Candidate Daniella Levine seizes library issue opportunity

Candidate Daniella Levine seizes library issue opportunity

You gotta give it to Daniella Levine Cava, the Democratic Party darling running in the non-partisan county commission race against incumbent Lynda Bell: She knows a good campaign issue when she sees one. And she jumped on it quick. The last meeting of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Tarnished Boy” Gimenez‘s blue ribbon task force for the […]

Miami-Dade’s problematic procurement helps county lobbyists

Miami-Dade’s problematic procurement helps county lobbyists

Problems in the procurement process at Miami-Dade County are becoming a persistent plague. We’ve had bid protests over the pizza place at Miami International Airport, the water and sewer contract, the code enforcement court deferment services, where commissioners actually asked for what amounts to a “do-over.” Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said she expects an issue in the […]

Political Pics of the Weeks: Two weeks worth of politography

Political Pics of the Weeks: Two weeks worth of politography

The legislative session in Tallahassee opened almost two weeks ago and quickly became the center of universe. Several electeds from the 305 made the rounds with legislators, pressing their priorities and making their asks. Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner stopped in Tallly, where she met with Sen. Dwight Bullard (D-South Dade). Along for the ride, lobbyist Jose […]

Miami-Dade Police cuts by Carlos Gimenez cause concern

Miami-Dade Police cuts by Carlos Gimenez cause concern

Aside from Miami-Dade County’s lay off of 21 employees in the last couple of months to help deal with what Mayor Carlos “Not So Golden Boy” Gimenez  says is a bulging budget shortfall, the incoming crop of new police officers has been cut in half from four academy classes to two. But Gimenez assured commissioners in […]

Carlos Gimenez cuts 21 jobs while he pays 520 ghost workers

Carlos Gimenez cuts 21 jobs while he pays 520 ghost workers

Although the county has more than 500 vacant budgeted positions — salaries that are never collected though the expenditures are reflected in the 2014-2015 budget — Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has laid off almost two dozen county employees so far this year. These are reportedly only the first “heads to roll” in an expected employee […]

Carlos Gimenez, Rebeca Sosa push county priorities in Tally

Carlos Gimenez, Rebeca Sosa push county priorities in Tally

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa have been hangin’ with our home boys in Tallahassee for two days to press for the county’s legislative priorities this session (there they are in this picture to the left with most of the Miami-Dade delegation). Priorities include the re-authorization of the Florida Enterprise Zone, which is […]

Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert about faces on stadium

Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert about faces on stadium

So now that the proposed Miami Dolphins stadium renovation scam, er, deal would take taxes away from his little, scrappy city, Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert — who supported the team’s last plan for using tourist tax dollars — says Sun Life Stadium is not all that. Gilbert told the Miami Herald Wednesday that he wants Miami […]

Alex Sink loss could spell trouble for Joe Garcia in November

Alex Sink loss could spell trouble for Joe Garcia in November

Some say it’s a special election hundreds of miles away and can’t be compared to any race here. Others say it’s definitely a wake up call to Democrats statewide. But the victory Tuesday in Pinellas County where newly-elected Congressman David Jolly beat the much better funded former State CFO and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has strengthened […]

No cafecito at Versailles for Miami-Dade Dems

No cafecito at Versailles for Miami-Dade Dems

A breakfast chat about minimum wage and labor issues hosted by the Miami-Dade Democratic Party has changed venues after it received notice that two employees at Versailles Restaurant had sued alleging that they were fired after reporting illegal activities there that included wage violations and accusations of sexual harassment. The event this coming Saturday, billed […]

Police and firefighters endorse Daniella Levine against Bell

Police and firefighters endorse Daniella Levine against Bell

Well, duh. It was very unlikely that the union representing Miami-Dade Police officers or the firefighters would back Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell  — who has drawn the ire of labor leaders with her consistent votes against county employees — in her re-election. Wednesday, they officially endorsed challenger Daniella Levine Cava in the race for District 8. […]