Great story by Matt Haggman and Martha Brannigan in Sunday's Miami Herald about county commissioner Pepe Diaz, one of the unreformable majority who has inherited the mantle of point guard, profiting from contracts at Miami International Airport. Diaz is director of a company I had never heard of, U.S. Construction that has jumped to the head of the line for contracting jobs at MIA. Diaz received $120,000 in 2009 from the company. The Herald writes, "Diaz's employment with U.S. Construction, coming at a time its work is mushrooming at a public airport in which the commissioner is a key political player, shows that the lines between public life and private business can sometimes blur." Sometimes? How about ALL the time. Miami International Airport has been, for decades, the money tree for the unreformable majority led by Natacha Seijas. Lobbyists Chris Korge, Rodney Barreto, Sergio Pino (of US Century Bank) and a host of others serving current and former political players, including Barbara Jordan. Airport Director Jose Abreu told the Herald, "Everybody is entitled to make a living, especially commissioners who don't get a [substantial] salary" ... He added that he's never seen Diaz misuse his public position to gain leverage for U.S. Construction." Of course not. It's all done on a wink and a handshake on fishing boats in the Gulf of Mexico, or private jets, or trips to Puerto Rico or the Bahamas. Diaz is adept at using his political power in favor of business interests from the dais: Lowe's outside the Urban Development Boundary and rock miners come to mind. But pushing his muscle extends even beyond; there's the story of Calusa Campground, a fledgling development in the Florida Keys, where Diaz owns property and where he and Santiago Echemendia pushed the Monroe County Commission around. As a local political appointee to the federal state working group on Everglades restoration, Diaz made it his point to be a fly in the ointment. That guy shouting "flood!" in a crowded theater, it's Pepe. So what are we to believe, with respect to influence peddling at MIA? That it doesn't occur, or, just doesn't need to be said aloud?(see our archive, under Pepe Diaz - 52 posts.)
4 comments:
Well the Miami Herald's story on Pepe Diaz dident surpise me one bit. Remember when he needed a County Police Officer to drive him all around like he was some kind of God. Lets just add him to the list of current and former Cuban-American elected officals who have been arrested or forced out of office for criminal acts they commited while in office. As long as the Cuban_Americans here in Dade County keep electing trash like Diaz not one thing will change.
It really bothers me when people blame someone’s problems on their country of origin or race ..etc.
Corruption is not a Cuban problem, otherwise Homestead will be paradise now. But Homestead is as bad as it can get and no Cubans there to blame.
And by the way I’m not Cuban or even Hispanic, but let us be fare when we talk about issues.
Aren't there any conflict of interest laws that prohibit this?
I don't believe neither Genius, nor Gimlet, have specifically accused the Cubans from bringing corruption into Miami-Dade. In fact, I go back to the times of Steve Clark and, OY VEY!, the climate was pretty corrupted as well. However, let's say that since we Cubans represent the majority -- and yes, we do -- we have the responsiility to think twice about our vote. It's obvious there's no better individual than a Cuban to STUFF another Cuban with lies and false promises. So, it is a fact that WE CUBANS BEAR RESPONSIBILITY ON WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE POLITICS OF THIS CITY. We need to learn to vote for the right candidate, which is not always a Cuban. Look at Marco Rubio: UGH! And let's not forget Miguel Diaz de la Portilla: YAK! And yes, I happen to be Cuban, but I am a liberal! LOL
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