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01-Sep-10
Spending of the Coral Gables’ P(urchasing)-Card system, regular credit cards given to key city employees with loose and easily circumvented restrictions, continues at a lively clip.
24-Aug-10
A comprehensive audit of Coral Gables’ business relations with the management of the Biltmore Hotel, which took more than a year to complete, is different from many reports of similar nature in that the audit’s critical 19 “Findings” were forwarded to the Biltmore for comments.
08-Aug-10
City Hall, usually a rumor honeycomb, has been unusually quiet of late, dulled perhaps by the summer heat. Most residents also believe that during the present scorching weeks nothing of import has happened in the city. They are wrong; there were happenings of “monumental significance.”
29-Jul-10
A 1968 covenant indicates that the present trustees of the Baptist Church are legally restricted from leasing church property for commercial purposes, even though business entities, like Somerset, operate a school.
21-Jul-10
In the afternoon of July 19, the City Commission had to face two thorny issues thrust upon them and which they had assiduously tried to avoid: the Somerset Academy charter school in the University Baptist Church on Segovia Street; and an interim agreement with the Biltmore to restructure its debt, estimated now at $3 million and growing.
15-Jul-10
Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick has said it himself. “We look dysfunctional,” he affirmed Tuesday during the City Commission’s discussion of the Biltmore Hotel’s $3.9 million debt. These three words, legitimate gems as it were, he interjected into his customary braggadocio-laced drollery with which he tries to prove that he is the commission leader. The words were uttered in the midst of the two-hour long, confused, at times incomprehensive talkathon of the Biltmore issue
07-Jul-10
There was no joy in City Hall this weekend; and it appears that there won?t be laughter there for a long time. City finances seem to be in shambles. Employees are deeply
concerned about their jobs and residents about the possibility of tax and fee increases on top of the ones the City Commission approved last year. The face of Mayor Don
Slesnick, as seen in City Hall Friday, projected an unusually serious demeanor with, one might say, a distinct whiff of resignation.
23-Jun-10
While over nine months still remain for political campaigning in Coral Gables, there is considerable interest among the declared and prospective office seekers, if not the general public, in our April 12, 2011 municipal election.
16-Jun-10
With palpable apprehension, Coral Gables taxpayers and many in City Hall are, as it were, waiting for Godot. Not the Godot of Samuel Beckett’s theater of the absurd; they are waiting for the real Godot, the city manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget, whose numbers hopefully won’t disappoint taxpayers and professional, hardworking employees.
10-Jun-10
The Federal Government, at the request of “members of the Florida congressional delegation,” has entered a dispute between the management of the Biltmore Hotel and the City of Coral Gables, reminding both of the financial rules on national historic monuments.
02-Jun-10
Last year’s unprecedented drop in Coral Gables property values was bad; this year is worse. The Miami-Dade County property appraiser reported June 1 that taxable values in the City Beautiful dropped 6.8 percent, to $11.8 billion from $12.6 billion in 2009. This compares to a 6 percent fall last year. The 2010 estimate is down 14 percent from its $13.4 billion peak in 2008.
26-May-10
The City Commission suffers the Alice in Wonderland syndrome. The commission’s recent meetings, its usual and largely superfluous talk notwithstanding, are devoid of what virtually all residents perceive: the foreboding reality.
20-May-10
The opening of Liberty Caffé in the Coral Gables County Club last weekend marks the beginning of a new and hopefully successful chapter in the history of that octogenarian facility. It is the initial step of the professional upgrading and social reconfiguration of the Country Club which for too long had been a preserve of privilege and political influence. Possibly before the end of 2010, but assuredly by early next spring, the club, which is to retain its name although not its former socially exclusive status, will become a multi-function catering and entertaining establishment that will be open to all.
13-May-10
While in other cities, notably in Miami Beach, an administrative-accounting system called EDEN has been performing satisfactorily, in Coral Gables it has become a technological disaster first, then a bureaucratic nightmare and lately a joke.
28-Apr-10
The City of Coral Gables spent $3.1 million more in the second quarter of its fiscal year than it did in the first quarter while collecting $45.5 million less, according to the Finance Department’s mid-year report released the week.
23-Apr-10
In the Coral Cables administration there are few officials, luckily their number diminishes, who believe they can fool taxpayers and the media not sometimes, but all of the time. One such person was Marjorie Adler. She is gone and several others might say goodbye soon. But the principal one – embattled City Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez – is still here.
13-Apr-10
With one year of fundraising left for the April 12, 2011 municipal vote, it appears almost certain that this 85-year-old city will have its first $1-million campaign, the costliest ever.
06-Apr-10
Finance Director Don Nelson’s problems, important as they are, compare in gravity to those of three other top city officials: Embattled City Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez, Chief Information Officer Gee Chow and Planning Director Eric Riel. We need to face up to the fact that profound structural and personal changes must be made and soon. To do otherwise would mean ultimate defeat.
24-Mar-10
In less than 60 seconds and without a single comment, the City Commission, at embattled City Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez’ recommendation, voted Tuesday to pay Procurement Supervisor Danilo Benedit $150,000 to dismiss a federal lawsuit he had filed alleging being subjected to discrimination as a result of his actions protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
18-Mar-10
On March 10 at the University of Miami City Manager Patrick Salerno delivered his “state of the administration report”. One department head who was at UM yet apparently neither listened nor paid heed to his boss is Finance Director Don Nelson. Why he did not is beyond comprehension. Perhaps Nelson forgot the old adage that woe betide the man who ignores his master’s voice; or maybe he’s already looking toward another, post-city job.
12-Mar-10
City Manager Patrick Salerno publicly told Mayor Don Slesnick and four commissioners Wednesday what they had never heard in their nine years in office.
02-Mar-10
On Wednesday, March 10, the City Commission will hold a special meeting to discuss, as per an official announcement, what actions if any to take in response to City Manager Patrick Salerno’s assessment of the “current state of Coral Gables’ affairs.”
16-Feb-10
Coral Gables has settled its lawsuit with Granada L.L.C., former manager of the Country Club of Coral Gables, by paying the firm $1.5 million, according to senior City Hall officials.
27-Jan-10
“Now is the winter of our discontent,” is how Shakespeare would have described the current ambience in Coral Gables; Charles Dickens would have certainly added it is also “the winter of despair.” These are no exaggerated metaphors. True to form, Tuesday’s meeting of the city commission projected a picture of political leadership practically paralyzed even though it was fronting symptoms of an impending fiscal tsunami. As never before, commissioners, principally Mayor Don Slesnick, appeared not only dispirited and bereft of ideas, but also even devoid of hope.
19-Jan-10
Lori St. John, the city’s Chief Compliance Officer, who audits financial operations of all departments and who displays commendable predilection for ferreting petty cash errors, finds herself in her own financial/legal pickle: The payment of $800 by Coral Gables taxpayers for her attorney registration fee in the state of Colorado. St. John has since repaided the city.
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Letter: Police communications, a view from inside
This letter is written in response to the multiple articles that have been written in reference to t more
BBU Bank merges with sister bank in Puerto Rico
Coral Gables-based BBU Bank completed its merger with a sister bank in Puerto Rico. more
ONE Sotheby's acquires Gables firm RE/MAX Elite
ONE Sotheby's International Realty, a premier and global real estate firm specializing in luxury pro more
'Great Grove Bed Race' turns 2
The *1.800.411 Pain Great Grove Bed Race* was a huge success this past Sunday with over 35,000 peopl more
New Theatre opens season with 'The Tempest'
The New Theatre’s 25th Anniversary season kicks off with a limited engagement of The Tempest (now th more
Volsky: Taxpayers pick up city attorney’s tab
Spending of the Coral Gables’ P(urchasing)-Card system, regular credit cards given to key city emplo more
Letter: UM's bigger than life
The addition of a new zoning category, University Campus Multi-Use Area, is so large that it is trou more
Fall for the Arts Festival at the Arsht Center
Fall for the Arts Festival is a will transform the Adrienne Arsht Center into Miami’s town square an more
Kreps DeMaria ranked among top S. Florida agencies
Coral Gables-based Kreps DeMaria Public Relations and Marketing has been ranked the seventh largest more
UPS 5k Run/Walk benefits United Way of Miami-Dade
Put on your running shoes and join UPS and United Way of Miami-Dade in the inaugural UPS 5k Run/Wal more
UM student run over by street sweeper
At approximately 1:04 a.m., a City of Coral Gables street sweeper struck a white female pedestrian a more
City commission hikes tax rate 12.3%
Coral Gables taxpayers will be billed at a rate 12.3 percent higher than last year and 89 city emplo more
City attorney ordered to open records
The office of the State Attorney has told embattled Coral Gables Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez to fol more
Volsky: Commission knows enough to sack Hernandez
By general consensus, things are getting worse in the city. Our principal problem, worse than econom more
Volsky: Finance director next to go
On March 10 at the University of Miami City Manager Patrick Salerno delivered his “state of the admi more
Volsky: Pat takes ax to city hall dead wood
Marjorie Adler, the city’s Human Resources director, will be gone in a few weeks. She won’t be miss more
Volsky: Commission to face hard economic facts
On Wednesday, March 10, the City Commission will hold a special meeting to discuss, as per an offici more
Commission heeds city attorney's recommendation
In less than 60 seconds and without a single comment, the City Commission, at embattled City Attorne more
City to pay Granada LLC to drop lawsuit
Coral Gables has settled its lawsuit with Granada L.L.C., former manager of the Country Club of Cora more
Candid city manager opens Gables' Pandora's box
City Manager Patrick Salerno publicly told Mayor Don Slesnick and four commissioners Wednesday what more
City attorney ordered to open records
The office of the State Attorney has told embattled Coral Gables Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez to fol more
Commission heeds city attorney's recommendation
In less than 60 seconds and without a single comment, the City Commission, at embattled City Attorne more
Coral Gables releases mid-year financial report
The City of Coral Gables spent $3.1 million more in the second quarter of its fiscal year than it di more
Volsky: Commission to face hard economic facts
On Wednesday, March 10, the City Commission will hold a special meeting to discuss, as per an offici more
Volsky: City Attorney didn't do her homework
A 1968 covenant indicates that the present trustees of the Baptist Church are legally restricted fro more
City to pay Granada LLC to drop lawsuit
Coral Gables has settled its lawsuit with Granada L.L.C., former manager of the Country Club of Cora more
Volsky: Pat takes ax to city hall dead wood
Marjorie Adler, the city’s Human Resources director, will be gone in a few weeks. She won’t be miss more
Volsky: Woe to be these four top city officials
Finance Director Don Nelson’s problems, important as they are, compare in gravity to those of three more
City commission hikes tax rate 12.3%
Coral Gables taxpayers will be billed at a rate 12.3 percent higher than last year and 89 city emplo more
Volsky: Election season's afoot
While over nine months still remain for political campaigning in Coral Gables, there is considerab more
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