As the Miami-Dade County Commission Transit Committee considers ways to address the transit department’s budget shortfall, community members will highlight the need for the County to contract with responsible corporations at the County Commission Chambers in the Stephen P. Clark Government Building today at 2:00 pm.
 
Last week, a Miami-Dade County audit that found the Wackenhut Corp. billed Miami-Dade taxpayers for at least $6 million of security work they did not perform on the Metro Rail. The County has given Wackenhut 90 days to respond.
 
Just two days prior to the release of the audit, National Public Radio reported Miami-Dade’s ridership is at an all-time high, yet, in that same week, the Miami-Dade Transit Committee voted to eliminate or cut back 16 bus routes and lay off 65 workers. To be discussed at tomorrow’s Transit Committee meeting is Commissioner Rolle’s proposed resolution to increase transit fares by fifty cents to cover Miami-Dade transit’s current debt which is estimated to be at least $16 million.
 
“I ride the Metro Rail to work every day and I knew those officers needed more help guarding the stations,” said Elizardo Hernandez, a Miami-Dade transit rider and member of SEIU Local 11. “If Wackenhut cannot do the job they said they would do, they don’t deserve another chance.”
 
Yesterday, Wackenhut was investigated for security lapses at FPL’s Turkey Point. In addition to Miami-Dade County, Wackenhut Corp. has come under scrutiny by the U.S. Congress, the Nuclear Regulatory Committee and the Department of Labor and the Department of Energy’s Inspector General.