They did it again.
All the Miami-Dade County Commissioners, except for Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, used their county emails and the county 
email list to send the 25,000 or so employees who have email another holiday greeting for Christmas.
Guess Ladra’s barking about that during Thanksgiving and how it reeked of abuse of their public position didn’t make an impact at all.
Commissioner Javier Souto still gets religious and Commissioner Sally Heyman still makes it short and sweet, while others continue to offer clichés and empty phrases days after they voted to keep taking 5% of the salaries for a group healthcare fund that was supposed to end in January.
Isn’t that a little hypocritical?
Even Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Not So Golden Boy” Gimenez, who vetoed an 8-3 decision to give the employees that concession — part of 16 percent they gave back to the county in 2009 — sent out what sounded very much like a hollow holiday greeting.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you – the dedicated men and women who work for our County government. Our community is well served by the dedication and commitment you bring to your jobs every day,” Gimenez said, days after telling them, with his actions, the very opposite. “I would like to extend to all of you and your families my sincere gratitude for your public service and wish you all the very best holidays!”
I am sure they’d like to extend something to you, too, mayor.
Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, who changed her vote and was the deciding swing in the commission’s upholding of the veto, was equally patronizing in her Merry Christmas message.
“Your commitment to providing excellent services to the residents of Miami-Dade County makes us proud every day. We are truly blessed to have such devoted professionals working day in and day out to make this community a better place to live and do business,” Sosa wrote.
But if I was a county employee, I would be downright insulted to get Commissioner Esteban “Stevie El Bobo” Bovo‘s email.
“Thank you for all that you do for the people of Miami-Dade County,” he started off, innocently enough. “As we reflect on the events of this past year, I want us to always remember that the goal of our work here is to improve the collective quality of life of the community,” Bovo then says, because the general sentiment at the commission dais is that county employees are not part of that community.
Really? Really, Commissioner Bovo. This is what you want to send them as a Christmas greeting?
“My family, my staff, and I wish you and yours a very blessed holiday and a prosperous new year,” Bovo adds, though he didn’t desire prosperity enough to vote for the employees to get their deserved group contribution back.
Those who voted in favor of the employees, naturally, sounded more sincere in their holiday greetings. “During this time of the year, I want to thank all County employees and their families for their hard work and all the sacrifices made on behalf of Miami-Dade County,” wrote Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who apparently knows his audience better than Bovo does.
The problem with these emails, however, isn’t necessarily in the message. It is in the process. As Ladra pointed out earlier, this gives commissioners a captive audience of likely highly-motivated voters and a platform to send them a “positive message” meant to be reinforced into their name recognition. Don’t be fooled. This is PR at its most subliminal.
Commissioners should be forced to pay for the writing and dissemination of these emails through their campaign accounts and they should have disclaimers on them. Like the billboard that Sen. Rene Garcia bought on the Palmetto Expressway just south of the first Hialeah exit on 74th Street that wishes his constituents a happy holiday in English and Spanish, complete with twinkling lights and a paid political ad disclaimer (kudos to you, Senator).
But, alas, I seem to be the only one who has raised this issue, despite the fact that former Commissioner Katy Sorenson, who now heads the Good Government Initiative, also thinks it’s a little self-serving.
And while several employees have complained to Ladra about their inbox filling up with what they call useless junk mail, Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust Director Joe Centorino repeated to me on Thursday that “there is no ethical prohibition against elected officials sending out Holiday emails.
“Elected officials have pretty broad discretion to communicate with constituents, public employees or the general public about just about anything,” Centorino said.
Doesn’t mean it isn’t wrong.
And how come they get a monopoly on sending holiday messages to the 25,000 or so employees on the list? I suggest that the candidates thinking of running against incumbents in 2014 sue to get access to this list. Equal time, right?
Call former State Rep. JC Planas, now an attorney to the pols. I hear he may have some time on his hands these days.
And now, for those of you who have no access to county employee emails, the holiday greetings from each of the commissioners, except for Barreiro, who we applaud for refraining from this self-promotional practice:
Barbara Jordan, District 1: The season of sharing and caring is upon us once again. Let’s take this opportunity to show our children and grandchildren the true spirit of this Holiday Season. Please join me in wishing the employees and residents of Miami-Dade County Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!”
Jean Monestime, District 2: “Whatever is beautiful, whatever is meaningful, whatever brings happiness, may it be yours this holiday season and throughout the coming year.”
Audrey Edmonson, District 3: “Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeaux Noel! Wishing all Miami-Dade County employees a happy Christmas surrounded by family and friends. May the New Year be joyous, peaceful and full of good fortune.”
Sally Heyman, District 4: “Happy Holidays to you and your family. We wish you good health and happiness in the coming year.”
Rebeca Sosa, District 6: Your commitment to providing excellent services to the residents of Miami-Dade County makes us proud every day. We are truly blessed to have such devoted professionals working day in and day out to make this community a better place to live and do business. I wish you a happy holiday season and a blessed New Year surrounded by your loved ones.
Xavier L. Suarez, District 7: At this holiday time, it is a pleasure to thank the dedicated employees of Miami-Dade County for their service throughout the year. We hope, that for you and your family, 2014 will be a year filled with success, good health and prosperity. Wishing you all the joys of the holiday season, as well as a safe and healthy New Year!”
Lynda Bell, District 8: “As we celebrate the Holiday Season and bid farewell to 2013, let us be grateful for our families, our dear friends, and the wonderful community we all live in. On behalf of myself, my family and my Commission staff, may you spend this wondrous time of the year filled with happiness, health and hope for a better and prosperous 2014!”
Dennis Moss, District 9: “Happy Holidays! On behalf of the residents of District 9 and The Moss Team, thank you for a year of excellent service to the over 2.5 million good people of Miami-Dade County. Wishing you and your family a joyful and rejuvenating Holiday Season.”
Javier Souto, District 10: “May we all enjoy this special time with our loved ones and have everyone’s wishes this holiday season come true. Let us give countless gratitude to our loved ones and to God, the almighty himself. To a new year, as we look forward towards great prosperities. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!”
Juan Zapata, District 11: “Christmas is always a special time to share joy and love with family and friends. May your home exude the true sense of the holiday spirit. Wishing you and your family a festive holiday season and New Year filled with showers of blessings.”
Jose “Pepe” Diaz, District 12: “During this time of the year, I want to thank all County employees and their families for their hard work and all the sacrifices made on behalf of Miami-Dade County. May your holidays be filled with joy, love and good health. Best wishes for a very happy and prosperous 2014!”
Esteban “Stevie El Bobo” Bovo, District 13: “Thank you for all that you do for the people of Miami-Dade County. As we reflect on the events of this past year, I want us to always remember that the goal of our work here is to improve the collective quality of life of the community. My family, my staff, and I wish you and yours a very blessed holiday and a prosperous new year. ‘Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.’ Calvin Coolidge.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez: “Dear County Employee: As 2013 draws to an end, it is a time for reflection and to gather with our families and friends to celebrate the holidays. We all look forward to the joy this season brings as we also prepare for the new year. We are truly blessed to live in Miami-Dade County. Not only do we enjoy year-round warmth and sunshine, we are surrounded by beautiful natural resources unmatched in the world. Ultimately though, it is the people who make this a special place. People from all corners of the world call Miami ‘home,’ giving us a diversity and excitement few other communities can match. This gives us the strength of character and sense of place that is uniquely Miami.
“As Mayor, I am honored to serve all our residents. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you – the dedicated men and women who work for our County government. Our community is well served by the dedication and commitment you bring to your jobs every day. I would like to extend to all of you and your families my sincere gratitude for your public service and wish you all the very best holidays!”
Holiday messages: Abuse of elected email power continues added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
