City of Miami Housing Scandal by Geniusofdespair

On June 3rd both of us bloggers weighed in on the City of Miami affordable housing scandal. I used a big red flag as my illustration and said:

"City housing director Barbara Gomez -- who until recently was married to Rene Rodriguez, the longtime director of the county's scandal-ridden Housing Agency...." (well if that isn't a red flag!).

It seems it was a red flag, today in the Miami Herald you can read more bizarre twists on Ms. Gomez/Rodriquez/Santana. No wonder I couldn’t look her up! This woman is a red flag as big as my house. Mayor Manny: You should have read my blog before going on TV, radio etc. defending your housing agency. This report looks bad for the city, you should have dumped her a week ago, or put her on leave, when the original story broke.

Doesn't your legal department talk to you Mayor Manny? They knew about this skeleton in her closet. And Babs a word to you: You should have told Manny before he stuck his neck out. HOUSE OF LIES: Miami housing director steers funds toward ex

Affordable Housing Scandal: Again? In the City of Miami this time. By Geniusofdespair

"In 2005, while thousands of families searched for a decent place to live, the city released Diaz's campaign manager from a $1 million housing debt in default for more than a decade." Miami Herald

The Herald has a new affordable housing scandal to report, this time in the City of Miami: City's affordable housing program in crisis. This one is a follow up, not to be confused with the County affordable housing scandal, detailed in the "House of Lies" series that won the Herald a Pulitzer, other journalism awards and much needed praise.
I can sum up the affordable housing problems in the City of Miami in a nutshell with 4 examples from the article that should have raised a red flag long before it made it to the paper:

"City housing director Barbara Gomez -- who until recently was married to Rene Rodriguez, the longtime director of the county's scandal-ridden Housing Agency...." (well if that isn't a red flag!).

"The construction company's project manager, Carlos Martell, took in at least $50,000 in consulting fees -- again before construction started. Martell is a former business associate of City Commissioner Angel Gonzalez." (red flag!).

"Between 1988 and 1990, the city loaned (Al) Lorenzo (The Mayor's campaign Manager) $956,000 to fix up 61 low-income apartments in Overtown and Wynwood. Yuken was a corporate officer and investor in Lorenzo's companies and managed the
properties. But most of the buildings fell into disrepair and were eventually torn down at the city's expense. Lorenzo, who personally guaranteed the loans, failed to make a payment in more than a decade." (This is a club over the head, the red flag would be too subtle). And, last but not least:

"The following year, the city tore the houses down and gave the land to a partnership that includes the Gatehouse Group, which promises to put up 163 units but so far has not secured state funding. The partnership would repay BAME's debt if the project gets built. The city ''reached out to us,'' said Gatehouse Vice President Nick Inamdar, one of Mayor Diaz's chief fundraisers in 2001."

Pardon me, you can read the article while I barf...