Friday, August 15, 2014

Michael Pizzi … acquitted … by gimleteye

Yesterday, Michael Pizzi walked from a federal courthouse, a free man. Pizzi was caught up in a sting operation and prosecuted for accepting bribes. One juror, after the acquittal, told the press that she hoped Pizzi would show a little more humility in the future, suggesting a character trait that some would call a flaw and others, entertaining.

Long before becoming an elected official, Michael Pizzi was a civic activist. It is hard to argue that once he became a successful politician, that insiders and deal-makers were skeptical they could do business with him. But according to published reports, Pizzi relished both the limelight and the opportunity to do good.

It doesn't take much imagination to understand that the last year -- with the real prospect of jail time in his future -- was brutal for Pizzi and his family. Now that the trial is over, Pizzi could make a new start and if he does, it should be with the sense of making the most of his second chance at political life.

So far as the US Department of Justice is concerned, mounting investigations and undercover operations against corruption in South Florida should be its number one priority. There is a good reason that pest control is a monthly service: if you don't do it regularly, your home can be overrun. The same is true of corruption in government.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope the SAO and the Feds actually do clean up the process, although I'm not going to hold my breath. However, I couldn't reconcile the fact that these cases felt like textbook entrapment.

Further, I will always question why Kesti Did what he did? You can assign whatever altruistic reasons you want, but that doesn't make sense. He calls himself a lobbyist, but I'm not sure any elected official can ever trust that whatever clients he represents are real and not some future type of entrapment. I hope he has some other profession or other means, because in the end his motives don't seem as pure as the driven snow.

m

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Mike. From the time I read the case filing, I thought this could be a case of entrapment. Pizzi is a unique individual who has made many enemies in his quest to bring down some powerful people. I have worked with him many times on various projects and never thought him to be dishonest. I hope he can restore his life and practice. Perhaps the best part is that he thumbed his nose to the vile Seijas. Having been on the receiving end of her "payback", I know how vicious she is. Good luck my friend.

Anonymous said...

The office fire, the beery request for a hitman, taking money in a closet in city hall. Maybe nothing was tight enough for a conviction, but this string of crap is NOT normal for an honest elected official. Pizzi is out of control. I hope the voters of Miami Lakes have more sense than to reelect this fellow.

Anonymous said...

I'm so depressed by this acquittal. Anyone who takes rolls of money stashed in a bathroom or in a fricking closet is at his core an unethical person.

Even if the funds were indeed for charity instead of self-enrichment, there are a thousand ways to do that without lying to your employer (Medley) or deceiving your own city council.

I found Pizzi useful as an irritant to Seijas, but that doesn't mean I can turn a blind eye to such a demonstrable lack of ethics.

Anonymous said...

Why didn't they go after Pepe Diaz or Andre Pierre or David Rivera or Daphne Campbell?

Anonymous said...

Amen to Pepe Diaz.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Mike in proving your innocence, now you can be instrumental in actually cleaning Miami of all the daily corruption. Start with City of Miami.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Pizzi got lucky, but won't return to be Mayor of Miami Lakes.
Hopefully this experience will scare him back to the right path. Enough of corrupt politics Mike clean up your act and get back to work. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Absolutely, so when is Bells campaign manager getting arrested?

Cato II said...

Pizzi won't be returning to the Mayor's office in Miami Lakes. Governor Scott won't reinstate him and Wayne Slaton won't go. The Town Attorney is going to tell the Town Council that the election of Wayne Slaton was for the balance of Pizzi's term, not just for the interim. Pizzi doesn't have his gig as Town Attorney for Medley. He took his golden parachute and bailed. They aren't taking him back. Out of office, he's no use to Lowell Dunn family. So, to get back in, Pizzi's going to have to sue Rick Scott in Tallahassee. That case should take a year and will probably see Pizzi forced to take the stand. (The Fifth Amendment won't apply since he was acquitted and double jeopardy stops further prosecution in federal court.) Add the automatic stay and the appeals that the government will take and the time horizon goes past November 2016. Then his reinstatement will be moot and it will be dismissed. In the meantime, he's radioactive, so no other town is going take him on as their town attorney. He has no client base, so no Dade or Broward law firm will be offering him a job. PIzzi has become the George Zimmerman of the political set. He's been set free by the system, but he's damaged beyond repair. Karma's a bitch, Mikey.

Anonymous said...

To the anon above, they were only targeting white gringo mayors. Remember, this is the Eric Holder justice department.

Anonymous said...

"Gringo"? are you living in the 19th Century? Pizzi is an Italian American and I'm sure people of that extraction care little about a fast talking swindler who hired two high heeled attorneys to get him off. He may have gotten off and may have been found not guilty by a court of law but in the court of public opinion the majority of people see him as a corrupt official with little common sense and certain vices that are better not discussed here. Hope Mr. Pizzi returns to his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y. If we don't see him again it can't be too soon.

Anonymous said...

I think Pizzi's case is related to Natascha Seijas and Carlos Alvarez recalls

Anonymous said...

Gringo mayors? What about Manny Marono? The guy used to bring them down was also hispanic. As for it being tied to the recalls - I don't think so. Manny was Rick Scott's left nut. Pizzi was corrupt, everyone knew this. He doesn't know how to spell humility.

Anonymous said...

Add to that list Lucy Tondreau... it ain't just about the "gringo mayors".

Anonymous said...

Pizzi did lead Natascha Seija's recall and was a big supporter of Carlos Alvarez.

Anonymous said...

Marc Sarnoff and wifey? Is it true the Feds are investigating Marc Sarnoff and his campaign manager Steve Marin?