Views of a New World Politician (May not Apply in Coral Gables)

September 26, 2010 1 Comment

Some characteristics of a modern politician committed to community involvement in government decisions.
  • Wants to here citizen feedback, even if it is unpleasant to hear;
  • Creates the conditions for a regular, open government approach to communication with citizens;
  • Subjects senior management to constant questioning about their plans for the future and communicates this to citizens;
  • Senior managers make known their plans to all of the community on a regular basis.
  • Like the good university professor, leaders set up hours during the week when citizens can raise specific questions about city government.
  • Is enormously tolerant and patient with critics of government and does not regularly denigrate critics with accusations of incivility and similar terms.
  • Does not hide from the citizens.
  • Does not communicate just with a small, closed circle of political contributors.

Filed under Coral Gables, Florida

Deferring Benefits: Would that have happened in Coral Gables?

September 25, 2010 Leave a comment

I wonder what sacrifices the city’s management, commissioners and mayor are willing to make for the good of the city.

So far there is no evidence that the city leaders are willing to take the lead in making sacrifices for the city.  Indeed, more than once we have heard that we have to keep employees, salaries and benefits up to sustain our quality of life.  Who is willing to forgo some of their salaries and benefits to demonstrate to the unions that they will lead the city in a time of sacrifice.  Will the candidates for public office make a pledge to work ad honorem for the well being of the city.

Florida A&M University President James Ammons says he’s deferring an $80,000 performance bonus due to tough economic times.

via Florida college president says he’s deferring $80K bonus – Miami-Dade Breaking News – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Budget, Coral Gables, Finance, Management

Read: “Diary of a serial summit attendee”

September 24, 2010 Leave a comment

If you have the slightest interest in the work of international assistance, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Clinton Global Initiative, you will enjoy an outsider’s observations on the superficiality of the rich celebrating help for the poor.

Read the whole description of a blogger’s perspective of two days of meetings.

One week. Two development summits. Hundreds of heads of state, development luminaries, CEOs, and social entrepreneurs. Celebrity star power. No poor people. Aid Watch spent three days trying to make sense of the greatest show on earth to help the world’s lowest.

via Diary of a serial summit attendee.

Filed under International, Politics

Republican Plan “Pledge to America”

September 24, 2010 Leave a comment

This simple explanation of the usual political blah-blah-blah.

Howard Gleckman of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has done the math. As he points out, the only way to balance the budget by 2020, while simultaneously (a) making the Bush tax cuts permanent and (b) protecting all the programs Republicans say they won’t cut, is to completely abolish the rest of the federal government: “No more national parks, no more Small Business Administration loans, no more export subsidies, no more N.I.H. No more Medicaid (one-third of its budget pays for long-term care for our parents and others with disabilities). No more child health or child nutrition programs. No more highway construction. No more homeland security. Oh, and no more Congress.”

via Op-Ed Columnist – Downhill With the G.O.P. – NYTimes.com.

Filed under Economy, National

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