Advice to the County Commission on How to Deal with Bad Behaving Cities. By Geniusofdespair

Opa Locka: No more money for you!

A city that makes Steve Shiver look good is really, really bad.

Former Hudstead Mayor Steve Shiver is Now Former Opa Locka City Manager. By Geniusofdespair

Former Steve Shiver - Opa Locka Mayor Myra Taylor

I don't think Former Steve was totally at fault with this one (really!). Opa Locka's finances are a mess. The city just didn't want it broadcasted all over the State of Florida and Hudstead's Steve Shiver isn't one to keep quiet. Accused of soliciting a bribe early in his Opa Locka career, on behalf of the Mayor, you knew his days were numbered. After only about 3 months in office he got the boot for airing Opa Locka's dirty laundry: Massive debt. He gets $87,500 severance pay.

Shiver did find a lot of money missing from Opa Locka's coffers. But the City doesn't want to know about it nor do they want us to know about it. They have had 5 city managers in 5 years. Opa Locka: You can't run, you can't hide.

Two Commissioners in Opa Locka - might as well be all of them.

This is a city that should be dismantled. How do you do that?

Opa Locka Picks Former Steve Shiver of Hudstead to Be City Manager. By Geniusofdespair

Former Mayor, Former Councilman, Former County Manager:

This should be very interesting fodder for us.  We have written about Steve extensively (in over 40 Posts) and so has Miami New Times. 

The Miami Herald wrote about the coronation today of Steve Shiver as Opa Locka City Manager in Opa-locka’s new city manager is tied to Homestead’s past money woes:

But what the Opa-locka commissioners didn’t talk about was how Shiver was nailed in a county audit for misusing county and city funds in a series of bad business deals connected to the city’s political elite. And they didn’t mention how he was part of an investment group that purchased a beloved Wild West theme park in the mountains of North Carolina, which the investors took into bankruptcy.

When he left Homestead to become the county manager significant financial concerns were revealed,” said former Homestead Vice Mayor Steve Losner. “It was under his watch.”

Oh well, I could say: "What was the ethically challenged City of Opa Locka thinking?" but the Miami Herald already did... in so many words.

Don't Despair: We almost made it to Numero Uno! By Geniuofdespair

If it weren't for Darby, Pa. being number 1 we would have been tops.  However we didn't do badly. Out of the top most dangerous cities in the United States, Miami Dade County had 2 cities in the top 20 ranking.  We made it to number 2 with Opa Locka and number 3 with  Florida City.

People I admire in the news today. By Geniusofdespair

Marty Margulies – rich guy who REALLY helps the poor - doesn't just talk about it or just serve on a board like some rich people. There is a good article on him today in the Miami Herald by Daniel Chang: sub-titled, Marty Margulies expresses himself in many ways: as a developer, art collector, philanthropist -- and recently as a critic of Miami Art Museum plans. According to the article:

"He paid $2.5 million to build the Overtown Youth Center, an athletic facility and community center for the underprivileged that opened in 2003, and another $1 million to create the Lotus House, an Overtown shelter for homeless women founded by Margulies' girlfriend of three years, Constance Collins. On a smaller scale, he buys uniforms and equipment for the Overtown Community Optimist Club's athletic teams."

Thanks Marty.

Then we have Ginger Williams. The article says Ex-girlfriend says angry Opa-locka ex-official came to her home. This woman has been beaten up a number of times for her role in exposing the corruption in Opa-Locka’s government.

Thanks Ginger.

Last we have Max Rameau. He created Umoja Village to shine a light on the homeless crisis in Miami. When the village of shacks burned down, he proposed to build permanent affordable housing, however, yesterday Miami scuttles deal to give site to Umoja group. Lobbyist Ron Book urged the commission to send the site out to bid and not give it to Max and Carfour Group for development. Max you should look up Marty. He might help.

Thanks Max.

Three people trying to make a difference on their own in our black community because of the void in real leadership. All three are under-appreciated for the difference they have made to make life a little better for others.