The Miami Herald Editorial Board has for more than a year highlighted dysfunction at Miami City Hall through a series of editorials properly titled “Miami Dysfunction.” The city commission’s decision this week to approve lifetime, taxpayer-funded pensions for themselves may require a new name: “Miami Shamelessness” or “Miami Entitlement.”
Only a veto from Mayor Francis Suarez can prevent another worsening public disgrace. Suarez would eventually earn about $124,000 annually under the pension plan, according to a report produced for the city, so his veto would send a strong message to the commission. He hasn’t said what he plans to do, the Herald reported on Wednesday.
In approving this measure, commissioners ignored the crisis of trust that surrounds City Hall. They voted not only to revive the pensions , which were frozen during the Great Recession, but to allow themselves to opt into it (a less self-serving approach would have let only future commissioners join in). Even one of the commissioners who voted against it, Damian Pardo, said he will opt in. The other “no” vote, Commissioner Manolo Reyes, said he won’t.
Over the past year, Miami has been shaken by the arrest of a former commissioner, a $63.5 million federal civil judgment against Commissioner Joe Carollo, the city’s payments of his hefty legal fees, Suarez’s ballooning net worth while in office and the contentious departure of the city attorney. Yet, instead of looking into reforms to restore public faith, such expanding the size of the commission as suggested by the Editorial Board and community activists — which would have increased the number of votes needed for the approval of pensions — elected officials chose to do something for themselves.
How can Miami residents trust that the people they put into office are looking out for their constituents’ interests before their own? In November, for example, voters will decide whether to approve a deal the city negotiated with developers to redevelop city-owned land on Jungle and Watson islands.
The commission’s inability to read the room drew criticism from one of Florida’s most powerful officials, incoming House Speaker Danny Perez, who’s from Miami. Perez said in a statement: “It is troubling to see elected officials placing their financial interests above the needs of the community.” Asked by the Editorial Board on Thursday if the Legislature could preempt local commissions from approving similar measures or address Miami’s decision, Perez said, “Options haven’t been vetted.”
The backlash has been so intense, Commissioner Miguel Gabela, one of the sponsors of the pension plan, told the Herald on Thursday he wants to rescind the controversial vote and send the matter before voters.
Miami commissioners earn a salary of roughly $58,000 for a part-time gig, but with added benefits, such as car and cell phone allowances, their compensation is about $100,000 annually. Gabela and Commissioner Christine King, the other sponsor of the measure, represent some of the most impoverished parts of Miami, such as Allapattah and Overtown. King has said she will opt in. Gabela, elected last November after vowing to clean up the city, said he’s still deciding.
King let her apparent disregard for the people she represents slip out when she said she didn’t want to put the issue on the ballot to let voters decide “because people are M&Ms: mean and miserable.”
“I would not leave my livelihood up to voters like that,” King said, as the Herald reported.
King seems to have forgotten why she’s in public office: To serve her community, not establish a “livelihood” on the back of taxpayers.
Commissioners say the amount of work they put into their elected position amounts to a full-time job. The Herald Editorial Board is certainly for the proper compensation of elected officials so that all, not just the independently wealthy, have the ability to serve. But allowing them a lifetime financial benefit at taxpayer expense is an extra burden to taxpayers, especially in times of economic downturn.
Miami has a last chance to correct this mistake if the commission quickly reverses course or Suarez makes good use of his only real power: to veto. Miami’s mayor cannot and should not hide from this issue. Miami deserves better.
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