Recent unemployment numbers continue the bad news for Miami-Dade County with region joblessness topping 13 percent.
Contrast this with statewide numbers where Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 10.8 percent, and in metro areas such as Tampa-St. Petersburg dropping to 10.5 percent and Orlando where the rate dropped to 9.9 percent.
Why is the unemployment rate dropping throughout Florida and yet continues to rise in Miami-Dade County?
Perhaps former Florida Governor Jeb Bush's comments to The Miami Herald can shed some light as he describes Miami-Dade County government as "a monstrous beast that is unaccountable, not transparent and allows far too much corruption."
The unaccountability, non-transparent, and thoroughly corrupt government at Miami-Dade County quashes the motivation for any serious companies to make the investments necessary in Miami-Dade County that create high wage jobs. Public corruption at Miami-Dade County tells investors that unless you are willing to "pay to play," Miami-Dade is closed for business. Businesses have recognized this and are going elsewhere in the state.
Sources are indicating that major private sector investment projects are coming to the Tampa area in the next six to twelve months and Orlando continues to grow with private sector activity. Yet, when was the last time a major private sector company decided to expand operations into Miami-Dade County? Were it not for the positive tourism numbers, the unemployment rate would be much higher.
The mayor elected today has a serious task ahead to clean house at Miami-Dade County government, starting with the 29th floor, and to restore confidence in a broken system, so that businesses will once again be confident in the ability of Miami-Dade government to provide a level playing field.
Until then, Miami-Dade County and its residents will continue to suffer while opportunities for jobs pass us by toward other areas of the state.
