Did Former City of Miami Commissioner Get The Boot? By Geniusofdespair
I was told that former City of Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez was fired by the Miccosukee Tribe after 3 plus years as their "VIP Host".
12 comments:
Gifted
said...
Just a rumor....but I heard (from watchdog report) that he was working as an officer with corrections/marshalls. He is the guy that escorts the accused into court.
Thanks, Genius. I always find it interesting to know about commissioners outside work, especially when one was drawing a full-time check from one's political job. For those who don't remember, in an off-year election in 2003 with no races on most ballots and heavy rain on election day, a handful of City of Miami voters approved paying city commissioners such as Sanchez a full-time salary so they wouldn't have to work an outside job.
Sanchez was an FHP officer and Florida PBA lobbyist shortly before he was appointed to the city commission in 1998. He did not work for the Miccosukee tribe at that time, and he was hired by the Miccosukees while he held his politically powerful city position.
So when when you report that the Miccosukee tribe dropped Sanchez just months after he finally lost a race and left political office, it suggests to me that the job was probably a bogus do-nothing job and Sanchez was only hired because of his political ties and influence.
See, this is why I feel that elected officials should get realistic, competitive salaries when they get elected and should be banned from securing any type of outside employment or receiving any other type of compensation while they are serving in public office.
Sure, municipal and state elected officials are considered "part-time" employees of the government but in reality they are not. They work more than full time, even weekends - they are always on call whenever they're not in the legislature or county or city hall.
We should pay them like any other executive that the prvate sector hires (within reason, of course).
This would encourage a better, higher quality slate of candidates in the future and although it does not guarantee that politics will be corruption free, it would diminish it.
Everytime this item is on the ballot I always vote in favor of it and will continue to do so.
To the last Anon, Sanchez actually did receive a full-time competitive salary from the city, probably the largest such salary in the state for an elected commission member. That still didn't stop him from shaking down the Miccosukees for a second job.
I know that Sanchez is working as a contract Marshall escorting prisoners at FDC to their federal court hearings. Sanchez is an employee of a private company that has been contracted by the US govt to provide this service. Kind of sad to see someone who less than a year ago was embroiled in debates over land use issues, taxes, multi-million dollats budgets, mega development deals, etc. is now reduced to sitting in a chair fumbling with his Blackberry while waiting for a federal prisoner to finish in court.
To clarify the issue of Sanchez' employment: He was a State Trooper and activist in the Roads neighborhood when Humberto Hernandez was suspended from office. He was appointed to Hernandez' seat on the Commission. After being appointed he took leave from his FHP job and eventually found some other work. I remember that he worked as an investigator for Lewis Freeman's forensic accounting practice, but I don't know all the details about when he got that job or what else he was doing.
When voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to provide a salary increase for Commissioners (something like $60k/year plus benefits for "part-time") I recall reading an article in Miami Today where Lewis Freeman stated that he would reduce Joe's workload and salary because he now had a substantial salary and responsibilities to the City as a Commissioner. Looking back, I must say that Lewis' statement was rich with irony. Thanks for looking out for the taxpayers, if only you'd have looked out for your clients with the same zeal! LOL!
I supposed that the reduced salary from Lewis Freeman was not enough so Mr. Sanchez sought work elsewhere and landed the gig with the Miccosukees [sp?].
All of these positions were quid pro quo deals that were only valid while he was an elected official.
It's a shame because sometimes people land in these positions and they start with good intentions and wanting to do what's right. Then they get a taste of the VIP treatment, eating at the fancy restaurants, mingling with the "it-crowd" and they forget who they really are. Once the magic carpet is pulled out from underneath and the fairy tale ends, it is a sobering change when Jorge Perez and David Samson won't even recognize you or when you're suddenly not invited to partake to your heart's content at the Viceroy, or when you realize that you can't afford to eat at Capitol Grill.
Joe Sanchez got a full-time salary from the City. $104,000 when he left. But he only worked part-time.
Sanchez demanded that the other commissioners agree to the terms the Marlins wanted for the $3.5 Billion bailout. Sanchez was irate other commissioners wanted to make the deal better for the taxpayers. Sanchez acted like he was on the Marlin's payroll.
Now Sanchez is mixing with another type of criminal.
12 comments:
Just a rumor....but I heard (from watchdog report) that he was working as an officer with corrections/marshalls. He is the guy that escorts the accused into court.
WOW, Genius, slow news day?
I need a job.
I bet that is just part of the sweep of the old friends of the previous chief or whatever he is called.
Sanchez has been with Miccousukees longer than 3 years. Over 10 years
Thanks, Genius. I always find it interesting to know about commissioners outside work, especially when one was drawing a full-time check from one's political job. For those who don't remember, in an off-year election in 2003 with no races on most ballots and heavy rain on election day, a handful of City of Miami voters approved paying city commissioners such as Sanchez a full-time salary so they wouldn't have to work an outside job.
Sanchez was an FHP officer and Florida PBA lobbyist shortly before he was appointed to the city commission in 1998. He did not work for the Miccosukee tribe at that time, and he was hired by the Miccosukees while he held his politically powerful city position.
So when when you report that the Miccosukee tribe dropped Sanchez just months after he finally lost a race and left political office, it suggests to me that the job was probably a bogus do-nothing job and Sanchez was only hired because of his political ties and influence.
See, this is why I feel that elected officials should get realistic, competitive salaries when they get elected and should be banned from securing any type of outside employment or receiving any other type of compensation while they are serving in public office.
Sure, municipal and state elected officials are considered "part-time" employees of the government but in reality they are not. They work more than full time, even weekends - they are always on call whenever they're not in the legislature or county or city hall.
We should pay them like any other executive that the prvate sector hires (within reason, of course).
This would encourage a better, higher quality slate of candidates in the future and although it does not guarantee that politics will be corruption free, it would diminish it.
Everytime this item is on the ballot I always vote in favor of it and will continue to do so.
To the last Anon, Sanchez actually did receive a full-time competitive salary from the city, probably the largest such salary in the state for an elected commission member. That still didn't stop him from shaking down the Miccosukees for a second job.
I know that Sanchez is working as a contract Marshall escorting prisoners at FDC to their federal court hearings. Sanchez is an employee of a private company that has been contracted by the US govt to provide this service. Kind of sad to see someone who less than a year ago was embroiled in debates over land use issues, taxes, multi-million dollats budgets, mega development deals, etc. is now reduced to sitting in a chair fumbling with his Blackberry while waiting for a federal prisoner to finish in court.
To clarify the issue of Sanchez' employment: He was a State Trooper and activist in the Roads neighborhood when Humberto Hernandez was suspended from office. He was appointed to Hernandez' seat on the Commission. After being appointed he took leave from his FHP job and eventually found some other work. I remember that he worked as an investigator for Lewis Freeman's forensic accounting practice, but I don't know all the details about when he got that job or what else he was doing.
When voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to provide a salary increase for Commissioners (something like $60k/year plus benefits for "part-time") I recall reading an article in Miami Today where Lewis Freeman stated that he would reduce Joe's workload and salary because he now had a substantial salary and responsibilities to the City as a Commissioner. Looking back, I must say that Lewis' statement was rich with irony. Thanks for looking out for the taxpayers, if only you'd have looked out for your clients with the same zeal! LOL!
I supposed that the reduced salary from Lewis Freeman was not enough so Mr. Sanchez sought work elsewhere and landed the gig with the Miccosukees [sp?].
All of these positions were quid pro quo deals that were only valid while he was an elected official.
It's a shame because sometimes people land in these positions and they start with good intentions and wanting to do what's right. Then they get a taste of the VIP treatment, eating at the fancy restaurants, mingling with the "it-crowd" and they forget who they really are. Once the magic carpet is pulled out from underneath and the fairy tale ends, it is a sobering change when Jorge Perez and David Samson won't even recognize you or when you're suddenly not invited to partake to your heart's content at the Viceroy, or when you realize that you can't afford to eat at Capitol Grill.
Last comment --- good one!
Joe Sanchez got a full-time salary from the City. $104,000 when he left. But he only worked part-time.
Sanchez demanded that the other commissioners agree to the terms the Marlins wanted for the $3.5 Billion bailout. Sanchez was irate other commissioners wanted to make the deal better for the taxpayers. Sanchez acted like he was on the Marlin's payroll.
Now Sanchez is mixing with another type of criminal.
Former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez is a FHP Officer for Miami
Post a Comment