How Unusual!? All Candidates Are Against Taxes, Except for Mayor Slesnick and Commissioner Kerdyk

March 20, 2011 1 Comment

All candidates, except for Mayor Slesnick who has consistently pushed for higher taxes, have come out against more taxes.  And thanks to Commissioner Kerdyk, who voted to approve recent tax increases in the worst of times.  I guess Commission Kerdyk would like to be against taxes and vote for taxes at the same time.

(By the way, I called that last two tax increases the Kerdyk Taxes, because he made up the majority and was the swing vote to approve the tax increases.)

Candidate Sanabria states to be against taxes, but since he is supported by the police union, the FOP, his position is not to be believed.  Candidate Quesada is ambiguous about taxes in his public declaration.

Filed under Coral Gables, Election, Taxes and Fees

Plan for Charter Reform Needs Real Mayor (“Braman for Mayor”)

March 19, 2011 Leave a comment

If you haven’t seen this in today’s Miami Herald, “vale la pena” read this letter on plans to improve the charter, a plan that is not a radical change, but a step toward modernization of a failed political system in Miami-Dade.

A few weeks ago, Norman Braman and I prepared and released a proposed “Covenant with the People of Miami-Dade County” that outlined eight specific ideas for charter reform. The notion of calling it a “covenant” was to signal that we believe the people are tired of political “promises” made by candidates for office — which are seldom kept after they are elected. Almost every candidate to replace Alvarez has expressed a general commitment to “charter reform,” but this “people’s revolution” should not be placated by generic political rhetoric. The voters of Miami-Dade need to insist on specific commitments to specific reforms and to do so in a manner that ensures accountability. We need any candidate who aspires to be our next strong mayor to covenant with the people for meaningful charter reform.

via Next, reform Miami-Dade County charter – Letters to the Editor – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Election, Government, Miami-Dade County

Rosenblatt Smear Evidences the Role of the FOP and a Strong Reason to Vote Against Sanabria

March 19, 2011 3 Comments

I don’t know a thing about Mr. Rosenblatt’s financial history, except for the very nasty, twisted political mailer, financed by the police union FOP, that we got in the mail in the last few days.

A careful reading of the mailer indicates that what happened to Mr. Rosenberg is happening to a not insignificant percentage of the county population in the thousands of foreclosures and bankruptcies.

It is not so much the mailer or Mr. Rosenblatt’s financial history that is a concern (I have not candidate at this time), but the certain arrogance of the representatives of our police that have carried out this sickening campaign.

No doubt the the police are afraid to lose their excessive pensions, salaries and other benefits.

And be sure now that you cannot count on Mr. Sanabria to vote for any changes in these excessive salaries, pensions and other benefits.

What says Mr. Sanabria about the smear against one of the candidates?

Filed under Coral Gables, Election

More On Why Not To Privatize Municipal Services

March 17, 2011 Leave a comment

…privatization often does not solve cities’ budget woes. Research shows that when municipal services are contracted out, costs can actually increase while service quality suffers. Sometimes these cost increases are experienced as contract cost overruns. Other times a city may fail to take into account “hidden costs” such as the administrative costs of seeking proposals, evaluating bids and monitoring the work. Hidden costs for the community can include reductions in wages and health benefits under private contractors, which drive more people onto public assistance and bring down wage and benefit standards in the field and in the community.

via Municipal Services | In the Public Interest.

Filed under Coral Gables, Government

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