And the survey says: Ka-ching for lobbyist turned pollster

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Well, results for the “survey” distributed by lobbyist Jorge Luis Lopez, one of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s closest confidantes and favorite gala companion, came out Sunday showing that his readers prioritize traffic reduction, public/private partnerships and development at the airport.

And Ladra is sure that it is just a coincidence that Lopez represents interests that would benefit from commercial development at the airport, public/private deals at the county or taxpayer investments in traffic calming measures. Anyone can see that from the multiple clients Lopez listed on the county’s lobbyists registration site, including developers and construction companies.

Lower on the “survey” priority list are affordable housing, the Baylink light rail and “avoiding over development.”

It’s also curious how respondents are more interested in the development a downtown convention center — which the mayor obviously made a priority during his State of the County Address last week — than the one that they are already talking about renovating in Miami Beach.

But, no, don’t think this “survey” is just a rubber-stamping primer tool for Gimenez policies. Lopez is just doing these “surveys” — and Ladra uses that term loosely — out of the kindness of his heart. And, yes, “surveys,” plural. Because that was just the first one, the one Lopez sent out the week after his buddy the mayor gave he SOTC address. Another “survey” came out Sunday — and this week focuses on funding county priorities.

Just in time for the budget season, too.

This survey gives us 10 categories to rank from “very important” to “should NOT be a priority” and you can almost tell which ones are going to rank low among the Lopez email group, which is likely made up of movers and shakers like his clients and people trying to do business with the city.

Ladra will bet her kibble that “employee salary and benefits” and “health and social service programs” ranks way low while “hold the line on taxes” and “fund incentives for companies adding local jobs” get high marks.

Other categories include libraries, park programs for kids and elderly, community policing, paving and lighting, homeless assistance programs and arts and culture programs.

Anybody wanna bet that “paving and lighting” come in high?

Lopez — who sorta plugged Political Cortadito in his email when he mentioned the buzz he got from the first survey “even from political blogs” — has not answered my calls or questions about the methodology of the “survey.” How many responses did he get? Who are his readers? What are their demographics? How many times can the same respondent answer?

You know, for context. Otherwise, it’s just PR in disguise.

Instead, he simply asks people to share their “confidential responses” to his questions, which we are just sure he is sharing with Gimenez.

Is Ladra the only one questioning the motivation and methodology (read: manipulation) of these “surveys”?

  Carlos Gimenez, Jorge Luis Lopez