would have considered the song one of his lasting ones, but how wonderful that a musician of such diverse range could have this one particular iconic pop hit in his pocket. Here is both Bowie's and Charlie's jazz instrumental version:
And Charlie's instrumental:
Closer to his heart, Charlie recorded a wonderful rendition of American classic Shenandoah, on his album "Rambling Boy". Not long ago, I drove through Shenandoah National Park and in the morning mist, felt such gratitude listening to Charlie along the way.
What will Republicans do now? In redistricting lawsuit against Florida GOP gerrymandering: a hard won victory for the public … by gimleteye
Let's say you are a Republican voter and that you also voted for the 2010 constitutional amendment requiring Congressional districts to be fairly drawn that passed by well more than 60 percent of the popular vote.
Perhaps you were, as a Republican voter, grudgingly in support of that earlier constitutional amendment pushed by the GOP that a 60 percent super-majority popular vote be mandatory in order to change the Florida constitution. The reason for that initiative was to raise the bar and to make it more difficult for citizens to impose their will over state legislators beholden to special interests. You were willing to raise the bar but also willing to vote for Fair Districts.
So if you are a Republican voter and just learned that a state court judge ruled against your party, the GOP, concluding that in fact the Republican leadership and top state political officials did indeed violate the law requiring fairly drawn Congressional districts, wouldn't you have a few questions to ask?
For example, wouldn't you -- as a Republican taxpayer -- want to know how many TENS OF MILLIONS in taxpayer money has been appropriated by the GOP state legislature to fight the Fair Districts lawsuit? Fair to say, the Republican Party of Florida has been spending a huge amount of money to fight against the interests of Republican voters.
If you are a thinking Republican, ask for a change in leadership of your state party. Demand an end to the obstructionism that characterizes not just the Republican political apparatus in Florida but in Congress, too. Ask how many more millions will be spent by your GOP party to fight the Superior Court ruling.
The 41-page order from Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will almost certainly be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. … In his ruling, Lewis quoted President George Washington's farewell address warning of associations of "cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men" who could subvert the will of voters.
So what is a Republican voter to do in the upcoming election cycle, including local elections beginning in August. For one, they could vote for Democrats. Or simply not vote as a protest against those cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men.
Perhaps you were, as a Republican voter, grudgingly in support of that earlier constitutional amendment pushed by the GOP that a 60 percent super-majority popular vote be mandatory in order to change the Florida constitution. The reason for that initiative was to raise the bar and to make it more difficult for citizens to impose their will over state legislators beholden to special interests. You were willing to raise the bar but also willing to vote for Fair Districts.
So if you are a Republican voter and just learned that a state court judge ruled against your party, the GOP, concluding that in fact the Republican leadership and top state political officials did indeed violate the law requiring fairly drawn Congressional districts, wouldn't you have a few questions to ask?
For example, wouldn't you -- as a Republican taxpayer -- want to know how many TENS OF MILLIONS in taxpayer money has been appropriated by the GOP state legislature to fight the Fair Districts lawsuit? Fair to say, the Republican Party of Florida has been spending a huge amount of money to fight against the interests of Republican voters.
If you are a thinking Republican, ask for a change in leadership of your state party. Demand an end to the obstructionism that characterizes not just the Republican political apparatus in Florida but in Congress, too. Ask how many more millions will be spent by your GOP party to fight the Superior Court ruling.
The 41-page order from Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will almost certainly be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. … In his ruling, Lewis quoted President George Washington's farewell address warning of associations of "cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men" who could subvert the will of voters.
So what is a Republican voter to do in the upcoming election cycle, including local elections beginning in August. For one, they could vote for Democrats. Or simply not vote as a protest against those cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men.
Millionaires like Leonard Abess, Wayne Rosen and Craig Robbins almost got our GOB Millions if not for hero County Commissioner Juan Zapata. By Geniusofdespair
 |
| Hero of this meeting, standing up for good government and for the people not getting rippped off: County Commissioner Juan Zapata who gave a passionate speech. He called the plan presented by Osterholt a slush fund. I call it a slush fund for wealthy donors at the expense of the people. Did this redirection of funds go before the GOB Bond oversight Board like it was required to? I think not. |
Miami-Dade commissioners balk at plan for business grants
By DOUGLAS HANKS (this is the Hanks column except the parts in red italics)
dhanks@MiamiHerald.com
Miami-Dade commissioners on Thursday stalled an effort to use property taxes to fund about about $40 million in business grants for projects that included a private-jet hangar, charter school complex and production facility.
After harsh questioning by Commissioner Juan C. Zapata, the commission’s economic-development committee voted to delay considering a request by Mayor Carlos Gimenez to rewrite the rules of a dormant program aimed at recruiting large business ventures. The Gimenez administration wants to allow smaller businesses to use $75 million set aside from a 2004 ballot initiative that gave Miami-Dade authority to use property taxes to borrow $3 billion over several decades for a long list of infrastructure and construction projects.
“I think we had a really good idea that turned into something it wasn’t supposed to become,’’ Zapata said. “If we scream ‘jobs’ loud enough, this will somehow make this a good idea.’’
The current rules tied to the 2004 Building Better Communities bond program limited economic-development grants to $10 million a piece, a restriction aimed at reserving the borrowed funds to businesses and projects large enough to be “game-changing” for the economy, according to a 2010 memo setting rules for the program.
By waiving those rules, Gimenez’s staff want to give $5 million infrastructure grants to six businesses, including Miami Ocean Studios, a planned studio and production campus in northwest Miami-Dade and a for-profit medical school planned by Larkin Health in southern Miami-Dade. The money would reimburse businesses for costs tied to roadwork, sewage hookups and other infrastructure expenses, as well as for public parking facilities, according to presentation documents.
“We are trying to deal with the economy now, rather than the economy they were dealing with in 2004,’’ Jack Osterholt, the deputy mayor overseeing economic-development, said after the meeting. “We wanted projects that were sustainable, and would keep people working.”
The proposed grants, along with money tied to a similar BBC program without a $10 million threshold, include backing for projects tied to several influential people.
Improvements in Miami’s Design District, a popular retail destination controlled by Craig Robins, a top art collector, would get $1 million. Miami-Dade would earmark $5 million for a commercial project backed by the foundation of former congresswoman Carrie Meek.
Another $5 million would go to the Orion private-jet terminal, an Opa-locka business partially owned by Leonard Abess, who famously sold City National Bank of Florida in 2008 for $945 million and then gave $60 million of the profits to employees. A charter-school complex in Palmetto Bay backed Wayne Rosen, one of the top contributors to Miami-Dade commissioners’ reelection efforts, would get $5 million.
After the meeting, Rosen said his Parkside at Palmetto Bay project, which includes retail and housing, would bring jobs to the heart of the village. (Councilman Schaffer spoke for the Village of Palmetto Bay with no authorization to do so and gave inaccurate information to the Committee. The project was rejected at least twice but Rosen sued or threatened to sue to get the project. It is near the Perrine Enterprise zone not in a Palmetto Bay enterprise zone. An expert was brought in and did not see it as a viable money making project, that is for starters, Schaffer never mentioned any of that he said the village was behind the project all the way. Also the city submitted a different project and it was turned down).
“We are the catalyst to get that downtown district started,” he said. “I believe in the redevelopment of their downtown district, and I’m willing to stay the course to get this project under construction, to create jobs and create a downtown district that I can be very proud of.”
Rosen’s venture sparked one of several tense moments during the hearing, with speakers noting he was the top contributor to Commissioner Lynda Bell, who chairs the committee and was running the meeting.
“We have a county commissioner sponsoring this project who is running for reelection and the project would benefit her largest campaign contributor,” Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner said shortly after Bell called her up for a requested speaking slot. Bell said she sponsored the resolution needed to fund the Rosen project only because she represents Palmetto Bay, and that the mayor’s office approved the applicants. “This under the purview of the mayor,’’ she said.
Rosen also dismissed the suggestion that the grant would be related to his campaign contributions to Bell. “My projects are approved on their merits, and there’s no outsiders pushing it,” he said. (right, Lynda Bell didn't push it at all for her largest campaign countributor Wayne Rosen who gave her campaign and ECO over $23,000.)
The motion to defer voting on the grant proposals passed 3 to 1, with Commissioner Barbara Jordan objecting to the delay. “We have timelines tied to this list,’’ she said.
Thursday’s debate centered on a tiny portion of the 2004 Building Better Communities program, which passed overwhelmingly when voters endorsed eight ballot questions. The words “economic development” didn’t appear on the ballot, but an appendix approved projects tied to the planned bond sales earmarked $75 million for business-grant program.
Despite having 10 years of economic boom and bust, Miami-Dade has yet to tap the borrowing authority tied to the proposed business grants. The Beacon Council, the county’s economic-development arm, hoped to use about $15 million for a major air show near the Homestead air base, but the project failed to win needed backing from the Pentagon.
Frank Nero, head of the Beacon Council from 1996 to 2013, said the new guidelines abandon the original plan’s intent.
“One of the reasons we put in the $10-million threshold was to keep it from being divvied up by commission district,’’ said Nero, who was ousted by the Beacon Council board last year in part over scrapes with Gimenez. “You’re borrowing the money. It better be a significant project because you’re going to be paying off the bonds for 20 or 30 years.”
Along with the business grants, the Gimenez plan would use $18.5 million from the economic-development allocation for beach re nourishment along Miami-Dade’s coast. Thursday’s vote defers taking up the entire recommendation for 30 days.
Dollars for the BBC program come from a countywide property tax reserved solely for debt payments on voter-approved bonds. Commissioners decide when to borrow more money for the BBC program, and Miami-Dade next year will pay about $75 million in debt service tied to the $2.9 billion initiative, according to the latest budget proposal. Projects funded including the Miami Port Tunnel, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, bridge repairs and library construction.
Osterholt said the administration planned to stagger payouts from the proposed business-grant program so that Miami-Dade could avoid increasing debt service tied to the property tax. That would mean the program would have no impact on the tax rate. Either way, the program would have no impact on next year’s budget.
Larry Williams, the current Beacon Council chief, cautioned against dismissing an effort to help smaller businesses grow.
“These are the type of things that lay the foundation for economic development,’’ he said. “These investments can be game changers.”
Evidence mounts, international media is picking up on the chaotic politics of Florida and climate change … by gimleteye
Worth reading today's UK Guardian report on climate change and Miami real estate, linking up as we have done for years at EOM with state politics, Chamber of Commerce values, and the climate change deniers in the Florida GOP leadership like Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Jeb Bush. The Guardian title, "Miami, the great world city, is drowning while the powers that be look away", couldn't be more succinct. We've done our best to look exactly, with a gimlet eye, and expose the undercurrents that have eroded and continue to erode our quality of life.
The Guardian: "Most of Florida's senior politicians – in particular, Senator Marco Rubio, former governor Jeb Bush and current governor Rick Scott, all Republican climate-change deniers – have refused to act or respond to warnings of people like Wanless or Harlem or to give media interviews to explain their stance, though Rubio, a Republican party star and a possible 2016 presidential contender, has made his views clear in speeches. "I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it. I do not believe that the laws that they propose we pass will do anything about it, except it will destroy our economy," he said recently. Miami is in denial in every sense, it would seem. Or as Wanless puts it: "People are simply sticking their heads in the sand. It is mind-boggling."Have a great weekend.
Daniella Levine Cava Much Better Pick than Lynda Bell For District 8. By Geniusofdespair
Blast from the past:
Miracle of miracles, we don't just have a good candidate running against County Commissioner Lynda Bell (Who won by about 300+ votes): We have a fantastic candidate! I couldn't have hoped for anyone better. It is as if the stars were aligned and Daniella fell like Manna from heaven to save us from 4 more excruciating years of Lynda Bell!! Both Gimleteye (Alan Farago) and I enthusiastically endorse Daniella Levine Cava. I have known Daniella for at least 8 years and she has always been someone I admired greatly.
Daniella founded and was the head of the Human Services Coalition of Dade County. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University. For a full-bio press "read more" Lynda.
I asked Daniella a few questions, and here are her answers.
 |
GET IN TOUCH WITH CAMPAIGN |
Miracle of miracles, we don't just have a good candidate running against County Commissioner Lynda Bell (Who won by about 300+ votes): We have a fantastic candidate! I couldn't have hoped for anyone better. It is as if the stars were aligned and Daniella fell like Manna from heaven to save us from 4 more excruciating years of Lynda Bell!! Both Gimleteye (Alan Farago) and I enthusiastically endorse Daniella Levine Cava. I have known Daniella for at least 8 years and she has always been someone I admired greatly.
Daniella founded and was the head of the Human Services Coalition of Dade County. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University. For a full-bio press "read more" Lynda.
I asked Daniella a few questions, and here are her answers.
Police Union Cuts in a Nutshell.
MDPD Highlights: We received this from one of the police union members. It provides a breakdown of how much the Mayor's cuts will hurt public safety.
* MDPD will continue to provide police services to other County
entities: the FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes reimbursements for
services provided to Jackson Health Systems ($1.166 million), the Port
of Miami ($8.773 million), and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department
($31.117 million)
* In FY 2014-15, MDPD will continue to provide contracted police
services to the following municipalities: Town of Miami Lakes, local
patrol ($7.226 million); Town of Cutler Bay, local patrol ($8.664 million)
and optional services ($262,000); Village of Palmetto Bay, local
patrol ($7.235 million) and optional services ($86,000); City of Doral, optional
services ($223,000); and City of South Miami, School Crossing Guard
services
($70,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the addition of three Police
Officer positions at the Airport District ($259,000) and two Police
Officer positions at the Town of Cutler Bay ($173,000); funding is
provided by the contracting entity
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the Sport
Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which is deployed to address
increasing targeted crime trends throughout the County; position
reductions include one Police Lieutenant, two Police Sergeants, and
nine police Officers ($1,059 million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Incident Management Team (IMT) within the Special Patrol Bureau, which
provides organizational and logistical support during large scale
pre-planned and unplanned emergency incidents; position reductions
include one Police Lieutenant, three Police Sergeants, and five Police
Officers ($806,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Motors
Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which provides enhanced uniform
traffic enforcement, including DUI enforcement, and assists with
dignitary assignments; position reductions include one Police
Sergeant, and three Police Officers ($351,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Marine
Patrol Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which enforces maritime
laws in the coastal and inland waterways of the County, conducts
search and rescue operations, and renders assistance to neighboring
agencies; position reductions include three Police Officers ($259,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Special
Events Unit (SEU) within the Special Patrol Bureau; the unit is
responsible for coordinating all major events and in-kind services,
and provides training and coordination of the Special Events Response
Team (SERT); position reductions include one Police Lieutenant and two
Police Sergeants ($282,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Special Response Team (SRT) Training Unit and one SRT Team Unit,
including one Police Lieutenant, two Police Sergeants, and nine Police
Officers ($1,059 million); two SRT Team Units (28 sworn personnel)
will be retained to respond to tactical incidents countywide, such as
bomb threats, hostage situations, high-risk search warrants, and
barricaded subjects
* In FY 2014-15, the Department will close the Midwest District
Station and divide the area of responsibility between the surrounding
districts; sworn staff reductions include one Police Major, one Police
Captain, one Police Lieutenant, one Police Sergeant and seven Police
Officers
($1,063 million); civilian staff reductions include one Administrative
Secretary, one Secretary, one Information Officer, one Police Station
Specialist and one Police Records Specialist ($328,000); the Special
Patrol Bureau will be relocated from a privately owned facility to the
Midwest District Station ($242,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 16 Police
Crime Analysis Specialist 1 positions in Police Services ($1.243
million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 50 Police
Officers who are currently in the Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy
($4.316 million) 90
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of one Police
Captain ($108,000) and four Police Sergeant positions ($368,000) from
the Professional Compliance Bureau, which investigates complaints
against MDPD employees, conducts staff inspections, and ensures
compliance with departmental policies and accreditation standards
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) Unit and reduction of the Gang Unit
within the Narcotics Bureau, which address drug and gang activity in
the highest crime areas of the County; position reductions include
three Police Lieutenants, 10 Police Sergeants, and 22 Police Officers
($3.115 million); these reductions will impact the Department's
ability to address drug trafficking and gang related crimes, which
tend to influence other types of violent crimes
* In FY 2014-15, the Economic Crimes Bureau and Narcotics Bureau will
be merged to create the new Organized Crime Bureau; position
reductions include one Police Major, one Police Sergeant, and nine
Police Officers ($869,000), as well as one Administrative Secretary
($68,000); economic crimes investigations will be assigned to the
General Investigations Units (GIU) at the Districts
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Crime Scene Investigations Bureau: three Police
Officers
($259,000) and 10 Police Officers to be replaced by 10 civilian Crime
Scene Technicians ($261,000 net savings)
* In FY 2014-15, a Police Captain position ($108,000) will be
eliminated in the Homeland Security Bureau
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of Special
Victims Bureau, which will transfer domestic violence investigations
to the General Investigations Units (GIU) in the Districts; position
reductions include one Police Lieutenant, four Police Sergeants, and
12 Police Officers; delays in follow-up investigations are expected
since GIU will assume more duties with fewer personnel ($1.503
million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Forensic Services Bureau: two Police Officers from
the Vehicle Research Unit ($173,000); three Police Sergeants and three
Police Officers from the Property and Evidence Section to be replaced
by six civilian Property and Evidence Specialist 1s ($243,000 net
savings)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 12 Police
Crime Analysis Specialist 1 positions in Investigative Services
($932,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Robbery Bureau; two Police Sergeants and nine Police
Officers in the Robbery Intervention Detail (RID) Unit ($961,000),
which conduct proactive enforcement initiatives to combat violent
crime; and one Police Sergeant and five Police Officers in the
Investigative Unit ($524,000), which provide follow-up investigations
of robberies and other violent crimes; these reductions will impact
the Department's ability to proactively address robberies, which have
increased 10% since 2012 The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes sworn
attrition savings for 281 sworn vacancies ($25 million) and 35
civilian vacancies ($4.3 million) anticipated by the end of FY 2014-15
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes $1.245 from the 2013 COPS
Hiring Program (CHP) grant; the grant supports 57.5 percent of the
salary and fringe costs of 15 Police Officers over a three year
period, with a maximum value of $1.875 million
* In FY 2014-15, the Department will initiate a lease-purchase
agreement to replace approximately 650 frontline vehicles (includes
marked and non-marked vehicles); the Department currently maintains
more than 3,300 vehicles in its fleet inventory
* In FY 2013-14, the Department transferred 46 positions to the
Information Technology Department (ITD); the consolidation has
resulted in a recurring savings of approximately $1.5 million
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes various reductions of
operating expenses, including the deferred purchase of desktop
computers
($1 million), tasers ($580,000), and tactical vests ($285,000)
* In total, the FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of
228 sworn positions ($19 million) and 57 civilian positions ($4.2
million) department-wide; sworn staff from specialized units,
investigative units, and support functions will be redeployed as
needed to maintain the current level of service in uniformed patrol
* MDPD will continue to provide police services to other County
entities: the FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes reimbursements for
services provided to Jackson Health Systems ($1.166 million), the Port
of Miami ($8.773 million), and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department
($31.117 million)
* In FY 2014-15, MDPD will continue to provide contracted police
services to the following municipalities: Town of Miami Lakes, local
patrol ($7.226 million); Town of Cutler Bay, local patrol ($8.664 million)
and optional services ($262,000); Village of Palmetto Bay, local
patrol ($7.235 million) and optional services ($86,000); City of Doral, optional
services ($223,000); and City of South Miami, School Crossing Guard
services
($70,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the addition of three Police
Officer positions at the Airport District ($259,000) and two Police
Officer positions at the Town of Cutler Bay ($173,000); funding is
provided by the contracting entity
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the Sport
Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which is deployed to address
increasing targeted crime trends throughout the County; position
reductions include one Police Lieutenant, two Police Sergeants, and
nine police Officers ($1,059 million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Incident Management Team (IMT) within the Special Patrol Bureau, which
provides organizational and logistical support during large scale
pre-planned and unplanned emergency incidents; position reductions
include one Police Lieutenant, three Police Sergeants, and five Police
Officers ($806,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Motors
Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which provides enhanced uniform
traffic enforcement, including DUI enforcement, and assists with
dignitary assignments; position reductions include one Police
Sergeant, and three Police Officers ($351,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Marine
Patrol Unit within the Special Patrol Bureau, which enforces maritime
laws in the coastal and inland waterways of the County, conducts
search and rescue operations, and renders assistance to neighboring
agencies; position reductions include three Police Officers ($259,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of the Special
Events Unit (SEU) within the Special Patrol Bureau; the unit is
responsible for coordinating all major events and in-kind services,
and provides training and coordination of the Special Events Response
Team (SERT); position reductions include one Police Lieutenant and two
Police Sergeants ($282,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Special Response Team (SRT) Training Unit and one SRT Team Unit,
including one Police Lieutenant, two Police Sergeants, and nine Police
Officers ($1,059 million); two SRT Team Units (28 sworn personnel)
will be retained to respond to tactical incidents countywide, such as
bomb threats, hostage situations, high-risk search warrants, and
barricaded subjects
* In FY 2014-15, the Department will close the Midwest District
Station and divide the area of responsibility between the surrounding
districts; sworn staff reductions include one Police Major, one Police
Captain, one Police Lieutenant, one Police Sergeant and seven Police
Officers
($1,063 million); civilian staff reductions include one Administrative
Secretary, one Secretary, one Information Officer, one Police Station
Specialist and one Police Records Specialist ($328,000); the Special
Patrol Bureau will be relocated from a privately owned facility to the
Midwest District Station ($242,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 16 Police
Crime Analysis Specialist 1 positions in Police Services ($1.243
million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 50 Police
Officers who are currently in the Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy
($4.316 million) 90
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of one Police
Captain ($108,000) and four Police Sergeant positions ($368,000) from
the Professional Compliance Bureau, which investigates complaints
against MDPD employees, conducts staff inspections, and ensures
compliance with departmental policies and accreditation standards
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of the
Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) Unit and reduction of the Gang Unit
within the Narcotics Bureau, which address drug and gang activity in
the highest crime areas of the County; position reductions include
three Police Lieutenants, 10 Police Sergeants, and 22 Police Officers
($3.115 million); these reductions will impact the Department's
ability to address drug trafficking and gang related crimes, which
tend to influence other types of violent crimes
* In FY 2014-15, the Economic Crimes Bureau and Narcotics Bureau will
be merged to create the new Organized Crime Bureau; position
reductions include one Police Major, one Police Sergeant, and nine
Police Officers ($869,000), as well as one Administrative Secretary
($68,000); economic crimes investigations will be assigned to the
General Investigations Units (GIU) at the Districts
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Crime Scene Investigations Bureau: three Police
Officers
($259,000) and 10 Police Officers to be replaced by 10 civilian Crime
Scene Technicians ($261,000 net savings)
* In FY 2014-15, a Police Captain position ($108,000) will be
eliminated in the Homeland Security Bureau
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of Special
Victims Bureau, which will transfer domestic violence investigations
to the General Investigations Units (GIU) in the Districts; position
reductions include one Police Lieutenant, four Police Sergeants, and
12 Police Officers; delays in follow-up investigations are expected
since GIU will assume more duties with fewer personnel ($1.503
million)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Forensic Services Bureau: two Police Officers from
the Vehicle Research Unit ($173,000); three Police Sergeants and three
Police Officers from the Property and Evidence Section to be replaced
by six civilian Property and Evidence Specialist 1s ($243,000 net
savings)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the reduction of 12 Police
Crime Analysis Specialist 1 positions in Investigative Services
($932,000)
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the following position
reductions in the Robbery Bureau; two Police Sergeants and nine Police
Officers in the Robbery Intervention Detail (RID) Unit ($961,000),
which conduct proactive enforcement initiatives to combat violent
crime; and one Police Sergeant and five Police Officers in the
Investigative Unit ($524,000), which provide follow-up investigations
of robberies and other violent crimes; these reductions will impact
the Department's ability to proactively address robberies, which have
increased 10% since 2012 The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes sworn
attrition savings for 281 sworn vacancies ($25 million) and 35
civilian vacancies ($4.3 million) anticipated by the end of FY 2014-15
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes $1.245 from the 2013 COPS
Hiring Program (CHP) grant; the grant supports 57.5 percent of the
salary and fringe costs of 15 Police Officers over a three year
period, with a maximum value of $1.875 million
* In FY 2014-15, the Department will initiate a lease-purchase
agreement to replace approximately 650 frontline vehicles (includes
marked and non-marked vehicles); the Department currently maintains
more than 3,300 vehicles in its fleet inventory
* In FY 2013-14, the Department transferred 46 positions to the
Information Technology Department (ITD); the consolidation has
resulted in a recurring savings of approximately $1.5 million
* The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes various reductions of
operating expenses, including the deferred purchase of desktop
computers
($1 million), tasers ($580,000), and tactical vests ($285,000)
* In total, the FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget includes the elimination of
228 sworn positions ($19 million) and 57 civilian positions ($4.2
million) department-wide; sworn staff from specialized units,
investigative units, and support functions will be redeployed as
needed to maintain the current level of service in uniformed patrol
Thursday, July 10, 2014
LeBron to Announce Decision at United Nations … by gimleteye
Note to the Herald editors: with all the confounding news to absorb, why spend more than a column inch on a physically-gifted individual who excels at a game involving a ball tossed through a raised metal ring?
At least, the New Yorker's Andy Borowitz found a way to get 'nothing but net' from the faux controversy:
NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) N.B.A. superstar LeBron James said Tuesday morning that he would announce the name of the team that he is signing with on Thursday at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly to be convened especially for that purpose.
“This decision affects everyone on the planet,” James said. “I want to let all the nations on Earth know at the same time.”
An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday was deadlocked on the issue, with seven members wanting James to remain in Miami, seven others hoping for a return to Cleveland, and Lithuania abstaining.
The Miami Heat president, Pat Riley, and the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, both confirmed that they would be in the audience at the United Nations to hear James announce his decision. “I’m not going to lie: I wish he’d tell me in advance,” Riley said. “But I guess I’ll have to wait to hear along with Russia, China, Ecuador, and everybody else. That’s the way LeBron wants it.”
To help him with his decision, the N.B.A. star has assembled an esteemed circle of advisers, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the scientist Stephen Hawking, all of whom are expected to be in attendance for the United Nations announcement.
The U.N. General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, acknowledged on Tuesday that the world body had many other issues on its plate, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, but added, “It’s really hard to focus on anything until we know where LeBron is going.”
A new low for Mayor Gimenez. RUDE beyond belief to reporter Jim DeFede.
After the mayor announced his plans, CBS4 Investigator Jim DeFede met with the mayor to ask why he would propose such a move when that money would be more than enough to restart the fireboat program.
The conversation quickly grew heated.
GIMENEZ: I can pay for the fireboat right now with the millage that we are proposing by cross utilizing personnel.
DEFEDE: But the union…
GIMENEZ: Excuse me that is your opinion and I don’t think that you are a firefighter and I don’t think you’re a fire chief and you never were
Gimenez, a former firefighter and fire chief in the City of Miami, blames the union for the fireboat being out of service. After the county cut the $2.5 million program three years ago, Gimenez proposed last year that the fire crew at PortMiami staff the fireboat.
GIMENEZ: We could have had our fireboat in service had the union allowed us to cross-utilize the members that are at that port station.
DEFEDE: So rather than blaming it all on the union, why aren’t you coming up with another proposal?
GIMENEZ: Why should I have to? That is a very good proposal. What is wrong with that proposal? Because you don’t like it, is that it, is that the reason, you don’t like it?
Union leaders say the port is required to have a full-time crew on site. They say while the Port fire truck averages only 1.6 calls a day that number is deceiving. On the days around the weekends, when the cruise ships are in the port, they are running on calls all day long. The weekend would also be the most likely time when the fire boat would be needed for rescues and calls on the water.
DEFEDE: It just seems you come up with a lot of ways to fix problems when it comes to things like the American Airlines Arena, when it comes to trying to find a place for Beckham’s stadium, when it comes to the Dolphin stadium, but why aren’t you coming up with some leadership…
GIMENEZ: I did. I have
DEFEDE: You told the union it was this or nothing.
GIMENEZ: No because it’s very viable. You can’t just buckle to whatever the union wants.
DEFEDE: And in the meantime people are dying on the water.
GIMENEZ: Excuse me, you can’t blame this on the fireboat, you can’t. There are people dying all over this town.
DEFEDE: Do you know for sure that nobody else would have been saved if the Miami-Dade fireboat was out there?
GIMENEZ: Oh I can say with 99 percent certainty.
When asked if as Mayor it was his responsibility to lead on this issue and find workable solutions, Gimenez dug in.
DEFEDE: And is that the problem? You think you know what’s right in this case, so you are going to be stubborn on it, rather than trying to find a solution to a problem.
GIMENEZ: I’m being just as stubborn…
DEFEDE: This is a problem that needs to be solved.
GIMENEZ: I’m being just as stubborn as you are.
Gimenez noted that several years ago the library transferred several million dollars to the fire department when the fire department had a budget shortfall. Now that the library is in trouble, they are returning the favor.
The final decision on the budget will be made by Miami-Dade County commissioners. The Commission will set the millage rate next week and then begin holding hearings on the overall budget later this summer.
Click here to watch Jim DeFede’s report.
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Mayor Gimenez's Proposed Budget. By Geniusofdespair
I got this from an individual in the police union yesterday:
We know the Mayor held a press conference today releasing his budget plan. As we have in the past, the PBA went to hear what the Mayor was releasing but we were kicked out of the meeting and not allowed to attend, listen or take notes of anything that was said. So much for transparency.
I don't like firing people, I like getting rid of programs. Everything they cut from programs I like. How about getting rid of paying for all the purple bags Lynda Bell has been giving out, shirts, and other crap the county gives out. And end those mom and pop grants and those TRADE trips to Spain and Paris. There are so many programs to get rid of. Free turkeys, special events rigged to get people re-elected. Can someone with a brain look at the budget. And all you morons against raising taxes, the Bonds you keep approving are putting us in the poorhouse. They are much worse than raising taxes. STOP approving bonds. And by all means: NO MONEY FOR SPORTS TEAMS OR CONVENTION CENTERS OR MUSEUMS FROM THE BUDGET. I am also against social service organizations getting money from the budget, like Ron Book's charity. HE DOESN"T NEED THE MONEY. Let commissions fund these from their office budgets. It seems disgusting that Lynda Bell has on the agenda tomorrow to divert GOB money (from what were supposed to be worthy projects to stimulate the economy) in the amount of $5,000,000 to her biggest campaign contributor, Wayne Rosen, while people are being put out of work.
Boating tragedies will neither be stopped nor rescues be adequate: so, careful out there … by gimleteye
Boating can be a high risk activity. On water -- as in the air -- when something goes wrong, it can go wrong very, very quickly. If you are a passenger on a boat and you believe the boat operator to be behaving recklessly, don't hesitate to speak up and ask to be dropped off on land. You can't be too careful on Biscayne Bay.
When you are in high volume recreational boating traffic on Biscayne Bay, assume nearby powerboat drivers don't have a clue what they are doing. Why do I say so? Because I've witnessed enough clueless behavior on the water to be worried for my safety and that of my passengers.
Of the recent boating tragedy, accusations flying back and forth between government responders -- whether elected officials or union representatives -- are a side show to the lesson: in high traffic areas on Biscayne Bay, -- channels, bridges, and near marinas -- boat operators need to treat other boat operators as existential threats. Too bad, but it is common sense.
It appears the recent accident involved at least one boat's high speed operation in the pitch dark. Although boats are required to have running lights -- green and red on either side of the boat -- for night-time operation, given the volume of traffic one has to assume there are boats without running lights on the bay and that many boat operators are unskilled at interpreting the movement of running lights at speeds, directions and distance of other boat running at high speeds in the dark. Any cautious boat operator at night time is using radar.
There is no taking back the consequences of what happened the other night because at least one boat operator failed to acknowledge risk and responsibility. My heart goes out to the injured and the families …
When you are in high volume recreational boating traffic on Biscayne Bay, assume nearby powerboat drivers don't have a clue what they are doing. Why do I say so? Because I've witnessed enough clueless behavior on the water to be worried for my safety and that of my passengers.
Of the recent boating tragedy, accusations flying back and forth between government responders -- whether elected officials or union representatives -- are a side show to the lesson: in high traffic areas on Biscayne Bay, -- channels, bridges, and near marinas -- boat operators need to treat other boat operators as existential threats. Too bad, but it is common sense.
It appears the recent accident involved at least one boat's high speed operation in the pitch dark. Although boats are required to have running lights -- green and red on either side of the boat -- for night-time operation, given the volume of traffic one has to assume there are boats without running lights on the bay and that many boat operators are unskilled at interpreting the movement of running lights at speeds, directions and distance of other boat running at high speeds in the dark. Any cautious boat operator at night time is using radar.
There is no taking back the consequences of what happened the other night because at least one boat operator failed to acknowledge risk and responsibility. My heart goes out to the injured and the families …
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
How has Miami-Dade County changed in the last twenty five years? … by gimleteye
Miami-Dade County is home to more than 2.2 million people. There are a thousand voices to the question, how has Miami-Dade changed in twenty five years or the time you've lived here? I'm curious about answers.
Is this a better place to live?
How has your quality of life changed?
Do we have more or less economic opportunity?
Is your voice as a taxpayer and voter represented better today than before?
Is the corruption any different than it was, a quarter century ago?
Is Miami-Dade more or less Balkanized, compared to then?
Are our schools better? Our roadways and infrastructure?
Is the quality of information we get about our communities, better or worse?
No doubt there are many other metrics to address the question. Readers, fire away.
Is this a better place to live?
How has your quality of life changed?
Do we have more or less economic opportunity?
Is your voice as a taxpayer and voter represented better today than before?
Is the corruption any different than it was, a quarter century ago?
Is Miami-Dade more or less Balkanized, compared to then?
Are our schools better? Our roadways and infrastructure?
Is the quality of information we get about our communities, better or worse?
No doubt there are many other metrics to address the question. Readers, fire away.
Monday, July 07, 2014
Fuming at misallocation of county taxpayer funds: why do voters keep re-electing the same incumbents? … by gimleteye
Over the weekend my co-blogger, G.O.D., picked up the tangle of county allocations of the tourist bed tax and general obligation bonds and other pools of taxpayer moneys that serve the interests of Miami-Dade's political and economic elites. Both G.O.D. and I first supported Mayor Carlos Gimenez who seemed, at the time, an honest broker compared to the incoherent bumbling of previous administrations. Some of our readers warned us. They were right. We were wrong.
Over the holiday weekend, G.O.D. wrote about the messy exchange of funding pools involving debts to repay sports stadiums -- the Miami Marlin's for one example -- and needed convention center upgrades. Called it "sleights of hand". The political equivalent of a game of three-card monte.
In Miami-Dade, there are plenty of other examples how taxpayers get hooked by one generation of exploiters and then are driven further down the hook by the next generation. Now, these days, there is not even the space of time between these generations. The Performing Arts Center needs more money? Give it. The Genting/Perez Museum of Art needs more money? A few more million is "necessary".
Parking to view cultural institutions? Parks? Or Libraries? (How Miami-Dade College has been screwed by this funding allocation process deserves a chapter all its own.)
For decades, Miami-Dade county commissioners tolerated not only some of the lowest water rates in the nation -- to subsidize and spur new development -- but also raided the water and sewer department revenue base (that would be, us) to cover other deficit gaps. This constant behavior resulted in sanctions by the state AND by the federal government (after a lawsuit by environmentalists of course).
The significance of these emergencies was lost to voters in the general emergency of incompetent governance. For the most part, the power of the media through investigative journalism simply dissipated.
In the hit HBO series "True Blood", it's called "glamoring" when vampires stare ordinary mortals in the eyes to make them forget whatever horrific detail they witnessed. Miami-Dade taxpayers have been "glamored" by Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the county commissions.
Meanwhile, if you -- as an involved citizen -- happen to be the recipient of a county community grant, you will be wrapped up in the preoccupations of county auditors whose main purpose seems to assuage the needs of their own job security.
What this performance does is keep off-balance exactly the small groups of citizens who could mobilize objections except they would have to give up the paltry sums if they did. And God forbid the misappropriation of community block grants to politically-connected insiders. What a racket that ignites. But when the Genting/Perez Art Museum or the Performing Arsht Center needs a few more million?
There are at least two lessons here, easily understood. One: The big fish always get away. Two: If you are looking for money, you should have been here yesterday.
That is, unless you are an insider, in which case there is always a special desk with someone waiting just for you at County Hall.
Over the holiday weekend, G.O.D. wrote about the messy exchange of funding pools involving debts to repay sports stadiums -- the Miami Marlin's for one example -- and needed convention center upgrades. Called it "sleights of hand". The political equivalent of a game of three-card monte.
In Miami-Dade, there are plenty of other examples how taxpayers get hooked by one generation of exploiters and then are driven further down the hook by the next generation. Now, these days, there is not even the space of time between these generations. The Performing Arts Center needs more money? Give it. The Genting/Perez Museum of Art needs more money? A few more million is "necessary".
Parking to view cultural institutions? Parks? Or Libraries? (How Miami-Dade College has been screwed by this funding allocation process deserves a chapter all its own.)
For decades, Miami-Dade county commissioners tolerated not only some of the lowest water rates in the nation -- to subsidize and spur new development -- but also raided the water and sewer department revenue base (that would be, us) to cover other deficit gaps. This constant behavior resulted in sanctions by the state AND by the federal government (after a lawsuit by environmentalists of course).
The significance of these emergencies was lost to voters in the general emergency of incompetent governance. For the most part, the power of the media through investigative journalism simply dissipated.
In the hit HBO series "True Blood", it's called "glamoring" when vampires stare ordinary mortals in the eyes to make them forget whatever horrific detail they witnessed. Miami-Dade taxpayers have been "glamored" by Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the county commissions.
Meanwhile, if you -- as an involved citizen -- happen to be the recipient of a county community grant, you will be wrapped up in the preoccupations of county auditors whose main purpose seems to assuage the needs of their own job security.
What this performance does is keep off-balance exactly the small groups of citizens who could mobilize objections except they would have to give up the paltry sums if they did. And God forbid the misappropriation of community block grants to politically-connected insiders. What a racket that ignites. But when the Genting/Perez Art Museum or the Performing Arsht Center needs a few more million?
There are at least two lessons here, easily understood. One: The big fish always get away. Two: If you are looking for money, you should have been here yesterday.
That is, unless you are an insider, in which case there is always a special desk with someone waiting just for you at County Hall.
Careful, out there! … by gimleteye
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| Python found by M-D fire rescue in South Dade barbecue grill, 4th of July weekend. |
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Carlos Gimenez raids property taxes for convention center which has its own tax (but that was raided for stadiums). By Geniusofdespair
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| The Rob Peter to pay Paul Budget Guru - Creator of the Sleight of Hand Budget |
You have, of course, heard them say over and over that the tourist tax, money they use for STADIUMS, can only be used for that. It is actually money set aside for Convention Centers not stadiums. Well Gimenez is taking our short supply of property tax monies to pay for the Miami Beach convention center in a convoluted deal. And this of course SUCKS. Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald reported this July 4th. It was buried on a holiday and I think it is the most important story of the week:
Jorge Gonzalez, the former Miami Beach city manager, said the agreement highlights the legacy of the 2009 decision by Miami-Dade to spend hotel taxes on Marlins Park. By tying up hotel taxes for the stadium — ballpark debt is slated to take up $9 million in hotel taxes this year — Miami-Dade can’t dedicate tourist-generated dollars for the convention center.This might turn out to be a good deal for Miami Beach with all the perks that Carlos Gimenez is offering but it is a deadly deal for us. We have been lied too. This deal postpones the inevitable, it is a sleigh of hands. And it left us in debt to the Marlins.
“Yes, we’re using hotel taxes for the baseball stadium,’’ said Gonzalez, now manager of Bal Harbour Village. “But we’re using property taxes for the convention center.”
As part of a complicated swap with Miami Beach, Gimenez wants to delay paying $18 million in property taxes to the resort city this year and another $14 million in 2016. In exchange, Miami-Dade would add about 20 years to the life of a special taxing district around the Lincoln Road area — which is forecast to cost Miami-Dade about $800 million in diverted property taxes during the extension through 2045.Read the article and see how you have been lied to about this stupid tax over the years. Barbara Jordan always says, when she approves ever Stadium scam, "it is not our taxes the tourists pay it." They keep saying, it is not our tax money it is tourist money and they approve the deals. Well now it is our tax money. Because they spent the damn convention money on stadiums.
Stadiums are the thorn in the side of every mayor in Miami Dade County because they keep entertaining them. And the stupid commissioners, they agree to everything. What is wrong with just plain NO. Beckham is off to Broward, good riddance. Read the article in the Miami Herald.
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