Priorities

Miami Herald reporter John Dorschner recently reported that “With the federal government already slashing their funds in big and small ways, and major state cuts possible from the upcoming session of the Legislature, South Florida’s hospitals are concerned about looming financial problems. […]

“An analysis by the Florida Hospital Association shows that Miami-Dade hospitals stand to lose $1.9 billion in federal funding over the next decade to treat Medicare patients.”

On another side of town…

At the lush, expensively decorated offices of the Miami Dolphins, lobbyists, chamber of commerce types and a host of other ‘civic leaders’ are huddled around billionaire Stephen Ross mapping out plans to get political approval in order to collect tax dollars for a new, partial roof and improvements for the football team’s privately owned stadium. Asking price (for now) is $400 million. Dolphins say they’ll pick-up half the tab.

The Dolphins, I am told, are not interested in putting the welfare appeal before Miami-Dade voters. They want the politicians to grant them their wishes outright. Kinda like they did with the Marlins… And look what that’s gotten us.

Alvaro F. Fernandez