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anything else but police tactical training exercises.
Aviation business associates were not the only ones invited in the county’s April invitation, however. The invite encourages companies in the following industries to participate: Computers
, parts and services, telecommunication equipment and printers, cosmetics and skin care products, logistics and medical equipment.
“Mission delegates will explore business opportunities and participate in pre-arranged one-to-one business meetings, receive customized trade briefings and participate in network meetings with French business leaders, trade and industry agencies and government officials,” the invitation. And an itinerary shows there are dozens of events planned — tours and receptions and meetings with business executives, ambassadors, French mayors and the Marseille Chamber of Commerce.
The invitation also says these junkets work. Since the last trip in 2012, France has become our No. 1 European trade partner, moving up from being our 16th in 2013 to our 12th in 2014, according to the county. Last year, the French accounted for a total of $2.65 billion in bilateral trade — which was almost a 10 percent increase from the year before, the invite said.
But how much does Gimenez’s actual presence in Paris count? You could tell me that this company or that company relocated or opened a branch here and I would suspect that they would have done that anyway. What brings them here is numbers. Somehow, Ladra doesn’t buy that it is Kuryla’s slide show or the mayor’s dreadfully inadequate schmoozing skills or high fives when the planes fly overhead at the main event.
Companies come because it’s convenient. Because we are the gateway to the Americas. Because Miami is where it’s at.
What are we offering? Tax incentives? Public land? Can’t we offer that from the 305? And shouldn’t we first fix the protracted permitting process that scares businesses away? Shouldn’t we first be hiring police officers so we can protect everyone who comes here?
Y que pinta Lester Sola en este viaje? He has to be there to do what exactly? And what is Ferro’s role, aside from the mayor’s v
alet? Why does this smell like a family vacation? Because of the spouses. We already know that at least the mayor’s wife is going. How many other spouses tag along? How many times do us regular working folk get to take a significant other on a business trip like this one?
Spouses pay their own way, just watch. But how can we be sure that their airfare — since they aren’t renting a second hotel room — isn’t paid for by the same “sponsors” (read: county contractors) that fund community events like April’s Spring Fling in District 12 or the Taste of Haiti event earlier this month.
Commissioner Diaz did not return a call to his cellphone.
Read related story: County’s ‘Taste of Haiti’ paid for by special interests
A draft budget obtained by Ladra from the county shows that the total cost of the trip is just over $36,100 but that the mission’s revenue — in sponsorships and a $7,500 grant from Enterprise Florida, if the junket meets all the criteria (of course it will) — is more than $38.000. So we make a profit at the end 
of the trip June 20th? Don’t hold your breath.
The county will tell you that there is no cost to taxpayer for this junket. That it comes out of dedicated funds somewhere. Although PortMiami did put in $5,000 in port funds that Ladra would argue are tax dollars.
And I also imagine that all those high-priced directors (Sola alone makes $252,000 a year) will still be getting their salaries paid. They’re on the job, right? Otherwise it would be vacation. Wink, nod.
The average cost for each “mission leader” is $4,061, according to documents obtained from the county mayor’s office. Each leader also gets $500 for meals and taxis, in addition to the luncheons and other meals included in the itinerary and the close to $7,800 spent on ground transportation.
Delegates will be staying at the Crown Plaza for four days on the Paris leg of the trip, at a cost of $1,228, and at the Intercontinental in Marseilles for the other half at a cost of $726.
How much you wanna bet the mayor and his wife have the best room?
Can’t wait for him to post photos on twitter and Instagram of the view from the balcony and of he and his wife with Ralph and Vicky Garcia-Toledo, another lobbyist, having dinner at a quaint little bistro in Les Halles.
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Miami-Dade mayor, lobbyist pals head to Paris Air Show added by Ladra on
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Look what I found sent in May
From: Sola, Lester (WASD)
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 11:56 AM
To: (WASD) AD & Division Chiefs
Subject: Gift PolicyImportance: High
In the near future, you will receive a formal policy memorandum and policy statement
on our “Gift Acceptance” policy.
In the interim, please ensure that you nor your staff accept any gifts from any current or potential vendor, contractor, or representative.
There is a zero tolerance for any gift or concession to include food.
Should you have any questions, please contact Vivian.
Lester Sola
Director
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
3071 SW 38th Avenue
Miami, FL 33146
786-552-8200 – Office
786-552-8647 – Fax
[email protected]
http://www.miamidade.gov/water
The formal policy was sent early this week. Just in time for them to fly to Paris on our tax money
Here’s an interesting comparison (contrast, really).
As Mayor of Miami, my practice in re: trade missions was to require that the trip be based on private-sector demand. In other words, before getting on a plane, I would require that actual entrepreneurs show enough interest to warrant the trip. The metric used was typically 50 real-life business travelers, which had the intended consequence that the travel agency in question would throw in one free ticket for me as the head of the delegation.
Cost to the taxpayers: zero.
Another parameter was to only visit countries with substantial, established trade relationships with Florida.
There had to be a very concrete purpose of enhancing commercial activity between South Florida and the country visited.
I am not sure how traveling to an air show in the company of tons of government officials (and directors of government-subsidized agencies)enhances any trade objectives.
Xavier Suarez
[…] Read related story: Miami-Dade Mayor, lobbyist pals head to Paris Air Show […]
Seriously, yes these trips have gone on for a long time and yes they’re parties. Official business? please! They make a couple of visits to the pavillion which by the way MIA’s booth normally occupies an entire corner. They walk around admiring the weapons and all types of killing machines which is what you see most of at this trade show “air” show. Which I guess explains that the County’s staff is made up of men. But the fact that Mr. Sola is attending is a surprise, representing what? is the County going to be looking at sewer pipes in Paris? Maybe he can look for qualified staff for the Water & Sewer Dept. now that Mr. Sola got rid of the only employee in the entire department that had experience in utility management, anybody knows why he fired Ralph Terrero? Apparently it was because the department has too many Assistant Directors, really? so someone from Elections can be an assistant director at Water & Sewer but not a real utillty guy. Mr. Sola is a great disapointment and a joke, but now he’s going to Paris!
My father is Ralph Terrero and I am very disappointed at the gross hypocrisy at Miami Dade County Water and Sewer. I so agree with Alicia on how we could terminate a long-term committed county employee because there are too many assistant directors, but at the flip of a switch, the county is sending a delegation to Paris. Really???
Someone better check the specs on that plane! Liftoff may not occur on the count of the load of s$&t packed on board!
Face facts people…it will never change.
As long as people like Ralph Garcia-Toledo and Jorge Lopez are pulling at Mayor Toolboy’s knickers, nothing will change in this town. They will have the money to outspend and quash any viable competition. Garcia-Toledo, or “Pizza the Hut” as he is referred to on the 29th floor of County Hall, is as corrupt and unethical as he is overweight. Jorge Lopez is a self-promoting scumbag whose days can’t end soon enough.
Face it people, long lost are the days of decent people running this town.
The Mayor has surrounded himself with absolute garbage…from the previous two clowns to Heckler (while he’s out yanking on the DGA’s checkbook to make a living, all his clients are moving over to more effective firms) to Llorente (another lowlife, just ask the coeds in Tallahassee)…the list goes on and on. And now this ignorant, barely-coherent Commissioners are just falling in line.
Thank you to Juan Zapata and Xavier Suarez for continuing to put up the good fight. The rest are garbage.
But again, when special interests are paying for their festivals and message and ground game, it is unrealistic to think anyone has a shot.
So strap in people, cause it’s about to be strapped-on and given to you.