UPDATED: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and most of his family will not feel the pain that he wants to inflict on the rest of 
us in the county if and when he cuts 255 officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Gimenez lives on the edge of Coconut Grove, across the street from Coral Gables, at a home assessed at just over $1 million in market value. One of his sons — the one who got the job with the Arsht Center contractor after the mayor approved $4 million in repairs — lives in Little Havana in a gated community. Another, the lobbyist with two kids, lives in a $430,000 home on Minorca Avenue in Coral Gables. Only his daughter and her three sons live in the unincorporated area, in a very nice home in West Kendall — Ladra imagines covered by the Miami-Dade Police Hammocks District station, which is not slated to be shut down like the Midwest station is, but will be besieged with pass-the-buck burglary and child abuse cases that they won’t be able to handle.
At least the mayor and his two sons live in areas under the jurisdiction of the Miami and Coral Gables Police departments — which may actually benefit from the county’s forced police purge.
Officers with the least seniority at the Miami-Dade Police Department — already at least 250 men and women short, maybe more depending on who you ask — are already looking for jobs elsewhere. Hollywood and Plantation have already made their interest known, according to sources within the department. Coral Gables is a few officers short and could certainly save some academy and training costs by hiring cops who are already certified and have some experience. And Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff has said he wants to hire 100 of the county cops to cover the city.
That’s the city where Mayor Gimenez lives.
So the mayor’s response times will not suffer from his deplorable attempt to balance his welfare for millionaires budget on the backs of our police officers. They may actually improve. Most of his family will not be at an increased risk. He and his sons and two of five grandchildren will have no interruption or change to their police protection. There will be investigators to follow up on crimes in their neighborhoods.
He’s just screwing the rest of us who live in unincorporated Dade, or what is known as UMSA (for Unincorporated Municipal Services Area). Well, us and his poor daughter who must feel like the black sheep of the family.
What the mayor is proposing is not only illogical and irresponsible, because he would eliminate entire divisions. The division that investigates domestic violence, assisting a tremendously beleaguered DCF with child exploitation and elderly abuse cases? Gone. The tactical narcotics team known as the “jump out boys” because they stop street drug deals in action? Gone. The gang unit? Gone. (More on that later.)
But, hey, they don’t have that many gangs in Coral Gables, right? Or in the Hammocks, for that matter.
It’s also immoral, because the mayor gets to sit safe in his million dollar Miami home while the rest of us feel the impact of his spiteful decision.
Ladra has been told by several sources close to the negotiations that Gimenez doesn’t care if sufficient efficiencies (read: savings) are found to save jobs. He will find other priorities for any new found monies. Heads will roll because he told the commissioners that heads would roll if they restored the 5% the county had taken from workers under the guise of some “group health fund” when it was really to balance the budget on their backs. He doesn’t want to lose credibility again.
Related story: Miami-Dade Police cuts by Mayor Gimenez cause concern
And, after all, Mayor “Tainted Boy” Gimenez and most of his family have nothing to worry about or fear. He said on Jim DeFede’s Today in South Florida show on CBS4 that “there’s going to be pain.”
But not for him.
And Ladra can’t help but think the mayor might try harder to find the rest of the $27 million shortfall in the police department, to negotiate with the PBA in good faith, to work harder to keep the department whole, if it did hurt him or his loved ones the same as it will hurt the rest of us.
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im still tryna figure out where is he getting his info from. I have been a county employee for 20 years and this is the worst ive seen. correction officers being assaulted inside the jail due to lack of staffing. police officers being assaulted on the street. the county has no respect for the men and women of law enforcement now. once more positions are cut we might as well turn the streets over to the mayor and his staff. let them run the streets and the jail so that they can earn the salaries he thinks they deserve
RECALL MAYOR CARLOS GIMENEZ!
This guy is snake!
ATTENTION HOME OWNERS PAYING FOR HOME ALARM SERVICES**
Don’t bother wasting your $ on paying for an alarm in Miami-Dade. ADT called that my alarm had gone off, i told them to notify MDPD, that I would try to leave work & meet the officers there. I was able to leave work & when I pulled into my driveway a marked cruiser also pulled up behind me. 45MINS after ADT had reported the burglar alarm! The officer apologized & told me they had “multiple priority calls” and not enough officers to handle. Come to find out, my house had been burglarized. I can only imagine what chaos will start if 400 officers are cut.
WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT TO SEE WHETHER WE ARE STAFFED PROPERLY COMPARED WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPT AND THE MAYOR’S OFFICE. LIKE IT IS SAID IF CUTS ARE MADE THE PUBLIC WILL SEE LESS SAFETY FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THATS HOW IT WORKS. ABOUT OUR COMPENSATION; WE HAVE MANY PERILS TO ENDURE DEALING WITH CRIMINALS INCLUDING HEALTH ISSUES, HEART DISEASE, SHOOTINGS, STABBIMGS,HAMMERED ETC, OUR LFE EXPECTANCY IS 15 YEARS LESS THAN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. SO MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR LIFESTYLE AND I DARE YOU TO TELL THAT; TO OUR FALLEN HEROES FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. STAY FOCUSED BE SAFE.
Dear Julio, Ladra hears ya buddy. But I am trying.
This story had 2,128 shares on Facebook, a record for Political Cortadito. And we had close to 7,000 pageviews today. Another record. Is it the Herald? No. But the Herald isn’t asking follow up questions.
I also hear ya with the public opinion campaign. I’ve told Rivera and others for months, maybe years now, that they can’t keep fighting County Hall alone and during the summer. They have to have year-round educational promotions to let the public know that you are them, they are you, etc.
Get me a meeting with the decision makers. I have some great ideas on how to get the word out.
Love, Ladra
As an employee and life-long resident of Miami-Dade, I am embarassed at the blatant vendetta this “Mayor” has against this county’s employees. Has he done anything in office to make life better for the residents? Not raising taxes is all it takes to be elected? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t everything in Miami-Dade more expensive since he got in office? Hasn’t he done exactly the same to the pay of his friends that he and his cohort Braman decried that Alvarez did? If any employee bought from Braman, you’re an idiot. General public, you are being duped. This mayor’s incompetence and grand hypocrisy is on full display. What plan has he brought to the table to make life better here other than take from the employees = degrade the public’s services? He has and is stealing from the working man to bolster the rich. Do you really think it is ok for him to bypass years of contractual negotiations and obligations by constantly threatening and strongarming employees? Do you all realize that if he has his way, thousands of law abiding tax paying citizens would be homeless? What does that do for your neighborhoods and schools? He has his money now and into retirement. He has his friends in the fire department. He’s set and obviously he doesn’t care about us or you. I can’t wait until he’s investigated after the fact. A million dollar house owning public servant…please.
These are my 2 cents: Great article! However, who is reading it?? Anyone following these issues know what a SOB the mayor is? But what is being done from the other end to simmer his flames?? I’m a dues paying PBA member. With due respect, I say they are not doing enough. It’s time the PBA spend the money and start campaigning to win the public’s support. Word of mouth my friend is not gonna cut it. I want to see John Rivera’s face on TV everyday. I want to see TV ads smearing the mayor’s name. If the information is not being deciminated to the public, the battle and war is over. MDPD is laying on the ground with Gimenez’s heel at the throat. It’s time to scream and beg for the public’s sympathy. If Rivera’s mug shot is not pretty enough, then put Jody Wright on the podium. These are the types of things that NEED to be done and it’s NOT. Money needs to be spent!! Sitting across the table from Gimenez begging not to slit our throats is pathetic! Is that all the PBA can do? Settlement of lawsuits are light years away. Where is the strategy and common sense???
[…] Related story: Miami-Dade Police cuts won’t hurt Carlos Gimenez & sons […]
[…] fired and is not on the list of officers to get canned by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s plan to balance the budget by firing 255 cops. He’s not even getting bumped down a […]
Where the heck does Mr. Braman have to say about all this. If I remember correctly, he (multi billionaire) was the start of all the troubles in Miami-Dade County today refusing to pay a small increase in property taxes. As you can see he has stayed out of the limelight during these times of trouble that I personally feel he started with all his B.S. allegations and crying.
Duh, entry level jobs are not meant to be forever. Ever hear of working your way up? Parks being part time makes sense unless you are in a supervisory capacity. Municipalities use inmates in their parks, now they do get benefits. Sometimes you have to work to better your life, not all of us are community organizers.
An entry-level job is a job that is normally designed or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline, and does not require prior experience in the field or profession. These may require some on-site training. Many entry-level jobs are part-time, and do not include employee benefits. Recent graduates from high school or college usually take entry-level positions.
Entry-level jobs targeted at college graduates[1] often offer a higher salary than those targeted at high school graduates. These positions are more likely to require specific skills and knowledge. Most entry-level jobs offered to college graduates are full-time permanent positions, and some offer more extensive graduate training programs. While entry-level jobs traditionally required no experience, that is changing due to a surplus of college graduates on the job market.
Thank you Mayor we’ve heard your song and dance about how great it is to have part-timers in the county . Of course that’s unless you are on the friends and family plan then you get full time. Walk around sometimes look at all those “recent college graduates” who have been working in the county for years in the entry level jobs.
And really? you want inmates supervising your kids after school program at the parks?
What’s up with Sosa’s letter being checked for DNA? No crime was committed?
Wtf? Ladra, are you all over this or what?
All county employees, especially union workers should be made to go on Obamacare. Only Jackson takes you and primary care doctors are in short supply. Since unions are Democratic Party supporters you need to get a taste of what you supported. It’s a disgrace.
As for the MDPD, it’s top heavy, that’s what needs to be cut, keep the divisions get rid of the commanders, way overstaffed in administration. Then hire more officers on the street, we don’t need a commander for every two officers. Same with the MDFR, too many chiefs. IMHO.
Lefty
Obama care is the only option for most county new hires.
But the point of the post is how a man treats the “help” shows the character of the man. Clearly you the mayor feel the same about the help. They are sub human and should be grateful they are allowed to work for you.
And for the record most first-line low skill new hires are part time and offered no health insurance. Look at parks, average take home $22k and no coverage. Really? That pisses you off?
Ironically this part time policy was instigated solely to avoid tripping the required health insurance coverage requirements of large companies mandated by Obamacare.
DO IT LEFT, something like 85% of police officers vote republican. The unions have only just recently been recommending democratic candidates because republican candidates have become too austere with cost saving measures at the expense of public services and public safety. The MDPD has already lost 300 police officers… how many does it take to balance a 2 billion dollar budget? There are cost savings elsewhere in that 2 billion other than public safety. The mayor isn’t doing it because its the right thing to do… he’s doing it to placate uninformed people like yourself and win a vote.
The citizens of this county will beg Gimenez for a tax raise soon. When they can’t walk out of their houses without being mugged or burglarized, when the potholes in front of their houses fill the streets or the grass in the medians is neck high they will wish they had never helped elect a tyrant such as Gimenez.
Please Mayor Gimenez raise my taxes before you cut anymore services. We need adequate police and fire. We need a library system that functions to serve our community. We need water and sewer. We need our garbage collected. The employees that ultimately will be laid off are citizens of this country. They all have friends and family. Not one county employee that I know, or their family would vote for you in a re-election. Do what’s right, raise the property taxes. Anyone driving around town looking at all the new growth and development can see we are no longer in a recession. That is unless you are a county employee that has had wages cut, benefits cut, no raises in over 5 years, we are the ones still living in the recession.
There are also rumors around that he has great family health insurance through his executive tenure at Miami. Great like in a free lifetime five figure plan which is far outside of what any of the employees have ever been offered.
Which means it should come as no shock he is preposing the rest of the county employees drop the long time Av-Med plan and go to Jackson or take some bare bones plan and higher premiums.
Cutting back abuses in the labor contract is one thing, but slashing public services and pandering to wing nuts like justo vento while he spends millions on his sports deals, pays top dollar salaries to his ever growing personal staff and is totally insulated from the repercussion of his actions is what causes the employees to view him as a grandstanding hypocrite.
The employees feel like they are trying to negotiate with a guy who has his back to them so he can negotiate with the cameras.
In the end the Mayor wants world class billionaire team owners to play in world class facilities and pay world class athletics world class salaries.
But the public? They just get no class justo vento and his glock.
It’s true that Miami Dade PD investigation the note or letter outside her house. People in the neighborhood are saying that the police is testing the note for DNA. Can you check this for us? Do the police does this for all investigations?
When my house was robbed I asked the investigator about DNA and he says that DNA is only submit for the most serius crimes. What crime is commit of I just leave her a note with no threat? It is my right to let a public official know my opinions.
If no crime then why check for DNA? This is like communism where they will find the person and violate theyre rights.
Ladra,
you must look into that DNA fiasco that is mentioned above. We barely have officers patrolling the streets yet we are investing time, money, and resources to process a mere note for DNA and submitting it for analysis?
Who authorized this in the police department? DNA for a case that isn’t even a crime? This is misuse of our tax payer money and smells of corruption at the highest levels.
Ladra please check into this and do a story with what you find out and uncover. Eso me huele a gato encerrado…
Dear Concerned Voter, please know that I am, indeed, looking into that investigation and what kind of resources have gone into it. I’ve already asked. And it’s Sunday. Will let you know as soon as I do.
Thanks for the tip.
Love, Ladra
This is great news!!! Less people on government work means less taxes I have to pay. Mayor still isnt doing enough! He needs to lower property taxes to zero. But I do agree though, that he also lives off tax payer dollars. But you never know if he makea money privately. That shouldnt be any of our business though. Private enterprise and private business is what we need more of in this county! Government needs to butt out off private endeavors and quit mooching off the productive sector of society. You ask whos going to protect me in case of an emergency? Say a break in? My glock 40 thats who! The police state doesnt give a rats ass about the private folk. Only care about that tax payer funded pension!
The Mayor used his heavy hand to have his home address redacted from the property appraisers database. Thank you for publishing it.
Sorry to disappoint you, Ms. or Mr. Smileyface, but I took the address out when I edited the post to add the late information Ladra got on his daughter (which is relevant and had to be added).
While the mayor put it on his financial disclosure at the county elections department, one of his closest confidants complained because Gimenez is, as a former firefighter, exempt from having to publish his address in public records.
And while Ladra may think that neither cops nor firefighters should be exempt (why not journalists, too, then? Ladra’s parents fear for her safety), that’s a matter for the state legislature and the address wasn’t needed to make the point, anyway.
Also, I don’t want to be responsible if someone eggs his house on Halloween. That’s all on him.
Love, Ladra
Love your story. The Mayor also had the ability to call upon two dozen cops whe he held town hall meetings that were not too kind to him. Average citizens don’t have and can’t get that type of service!
And, it’s not only our baron Mayor. It’s been reported that when Rebeca Sosa, Chairwoman, had a burglary at her city if West Miami home, Miami-Dade police did the investigation. Just as they, Also did the investigation for some note left at her house. Now, I ask how many West Miami residents can opt to have Miami-Dade police instead of West Miami police.
It’s instituted!
Great report!!! Don’t kid yourself into believing the special investigations will be done at the districts as it was told at the finance committee meeting… They don’t have enough investigators at the districts to handle what is already assigned to them… The domestic violence cases will just add to the work load and the victims will be the ones to feel the cuts. Please keep up the great reporting, someone has to get the CORRECT information out.