Coral Gables Environment, Politics and Government
July 13, 2011 Leave a comment
The Miami Herald reviews the budget proposal.
Are here is the new budget:
http://www.citybeautiful.net/CGWeb/documents/finance_docs/CCG_Budget_2011-2012.pdf
Here is the page with the previous budget documents and annual reports of the city:
http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/dep_documents.aspx?DeptID=DeptID16
July 12, 2011 Leave a comment
The current slow patch in financial markets is likely to increase pension liabilities for Coral Gables with the decline or slowdown in returns of pension investments. In any case, the unfunded pension liability is about $2oo million and the city has elected to make the minimum necessary contribution in the next budget cycle. Rather the city prefers to increase its debt and expand capital spending, rather than try to deal with its big liabilities.
Are you sure that Mayor Slesnick was defeated?
July 11, 2011 Leave a comment
It is bad for Coral Gables if you think that sales on Miracle Mile are important, if you agree that sales taxes are important, if real estate is to come back, if you think that businesses depend fundamentally on consumer spending directly or indirectly, if we depend on our ability to finance good infrastructure, if you think that UM needs a prosperous economy to pay it way…
In May, the unemployment rate for Miami-Dade rose from 13.1 percent to 13.4 percent, matching a record set in 2010. In Broward, it crept back up to 9 percent. Adjusting for seasonal hiccups in hiring, Miami-Dade payrolls shrunk by 3,500 between April and May while in Broward they stayed flat. May ended a string of monthly gains in South Florida jobs in 2011, just as the national May employment report of 54,000 new jobs was the first lackluster gain of 2011.
July 7, 2011 Leave a comment
Based on personal observations, Merrick Park is becoming a more varied, interesting and comfortable place to go than Miracle Mile. It has a growing list of restaurants, good parking and high and middle range shopping. And, yes, thanks for the parking!
Miracle Mile has lost out in the race to be the center of attention for shopping and entertaining in the city of Coral Gables and is not likely to regain it for a long time even if with its so-called new streetscape.
The upscale shopping mall Village of Merrick Park is boasting the highest occupancy in its nine-year history, a success that is driving most tenants up for renewal to secure new leases.
The 741,229-square-foot shopping destination in Coral Gables is experiencing its biggest growth in the food category, with four new concepts signing leases.
via Coral Gables’ Merrick Park hits occupancy high as sales rise nearly 10%.
Coral Gables Watch 