The newest City of Miami Fire station on Northwest 79th Street will be dedicated Saturday and named in honor of Miami-Dade 
Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez — yeah, the same guy who wanted to drastically slash county fire-rescue services earlier this year.
Really? Really?
Ladra is not the only one scratching her head. The decision is apparently not sitting well with some of the county firefighters who almost lost their jobs.
“I don’t think anyone from our department is going to be jumping for joy and saying he deserves it,” Miami-Dade firefighters union President Rowan Taylor told Ladra Wednesday.
“To name a fire station after a mayor who tried to cut fire units and rescue units from the department he oversees is certainly interesting,” Rowan said.
It certainly is.
Gimenez started his public service career as a firefighter in the city department, where he rose to chief (1991-2000) before he later became city manager (2000-2003). Miami Fire Chief Maurice Kemp served as his deputy and was mentored by Gimenez, so it seems likely the recognition of naming fire station 13 after the mayor would have originated in Kemp’s office.
Ladra called to get a statement from both Kemp and Gimenez and is waiting for the fire chief to get back to me. Gimenez did not address the irony.
“It was an honor to have served the people of the City of Miami as a firefighter for over 25 years, including nine years as their fire chief. It is truly humbling to have a station in the city named after me,” Gimenez said in a statement through his staff.
“I want to dedicate it to all of the brave men and women firefighters with whom I served, and those first responders from throughout Miami-Dade County and our nation whose daily sacrifice ensures the safety of our communities,” the mayor added.
Miami Fire Department spokesman Ignatius Carroll said that “individuals are chosen based upon their service to the community and to the department. That information, along with their significant accomplishments, is discussed among the Fire Chief’s Executive Staff.”
He also said that the decision was made about a year ago — long before the threats of county cuts began.
Miami firefighters union President Bobby Suarez said he was not involved in the process but that he understood it was to honor Gimenez’s time at the city.
“Even though they were very difficult times when he was the fire chief and city manager, he didn’t have a bad reputation,” Suarez said.
“I don’t think our firefighters have any ill will toward him, other than his time in the county has been met with difficulty. I’m sure they’re not excited about it over there,” he added.
He’s right.
“It’s just bad timing,” said one county firefighter who asked that his name not be used so he doesn’t catch any shit at work.
“You’re going to put his name on a rescue station after he tries to cut our department down without even blinking? It’s like a slap in the face,” the 12-year veteran said.
I mean, only a couple of months ago, Gimenez wanted to lay off 144 paramedics, which would have shut down several rescue trucks. The positions and rescue units were saved after he decided, under much pressure, to go for a federal homeland security grant.
Rowan told Ladra Wednesday that the grant application was delayed by the U.S. government shutdown but that commissioners told the administration they had to find the monies in the contingency fund should the grant not become available in time.
“He’s past the point of no return,” Rowan said.
Suarez said that while he doesn’t expect a ton of firefighters to flock the station dedication Saturday, they don’t have much issue with the naming. But he did say the timing could have been better.
“My fire chief probably should have been more sensitive to the fact that, right now, Carlos Gimenez’s relationship with the county fire department is not good,” Suarez told Ladra.
Besides, he has a general distaste for naming buildings after living politicians, especially those whose careers are still in full swing.
After all, Gimenez has very cockily said he will be the mayor for the next eight years (seven now), so it’s not like he plans to retire any time soon.
Suarez said the city could find itself having regrets (ala Jose Canseco Drive). I mean, you know, imagine if Sweetwater had named a building after former Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño, who pled guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit fraud in a federal sting that caught him trying to bilk the federal government out of thousands of dollars.
While there is no reason to believe Gimenez would ever be in similar headlines, Suarez said it would be better to wait until the mayor left office.
“The book is not closed on him yet,” he told Ladra. “I don’t know what the hurry is.”
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fear is that there will be less of an appetite for it next year.
New Miami Fire station named for Mayor Carlos Gimenez added by Ladra on
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