Mayor Cason’s Promises–How Is He Doing?

July 6, 2011 Leave a comment

I would say that Mayor has a way to go in meeting his promises on transparency, controlling pension benefits, controlling millage rates, city efficiencies, having open management, and making suggestions (hopefully not in secret).

We will see if this government is more than cutting ribbons and letters to new residents.

MY 10 PROMISES TO YOU

  1. I will be a full time Mayor.
  2. I will work in the best interests of the citizens of Coral Gables and be respectful of their concerns.
  3. I will support transparency of City Hall’s government.
  4. I will control pension liabilities moving forward in order to reduce Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liabilities. (UAAL)
  5. I will avoid conflicts of interests and favoritism.
  6. I will fight to keep millage rates low.
  7. I will seek greater efficiencies in City management and not tolerate waste, fraud, mismanagement and improper employee conduct.
  8. I will question all aspects of current operations and suggest alternatives.
  9. I will make sure that management keeps the commission well informed on: new or change in ordinances, issues and contracts that will be presented before the commission and offer ample time for discussion before voting is implemented.
  10. I will be an active Ambassador for our City and foster an open and collegial environment for current residents, business owners and visitors.
(Quoted from Mayor Cason’s campaign literature and website.)

Filed under Coral Gables, Election, Government

Just Like The City Manager Of Coral Gables

July 5, 2011 Leave a comment

The city manager planned–as was bought into later by the city commissioners (except one)–and hid his designs for a huge post-election investment program and, and along with one commissioner (real estate broker and banker), distorted the real cost of the financing the program by stating that since the debt payments had been budgeted, there is no additional cost to the city of the refinancing.

A first year economics student at UM can tell you that this is pure baloney.

Indifference to public opinion in Miami-Dade, including Coral Gables, is because of voter indifference and politicians’ dislike for good, transparent and participatory government.

Of course neither the White House nor congressional leadership has shown the slightest interest in keeping the American people informed about any step of this process, and they have evinced even less interest in reflecting the values and opinions of the American people. Public opinion counts for almost nothing these days in guiding public policy.

via Jeffrey Sachs: Restoring American Democracy.

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance, Government, Miami-Dade County, National

The Debt Surge and Management in Coral Gables

June 27, 2011 2 Comments

The Commission (except for one of the commissioners) is missing the point of the city manager’s renaissance spending plan (the $22.2 million Debt Surge).

The Debt Surge was conceived in the dark, pulled out of the sleeve of the city manager at the first commission meeting after the election, and its funding comes first, rather than last after priority spending should have been discussed with the community.

The financing package makes no sense with permanently low interest rates that are certain to not rise for years (not months, not weeks), with refinancing could easily be done in stages in tandem with spending needs, and the savings used to solve intractable financial weaknesses.

Apparently, some of the outgoing commissioners are looking for projects on which to stick their names, the city manager projects his new role as the “Machiavelli of Coral Gables”and he marks the end of the “Middle Ages” (i.e., the Slesnick Years) to redress the Decline of Coral Gables.

This city cannot afford a period of pharaonic spending to glamorize the city’s progress.  The Commission needs to fix the city’s pension liabilities, maintain its infrastructure, fix the Biltmore mess and hold down taxes for a few years and build its reserves,i.e. place the city on very sounding financial footing.

Above all, we need a city manager who is committed to the highest standards of democracy, citizen participation and transparency–something we didn’t have for years and we still don’t have.

The city manager, it would appear, has fully assimilated the methods of the Slesnick era (the “Middle Ages”) with secrecy, back room negotiations and resentfulness of citizen comments and participation.

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance

Row Over New Projects. Is This Coral Gables?

June 25, 2011 Leave a comment

Sorry, this is not Coral Gables, but it shows what happens when projects and financing are selected without community participation and consultation.

Railroading programs over the views of the community, even under the guise of beneficial investments, is not a good idea for the long-run political well-being of the city, nor is it a sign of a health democracy.

Critics say there was no consultation, a classic example of the way business was done…

via BBC News – Row over Egyptian lake earmarked for new tourist resort.

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance

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