DAY 311 - C.R.A.ZY $$$

Hey Norman,

Read today's paper yet?

Raise for Miami Official Questioned.

Chucky finally got around to writing about what Investigation Miami and others have been saying for weeks!

Remember when you sued Manny Diaz, saying about the Mega Plan: "It's outrageous. It's shameful and an embarrassment, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves."

At least the Port Tunnel is creating jobs.

But what's Bockweg doing?

 

"Under terms of the agreement written by Bockweg, he would get a 9 percent annual raise. His base salary would be $135,000 a year, but he would also be allowed to cash in unused vacation, sick and holiday time. With six weeks' vacation, six weeks' sick time and 11 holidays a year, that could total another $36,400 a year. Bockweg would also collect almost $27,000 in deferred compensation and an $800 monthly car allowance."

From $30,000 to $135,000? 

That's some MAJOR ass kissing!

Meanwhile, in other news, Miami-Dade Unemployment Rate Climbs to 12.7 Percent.

 

"Miami-Dade's unemployment level climbed from 12.4 percent in July to 12.7 percent in August, according to the report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. That marks a grim new high-water mark: the highest unemployment rate since the national recession began in 2007."

So Norman,

Why not grab the phone and call your pal Mayor Tomas.

And see if we can add one more to the unemployment line.

DAY 310 - WHAT ABOUT THE CITY?

Breaking news from Haggman and The Herald that our pal Norman Braman is threatening to back a recall effort against Miami Dade County commissioners that vote for a property tax rate hike.

Good for him!

But now the question becomes, what about the City of Miami?

With all the questionable dealings in the City budget and the C.R.A., why is Mr. Braman not complaining?

Can he not admit that his backing of Mayor Tomas Regalado was misplaced?

Or is he just waiting for the right time to strike?

DAY 310 - CALLING KATHY

Calling Miami Dade State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle.

Look at what your counterparts in California are up to.

California City Officials Reportedly Arrested After Salary Scandal.

"At least eight officials reportedly have been arrested from the California city of Bell, where the local government has come under fire over exorbitant salaries paid to its employees."

"The arrests come ahead of a press conference where Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley is expected to announce criminal charges in the case."

$220,000 on the job training for a C.R.A. executive director?

We'd call that exorbitant!

DAY 309 - TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN

"I want to take this opportunity to remind you that our city has many poor people and is built on small business.  I want to remind you that amid skyscrapers and mega-plans we can't ignore this reality."

 

"We need to take care of our own."

 

Maurice Kemp, Chief of Fire, $223,329

Miguel Exposito, Chief of Police, $196,000

Larry Spring, C.F.O.,  $171,431

Juan "Johnny" Martinez, Chief of Infrastucture, $170,000

Luis Cabrera, Deputy Chief of Police, $163,343

Diana Gomez, Director of Finance, $145,120

Tony Crapp, Jr., Chief of Operations, $140,000

Alice Bravo, Director of CIP, $140,000

Sergio Guadix, Director of Code Enforcement, $114,000

 

All base salaries, WITHOUT benefits.

Countywide Unemployment Rate = 14.4%

 

DAY 309 - FIVE SUGGESTIONS

Maybe someone at the Herald is paying attention after all.

Here is an interesting memo written by Herald reporters worried about the direction their newspaper is taking.

Want to do some real reporting and regain the trust of your readers and the community at large?

Five story suggestions for you:

1. Look into the dirty dealings at the CRA, DDA, and other "quasi" City agencies like our pals over at Investigation Miami have done.  How does an under-qualified former golf pro get to make over $200,000 in salary and benefits after becoming close with Chairman Sarnoff?

2. Ask Mayor Regalado how did his former Chief of Staff Tony Crapp, Jr., get promoted to City Chief of Operations, going from a salary of around $67,000 a year in 2007, to making $140,000 plus benefits?  What qualifications does Mr. Crapp, Jr., have and if he was so instrumental in running the mayor's office, why has he not been replaced?

3. Chairman Sarnoff has been accused of violating City Code and mortgage fraud.  Other newspapers have reported on this.  Why is the Herald silent?

4. Why does Mayor Regalado allow lobbyist Armando Gutierrez to basically run City Hall, so much so that a contract was rebid when Mr. Gutierrez' clients were not chosen, the procurement director was replaced with an FDOT lacky, and the contract rebid out of CIP where more FDOT lackeys control the process.  Also ask them how many intersections will have red light cameras to make up the $8 million in projected revenue and whether the state and county have signed off on placements.

5. Investigate the internal divisions at the City of Miami police department where several ran and file members are disgusted with the politicizing of the department under Chief Exposito and how merit no longer gets you promoted, but political ass kissing does.

DAY 306 - PUPPET MASTER

Who makes the real decisions in the City of Miami?

Tomas Regalado?

Marc Sarnoff?

Nope.

It's the Power Behind the Throne, Lobbyist and Puppet Master Armando Gutierrez.

1. Red light cameras?

"The camera initiative has been controversial from the start. Two years in the making, the contract was originally won by one company, then awarded to another after a bid protest. Along the way, the procurement director, who expressed displeasure with the process and the bevy of lobbyists hired, was let go.

"Frustrated, commissioners decided to start over, and last week Migoya finally awarded the contract and its $152,000-a-month windfall to American Traffic Solutions.

"The Arizona outfit hired lobbyists Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, who is running for state senate, and long-time Regalado friend and campaign consultant Armando Gutierrez.

2. City Planning Big Bash for Downtown Heat Opener?

While the Mayor and Commission vote on a budget that raises taxes and fees, "the city is pumping mad money into the effort." 

But the Miami Heat are clients of who?

You guessed it!

3. Inexperienced Raquelita Regalado wins the school board seat, raises a ton of developer cash.

Pedro Munilla (who donated a total of $25,000 to county commission races) and several members of the MCM construction family have donated the maximum $500 each, Munilla is a client of lobbyist and Tomasito adviser Armando Gutierrez who is also a Raquelita donor and whose wife (The MDX Chairwoman) is volunteering.

Need construction contracts at the City, MDX, and Schoolboard?

4. Will Republican Tomas Regalado endorse Democrat Alex Sink for Governor?

A man who is a dyed in the wool Republican and has made a living calling anyone who is even remotely a Democrat communist now wants to support the "Obama Loving" Alex Sink.

Wonder why?

Ask the Rick Scott Campaign who they DID NOT hire for the primaries or the general election.

Finally,

Ever wonder why Mayor Tomas Regalado who once heavily supported the effort of the Florida Marlins to build an in-city stadium all of a sudden turned Anti Stadium crusader?

Mr. Gutierrez states on his website that he helped the "Florida Marlins as political advisor [sic] in 2001."

2001 was a long time ago.

And coincidentally enough, as soon as the Marlins dropped Mr. Gutierrez and hired "other" advisers, Tomas Regalado's position toward the Marlins changed dramatically.

Once again,

It's Miami Bitches!

And that's how business gets done!

DAY 305 - DID HE RESIGN TO RUN?

Chairman Marc David Sarnoff, who is in a lot of deep hot water as of late, first came to prominence as the Chairman of the Coconut Grove Village Council.

According to their website, the "Coconut Grove Village Council is an elected body consisting of nine representatives."

In Florida, there is a law called "Resign to Run."

Basically:

The “resign-to-run law” essentially prohibits an elected or appointed “officer” from qualifying as a candidate for another state, district, county or municipal public office if the terms or any part of the terms overlap with each other if the person did not resign from the office the person presently holds. (Section 99.012(3), Florida Statutes.)

Sarnoff was elected to the Village Council in 2005.

So he was ON the Council in November 2006 when he ran for the City of Miami district 2 Commission seat.

Is this a violation of the Resign to Run law?

We already know Chairman Sarnoff thinks laws don't apply to him.

And we know first hand what he is capable of.

But it's catching up...