Miami-Dade: Five things you didn’t know about the 5%

Miami-Dade: Five things you didn’t know about the 5%

There has been much misinformation and downright hysteria about the 5% “group health care contribution” that Miami-Dade employees want to stop giving as per their contract.  But very little in the way of basic truth. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Not So Golden Boy” Gimenez doesn’t want us to understand the whole picture. That’s why he goes […]

Carlos Gimenez a liar? Or the mayor who cried wolf?

Carlos Gimenez a liar? Or the mayor who cried wolf?

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez was painted as a liar last week at the impasse hearing. And commissioners who are likely to revisit this matter after he vetoes their 8-5 decision last week to restore the employee’s 5 % group healthcare contribution — not a pay raise, as he’s been cynically calling it on Spanish-language […]

Pedro Garcia files for his old job to replace Carlos Lopez Cantera

Pedro Garcia files for his old job to replace Carlos Lopez Cantera

Well, that was fast. Former Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia was the first one out the gate to file documents that show he will run for the job he was ousted from by the new PropApp Carlos “C-Lo” Lopez-Cantera, who was tapped last week by Gov. Rick Scott to become Lieutenant Governor. Garcia lost to […]

Political Pics of the Week: Politicians love a parade, Pitbull

Political Pics of the Week: Politicians love a parade, Pitbull

A lot of our local electeds went to the Three Kings Parade last Sunday in Little Havana and several of them posted photos of themselves with each other. Nobody was more snapshot happy than Doral Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, who took photos with Sen. Rene Garcia, City Manager and former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo, former […]

Justice? Punks get the book thrown, VIPs get the other cheek

Justice? Punks get the book thrown, VIPs get the other cheek

Ladra wants to be happy about it. Believe me. But it seems like the scales of justice are a little off, here. The U.S. Attorney’s office announced today that a former Miami-Dade Public Works employee had pleaded guilty to a charge of bribery after an FBI investigation found that he was taking $13,000 in kickbacks — […]

New Fire Rescue recruits among those Carlos Gimenez had cut

New Fire Rescue recruits among those Carlos Gimenez had cut

From the chopping block to the firetruck: Forty new firefighter paramedics who were slated for the unemployment line last year during budget talks that threatened to shut down rescue units — will instead join the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue force after they celebrate their graduation this afternoon. Recruit Class #124 underwent 10 weeks of “intense” training, […]

Miami-Dade publicity stunt: Emilio Estefan to be ‘sworn’ in

Miami-Dade publicity stunt: Emilio Estefan to be ‘sworn’ in

From the Feel Good News file down at the Stephen P. Clark Center: Music mogul Emilio Estefan will be sworn in tomorrow as the first Special Ambassador representing Miami-Dade County. County commissioners approved an ordinance in December establishing a Special Ambassador program and nominating Estefan as the first to serve in this mostly ceremonial position. […]

Here we go again: Commission restores 5% under threat of veto

Here we go again: Commission restores 5% under threat of veto

Even under the threat of another inevitable veto, Miami-Dade Commissioners voted 8-5 Thursday to restore a 5% contribution for a group health care “trust fund” that county employees have been giving back to the county since 2009 and led to an impasse between the administration and 11 of the county’s labor unions. They passed Commissioner […]

Carlos Gimenez 5% ‘compromise’ still breaks promise

Carlos Gimenez 5% ‘compromise’ still breaks promise

Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s alleged solution to the impasse with employee unions who want a the promised return of a 5% group healthcare contribution they’ve been giving since 2009 is to only give it back if he can whack their salaries — which is what the county obviously wanted in the first place. He calls that […]

Lopez-Cantera move could pave way to higher elected office

Lopez-Cantera move could pave way to higher elected office

Well, it happened. After reportedly much pressure, and just as the leaks predicted Monday, Gov. Rick Scott picked former State Rep. and Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Carlos “C-Lo” Lopez-Cantera as his No. 2 Tuesday. But how important is that appointed job – outside the campaign, that is – especially since the state has seemingly been running fine without one for 10 […]