Let's Look at Carlos Gimenez's Campaign Expense Again for his PAC MIAMI DADE RESIDENTS FIRST
A hotel stay at the Empire is $309 per night ($278.19 when discounted). I don't know how they got to New York City from the Airport and back for $41.16. That sounds like a one way ride to me. Gimenez got a $20,000 donation from the owners of this hotel Amsterdam. One reader said, after reading the 7 page expose on (Amsterdam and its owners) in New York Magazine:
Now we know how Gimenez plans to eliminate homelessness in downtown Miami: invite the slumlords of New York to buy up properties that can warehouse the downtrodden. His PAC took a $20,000 check from a New York family run business that specializes in exploiting government programs to house the homeless. That should grease the wheels for the New Yorkers to bring their brand of caring for the homeless to Miami. And Gimenez will be at the airport to greet them. He probably has Osterholdt looking for run down apartment complexes that will fit their slimy business model. How does a PAC spend over $1,000 for a night at a $180 a room hotel? Was there a delegation traveling with the Mayor? Or, did they treat themselves to the Champagne Room? This is a some sick stuff. Why worry about poop on the streets when the mayor is putting out the welcome mat for some real pieces of shit?
Now I am wondering what that multiple hour long homeless meeting WAS REALLY ABOUT. Apparently the Mayor has been in touch with these New York slumlords developers.
County Commissioner Barbara Jordan's Campaign Report
Commissioner Dennis Moss's Campaign Report
Plenty of money in both Miami Dade County Campaign Reports from Wayne Rosen Developer and (who seems to be Homestead's OVERLORD). Land Baron, Shores etc. is Wayne Rosen as well. County Commissioner Dennis Moss also got a windful of Marlin's Money. Look at addresses as well as names.
Where is Walt Disney (who always paid for his stuff) when you need him?
Dr. Gregory Bush always derided Miami for its boosterism. This is the mother of all boosting: Miami Wild. What are we Orlando? Do we need every stupid thing they can think up at our fingertips and help pay for it to boot? Do we want to be a land of chain hotels and restaurants, or a farming community? Remember this is the only subtropical farming in the continental United States. Doesn't that mean anything to anybody?
"20th Century Fox wants $13.5 million from the Miami-Dade County Economic Development Fund to replicate several US Coast Guard communication towers so that they can build their Miami Wilds amusement park.
The film company and Miami-Dade are negotiating the logistics of the proposed $930 million Miami Wilds development that might rise at the county-owned Zoo Miami, according to Miami Today. Included in the plans are theme park rides; a water park; a 400-room hotel with a Sony Music Theatre venue; a 30,000-square-foot retail and restaurant village; an entertainment center with movie theaters and bowling; an outdoor area for sports; and a 1.5-mile transportation link that brings it all together.
20th Century Fox plans to lease land from the county for the project. The company says it would pay Miami-Dade more than $67.1 million in rent during the first 20 years of operation, Miami Today reports.
The reason why the company has to replicate Coast Guard tower? Part of the Miami Wilds complex is to be built on federally owned land northeast of Zoo Miami where the US Coast Guard now has facilities. For that to happen, 20th Century Fox needs to replicate several towers.
20th Century Fox is also requesting public sector funding for $40 million parking, $26.5 million site preparation, $26 million roadways, and a $24 million transportation mode inside the entertainment complex."
This is exactly where we don't want a big theme park, near our subtropical farms - the only subtropical farming in the continental U.S.
It is being discussed AGAIN at the County! First of all it is the city of Miami's call not the County. The City owns the slip and the land around it. Mayor Regalado said no way. I have it on tape. Marc Sarnoff would never do it because it would be suicide for his wife's campaign. Carollo wouldn't do it because he is too smart and is a good steward of the City owned land at the Bayfront Park Trust. I also assume Suarez is like his dad and would NEVER vote for anything this stupid. There are your 3 votes.
Now the County is another story. Moss has no business proposing it he is getting his zoo theme park and his museum should go on Virginia Key and he knows it or they could make room on Parcel B for all these museums. Has anyone at the county heard of multiple stories? We have an abundance of edifices in this part of town. Audrey Edmonson, didn't you just get an award from the Urban Environment League for "Dedication to downtown open space and waterfront access"? I am quite sure you wouldn't screw with them this quickly. This is a bad idea: All of you: Put it to bed once and for all.
Naval history of the FEC Slip. Eye on Miami History of the stupid idea of filling in the slip.
YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS FIRST VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND THE POST. County Commissioner Dennis Moss is addressing Lynda Bell directly about her request to form a wetlands advisory task force. She first formed a town hall meeting (see videos below) this is it. Remember DERM protects our drinking water from things like arsenic contamination.
Dennis Moss said he had a meeting the same meeting Lynda Bell is proposing at this Commission meeting. When the 8 1/2 square mile people acted up, as they always do, Moss said he shut down the meeting. When they acted up against staff at Lynda Bell's meeting SHE WAS SILENT (see her meeting below, there are more than 7 parts I only posted 2). She even disobeyed her own rule of 3 minutes only. And she did throw DERM under the bus as Dennis Moss warned her not to.
You only need to watch the first 3 minutes of this first one. Alice Pena (who ran against Moss) is speaking (of course more than 3 minute).
By the way, County Commissioner Lynda Bell mentions 3 minutes to speak and let her friend John DuBois talk for over 20 minutes (she had her victory party for her last election at his home). He is being sued by DERM, unfairly he says, that is why he is at this meeting to talk about DERM's predatory practices - His words I believe. Some of the people from the 8 1/2 square mile district have illegal fill (some with arsenic in it) and they are up and arms because DERM wants it removed. The Army Corps wanted all of the people removed because they are illegally living on the other side of the UDB in a flow area for the Everglades. They are blocking the flow. The Army Corps removed about 1/2 the people at great expense after years of fighting with them. The ones left are very vocal. As you can see. They shouldn't even be living in that area. I would watch this whole video.
John Dubois, vice mayor of Palmetto Bay is speaking to Derm staff members.
If you vote in District 8 you should watch these videos. The third one is awfully rude. Listen at 3 minutes of this third one. Lynda Bell should have shut it down just like Moss did. All the clapping is against DERM by the way, try to listen to the end. I would not submit my staff to such rude behavior. That is, if I had a staff.Daniella Levine Cava would never let staff be bullied and abused.
You don't throw your staff UNDER THE BUS. The head of DERM quit a couple of weeks after this Lynda Bell meeting. I beg you to watch the videos folks in District 8.
People watching videos I post are very important. Don't take my word for it, see what happened. Make your own conclusions.
You have to hit on this press release to read it. It really should be read by every friggin' politican in Miami Dade County who goes to this group for an endorsement. You should be ashamed, Democrats and Republicans alike. This press release is a travesty.
Yeah, I really don't have much use for Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lehtinen but I would never call her corrupt like the Christian Family Coaltion did in this press release. Corrupt is a very harsh word. I never called Natacha Seijas corrupt, I don't even think I ever called David Rivera corrupt. Hell, this is a blog and if I am not using that word I'm damn sure that a group that calls itself 'Christian' should NOT be calling a Congresswoman corrupt. Lets look at the meaning: Having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money.
Why is the Christian Family Coalition calling the Congresswoman corrupt? Because of a vote Ileana Ros-Lehtinen cast that they didn't like. If I used the same barometer, every single politician whoever served anywhere in Miami Dade County would be corrupt, including Katy Sorenson. Katy cast a few votes I didn't like. I am just not that extreme.
There are always going to be some votes I won't like that is life. Granted the Christian Family Coalition are pretty much a two trick pony, their issues are Anti-gay and Anti-choice and their mouth piece is Anthony Verdugo (If he disappeared so would the group). I do recognize that with only 2 issues, the group would put great importance on a vote they didn't like. But there is a way to phrase displeasure that is not hateful and vengeful. Especially if you want to act like a real Christian.
I, of course, am following a lot more issues. Some votes I get madder at than others. I just put the politician on my shit list. But I still don't call them corrupt.
Frankly, I am shocked that any politician or judge would want to be endorsed by a group that releases threatening, nasty press releases against fellow politicians and sitting judges. Be strong public figures: stand firm and boycott this group when they reach out to you. You owe it to U.S. Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lehtinen and to County Commissioner Dennis Moss.I wrote about the CFC's nasty press release on Dennis Moss on Saturday. Also, do it for the judges. In a Press Release from the CFC dated 9/22/2010 (in response to the 3rd DCA opinion upholding Judge Lederman in the Gil adoption case) Anthony Verdugo said:
"Corrupt Appeals Judges VIOLATE Oath of Office, Irrationally Attack Law Protectng Children! Florida Voters: Lawless Judges Must Be Impeached!"
Whoa! I implore every reader to send an email or call their county commissioner, their city officials and their State officials: Tell them "Don't go for a Christian Family Coalition endorsement." If a politician comes to your door, ask them if they have the CFC endorsement or if they have gone to a Christian Family Coalition meeting to speak. If they have, say thank you and close the door.
There is a way to behave and even I behave better than this...hard to believe. Read the damn press release! and hit on the link.
To see an older list from 2010 who supported/was supported by the CFC, hit read more:
I DID NOT WRITE THE FOLLOWING, ONLY THE WORDS IN CAPS ARE MINE. THIS IS QUOTED FROM A PRESS RELEASE FROM THAT WACKY GUY VERDUGO OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY COALITION. (I LIKE CJ AND I LIKE DENNIS MOSS... HIS POSITIONS I LIKE MOST OF THE TIME. IN THIS CASE I AGREE WITH DENNIS MOSS):
"Homosexualist "leader" loses credibility
trying to cover up hate and discrimination!
His "Official Statement" undermines his credibility"
(IS HOMOSEXUALIST EVEN A WORD?)
"The "head" of local homosexualist group "SAVE Dade", exposed his brazen bigotry and intolerance of Christians by trying to cover up hate and discrimination against the residents of Miami-Dade County, alerts today the Christian Family Coalition, Florida's premiere human rights and social justice organization. (WHAT?...BRAZEN BIGOTRY?)
C.J. Ortuno, who bills himself as being "anti-discrimination," issued an "official statement" released on the March 6th, 2013 Miami Herald blog calling County Com. Dennis Moss "a leader who wants to ensure every Miami-Dade resident is treated with the same rights and respect." Does C.J. really believe that? Why is he covering up the facts? The facts speak quite differently.
On Tuesday, December 4th, as CFC successfully got the Miami-Dade County Commssion to restore legislative invocations, or prayers, at all County Commission meetings, Moss lost all control and defamed his own community along with CFC members and supporters by disrespectfully calling prayer ordinance supporters "racist, anti-immigrant and h---phobic", whatever that last slur means."
VERDUGO CLEARLY KNOWS WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS. DENNIS MOSS GAVE EXAMPLES FROM PAST ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CFC, AND THE HISTORY OF THE CC/CFC, EXPLAINING FULLY HIS REASONING. LYNDA BELL, JOHN DUBOIS, A GOOD BUT MISGUIDED JUDGE, AMONG OTHERS LIKE MIGUEL DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA AND ERIK FRESEN, WERE ENDORSED BY THIS VERDUGO GROUP. HOLY CRAP! THERE IS MORE TO THIS PRESS RELEASE:
"Homosexualist "leader" C.J. Ortuno sadly lost all credibility by brazenly trying to cover up for Com. Moss' blatant act of hate, defamation, and discrimination at last December 4th's Commission meeting. It is deeply troubling and offensive that Mr. Ortuno would deliberately ignore the facts and dishonestly attempted to justify the unjustifiable.
Given the opportunity to do the right thing, Mr. Ortuno turned his back on his own community and betrayed the very values of equality and respect he so angrily demands for himself. Certainly, he does not speak for most of the members and supporters of the group he leads, who may not agree with CFC, but that certainly do not condone disrespect, defamation, or discrimination of any kind, against anyone."
OMG, HERE IS WHAT CJ OF "SAVE DADE" SAID THAT IS SO OFFENSIVE TO VERDUGO (SEEMS LIKE A VOICE OF REASON):
SAVE Dade expresses deep concern over the recent actions taken at the Miami-Dade Commission meeting by the Christian Family Coaliftion. It is truly unfortunate and highly offensive that Mr. Verdugo continues to target Commissioner Moss for his leadership on ensuring every Miami-Dade resident is treated with the same rights and respect. We also commend Chairwoman Rebecca Sosa for her efforts to maintain decorum and ensure that respect is shown by all when addressing the Commission. We look forward to the work ahead as SAVE Dade continues the fight to safeguard the values and rights of every resident of Miami-Dade County.
POLITICIANS WHY DO YOU GIVE VERDUGO CREDIBILITY? DO NOT GO THERE FOR ENDORSEMENTS. RENOUNCE YOUR CFC ENDORSEMENT IF YOU HAVE ONE. I LOVE CHRISTIANS. I AM A CHRISTIAN. THIS IS NOT CHRISTIAN SPEAK. CFC JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE THE WORD "CHRISTIAN" IN ITS NAME.
The USACE, NPS, SFWMD, and Miami-Dade County have conducted numerous public meetings to help land owners and residents understand that the features being implemented by the MWD Project are not intended to provide for the full level of flood protection as afforded by the Central & Southern Florida Project for lands east of the East Coast Protective Levee.
Since these lands are subject to routine flooding, a wetland disclosure statement was established 30- years ago following the Miami-Dade County 1981 Zoning Overlay Ordinance (Dade Ordinance 82-113).- Dan Kimball, Superintendent Everglades National Park
Mahadev G. Bhat is a professor of Natural Resource Economics at FIU. His research includes Cost-benefit analysis of the Everglades Restoration projects. Mahadev, are you familiar with the 8 1/2 square mile area and Alice Pena's role in costing the Government more money with years of fighting? Ever heard of CSOP? MOD Waters? How many years did that go on? Pena insists the 8 1/2 square mile area is not prone to flooding and criticizes and fights with every government entity about it: The Army Corps of Engineers, the South Florida Water Management District, The Department of the Interior and DERM. Please read further Dr. Bhat. Here is a copy of a letter from Everglades National Park Superintendent to Lee Hefty of DERM (Derm is having hearing right now with a stacked task force, because of Alice Pena insistence on having all this revisited AGAIN!! Remember all of this is COSTING MONEY!!):
In her qualifying documents for the District 9 Seat, Alice Pena said her house on 4.3 acres is worth $435,000. The Property Appraiser puts the value at $380,199. Pena claims a mortgage of $195,000 from Bank of America. I did find two Dept. of Agriculture mortgages from 2008 for $87,000 and $75,000. There was a foreclosure going on in 2009 but things were settled in in July of 2011. She makes $21,000 from her farming (eggs and other stuff) and $18,000 from Social Security. She is a Republican, no surprise there and she is 70 years old. She paid $3,788 in taxes in 2011 (she got a $56,430 agricultural benefit, in 2010 it was $105,930).
She claims DERM staff tresspasses. What is she threatening to do to DERM people at 1:11 on the counter? What could she possibly mean? The woman is paranoid. Lee Hefty later (not shown) describes how DERM used the court system in enforcement actions. The people Alice is talking about have had their day in court. It wasn't so long ago that Alice was charging the Army Corps with atrocities, when they were actually buying out some residents with our tax dollars.
Commissioner Moss commented on the precedent setting of the Brown Application. Brown's Lobbyists got the development approved under one set of circumstances -- agreeing to a covenant of no residential for 30 years -- and 3 years later changing the playing field, asking for the covenant to be lifted for residential. Commissioner Moss was the only one to object: "This application has a profound effect upon a lot of different areas throughout the County" Moss said.
Commissioner Moss acknowledged it is a bait and switch, and he wonders how this will effect future developments. He calls it the camel's nose under the tent. Watch the video. He makes a good argument.
The strangest part of it all: County Planning would not have given a positive recommendation for residential if it were outside the UDB line. But because it was inserted inside the line based on NO RESIDENTIAL 3 years ago, they now have to consider it as part of the pool of land available for residential, and they ended up giving residential zoning their blessing -- Covenant be damned. WHAT??? This gives the Commissioners cover to approve it. All, except for Commissioner Moss (and those absent), gleefully used the cover.
You remember that Sly and the Family Stone song lyrics, "War. What is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!" Well, a covenant in Miami Dade County, "What is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!" And to borrow from another song lyric by the Who, all my friends and readers be warned: "Don't get fooled again" on the worth of a 30 year covenant.
I read in Dan Ricker's Watchdog Report that Alice Pena is said to be running for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis Moss's seat, like she would ever win. I think of Alice fondly as that egg lady (she sells eggs) with the crazy vendetta against environmental regulators. She is from the 8 1/2 Square Mile area and she is always attacking what was once called DERM. She single-handedly orchestrated uproars of the 8 1/2 Square Mile area for twenty years, a kind of mad operative for the radical right. Now that there is a virtual junta controlling the county and state -- that is fiercely anti-environmental at its core -- it is apparently OK to bring the crazies from the back pastures right up into the executive offices. This is how County Commissioner Lynda Bell sees Alice Pena:
“It is wonderful that once a year we get to honor that one special woman in agriculture,” stated Commissioner Bell. “I think that it’s very fitting that Alice Pena is being recognized as Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau’s Women of the Year.” Besides from being the leader of the Farm Bureau, she is a great lady that is deeply involved in her community.”
Of course, everyone that has seen the zaniest film ever made, "Pink Flamingos," knows, we do have a precedent for crazy egg ladies. Here is Divine with Edie Massey the ORIGINAL, beloved, paranoid Egg Lady.
I read about the grant award that Jean Monestime wanted for his landlord Yoram Izhak and thought it sounded pretty fishy. Apparently Dennis Moss thought so too. New Times reported:
At the commission's regular meeting, Commissioner Dennis Moss requested his colleagues reconsider a vote to help pay for the upgrade of Northside Shopping Center at NW 79th Street and 27th Avenue. He cited Izhak's convictions for tax evasion and attempting to board an airplane with a loaded gun. Izhak paid $75 in penalties and served probation for the crimes.
And Audrey who was sponsoring it because of Monestime's conflict of interest (his landlord), withdrew her support so the Grant died. Good. What a waste of our hard earned money.
Thank you for saving us money Dennis Moss. I am getting happier and happier with Moss and Edmonson. I attribute Edmonson's turnaround to the departure of Natacha Seijas who had her claws embedded deep into Audrey. this is not to say Moss and Edmonson are perfect but they are getting better. Moss is great on land-use issues and that is my number one issue. Audrey is changing for the better. Both of you, take Jean Monestime under your wing. He truly is going down a slippery slope. What is with District 2? Does leadership only spring from a bad gene pool?
It is refreshing when a County Commissioner 'gets it' on land use planning. Dennis Moss laid out a compelling argument for not moving the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) on November 30th. We rate this as the best speech given at the County Commission in 2011.
Over the years, Moss' district has encompassed the highest percentage of empty and developable land in Miami Dade County. But land doesn't vote. Land owners (farmers/developers) and their lobbyists, have more to do with who sits on the county commission than birds or alligators or fish. Once upon a time-- not so very long ago-- the task of "learning" the county commission on land use planning fell to Katy Sorenson, the former county commissioner whose district was adjacent to Moss. Because Sorenson was there and a reliable voice for common sense in land use planning, Moss could keep his chips off the table.
A lot happened in his district during the boom and bust. His district has more than its share of Miami's ghost suburbs and dangerous neighborhoods pockmarked by foreclosures.
Last year Florida's counties were chagrined, to say the least, when Gov. Rick Scott endorsed the dismantling of the state agency charged with managing growth. What Scott did was to eliminate the buffer between county commissioners and developers and their political tactics. Those range from brass knuckles to the persuasion skills of snake oil salesmen or snake charmers in a Moroccan souk. Moss doesn't have Katy Sorenson as a foil, and her successor Lynda Bell is a local version of Michele Bachmann or the Anglo version of Natacha Seijas: no help there.
So Dennis Moss said the right thing at the right time on land use planning at the ragged edges of the county, scarred by hubris, ambition, and the work of powerful lobbyists and land speculators who only concern is their own bank account. It's why we call them and their county commission proxies: "the unreformable majority". Thank you, District 9 County Commissioner Dennis Moss.
Why we shouldn't move the Urban Development Boundary: 2 Miami Dade County Commissioners made the argument yesterday against sprawl on the West side of Miami-Dade (I saved you a few hours by editing, leaving you the best of the hearing):
Sally Heyman and Dennis Moss are 2 County Commissioners we can be proud of on this issue. I personally thank them for holding the line on urban sprawl. I also have to thank Commissioners Audrey Edmonson, Javier Souto and Jean Monestime.
1. My salary from the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club did not increase
on my 2010 financial disclosure form due to an increase in how much I
was paid, but was the result of the fact that 27 pay periods were
recorded in 2010, rather that the normal 26 pay periods in other years.
The increase was due to the extra pay period being counted. The fact is
that I have not received a salary increase from the Optimist Club in
over a decade.
2. I have no idea what the Crime Gopher It, Inc. is; I have never done any work for that group or for Commissioner Sally Heyman. (GENIUS - Sally Heyman's page 2 was attached as Moss's Page 2)
3. It would be an honor to work for Miami-Dade College, however I have never taught nor worked in any capacity at that fine institution in my life. (GENIUS - Sally Heyman's page 2 was attached as Moss's Page 2)
4. If you want to know what the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club does,
you can simply google the agency. We have provided a wide variety of
social services, youth sports and other positive activities in the south
dade community since the early 1970's, during a time when very little
similar services existed in the area. The agency built a Youth Activity
Center in a disadvantaged neighborhood in south dade through the
financial support of the state, county and private donations through We
Will Rebuild: we provide after school care and parenting services to
children and parents residing in public housing; we provide an
alternative education program and counseling services to at risk youth;
we provide a youth sports program including Pop Warner Football,
cheerleading, a basketball and baseball program; we provide a college
exploration program taking disadvantaged teens to visit different
colleges and universities in order to let them know that they can go to
college if they work at it; we provide a work experience program for
unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities; in the past we have
provided summer jobs programs where 300-400 poor
youngsters in south dade were employed, painted and fixed up the homes
of senior citizens, provided thanksgiving baskets and Christmas toy
giveaways to needy families and the list could go on.
As a County Commissioner I have always attempted to conduct myself in
an honorable manner and take seriously what is said about me,
particularly when the facts are not correct. I am requesting that my
response be published and that you do the honorable thing and correct
the record, so that any faulty perceptions or suspicions that your article created can be addressed.
The one thing I am seeing in these Financial Disclosure Forms, the County Commissioners are taking a hit on their net worth.
Commissioner Dennis Moss net worth is $243,280 as of December 31, 2010. Just two years before his net worth was double at $477,941. In 2005 his net worth was $213,874.
Most of Moss's hit came in real estate, with his home losing more than half its value and a condo he owned went from $121,100 to $52,740 in 2010.
Moss's salary at his outside employment at the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club went up slightly from 2008 to 2010 - $61,809.00 to $64,182. (In 2005 he was making $15,000 from Crime Gopher It, Inc. and he also had a teaching job at Miami Dade College - does not indicate how much he earned.
Get this -- the Crime Gopher It job -- he was working for County Commissioner Sally Heyman.) -- (THIS IS RETRACTED, SALLY HEYMAN'S PAGE 2 IN 2005 WAS ATTACHED AS HIS PAGE 2)
I looked at the new Miami County site of check disbursements for the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club from Sept. 2006 to the present. The Club got 114 check in that period. In May of 2009 they got a check for $241,655 from the County.
Between March 16, 2007 and July 21, 2011 -- the County paid the Richmond Perrine Optimist Club about $2,300,582. I guess that more than covers Moss's salary. Exactly what does this club do?
County Commissioner Dennis Moss gives Lynda Bell an important history lesson.
Dennis Moss says: "The thing we can't do is throw DERM under the bus on this issue. That is my concern." (That is at 1:40 on my counter or 7:21 on the County Counter.)
Moss discounts the people claiming they are being mistreated in the 8 1/2 square mile area. He says the courts over the years have been siding with DERM -- i.e. Miss Fernandez who owns property out there went to Court but she signed a consent agreement because the Courts didn't agree with her, Moss said they sided with DERM.
Lynda Bell in her one-woman Jihad against DERM is trying to form a wetlands advisory task force to over-see the Department of Environmental Resources Management, DERM.
Laura Reynolds of Tropic Audubon Society is disturbed by the attacks on DERM. Here is what she says:
In Miami-Dade County, the Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) has recently come under fire, with citizens, media and politicians criticizing DERM for presumably applying heavy-handed enforcement of local environmental regulations.
The truth is that DERM provides critical services that protect our environment and our economy. Most central to its mission is the protection of the resources that make Miami-Dade such an attractive place to live and do business. Protection of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the natural landscapes we enjoy are tasks that often require telling someone they must comply with the regulations in place. Modifying a project or development to protect the environment is not an inconvenience or unwarranted expense, it is an essential part of making sure our resources will be sustainable, available, and enjoyable for generations to come. These are shared resources that no one individual or business has an intrinsic right to pollute or destroy.
Not so interested in what they are discussing (their watch of Jackson Memorial Health Care System and advancing them $80 million) more interested in the health of the Commission Chair Dennis Moss. Take a look - I video-taped my TV Screen. All I can say as that I wish him well. Moss is one of the better County Commissioners.
Commission Chair Moss defends the 18 raises he handed out by saying his staff have new duties because he is the "Chair" according to the Miami Herald. The problem with that defense, Commissioner Moss, is that your Chairmanship will be gone in 2 years but those raises have bumped up staff salaries for the next 20 or 30 years. That 22 percent raise you gave to your assistant, translates to half a million bucks over the long haul, and you have also increased the pension. One of 110 comments so far on the Herald Website said:
So the previous chairman Martinez gave his staff raises for so-called increased responsibilities. Did their salaries go back to the pre-chairman levels after Moss took over? donkeyho (actually Donkey, the previous chair was Bruno Barreiro but he is unmemorable so I don't blame you for forgetting)
Again, I say this salary stuff is a red herring -- small stuff in comparison to other things they are doing at County Hall to slap around citizens.
