Coral Gables’ annexation is a bad deal for the public

OP-ED by: Omar Blanco, President, Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403

Omar Blanco

The City of Coral Gables is considering annexing two areas, Little Gables on the north edge of the city and High Pines/Ponce Davis area to the Southwest. As a firefighter my main concern is the safety of the residents we have taken an oath to protect therefore, as firefighters, we oppose both annexations. These takeovers are going to be costly for Gables residents and could in the short-term result in unsafe conditions for new and current residents of the City.

As President of the Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, I represent the over 2,000 firefighters who protect 29 municipalities and the unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County.  Our firefighters, along with our brother and sister firefighters in the City of Coral Gables are some of the best and most experienced firefighters in the world.

Right now, the neighborhoods in question are served by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue with three fire stations able to respond into the areas that can be augmented by another 100-plus units and over 500 firefighters on duty daily, should the situation warrant it. Our department prides itself on being able to deliver the right number of firefighters, with the appropriate equipment, in the most expeditious way. This rollout, which follows national standards, can be in response to any type of emergency, from a single-unit medical response to a large-scale high-rise fire. 

Our county teams exceed national standards for the minimum number of firefighters that should respond to a high-rise fire, which is one of the hardest jobs to take down. Our respect for members in Coral Gables is great, but the numbers of firefighters in the City that could be manning the pumps and saving lives during a high-rise blaze falls well below the national standard of 43.

County taxpayers are going to have to make up for millions of dollars Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is going to lose as a result of this annexation. Currently, the cost annually to serve High Pines/Ponce Davis and Little Gables is $2.7 million and $500,000, respectively.

Additionally, Coral Gables residents may see increased costs related to having to hire additional firefighters, purchase additional trucks, and build an additional facility to support this annexation. 

For Gables residents, this is a bad financial deal and more importantly, jeopardizes the safety of the current residents and for those in the proposed annexation areas.

Our motto at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is “Always Ready, Proud to Serve”, and everything we do as a union is done for the safety of our community. This is why Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403 stands strong against the annexation of Little Gables to the East and High Pines/Ponce Davis by the City of Coral Gables.


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20 COMMENTS

  1. Coral Gables has been attempting to annex Little Gables for decades. Their bids have been repeatedly rejected by Miami Dade. Could it be that Gables commission and “developers” are planning to re zone as needed and build more high rise dwellings ??

  2. All the services in Miami Dade county’s Little Gables are sufficient enough to get the job done for us residents. Why would any resident owner who’s been living here in Little Gables for over 40 years want it to become a Coral Gables resident (other than prestige, or the name) unless they are selling their property to make a profit and plan on moving away.

    We’ve been living here in Little Gables for almost forty years, and are perfectly happy and I don’t see the need of this wanted annexation. Here are a few reasons why I like living in Little Gables as it is: There is no need for a big trash pile pit out on the side of the road to dump all the trash in.

    I like the big huge green lift trash cans that are lifted up mechanically into the trucks. I can paint the house anytime any color or time I want. The MD Police come here when ever needed very quickly.

    I cannot find any positive things to say about being incorporated into Coral Gables.

    I’m sure the residents of Coral Gables don’t want to pay higher taxes every year for us little Gables Residents with all of the extra so called services that will be required.

  3. If it’s one thing that Coral Gables by provides to it’s residents, it’s top notch public safety. Both the police and fire department do an excellent job. No different than what is provided by other agencies. That comes at a cost. A cost I believe taxpayers are willing to pay.

    You need to look no further than the Town of Palm Beach who slashed their pay and benefit packages to their public safety personnel. The end result was paying more to train new employees to replace seasoned employees who left for other agencies; “penny wise, pound foolish.” The end result was a large turnover. Veterans who knew the town and it’s residents were replaced with less experienced personnel who had to learn along the way. Soon they too would leave for better paying agencies. Agencies that valued the dedication of their public employees.

    The end result was to restore benefits that had been removed in an effort to keep employees from leaving for other agencies. I am certain that when a burglar is at your back door, the patrol officer is familiar with your neighborhood and can respond without getting confused by the multitude of street names found in Coral Gables. The same can be said for the paramedics who are rushing to revive your neighbor’s child who was pulled out of the pool and has stopped breathing.

    In my opinion, if citizens weren’t willing to pay more for ‘better” products then there would be no Starbucks or Bore’s Head. It would just be a plain cup of joe and generic meats.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianeoakley/2018/10/30/the-predictable-consequence-of-cutting-public-safety-pensions/#4fdae171135e

  4. That homes are not wood frame doesn’t mean there aren’t fires nor are there risks. The firefighters serve not just as firefighters, but paramedics as well. As it is, the city cannot handle a significant fire without the assistance of neighboring fire departments. That you don’t see where there has been a fire doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a fire. The proper staffing training and response allow the fire to be extinguished before it can burn the house down.

  5. The question of annexation is clear and simple. If it was so good for Coral Gables residents, how come the Gables Commission does NOT let the residents of the City vote for or against annexation?

    I have read and reviewed all the annexation proposals. I’ve participated in the workshops. I have driven through the proposed areas to be annexed. I have listened to the politicians and to the residents of the affected areas. I’ve even spoken in public about it.

    Annexation is not, clearly NOT, in the best interest of the current residents of Coral Gables.

    The City’s own projections for the annexation of what is called “Little Gables” shows that after 10 years the area’s contribution to the Coral Gables budget is LESS than what it will cost to provide them with services. And if you drive by the area you will notice houses with flat roofs, no garages, improper set backs, etc. And just in case, the area comes with a trailer park and a cemetery. Wonderful additions to the City Beautiful!

    There is one candidate on the ballot tomorrow who has bravely spoken AGAINST annexation. His name is Jorge Fors and he deserves the support of everyone who believes that our quality of life will deteriorate as a result of annexation. (And if you are worried about over development in our City as I am, annexation is development!)

    As to the firefighters…well, the dirty little secret is that there are NO fires in Coral Gables. Yes, an occasional fire but very, very few. Quick, when was the last house to burn down in Coral Gables?

    Folks, this is not California. We do not have wood frame houses. Fire is a very, very low risk for us. What do firefighters do? They become EMT’s and help us when we have a medical emergency. Ok, that’s good. That is excellent and it is genuinely appreciated. They do a great job as EMT’s.

    But do we need that many firefighters for our City? Men and women who will retire in their 40’s or early 50’s and then collect pensions for the rest of their lives in the six figure $$ range?

    If you haven’t checked lately, the Coral Gables budget includes about $27 million in payment each and every year to pay off the unfunded pension deficit so our firefighters (and remember there are no fires) can live comfortably the rest of their lives at our expense. Let’s see how many EMT’s we need, how many firefighters we need, and then readjust so that the real needs are served.

  6. Coral Gables has an excellent fire department. The city ensures that its units are staffed and trained similarly to the other fire department in the area. The problem with Coral Gables Fire Department is that there aren’t enough of them.

    If you look at the City budget you will see the same number of personnel that they have had for years – 139. Despite that there hasn’t been an increase in the number of personnel, there has been an increase in the calls for services. As cranes rise in the central and northern portions of the city that means even more calls for service. More residents/visitors = greater demand for service.

    High Pines will be much like Kings Bay. Kings Bay was the last area to be annexed by Coral Gables. They pay taxes into the city and get ? in return. In fact, the closest fire station to their area is a Miami Dade Fire Rescue Station, located in neighboring Palmetto Bay.

    Fire stations are located in such a manner as to allow them to respond, equally, in all directions. Removing High Pines takes away a portion of the response area. Despite that, the Miami Dade station can’t be relocated and service reduced, as it still has to serve the other portion of the response area. To think that Coral Gables will then build its own fire station and house units in what can still be served by the Miami Dade station is a waste of money, in my opinion.

    As to the commenter that stated they “are paying higher taxes to subsidize the insurance company,” you are correct. What Keith Donner isn’t telling you is that Coral Gables assesses a fire fee (currently $70 and not subject to any state mandated caps) on all residential properties. So, while not every resident will be transported to the hospital, every household will be paying a new fee that they don’t have to pay living in Unincorporated Dade County. Mind you, that’s just related to the fire rescue issue. There may be more assessments and fees charged by the City of Coral Gables for other city services.

    I can’t fault Coral Gables for the “land grab.” Take over an area that uses few services and pocket their tax dollars. In the instance of Little Gables, rezone the area to allow for more high rises and pocket even more money. It’s up to the residents to let their respective county commissioner know that they oppose the annexation efforts by Coral Gables. It is the Miami Dade County Commission that has the final say in the issue.

  7. Coral Gables has an excellent fire department. The city ensures that its units are staffed and trained similarly to the other fire department in the area. The problem with Coral Gables Fire Department is that there aren’t enough of them.

    If you look at the City budget you will see the same number of personnel that they have had for years – 139. All the while cranes rise in the central and northern portions of the city. The fire department call volume has increased by 33%, yet their workforce has not increased commensurate to their call volume increase.* More residents/visitors = greater demand for service.

    High Pines will be much like Kings Bay. Kings Bay was the last area to be annexed by Coral Gables. They pay taxes into the city and get ? in return. In fact, the closest fire station to their area is a Miami Dade Fire Rescue Station, located in neighboring Palmetto Bay.

    Fire stations are located in such a manner as to allow them to respond, equally, in all directions. Removing High Pines takes away a portion of the response area. Despite that, the Miami Dade station can’t be relocated and service reduced, as it still has to serve the other portion of the response area. To think that Coral Gables will then build its own fire station and house units in what can still be served by the Miami Dade station is a waste of money, in my opinion.

    As to the commenter that stated they “are paying higher taxes to subsidize the insurance company,” you are correct. What Keith Donner isn’t telling you is that Coral Gables assesses a fire fee (currently $70 and not subject to any state mandated caps) on all residential properties. So, while not every resident will be transported to the hospital, every household will be paying a new fee that they don’t have to pay living in Unincorporated Dade County. Mind you, that’s just related to the fire rescue issue. There may be more assessments and fees charged by the City of Coral Gables for other city services.

    I can’t fault Coral Gables for the “land grab.” Take over an area that uses few services and pocket their tax dollars. In the instance of Little Gables, rezone the area to allow for more high rises and pocket even more money. It’s up to the residents to let their respective county commissioner know that they oppose the annexation efforts by Coral Gables. It is the Miami Dade County Commission that has the final say in the issue.

    * = https://www.coralgables.com/departments/Fire/statistics

  8. Coral Gables has an excellent fire department. The city ensures that its units are staffed and trained similarly to the other fire department in the area. The problem with Coral Gables Fire Department is that there aren’t enough of them.

    If you look at the City budget you will see the same number of personnel that they have had for years – 139. All the while cranes rise in the central and northern portions of the city. More residents/visitors = greater demand for service.

    High Pines will be much like Kings Bay. Kings Bay was the last area to be annexed by Coral Gables. They pay taxes into the city and get ? in return. In fact, the closest fire station to their area is a Miami Dade Fire Rescue Station, located in neighboring Palmetto Bay.

    Fire stations are located in such a manner as to allow them to respond, equally, in all directions. Removing High Pines takes away a portion of the response area. Despite that, the Miami Dade station can’t be relocated and service reduced, as it still has to serve the other portion of the response area. To think that Coral Gables will then build its own fire station and house units in what can still be served by the Miami Dade station is a waste of money, in my opinion.

    As to the commenter that stated they “are paying higher taxes to subsidize the insurance company,” you are correct. What Keith Donner isn’t telling you is that Coral Gables assesses a fire fee (currently $70 and not subject to any state mandated caps) on all residential properties. So, while not every resident will be transported to the hospital, every household will be paying a new fee that they don’t have to pay living in Unincorporated Dade County. Mind you, that’s just related to the fire rescue issue. There may be more assessments and fees charged by the City of Coral Gables for other city services.

    I can’t fault Coral Gables for the “land grab.” Take over an area that uses few services and pocket their tax dollars. In the instance of Little Gables, rezone the area to allow for more high rises and pocket even more money. It’s up to the residents to let their respective county commissioner know that they oppose the annexation efforts by Coral Gables. It is the Miami Dade County Commission that has the final say in the issue.

  9. …………………………..

    Wow !

    So much great information many people never hear about .

    My sincere thanks and appreciation to all fire-rescue and police personnel for their dedication and perseverance.

    “Health, safety and welfare” should always be the primary concern of all elected and appointed officials, regardless of their….titles.

    ~The Riviera project…..another surprise from Coral Gables city hall.
    Don’t forget to check out another city beautiful surprise between Minorca and Navarre where they intersect with Salzedo.

    Thank you Community Newspapers for the invaluable information you provide that others cannot !

    ?

  10. I have lived in the unincorporated neighborhood of High Pines my entire 53 years without incident and will vote against annexation. Not interested in higher taxes or political fodder. Thank you.

  11. Mr. Donner,
    You state that the Gables is going to build and staff a mini rescue station in the Riviera parking lot that will enhance service and response times for High Pines and Little Gables. Based on the size of that lot they will only house a rescue truck there. You state it is right across the street from High Pines(it is) and the closest Miami-Dade station is one mile away. But what you fail to point out is that the nearest actual fire truck for Coral Gables is 2.3 miles away. How does that equate to quicker response times? Coral Gables has 3, with “plans” for a fourth, fire stations with a total of about 6 fire trucks and 7 rescues. What happens when the Biltmore Hotel and a house in High Pines or little Gables catch on fire at the same time? The Gables does not have the manpower or equipment to handle a situation like that. As a homeowner in High Pines I am not willing to take the risk of hoping that doesn’t happen.

  12. Incorporation is a bad idea. Higher taxes for fewer city services is only good for politicians and their friends. Vote no on incorporation and vote against any politician that supports it.

  13. As Mr. Donner says there are many reasons to oppose annexation, but since the topic is fire rescue I’ll address that one. In many years living in High Pines we have only had to make a couple emergency calls to fire-rescue and a couple of non-emergency calls to the police. In the case of the rescue service the response has been rapid and professional. In the most recent instance my mother-in-law had to be transported to the hospital but the ride was paid for by her insurance company. So in the Gables I would have been paying higher taxes to subsidize the insurance company.

    Our neighborhood is already closer to two M-D EMS stations than any Gables fire station and the M-D trucks won’t be responsible for any of the huge new buildings under construction along US-1 in the Gables. M-D fire-rescue is objectively better for us.

  14. I would like to share some personal experience on a hi-rise fire in the City of Coral Gables a few years ago. Every fire unit in the Gables was dispatched to this one incident. Unfortunately, they had no other units available to respond to concurrent emergencies in their city during this fire.
    I know, because I who work for MDFR was dispatched to medical emergencies in the City of Coral Gables in what we call in the fire service, a move up to cover other cities which are overwhelmed by a major incident in their respective territories.
    I highly suggest that the life safety of the citizens of Coral Gables should always take precidence and that they do not look at annexation and the jeopardizing of any and all of their citizens.

  15. Why should anyone want to pay the high tax rates Coral Gables has? Coral Gables must be desperate to increase its tax base.

  16. “2. Unlike Metro, Gables does not impose charges on residents who are taken to hospitals by paramedics. So there are real savings for many annexed homeowners.”

    Wouldn’t that mean, by logical inference, that Coral Gables residents will have to pay for this “savings” to the annexed homeowners?

  17. Mr. Blanco is an expert firefighter who voices a viewpoint here that the Gables mayor and commission have never considered. We in High Pines want no part of Gables annexation, for several reasons. But Mr. Blanco’s reason is a doozy. We’re talking about life and death here. The Gables is interested only in grabbing the tax income from High Pines, and obviously not interested in the danger an annexation would pose to High Pines residents in the event of fires. Shame on you Gables mayor Fauli. And shame on the entire clueless Gables commission.

  18. Wow, Mr. Blanco sure crammed a lot of falsehoods and scaremongering in his 450-word missive.

    1. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue will not be financially affected by the annexations. The department won’t need personnel or equipment to service those areas, so it won’t need the tax revenue any more for that personnel and equipment. Pretty simple concept. Plus, the two areas are still on the hook to retire the department’s bond debt even after annexation.

    2. Unlike Metro, Gables does not impose charges on residents who are taken to hospitals by paramedics. So there are real savings for many annexed homeowners.

    3. Gables has plans to build and staff a mini fire-rescue station at the city-owned parking lot next to Riviera Church on Sunset Drive. This is literally across the street from High Pines, as opposed to Metro’s station a mile away on the other side of U.S. 1. And, of course, It also will enhance fire-rescue service for nearby Gables residents and businesses. Little Gables also will have faster fire-rescue response times after annexation.

    4. Both annexations will not affect any services or the quality of life for Coral Gables residents in the short term. Long term, the annexations will deliver tangible service and quality of life benefits.

    There are legitimate reasons to oppose annexation. Mr. Blanco, alas, doesn’t provide any.

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