In what can only be seen as another backpedal moment, at best, and another bait and switch, at worst, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez dropped his demand for 10 percent wage cut across the board for county employees, saying 
that he can balance the budget instead by reducing the workers’ healthcare benefits.
There are still 700 employees on the chopping block, if in addition to finding a 15% reduction in health costs, union leaders don’t agree to other concessions, including the freezing of all the bonuses, perks and pay enhancements, like overtime multipliers and holiday pay, that were set to “snap back” this October. Gimenez wants to extend those an additional three years.
Of course, he didn’t mention this at the meeting Tuesday. Instead, he announced his dream for a “benefits redesign” in letters sent to different labor union leaders Tuesday night, in which he said he sought “a commitment from you to work collectively” to shave 15 percent off benefits’ costs.
Related story: Carlos Gimenez wants 10% less pay for workers, other cuts
So, suddenly, now, after threatening layoffs and saying that only pay cuts would save the residents from raising taxes, he says he can find the funds to close the $64 million budget hole — shrunk from a $208 million gap — by changing the benefits employees get in their healthcare?
He has said publicly in radio interviews that the employees have a better than a Cadillac version of insurance. “A Rolls Royce,” he calls it. But he has been heard privately saying that he wants to put them in a Yugo.
But that is not exactly what he is telling the union leaders.
“Because of what we have been able to achieve through the budget development process, I am pleased to inform you that I am no longer proposing a 10 percent base pay reduction,” Gimenez wrote. His bold and his underline, not mine.
“Instead, I am now seeking a commitment from you to work collectively together to achieve a 15 percent overall savings in healthcare costs through benefits redesign and the continuation of all current concessions… I remain committed to achieving transparency in our contracts, making fundamental changes which provide for a sustainable budget in future years as well as pursuing the board”s direction regarding the recommendations made by the two Compensation and Benefits committees.”
What isn’t transparent in the letter or in his interviews on the radio or in the Miami Herald story is that there were already concessions made three years ago that resulted in $13 million in savings, according to several union leaders who spoke to Ladra.
Union leaders, who had already hinted that they would not accept such a one-sided, heavy handed approach to further whittle away their benefits, are not likely to accept this. They feel they have given up a lot already. Since the last negotiations, for example, county employee co-pays have gone up 50 percent. They have furlough days — forced days off without pay — and the average employee contribution to the general employee health trust fund has gone up from $9,000 to $11,000 a year.
Related story: Miami-Dade Police cut won’t hurt Carlos Gimenez & sons
The online dictionary defines concession as “the thing or point yielded,” and for an example, offered this sentence: “Management offered a shorter workweek as a concession.” Not in our town. In our county scenario, management offers nothing and demands that all the concessions be made for them.
“I’m willing to negotiate, but you don’t come to the table saying, ‘This is what I want and nothing else will do,” said Emilio Azoy, president of the AFSCME chapter that represents 1,800 Water and Sewer department workers union.
“He wants everything back and he is not giving anything in return. How is that negotiating?”
Azoy called the latest salvo from the mayor “an insult” to employees who have given and given and given in past negotiations for nada. Or for broken promises.
“Those things he wants to take away took 40 years to negotiate and were put in place because there were violations of law, because there were injuries,” Azoy said, adding that water and sewer workers do not get the hazard pay benefits that first responders get. “We go underground and we are exposed to hazardous fumes.”
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I can get over the comments about this issue. Got-A-Point and Not So Ignorant, please get your facts and stats straight before you let your fingers do the walking
on a keyboard. No one mentions the fact that we (the voters) are the ones at fault for all this corruption, we keep electing these clowns over and over again
hoping for a different results.
Maybe the point is lost to some here since Monday morning quarterbacking is quite easy. You need to differentiate before you paint all police officers with the same brush. It has been pointed out here quite accurately that that the management at MDPD is responsible for keeping the lid on the department and any variation of the official line by patrol officers will result in discipline, transfer or firing to the individual. Those inside who know the game know very well that pointing out an act of corruption by Gimenez and company will be quickly shut down by J.D. Patterson, Juan Perez, Hernan Organvidez, etc. because they are all beholden to Gimenez for promotions and pay hikes. Patrol officers do not have anywhere to turn since the PCB (Internal Affairs) is run by Major Richard Amion and the MDPD Media Bureau is run by Major Nancy Perez, two Gimenez supporters who will throw anyone under the bus to protect their jobs. An officer cannot go to FDLE because is run by Addi Villanueva, another Gimenez lap dog, and the FBI? Please, it was the FBI Corruption Task Force Supervisor John Jimenez who coordinated the breakup of the county’s anti-corruption unit.
I blame the citizens of this county for voting for a strong mayor format that turned our local government into a tyranny. I also blame the citizens of this county for failing to realize that Gimenez’s 2012 campaign contributions and PAC amounted to over $2 million. Did they not expect those contributors to come back asking for favorable contracts? Enough of the hypocritical excuses and blame games against those low ranked cops who currently face lay offs and would no sooner kick Gimenez in the rear if they had a chance. You do not have enough facts to support your argument and your knowledge comes from the water down reports put out by The Miami Herald who endorsed Gimenez! You have no one else to blame but yourselves. Remove Gimenez and the strong mayor format and you will once again have an independent police department free from the likes of Gimenez.
Don’t you think many of the bloggers here and on the police forums ARE cops? The problem is that there is no faith and trust in the current command and that is why the information comes out here.
The type of corruption you speak of can’t be investigated from within. It MUST be handled by the FBI. You think the mayor or the director of the MDPD would allow themsleves to be investigated? Haven’t you been reading this blog? The corruption unit was dismantled as a result of his own absentee ballot fraud investigation.
SOS to the FBI from the loyal employees of Miami-Dade.
The decay in all government branches and agencies, including the Miami-Dade Police Department is similar to what we are experiencing with the Media. There is no longer investigative reporting by the media and there is no longer honest and true investigations by the Police.
Thank god for our local bloggers, such as Ladra, who does a magnificent job with limited resources to give us the real scoop. If only our County police officers would be all Ladras, then all of our necessary checks and balances would be in effect and operating with high efficiencies.
It just seems that a good number of those individuals commenting on this website are cops. I read nothing but excuses on why police officers are not fulfilling their duties on stopping the corruption in Miami-Dade County.
I support GOT-A-POINT in just about every position taken. There is no way FDLE or the FBI will get involve unless police officers report the crime/act of corruption being committed.
This is why we are fed up. Our Miami-Dade Police Department has become nothing more than a Security Company with outstanding benefits and pay.
Got-a-Point,
Don’t be so ignorant. MDPD officers and supervisors can’t just initate a corruption investigation on members of the command staff. An investigation like that has to be started and completed by FDLE and FBI. Get the facts straight before posting such ignorant comments.
Domenic,
You also made my point. Why are these corrupted officials still in Office? Where are these hard working officers? How is it that a common person can get arrested, but these politicians do not? Why am I and Miami-Dade County residents not being protected from these corrupted politicians?
I agree it is time to get rid of Mayor Gimenez. Unfortunately, you are asking the voters to get him out of office due to the failure of the Miami-Dade County Police of arresting them for the crimes being committed. The police is simply failing on protecting the public.
Reason here with me. The amount of corruption in Miami-Dade does not equate to the amount of arrests within the last 10 years.
Got-a-point, it is no fault of the rank and file at MDPD that this corrupt mayor promoted a director for the simple fact that Comm. Barbra Jordan promised the mayor the African American vote in 2012. And why do you think that happened you may ask? Jordan’s brother, the mayor of Florida City is another corrupt public official who protects gambling and narcotic operations on the south end of the county. He is now fully protected since TNT and RID operations are next to non-existent. The Deputy Mayor and the Chief discussed here helped fundraise for Gimenez and exchanged their dignity for a promotion and a pay raise. You should know that the majority of cops at MDPD reject the listed three puppets and would prefer a departmen free of politics. I take my hat off to those hard working officers who watch over us 24 hours a day and are our last line of defense against the worst of society. 2016 is just around the corner, I hope the citizens of this county finally see through the smoke screen and give a good boot to Gimenez’s rear. Best of luck.
(For more on how rank and file cops feel about Gimenez log into Leo Affairs Miami Dade Police)
Daisy,
You just made my point. Patterson, Perez, and Organvidez are all high ranking police officers who have traded their badge and oath to protect their self interest. Where is the MDPD Corruption Unit? There is more of us than them. We should be rooting this type of behavior, but impossible because of the silence within the Police Fraternity where snitching, even when crimes are being committed, are impermissible.
The Miami-Dade Police Department has become a mafia and institutionally corrupt.
Hey Mayor why don’t you stop handing out sweet heart deals to all these sport franchise billionaires and millionaires (PPP and Beckham), and instead come up with creative solutions to solve the supposed budget gap. The latest deal I heard was for the new Miami Beach convention center. I heard your administration proposed restructuring the payments from the tourist tax and adding an additional 22 years of interest to the oriiginal deal. All because of the Marlins stadium deal and their use of the tourist tax. I guess when it is not your money; it does not matterto you. You have turned out to be just another Tea Party politician. Whose only solution is to cut services to voters by laying off public employees;while making your rich friends richer at taxpayer expense. Be careful your Tea Party colors are showing. But don’t worry;I think the residents of MDC have woken up to your incompetence, and will show you the door in 2016.
ENOUGHISENOUGH, ARE YOU RELATED TO GIMENEZ? YOU SOUND JUST LIKE A TYRANT.
Dear mr. mayor (not capitalized because it’s not deserving), commisioners, JD, JP, HO, and the rest of the MDPD command staff,
Instead of f@king your people as hard as you’re doing why doesn’t one of you do something positive for a change. I attended 2 separate 4th of July events today in unincorporated Miami-Dade. Both events had off-duty police officers; the problem is they weren’t MDPD officers. One event in particular had between 6 and 10 what I believed to be Sweetwater cops.
Each and everyone of you can lobby one or more commissioners to sponsor an ordinance requiring private persons/businesses in unincorporated Miami-Dade to exclusively hire MDPD officers to provide them police services/security at their events or receive a hefty fine.
Not even the companies awarded hefty paving contracts from the county are required to hire MDPD cops. What gives?
And you guys claim to care for the personnel?
Got-a-point are you aware that Mayor Carlos Gimenez placed 3 puppets named J,D. Patterson, Juan Perez and Hernan Organvidez in charge of MDPD to protect his political and business interests? Are you aware that those three YES men have no voice and they say how high when Gimenez says jump? The MDPD Corruption Unit uncovered the absentee ballot fraud committed by Gimenez and he responded by breaking up the Unit and transferring 60% of its members. The problem in Dade County is not the police. The problem is the corrupt mayor and the State Attorneyt’s Office that fails to allow the opening and prosecution of corruption cases. Stop bashing cops. Direct your attention to the mayor, Katherine Rundle and The Miami Herald who fails to expose these crooks.
If the Miami-Dade Police Department would be doing there the job, a good portion of these politicians, lobbyists, and connected people should have already been arrested and standing trial. However, instead of rooting out the corruption the County’s police department is focused on their pay and benefits. Why? Because of one common denominator. GREED! None of you were complaining when Carlos Alvarez was doing the same, because he was paying off his old guys and girls to look the other way. There is corruption all over the County, including our very own Police Department.
I AM MAKING MY POINT FOR THE MAJORITY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RESIDENTS! WE HAVE NO GOOD GOVERNMENT HERE AND OPERATING LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY!
Just take a look at our rigged elections, voters’ fraud, and absentee ballots. Where is the police? Oh wait, nowhere to be found, because their own union hire the same lobbyists and assist with certain politicians campaign to collect on their political favors later down the road. Isn’t there an inherent conflict here.
F Marrero,
Thank you for your service to our neighborhoods, even while the top elected official is a bastard.
A Librarian (who owns Kevlar)
This is for those that don’t believe lieutenants should make overtime. This was incorporated several contracts ago because this rank was being exploited. Lieutenants in Narcotics, Homicide, Sexual Battery, SRT, and other units throughout the Department were being run ragged. Even uniform patrol lieutenants were required to attend COMSTAT on their own time. So if you were a midnight lieutenant, you were expected to cone in on your own time and attend these 3 hour marathon meetings.
Lieutenants of today are visible, assist with calls, plan and manage operations/details and have the responsibility of running a major element/district in the absence of a captain or major.
Now, should overtime at this level be more closely scrutinized? Yes, but it is an absolute necessity if the department wishes to maintain quality service.
In comparison to our brothers at the Fire Department, I believe even chiefs and batallion chiefs there make overtime and that’s well above a lieutenant. And that’s in addition to any incentive pay for certifications they haven’t put to use in years.
Got-a-point got it half right. The county’s budget is being drained by contracts specifically drafted to suit contractors, consultants and lobbyists. If our State Attorney’s Office had any desire to fight corruption it would be easy- simply investigate the mayor, Carlos Gimenez, Jr. and their cadre of associates and you would be able to fill a room with criminal and Sunshine Law violations. Now as far as saying county police officers were awarded a 30% hike in pay by Mayor Alvarez, that is delusional and straight out of the scare tactic book that Gimenez wields so well. A county police officer’s salary maxes out at $79k after ten years of service. Of course, if an officer is promoted to a higher rank, the pay scale increases. For patrol officers, anything they make after $79k is based on overtime or off duty jobs. The fact that a police car goes home with the officer is no cost to the citizens. This is done to spread out marked police vehicles in the community and deter crime. The officers pay $50 by-weekly for that service from their paychecks as well. The reason overtime is paid in the police department is due to the fact that the police department is short in employees and officers are needed to conduct the basic functions of the department. As far as off-duty pay is concerned that cost is paid by private businesses and does NOT come from the pockets of taxpayers. I do not hold a patrol officer liable for working hard and earning overtime pay or off-duty pay as long as he is doing the job he is paid for (I do disagree with anyone above sergeant earning overtime pay). The question I have for those who use a mop to taint all cops alike is this- what kept you from applying for the job if the pay and benefits are so good? Would you be willing to do that job even for $300k? I have yet to see a librarian or a school teacher strap on a bullet proof vest every day on their way to their work assignment. Do not allow yourself to be divided in our fight. All county citizens have one common enemy and his name is Carlos Gimenez.
Well said my friend, I wish the citizens of Dade County and the Mayor would come and do a ride-along in the not so nice areas of the county,I’ll bet once they do a ride-along and see the crap we have to deal with on a daily basis,maybe they would have a change of opinion.As for that 30% pay raise issue, it was more like a 30% pay cut,plus pay a 100 dollars a month to drive an old clunker.What is going to happen to the county is whats already happening in IRAQ.Once the troops leave, the bad guys move in.Wait till the tourists start getting shot and robbed,lets see what happens to all that bed tax the county is counting on to pay for all those expensive toys and sweet heart deals.
What amazes me is that everyone complains about the County employee when over 28,000 employees live in the Miami-Dade County community and as an employee should be entitled to live in peace. Most of the loudest critics are those that don’t work or those that refuse to work. If you don’t like the salaries of those professionals that work for the county the next time someone breaks into your home you try to apprehend the suspect and not call the Police( you think that they are overpaid)because they too have a family to go home to. This is not about the salary of the employee that makes less than $50,000 per year. This is about the County Government making backdoor deals with friends and exploiting the resources of the County for their own personal gain. The next time you complain about some of the county employees and their salaries ask yourself is the peace of mind that you have when you need the Police and know that they will have to come is your Family worth the #130,000 you don’t think he/she deserve.
@ got a point- what perks do police get in incentive pays??? Hazardous duty pay? Yea, why you don’t think we should? What else, first responder pay? Yea ok so we shouldn’t get that either? We have to train an keep all those certifications current annually. If you think the police doesn’t deserve that well maybe they should get into a hazardous situation for a total stranger after all you don’t want them to get paid for it. Oh don’t pay them for first responder either take the light and sirens of the cars and let them drive normally to your house when you need them in an emergency. What has happened is that we have been vilified by people like you. I am not a union leader I don’t make $100 grand a year never have and I have been a cop for 19 years. So no it’s not the majority of cops. It’s pathetic that we have no paid holidays as police officers. If you think the county cops make a lot of money look around the county at places like coral gables, Miami beach, city if Miami see what they make. You left out the fact that we pay $100 a month for our cars so if you deduct the taxes the cops pay plus $100 a month the cops most of the money for the police cars. Your gonna see what is going to happen no one worth having is going to want to do this job and what you are going to create is a third world police dept that is full of corruption. Your not going to attract people if good moral character to ever want to be cops of your gonna pay them a low wage with no benefits for risking their lives if they can do the same by working in your precious private sector. Go hire some Wackenhut guys.
@enoughisenough, your reading comprehension skills are a little off. You should consider reading the top 500 list again. First of all the list is topped by the mayors assistants, deputy mayors and county attorneys. Secondly, some of the police officers that you see on that list are the ones who retired and got their payouts. The ones who are actively still on mostly are homicide detectives. You know the guys who the mayor refers to as having desk jobs. Unfortunately we are not the private sector nor can the police dept operate as such you pathetic baboon. You see when a homicide investigation starts it can go on non stop for two days at a time with these detectives never seeing the inside of their homes. So before you go and talk about a subject you know nothing about do some research so your ignorance isn’t so blinding. You say what is convenient for you to say. Truth is most cops on the Mdpd get paid well under 100,000 have 1 paid holiday a year and are under manned
. If they are making overtime it’s because there are not enough cops employed to get the job done and no one works for as much gimenez would like that. BTW Lynda Bell is gimenez’s lap dog!! Besides that she and her husband destroyed homestead because they only pander to rich people. She will hopefully be out on her ass!!
To Got a Point who said, If you don’t like your situation, which coincidentally is the situation of most Miami-Dade County residents, than leave your jobs!
As I learned in mid-June of another strong, smart, vibrant librarian who had quit out of despair, I felt the need to remember who has left us…
A listing in honor of
“Gimenez’s Smaller Government Initiative”
Below is a just a partial list of the Library staff who have quit, transferred or retired from 2011-2014. Please comment with more names if you see someone who was missed.
There have been no external replacements of the staff on this list.
Only four of these vacancies plus the Programming Asst. Director position, all in Outreach Services, were filled by the recruitment process. The rest have been filled by expanding existing staff’s responsibilities to cover the vacancy. They do not include the mass demotions of 2011.
Your public libraries, visited by thousands, are seriously understaffed. It’s a devastation.
Manager – Coral Gables Branch – James Paul
Manager – Main Circulation Services. -Main – Julio Granda
Manager – Main second floor Reference – Candy Granda
Manager – South Miami & Virrick Park – Cynthia Bermudez
Manager – Talking Books- Barbara Moyer (retired)
Manager – Literacy Program (LEAD) – Nora Dominguez Rodriguez
Manager – Connections – Homebound Svs – Audrey Ryan (retired)
Manager – California Club – Lisa Davis
Manager – California Club – Sky King
Manager – North Central – Bill Adkins (retired)
Manager – Shenandoah – Yudit Lam
Manager – Hialeah Gardens – Esther Nibot (retired)
Manager – South Shore and N Shore – Lina Correa
Manager – Kendall Branch – John Heim (retired)
Manager – Coconut Grove – Sherrill Martin (retired)
Manager – Training Dept – Bonnie Rothschild (retired)
Manager – Bookmobiles – Janice Bell
Manager – Arcola Lakes – Christine Gallahar
Asst. Manager – Miami Beach – Arthur Liebhaber (retired)
Librarian 3 – Acquisitions – Kelly Rodriguez
Librarian 2 – N. Dade Regional – Kari Steinberg
Librarian 2 – Naranja – Irene Smith (retired)
Librarian 2 – Homestead – Mary Barmmer (retired)
Librarian 2 – North Dade Regional – Karen Allen
Librarian 2 – Jumpstart Outreach – Elena Vincent
Librarian 2 – South Dade Regional – Kathy Seaver
Librarian 1 – Miami Lakes – Jennifer Jensen
Librarian 1 – Northeast Branch – Claudia Ortega
Librarian 1 – Miami Beach – Lori Zimmerman
Librarian 1 – Pinecrest Branch – Kathleen Bulger
Librarian 1 – Palmetto Bay- Anita Pintado
Librarian 1 – South Dade Regional – Amy Peterson
Librarian 1 – Hispanic – Jessica Mora (transfer)
Librarian 1 – Little River – Donna Smith (retired)
Librarian 1 – West Kendall – Robin Collier (retired)
Librarian 1 – Tamiami – Richard Cortina
Librarian 1 – Homestead – Venkata Madiraju
Librarian 1- Kendale Lakes -Justin King
Librarian 1- Kendale Lakes – Sebastan Abran
Librarian 1 – W. Dade Regional – Betty Rodriguez
Librarian 1 – California Club – Isabel Duque
Librarian 1 – Acquisitions – Bonina Garcia
Librarian 1 – Fine Arts, Main – Sam Readman
Librarian 1 – Fine Arts – Main – Deidra Garcia
Librarian 1 – International Mall Branch – Bianca Roig
Librarian 1 – Miami Beach – James Wargacki
Children’s Services Specialist – Edwina Pace (retired)
Children’s Services Specialist – Lillian Dunbar (retired)
Children’s Services Specialist – Regina Weston (retired)
SMART Program Coordinator – Camille Grace
Outreach and Programming – Main Library – Vinora Hamilton
Public Information Officer – Main Library – Victoria Galan
LA3 – South Dade Regional – Veronica McZeal (retired)
LA3 – Palmetto Bay Branch – Mary Kirsch (retired)
LA3 – West Kendall Regional – Nei Sliva
LA3 – Main – Jaquira Wilson (transfer)
LA3 – Chikita Johnson
LA3 – Main – Zizi Vega (retired)
LA3 – Palm Springs North – Ebony Travis
LA3 – Sunny Isles – Jonelle Hinds
LA3 – Regina Weston
LA3 – International Mall – James Wargacki
LA3 – WDR – Duany Blanco
LA3 – Shenandoah – Ricci Yuhico
LA3 – N Dade Regional – Guilson Aurelien
LA3.- Civic Center – Janice Stevens (retired)
LA2 – SDR-Veronica McZeal (retired)
LA2 – Coral Gables – Nery Ruiz
LA2 – Miami Lakes – Israel Sanchez
LA2 – Main – Lakeesha Gordon
LA2 – Miami Beach – Dyanne Cardenas
LA2 – West Flagler – Maria Cuevas
Library Asst 1 – Pinecrest Branch – Adelina Figueras (retired)
Library Asst 1 – Pinecrest Branch -Maite Perez
Library Asst 1 – North Shore Branch – Arnold Chu
Library Asst 1 – Main – Dyanne Cardenas
Library Asst 1 – Bookmobile – Norma Pinera
Library Asst 1 – South Dade Regional – Dorita Guevara (Patti)
Library Asst 1 – Hialeah Gardens – Troiana Bethel
Library Asst 1 – Main – Aramis Alvarez
Library Asst 1 – Intl Mall – Anthony Servin
Library Asst 1 – Dandria Gray
Library Asst 1 – Monica Gallor
Library Asst 1 – California Club – Isabel Duque
Library Asst 1 – Pinecrest – Michael Bailey
Library Asst 1 – Hispanic Branch – Matthew Seelig
Library Asst 1 – Main – Guerda Francois
Library Asst 1 – South Shore – Carlos Szubartowski
Library Asst 1 – W. Kendall Regional – Abel Folger
Library Asst 1 – Hispanic Branch – Debra Hills
Library Asst 1 – Bookmobile – Norma Pineda
Library Asst 1 – Kendale Lakes – Maria Lam
Page – Homestead Branch – Shirley
Page – Pinecrest Branch – Kristina Tapia
Page – W. Dade Regional – Sandy Pozo
Page – Main – Danilo Castro
Page – Janet Buharte
Page – W. Dade Regional – Melissa Morales
Page – Pinecrest – Manny Pasos
Page – Main – Enrique Fernandez
Page – Miami Beach – Fabienne Lorent
Page – Pinecrest – Pia Traviaso
Page – Pinecrest – Karen Ballentine
Asst Director – Bill Urbizu (retired)
Asst Director – Phyllis Alpert (retired)
Asst Director – Lucrece Louisdhon-Louinis
Library Branch Supervisor -North Dade Regional – Stephanie Hope Cochran.
Library Branch Supervisor – West Dade Regional – Amy Rolnick
Library Branch Supervisor – Barbara Kirby (retired)
Acquisitions Administrator – Sheila Berke (retired)
Art Services – Curator – Gendry Bassou
Art Services – Curator – Denise Delgado
Business Office – Main – Amir Ali (retired)
Business Office – Main – Newton Blanc (transfer)
Business Office – Main – Lluis Gorgoy
Personnel – Main – Bobbie Lawshea (retired)
The first new outside hiring in two years has been advertised : four part-time Librarian 1s, part-time Library Asst 3, and part-time pages – all with no benefits. They fit into the 2014-2015 library model of four hour days, four days per week.
Let me refresh everybody’s memory and rewind to when Carlos Alvarez was recalled. He was recalled on two major issues. The Marlins Stadium and the 30% pay hike he gave to Police. Why would anybody think that several years later the residents of Miami-Dade have changed their opinion?
Whoever is saying that the majority of police officers and firefighters salaries involves overtime is full of it. Besides overtime, how about the perks they receive such as take home cars, which taxpayers pay for at an average of $4,000 per year, and certain certifications, leveraged towards a compounding formula to quickly increase their salaries.
Teachers and other professionals are required to get their professional licenses and certifications to keep their jobs and without the expectation of getting salary increases. County employees should be no different.
The majority of Miami-Dade County residents are tired of the Unions and politically connected County employees. If you don’t like your situation, which coincidentally is the situation of most Miami-Dade County residents, than leave your jobs!
In closing, in no way should my statement be construed that I am a Carlos Gimenez supporter. After all, he is a former City of Miami City Manager and Fire Chief who schemed with the Unions to get his millionaire, golden parachute back then. Now he is trying to convince others he is on the other side of the table. I say “recall his ass out of Office also”. He is a conniving son-of-bitch who is relentlessly putting County monies into the pockets to those connected to him. Such as Marcelo Llorente, his son Carlos Jr., Fred Balsera, Rodney Barreto, Munilla Brothers, Jorge Luis Lopes, the Garcia-Toledos, etc.
On behalf of Miami-Dade County residents, this is our point! Got it!
With all due respect please don’t lump public employees and the unions that reprent them in MDC together with these gentlmen in the private sector. First of all most of these businessmen have no interest in the public’s well being. They are about the bottom line and if that happens to be through public tax dollars; then so be it. MDC resodents need to wake up and see that most of the politicians they have elected in recent years have the private sector mentallity; which is make a buck at all costs. They have no interest in what’s best for the community, If it does not produce a profit.Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the private sector or someone getting rewarded through the fruits of their labor in their own business. What I am against is that an individual get rich off my tax dollars, while not providing any tangible benefit to our community. Elect those who are in it to truly serve the public, and not themselves or their family and friends;or we will continue to get the same results. The residents of MDC getting screwed over, while a very few well connected businessmen get rich of our tax dollars.Unions are not the problem. It is the overall business culture in Miami and the county that needs to change, and the onlty way we do that is by electing individuals with integrity and willingness to put the public’s intetest ahead of their own.
The county salary list published by the Herald is way outdated. Only a small minority of county employees makes over $100k. I have no issue with a cop who makes $70k a year working his tail off working overtime and off duty jobs if his services are needed and he is making an effort in saving for his kid’s college fund. I do have an issue with police lieutenants who are simple administrators earning $180k. I do not believe there are enough hours in the day for that kind of salary. If I were part of the police department’s Internal Affairs I would draft a list of those employees and follow them for a few days. Guaranteed you would be horrified to see what they are doing while they continue to submit overtime slips. And while we are at it, how many hours of actual work does our highest paid county employee Roger Cuevas put in a day? The guy has been on fior 45 years. Go home guy, retire already!
The unions like to make noise and expose all the Mayors wrong doings! But why don’t they go after him legally or get him kicked out of office. Isn’t it a conflict of Interest to give his son the sweatheart deal at Adrienne Arsht Center? Stop making noise, getting county employees even more frustrated and do something to get this guy out of office!!
Oh look what he did, Oh look what he is doing….Blah Blah Blah…. and we have to grab our ankles and take it!!!!!!
Well said. I agree with you all the way. I don’t get it either. I really just don’t.
Thanks for exposing the Mayor for what he really is,this guy handed out sweet lucrative deals to the rich without much thought.Why didn’t he shave some of the private contracts instead of going after the county employees pay and benefits.He wants to pay for those sweet heart deals on the back of the employees of Dade County.This guy was ready to jump through hoops to give Prince Beckham a stadium.The hotel tax should go to Dade County instead of these rich fat cats.Why is the Port of Miami always in the red,it appears the last port director was not doing such a great job,maybe thats why he was not hired for that other port job up north.Lets see what happens when the next hurricane hits or a riot unfolds,who are you going to call.Good luck Dade County!
The city of Miami paid $19,744.58 a year for Him and His wife.
Police officers and firefighters do not get $130,000 a year. Their base is more like half that. Some individuals work a ton of overtime. What the Herald reported was gross income.
Which begs the question we should be asking: why the administrators schedule so much overtime? . Wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to hire two and a half offices at straight time for what you are paying for one with OT?
What the unions are complaining about is all the part-time $12/hr jobs that don’t even meet the counties own living wage ordinance while legions of administrators getting six-figure SALARIES
And by the way I would love to see a county attorney working anywhere near 2000 billable hours at $100 / hour.
The County has a lot of issues, here are just 3.
1. The amount of Overtime that is wasted. Why are bus drivers making over $100,000 a year, Mismanagement.
2. The Contracts with private companies when local workers can do the job for at least 40% less.
3. Why doesn’t the County take BIDS for employee Medical? (Because they are using that money on pet projects?
The list can go on.
The whole problem in the County is mismanagement starting with the Mayor.
Tax payers must also understand if you live in Miami but can’t afford Miami get out.
and while were at it did anyone ask him about his family’s personal “rolls royce” plan the public pays for?
The county should put out a bid for medical insurance with the same medical benefits at a reduced cost. Let the provider take the hit.
We are FAR from the Rolls and Caddy that the mayor says we have.
My wife works part time at the airport and has better family medical coverage than my county job offers me.
Many in the union have said this bait and switch is a set up from the get go.. A $400 million health care plan is a huge pie and there are a lot of sticky fingers. If you thought he plays fast and lose with the budget numbers, you should see what goes on in the health care reserves where there is virtually no oversight. Lobbyists, consultants and vendors have been all over this for a year.
But mainly it’s inside baseball and the public isn’t going to pay attention.
He knows if he cuts $28 million in police, the public is outraged and they will side with labor, But if he comes back and say “OK no pay cut but I’m going to siphon $70 million in their health insurance” and who cares?
Yep, I agree with you 100% my friend. It’s one of the oldest tactics in politics. My sixth sense bell in ringing on this one.
Miami Dade County employees have some sweet heart deal jobs. No where in the private sector can this be done. Why? Cause it bankrupts companies. So if it can’t be done in the private sector why would Miami Dade County do it? So we can bankrupt the county too? County needs a complete HR restructuring from top to bottom. Half of the Top 500 best paid employees of Miami Dade County (Miami Herald) were union members from the police and fire depts. making more than $130,000 minimum a year. Then they cry poverty? I’m sure many Miami Dade residents would love those salaries. Unions are sucking the life out of the county. Want to solve the county’s problems? Get rid of the unions! And voters of District 8 beware…Daniella Levine Cava is the unions lap dog!
Ignorant comment by a person that doesn’t know better. FYI the sworn employees that bring home those salaries bust their behinds working overtime and extra details. This causes them to lose out on time with their families etc. They put their lives on the line, doing a job that most wouldn’t do. How willing are you to exposing yourself to a fire or getting shot, or fighting off a violent psych inmate? These people get compensated for what could happen and the risk they expose themselves to on a daily basis.
Additionally, they are also tax paying citizens of the county. Is it wise for the county to strip them so that they cannot pay their mortgages, pay their bills or put food on the table for their family? I that what you suggest should be done?
We see how heartless some people can truly be.
Its funny when someone says that a policeman/corrections or firemans salary is too high, yet the opportunity is there for anyone to obtain these jobs. The point I am trying to make is do not complain about someone else if you are not willing to do that job youself. There is a reason why there are certain qualifications that must be meet in order to become a poleceman,correctional officer, yes that is the proper title not gaurds, or fireman. I still looking for comparable civilan salarys for these jobs.
Sounds like your a Tea Bagger lap dog for Lynda Bell. You also sound like a sub-contractor of the county services; whose only interest is your bottom line. If you live in District 8 tell Luynda Bell to stop worrying about getting re-elected and getting her husband elected. What has she really done for the district in the last 4 years?
Labron James can 72 million for putting a ball through a hoop, I think police officers and fire fighters who are making life and death decisions, who are also risking their lives for strangers (because you’re not nor your circle of friends) and all they make is 130 thou? Give Labron the 130 thou. and give the police and fire fighters the 72 mill. when’s the last time Labron answer the call to a armed robbery in progress or 4 alarm fire? Hell, when’s the last time you and your circle of friends answer the call? Give them what they want and keep this county safe.
More evidence that he receives bad advice from the idiots on his HR/labor team and his budget forecaster.
County employees are being held prisoners by the mayor and forced to pay for county insurance. Many county employees who wish to opt out of the county health insurance program and purchase insurance independently are still forced to continue paying the county even though they do not need the service. This tactic is nothing short of a strong arm robbery imposed by a corrupt absentee ballot fraudster who imposes his will on employees to save county funds and later distribute those funds in multi million dollar county contracts to his own son and every other prominent lobbyist and contractor in South Florida. It would be worthwhile to conduct an analysis and figure out the type of benefits insurance companies are kicking back to Gimenez and family. That would explain his willingness to raise insurance premiums. When will the media powers be in this county unmask this tyrant of a mayor for the thief that he is?