During this morning's portion of the City Commission meeting, references were made regarding the need to build a new police station. That need is real, and obvious.

Below are photos I recently received that reveal the condition of the 5th floor of police headquarters where the Homicide, Domestic Violence and Economic Crimes Unit offices were located.  I say, were, because as the photos reveal the area has been gutted as the result of the discovery of mold.

Like many other problems, the issue of mold was not a new issue, and I've been told that a search of records and emails will reveal numerous examples of complaints being sent up the chain of command regarding the problems for years.

Like many other complaints, these were ignored until employees started getting sick, and they could no longer be ignored.

Given the nature of the comments made during this morning's session, it's now evident that at this afternoon's session the anticipated presentation to be made by the Chief regarding all of the problems with the destruction of homicide evidence will be one where the blame will be put on a lack of money that forced the city to invoke a claim of Financial Urgency in 2010 and 2011.

The only problem with that is that while the city was essentially broke, it was never so broke that it could not have afforded the purchase of a  shipping container for $16,500 in 2012.

The failure to follow through with the purchase of the shipping container in 2012 was not a problem of finances, it was a problem of leadership and competence.

But I digress. Here is what the 5th floor of Police Headquarters looks like today, and although the place is gutted, the last photo will show you that the interview rooms are still being used, because they have no place else available.

It's Miami. Bitches!