On Christmas Eve I wished county commissioners would put the recall election of Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas on the same ballot, saving taxpayer money and expense of two separate elections. At the time, it seemed a partridge in a pear tree. I anticipated otherwise: that the economic influences controlling Miami-Dade -- the Pino/Rasco/US Century cabal and assorted lobbyists including Miguel De Grandy-- would intercede and separate the ballots to save their own de facto head of Miami-Dade government, Natacha Seijas. Our very own Queen of Mean.
Yesterday, for undisclosed reasons, the county commission voted 10-3 to throw Seijas into the same pool of angry voters who will likely turn out Mayor Alvarez. Surprised? A little. Seijas threw an epic fit on the dais. Not surprising. She darkly warned the worse for her fellow commissioners. Not yet, an et tu, Brutus moment, but dare we dream? Those who voted her off the island (this reference, more accessible), into the same lifeboat as Alvarez would be visited, Seijas warned, by ghosts and howling tempests. What she meant: I control your fate through powerful campaign contributors from outside your districts who fund political campaigns and whose money I marshall for your reelection and I will exact revenge at the appropriate time for this humiliation. (Cue, thunderbolts and frogs raining down.)
So what were the calculations that kept the unreformable majority from rushing to Seijas' defense? Did they really throw her under the bus, or not? Here is my best guess: Seijas' fellow commissioners were assured by the special interests before the vote; don't worry. She can beat back the recall. They don't like Alvarez, or cut a deal to keep him on in some capacity, but they will spend hundreds of thousand to "educate" Hialeah voters that Seijas is unfairly targeted. Call this, an educated guess.
Of course it is also a risk. Part of the calculation is that the insurgent revolt called Miami Voice cannot raise enough money to win. The powers-that-be have a low opinion of Miami-Dade voters and a high opinion about money in campaigns. After all, for decades the awful performance of Miami voters has exceeded their expectations: delivering the best democracy money can buy. Also, special interests have commandeered the Cuban American bloc vote for such a long time in Hialeah, why worry? Just wave around the "jobs!" flag, and those pesky citizens will be rinsed away, just like the hairdresser does.
Still, what cold comfort to Seijas. Her closed world, a shut-in with a no show YMCA job and children making six figures on the county payroll, depends on the aura of invincibility. Power is perception. And the perception is, based on yesterday's vote, you are expendable. No matter how many reassurances she had, in recent weeks, that the ruling class will ride to her rescue as it has b4, what this whole exercise really demonstrates is that when push comes to shove, there is always someone willing to take up the political cudgel. All that work by Seijas, marshaling the African American vote against the Anglos, it is only about money and its agnostic virtues. The only thing that abhors a vacuum more than nature is politics.
Haven't Pepe Diaz, Joe Martinez, and a few of her other fellow commissioners shown that they are capable of performing the wizardly tasks of deforming government to serve special interests from the dais. They could be Seijas too. Haven't they proven their worth? Aren't they prepared in their own permanent, single member district incumbencies to take up the power that Seijas has wielded (as in the performance with Jean Monestine just the other day)?
The last time that Seijas faced recall only a few years ago, petitioners for the recall-- gathering signatures at Hialeah malls and supermarkets-- were harassed, spied on by county staff, subject to false arrest by the Hialeah police, and selective intimidation by the state attorney. This time there are rumors law enforcement is engaged; with agents in the senior centers, with absentee ballots, and following the ever present "street money". With this pile-on, one can imagine Seijas is urgently calling the SEIU, the county unions, the developers, and anyone who will contribute. Lennar, Shoma Homes, Caribe, White Rock: Save me!
It is just as easy to imagine the big housing developers, rock miners, sprawl boosters, LBA lobbyists and speculators calling to reassure her: "Natacha, relax. We don't care about Alvarez. We care about you and our investment in you." The agreement to put Seijas on the same ballot as Alvarez was a risk they could live with. So will Natacha, for a few more weeks. Still, lift your noses. The scent of insurrection is in the air. Its very presence means, at a minimum, a lot more readers for Eyeonmiami.
(Note to new readers: for more, type in "Seijas" in the search line or through our archive. Also donate to Miami Voice - the link is on top right of this page)
12 comments:
It was great theatre to watch yesterday. Martinez and Gimenez had it scripted to a tea. Execute without delay. Heyman seconded the motion without even looking up. Souto, Sosa, Edmonson and Diaz scrambled to get on board, proclaiming deep thoughts about democracy and the constitution. The former chairman did not speak, and Monestime followed the crowd. Treachery and panic ruled the day.
I am going to post video clips when they are available.
How is it possible that a county commissioner subject to recall can actually cast a vote on their own recall election date? Theatre of the absurd indeed. Folks, donate donate to Miami Voice -even if it's 5.00 or 10.00 - give what you can because this fight ain't over yet.
scary photo in the Herald today - VNS and Terry
I am glad that Bell voted for it.
Hope someone is keeping a Bell list.
I'm keeping the Bell list, I'm sure others are too. 2012 seems like a great recall year for her. The 1st donations to this will go to a professional AB person!
When we go through Charter Change, which I actually think is finally coming, that is one modification that I think we should make, if a Commissioner has petitions certified against them for a recall, they should play no role in setting the date of the recall election. It just makes no sense that they do, without giving the opposition a say as well.
I like the fact that 4% of voters far outweigh the vote of 65%. We should all be so proud of a system where the majority is shackled.
A better option is to have 50% plus 1 vote determine if a recall vote will be conducted.
Now if only Venezuela would adopt the Miami standard, speaking of Banana Republics.
I dunno. If the fallout is so toxic, at some point, people might abandon ship and find some other sleuth to do their bidding. She may be hoisted upon her own petard. It could be that Bell will be the new Seijas. Seijas will handily slide into a lobbyist position and will be protected for the rest of her days for all she knows and all the dirt she has on people. If I were her, I would retire and take a long vacation and then come back through the back door.
Bell can never be more than a restroom attendant to the guys who run the show. Hialeah rules, not crappy Homestead.
I don't consider Seijas to be a mental giant. I think there easily could be many who took her place. At any rate, I don't like kicking someone when they are down. We, the voting public, need to take responsiblity for the state of political affairs in this community. We don't show up to vote.
I was part of the former Seijas recall. At a county meeting, one of her attorney minions told me "Thanks, you just cost me a bunch of money."
We all know Natacha is on the take, and the YMCA should be shut down for aiding and abbetting her extortions. She's going to get what she deserves this time. Everyone has abandoned ship on Jabba the Hut!
Post a Comment