Miami-Dade opens new, $5 million library in Hialeah Gardens park

Miami-Dade opens new, $5 million library in Hialeah Gardens park

Remember when former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez threatened to close libraries and did slash their budgets, cutting hours and days of operation, in 2013? Seven years later, not only are the libraries almost back to full hours, but the tiny storefront branch in Hialeah Gardens has been replaced with a cutting-edge, 13,500-square-foot facility more than […]

New county library opens — but not on Mondays

New county library opens — but not on Mondays

Miami-Dade has a big todo on Sunday when it opens its newest library branch in Bay Harbor Islands. Mayor Carlos Gimenez is expected to be there. So is Commissioner Sally Heyman, Bay Harbor Islands Mayor Jordan Leonard and several, if not all the council members. The 50th branch in the county, this library features a “diverse […]

Increased property values could = more library hours

Increased property values could = more library hours

Miami-Dade County will see close to 9% more taxes come in next year thanks to increased property values and new construction, according to a report delivered Monday by Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia. Whew! Maybe now we can open all our libraries all five days of a work week? And even add weekends to those that […]

On library shortfall, Miami-Dade’s Carlos Gimenez falls short

On library shortfall, Miami-Dade’s Carlos Gimenez falls short

It’s just another band-aid. And it’s not even a good one at that. Rather more like those cheap, generic brand band-aids you buy at the dollar store. But Miami-Dade Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez, who didn’t listen to the people when they voted to increase their own taxes for improved animal services, has turned his other […]

Political cartoon: Esteban “Book-em” Bovo’s library plan

Political cartoon: Esteban “Book-em” Bovo’s library plan

Earlier this month, and in the face of a gaping hole in the county library budget, Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban “Stevie” Bovo proposed using county parks buildings to house libraries as well as police and fire stations. Bovo says the merging of uses would actually increase public enjoyment of under-used parks. But critics are afraid that this […]

Kendall residents give Mayor Carlos Gimenez an earful

Kendall residents give Mayor Carlos Gimenez an earful

There were only 75 people or so at the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Associations meeting Thursday when Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez stopped by for a conversation. But, boy, did he get an earful. After a short, quickly forgettable back-patting speech, the mayor took questions. And one by one, residents lined up to ask questions that […]

Carlos Gimenez to face tough ‘Meet the Mayor’ crowd tonight

Carlos Gimenez to face tough ‘Meet the Mayor’ crowd tonight

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is scheduled to speak at the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association meeting in about an hour and Ladra expects it to be quite lively. The “Meet the Mayor” event had been scheduled before news of his $121 million proposed giveaway was leaked to the press Wednesday. He wouldn’t go otherwise. He […]

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 […]