Comments for SUNPOSt WEEKLY

Comment on OUT! by josef von Sonnenfels

josef von Sonnenfels — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:31:21 +0000

Matti Bower started out as a community activist and preservatist, today she has a record of supporting ripping up whole parts of the City and getting an unearned pension and no bid contracts for her daughter. Jerry Libbin started as a private sector businessman and ended up with a job with a non profit supported by tax payer dollars he is involved in allocating. Jorge Gonzalez started as a young man trying to bring efficient government to the Beach but ended up putting up roadblocks to citizen participation and covered up waste and corruption time after time. Jonah Wolfson arrived on the Beach as did Michael Gongora to start political careers their religion and sexual orientation precluded them from where they came from. Now both are ignoring the city, one to run for State office the other to start a tv reality show. Ed Tobin got jobs for friends, got turned down a while ago and now has turned on Jorge Gonzalez. WHERE CAN THE PEOPLE FIND AN HONEST MAN? or WOMAN?

Comment on News: Tobin to City Manager: We Have a Right to Know by Too little too late!

Too little too late! — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:48:34 +0000

I’m writing this note to readers just to share a very simple thought that has been in my head and I have voiced for the last 10 years. It has always been obvious to me and to any business people on the Beach that Jorge Gonzales is part of a culture that has been promoted within the ranks of City of Miami Beach, that is dishonorable, disrespectful and one could argue disdainful at best. Having tried to meet with this one man Dictatorship a dozen dimes, it was obvious to me that he simply picked what and who and how. When I went to the commissioners, they did nothing. Ed Tobin has excellent words and I share his sentiment, BUT, where was Ed when I and hundreds of business owners needed him. I will tell you, we was asleep at the wheel. Why did it take Ed this long to come out with this kind of public exposure on emails. Its because the FBI exposed one of many series of “ongoing” and “past” corrupt sub components of the City of Miami Beach. Ed, I say you are too little, too late and while better than the other lot of Commissioners and Mayor, I think you and the team of Commissioners need to resign and make room for more energetic, caring commissioners who will paint the picture as they see it and not wait till its too late. Ed, you had your chance and did not seize the moment. Also and last, the Mayor is clearly a big Jorge supporter. How can the City have a Mayor who is so blinded by the light. She needs to retire, this is absurd stuff.

Comment on OUT! by David C

David C — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:56:52 +0000

No amount of perfume covers the smell of skunk.

Comment on News Commentary: Expediting Construction at the Building Department by Damian Gallo

Damian Gallo — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:20:28 +0000

Dear Mr. Walters,

I am Mr. Damian Gallo, owner of the Permit Doctor. Thank you for the observations about many of our competitors who are, in fact unlicensed. Our company is both licensed and insured. Building construction today is a complex science and many of our clients are fully licensed design professionals. These professions choose our company because we make it our business to help them navigate efficiently and correctly thru the building and environmental departments. We make sure their applications and documentation are letter perfect. We interact with the plan reviewers to IMPROVE communication and INSURE that correction to plans are made in accordance with reviewers’ wishes and codes. It is our responsibility to insure that we do not waste the building department’s time and energies. Because of our own preliminary review we do not allow our clients to submit incomplete or confusing paperwork. We pride ourselves in adding the value of saving time for our clients. It is extremely rare that any permit expediting services will cost $25,000 and if you are paying this much for your projects you need to visit our offices for a competitive quotation. Mr. Walters, we exist as a successful business because we serve our clients well. They prove this to us by returning complements, referring new clients, giving us praise and repeat business. Please do not blame the building department for the complexity of codes here in South Florida. Miami Beach has one of the best building departments in South Florida and it is my pleasure to work with them every day. Signed Damian Gallo, The Permit Doctor.

Comment on News: Fire Manager and You’ll Pay, Deede’s Firm Was Warned by David C

David C — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:14:15 +0000

Another example of Intimidation a la Miami Beach. Good for you Commissioner Weithorn standing up for your principles. Now make the city’s employees follow the same course. Make them honest or show them the door. Just ask fellow Commissioner Wolfson to show you the February 18, 2012 letter I sent him. That should explain all.

Comment on News Commentary: City Won’t Collapse if Jorge is Put Out by David C

David C — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:46:19 +0000

When Jorge leaves there should be a dust cloud of crooks and rats leaving the good ship Miami Beach. I personally look forward to the those darkened skies and the thunder of little feet.

Comment on News Commentary: Expediting Construction at the Building Department by David C

David C — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:31:34 +0000

It’s a wonderful idea requiring licensing and bonding. I happen to be a semi-retired professional working in the expediting field. Many of my competitors are part-time small business persons that would leave the industry if the insurance costs were significant AND by the way THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT.

However, before we license and bond expediters, let’s bond some of those fire prevention and code inspectors. While we are at it how about all of the top officials in government?

Heck, this way the FBI could get all of their bribe money back. My point is why stop at the little fish? Start with the sharks. They have the most to lose.

Comment on News: Gonzalez’s Resignation Letter by David C

David C — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:52:40 +0000

No amount of perfume can cancel the smell of a skunk.

Comment on News: Designers Describe Their Plans for City’s Gateway as Magical by GERALD SCHWARTZ

GERALD SCHWARTZ — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:57:20 +0000

ALTON ROAD PROJECT CAN BE DONE NOW SHOULD GET PRIORITY OVER CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION WHICH WILL TAKE TIME

Comment on News: Matti & Jorge Respond by Mr. Sandbagged

Mr. Sandbagged — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:40:10 +0000

The mayor’s response infuriates me. EVERYONE in city hall knows about another convicted felon who was hired, he is still employed. His hire was done in a stealth manner, he has inside accomplices. He has stolen from the city from day one and continues to do so.

Comment on News: City Goes on Offensive Against Corruption Even As More Allegations May Emerge by David C

David C — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:21:55 +0000

How about in addition to the “duty to report” the City Manager also implements a “duty to not retaliate against reporting employees.” I am speaking first hand Mr. Gonzalez. If you don’t believe me just ask your employees. They are scared to report as they know what happens to “rats.”

If you don’t know this then you don’t deserve to be Miami Beach’s city manager.

Comment on FED UP! by David C

David C — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:59:02 +0000

The key question is: Did the Manager know there were problems in the Code and Fire Departments? It’s time to make a public information request to the MBPD. The answer to this lies there.

Comment on Letter: Longtime Miami Beach Resident is Forced to Leave by David C

David C — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:27:11 +0000

A very telling letter to the Editor. Think about this carefully: “the random club owner that reported them.” Do you really believe that over these many years [Firefighter Bryant boasted on the FBI tapes that he had been doing this for years] that only one report had been made? Perhaps the only difference here is that this owner had the courage to go to the FBI instead of the Miami Beach Police.

Comment on News: Matti & Jorge Respond by Mike Alvarez

Mike Alvarez — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:26:16 +0000

Everybody at City Hall know Jose Alberto tested positive for illegal use of drugs, twice in the last 8 yrs, as late as 2006 and would have been fired by any responsible administration. Jorge Gonzalez promoted him, twice, one to Code Compliance Administrator, the other to Lead Code Compliance Administrator or #2 at a very, very sensitive department. Mayor Bower knows, Jorge Gonzalez knows and their HR puppet is hiding/omitting the information.

We’ve watched him pull this kind stuff for the last 12 years and now, it’s caught up to him. Karma.

Comment on News: Tobin: It’s Very Hard to Hold the City Manager Accountable by Edwardo Garcia

Edwardo Garcia — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:28:58 +0000

In the past few years, our city has been rocked by numerous scandals which have come to define Jorge Gonzalez’s administration and brought into question his judgement, his leadership and his ability to properly manage our city.

Miami Beach needs to rid itself of the corruption that has been exposed in the newspaper on a regular basis. He has been the top administrator for the past 12 years, hired and/or promoted all the management personnel responsable for these scandals. At this juncture, our Miami Beach elected officials have a responsability to perform their duties and exercise their powers as given to them in the City’s Charter and fire Jorge Gonzalez, for cause in light of those scandals:

Scandals listed chronologically:

* Disobey requests by 4 City Commissioners who requested a special meeting, to get to the bottom of the source of the corruption exposed by the FBI.

* Feds bust Miami Beach Code Inspectors, Fire Inspectors for shake-down charges.

* City found guilty of sexual discrimination against a female fire-fighter by a jury, where a judge awards her $700,000.00 – City vowed to appeal.

* Former Procurement, Gus Lopez Director accuses Jorge Gonzalez of personally interfering with bid extension to favor a certain developer and fire him as the scapegoat.

* City fires Procurement Director Gus Lopez, for possible cone of silence violations.

* 2 Police officers drinking off-duty in marked police cars & other improprieties. (March 30, 2012)

* City Manager’s and City Attorney’s contracts were never approved by ordinance as per City Charter. Both are being paid illegally at this time. (Mid-March).

* Police Officers drinking on duty and one of them taking a female companion on ATV ride, and injuring 2 persons on the beach.

* Police officers shooting and killing an unarmed youth on Memorial Day Week-end

* New Symphony officials shaken down by Jorge Gonzalez & Hilda Fernandez for free tickets

*Jorge Gonzalez’s hiring Cynthia Curry as Building Director despite the known fact that her husband’s firm had admitted double-billing the County on a county contract while she was an Assistant County Manager.

* Systematic cover up by City Administration into the PAL misuse of funds.

* Police officers beating gays by Flamingo Park with impunity for two years.

SIGN PETITION DEMANDING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION FIRE JORGE GONZALEZ ON MAY, 9, 2012: http://www.change.org/petitions/miami-beach-city-commission-fire-jorge-m-gonzalez-miami-beach-city-manager-for-the-past-12-years