As I pondered early on Thanksgiving Day the things that I was thankful for, and after I listed the usual suspects — health for me and my loved ones, family support, a talented and beautiful (and smart-ass) daughter, love, good friends that stick by you, passion for what I do, growth in readership — it gave way to things that I am particularly thankful for this year.
And not just the Trader Joe’s that opened last month near my house. Or that ABC’s Scandal will be back next week after a hiatus today and House of Cards Season 2 starts in a couple of months on Netflix.
No, I am talking about many far more satisfying things to give thanks for.
Like the trifecta arrests of three municipal mayors who were obviously up to no good. Corruption charges against former Mayors Steve Bateman, of Homstead, Manny “Maraña” Maroño, of Sweetwater, and Michael “Muscles” Pizzi, of Miami Lakes, give us hope that there is someone watching after all.
We are also grateful for the salvation of libraries that almost became Walmarts and cellphone towers after they were put on the chopping block by our Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. And the paramedics and firefighters and fire rescue trucks that we got to keep despite Gimenez’s heavy-handed threats to cut them.
Let’s also thank the FBI for finally paying more attention to the shenanigans in South Florida. I want to personally thank all the agents who are working our public corruption scandals.
Speaking of that, I want to thank our now disbanded Miami-Dade Police Public Corruption Unit detectives, wherever you are. I know you were working against the tide and in a hostile environment. And I am sorry I didn’t have your back soon enough.
And I thank some of the other media outlets for beginning to take notice of things, ask follow up questions and not just string a bunch of quotes together for a story. See how much more fulfilling it is?
Ladra thanks the brave opposition in Hialeah, and particularly the candidates that tried to unseat the established mafia there: Former Mayor Julio Martinez, Juan Santana, Julio Rodriguez and Marcos Miralles. While you lost your respective races, you had the nerve to try and maybe more will follow your lead in 2015.
I am grateful for the drama in Doral, where Mayor Luigi Boria is seemingly at war with City Manager Joe Carollo.
I’m even thankful that Philip Levine won the mayoral race in Miami Beach.
Sure, it would have been better for the citizens if former Commissioner Michael Gongora had pulled it off in the second round. But it would have been more boring. This is better for Ladra because the coverage of the Levine regime promises to be far more entertaining and, I will admit, enjoyable.
And I am thankful for you, my dear and loyal readers. Without you and your support, this blog would be far less fun.
So I make you this promise: Keep reading. And next year, you will be thankful for some of the stories on Political Cortadito.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Things to be thankful for: Corruption busts, libraries, firetrucks added by Ladra on
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