Even before a Mami-Dade Sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed last week, the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Associations had planned its annual celebration of first responders with pizza and speeches and awards. But the KFHA Police and Firefighter Awards night Wednesday will have special meaning since the death of Devin Jaramillo, 27. “We talk about […]
In her efforts to close a budget shortfall she says is caused by the sudden loss of COVID dollars and the five constitutional offices separating from the county, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava might be compromising public safety. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz all but waved a big red siren this week, warning commissioners that […]
Miami-Dade fire union has threatened legal action Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava may want to check her smoke alarms — because firefighters smell something funny rising out of the 2025-26 budget: A sneaky move to shift the estimated $30 million cost of running the countywide air rescue helicopters to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, which is funded […]
It is a fact that firefighters get cancer and die of cancer at a higher rate than the rest of us — 14% higher. Study after study shows that job-related cancer is the number one killer of firefighters. It is a fact that no fewer than 45 states have addressed this issue by passing laws […]
Many of Miami-Dade’s much beleaguered labor unions started reaching hard-fought agreements with a compromising county administration. This came on the heels of their victory last week when they helped elect a newcomer and unseated an incumbent — only the the third time that’s happened since 1960. Coincidence? Probably not. It’s more likely that labor — […]
After the Fourth of July boating accident that killed four people in Biscayne Bay caused a renewed demand for the county to put a fire rescue boat in the water, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez hunkered down and refused to refund the fire boat, saying that it probably wouldn’t have made a difference anyway. […]
The horrible, accidental death of four people on a Fourth of July holiday boat ride become part of the debate earlier this month on the Miami-Dade budget and what seems like the skewered administrative priorities of Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez, who cut the rescue boat from our fire department services two years ago. Now, […]
From the chopping block to the firetruck: Forty new firefighter paramedics who were slated for the unemployment line last year during budget talks that threatened to shut down rescue units — will instead join the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue force after they celebrate their graduation this afternoon. Recruit Class #124 underwent 10 weeks of “intense” training, […]
As I pondered early on Thanksgiving Day the things that I was thankful for, and after I listed the usual suspects — health for me and my loved ones, family support, a talented and beautiful (and smart-ass) daughter, love, good friends that stick by you, passion for what I do, growth in readership — it gave […]
The newest City of Miami Fire station on Northwest 79th Street will be dedicated Saturday and named in honor of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez — yeah, the same guy who wanted to drastically slash county fire-rescue services earlier this year. Really? Really? Ladra is not the only one scratching her head. The decision is […]