Can The County Commission Do Anything Right?
BY BUDDY NEVINS
On my desk is an article from the Miami Herald outlining plans to build a convention hotel at Port Everglades.
It is dated 1982!
The hotel never got built, but that hasn’t stopped the Broward County Commission from discussing it again and again and again and again.
Since 1982, the estimated cost has increased from $50 million to $305 million.
That hasn’t stopped the jabbering by the nine commissioners seeking to justify their $90,000-plus annual salary.
This week, more discussion.
Or should I say more wasted discussion. Because the economy is such that the hotel will probably never get built. It doesn’t make financial sense.
Add the convention hotel to the long list of projects the Broward County Commission can’t get built.
There is the airport expansion. Talked about for two decades and not done yet.
There is the mass transit system. Ditto.
There is the West Broward Government Center.
Oh, wait a minute. The West Broward Government Center at University Drive and West Broward Boulevard is finally getting finished…eight years late.
Since this is the Broward County Commission, the project has almost doubled in cost. What was once estimated at $25 million, will now cost taxpayers in excess of $40 million.
Would somebody explain to me why we need a second government center in an era when every private enterprise is cutting back?
Just what does the Broward County Commission do right? Just what does the commission do at all?
They operate parks and libraries adequately.
And not much else.
In the interest of honesty, the commission needs to change its name to the Broward County Parks and Library Board.
Or maybe the Broward County Debating Society.
Because like a debating society, the Broward County Commission produces hot air. And little else.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:34 am
The answer to the question is of course NO.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:36 am
The earth is smothering from global warming and the fools just cut my bus route through Victoria Park. They don’t care. They are riding around in their Lexus paid for by lobbyists.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Great Comment Buddy, you’re right on target with this one!!! What can they do that makes a difference, NOTHING… DUHHHHHHH
They have gotten rid of the support enforcement division department so the state can over see it. That was crucial to others so those people have no jobs and how are they supposed to keep track of child support payments and alimony?
So how come the County Commission don’t lower their salaries since they make between 80-90 thousand dollars a year.
For what, NOTHING!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:32 am
THE ANSWER TO THIS IS TERM LIMITS, YOU KEEP THE SAME OLD PEOPLE ON FOR SO LONG THEY FALL ASLEEP AND CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT OVER AND OVER. yOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD, BUDDY!!!!! THE VOTERS CHOSE THE WRONG PERSON WHEN THEY REAPPOINTED JOHN RODSTROM. I THINK I’LL TAKE THE LATE GEORGE CARLIN’S ADVICE. DO NOT VOTE AND THEN YOU CAN’T BLAME YOURSELF FOR THE OUTCOME!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:40 am
good lets elect more whose significant others are lobists, maybe they will hire a new county exectutive and give her a massive raise, these people are crazy, cant they see whats happening, wait till the tax dollars come in next year.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Term limits shift power to the unelected staff and lobbyists. Think beth (aka Charlotte greenbarg)
October 10th, 2008 at 11:03 am
The worst ones are Sue Gunzburger, Krestin Jacobs and Ilene Lieberman. They never saw a tax they didn’t like. Give me more money is the only answer to every problem.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Frank, I’m definitely not Charlotte Greenbard, however, I do know who she is and she’s a little unbalanced to say the least. I don’t think you know me in fact I’m sure not. I’ve been around a long time but new to this scene.