Miami Dade County is Better than Living in (say) Haiti–Thus Speaks our Commissioner

April 30, 2007 Leave a comment

Kathy Sorenson, 8th District Commissioner of Miami Dade County is living on another planet. She argues with a straight face that our government is pretty much ok, is not too bad in the way it spends our money and, except for a few embarrassing flaws, is much better than what you would find in another country where people don’t have good or any government. Granted Miami Dade County government is better than governments in Haiti, El Salvador, Kenya, etc. I thought we should compare Miami Dade County government to (say) Montgomery County Maryland in Washington, DC area, or take pick in any good, solid well run government in a U.S. metropolitan area.

With some notable and glaring exceptions, our county government functions reasonably well. If you don’t believe me, go to a country that doesn’t have a functioning government.

We have a greedy county government, overstaffed, (mis)managers of important projects for your city, quick to tax, quick to spend and quick to waste and with little time to look at the road ahead.

Time has come for our commissioners to do their job–run government in both good and bad times.

Source: Property taxes keep community working – 04/30/2007 – MiamiHerald.com

Filed under Community, Miami, Miami-Dade County

Key Challenges for the Commission

April 16, 2007 Leave a comment

There are a number of obvious challenges for the City of Coral Gables, the community and the City of Coral Gables Commissioners.

  • The 2008 City Budget and Greater Community Information and Participation in the Budgetary Process
  • The Building and Zoning Management and Organizational Crisis
  • Police Contract and Pension Financing and Reform for the Long Haul
  • Establishing Priorities for Financing Infrastructure for the Future
  • Begin to Face the Certain Increased Density of Population along the Dixie Highway Corridor (including the University of Miami)
  • City Government Staffing and Efficiency

Filed under Coral Gables, Government

Commissioners and Mayor Re-elected

April 15, 2007 Leave a comment

Mayor Slesnick and Commissioners Kedryk and Withers were easily re-elected following a race with weak challengers and the counterproductive methods of the Police Union (who seem to be a major loser in the election).

Filed under Coral Gables, Government