Democracy and Renaissance in Coral Gables

June 9, 2011 1 Comment

I believe there is a lesson to be had about our so-called democracy in Coral Gables–the candidates are financed by the few, the government is selected by the few and there are very few who are concerned with the day-to-day decisions of government.

We can only wish that these “few” do not drive the city down the same road of financial and administrative mismanagement of the last ten years, through their decisions to borrow, spend and tax its citizens during the worst recession in US history.

Filed under Coral Gables

For The Record–Obama Did Too Little Stimulus, Not Too Much

June 7, 2011 Leave a comment

It seems like governments are being run by people who are too optimistic about the future.  We have one in Coral Gables, and, no doubt, one in Washington that has led into a very slow recovery.  No one talks about the 20 unemployed/underemployed.  Sad, but true.

By fall 2009 it was obvious that the pessimists — those who warned that the aftermath of the financial crisis would be a prolonged period of high unemployment, not the V-shaped recession and recovery envisioned in the original stimulus plan — had been right. The case for doing more — and at least for demanding more action, so that the other party could at least be accused of obstructionism — was overwhelming.

via The Fatal Pivot – NYTimes.com.

Filed under Coral Gables, Economy

Coral Gables Property Values–Another Demonstration of “Transparency”

June 6, 2011 Leave a comment

Wondering what he is waiting for–instructions from the “boss.”

Or could it be that he is waiting to see what’s happening with the mysterious Biltmore negotiations?

Or could it be the roll-back millage rate for Coral Gables?

 

Others are taking a wait-and-see approach. Coral Gables Finance Director Don Nelson said he is waiting for more information to get a clearer picture of budget forces before he could comment. The city’s tax base stayed flat at $11.8 billion in the past 12 months.

via South Florida cities find silver lining in real esate news – Miami-Dade – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Coral Gables, Property Values

US (and Coral Gables) Economy in Real Danger

June 4, 2011 Leave a comment

The unfathomable politics of the US is driving the economy into stagnation at a time when there are more than 20 million people unemployed or poorly employed.  Politics is at the worst moment centering current public political warfare on the deficit and the danger of the US bond market coming under attack (I guess from our own financial sector that had been saved by the US government not too long ago).  This translate into deepening social welfare declines, a lost generation of professionals graduating and going into professionally demeaning jobs, if any.

We will now see what leadership emerges in this country now that the growth prospects will hurt not only the middle class, but the business and financial class too.

Today’s employment report should be a wake-up call to policymakers who continue to say the budget deficit is a more immediate threat to the economy than the jobs deficit.  Nearly two years after the economy technically turned the corner from recession to recovery, job growth was disappointing in May and unemployment remained high.  At the same time, interest rates are very low (see chart), indicating that financial markets are far more concerned in the near term about a sluggish recovery than about deficits, debt, or inflation.

via Statement: Chad Stone, Chief Economist, on the May Employment Report — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Filed under Coral Gables, Economy, National

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