The Miami Herald goes into the IRS investigation of Julio Robaina again today. In the article Julio said:"My wife deals with everything that has to do with my home. You ask me what we pay in the city and I can tell you the details. You ask me what we pay water, FPL in my home, I don't know."
Well along with not knowing his PERSONAL finances, according to the 1994 final order from the Department of Business and Professinal Regulations (see graphic on left) it appears he didn't monitor his OWN business finances either, to the point of conducting unethical business transactions, or what the final order found:
Guilty of dishonest dealing by trick, scheme or device, culpable negligence or breach of trust in any business transaction.
So do we want him messing around with the $7 billion dollar County budget as Miami-Dade Mayor?
Meanwhile, I had my own mini investigation going. I wanted to see if Robaina complied with the final order from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Florida Real Estate Commission. There were a number of stipulations. Look at the letter at top. It appears they don't know but they surmise he did. I just didn't believe he took the course required so I asked. I will never know for sure if he did. Trust is hard for me, I guess you can see why.
9 comments:
Robaina hasn't a chance for mayor. Too bad his misdeeds overshadowed Carlos Gimenez's announcement that he is running. Gimenez got bottom of page 3 and Robaina was top of page 1.
A cardinal rule of real estate is Don't Mess With Escrow Funds.
Gimenez is announcing on Monday. That will be his press day I think. Actually, perfect timing.
Is there something in the water in Hialeah that their politian's are so ethically & legally challenged? And, I tried to word that carefully.
He runs a City but can't run an escrow account ? He didn't know this person but went on a cruise with him? It was his wife's investment but the checks came back to him?
How did Hialeah do on their last audit and who gets the bulk of their contracts? If anyone knows, it would be great to post.
Let me know if I missed something.
Hialeah Julio, pls save us the trouble of even having your name on the ballot.
Thank you!
If the powerful groups that RUN this county -- and there a few -- want to have him elected, he probably will! It's a matter of money, and if they think Robaina is worth the investment, they will do it. The voting population -- that has been paid for -- will vote, and if the rest of the jerks don't want to bother, the crook wins.
I think its obvious the establishment wants Gimenes How else do you explain this perfectly timed negative press for JR.
I'm undecided BUT I am a bit leary of candidates whose career has been solely in government despite their good intentions.
If you've been in business for a long time chances are you will run into some regulatory issues at some time or another, I'll wait and see how this ordeal plays out for Julio before I make up my mind.
Gimenes seems well intentioned but a bit uptight and has been in the system for a long time (Like Alvarez)plus he's tight with the DiazDe La Portilla clan. I would say odds on favorite considering Julio's current problems.
Julio these issues are a presently a cloud over his head lets wait and see how it plays out. Was the favourite just a wekk ago, if he shakes this issue has a good chance to regain his front runner status.
Marcelo with 500K in the bank you can't completely discard him, but his odds aren't great.
Joe Martinez, is watching Julio's ship if it really takes on water he might decide to jump into the race.
Raul Martinez lurking in the shadows and I would suspect has something to do with Julio's problem. You know what they say about glass houses.
JC Bermudez definetely has the ego but doesn't have the votes. Long Shot at best if he even jumps in.
Carlos Alvarez snowballs chance in a hialeah motel hot tub.
Jimmy the Geek you couldn't have possibly EVER considered Julio Robaina. Come on.
Well Julio as Mayor has taken on the Unions and Carlos Gimenes has also voted aginst their interest so that's why I would consider both.
I consider runaway salary and benefits both for unions members and executives as the biggest issue affecting Municipal finances. Yes the waste on Stadium and other corporate welfare ticket items are also on the top of my list of issues of concern.
Julio's achiles heal are that Hialeah politics aren't excatly congruent with the rest of Miami Dade's and his ties to the ponzi scheming jeweler (aka "Felipito") if in the end Julio is just a victim then I think this won't play as big come election time, if not it's over.
Carlos Gimenes needs to loosen up a bit he is intellegent and thinks the issues over well but his very close ties to the DLPs should set off alarm bells in everyones head.
Voters will be reminded of his career in government and the similarities between he and Alvarez, which may not be a fair comparison.
I am still undecided and I think every voter should sit back listen and let everything play out before deciding on or discarding any candidate.
I don't think that there can be any comparisons with Alvarez. He has been a staunch critic of Alvarez since his first day on the Commission. He is not a County guy, and not a disciple of the George Burgess style of doing business. I really could care less if he is a little uptight, as long as he does right by the residents of the County, and he has the tools and experience to do it. There is a reason the establishment is going to push him, they know he is the best chance to bring some sanity to a place that hasn't had any for decades. As for his ties to the DLP's, I don't see that as an issue at all. I've seen him vote against MDLP plenty of times, and he votes on merit, not on relationships. That is good enough for me.
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