Office Space...more of the same

Once again from the Miami Herald:

The Broward branch of a new state agency whose mission is to represent poor clients is supposed to start taking cases in two months, but so far, it has no place to put even a desk.

Philip Massa, who will oversee the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel in Broward, had hoped that the county would donate office space in or near the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, but frustrated commissioners made it clear on Tuesday they were having none of it.

Commissioners pointed out that Broward doesn't have enough room in its aging courthouse for current workers. Broward is searching for a location for a new, larger courthouse but doesn't have the money to pay for it.

''The inn is full and falling down,'' Commissioner Lois Wexler said. ``There really is no space in our county buildings.''

Commissioners said the state shouldn't ask for free space after imposing budget cuts that cost Broward $90 million this year. If voters approve a constitutional amendment on Jan. 29, commissioners would have to cut at least $76 million next year.

Massa declined to comment after the unanimous vote. However, he expressed his anger at commissioners -- suggesting that facing them was like speaking before the Supreme Court.

...and so on. This particular story is getting a bit stale. But how about this:

Massa will likely have to look for space to rent -- but there aren't many options near the courthouse. He plans to start taking cases around Jan. 1. But the fact that the agency has no office and has filled only three of 28 to 32 positions doesn't bode well.

I've noticed in trend in recent news stories. The new law took effect July 1, 2007. Since the Regional Counsels weren't appointed yet, it was understood that they would take over October 1, 2007. That has come and gone, leaving the drop-deadline of January 1, 2008, since the legislation gave wiggle-room until then. Now more and more news stories hint at "sometime next year", or in this case, "around January 1".

Such things are no longer news. What is interesting, however, are comments posted in response to this article. For instance:

Commenter: They replaced the old system that cost $95 mil last year with a systemn that costs $57 mil - without overhead. That's why they're asking the Counties for free office space. How many people would find it easier to make ends meet if they didn't have to pay rent?

Commenter: When you add up the cost of the Regional Counsel, to the cost of the cases the RC DOESN'T cover - plus overruns for overhead, you will come up with more than $95 milllion. Then add the cost f all the changes that were made