What's the rush? It's summer, no one's around

The city's budget workshop was rescheduled for August 14, so as not to infringe on Mayor Manny Diaz's Miami 21 August 6 meeting, which had been scheduled the same day. While many citizens were upset that the mayor chose to have the first reading of Miami 21 on a summer day, when many folks are out of town, the meeting will non-the-less go on.

The City Commissioners had planned a budget workshop to go over all the details before the public has their say in September. They wanted to be sure they knew what they were talking about, when it comes to next year's budget, so the workshop was planned.

The mayor has the right to call a special meeting of the Commission, and as the Chair of the Commission Joe Sanchez does not have the power to cancel it. Sanchez requested that the Mayor reschedule the Miami 21 meeting but the mayor refused. So, there will be a Miami 21 meeting on August 6, 2009 at 2 pm, at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) which presents the Miami 21 legislation on first reading. There will also be a second reading.

Many feel that the mayor wants to push Miami 21 through before his term is up in November because he thinks this will be his legacy and of course he needs to take care of his big shot developer buddies, but his real legacy will be the mess that he left the city in with a deficit of $118 million (that we know about) and the exorbitant salaries and city fees.

The list of salaries here. Miami 21's website here.

Graphic by Harry Emilio Gottlieb