I found a blatant group of 16 campaign contributions (all in a row) on Joe Martinez’s campaign report. They were all from the same address (including suite number) with a couple of links to Rolando Delgado but most to Attorney, Eduardo Garcia. The contributions totaled $8,000. When you consider the limit for a contribution is $500... you might ask: "Isn't $8,000 over the limit?" Yes, but here is how do they do it legally. You can give a contribution from each of your companies. If you have a lot of companies, you can make a lot of contributions. Eduardo Garcia is listed as the Mgr. (not an officer) on most of these Corporations, so who knows who really is giving, maybe it is him. Maybe not. What a tangled web of deception we have giving to our candidates. All I can say for sure is: Address 2950 SW 27th Avenue, Suite 300, Miami 33133 (way out of his district by the way) just loves Joe!
Here is a novel idea. If we have district voting, how about having district campaign contributions too. Not from the district, sorry! if you can't vote then you can't give! Norman Braman, give it some thought. This could be your next lawsuit: District Giving!
22 comments:
Eduardo Garcia donates to the commissioner though he does not live in the district. (We do not know his actual connections) He is listed on the official campaign documents. All is disclosed, even if you do not like it.
This blog has openly opposed the commissioner. Neither blogger owner lives in the district, but is actively campaigning through this blog against the commissioner. What is the difference except we know Eduardo Garcia and the amount he has donated are listed? Your identity and prejudices are secret.
Fair? No way. Fact of life? Sure.
Never trust an anonymous opinion (maybe even this one). Eduardo Garcia has stepped forward publicly, especially in the face of negative attacks through innuendo.
the blogger is stating facts. where is the innuedo? nothing in the post says he is a bad guy. he is using a loophole in the campaign contributions corporate giving policy to over give. that is a fact. the county commission created it.
I think this blog is unfair to the address. Why are you picking on an address? Do you have any axe to grind?
It is all in the semantics. It’s a “loophole” if you do not like it, meaning: grey or should be illegal – innuendo – as in the expression ‘exploiting a loophole.’ It is “permitted” if you have no issue with it, i.e., each of my companies can donate. The fact that you were able to easily note and follow the donations means it is above board. It is legal and permissible under the rules. Change the rules, do not blast those who follow them, which I do concede is impossible with the present party in power at County Hall.
Your original post led to someone callinghim a "money launderer" -- was that result intended?
The real question is would you have similarly singled out someone who similarly donated more than the personal maximum to the commissioner’s opponent?
Finally, Obama has shrugged off the public financing, and the financial restraints that includes. How does that play?
What does Obama have to do with it? If you want to stay on focus, focus on how the county commissioner you support and his votes to put more zoning changes to favor Lennar and the rest are grinding Miami Dade taxpayers to the bone. What exactly do you expect in return for your support of Martinez? Do you have any issues before the County Commission? Are you a manager for any properties or investor in any properties who value would be affected by the votes of Joe Martinez or any other county commissioner?
He is not a Mgr. He is a ------. So, whatever happened to the Charter Review Commission? All those hours spent ... what have they amounted to?
Is this what Dan Paul imagined would protect taxpayers, way back when?
July 04, 2008
I removed the M----- L------- reference
As reporter Curtis Morgan said about us: We only print unsubstantiated rumors on the internet. Then he sends a reporter to contact me for him to get background for a story. Go figure. Those of you who believe that this blog presents you with bad information: There is a simple remedy: Don't read the blog. Tell your friends not to read it.
We are very open about who we don't like...it is no secret.
I am an opponent, far from a supporter of Commissioner Martinez, but I am all for fairness and consistency. It is funny how you jumped from my objecting to the message to supporting the commissioner. I am working against his re-election, but have not met with is opponent. He has to show me more before I can support him.
I hate people who cloud issues with personal attacks and give free passes to those who are just as responsible for the County’s ills, but simply likeable. It’s the old ‘hate congress, but like my congress member’ mentality.
You appear extremely thin skined for someone who toils in anonymity.
Finally, what does Obama have to do with this? It is on task. It’s another free pass issue. I am a strong Dem (who will vote Rep – I really do not fit either party), but I hate inconsistency, hypocrisy, and wonder why this blog gives him a free pass. How can you blast someone for fairly and openly donating from his various companies, again – legal whether you like it or not, but not castigate someone who is harming the concept and controls of public financing?
The real issue is that the overwhelming majority of contributors to Martinez' campaign are from from developer, builder, architects, land use attorneys and the like. Contributions come in the form of $500 checks, many from same addresses. They may be legal, but they are a good indicator of who cares whether he gets reelected, and this leads us to ask the question, "why".
Martinez has a tragic history of voting illogically on important issues. Furthermore, he appears to be well informed on these votes. There have been many instances where an army of "suits" have paraded out of Commission Chambers, patting eachother on the backs.
Does Martinez still work as a traffic consultant? Is he still providing security services on those partially built construction sites? (That feels a bit "Sopranos" to me.) Is it appropriate to accept money for traffic consulting and then cast a vote on the MPO on a transportation issue or the BCC on a zoning issue?
I believe it is the priviledge (and obligation) of all residents to question the ethics of the people they elect when the people's best interests are being compromised.
Here's a statement for you:
"WE THE PEOPLE..."
Commissioner Martinez, on a scale of 1 to 10, how ethical are you, exactly? (Campaign people, please feel free to weigh in on his behalf.) "WE THE PEOPLE" want to know. Happy 4th, Y'all.
I would support a piece of wood before I would support Martinez. At least it could do no damage.
Stop talking about my skin. It is none of your business. Here is some advice: go bother someone else. I work for free, not for abuse. Blogger don't sign up for abuse --- that is why we all have a delete your message button....If you want impartial reporting, read a newspaper. That is what they are for. Blogs are not newspapers. Don't annoy me on a holiday.
After 8 years of Bush, I would given Obama a free pass, because even as Genius said, a piece of wood would do no harm. Mc Cain is Bush 2. You are not a Democrat that is certain. You are one of those nut jobs who is blinded by Fox news. I hope Genius deletes you if you post again.
Contributions only from the district, I love it.
Many campaign contributors have gotten a free pass over the years. They have remained in anonymity because no one looked up the records and named names for the public. Frank Alvarado recently did it on the New Times blog that was very informative, and Eye on Miami blog does it regularly. This blog prints photos of, lobbyists and developers. People that thrive in the shadows do not like to be outed. I am happy this blog is doing it. Sometime things aren't wrong technically -- giving $8,000 but it is wrong ethically. You have to understand the difference. Just my 2 cents.
At least you finally admitted it. Your friends can do no wrong. Your enemies can never do right. Fox News? Hardly. Nut? Great, jump to cast childish names against those who disagree with you and wish to point out your own inconsistencies and follies. Delete? Sure, it should be good enough for you as it is done by the County. Why should this blog be any different than the mainstream? Bother? I thought you welcomed opposing viewpoints.
I will wait for a blog to come along that really serves the public rather than rant against everyone. Blend positive with the criticism and really push for a positive change enlisting help from those who are disenfranchised rather than attacking those who do not fall into the line you draw and fail to kiss your papal ring.
Enjoy this post until it is deleted.
knucklehead.
why didn't you delete that person above your post?
Not worth the trouble...people can judge for themselves...It looks like he or she will be moving on to other blogs...
That's no different than getting business associates/friends to contribute to a certain campaign and then reimbursing them. I've seen that happen way too many times.
Those people who complain that the blog only points one way are ignoring all the enemies of the blogger who have their say in anon comments. actually we do get both sides of an argument, all you have to do is read the comments. As to $8000. from companies- this is either one man reimbursing his friends for their contribution, which is illegal or else it is people who do not want their name to be known using this mode of getting around the law.
or mensa, it is one person hoping to get A LOT of INFLUENCE!
Did you notice that those who are tearing up the blog did not weigh in on Martinez' traffic consulting or security businesses. Really, I think we need to hear from both sides. "We the people" are sitting on the edges of our computer chairs.
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