g) Escalating and outrageous costs: The cost of corruption is tremendously more than the sum of all its parts, which reflects in unbearable social cost for the tax-payers. This happens when the energy and the resources of the government officials are concentrated on those activities that are triggered by the corruption, neglecting their attention towards other serious issues related to the county and people. It is no surprise that the cost of living and healthcare are becoming unaffordable and getting out of control for a growing number of people in Miami-Dade County, leading to increasing homelessness and poverty.
FACTS AND FACES OF CORRUPTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Unfortunately the corruption in Miami-Dade County has reached an outrageous and shameless level! No doubt, the majority of the people do know that corruption has gone rampant in Miami-Dade County, yet they do not have a clear picture of the gravity and the sources of the corruption. Following is a short compilation of solid facts related to corruption in Miami-Dade County:
FAVORITISM NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
- "Miami-Dade County saw it fair to take from struggling working families and give 81% of its entire $6.2 billion budget ($5.022 billion) to underworked and overpaid government employees." The Miami Herald Blog (December 13, 2011)
- "There are 3,125 Miami-Dade County employees who get six figures this year."-- Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times Blog (November 4, 2011)
- "The specter of more jobs has always been used to manipulate our community. The new Miami Marlins stadium and its bilingual requirement--something that disqualifies most blacks (and Anglos)." The Miami Herald (December 16, 2011)
- "Genting bought the Herald property and land around it, including the Omni building, where it wants to open a temporary casino to help finance construction of its mammoth resort." The Miami Herald (November 6, 2011)
- "Carlos J. Gimenez publicly supports Malaysian giant Genting's bid to bring a gambling resort downtown and he's taken thousands ($10,000) from the firm." Miami New Times Blog (October 28, 2011)
THE HEIGHT OF SHAMELESS NEPOTISM
- "Carlos J. Gimenez, Jr., the son of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos J. Gimenez, is listed as a lobbyist for American Traffic Solutions, the company that contracts with most of the red-light camera programs in Florida, record show." The Miami Herald (October 3, 2011)
- "Carlos (J. Gimenez, Jr. has close personal ties to many Miami-Dade County's elected and appointed governmental officials." (Source: Carlos J. Gimenez, Jr. professional bio published at his employer's lobbying Law Practice of Becker & Poliakoff official website.)
(Is there any question as to who those "elected and appointed governmental officials of Miami-Dade County" are?)
- "A possible conflict has forced Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to sit out the awarding of a $50 million contract to a local construction company that employs his son Julio and uses his other son Carlos Jr. as its lobbyist. Munilla Construction Management submitted the lowest bid out of seven firms vying to be the general contractor on miscellaneous construction projects at the county's airport. As Miami-Dade government's chief executive, Gimenez is supposed to ultimately decide if MCM get the deal." Miami New Times Blogs (September 23, 2011)
DOUBLE-DIPPER CRONIES
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