Coral Gables Environment, Politics and Government
February 27, 2011 1 Comment
I will apply my experience running large international embassies within strict budget controls to the City’s operations, in order to preserve municipal services without raising taxes.
February 26, 2011 Leave a comment
Public sector workers are not, on average, grossly overpaid compared with the private sector — period. You can fiddle at the edges of this conclusion, but it’s just not possible to conclude, based on any honest assessment of the data, that schoolteachers are the new welfare queens.
I believe this is right, especially including teachers and general employees. Local government employees generally do not include teachers, so the average earned by public sector employee firefighters, police, and management earn in the city of Coral Gables are on the high side of the average.
Irrespective of the comparison with the private sector, it is clear that the city of Coral Gables, has let salaries and benefits be pushed too high. It is time to ameliorate these salaries and benefits, and it is unfortunate that employees were led to believe or even expected that these benefits were certain to be paid irrespective of the economic situation or status of taxpayers.
Unions should look to help the cities and county to moderate their salaries so that property taxes can be similarly moderated.
February 26, 2011 Leave a comment
See the résumés of the various candidates.
There are new runs, re-runs and also runs, a little bit for everyone.
Will there emerge a commission in this city that leads the city manager to a process of organizational reform, tight budgets, no new taxes and fees and suspend irrational spending on unafordable capital projects like redecorating Miracle Mile.
The Coral Gables municipal election ballot is now set with 11 candidates, including two incumbents, competing for three seats in the April 12 municipal election. Deadline for candidates to qualify was noon Friday, Feb. 25.
Three candidates are running for mayor; six candidates are running for the Group 4 seat, which is being vacated by incumbent Wayne E. “Chip” Withers; and two candidates are running for the Group 5 seat.
Candidates have already amassed nearly $375,000 in campaign contributions.
via Gables election set: 11 candidates for 3 seats | Gables Home Page.
February 25, 2011 Leave a comment
If you think that unemployment is going to improve soon in Florida, you are wrong.
If you think that the South Florida economy is going to grow enough, you are wrong.
If you think that the Miami-Dade economy will improve greatly, you are wrong.
If you think that local governments will be able to return to happy go lucky spending and taxing, you are wrong.
Adding to this perspective is Governor Scott’s push to gut government regulation in Florida and undermine social spending for medicaid, education, the environment, child protection and growth management, poses huge demands on local county and municipal governments in South Florida.
The future is not bright for this region, especially if the world economy gets an oil shock, slowing or depressing regional trade.
…economic growth must be stronger to make a noticeable dent in unemployment, which was 9 percent last month. The economy would need to grow 5 percent for a whole year to significantly bring down the unemployment rate. Economic growth of just 3 percent a year would hold the unemployment steady and keep up with population growth.
Looking ahead the economy is expected to grow by 3.2 percent this year, according to an AP Economy Survey.
