Carlos Alvarez Speaks Out On Recall Campaign

MIAMI (CBS4) - Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez came out swinging Wednesday at the Downtown Bay Forum. His focus: the recall effort building against him led by auto tycoon Norman Braman.

Alvarez said, "I was not going to be the first mayor that closes down fire stations, that closes down parks. I was not going to do that. I would rather be recalled."

Braman appears to have more than enough recall petition signatures. Voters are angry about a recent 13-percent property tax rate hike that largely impacts residents with longstanding homestead exemptions.

Alvarez fumed, "But 60 percent of property owners in Miami-Dade saw taxes go down."

Braman has said there is nothing personal about the recall effort. He argued this is about tax and spending policy decisions made at a time of economic hardship. Alvarez is skeptical.

He told his audience, "Do I think it is personal? Yeah. I wish he had the courage to say that."

Alvarez thinks Braman is sore over losing his bid to block the new Marlins stadium. It is a deal that is a sore point for many voters too, even though stadium supporters argue that tourist tax dollars are paying for it.

"If we could use that money for public safety," Alvarez said, "there would be no stadium. But these are convention and development tax money."

Alvarez also defended raises next year for county union workers. He said no one talks about union concessions over the past few years. Alvarez said, "The citizens of Miami-Dade will realize $224 million of savings from organized labor which has never occurred before."

The fiery defense of his policy decisions also included a biting comment about the city of Miami. Alvarez is tired of hearing about how the Magic City drew the line and said no to new taxes for next year, all while battling for new union contract concessions.

Alvarez said, "The city of Miami was on the verge of bankruptcy. How do you get on the verge of bankruptcy, by being good? Are you joking?"

The embattled mayor says "let the voters decide" when it comes to the recall effort he faces but he is fighting back. The legal team he has assembled along with a political action committee signal Alvarez does not want to leave the mayor's office one day before his term ends in 2012.The next few months will decide whether he can convince enough voters of that plan.