This Year's Slap on the Wrist Award Goes to the Ethics Commission of Public mis-Trust. By Geniusofdespair

"The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) has issued a Letter of Reprimand to former Homestead Mayor Steven Bateman, who last month settled a complaint (C 13-50) that he violated the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance by accepting a round-trip flight on a private jet without disclosing it as a gift.   The Letter notes that Bateman had been an elected official for more than a decade and had filed numerous gift disclosure forms, demonstrating his awareness of the requirement.  It asserts that “Bateman eroded the trust placed in him by [the citizens of Homestead] when he accepted travel on a private aircraft paid for by DMC (Dade Medical College) and did not disclose it.” It also states that at the time of the flight, his wife, Donna Bateman, was earning $5,000 a month as a consultant to DMC, so the then-mayor’s “finances were clearly intertwined with an entity which has an interest in favorable treatment by the City of Homestead.”  As part of the settlement, Bateman also paid a fine of $500."

They might as well get the award every year. That is mostly all they do: slap, i.e.  "Genius of Despair committed murder. Genius got a $500 fine and a reprimand letter from us for the offense".  That would be typical.