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“These findings raise questions of whether or not monies allocated to the Beacon Council from the County are being 
properly utilized,” Suarez wrote in a memo last month. “Comparatively, as some third-parties have suggested, providing a microloan program option with a one-year insurance subsidy, up to a maximum of $50,000 each, for approximately 70 small businesses, may be of better use to the County and prospective businesses.”
That third party is mayoral candidate and Raquel Regalado, who said in her white paper on economic development: The Beacon Council is an old model and we need to modernize. Our monies might be better spent on local chambers of commerce that really tap into micro local business needs.
Williams wrote Suarez back with an excuse for every single one of the examples. Alpha Trade is based in Argentina and will open a warehouse in Doral next year, he said. It is not uncommon for start ups to share space (though this “start up” let its corporate existence expire in 2012). It is also not uncommon for businesses to get started at their owners’ homes, as in the case with Florida Minerals.
He further said that each of the companies had signed a completed project form, which supposedly proves that they were helped by the Beacon Council. But how easy would it be to get those signatures from ghost companies?
Suarez said he was not entirely satisfied with Williams’ explanations for everything.
And, regardless, it seems exceedingly clear that the monies — mostly our taxes — are not being spent as wisely as they could be.
Perhaps rather than make another national search to replace Williams with another lackey who will exaggerate accomplishments to justify their six-figure salary, this is a time to step back and restructure the Beacon Council, which was formed 30 years ago and hasn’t changed much since.
But don’t count on it. They’ve already formed the search committee 
on this oh so important task. Because this non-profit entity is too critical to the political establishment: It is basically a botella central for lackeys who then praise Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, another fraud, and give him awards for all he is doing to create jobs, which is the same as the Beacon Council: Nada.
That’s why it took Suarez to call Williams out. Gimenez still won’t. He can’t.
“I want to thank Larry Williams for all that he has done for Miami-Dade County during the nearly three years he served as President and CEO of the Beacon Council,” Gimenez said in an issued ad self-serving statement after Williams announced he was leaving.
“Miami-Dade County is a better place to live, work and play because of Larry’s tireless work to fuel our economic development. Among his many accomplishments, Larry has brought new job-generating investments to our community, and he has helped existing businesses grow,” said Gimenez, who is facing a tough re-election in November and has to pretend like everything is working fine. “Suffice it to say that he has, without a doubt, built a strong foundation for Miami-Dade’s future … for Miami to be the world’s next great city.”
Well, maybe the mayor needs to read the third quarter key indicators report.
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