www.jenniferator.com

  • Jennifer J. Ator
  • The Springs Observer
  • Jennifer Ator's Blog
  • Transparency in Campaigning 2013
  • Transparency in Campaigning 2011.
  • Community Service

The Sunshine Open Records Law Under Attack

3/10/2013

0 Comments

 
At the December 10, 2012 Council Meeting, I suggested that the Council consider passing an ethics (in government) ordinance and putting a Citizens' Bill of Rights on the ballot which would allow residents to consider and vote whether or not to include it in our City Charter.  Other cities have ethics ordinances, and they provide important safeguards for citizens because, unlike the Miami-Dade County Ordinance that presently governs our Council, they are clear and more importantly, they provide "teeth" for enforcement in the event that they are violated by those who are elected to serve the community.   At the time I suggested it, it really seemed like a no-brainer.


I am not sure whether anyone on the Council read the documents for a proposed ethics ordinance-- it was actually Doral's, and their ordinance is lengthy and specific -- but the other Council members agreed that there was no need to have a Bill of Rights or Ethics Ordinance, because "there was no one in the City who did not trust the Council."


In fact, the City Attorney suggested that we have a special meeting to discuss the particulars of the proposal and the Council rejected that as well.  I moved that we have a special meeting to discuss it and it died for a lack of second.  I have uploaded the video of the discussion here.


Councilwoman Bain asked me why I would even make a motion if I knew there was no support and I replied that if there was no support it would die for a lack of second.  I was truly surprised to find myself surrounded by public servants who refused to discuss ethics.


Part of the ethics ordinance would include doing things that would make government more transparent and making information more available to the citizens.  I have championed these causes for the entire time I have been on the Council and I will continue to do so.  It was suggested to me that perhaps certain Councilmembers wanted to avoid the issue simply because it was election time.  I say that election time is the best time to talk about ethics and transparency, because citizens are more engaged, and the ballot box is the only place where they can make a change to the City Charter.


It is a shame that our Council squandered the opportunity to even discuss this change. much less put it before the citizens to vote for themselves.  I am deeply disappointed in Mayor Garcia and my fellow Council members for refusing to discuss the issues raised -- until this year I cannot recall a time in my four year tenure where the Council refused to even discuss an item.  Even if you happen to believe that a proposal is a bad idea, you should give it a hearing, do the necessary research and fight it on its merits.  That is the good government that our citizens deserve, and if I am elected, that is the way that the City Council will be run under my watch.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    To search and view PDF documents Download Adobe Reader Here.

    Beautiful
    Miami Springs.

    Beautiful Miami Springs.  There is no place like it.  THANK YOU for re-electing me to our City Council in April 2011.  It is going to be difficult to share information with our residents during or after Council meetings.  As a result, I will post to my blog often: Council items, neighborhood happenings, local events.  Please subscribe, bookmark the site, and visit often.

    CONTACT JENNIFER HERE.

    Archives

    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    36th Street
    All Angels Church
    All Angels School
    At My Chair
    Bill Tallman
    Board Of Adjustment
    Board Of Park And Parkways
    Budget
    Chamber Of Commerce
    City Council
    City Manager
    City Of Miami Springs
    City Planner
    Cmi
    Code Enforcement
    Councilman Bob Best
    Councilman Dan Espino
    Councilman George Lob
    Daughters Of The American Revolution
    Dcba
    Elections
    Ethics
    Florida Marlins
    Golf Course
    Good Government Initiative
    Hankins & Ator
    Jim Borgmann
    Judge Rubenstein
    July 4
    Little League
    Lobbyists
    Mayor Zavier Garcia
    Memorial Day
    Miami Springs Library
    National Library Week
    Optimist
    Pelican Playhouse
    Public Works
    Recreation
    Recreation Department
    Revitalization
    River Cities Festival
    The Good Government Initiative
    Tree City Usa
    University Of Miami
    Variance
    Voting
    Wally Clark
    Zoning

    RSS Feed

Jennifer J. Ator, P.A.
901 Falcon Avenue
Miami Springs, FL  33166
jennifer@jenniferator.com