In a recent survey that looked at the best and worst-run cities in the U.S., the City of Miami topped the list as the worst, according to 24/7 Wall Street. To compile the list, surveyors indicated that they “reviewed the local economies, fiscal discipline and standard of living of the largest 100 cities by population to determine how well each is managed.”
The site used the following statistics in its assessment: Violent crime per 1,000 people: 11.08 (13th highest); poverty rate: 32.4 percent (5th highest); adult population graduated from high school: 68.2 percent (4th lowest); credit rating: A2 (stable outlook); and population: 400,892.
Mayor Tomas Regalado
But Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, 64, says he is disturbed that the site never actually contacted him, adding that only using census numbers can be somewhat misleading. “This is just a blog and is not the Wall Street Journal, but the name might confuse some people,” he said. “The Wall Street Journal did publish a story recently that referred to Miami as a global city and highlighted the fact that we have seen a significant increase in foreign investors putting their money into our businesses and/or moving here. They believe we are a sound place in which to do business. We feel the same way.”
Regalado says that while Miami-Dade County has had to layoff some of its employees, the City of Miami, while reducing salaries and benefits, has not had to fire anyone.
“I sense a real change in the climate here in Miami,” he said. “People are starting to invest in us once again. Last month we had a ceremony at the Beacon Council and welcomed 11 new businesses — 10 were from abroad and included countries like Mexico, Spain and Brazil. I’m not sure how that makes us the worst-run city in the U.S. And I’m not going to worry about it.”
The survey listed Hialeah as the 10th worst-run city in the U.S.
By D. Kevin McNeir
kmcneir@miamitimesonline.com
JBurroughs
January 23, 2012 at 5:27 am
Miami’s low ratings are due to the fact that Miami is run by a lot of greedy crooked people. We are suffering here. The politicians rob us and the police bully us here. They put up, tolls everywhere, they allow people to buy parts of Miami so they can make money off of it’s communities by taxing for everything. The education is poor because they focus on how they can make more money of us and our children instead of actually teaching our children. Our children aren’t taught anymore how to think for themselves but more on how to be a good worker for others. Everyone is making money off of the citizens of the city of miami except the citizens and we are all suffering. They entrap our men and sons so they can lock them up and make money off of them and their families. Miami is suffering because it is being run by corruption and greed and no one seems to care. People complain but act as if there is nothing they can do about it. Just a few days ago my family and household was violated by the police. They committed treason in a sense because they violated several of our constitutional rights as American Citizens. Our rights are being violated everyday and everyday they find ways to strip away our freedom. Miami is not a glamorous place for many of the people who live here and work here. Jobs, Politicians, police, companies, housing, etc are being allowed to take full advantage with no recourse. Most of the crime is committed by the so-called law givers. If you want to know what’s really going on here, start asking the citizens in some of these lower neighborhoods. Miami is a slave city and we are all being used from the adults down to the children. The rappers from here aren’t rapping about the truth of what’s going on because they too, are to busy making money. See the pattern here? We have a city full of beautiful people that truly want to live free, make money and live peacefully, that are slowly being drained, sucked dry and destroyed. The police here make it there business to get our sons while they are young, so they can have a criminal record at an early age instead of teaching them better. I pray to God everyday for thing to get better here.