Unions flex political muscle in Miami-Dade commission upset

Unions flex political muscle in Miami-Dade commission upset

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 — […]

Gimenez ups Labor Day water police patrols, not rescue

Gimenez ups Labor Day water police patrols, not rescue

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. […]

Fireboat issue becomes force behind recall effort

Fireboat issue becomes force behind recall effort

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, […]

New Fire Rescue recruits among those Carlos Gimenez had cut

New Fire Rescue recruits among those Carlos Gimenez had cut

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, […]

Things to be thankful for: Corruption busts, libraries, firetrucks

Things to be thankful for: Corruption busts, libraries, firetrucks

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 […]

New Miami Fire station named for Mayor Carlos Gimenez

New Miami Fire station named for Mayor Carlos Gimenez

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 […]

Voila! Libraries are magically saved… but what else could be?

Voila! Libraries are magically saved… but what else could be?

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in July, when he presented his severe budget cuts at a county commission meeting, that he was no magician. But it turns out he did have a few tricks up his sleeve. It’s really no surprise to anyone that no libraries are closing. We heard the drumroll as we saw […]

Poll: Firefighters get higher points than county mayor

Poll: Firefighters get higher points than county mayor

According to a recent poll, many people think our county firefighters do a better job than the mayor. A survey of 450 voters who were called live from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5, voters gave our first responders more than twice as many approval points as Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Not So Golden Boy” Gimenez. Almost […]

Mayor Carlos Gimenez governs by poll, loses trust

Mayor Carlos Gimenez governs by poll, loses trust

Maybe he was damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez made a very well publicized about face last month when he backward flipped on his original budget proposal — going from what he said would be a necessary but small tax hike to keep services at current levels to a […]