Is the Coral Gables PAC Dead? Needed–A Community Organization for Good Government

The Coral Gables PAC served an important function some ten years ago by helping to elect Mayor Slesnick and some current members (at that time thought to be “reformers”) of the city commission.

But the PAC  has been so quiet during this campaign, has not come out for reforms or changes of any sort, has not defended a single position for important taxpayers issues, and  has not organized any significant events to benefit voters, that I must conclude that it is dead, or maybe worse, content with the city of Coral Gables as it is today.

We need a strong community-based organization to promote an open, accountable, participatory and more transparent government.

Will anyone take up that challenge?

A New Agenda for Coral Gables

• Prepare and discuss with citizens a  NEW AGENDA for the City of Coral Gables to face the major pending problems, such as unfunded benefits, taxation, staffing and organization;
• The City Manager should routinely report to taxpayers on progress on the budget and organizational changes;
• The city needs a new Code of Ethics for staff, management and leaders;
• Change the election dates for Coral Gables to coincide with national and state elections.
  
• Prepare and publicly discussion a long-range financial plan for the City of Coral Gables
• Target a freeze and/or reduce actual amount of taxes paid by citizens (not millage rates) during the next three years;
• Accelerate a plan of reducing pensions and health benefits, especially for firefighters and police;
• Prepare a plan and publicly discuss how to reduce unfunded pension liabilities during the next five to ten years;
• Have a community town hall meeting at least twice a year to discuss the budget and other current issues;
• Develop a realistic and flexible agreement with the Biltmore that protects the taxpayers not just now, but in the coming years;
• Undertake a review of financial mechanisms and the defective EDEN system to establish a modern, functional accounting of spending and revenues;