Miami-Dade Massive Tax Increase Should Come as No Surprise

BAY HARBOR ISLANDS, Fla., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The housing crisis in Miami-Dade County is unprecedented. The number and percentage of homes in foreclosure ranks among the highest in the nation. Many others have already been foreclosed and are vacant under bank ownership. Some owners have reached short-sale agreements with banks. Among those who are hanging on, many owe more than the real sale value of the home. In this county, the main source of revenue for government is property tax. The government has no choice but to cut spending, right?

Wrong! Miami-Dade County has solved its budget shortfall by raising taxes 14%, piling new burdens on reeling citizens.  Apparently, nothing in government could possibly be cut to relieve the pressure on desperate householders. This may well precipitate further flight from the county, leaving less taxable housing stock and defeating the County's plan to increase revenue.

Why would our county leadership practice such a heartless and mindless legislative strategy?

This decision by County Commissioners seems astonishing to ordinary citizens, but a book released this month, Miles Away... Worlds Apart, by Alan Sakowitz, sheds some light on the odd mindset prevailing in the political class. Sakowitz, a Miami attorney and real-estate developer, blew the whistle on Fort Lauderdale political insider Scott Rothstein's elaborate Ponzi scam. He shows how the politically connected see themselves as an elite who are entitled to decide policy for the masses and to reward themselves with the people's money.

Sakowitz states that "the politicians vouch for the scam artists and the scam artists vouch for the politicians; at the end of the day they pool the money and the accolades. The 'little people' can be conned into throwing away their votes and their money."

Sakowitz describes a different kind of society within the pages of this book, making it a tale of two cities. He shows how decent hard-working people can make a difference in the lives of others through simple virtues and small sacrifices.  Nice folks walk through his chapters, people with good hearts and helping hands. They know their limits but still manage to accomplish a lot of meaningful kindness. "Too many of our elected officials have becomes seduced by the power to confiscate through taxation and to distribute through patronage," says Sakowitz.

"An effort has been undertaken by billionaire Norman Braman to recall some of these Commissioners from office. Whether or not the situation calls for such strong measures, one thing may be asserted firmly: these politicians need to "recall" some of the simple humanity practiced by ordinary folks hoping to make our county, and our country, the greatest place to live a productive life," adds Sakowitz.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Alan Sakowitz