Does anyone else think it is time, for an update?
HISPANIC BUSINESS LEADERS CALL SUMMIT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
FABIOLA SANTIAGO Miami Herald Staff Writer
June 2, 1998
Expressing outrage over corruption in Miami-Dade County, a powerful group of business and civic leaders is calling for a community leadership summit on June 19 to "clean up our act.''
"We have had it!'' begins a letter sent to business leaders by Mesa Redonda chairman-elect Carlos A. Saladrigas and 23 other members of the organization, a who's who of Cuban Americans.
"We are outraged by what has happened in our beloved community,'' wrote Saladrigas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Vincam Group, a human resources company. "Once regarded as the crime capital of America, we are now perceived as its corruption capital.''
Mesa Redonda (which literally translates to Round Table) was formed in 1990 by two prominent Cuban Americans -- Florida International University President Modesto ``Mitch'' Maidique and Carlos de la Cruz, chairman of Eagle Brands, a distribution company. The pair gathered a group of 10 prominent Hispanics for private monthly meetings to discuss community issues.
To lead the ``by-invitation-only'' summit, Mesa Redonda has invited Terry Brunner, executive director of Chicago's Better Government Association, to talk about how the private sector can be an effective watchdog for government.
Brunner is credited with successfully helping Chicago civic and business leaders tackle government corruption.
"[They] like us were just fed up,'' Saladrigas said in the letter. Brunner will be helping the group of about 50 Miami-Dade business and civic leaders address corruption issues and brainstorm on strategies for solutions. Maidique has offered FIU's facilities to hold the meeting, scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. and end after lunch. Although the topic is public corruption, public officials haven't been invited, Maidique said.
"This is a sit-down between the business and civic leadership to say, `What do we do about it?' '' Maidique said.
But if all Mesa Redonda members attend -- 23 of 25 members signed the invitation letter -- some of the business leaders at the summit will have had a brush with public controversy themselves. Jorge Mas Santos' company, MasTec, has allegedly overbilled Miami-Dade County for hundreds of thousands of dollars in paving work, and businessman Sergio Pino, a major political fund-raiser, has been involved in controversial contracts with the city of Miami and the county. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
"That's like the pot calling the kettle black,'' one Mesa Redonda member said. "We know we have some of those members in our group and that is definitely one of our concerns.''
Sense of responsibility
It was precisely that -- a sense of responsibility to stand up to corruption -- that led to the summit initiative, Maidique said.
``During the last 20 years, the Hispanic community in Miami-Dade has been accumulating a great deal of wealth and political influence,'' Maidique said. ``Along with power and wealth, comes responsibility. I see this initiative as an important way in which the [Hispanic] community can be responsible and helpful in making a contribution to the overall community.''
The Mesa Redonda call is part of a growing community movement to tackle a recent wave of corruption scandals.
"Hallelujah!'' said Dario Moreno, a political scientist at FIU and frequent critic of corrupt officials. ``If they act on this, follow through and commit themselves, this is a very important event for Miami. It is the downtown business establishment, which deals with government on a day-to-day basis, that has to put the elected officials' seats to the fire. The public can get outraged and vote the scoundrels out, the justice system can arrest and indict people caught red-handed, but it takes the business community to really get active to get meaningful change.''
Initiative welcomed
Paul Libert, president of the Northeast Dade Coalition, an umbrella group of 100 condo and homeowner associations, which also has been trying to address public corruption, welcomed the Mesa Redonda initiative. But he warned that it must extend beyond Hispanics.
"It's got to be a partnership,'' Libert said. ``This is not a Latin problem or a black problem or a religious problem. We are going to have to bring together all groups. The problem of public corruption is destroying the quality of our lives. We not only need a Latin business group, but we need a black business group, and an Anglo business group.''
prefer if the summit were open to everyone who wishes to contribute.
something that's affecting our community, our image and our trust of government. It should be public.''
MESA REDONDA MEMBERS WHO SIGNED THE LETTER CALLING FOR A CORRUPTION SUMMIT:
Carlos A. Saladrigas, chairman and CEO of The Vincam Group
Cesar Alvarez, CEO of Greenberg, Traurig
Luis Botifoll, chairman emeritus of Republic National Bank
Roger Cuevas, superintendent of Miami-Dade Schools
Remedios Diaz-Oliver, president of All American Container
Modesto Maidique, president of Florida International University
Rene Murai, lawyer at Murai, Wald, Biondo & Moreno
Jorge Perez, president of The Related Companies
Diego Suarez, president of Inter-American Transport
Carlos Arboleya, retired vice chairman of Barnett Bank
Jose Cancela, president of Telemundo television network
Carlos de Cespedes, CEO of the Pharmed Group
Adolfo Henriquez, executive vice president of Union Planters Bank
Jorge Mas Santos, chairman & CEO of Mas Tec
Ramiro Ortiz, president of SunTrust Bank
Sergio Pino, president of Century Plumbing
Rosa Sugranes, president of Iberia Tiles
Jose Arriola, CEO of Avanti/Case-Hoyt
Armando Codina, chairman of the Codina Group
Carlos de la Cruz, Sr., chairman of Eagle Brands
Maria Camila Leiva, executive vice president of Miami Free Zone
Carlos Migoya, president of First Union National Bank
Rafael Penalver, lawyer at Penalver & Penalver
Amancio Suarez, chairman and partner of Cosmo
For the full text of the Mesa Redonda letter, visit HeraldLink at www.herald.com/extra
HISPANIC BUSINESS LEADERS CALL SUMMIT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
FABIOLA SANTIAGO Miami Herald Staff Writer
June 2, 1998
Expressing outrage over corruption in Miami-Dade County, a powerful group of business and civic leaders is calling for a community leadership summit on June 19 to "clean up our act.''
"We have had it!'' begins a letter sent to business leaders by Mesa Redonda chairman-elect Carlos A. Saladrigas and 23 other members of the organization, a who's who of Cuban Americans.
"We are outraged by what has happened in our beloved community,'' wrote Saladrigas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Vincam Group, a human resources company. "Once regarded as the crime capital of America, we are now perceived as its corruption capital.''
Mesa Redonda (which literally translates to Round Table) was formed in 1990 by two prominent Cuban Americans -- Florida International University President Modesto ``Mitch'' Maidique and Carlos de la Cruz, chairman of Eagle Brands, a distribution company. The pair gathered a group of 10 prominent Hispanics for private monthly meetings to discuss community issues.
To lead the ``by-invitation-only'' summit, Mesa Redonda has invited Terry Brunner, executive director of Chicago's Better Government Association, to talk about how the private sector can be an effective watchdog for government.
Brunner is credited with successfully helping Chicago civic and business leaders tackle government corruption.
"[They] like us were just fed up,'' Saladrigas said in the letter. Brunner will be helping the group of about 50 Miami-Dade business and civic leaders address corruption issues and brainstorm on strategies for solutions. Maidique has offered FIU's facilities to hold the meeting, scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. and end after lunch. Although the topic is public corruption, public officials haven't been invited, Maidique said.
"This is a sit-down between the business and civic leadership to say, `What do we do about it?' '' Maidique said.
But if all Mesa Redonda members attend -- 23 of 25 members signed the invitation letter -- some of the business leaders at the summit will have had a brush with public controversy themselves. Jorge Mas Santos' company, MasTec, has allegedly overbilled Miami-Dade County for hundreds of thousands of dollars in paving work, and businessman Sergio Pino, a major political fund-raiser, has been involved in controversial contracts with the city of Miami and the county. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
"That's like the pot calling the kettle black,'' one Mesa Redonda member said. "We know we have some of those members in our group and that is definitely one of our concerns.''
Sense of responsibility
It was precisely that -- a sense of responsibility to stand up to corruption -- that led to the summit initiative, Maidique said.
``During the last 20 years, the Hispanic community in Miami-Dade has been accumulating a great deal of wealth and political influence,'' Maidique said. ``Along with power and wealth, comes responsibility. I see this initiative as an important way in which the [Hispanic] community can be responsible and helpful in making a contribution to the overall community.''
The Mesa Redonda call is part of a growing community movement to tackle a recent wave of corruption scandals.
"Hallelujah!'' said Dario Moreno, a political scientist at FIU and frequent critic of corrupt officials. ``If they act on this, follow through and commit themselves, this is a very important event for Miami. It is the downtown business establishment, which deals with government on a day-to-day basis, that has to put the elected officials' seats to the fire. The public can get outraged and vote the scoundrels out, the justice system can arrest and indict people caught red-handed, but it takes the business community to really get active to get meaningful change.''
Initiative welcomed
Paul Libert, president of the Northeast Dade Coalition, an umbrella group of 100 condo and homeowner associations, which also has been trying to address public corruption, welcomed the Mesa Redonda initiative. But he warned that it must extend beyond Hispanics.
"It's got to be a partnership,'' Libert said. ``This is not a Latin problem or a black problem or a religious problem. We are going to have to bring together all groups. The problem of public corruption is destroying the quality of our lives. We not only need a Latin business group, but we need a black business group, and an Anglo business group.''
prefer if the summit were open to everyone who wishes to contribute.
something that's affecting our community, our image and our trust of government. It should be public.''
MESA REDONDA MEMBERS WHO SIGNED THE LETTER CALLING FOR A CORRUPTION SUMMIT:
Carlos A. Saladrigas, chairman and CEO of The Vincam Group
Cesar Alvarez, CEO of Greenberg, Traurig
Luis Botifoll, chairman emeritus of Republic National Bank
Roger Cuevas, superintendent of Miami-Dade Schools
Remedios Diaz-Oliver, president of All American Container
Modesto Maidique, president of Florida International University
Rene Murai, lawyer at Murai, Wald, Biondo & Moreno
Jorge Perez, president of The Related Companies
Diego Suarez, president of Inter-American Transport
Carlos Arboleya, retired vice chairman of Barnett Bank
Jose Cancela, president of Telemundo television network
Carlos de Cespedes, CEO of the Pharmed Group
Adolfo Henriquez, executive vice president of Union Planters Bank
Jorge Mas Santos, chairman & CEO of Mas Tec
Ramiro Ortiz, president of SunTrust Bank
Sergio Pino, president of Century Plumbing
Rosa Sugranes, president of Iberia Tiles
Jose Arriola, CEO of Avanti/Case-Hoyt
Armando Codina, chairman of the Codina Group
Carlos de la Cruz, Sr., chairman of Eagle Brands
Maria Camila Leiva, executive vice president of Miami Free Zone
Carlos Migoya, president of First Union National Bank
Rafael Penalver, lawyer at Penalver & Penalver
Amancio Suarez, chairman and partner of Cosmo
For the full text of the Mesa Redonda letter, visit HeraldLink at www.herald.com/extra
2 comments:
How many signatories of the letter are now in jail? under indictment? under investigation? fleeing prosecution?
Miami will always be a hell hole.
You're damn right it's time for an update. These are the delinquents who back politicians campaigns so they can reap their own harvests. Why doesn't anyone ask Jackson Memorial if Cancela is still its lobbyist?
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