tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post8894010502985777889..comments2024-03-08T05:08:55.233-05:00Comments on EYE ON MIAMI: Keep Miami Stupid: the rationale behind closing libraries ... by gimleteyeGeniusofdespairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105559930040615945noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-14320742867017846012013-08-25T23:51:16.464-04:002013-08-25T23:51:16.464-04:00"One way for the county to have more flexibil..."One way for the county to have more flexibility in managing the library budget is to dissolve the stand-alone taxing district that funds it and instead fold it into the general fund, Gimenez said. The taxing district had been created so residents of cities with their own municipal libraries, such as Miami Shores, did not have to pay taxes toward the county system."<br /><br />So, to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-78568545598843621612013-08-09T14:32:12.051-04:002013-08-09T14:32:12.051-04:00You really need to understand that the Library sys...You really need to understand that the Library system has its own dedicated taxing district. That means that there is no way to cover shortages in the Library district other than increasing taxes, or reducing costs (services, eliminating or reduing lease payments, labor concessions). This is different from the Fire District. They could by ordinance bring the Library District back into the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-41703138080009370502013-08-06T17:25:06.586-04:002013-08-06T17:25:06.586-04:00Really Cee...not sure where you get your info. Th...Really Cee...not sure where you get your info. The executives at the library were reduced from 5 to 3 in 2010<br />Salaries and benefits have been reduced by 25% and no one in the administration has received a raise in 7 years. <br /><br />Mr. Santiago managed a budget of $58M dollars and 600 employees, I hardly think he or any other of his library staff are over paid. Instead of spending a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-82167218692515931592013-08-03T21:45:48.792-04:002013-08-03T21:45:48.792-04:00Beyond the present crisis, we need a long range pl...Beyond the present crisis, we need a long range plan for the library system which speaks to the technological and cultural changes that we are experiencing. There has to be a tremendous amount of new activity and thinking going on in the library industry. Once the baby boomers leave, paper books will probably disappear. Even now, when I give books away during the holidays many young people Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-25336829597103093692013-08-03T15:05:23.077-04:002013-08-03T15:05:23.077-04:00The school system needs to begin offering Adult Le...The school system needs to begin offering Adult Learning classes online and these programs could be ran out of these facilities. You could have ten of thousands of adults all over the county enrolled in classes ,never leave their homes, and generate FTEs in their pjs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-80781200354246282742013-08-02T09:18:10.317-04:002013-08-02T09:18:10.317-04:00The libraries are heavily used and if they are NOT...The libraries are heavily used and if they are NOT, they should be. Employers complain constantly that they cannot find enough smart well educated employees. Gimenez and the other commissioners who voted to CLOSE libraries need to study more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-43808029810370650702013-08-01T11:35:21.161-04:002013-08-01T11:35:21.161-04:00Rather than close those libraries, why not give th...Rather than close those libraries, why not give the facilities to the Dade County School Board? There could be classes during the day to generate FTE and pay for their basic operations, and seek other funding for after school programs and Saturday operations. They could be sites for small experimental programs or demonstration programs, for distance learning training, virtual classes and the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-22912735528525194012013-08-01T08:46:37.364-04:002013-08-01T08:46:37.364-04:00As long as we are OK with a $1 billion tunnel and...As long as we are OK with a $1 billion tunnel and a $2 million home run sculpture at the Marlins stadium, librarians will have to go begging until the last library shuts down.<br />It's Potterville for the losers, a wonderful life for the winners and their lobbyist friends. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-69255020880054304382013-08-01T08:20:18.135-04:002013-08-01T08:20:18.135-04:00Yeah right. It's the high salaries of libraria...Yeah right. It's the high salaries of librarians that is driving the county to financial ruin. Dunno if that last anon was being ironic or what.<br /><br />Malagodi is right - winners and losers are being picked in these last days of disco. The debt service on the Port of Miami is $60 million a year. It loses money every year but it is supposed to be our great job generator and thus a sacred Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-61299558353921854282013-08-01T00:19:53.850-04:002013-08-01T00:19:53.850-04:00Library Director Raymond Santiago made $196,560.34...Library Director Raymond Santiago made $196,560.34 last year. The greedy Library executive employees would prefer to close libraries than cut their bloated salaries. Put the blame where it belongs.Ceenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-7693896155197789392013-07-31T23:47:15.924-04:002013-07-31T23:47:15.924-04:00You know ah love me mah Eye on My-Am-A. An invalua...You know ah love me mah Eye on My-Am-A. An invaluable body of work. So normally when there’s a piece in there that seems like, well, filler, I just let it go by. Writers and bloggers must write and blog, even if every last bit of it isn’t exactly revelatory.<br /><br />But I must comment on this particular piece, as it provides an opportunity to make what I think are some important corrections Malagodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04265971350173178845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-49119776436406214342013-07-31T16:09:35.932-04:002013-07-31T16:09:35.932-04:00Question of the day: Main Library paid $5.1 or $5...Question of the day: Main Library paid $5.1 or $5.2 million per year since 1986. A county dept with a special taxing district funding have to pay a lease to the county's general fund for a county building that was built with bond money (I believe.) <br /> <br />and another insult:<br />the two neighboring museums: History Miami and MAM - never paid rent. <br /> <br />Something about Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-3358783459121593282013-07-31T14:51:27.068-04:002013-07-31T14:51:27.068-04:00Martinez, Gimenez's senior advisor for our lib...Martinez, Gimenez's senior advisor for our libraries, is a former teacher. Gimenez's wife, a top administrator for MDCPS, was a former teacher. Don't they object to this, or do things change when you find the better job? Now that I think about it, I did field work under Gimenez's wife years ago and my child was sick. When I told her I couldn't come in, she said, "Can'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-60994679082405979882013-07-31T11:29:46.999-04:002013-07-31T11:29:46.999-04:00Living up to third world standards.Living up to third world standards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-86657783425632357842013-07-31T10:11:26.117-04:002013-07-31T10:11:26.117-04:00"You know things are messed up when librarian... "You know things are messed up when librarians are protesting in the streets." Keep the pressure on. Tell your neighbors. Call your commissioner and Mayor Gimenez 305 375-5071. Shame them. Tell them you will organize a recall. Not getting reelect end is the only thing they understand. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-72326235018787542242013-07-31T09:55:52.296-04:002013-07-31T09:55:52.296-04:00You may think children are dumb and lazy now but i...You may think children are dumb and lazy now but imagine what will happen if Gimenez closes public libraries? Imagine what will happen if the Miami-Dade School Board can't get its act together? Eventually the Miami-Dade School Board will hire an experienced and professional management team. In the meantime, public libraries fill a need. Gimenez should try stream lining "fat and happyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-87482115969200753142013-07-31T09:33:11.948-04:002013-07-31T09:33:11.948-04:00Fahrenheit 451:
In an oppressive future, a fire...Fahrenheit 451: <br /><br /> In an oppressive future, a fireman whose duty is <br />to destroy all books begins to question his task.<br /><br />Fahrenheit 305: The retired firefighter is now mayor.Marty "Samizdat" McFlynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-63427570473132107532013-07-31T09:27:35.663-04:002013-07-31T09:27:35.663-04:00The public in Miami libraries are filled with chil...The public in Miami libraries are filled with children after school doing their homework on the computers and/or using the free wifi. Where will children who don't have wifi and/or a computer at home do their homework. Don't underestimate how much of their homework must now be done on the computer/online.These children will be at an even great disadvantage. Japolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07298168458099473725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-24332566231583865072013-07-31T07:29:50.504-04:002013-07-31T07:29:50.504-04:00LOL. There IS that.LOL. There IS that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-53035216100825347252013-07-31T07:26:48.795-04:002013-07-31T07:26:48.795-04:00because having so many of them up until now has pr...because having so many of them up until now has produced such high intelligence?<br /><br />mAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com