$10,500,000 For Badia and $65,000,000 No Bid Contract for Odebrecht. By Geniusofdespair

This Badia Spices project will generate 20 or 30 new jobs I think the Herald said.  I was told the Badia Spices deal is just a pass through.  Is it costing us any money? How is it benefiting us? Why are we involved in Badia's expansion? I don't get it. They are  a successful company.

Odebrecht's no bid contract at the airport is also being heard. Wasn't that about $65,000,000?? Are we crazy here? They are slipping all these bad things -- spending our money -- at holiday time when you are distracted. Good company, Badia, but why are we financing them?? Let's finance Eye on Miami. We need a Ma and Pa grant.

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TAXABLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS (BADIA SPICES PROJECT), IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,500,000.00 TO FINANCE A CAPITAL PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF BADIA SPICES, INC.

WHEREAS, Badia Spices, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), has requested the Miami-Dade County Industrial Development Authority (the "Authority") issue not exceeding $10,500,000.00 of its Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Badia Spices Project) (the "Bonds"), the proceeds of which will be used (together with funds of the Company) to (i) finance or refinance the acquisition of approximately 5.63 acres of land with an approximately 101,000 square foot building (the "Project") to be used as a distribution facility for its retail/institutional line of spices on property located at 9880 NW 25th Street, in the City of Doral, Florida; and (ii) pay certain bond issuance costs; and

WHEREAS, the Authority intends to issue the Bonds subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County, Florida (the “Board”) and final approval by the Authority of the financing documents for the Project, which is more particularly described in the report prepared by the Executive Director of the Authority (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A); and

WHEREAS, after reviewing such report in respect of the Bonds and finding that the Project will inure to the benefit of the citizens of Miami-Dade County, this Board desires to approve the issuance of the Bonds,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:

Section 1. The issuance of Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bonds of the Authority in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,500,000.00 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the Project, as previously described, is approved.

Section 2. The Bonds and the interest on the Bonds shall not constitute a debt, liability or general obligation of the Authority, the County or of the State of Florida or of any political subdivision thereof, but shall be payable solely from the revenues or other moneys specifically provided by the Company for the payment of the Bonds and neither the faith and credit nor any taxing power of the Authority, the County or of the State of Florida or of any political subdivision thereof is pledged to the payment of the principal or interest on the Bonds.

Odebrecht is on the Agenda today too:

142399 RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 13, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED HERETO, TO THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTRACT WITH PARSONS ODEBRECHT JOINT VENTURE FOR WORK AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000,000.00; MODIFYING TERMS AND CONDITIONS; AUTHORIZING RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS OF CONCOURSE E AND E-SATELLITE; WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.03(D) OF THE CHARTER, SECTION 2-8.1 OF THE COUNTY CODE, ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 3-39, AND SECTION 255.20, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD; FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO EXTEND CONTRACT TIME; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN(Aviation Department)

Look at the Agenda yourself.

For Odebrecht lobbyists, hit on read more...

Stop the Presses!!! Mayor Gimenez has done something I liked! By Geniusofdespair

Hint: You get a good picture on this blog when you do a good thing.

Okay, maybe he is pandering but I don't care. His downfall was Lynda Bell. He knows how I feel about that. Maybe without her evil karma, he can make a comeback and be human again. Gimenez will have to dump Broward Loving Osterholt too to regain some creds.

I am all for redemption. If you don't believe in redemption, then you are part of the problem. I did write the Mayor a PRIVATE email telling him what I thought of his policies. He can change. He is human. He can make mistakes and be abrasive, but hey, I am abrasive too.

I don't care why he is doing it, but he is talking about protecting our endangered pine rockland. In a Miami Herald article today (that you all should read):

Miami-Dade County will suspend building and other permits for a controversial Walmart shopping center in an endangered forest if the developer fails to strike a deal with federal wildlife officials to protect the rare butterflies, bats and plants that live there.

In a letter to commissioners on Thursday, Mayor Carlos Gimenez said that the county made the decision because in September, a year after a county planning board approved the 250,000-square-foot shopping center, parking lots and 408 apartments near Zoo Miami, federal wildlife officials expanded the number of rare species that inhabit the pine rockland, requiring more careful development. And if the project violates federal law, the county could be on the hook, said spokesman Luis Espinoza.

“In light of the recent federal action and in an abundance of caution,” the letter said, the county will shelve any existing permits without an agreement between Ram Realty Services and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The decision comes as opposition to the project continues to mount. Residents and environmentalists argue that the big-box store, LA Fitness, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s and other restaurants should not be built on the largest remaining fragment of disappearing forest outside Everglades National Park.

And MORE IMPORTANT:

In his letter Thursday, Gimenez added another warning:
the butterfly protections will likely impact county plans for the sprawling Miami Wilds amusement park also near the zoo. The county land may face even tougher scrutiny because some of the project involves federal land, where officials have more power to enforce protections. The much larger project also has the potential to further erode land that for years has remained largely undeveloped.

I am all for saving butterflies, not so hot on saving the bonneted bats. I wouldn't recognize a pine rockland forest if I were in the middle of it but I know we have to save it especially from a stupid theme park and even worse a Walmart and a Chick-a-Republican Crazy Owner fast food joint.

Now Mr. Mayor on your 'game-changers' (look at the jobs generated):

These projects completely miss the original  intent. Your "game changing" projects will generate "Hundreds and thousands of jobs." Really for these projects?

The nail clipper tower ?? Other than construction how many jobs will pay over county  median wage (original requirements for money ). What is the ROI? These projects were supposed to create new incremental taxes that would have a ROI in excess of the incentives paid while creating high wage jobs (above county median wage.  Which is probably in the high $40,000 range or low $50's)

These GOB funds were supposed to be used solely to induce high wage. high tax  generating companies to locate or expand in Miami Dade county. These funds were not used for a decade because of the recession. Not many game changing projects being developed.  And also lack of economic development leadership. How active and successful have you or Osterholt been in attracting game changing projects to the county? They seem to be going to Jacksonville .. Palm beach .. Broward .. Tampa.. Orlando ..

The last big project was Univision's fusion network and you had nothing to do with it.

So absent of any real economic development  job/tax generating projects you dump money into these phony politically connected projects to subsidize developer/ construction /lobbyist contributors. Commission fed their pet projects at expense of mayors pet projects. Remember: We don't have to use this money. We don't pay for these bonds if we don't use the money. So there is no time frame or rush. Hold onto it until a game changer comes along.  Your hub for innovation is promising compared to these other stupid ideas everyone is pushing like theme parks and nail clippers, and money to multi-millionaire Leonard Abess:

In 2012, Miami-Dade County made an investment in a technology start-up called Venture Hive. Located in downtown Miami, Venture Hive has helped relocate more than 20 start-ups from all over the globe to our community, and it is helping to position Miami-Dade as the next great tech hub.

Our investment in Venture Hive has paid off in another way. Earlier this year, Microsoft opened the first Microsoft Innovation Center in the United States at Venture Hive. This center brings together innovators, along with students and others, to accelerate technological advances, creating the tech jobs of tomorrow. - Mayor Gimenez

WHY NOT PURSUE THIS?

Why Bonds Suck: Because you have to pay for them stupid. By Geniusofdespair

Bonds suck and finally you can see the numbers, remember something called 'interest'. Doug Hanks wrote about them yesterday, they are called the debt tax (see bonds are a tax):

"Miami-Dade’s debt tax will soar in the coming years, even if voters reject a $390 million borrowing plan for a new courthouse, according to county forecasts.

Without a dollar of new debt for the judiciary, county forecasts show the special property tax that pays for the county’s debt is set to jump by about 50 percent in 2016. That’s thanks to the arrival of new debt that voters already approved for the county-owned Jackson hospital system, as well as rapidly increasing borrowing costs tied to a nearly $3 billion bond program that voters approved in 2004."

The bonds are coming home to roost, or more accurately - they are cleaning out your pocketbook. Don't believe the hype on them not costing anything.

"Currently costing $45 for every $100,000 of a property’s value, the debt tax funds borrowing approved by Miami-Dade voters and generates the revenue behind a wide portfolio of construction projects.

This year it is backing about $1.4 billion in borrowed funds used to create the new Pérez Art Museum Miami, expand county park facilities, build the Miami-Dade police headquarters, dig a tunnel to PortMiami and back hundreds of other projects. It also would allow Miami-Dade to borrow $75 million for an economic-development grant program that Mayor Carlos Gimenez wants to use to provide $9 million for the SkyRise Miami project."

My Friends You are Missing a Lot By Rejecting the Miami Herald -- Like your own money. By Geniusofdespair

“The administration is calling a timeout,” said Mike Hernández," 

Me: GREAT IDEA!!

Lynda Bell at Yesterday's Meeting - It is clear she blames the Mayor for Her Loss.

Lynda Bell looking tired and defeated, calls the mayor's action Schizophrenic, but she didn't hesitate to get a grant for her biggest contributor for a crummy garage complex (Jobs?). I think not. Xavier Suarez why are you voting for this crap to insiders? If you were smart you would be on the same page as Juan Zapata, who is the lone person with any sense on this committee. Carrie Meek is dragged into county hall to get money for her defunct company in OpaLocka (reporter Hanks said it doesn't have a phone number).

Yes, if you read Douglas Hank's reports over the past few months you would know what is going on WITH YOUR MONEY - $75 Million of your tax dollars. Why do I have to write over again what a reporter already wrote extremely well? Do you know about Miami Dade County? Do you know that they get most of your tax money? This $75 Million is being given as perks. The intent of jobs jobs jobs is not part of these projects. You all have to stop this. Pepe Diaz and Barbara Jordan are complete idiots. Xavier Suarez: You have to start getting independent of these bad bad votes and start helping Juan defend his position with your gift of high intelligence. You can't sit by and remain on the fence and let things happen around you. I want you to lead if you want to run for Mayor. You have to shape policy. This was bad policy. Juan Zapata was right this should be delayed and looked at again now that Josh Gelfman is gone. This appears to be all his doing.

I have to give Mayor Gimenez credit for trying to change lanes, even though it was last minute. He was right. The commissioners are up to their old tricks of taking a pot of money and giving it to their pals, getting no jobs from the money or just a few.

 I am going to print 3 Doug Hanks articles in "read more" and I hope the Miami Herald doesn't get mad at me. My advice is order the damn newspaper or don't EVER complain about your tax money. I don't know why you complain anyway, you vote for bonds don't you?  NOW READ SO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE. AND AFTER YOU READ LEAVE COMMENTS.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez does a Turn Away from the "Slush Fund" And Makes Some Sense. By Geniusofdespair

 I reported on this yesterday....The Economic Development Fund 124

OK this is a good thing. Gimenez said to the Miami Herald that "...we need to go back to the original intent" on the Economic Development Fund 124 of $75 million. He said further "These projects we have right now...they're good projects but they're not really game-changing projects."

Wayne Rosen, Carrie Meek and Leonard Abess Jr. won't get their projects funded. That is also a good thing.  Wayne and Leonard could paper my walls with hundred dollar bills with all the money they have and yours too and maybe mine again (please).

SkyRise Miami looks suspiciously like this.

The strange part of this, Gimenez is supporting giving to SkyRise Miami (dubbed by Gimleteye as the nail clipper building, Al Crespo's photo). The dumb as dirt, lunatic people in the City of Miami approved this project so it does have public support even though it doesn't have mine.

What is going to happen today at the Committee meeting? Will the other funding idea be withdrawn, now without the Mayor's support, or fought for by the recipients? Commissioner Zapata is still against that funding. He called it "The Mother of all Slush Funds".  As of yesterday Zapata was still soundly against it.

Gimenez also wants to help fund the theme park at Zoo Miami. It is a good thing as that area needs jobs. However, they have to stay away from sensitive land out there. That project might count as a "Game Changer." I don't know, I think the Mayor needs to find better game changers. Here is another idea, don't fund anything. Save us from having to pay for anything that doesn't entice NEW companies to come to Miami Dade County with many good jobs.

My guess, Gimenez is trying to do the right thing now without his advisor Josh Gelfman. The projects aren't perfect but they are better. I was under the impression we were attracting business from other places, but I am not sure. Maybe Gimenez should start making his own decisions. He would get in less trouble.

Or maybe he finally turned on that fan under his desk.

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.

By the way, I spoke to the Mayor of Palmetto Bay, Tim Schaffer had no authorization to speak on behalf of the Village.

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.”

This is how I feel about the Jackson Bond you all approved. By Geniusofdespair

Letter to the Miami Herald:

Can’t trust Miami-Dade commissioners

The passage of the Jackson Health System bond issue was a sad day for Miami-Dade taxpayers. Anyone concerned about the Miami-Dade Commission’s oversight of these funds need only recall voter approval of the sales-tax increase to be used for improvements to public transportation.

Commissioners emasculated the oversight committee so that they could gain control of the money. They have proven time and again their inability to properly manage and spend the money that taxpayers have entrusted to them. Here we go again!

Al Heltman, Kendall

Thank you Al - couldn't have said it better.

Quote of the Day: The Jackson Bond You Stupid Voters Approved. By Geniusofdespair

From the Miami Herald:

Commissioner Juan C. Zapata, who represents Southwest Miami-Dade, said he is convinced that politics will poison the process — even with an oversight board.

“How these monies get spent, where the bids get opened up, that’s now subject to politics,’’ he said. “If politics drives how we spend that money, you can rest assured that easily a big chunk of that money is not going to be spent in a wise way."

Election Results: November 2013. By Geniusofdespair

Late afternoon: Nothing yet.  But thinking positive.

Looks like Jeff Porter will beat Mark Bell for Mayor

In Homestead Mark Bell got 451 absentee ballots and 414 early voting.  Jeff Porter got 518 absentee ballots and 257 early voting. In early and absentee's Bell is winning by 52.74% (Bell's 865 votes to Porter's 775 votes). Rumor has it Bell's money was buying Haitian votes in early voting. UPDATE 9 pm: Mark Bell and Jeffrey Porter - with 4 of 16 precincts reporting, 6 votes separate the two. 9:27 - 4 votes separate the two. 9:56 Porter has 1,220 votes and Bell has 1,096 with 10 of 16 precincts in.  It is 10:26 and the final numbers are still not posted on the elections website. 10:30  with 13 of 16 precincts in Porter has jumped to 1,647 to Bell's 1,341. Porter has 55.12% of the vote.

In Miami Beach Philip Levine got 1,952 in absentee ballots and 1,498 early voting for a total of 3,450.  Gongora got 2,458 between the two. Steve Berke got 598 or 9.09%.  9:23pm: Looks like Phillip Levine is the winner. With 23 of 36 precincts he has 50.7%. There could be a runoff if he dips below 50%. Gongora has 36.89%. Mickey Steinberg is leading in early voting and absentees with 2,194. Jorge Exposito 2,913. Matti Bower is in the lead with 2,867 in early voting and absentees. There will be runoffs in all 3 of the Miami Beach Commissioner seats.

Keon Hardemon has 1,550, 42.59%.  9:19pm: Hardemon now has 45.42% with 23 out of 36 precincts reporting. It looks like he will be in a runoff with Dunn.

The damn bond: 10,252 in early voting and 51,643 in absentees: 65.67% support the stupid thing. 9:20 the damn bond is at 83,260 - 65%.

Miami Dade County Upcoming Elections Tuesday Nov. 5th. By Geniusofdespair

Mayoral Election Homestead:
MARK BELL: When asked how he garnered an animal ordinance violation arrest and conviction, and a fine, Bell said he didn't remember what he did. The Miami Herald reported:

Bell says he can’t remember what it involved. “This was what, in ’77?” he said. “It could have been anything from my dog getting out of the yard, or I didn’t get his rabies shot.”

Boys and Girls, when you have to go to court and pay a fine YOU REMEMBER. He was 21 years old. I remember vividly the only time I even shoplifted and I wasn't caught. I remember the store even. I was 13. Bell's minimization of this event raises red flags. First offenses usually only get you warnings, not fines, on the kind of violations he referenced.

Mayoral Election Miami Beach:
Phillip Levine's chilling instructions to the press and ban of bloggers from his press conference, plus his lawsuits, marks him as a bully in my opinion. I HATE bullies. I am glad we found out before it was too late. SLAPP suits are a tool of the rich. Too bad Levine follows suit. I would rather have more of the same with Gongora than be surprised with public figures doing lawsuits and intimidating the public and the press. I got enough of a surprise with Gimenez's behavior, don't need more.

City of Miami:
Jacqui Colyer was endorsed by the Miami Herald for District 5 in the city of Miami.

Jackson Memorial Bond:
You know how I feel about the stupid Bond for Jackson: One big No. If you look at what is happening with the Tennis Center now, you will understand why. Stop with bonds. We already give Jackson 1/2 a penny sales tax and a 1/2 penny from our property taxes - that is $350 million dollars a year. Why give them almost a billion more in one big shot? I never vote for bonds we get screwed in the end.

Here are some photos from early voting on the campaign trail.

Kennedy Park/Library Hialeah

Hialeah uses trucks with blasting sound systems. Looks like a slate.

Parking Lot of Kennedy Library

Miami Beach, Michael Gongora's Mom

Matti Bower supporters in Miami Beach

Republicans are getting many giant mailers about Jackson's GIANT Bond proposal. By Geniusofdespair

The election is in November but I have already been getting really giant flyers telling me to vote for the Jackson bond proposal.

I don't vote YES for bonds so they are wasting their time especially for an $830 million bond.  The Democrat in my household has not gotten any flyers, while I, as a Republican, have gotten 3 in about 10 days. Maybe they have to adjust the reading level and the messages for Democrats or they figure they are stupid enough to just vote for it.

Why don't they stop wasting money on flyers and run the damn hospital better. And why are they targeting Republicans?

How much is Carlos Migoya's salary? $590,000 plus bonuses.

Stupid big expensive flyer. One of three for a November election.

Do you have any idea how expensive it is to send these flyers countywide? Don't be duped. We already fund this hospital with a half penny sales tax and a half penny from our property taxes - that is $350 million a year. Here is what they should have done (written in 2011):

A task force of 20 Miami-Dade healthcare leaders has recommended that the financially troubled Jackson convert to a private nonprofit, a path taken by Tampa General and many other public hospitals across the nation over the past 20 years. The task force's 143-page report, set to go to the County Commission next month, urges commissioners to quickly create a nonprofit with the "independence, flexibility and nimbleness" to make sound economic decisions for Jackson, which has lost $337 million during the past two years.

Many struggling public hospitals have prospered after freeing themselves from political controls and bureaucracy that some healthcare professionals believe are the cause of inefficient operations. Tampa General is one of them.

 Maybe with Obamacare we won't need this stupid mega-bond.