This guy Victor M. Diaz, an attorney, is the head of the Charter Review Board. What do we know about him readers? I already looked on google. Anyone have any personal experiences with him? It just surprised me that the County Commission Chair, Dim Bruno Barreiro, would find someone so articulate, so unlike himself. Anyone have something to share? I want to learn more about him.And speaking of Lobbyist/Board Member Miguel De Grandy ---
His op ed piece which coincidentally came out the same day, was brought up by at least one speaker, saying it was inapporiate since the group had not made any formal decisions. I know that when these boards and committees are formed they usually agree to how they are going to conduct themselves with the press, etc.
De Grandy said, I did not give up my constitutional rights of free speech when I joined this committee. Victor M. Diaz said in response that I am the only one who speaks for this board – it was decided by the group.
So in effect -- De Grandy pissed on their agreed upon protocol.
From the Board's minutes: of 7/9/07:
"It was moved by Mr. Smith that Chairman Diaz serve as the spokesperson for this Task Force. This motion was seconded by Ms. Soler-McKinley, and upon being put to a vote, passed by a unanimous vote of those members present."
Why I find Mr. DeGrandy's behavior problematic. They are operating under sunshine rules. They are not to discuss the items with each other outside the group. That is giving up your free speech Miguel, isn't it? Well what does a newspaper article mean to this rule? What does it mean that a member advertises his views to the public and only those board members that read the paper? I think it violates sunshine. Maybe I am too narrow in my view...but piss on him anyway.
11 comments:
Diaz seemed inexperienced at times at the meeting yesterday
come on , someone say something!
I watched the meeting, I didn't like it.
Victor Diaz is rocket scientist smart. I am sure he was one of the highest IQ's in Miami. 170+. I thought he did an excellent job as Chairman. Although I did not watch every minute I kept thinking he did a fantastic job taking live call-ins, handling public speakers and controling some large egos on his Board. Victor is very experienced at running meetings. His drawbacks are that he is usually the smartest person in the room and he loves to hear himself talk and he tends to promote Hispanic interests too aggressively.
I hope Victor and the other board members see through the clutter of Broward County and non-Miami-Dade Haitian residents who keep demanding some Haitian be given a seat. Let them earn a seat like every other minority. And I hope the board institutes term limits to remove the idiots on the current Commission.
Victor was born November 14, 1960, in Camaguey, Cuba. In 1982, he received his Bachelor’s Degree (summa cum laude) from Duke University in 1982, where he graduated first in his class. In 1985, Victor graduated from the Yale Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law & Policy Review. While in law school, Victor was elected by the Yale faculty to serve as an Assistant In Instruction for the 1984-85 school year, teaching Torts and Legal Process.
Victor was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1985. His professional memberships include: Dade County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar; Florida Justice Association (Member, Sections on Aviation and Commercial Litigation); American Association for Justice (Chair Elect, Section on Aviation Litigation); (Member, Section on Commercial Litigation); Dade County Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Directors, 1997-1999); the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Cuban American Bar Association (Board of Directors 1998-2004; President 2003). In 2003, Victor was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
For over two decades Victor has concentrated his practice in complex civil litigation including complex commercial litigation, class actions, multi-district litigation, mass torts and product liability cases. Victor has been recognized as an elite trial lawyer by numerous national and regional publications, including The South Florida Legal Guide, Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, Chamber’s USA’s Guide to Leading Lawyers for Business, Who’s Who in American Law, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America, Lawdragon’s 3000 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America, Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. Victor has lectured in this country for the Florida Justice Association, the American Association for Justice and the Florida Bar on various litigation related topics and has been invited to address several international law conferences on the subject of mass tort, product liability and complex civil litigation involving foreign nationals.
In February 2000, the Florida Supreme Court awarded Victor The Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award, the highest public service award in the State of Florida that can be conferred on a lawyer. Victor’s civic activities have included serving as President of Greater Miami Legal Services, Inc. (1996-1997); Chairman of the Miami-Dade College Foundation (2000 -2003); Vice Chairman of the Spanish American League Against Discrimination (1997 - 2001); Chairman of the City of Miami Beach's Planning Board (2003-2007); Chairman of Miami Dade County’s Charter Review Task Force (2007); member of the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Alumni Association; and a member of the Metro Dade County Cultural Affairs Council. In addition to the Tobias Simon Award, Victor has received numerous other awards for his professional and civic accomplishments, including the National Community Leadership Award from the Points of Light Foundation (2000); the City of Miami Beach's "Shining Light" (1997) and "Citizen of the Year” Award (2003), the Theodore Gibson Foundation Humanitarian Award (2002); and the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award (2006).
Victor is fluent in Spanish and English.
thanks all...
What is his ideological background? Yale is one of the most conservative of the elite law schools. Duke, outside of English Department is also very conservative.
I think De Grandy's newspaper op-ed missed the boat on the low representation of Anglos on the BCC. Look at the deomgraphics: Anglos are split up to provide enough population for the two other major ethnic groups. If this were done to Hispanics or Blacks, the US Attorney would have halted the district maps.
But I think he can write whatever he wants without violating the Sunshine Law, which seeks to prevent private discussions among decisionmakers.
Who gives money to DeGrandy?
he is a lobbyist...he has a host of clients....
Ave Med
50 State Security
Airport Parking Associates....
plenty more
Shouldn't a low life lobbyist like DeGrandy be addressing the Charter Review Board and NOT sitting as a member? Isn't that the fox guarding the henhouse? The despot with keys to the jail?
Like handing Fidel Castro the keys to the US treasury...
Like giving Chavez 51% of Exxon...
Post a Comment