Message from Mayor Carlos Alvarez to the People About Being Recalled Yesterday

It has been an honor and privilege to serve this community for the past 35 years. The voters have spoken and a time of healing and reconciliation must now begin. No matter which side of the recall issue, one thing is certain: we all care very deeply about this community. A professional management team remains in place in Miami-Dade County government and I know they will work hard to ensure the smoothest transition possible in the coming days. I wish the next Mayor of Miami-Dade County much success.

Public service is an honorable profession and I want to thank County employees for the good work they do day in and day out. I want to thank all of the volunteers and supporters who have worked so hard on my behalf and ask that they move beyond the recall election and continue to work for the betterment of our community in new and different ways. I wish nothing but the best for Miami-Dade County – a place I love and will continue to call home.

Recall Election in Progress for Mayor Alvarez and County Commissioner Seijas

Business as usual has been stopped in the County because of the recall elections taking place today. Meetings were cancelled and few decisions have been made.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas are facing the recall election. Norman Braman has funded the recall against the Mayor. The PAC Miami Voice has been funding the recall effort against the Commissioner.

The Recall of Mayor Alvarez

The mayor contends that recalls are part of the Democratic process, but the Mayor will not stand by and watch a campaign of misinformation and opportunism unfold without putting up a fight.

The main reason people are clamoring for the recall is that Mayor Alvarez proposed a budget that raised taxes. He did not vote on the budget or approve it, the County Commissioners did that.

Mr. Norman Braman has financed the recall effort and recently submitted the required number of petitions, and then some, to recall the Mayor. The Mayor promptly filed a lawsuit questioning the assistant clerk's approval of the original petition form (the Clerk was required to sign according to the Mayor's attorneys and the Home Rule Charter. Harvey Ruvin, the clerk, said he could appoint someone to sign other than himself).

Alvarez contends that if something was done inappropriately – if the proper process wasn’t followed or if there was fraud involved in the collection of signatures he would like it to be known.

County Commission Committee Discusses Charter Changes

The County Commission, having rejected the majority of changes proposed by the Charter Committee a couple of years ago is proposing THEIR OWN charter changes including a salary increase. This will be the 12 time they have asked the voters to increase their salary according to Miami Today.

The Commission also wants to wrestle some power from the Mayor, now that they believe he is unpopular with the public for the Marlins Stadium vote and giving raises to his staff. Miami Today said:

Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Carlos Gimenez each proposed ballot items that would return executive authority to the commission, Mr. Gimenez's immediately and Ms. Jordan's in 2012 when Mayor Alvarez's final term ends.

The question is: Does the public want the County Commission to have more power? The issue would have to be voted on by the electorate as this is a charter change.

The full commission will decide whether these issues make the ballot as there was not a vote in committee.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez and City of Miami Manager Carlos Migoya talk to Helen Ferre

See the March 5th Helen Ferre interview with Mayor Carlos Alvarez. He talks about union negotiations, public safety, the Urban Development Boundary, budget cuts, etc. We think it is an excellent interview, worth the view.

Also see the interview with new City of Miami Manager Carlos Migoya which aired March 5th. He talks about the pension problems in the City, i.e. life expectancy has made pensions unsustainable. He also sees salary raises as a problem.

Open Letter to Mayor Alvarez About Fraud Found in Virginia Key Contract. by Jane Walker

RE: Article today in Miami Herald: 6 accused of trying to defraud Miami-Dade County
Authorities uncovered an alleged scheme to defraud Miami-Dade County in the awarding of a contract involving a wetlands restoration project.

Dear Mayor Alvarez:

The problem with American Earth Movers using a minority firm as a front to obtain a contract, I believe, should cause us to ask the larger questions. There is a red herring in this story.

1. How is it possible that there was so much fat in the contract that this company could afford to pay a kick-back to a fronting organization?

2. How many other non-minority contractors are using these tactics inappropriately?

3. How many other contracts are bid up with extra fat?

4. What are these potentially padded contracts actually costing the tax payers?

5. What is a minority:
In the US?
In Miami Dade?
and is the use of "minority", with our demographics, appropriate?

6. How is Dade County, at large, benefiting from minority-based contract awards?

7. Is this program, indeed, actually helping minorities? If so, which ones?

All businesses started as small businesses. Most businesses in Miami Dade County could be classified as minority businesses. What are we really doing here? I am requesting that the BCC take these questions on in a public forum.

Thank you for the work you do on behalf of the county and for consideration of these comments, questions and concerns.

County Budget Cuts

The Urban Environment League is against the massive budget cuts to the Parks department. In an article today in the Miami Herald it was reported that cultural groups are gearing up to protect their interests from budget cuts Mayor Alvarez has proposed. Hundreds of people showed up at a Science Museum meeting to discuss the proposed budget and lend support to cultural entities and programs. The Herald says cuts would:

• Squeeze $14.8 million of funding down to a mere $4.4 million.

• What were 500 grant recipients would be whittled down to about 100.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez talks to the Editorial Board about the Budget

Change of plans. We tried to post the video of the Editorial Board meeting but it crashed the blog. Now it is gone from the Herald site. Here is the Marlin's groundbreaking instead and much more embarrassing and should be seen by Miami Dade residents so they know who to thank when they go to vote:

Mayor Carlos Alvarez to release proposed budget for FY 2009-2010 Today

Mayor Carlos Alvarez will release and discuss details of the proposed budget for FY 2009-2010 at a news conference today, at noon. He said:

"Miami-Dade County is facing a budget gap of nearly $400 million, my goal is to present a responsible budget proposal that balances the demands for service with the costs of providing that service. Every hard choice is being considered, and together with our Board of County Commissioners, we will work to address the needs of our community."

Through targeted reductions, Miami-Dade County has successfully closed budget gaps totaling more than $400 million dollars during the past two fiscal years.